JP2003271371A - Print controller and print control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that it is impossible to perform print preview when performing poster partial print. <P>SOLUTION: Spool data corresponding to the print processing of an area whose partial print is designated are generated by a spooler 302, and stored in a spool file 303. When preview is designated in the spool data, a spool file manager 304 performs a previewer 306. The previewer 306 plots spool data by using a graphic engine 202, and displays a preview picture through a display controller 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control apparatus and a print control method, and more particularly to a poster in which one image is divided into a plurality of blocks and an output corresponding to the image is obtained according to a print output result corresponding to each block. The present invention relates to a print control device and a print control method capable of performing print control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a poster printing function on the host computer side has been known as means for obtaining a large image such as A2 or A1 by using a printing apparatus capable of outputting A4 size. The poster print function scales the image information to be printed as necessary, divides this image information into print areas of the output paper size, and outputs the print data generated for each divided area to the printing device. By doing,
The final output result is obtained by connecting the output results. By using the poster printing function on the host computer side, poster printing can be realized with the same configuration on the printing device side as before, so cost reduction can be achieved without the need for a complicated device configuration such as the extended continuous shooting function of a copying machine. It is possible to plan.

Conventionally, in such a poster printing function, when one page of image information input by an application is output as print data of a plurality of pages,
In order to simplify the printer driver of the host computer, the print data of N × N pages enlarged and divided into N × N are collectively printed out. In recent years,
By increasing the functionality of the printer driver, it has become possible to spool the image information from the application once in the memory and allow the user to perform a preview display as a print preview before generating the print data to be output to the printing apparatus. There is.

[0004]

In recent years, a poster partial printing function has been considered in which the printer driver specifies only a part of the divided area for printing. This is because the poster part printing function makes it possible to print only the necessary pages divided into posters. However, since the conventional preview function is configured to generate a preview image from each page in the spooled image information for the sake of simplicity, a print preview for confirming the print result of poster partial printing in advance is not considered. Has not been done.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and an object thereof is to confirm in advance a print result based on a poster partial print instruction in a print control apparatus and a print control method capable of providing a poster partial print function. An object of the present invention is to provide a print control device and a print control method that can be performed.

Another object of the present invention is to
In a print control apparatus and a print control method capable of providing a poster partial print function, it is an object of the present invention to provide a print control apparatus and a print control method capable of changing an area designated for printing before printing.

[0007]

That is, the gist of the present invention is to divide one image information into a plurality of areas, generate print data corresponding to each area constituting the plurality of areas, and have the printing apparatus print the print data. A print control device capable of performing poster print control to obtain a print result corresponding to one image, and spool data generating means for generating spool data corresponding to print processing of a designated region among a plurality of regions. , A preview generation unit that generates a print preview image based on the spool data, a display control unit that controls to display the print preview image, and a print data generation unit that generates print data from the spool data in response to an instruction to execute the print process. A print data generating means for outputting to a printing device,
The preview generation means, when a poster print instruction for enlarging and dividing one page of image information into a plurality of pages and an instruction for printing a part of the enlarged and divided plural pages are issued, a part of the print instruction is printed. A print control apparatus is characterized by generating a print preview image for a page.

Another object of the present invention is to divide one image information into a plurality of areas, generate print data corresponding to each area forming the plurality of areas, and print the print data on a printing apparatus to print one area. A print control method capable of poster print control for obtaining a print result corresponding to an image, comprising: a spool data generation step of generating spool data corresponding to print processing of a designated area of a plurality of areas; Based on the preview generation step of generating a print preview image, a display control step of controlling to display the print preview image, and in response to a print processing execution instruction, generate print data from the spool data,
A print data generation step of outputting to a printing device,
The preview generation step includes a poster print instruction for enlarging and dividing one page of image information into a plurality of pages and a part of the print instruction when an instruction for printing a part of the enlarged and divided plural pages is given. A print control method is characterized by generating a print preview image for a page.

Another object of the present invention is to divide one image information into a plurality of areas, generate print data corresponding to each area forming the plurality of areas, and print the print data on a printing apparatus to print one piece of data. A print control program capable of executing a poster print control that obtains a print result corresponding to an image, which is executable by a computer device, and is spool data that generates spool data corresponding to print processing of a specified area among a plurality of areas. In response to the program of the generation process, the program of the preview generation process that generates the print preview image based on the spool data, the program of the display control process that controls to display the print preview image, and the instruction to execute the print process. A print data generation process program for generating print data from spool data and outputting the print data to a printing device. The program of the preview generation process is such that when a poster print instruction for enlarging and dividing one page of image information into a plurality of pages and an instruction for printing a part of the enlarged and divided plural pages are issued, the print instruction A print control program characterized by generating a print preview image for a set of pages.

Another subject matter of the present invention resides in a computer-readable storage medium storing the print control program according to the present invention.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below in detail based on its preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. <Example of Configuration of Printing System> FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a printing system in which a host computer as an example of a printing control apparatus according to the present invention and a printer whose printing is controlled by the host computer are communicably connected. It is a block diagram.

In the figure, a host computer 3000
Executes various application programs stored in the program ROM forming the ROM 3 or the external memory 11 such as a hard disk drive, removable disk drive, semiconductor memory, etc., and includes graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.). ) And the like are included in the CPU 1 for executing document processing.

The CPU 1 generally controls each device connected to the system bus 4. The program ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11 has the CPU 1
An operating system program (hereinafter referred to as an OS) which is a control program of the above, a printer driver described later, and the like are stored. The data ROM or the external memory 11 stores various data used when performing the above document processing and the like.

The RAM 2 functions as a main memory, a work area, etc. of the CPU 1. Keyboard controller (K
The BC 5 controls input from the keyboard 9 or a pointing device (mouse or the like) not shown. The data input here includes various setting items for poster printing, which will be described later. Display controller (D
C) 6 controls the display of a display (DSP) 10 such as a CRT display or LCD.

