JP2003330659A - Printer driver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer driver capable of easily setting print information matched with the condition of a printer. <P>SOLUTION: In this printer driver installed in a personal computer for controlling a prescribed printer by the personal computer, and configured to set various print information for controlling the printer on a property picture, the computer is made to realize a function for inquiring the condition (for example, the kind of a sheet set in the printer or the like) of the printer and a function for limiting the item of settable print information (sheet size or the like) associated with the printer on the property picture based on the inquiry result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer driver, and more particularly to a printer driver installed in a computer for controlling a predetermined printer by the computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a button for selecting "automatic setting" and "detailed setting" is provided on a property screen of a printer driver, and when the "automatic setting" button is selected, a predetermined current print is selected. A printer driver is proposed in which some of print information that can be automatically set is not displayed on the property screen (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-296324).

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional printer driver, since the print information is automatically set only on the printer driver side, the state of the printer to be controlled is ignored.

Therefore, when the user prints after setting the print information on the property screen of the printer driver, an error may occur because the set print information is different from the setting on the printer side. If an error occurs, set print information again, or
Since it is necessary to change the printer side (for example, a paper set) to perform printing, there is a problem that it is complicated. Also, some users may be confused because the cause of the error is unknown.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer driver capable of easily setting print information suitable for the state of the printer.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is installed in a computer for controlling a predetermined printer by the computer, and controls the printer on a print information setting screen. Is a printer driver capable of setting various print information for performing a print operation, and means for inquiring the status of the printer when the print information setting screen is displayed, and the printer on the print information setting screen based on the inquiry result. And means for restricting the items of print information that can be set for the computer.

That is, the computer in which this printer driver is installed displays a print information setting screen (property screen) on a predetermined printer (printer controlled by the printer driver) connected to the computer. Inquires about the printer status. The items of print information that can be set for the printer on the print information setting screen are limited based on the inquiry result. As a result, the print information set on the print information setting screen
The printer will not accept it and an error will not occur, and since only the print information items that can be set are limited and displayed, the user will not be confused when setting and print information can be set easily. You can

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the means for inquiring the status of the printer inquires about the type of paper set in the printer, and the means for limiting the items of the print information is the paper set in the printer. The feature is that the print size is limited according to the type.

For example, when roll paper of a predetermined width is set in the printer, the print size that can be set for this roll paper is limited by the width of the roll paper. Therefore, by inquiring in advance about the type of paper set in the printer, only print sizes that can be printed on the paper are displayed, and other print sizes are not displayed.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of a printer driver according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as "personal computer") having a printer driver according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a personal computer 1 has a central processing unit (CPU) 1 which mainly controls the operation of each component.
0, the main memory 12 that stores the control program of the device and is a work area when the program is executed, and the personal computer 1.
Operating system (OS), device drivers of peripheral devices connected to the personal computer 1, various application software, a hard disk device 14 in which user images and the like are stored, a CD-ROM drive 16, and temporary storage of display data. A display memory 18, a monitor device 20 such as a CRT monitor or a liquid crystal monitor that displays images and characters based on image data, character data, etc. from the display memory 18, a keyboard 22, and a mouse 24 as a position input device. , A mouse controller 26 that detects the state of the mouse 24 and outputs signals such as the position of the mouse pointer on the monitor device 20 and the state of the mouse 24 to the CPU 10.
And a printer interface 27 for connecting to the printer 2, and a bus 28 for connecting the above-mentioned components.

The personal computer 1 having the above-mentioned configuration is well known except for a device driver stored in the hard disk device 14, especially a printer driver as software for using the printer 2 according to the present invention.
A detailed description of each component will be omitted. The printer driver of the printer 2 is recorded in, for example, a CD-ROM included in the printer 2 at the time of purchase, and the CD-ROM is used in the CD-ROM drive 16 of the personal computer 1.
It can be installed in the personal computer 1 by setting It can also be downloaded from a server that provides a printer driver via a communication unit (not shown).

