JP2004145774A - Help displaying means - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means of displaying "help" that explains the operating procedures regarding the functions of a printer, a printing method, an operating method or the like, when printing with a printer, a digital copying machine equipped with a printing function, an image forming apparatus of a compound device, etc. <P>SOLUTION: Information on a variety of the functions of the printer, its operating method, its operating procedures and corresponding keywords are prepared. When a user enters a keyword, a screen is switched to a setting screen corresponding to the keyword by a help display function, even if the same keyword is not used for the printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention provides a help for displaying an explanation of an operation procedure relating to a function of a printer, a printing method, an operation method, and the like when printing out with an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a digital copier having a printer function, and a multifunction peripheral. This is an invention relating to functions.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when printing out a document created by an application on a personal computer with a printer or a multifunction device having a printer function, an appropriate printer is designated in the print menu of the application, and (if necessary, such as stapling, punching, sorting, etc.). If the user presses an OK button, print commands, drawing commands, job information, and the like are sequentially generated based on document information created by the application and transmitted to the designated printer. The designated printer receiving the command sequentially analyzes and processes the commands, prints them out on paper, and performs post-processing.
[0003]
In recent years, since a printer is also provided with a post-processing device, a process such as stapling, punching, saddle stitching, and the like can be performed on a printed material. Further, the printer driver also has various functions, and many of them correspond to the slip sheet, aggregation, cover mode, and the like.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even when trying to “saddle-stitch” the printed one, the “saddle-stitch” menu cannot be found anywhere in the print menu. Sometimes it is not possible to find it by searching using the help function. In addition, even when trying to print “2 in 1” or “4 in 1”, this function may not be found. This is because some manufacturers have different names, despite having similar post-processing and functions. For example, the above-mentioned "saddle stitching" is included in the function relating to "paper ejection", and binds a plurality of printed sheets with the center in the longitudinal direction by stapling and folds the center into two. It is sometimes called “weekly magazine binding” for a function called “post-processing”. “2 in 1” and “4 in 1” are included in the functions related to “layout” and are modes in which two or four reduced images are printed on one sheet of paper, and are output. This is also called “aggregate print” or “n-UP” in the function of “page layout”. As described above, even if the same post-processing or function is used, the name of the post-processing or function is different depending on the manufacturer. Therefore, it is sometimes confused because the user does not know what procedure to perform when selecting the post-processing or function. This is especially true in an environment where printers of various manufacturers are connected to a network in recent years. An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the first invention of the present application provides first information relating to a function of a printer, a printing method, an operation method, and the like, and a second information which is a keyword related to the first information. Table data associated with information, keyword input screen display means for displaying a keyword input screen, and a search for a match with the keyword input on the keyword input screen from the second information of the table data. If there is any, a synonym search means for searching for the first information associated with the second information and a setting screen switching means for displaying the order of switching to the setting screen associated with the first information A help display unit characterized by having
[0006]
In the second invention of the present application, the setting screen switching means associates the keyword input on the keyword input screen with the second information when the first information of the table data includes a plurality of keywords. The help display means according to the first aspect of the present invention is characterized by sequentially switching to a setting screen relating to the first information.
[0007]
A third aspect of the present invention uses the help display means according to the first or second aspect, wherein the help display means is activated together with a print menu of the application.
[0008]
[Action]
A first invention of the present application has a function of a printer, or a function of the printer having table data in which information on a printing method and an operation method is associated with information on a keyword related thereto, and the printer has a function related to an input keyword. Or the description of the printing method and the operating method can be displayed. Therefore, even if the printer has the function or the printing method and the operating method, and the search is performed using a keyword called differently, the printer can perform the operation. The screen can be switched to a setting screen including the functions that the user has, the printing method, and the operation method.
[0009]
The second invention of the present application can cope with a case where a plurality of functions or a keyword over a printing method and an operation method is input by sequentially displaying detailed explanations when there are a plurality of explanations of operation procedures to be displayed. .
[0010]
In the third invention of this application, the help display means is activated together with the print menu of the application using the printer function, so that it can be used only when necessary.