The disk controller (DKC) 7 includes a boot program, various application programs,
It controls access to an external memory 11 such as a hard disk (HD) or a flexible disk (FD) that stores font data, user files, edit files, printer control command generation programs (hereinafter printer drivers), and the like. The printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 1500 via the bidirectional interface (interface) 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 1500.

It should be noted that the CPU 1 executes a rasterizing process of an outline font set in the display information RAM (video RAM) set in the RAM 2, for example.
WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) that displays the same image as the printed image on the display 10.
Is possible. In addition, the CPU 1 is the display 1
0, various windows registered based on commands designated by a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) are opened, and various data processing is executed. When executing printing, the user can open a window relating to print settings and make printer settings and print processing method settings for the printer driver, including selection of the print mode.

The printer 1500 is controlled by the printer CPU 12. The CPU 12 performs printing connected to the system bus 15 via the printing unit I / F 16 based on a control program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13 or a control program stored in the external memory 14 connected as an option. An image signal as output information is output to the unit (printer engine) 17.

Further, the font ROM of the ROM 13 stores font data and the like used when generating the output information, and the data ROM of the ROM 13 has a host in the case of a printer having no external memory 14 such as a hard disk. Information used on the computer is stored.

The CPU 12 is communicatively connected to the host computer 3000 via the input unit 18 and can notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer.
The RAM 19 functions as a main memory of the CPU 12, a work area, etc., and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 19 is also used as an output information expansion area and an environment data storage area.
In addition, at least a part of the nonvolatile memory (NVRA
M).

The external memory 14 such as the above-mentioned hard disk (HD) or IC card is a disk controller (D
KC) 20 controls access. External memory 1
4 is connected as an option and stores, for example, a control program of the CPU 12, font data, an emulation program, form data and the like. Also, 150
An operation unit 1 is a switch for making various settings and inputting instructions to the printer, and displaying various information.
An LCD, an LED, etc. for notifying are provided. Various settings input from the operation unit 1501 are stored in the RAM 1 for example.
9 in the NVRAM portion.

The external memory 14 described above is not limited to one, but a plurality of external memories 14 can be connected.
It is possible to add a font other than the built-in font stored in M or add an emulation program for interpreting a printer control language having a different language system.

FIG. 2 shows a typical print process in the system shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a configuration related to a processing flow, centered on FIG.

The application 201, the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203 in FIG.
The system spooler 204 is a program module that exists as a file stored in the external memory 11 of the host computer 3000, is loaded into the RAM 2 by the OS or another module, and is executed. In addition, the application 201 and the printer driver 2
Reference numeral 03 denotes an FD of the external memory 11 or a CD-ROM (not shown)
It is possible to read out from or read via a network (not shown) and additionally store in the external memory 11.

The application 201 stored in the external memory 11 is loaded into the RAM 2 and executed.
Similarly, when printing is performed, the graphic engine 202 that is similarly loaded in the RAM 2 and is executable is used.

The graphic engine 202 is a printer driver 203 prepared for each model of the printer 1500.
Is loaded from the external memory 11 to the RAM 2 and the output of the application 201 is set in the printer driver 203. Then, for example, when the OS is Windows (registered trademark), the GDI (Gr
aphics Device Interface) function to DDI (Device Dr
printer driver 2
The DDI function is output to 03.

The printer driver 203, based on the DDI function received from the graphic engine 202,
The printer 1500 generates a printer control command that can be interpreted and executed, for example, PDL (Page Description Language). The generated printer control command is sent to the system spooler 204 loaded in the RAM 2 by the OS.
Via the interface 21 to be output as print data to the printer 1500.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing in more detail the functional configuration of the host computer 3000 according to this embodiment. Although not described in FIG. 2 for the purpose of explaining the outline, the host computer 30 according to the present embodiment
In 00, the print data is spooled by the intermediate code data in order to realize reduction, enlargement, layout, print data processing such as poster printing, and additional functions such as print preview. When the user wants to process the above print data, the printer driver 2 is usually used.
03 makes a desired setting using a keyboard, a mouse, etc. in a setting window provided as a GUI. The setting contents are stored in the RAM 2 or the external memory 11 by the printer driver 203.

Specifically, the graphic engine 202
The DDI function that is the print command from the printer driver 2
03 does not receive it directly, but the dispatcher 301 receives it. Then, the print command (DDI function) that the dispatcher 301 receives from the graphic engine 202
Is based on a print command (GDI function) issued from the application 201 to the graphic engine 202, the dispatcher 301 loads the spooler 302 stored in the external memory 11 into the RAM 2, and the printer driver 203 Without spooler 302
Send a print command (DDI function) to.

The spooler 302 analyzes the received print command, converts it into an intermediate code in page units, and outputs it to the spool file 303. The spool file of the intermediate code stored for each page is called a page drawing file (PDF). In addition, the spooler 302 performs processing settings (Nup (printing N pages on one sheet)) relating to print data set for the printer driver 203 on the above-described setting screen, double-sided printing, stapling, color / monochrome designation, poster. (Partial printing, etc.) is acquired from the printer driver 203 and stored in the spool file 303 as a file for each job.

At this time, the setting files stored for each copy are changed to job setting files (SDF: Spool Deletion for brevity).
Sometimes called a description file). Although the spool file 303 is generated as a file in the external memory 11 in this embodiment, it may be generated in the RAM 2. Further, the spooler 302 is a spool file manager 30 stored in the external memory 11.
4 is loaded into the RAM 2 and the spool file manager 304 is notified of the generation status of the spool file 303. After that, the spool file manager 304
Determines whether printing can be performed according to the contents of the processing settings regarding the print data stored in the spool file 303.