Next, the printer 2 connected to the personal computer 1 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 2 is a thermo-autochrome (TA) type TA printer, and mainly includes a CPU 30 for controlling the operation of each component and a C
The ROM 32 in which the operation program of the PU 30 and various constants are stored, and the RA functioning as a buffer for temporarily storing image data and RA as a work area for image processing.
M34 and image correction processing such as white balance correction, gradation correction, and edge enhancement, and color signal conversion processing for converting luminance signals and color difference signals into Y, M, C (yellow, magenta, cyan) signals for printing, An image processing unit 36 that performs image enlargement / reduction, division processing, etc., an interface 38 for connecting to the personal computer 1, a print engine 40, and a detection unit 42 that detects various states of the print engine 40.
And a bus 44 that connects the above-mentioned components.

The print engine 40 heats a roll-shaped color photographic paper (TA paper) having C, M, and Y color-developing layers, and fixes it by irradiating light of a predetermined wavelength. Means for transporting TA-shaped paper,
It has a thermal head and a fixing lamp. When printing a color image, first, the TA paper is conveyed and the thermal head is controlled by the Y signal,
The yellow layer of the TA paper is colored, and then the yellow color is fixed by a fixing lamp. Color development of the magenta layer and the cyan layer of the TA paper is similarly performed based on the M signal and the C signal. In this way, a color image is printed on the TA paper, and then the roll paper is cut into a predetermined length. Further, when outputting a print image with no border, there is a function of cutting the margin portion and outputting.

The roll-shaped TA paper set in the print engine 40 is a phototype with a width of 89 mm,
The detection unit 42 detects which type of roll paper is set, which is one of three types, a sticker type with a width of 100 mm and a postcard type with a width of 100 mm.
The detection signal is added to the CPU 30. In addition to the types of paper, the detection unit 42 also detects paper jams, open / closed states of the roll paper storage unit lid, and outputs the detected results to the CPU 30.

Next, the operation of the printer driver according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When a certain image is designated on the personal computer 1 and printing is instructed, the monitor device 20 of the personal computer 1
For example, a screen for print designation as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed.

In this screen, "Printer name" is printer 2
After confirming whether the notation is shown (confirmation) and then clicking (clicking) the "property" button, the property screen of the printer 2 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed.

That is, the printer driver of the printer 2 is
As shown in FIG. 3, when there is a property display request from the user, a printer status acquisition request is output to the printer 2, and when the printer status is notified from the printer 2, a property screen corresponding to the printer status is displayed. By so doing, the user is notified of the print status.

In the property screen of the "paper" tab shown in FIG. 5, the "paper type" is displayed and the print information ("paper size", "print direction", "edge", "division", "printing" is displayed. The number of copies ") can be set.

Here, the "paper type" is one of the paper types ("photo type", "seal type", "postcard type") set in the printer 2 as described above. The type is displayed based on the print state acquisition result, and other sheets are grayed out so that they cannot be selected. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
"Photo type" is displayed as the "paper type". Of course, it goes without saying that "photo type" paper is set in the printer 2.

When it is detected that printing is not possible, such as when the cover of the roll paper storage unit is open, the state shown in FIG.
The error screen (not shown) is displayed without displaying the property screen as shown in, and the user is notified of the error in advance.

Next, "paper size", "printing direction",
The case of setting "edge", "division", and "number of copies" will be described.

The "paper size" has the following sizes according to the "paper type".

[Photo type]: Card size (89 x
55mm), digital camera size (89 x 120mm), L size (89
× 127mm), HDTV size (89 × 158mm) ・ "Sticker type": Card size (100x74mm), CD
Jacket size (100 x 120 mm), digital camera size (100 x
133 mm), K size (100 x 148 mm), high definition size (1
"Postcard type": Postcard size (100 x 148mm) However, "Digital camera size" is printed with an aspect ratio of 2: 3.

The selection of "paper size" is limited by the "paper type" set in the printer 2. In the example shown in FIG. 5, since the “paper type” is the “photo type”, it is necessary to select from four types of sizes: card size, digital camera size, L size, and high definition size. The "paper size" is selected by pressing the ▼ button to display the above four types of paper sizes in the pull-down menu and clicking the desired paper size (selection).

The "print orientation" is set by clicking the vertical or horizontal button (setting).

The setting of "edge" is for setting whether to add a white edge to the printed photograph, and is performed by clicking the "edge" or "edgeless" button (setting). However, if the “paper type” is “seal type” or “postcard type”, border printing cannot be performed, and “edge” is grayed out so that it cannot be set.