[0011]
【Example】
FIG. 1 shows a module configuration diagram of a personal computer adopting the present invention and a block diagram of peripheral devices connected to the personal computer via a network. Referring to FIG. 1, a personal computer 1 includes a GUI (Graphic User Interface) 2, a help display unit 3, an application 4, an API (Application Programming Interface) 5, a GDI (Graphic Device Interface) 6, an EMF (Enhanced Interface), and the like. The printer includes a printer driver 8, a spooler 9, and an I / F 10.
[0012]
More specifically, the application 4 creates data such as a word processor, a table, and a graphic, and outputs the data as drawing data (referred to as a GDI function) to the GDI 2 serving as the drawing means of the OS by the API 5 when printing. . The GUI 2 is a screen for setting various functions when printing from the application 4. The printer driver 8 is for the multifunction peripheral 12 and the printer 13, and operates by being incorporated in an OS (Windows (registered trademark)) manufactured by Microsoft Corporation in the United States. The EMF spooler 7 and the Row spooler 9 are printer spoolers in Windows (registered trademark). In the Windows (registered trademark) OS, it is possible to spool a file of an intermediate data format that does not depend on a device called EMF. The EMF is created by the GDI 2 based on the GDI function, and temporarily stores the drawing contents in a binary format. RAW data refers to PDL and PJL data. The I / F 10 is an interface for connecting the personal computer 1 to the network 11.
[0013]
The multifunction device 12 has functions of a printer, a copy, and a facsimile, and is also provided with a post-processing device. The multifunction peripheral 12 has a printer controller, analyzes PDL and PJL received via the network 11, temporarily stores the PDL and PJL, sends the PDL to the printer unit, and prints on paper. In the printer function, when a job is instructed from a personal computer, such as aggregation, interleaving, saddle stitching, etc., the job can be executed according to the instruction. The same applies to the printer 13.
[0014]
Now, the procedure for using the help display means in the print menu will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2, the schematic diagrams of the display screens of FIGS. 3 to 6, 8 to 12, and the schematic diagram of the table data of FIG. .
[0015]
First, a document is created by the application, and when the document is to be printed out, a pop-up screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. Here, one of the printers that can be printed out from this personal computer is selected from the combo to the right of the printer name (N). Here, it is assumed that the MFP 12 is used as a printer. Other print page ranges and the number of copies can be set. An OK button and a cancel button are provided at the bottom of the screen. When the user operates the OK button, printing is started, and when the cancel button is pressed, the pop-up screen is deleted. At the lower right of the screen is a help button of the present invention, the details of which will be described later. To set various functions from this screen, click the property button to the right of the printer name combo. Then, a property popup screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. What is displayed here is a setting relating to paper feeding, but when other various tabs are selected, the setting screen is switched to the setting screen and a setting operation can be performed. There is also a help button using the present invention at the lower right in FIG. As described above, the help button of the present invention is activated when the print menu of the application is activated as in the second invention of the present application.
[0016]
When these help buttons are operated, a pop-up screen for help on the printer function, printing method, and operation method shown in FIG. In the table of contents, items on a setting screen relating to various printer functions, printing methods, and operation methods are listed, and when a necessary item is selected from these items, the screen is switched to the setting screen.
[0017]
Here, the processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 and a schematic diagram of screen display as appropriate. When a keyword search is selected in another tab on the right of the table of contents of the popup screen of the help regarding the printer function, the printing method, and the operation method in FIG. 5, a keyword search screen in FIG. 6 is displayed (S101). A character string relating to a printer function, a printing method, and an operation method to be searched is input using the keyboard (S102). Since the keyword is "2 in 1" as shown in FIG. Then (S103), the synonym search means 32 searches the second information of the table data as shown in FIG. 7 for a match with this keyword (S104).