When the spool file manager 304 determines that printing can be performed using the graphic engine 202, the despooler 305 stored in the external memory 11 is loaded into the RAM 2 and the spool file 303 is sent to the despooler 305. It is instructed to print the page drawing file of the intermediate code described in (1).

The despooler 305 is a spool file 30.
The page drawing file of the intermediate code included in No. 3 is processed according to the job setting file including the processing setting information included in the spool file 303, the GDI function is regenerated, and the GDI function is executed again via the GDI 202.
Output the function.

If the print command (DDI function) received by the dispatcher 301 from the graphic engine 202 is based on the print command (GDI function) issued from the despooler 305 to the graphic engine 202, the dispatcher 301 executes the spooler 302. Instead, the print command is sent to the printer driver 203.

The printer driver 203 generates a printer control command in a page description language based on the DDI function acquired from the graphic engine 202,
Output to the printer 1500 via the system spooler 204.

The host computer 3000 shown in FIG. 3 further includes a previewer 306 and a setting change editor 3.
07, preview of various settings, change print settings,
It is possible to combine multiple jobs.

For example, when the user desires a print preview, in the setting screen 20.1 provided by the printer driver shown in FIG. 14, the "Display preview screen when printing" check box 20.2 is checked with a mouse or the like. To do. When this setting is made, it is necessary to temporarily save the page drawing file.

The contents set on the printer driver setting screen are stored as a setting file in a structure (called DEVMODE in Windows (registered trademark)) provided by the OS. This structure includes a setting as to whether or not to store in the spool file manager 304 during the processing setting included in the spool file 303, for example. The spool file manager 304 sends the spool file 30 via the printer driver 203.
If the store designation is made when the processing setting in 3 is read, the page drawing file and the job setting file are generated and stored in the spool file 303 as described above, and the spool file manager as shown in FIG. A window screen 304 is displayed on the display 10 and a list of jobs spooled in the spool file 303 is displayed.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a screen display when four jobs are spooled. The menu bar or the menu icons (1601 to 16) immediately below it are displayed.
The job can be operated by pressing 12). In this embodiment, the number of operations of the menu bar and the menu icon is the same.

In the present embodiment, in the operation for the job, “print” in the state where the job is selected, “save and print” that leaves the spool file of the intermediate code as it is, and the print setting are considered. "Preview" to see the output preview of the job, "Delete" to delete the intermediate code spool file, "Duplicate" to create a copy of the intermediate code spool file, combine jobs of multiple intermediate code spool files "Join" to create a single job as a single job, "Split" to divide the combined job into multiple original jobs, and "Edit job" to change the print settings (layout settings, finishing settings, etc.) of a single job or combined jobs. "Move to the beginning" to put the print order of a job first, "move to the next" to move the print order of a job one step earlier "Moving the print order for a job to" one down into one behind ", there are 12 operation of the" last movement "of the printing order of a job to last.

When a preview of a single job or a combined job is specified on the window screen of the spool file manager 304 (FIG. 10), the spool file manager 304 loads the previewer 306 stored in the external memory 11 into the RAM2. , And instructs the previewer 306 to perform a preview process of the job of the intermediate code described in the spool file 303.

In response to this instruction, the previewer 306, which is the display control means, sequentially reads the page drawing file (PDF) of the intermediate code included in the spool file 303, and the job setting file stored in the spool file 303. After processing according to the contents of the processing setting information included in (SDF), the graphic engine 202
The graphic engine 202 outputs the drawing data to the client area (display controller 6) of itself by calling the GDI function with respect to, and the preview screen is displayed on the display 10. An example of the preview screen is shown in FIG.

As described above, the graphic engine 202
Uses the same function to specify the specified output destination (printer,
It is possible to perform appropriate rendering (drawing) according to the display.

The operation of the graphic engine 202 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, the original page 7.1 (width sx, height sy) is enlarged (reduced) to width W and height H, and the lower right portion of the enlarged result (width cx, height cy).
The processing when displaying 7.9 on the display is schematically illustrated.

As initialization processing, the graphic engine 202 is provided with the diagonal vertex coordinates (0,0) and (sx, sy) of the effective print area of the original page, the origin of the logical coordinates of the expansion destination, and the size (width) after expansion. W, high H) and the display area coordinates (0,0) and (cx, cy) in the logical coordinate space are set, and then the rendering function is called to realize enlargement / reduction of the original page. It is possible.

When the rendering function is called, the output destination device (printer, display) is designated, so that the same output result can be obtained by the same processing for the printer and the display having different output resolutions. is there.

By using this function, the previewer 3
06 is the same as despooler 305, spool file 3
This can be realized by a method in which the intermediate code included in 03 is processed according to the contents of the processing setting included in the spool file 303 and is output using the graphic engine 202.

In this way, the processing settings set by the printer driver 203 are stored in the spool file 303 as a job setting file, and the data of the page drawing file is processed based on this job setting file and output on the screen. It is possible to confirm how the actual drawing data is printed by a print preview similar to that output by the printer.

If there is a problem in the preview result, the user can be provided with a means for changing the setting by "job editing". It should be noted that the print preview function of the conventional application software such as document creation is a preview result drawn based on the page setting in the application, and therefore, for example, Nup
The print settings in the printer driver, such as printing, are not reflected, and it is not possible to present the preview to be actually printed to the user.