"Division" is selected when a plurality of the same images are printed on one sheet. In the case of "Borderless", "division" cannot be selected. In addition, the number of divisions that can be selected differs depending on the size of the selected paper as follows, and there are some that cannot be divided and printed.

"Card size": 2 divisions, 4 divisions "L size": 2 divisions, 4 divisions, 9 divisions, 16 divisions,
25 divisions "K size": 2 divisions, 4 divisions, 9 divisions, 16 divisions,
25 divisions ・ “Postcard size”: 2 divisions, 4 divisions, 9 divisions, 16 divisions, 25 divisions · “L size”: 2 divisions, 4 divisions, 9 divisions, 16 divisions,
25 divisions, "CD jacket size", "digital camera size",
"High-definition size": Cannot be divided into prints The selection of "Divided" is limited to "Bordered" and whether or not divided printing is possible depending on "Paper size". Even if divided printing is possible, "Paper size" Limits the number of divisions (selection). In the example shown in FIG. 5, since “borderless” is set, it is grayed out so that “division” cannot be selected.

To set the "number of copies", press the ▲ ▼ button,
This is done by increasing or decreasing the number of prints (
Configuration).

Next, when adjusting the image quality to be printed,
Click (click) the "Graphics" tab as shown in FIG. On the "graphic" property screen, "automatic image adjustment" is enabled or disabled, and "image quality adjustment" is manually performed.

The "image quality automatic adjustment" is set by clicking "valid" when the image quality is automatically adjusted (setting).

The setting of "image quality adjustment" includes "brightness", "contrast", "sharpness", "color adjustment" of R, G, B, and "color depth", which are displayed in the corresponding bar of each item. It is set manually by moving (setting). The image on the upper right of the screen in FIG. 6 is also changed in association with the set values (-3 to +3) set in this way. Note that each item of image quality adjustment can be set even when "automatic image quality adjustment" is "valid".

Even while the property screen is being displayed, the status of the printer 2 is constantly monitored as shown in FIG. 3, and only the items and values of the printer information that match the status are displayed. Items and values corresponding to the selected printer information are displayed. For example, when the paper type set in the printer 2 is replaced and the paper type changes, an item corresponding to the changed paper type is displayed, and an error notification is given when the printer is in a disabled state.

After setting various items of the print information on the property screen as described above, "OK" is displayed on the screen for specifying print of the personal computer 1 as shown in FIG.
When the button is clicked (click), the image data of the image specified on the personal computer 1 and the print information set on the property screen are sent to the printer 2, and the printer 2 prints based on these image data and print information. Be seen.

The printer driver according to the present invention is not limited to the TA printer using the roll-shaped TA paper shown in this embodiment, but may be a TA printer using cut paper cut into a predetermined size or an inkjet printer. It can also be applied to other types of printers such as system.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, the printer status can be inquired to a predetermined printer connected to the computer, and the printer can be set on the print information setting screen based on the inquiry result. The print information items that are set in the print information setting screen are not accepted by the printer and no error occurs, and only the print information items that can be set are limited. Since this is displayed, the user can easily set print information suitable for the printer state without confusion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of a personal computer having a printer driver according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer to which the printer driver is applied.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart used to explain the operation of the printer driver.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for specifying print on a personal computer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of a property screen based on the printer driver.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of a property screen based on the printer driver.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for specifying print of a personal computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Personal computer, 2 ... Printer, 10, 30 ... CPU, 1
2 ... Main memory, 14 ... Hard disk device, 16 ... CD
-ROM drive, 20 ... Monitor device, 32 ... ROM,
34 ... RAM, 36 ... Image processing unit, 40 ... Print engine, 42 ... Detection unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A printer driver installed on a computer for controlling a predetermined printer by the computer, capable of setting various print information for controlling the printer on a print information setting screen, comprising: A means for inquiring the status of the printer when the print information setting screen is displayed; and a means for limiting print information items that can be set for the printer on the print information setting screen based on the result of the inquiry. A printer driver characterized by the following. 2. A means for inquiring about the status of the printer inquires about the type of paper set in the printer, and a means for limiting the items of the print information corresponds to the kind of paper set in the printer. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the print size is limited.