<Structure of Color Laser Beam Printer> FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a color laser printer having a double-sided printing function as an example of the printer 1500. This printer uses a polygon mirror 31 to emit laser light modulated by image data of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B) obtained based on print data input from a host computer 3000. The photosensitive drum 15 which is reflected by
An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed. Then, as described later, the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner of each color to obtain a visible image, and this is multi-transferred to the intermediate transfer body 9 for all colors to form a color visible image. Then, this color visible image is further transferred to a transfer material 2 such as recording paper, and the transfer material 2
Fix the color visible image on top. The image forming unit that performs the above control is a drum unit including the photosensitive drum 15,
Primary charging section having contact charging roller 17, cleaning section, developing section, intermediate transfer body 9, sheet feeding section including sheet cassette 1 and various rollers 3, 4, 5, 7; transfer section including transfer roller 10 and fixing section 25.

The drum unit 13 comprises a photosensitive drum (photosensitive member) 15 and a cleaner container 14 having a cleaning mechanism which also functions as a holder for the photosensitive drum 15 and is integrally formed. The drum unit 13 is detachably supported on the printer body and is easily replaceable according to the life of the photosensitive drum 15. The photosensitive drum 15 is formed, for example, by coating an organic photoconductive layer on the outer circumference of an aluminum cylinder, and is rotatably supported by the cleaner container 14. The photosensitive drum 15 is rotated by transmitting a driving force of a drive motor (not shown), and the drive motor rotates the photosensitive drum 15 in a counterclockwise direction according to an image forming operation. By selectively exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 with laser light corresponding to image data, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image data is formed. In the scanner unit 30, the laser light modulated by the image data is sent to the motor 31a.
Is reflected by a polygon mirror that rotates in synchronization with the horizontal synchronizing signal of the image signal, and the photosensitive drum is exposed and scanned through the lens 32 and the reflecting mirror 33.

The developing section includes three color developing devices for developing yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C) in order to visualize the electrostatic latent image with a developer such as toner. It has a configuration including 20Y, 20M and 20C and one black developing device 21B for developing black (B). The color developing units 20Y, 20M, 20C and the black developing unit 21B include sleeps 20YS, 20MS,
20CS and 21BS, and these sleeps 20YS, 2
Coating blades 20YB, 20MB, 20CB and 21B that are pressed against the outer circumferences of 0MS, 20CS and 21BS
B and B are provided respectively. Also 3 color developing devices 2
Coating rollers 20YR and 20M for 0Y, 20M and 20C
R and 20CR are provided.

The black developing device 21B is detachably attached to the printer body, and the color developing devices 20Y, 20M and 20C are detachably attached to the developing rotary 23 which rotates about the rotary shaft 22. ing.

Sleep 21BS of the black developing device 21B
Are arranged with a minute gap of, for example, about 300 μm with respect to the photosensitive drum 15. Black developing device 21B
Is a sleeve 21B that rotates in a clockwise direction while conveying toner by a feeding member incorporated in the container.
A charge is applied to the toner by frictional charging so that the outer periphery of S is coated by the coating blade 21BB. Moreover, by applying a developing bias to the sleep 21BS,
The photosensitive drum 15 is developed according to the electrostatic latent image to form a visible image on the photosensitive drum 15 with black toner.

Three color developing devices 20Y, 20M, 20
C rotates with the rotation of the developing rotary 23 during image formation, and the predetermined sleeps 20YS, 20MS, 20
The CS faces the photosensitive drum 15 with a minute gap of about 300 μm. As a result, the predetermined color developing devices 20Y, 20M, 20C are stopped at the developing position facing the photosensitive drum 15, and a visible image is created on the photosensitive drum 15.

At the time of color image formation, 1 of the intermediate transfer member 9 is used.
The developing rotary 23 rotates for each rotation, and the yellow developing device 20Y, the magenta developing device 20M, the cyan developing device 20C,
Next, the developing process is performed in the order of the black developing device 21B,
The intermediate transfer member 9 is rotated four times to sequentially form a visible image with yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, respectively, and as a result, a full-color visible image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 9.

The intermediate transfer member 9 is constructed so as to come into contact with the photosensitive drum 15 and rotate with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 15. The intermediate transfer member 9 rotates in the clockwise direction during color image formation, and the photosensitive drums 15 to 4 are rotated. Receive multiple transfers of visible images. Further, the intermediate transfer body 9 simultaneously transfers multiple color visible images on the intermediate transfer body 9 to the transfer material 2 by contacting a transfer roller 10 which will be described later during image formation and carrying the transfer material 2 therebetween. At the outer peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer member, the intermediate transfer member 9
A TOP sensor 9a and an RS sensor 9b for detecting the position of the toner image in the rotation direction, and a density sensor 9c for detecting the density of the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer member are arranged.

The transfer roller 10 is provided with a transfer charger which is supported so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the photosensitive drum 15, and is constituted by, for example, winding a metal shaft with a medium resistance foam elastic body.

The transfer roller 10 is separated downward so as not to disturb the color visible image during the multiple transfer of the color visible image onto the intermediate transfer member 9 as shown by the solid line in FIG. After the color visible images of four colors are formed on the intermediate transfer body 9, the transfer roller 10 is moved by a cam member (not shown) at the timing shown in FIG. Position it above.
As a result, the transfer roller 10 is pressed against the intermediate transfer body 9 via the transfer material 2 with a predetermined pressing force, and a bias voltage is applied, so that the color visible image on the intermediate transfer body 9 is transferred to the transfer material 2.
Is transcribed to.

The fixing section 25 is for fixing the transferred color visible image while the transfer material 2 is being conveyed. The fixing roller 26 for heating the transfer material 2 and the transfer material 2 are in pressure contact with the fixing roller 26. And the pressure roller 27. The fixing roller 26 and the pressure roller 27 are formed in a hollow shape, and have heaters 28 and 29 built therein. That is, the transfer material 2 holding the color visible image is conveyed by the fixing roller 26 and the pressure roller 27, and the toner is fixed on the surface by applying heat and pressure.

The transfer material 2 on which the visible image has been fixed is then discharged to the paper discharge section 37 by the paper discharge rollers 34, 35 and 36, and the image forming operation is completed. The waste toner after the visible image formed by the toner formed on the photosensitive drum 15 is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 9, or the four-color color visible image formed on the intermediate transfer member 9 is transferred to the transfer material 2. Waste toner is
It is stored in the cleaner container 14.

The transfer material (recording paper) 2 to be printed is taken out from the paper feed tray 1 by the paper feed roller 3 and is conveyed so as to be sandwiched between the intermediate transfer body 9 and the transfer roller 10 to be colored toner. An image is recorded, and the toner image is fixed by passing through the fixing unit 25. In the case of single-sided printing, the guide 38 forms a conveyance path so as to guide the recording paper to the upper paper discharge section, but for double-sided printing, a path is formed so as to guide it to the lower duplex unit.

The recording sheet guided to the double-sided unit is once fed to the lower part of the tray 1 (conveyance path indicated by a chain double-dashed line) by the conveyance rollers 40, and then conveyed in the opposite direction, and then is fed to the double-sided tray 39. On the double-sided tray 39, the front and back sides of the sheet are reversed from the state of being placed on the sheet feed tray 1, and the front and rear sides are reversed with respect to the transport direction. In this state, double-sided printing can be performed by transferring and fixing the toner image again.

<Poster Partial Printing> Next, the procedure for setting, previewing, and changing the settings of poster partial printing will be described in detail below. FIG. 8 is a diagram exemplifying a print result by poster printing. The poster print function is a function to perform enlargement (reduction) drawing of the content of one page drawn by the application using the system of FIGS. 1 to 3 described above, and divide the print into a plurality of physical pages for printing. is there. By sticking the divided sheets together, an output result larger than the sheet size supported by the printing apparatus can be obtained. FIG. 8 shows a case where an output four times as large as the original is obtained by setting the number of sheets to 2 × 2 and performing poster printing. However, the number of sheets is set to 3 × 3, 4 × 4, etc. It is also possible to set and obtain a larger output.

The poster partial print function is a function of printing only a part of the set number of sheets in the poster print function. The poster part print preview display function is a preview display function of the part designated by the poster part print. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a function of changing the print designation part is also added.

<Setting screen> As described above, in order to display the preview reflecting the setting by the printer driver,
It is necessary to instruct the printer driver to explicitly display a preview when setting print settings. For example, this explicit instruction can be made by checking the “Display preview screen at printing” check box 211 on the basic setting sheet 210 in the print setting screen shown in FIG.

Further, in order to specify the poster partial printing, the page layout designation pull-down menu 21 of the page setting sheet 212 (FIG. 15) on the print setting screen
Use 3 to specify a "poster". Although FIG. 15 shows an example in which poster printing is designated with the number of sheets being 4 × 4, the number of sheets may be another value such as 2 × 2, 3 × 3 as described above.

After the page layout is designated, the setting button 214 is pushed to designate the portion to be partially printed (actually, pointing with the mouse pointer and clicking the mouse button, or selecting the setting button 214 using the keyboard). Then, press the return key or the like) to open the “poster print setting” screen 221 (FIG. 16).

The "poster print setting" screen 211 is composed of an output page designation area 223 for designating an output portion and a small preview area 222 schematically showing the designated result. In the present embodiment, the pages to be output are designated by checking the check boxes corresponding to the number of pages, which are the same as the number of pages displayed in the output page designation area, by using, for example, a mouse. The pages whose check boxes are checked are displayed visually differently from the unchecked pages, such as being shaded so that they can be confirmed in the small preview area 222 as well.

The reverse button 224 is a button for collectively reversing the check states of the check boxes in the output page designation area 223. That is, in FIG.
As shown in, when the inversion button 224 is pressed while the check boxes corresponding to pages 1 to 8 are checked, the check boxes of pages 1 to 8 become blank and the check boxes of pages 9 to 16 are checked. It will be in a state of being.

Therefore, for example, when the check boxes corresponding to all pages are checked so that all pages are output by default, if it is desired to specify only one page for output, first, By pressing the inversion button 224 to blank all the check boxes and then checking the check boxes corresponding to the pages for which output is desired, it is possible to save the time and effort of specifying. In Fig. 16, poster printing with 4 x 4 sheets is used.
An example is shown in which printing of the upper two rows (number of pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) is designated. Various information specified on the setting screens shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 are stored in the job setting file (SDF).

On the poster print setting screen 211, O
By pressing the K button 225 or the cancel button 226, the poster print setting screen 211 is closed. When the OK button 225 is pressed, the setting contents are updated, and when the Cancel button 226 is pressed, the previous state is maintained.

<Poster Partial Print Preview> When the print processing is executed from the application program after the above print settings are made, the spooler 302 executes the SDF file for each job and the page drawing file (PDF) for each page as described above. Is generated and the spool file manager 304 is activated. Spool file manager 3
Reference numeral 04 loads the previewer 306 stored in the external memory 11 into the RAM 2 and instructs the previewer 306 to perform the preview process of the job of the intermediate code described in the spool file 303.

The previewer 306 is the spool file 3
Page drawing file of intermediate code included in 03 (PD
F) is sequentially read, processed according to the contents of the processing setting information contained in the job setting file (SDF) stored in the spool file 303, the GDI function is called to the graphic engine 202, and the graphic engine 202 makes its own client. By outputting the drawing data to the area (display controller 6), it is possible to display a print preview on the display 10.

When previewing poster partial printing, the job setting file SDF describes setting parameters for poster printing (such as the number of sheets) and an array indicating the portion to be output. As a result, as shown in FIG. 19, the previewer 306 displays a preview 251 reflecting the contents of the processing setting information included in the spool file 303 on the screen, and the control is the window screen of the spool file manager 304 (FIG. 10). Move to.

As shown in FIG. 19, in the large preview window, only pages (1 to 8 pages) for which printing is designated on the print setting screen of the printer driver are preview-displayed separately for each page.

If the user prints according to the contents displayed by the previewer 306, as described above, the spool file manager 304 shown in FIG.
A print request is issued by selecting the relevant job displayed in the list on the window screen, and instructing “print” or “save and print”. As described above, the print request is transmitted to the graphic engine 202 by processing the page drawing file based on the job setting file by the despooler 305 and calling the GDI function, as described above.
Printer driver 203 via dispatcher 301
A print command is sent to and the printing is executed.

<Setting Change Editor> When the user changes the setting as in the confirmation by the previewer 306, the window screen of the spool file manager 304 (see FIG. 1).
The job to be edited is selected from 0), and the "job edit" instruction is performed using the menu or button on the screen. In response to this instruction, the spool file manager 304
Setting change editor 30 stored in the external memory 11
7 (FIG. 3) is loaded into the RAM 2 (FIG. 2), and the setting change editor 307 is instructed to display the current or default processing setting.

The setting change editor 307 displays a job setting screen 231 as shown in FIG. 17 according to this instruction. At this time, the setting change editor 307 displays the job setting file (SD
F) is acquired from the spool file 303, and the value of each item displayed on the job setting screen is changed based on the setting item specified in the job setting file.

In the present embodiment, the job setting file for the job designated as “job edit” specifies the number of copies: one copy, the printing method: one side, the layout: poster (4 × 4), etc. The values displayed on the document list sheet of the job setting screen shown in FIG. 17 and the print setting sheet of the job setting screen shown in FIG. 18 are changed.

Also in the setting change editor 307, the page drawing file (PDF) of the intermediate code included in the spool file 303 is processed according to the contents of the processing setting included in the job setting file (SDF) stored in the spool file 303. By using the graphic engine 202 to output to the display controller 6, which is its own client area,
It is possible to display a small preview in the preview area 233 arranged at the upper part of the job setting screen shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, when the job is poster partial printing, the unprinted area of the reduced image of the entire original page is filled with the background pattern, and a grid corresponding to the specified number of sheets is used. The small preview images 232 and 244 are realized.

The user uses the print setting sheet (FIG. 18) of the job setting screen displayed by the setting change editor 307 to edit the processing settings included in the job setting file (SDF) stored in the spool file 303 for this job. It is possible to change or modify the contents of. At that time, the setting screen of the printer driver 203 shown in FIG.
16 may be set in the job setting screen, or the setting screen of the printer driver 203 may be called. In the present embodiment, by pressing the “setting” button 243 for poster printing included in the print setting sheet shown in FIG. 18, the “poster print setting” window 22 of FIG. 16 which is the setting screen of the printer driver 203 is displayed.
Call 1.

Therefore, the user can change the output designation page of the poster partial print by changing the check content of the check box in the output page designation area 223 of the poster print setting screen.

The changed change items are the setting change editor 3
According to the authentication request on 07, the change is authenticated and control is transferred to the spool file manager 304. If the change is approved, the print setting change will be saved, but not the original job setting file,
A job output setting file used for editing a job is newly generated and saved.

When previewing again according to the set contents, the preview request is issued again on the spool file manager 304. When the "Poster Print Setting" window 221 is called from the "Setting" button on the print setting sheet shown in FIG. 18 and the setting is changed, the setting is changed when the setting is completed by the "OK" button 225 on the screen. It is possible to configure the editor 307 to automatically update the small preview display.

In the case of such a configuration, for example, at the beginning, 1
For a job that was set to print the poster portion from page 8 to page 8, if you change to printing from page 1 to page 5, at the time the setting change editor 307 is activated, as shown in small preview 232 in FIG. ,
After the setting is changed, it is displayed as a small preview 244 in FIG.

When performing printing, the job setting screen 23
1 "OK" button 234 or "Cancel" button 2
Using 35, it returns to the window screen of the file manager 304 (FIG. 10) and issues a print request. The print request is transmitted to the graphic engine 202, a print command is sent to the printer driver 203 via the dispatcher 301, and printing is executed.

FIG. 5 shows a memory map in a state where the print-related module including the print mode control program in this embodiment is loaded into the RAM 2 on the host computer 3000 and becomes executable.

<Poster Partial Print Preview Process> The poster part print preview process in this embodiment will be described with reference to the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 6 and the flowcharts shown in FIGS. This process is activated by the previewer 306 or the despooler 305 when transmitting data to the graphic engine 202.

The graphic engine 202 calls the display controller 6 at the time of preview, and calls the printer driver 203 at the time of actual printing, and displays or prints on each output destination (display at the time of preview, printer at the time of actual printing). Has been realized. Here, a processing method of the enlargement (reduction) print function (poster print function) will be briefly described.

First, the settings relating to the output paper shown in FIG. 12 are made. First, a process of acquiring the orientation of the output sheet and the size of the output sheet in poster printing (step S16)
These values are acquired by 1). Next, it is determined whether the size of the output paper for poster printing is set (step S162), and if the size is set, the size is set as the size of the output paper (step S163). If not set, the currently set paper size is set as the paper size for poster printing (step S164).

Next, it is determined whether or not the orientation of the paper for poster printing is set (step S165). If set, the set orientation is set as the orientation of the output sheet for poster printing (step S166). If not set, the currently set paper orientation is set as the paper orientation for poster printing (step S167). The size and orientation of the output sheet are set by the above procedure.

In FIG. 13, the enlargement (reduction) and division method of the image are set. First, if the number of sheets of paper to be output in the vertical and horizontal directions is specified, that value is specified; if the enlargement (reduction) ratio of the image is specified, that value is the value that indicates the part to be printed in poster printing. Is acquired with (step S
191).

Here, the number of sheets in the vertical direction is Col, the number of sheets in the horizontal direction is Row, the enlargement (reduction) ratio is Scale, and the value indicating the print portion of poster printing is the two-dimensional array Able [] (subscript is The number in the upper left is numbered 0, and the number is incremented by 1 to the right,
When it reaches the right end, move to the left end one step below. repeat. (See FIG. 9).

Next, the effective output area (printableW (63), printableH (62)) of the original image (61, FIG. 6) and the logical paper size (cx (615), of the output destination (display 10 or printer 1500)) cy (616)) is acquired (step S192). Both shall be represented by (width, height). The logical paper size referred to here is as shown in FIG.
This is the size of the logical paper after the size and orientation of the output paper is set by the processing of.

Based on these values, first, enlargement (reduction)
Processing for determining whether or not a rate is specified (step S193)
Is done. If the enlargement (reduction) ratio is specified, the enlargement (reduction) will be performed regardless of the number of sheets specified earlier.
Enlarge (reduce) the original image using the ratio. In the present embodiment, since the input enlargement (reduction) ratio Scale is specified by percentage, the enlargement (reduction) ratio d is obtained as d = scale / 100 (step S194).

At this time, the numbers Row and Col of the sheets used for poster printing in the vertical and horizontal directions are calculated. A value obtained by rounding up the fractional part of the value of printableH * d / cy is used as the vertical number of rows Row, and a value obtained by rounding up the fractional part of the value of printableW * d / cx is used as the horizontal number of sheets Col.

If the enlargement (reduction) ratio is not specified, the enlargement (reduction) ratio d is d = min ((cx * Col) / printableW, (cy * Row) / printableH) (FIG. 6, 65). ) Is calculated (step S195). The above expression means that the ratio between the size of the original image and the size of the image after enlargement (reduction) is calculated in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the smaller one is set as the enlargement (reduction) ratio.

Next, processing is performed to calculate a reference point when dividing an enlarged (reduced) image, that is, the origin of logical coordinates viewed from each divided area. The origin (xnIndex, ynIndex) of the logical coordinates seen from each image area nIndex (nIndex is Able [0 to N-1]) divided into n (n = Col × Row) is calculated as follows. xnIndex = -cx * (nIndex% col) ynIndex = -cy * (nIndex / col) (Step S196 and FIGS. 6 and 66) Here, the operation% indicates the remainder.

As a result, the origin of the logical coordinates seen from each image area output by the printer is calculated. nIndex is
The output order is shown, and the values 0 to N-1 of the number array Able [] of the part that outputs the poster print are input to this value.

Next, a setting process (step S197) for obtaining the size (W (610), H (611)) of the entire enlarged (reduced) image is performed. W = printableW * d H = printableH * d (step S197 and FIGS. 6 and 67) based on the logical paper size and the enlargement (reduction) ratio that are acquired and calculated previously.

The origin coordinates of the image printed on each sheet obtained as described above and the image size after enlargement (reduction) are used as follows. At the time of preview: It is sent from the previewer 306 to the graphic engine 202, and the graphic engine 202 enlarges (reduces) based on the coordinate origin and the image size.
Form a divided image. This image is passed to the display controller 6 and displayed on the display 10 as a preview screen. When printing with a printer: The image is sent from the despooler 305 to the graphic engine 202.
Is enlarged (reduced) based on this coordinate origin and image size
-Form a divided image. This image is sent to the printer driver 203 and printing (poster printing) is performed.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the print result when the size, orientation and enlargement (reduction) ratio of the output paper are not specified, and the number of vertical and horizontal papers is specified as 2 × 2. In this example, the enlargement (reduction) ratio d is d = min (2cx / printableW, 2cy / printa
bleH), and cx = printableW and cy = printableH, so the enlargement (reduction) ratio d = min (2,2) = 2. That is, the vertical and horizontal directions are doubled to be divided into four.

When only the lower right portion (nIndex = 3) is partially printed, a logical print page and a logical preview page as shown in FIG. 6 are generated. In FIG.
The shaded area is the area to be partially printed.

[0104]

Other Embodiments In the above embodiments, only the case where the image processing according to the present invention is performed by one host computer has been described, but the function equivalent to that may be realized by a system composed of a plurality of devices. good.

A software program that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments (in the embodiments, FIGS. 12 and 13).
The program corresponding to the flowchart shown in any one or more of (1) to (4) is supplied from a recording medium directly or using wired / wireless communication to a system or apparatus having a computer capable of executing the program, The present invention also includes the case where an equivalent function is achieved by the computer executing the supplied program.

Therefore, the program code itself supplied to and installed in the computer to implement the functional processing of the present invention by the computer also implements the present invention. That is, the computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention is also included in the present invention.

In this case, the program may take any form such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS as long as it has the function of the program.

As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, a magnetic recording medium such as a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, an MO or a CD-RO.
M, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-
There are optical / magneto-optical storage media such as R and DVD-RW, and non-volatile semiconductor memory.

As a method of supplying a program using wired / wireless communication, the present invention may be implemented on a client computer such as a computer program itself forming the present invention in a server on a computer network or a compressed file including an automatic installation function. A method of storing a data file that can be a computer program to be formed (a program data file) and downloading the program data file to a connected client computer can be used. In this case, it is also possible to divide the program data file into a plurality of segment files and arrange the segment files in different servers.

In other words, the present invention also includes a server device that allows a plurality of users to download a program data file for implementing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer.

Also, by encrypting the program of the present invention, C
The key information is stored in a storage medium such as a D-ROM and distributed to users, and the key information for decrypting the encryption is supplied to users who satisfy predetermined conditions by downloading it from a homepage via the Internet, for example, and the key is supplied. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the information and install the program in a computer to realize the program.

Further, the computer executes the read program to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the OS or the like running on the computer executes the actual processing based on the instructions of the program. The function of the above-described embodiment can be realized also by performing a part or all of the above.

Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program,
CPU provided on the function expansion board or function expansion unit
Etc. perform part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can also be realized by that processing.

[0114]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since a print preview of poster part printing is possible,
It is possible to check the state of output before printing. Further, since the designated content can be changed, it can be changed without performing the printing process again. Further, when the designated content is changed, a print preview reflecting the change is presented, so that the changed state can be confirmed before printing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration example of a printing system using a host computer 3000 as an embodiment of a print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration related to a flow of processing, particularly centering on a host computer 3000, in a typical print processing in the system illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a host computer 3000 according to the present embodiment.
It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of above in more detail.

4 is a cross-sectional view of a color laser printer having a double-sided printing function, which is an example of the printer 1500 in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a print-related module including a print mode control program according to the present embodiment, which is a host computer 300.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a memory map in a state in which it is loaded into RAM 2 on 0 and is ready for execution.

FIG. 6 is a host computer 3000 according to the present embodiment.
It is a schematic diagram which shows the internal processing of.

FIG. 7 is a host computer 3000 according to the present embodiment.
It is a schematic diagram which shows the internal processing of.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of poster printing.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how numbers are assigned to respective areas in poster partial printing.

FIG. 10 is a spool file manager 3 in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the example of a 04 window screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a preview window screen.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a preview process when printing a poster portion according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of preview processing when printing a poster portion according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a printer driver setting screen for designating a print preview in poster partial printing according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a printer driver setting screen for designating a print preview in poster partial printing according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a printer driver setting screen for designating a print preview in poster partial printing according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a print setting change screen according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a print setting change screen according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a print preview screen in poster partial printing.

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A print result corresponding to one image by dividing one image information into a plurality of areas, generating print data corresponding to each area forming the plurality of areas, and causing a printing device to print the print data. A print control device capable of performing poster print control, including: spool data generation means for generating spool data corresponding to a print process in a designated region of the plurality of regions; and printing based on the spool data. A preview generation unit that generates a preview image, a display control unit that controls to display the print preview image, and a print device that generates the print data from the spool data in response to an instruction to execute the print process. Print data generating means for outputting, and the preview generating means enlarges and divides the image information of one page into a plurality of pages. And terpolymers print instruction, when the instruction is given to print some pages of a plurality of pages that have been enlarged divided print control device and generates a print preview image to some of the pages printed instructions. 2. Spooler means for storing the spool data, and change accepting means for accepting and executing designation change of the area for print processing corresponding to the spool data stored in the spooler means. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control apparatus is a print control apparatus. 3. The print control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the preview creating unit creates the preview image reflecting the change. 4. The print control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the change receiving unit changes the designation by changing the content of the setting information associated with the spool data. 5. The plurality of regions are generated by dividing the one image scaled at a predetermined enlargement (or reduction) ratio, and are generated. The printing control device according to the item. 6. A print result corresponding to the one image by dividing one image information into a plurality of areas, generating print data corresponding to each area forming the plurality of areas, and causing a printing device to print the print data. And a spool data generating step of generating spool data corresponding to a print process of a designated area of the plurality of areas, the print control method comprising: A preview generation step of generating a preview image; a display control step of controlling to display the print preview image; and a print device for generating the print data from the spool data in response to an instruction to execute the print processing. A print data generating step for outputting, wherein the preview generating step outputs a plurality of pages of image information of one page. When a poster print instruction for enlarging and dividing into a plurality of pages and an instruction for printing a part of the enlarged and divided pages are issued, a print preview image is generated for the part of the pages for which printing is instructed. Print control method. 7. A storage step of storing the spool data in a spooler, and a designation change of the area is accepted for a print process corresponding to the spool data stored in the spooler,
7. The printing control method according to claim 6, further comprising a change receiving step to be executed. 8. The print control method according to claim 7, wherein the preview creating step generates the preview image reflecting the change. 9. The print control method according to claim 7, wherein the change receiving step changes the designation by changing the contents of setting information associated with the spool data. 10. The one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the plurality of regions are generated by dividing the one image scaled down at a predetermined enlargement (or reduction) ratio. The printing control method according to item. 11. Dividing one image information into a plurality of areas,
Computer-executable printing capable of poster print control in which print data corresponding to each of the plurality of regions is generated and printed by a printing device to obtain a print result corresponding to the one image. A control program, which is a program for a spool data generation process that generates spool data corresponding to a print process of a designated region of the plurality of regions, and a preview generation that generates a print preview image based on the spool data. A process program, a display control process program for controlling the print preview image to be displayed, and a print process for generating the print data from the spool data and outputting the print data to a printing device in response to an instruction to execute the print process. A program for a data generation process, and a program for the preview generation process When a poster print instruction for enlarging and dividing one page of image information into a plurality of pages and an instruction for printing a part of the enlarged and divided plurality of pages are given, a print preview for the part of the print-instructed pages A print control program characterized by generating an image. 12. A program for a storage process of storing the spool data in a spooler, and a designation change of the area for a print process corresponding to the spool data stored in the spooler,
The print control program according to claim 11, further comprising a program of a change receiving process to be executed. 13. The print control program according to claim 12, wherein the program of the preview creating step generates the preview image reflecting the change. 14. The print control program according to claim 12, wherein the change accepting step program changes the designation by changing the content of the setting information associated with the spool data. 15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of regions are generated by dividing the one image scaled down at a predetermined enlargement (or reduction) ratio. The print control program according to item. 16. A computer-readable storage medium storing the print control program according to any one of claims 11 to 15.