[0018]
In this table data, among the printer function, printing method, and operation method of the multifunction peripheral, those supported by the setting screen are arranged as the first information, and the first information is related to the second information related to the multifunction peripheral. In the information, many synonyms of the first information (here, different terms having the same meaning but different terms depending on the respective manufacturers) are stored. In this multifunction device, the “N-UP” function can be set in “Layout” of the menu, so “Layout” is the first information, and “N-UP”, “Aggregate”, “ Aggregated Copy "," 2-in-1 "," 4-in-1 "," 8-in-1 "," 16-in-1 "," 1UP "," 2UP "," 4UP "," 8UP "," 16UP "," PAGE " And the like are stored in association with each other. Similarly, “N-UP” and “aggregate”, “aggregate copy”, “2 in 1”, “4 in 1”, “8 in 1”, “16 in 1”, “1 UP”, “2 UP” , “4UP”, “8UP”, “16UP”, “page layout” and the like are stored in association with each other, and “inter-sheet” as the first information and “interleaf”, “ "Interleaf", "Interleaf copy", "Interleaf copy", "OHP interleaf", "OHP interleaf", "Cover mode", "Cover mode", "Partition paper" etc. are stored in association with each other. In addition, the first information “saddle stitch”, “weekly magazine”, “weekly magazine binding”, “book binding”, and the like are stored in association with each other.
[0019]
The keyword "2 in 1" matches the second information related to the one that uses "layout" as the first information and the second information related to the one that uses "2UP" as the first information. (S105). That is, here, “layout” and “2UP” are selected (S106). Here, as shown in FIG. 8, first, the screen is such that the user can select to switch to the “layout” setting screen. When the “layout setting screen” of the screen is operated, the screen is switched to the screen of FIG. 9 and the setting can be performed. (S107). When 2UP is set on this screen, 2UP is set when “2” is set for “the number of pages per sheet”. If necessary, a description about the setting may be called out from the setting description library 35, and a description on the setting screen about the position indicated by the pointer may be displayed in a balloon. Further, the display may be switched to the setting screen without displaying the keyword search result. If there is a match other than “layout” (S108), the process returns to S106. Here, since “2UP” is also selected, the screen is switched to the screen of FIG. 10. If the “N-UP setting screen” is operated here, the screen is further switched to the screen of FIG. 11 and the setting of “N-UP” is possible. Become.
Since only N-UP settings are made on this screen, double-sided and booklet settings cannot be made. Thus, as in the second invention of the present application, when two or more keywords are searched from the input keyword, each of them can be sequentially displayed.
[0020]
If there is no match in S105, it is displayed that there is no match as shown in FIG. Here, “shadow” was input from the keyword input screen, but this function is not supported by this MFP, so the second information in the data table does not include this keyword, and this result It becomes.
[0021]
In addition to the above example, even if you do not know the term "inter-sheet", if you enter a keyword such as "interleaf" or "separator", the screen switches to the inter-sheet setting screen, and the term "saddle stitch" Even if you do not know, you can switch to the saddle stitching setting screen by entering a keyword such as "weekly magazine binding" or simply "weekly magazine", and make the settings.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the printer has the table data in which the information on the function or the printing method and the operation method of the printer and the information on the keyword related thereto are associated with each other. Since it is possible to display the description of the functions, printing methods, and operating methods that the printer has, even if the functions, printing methods, and operating methods of the printer are searched for using different keywords, The screen can be switched to a setting screen including functions of the printer, or a printing method and an operation method.
[0023]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when there are a plurality of explanations of the operation procedure to be displayed, the detailed explanation is sequentially displayed so that even if a plurality of functions, or a keyword over a printing method and an operation method is input, Can respond.
[0024]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the help display means is activated together with the print menu of the application using the printer function, and can be used only when necessary.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a module configuration of a personal computer and peripheral devices connected to the personal computer via a network.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a pop-up screen related to printing by a printer driver employing the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a pop-up screen relating to paper selection of a printer driver employing the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a property screen of a setting relating to paper feeding of a printer driver employing the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a table of contents of a help display screen employing the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a keyword input screen of a help display screen employing the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an example of a data table in which first information and second information of the present invention are associated with each other.
FIG. 8 is a keyword search result screen of a help display screen employing the present invention.
9A and 9B are a property screen for setting related to a layout of a printer driver adopting the present invention, and a description screen thereof.
FIG. 10 is a keyword search result screen of a help display screen employing the present invention.
FIG. 11 shows a property screen for setting the N-UP of the printer driver adopting the present invention, and a description screen thereof.
FIG. 12 is a screen in a case where there is no corresponding search result on the help display screen employing the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: composite device 2: CPU
3: ROM
4: RAM
5, a printer controller 6, a reception information storage buffer 7, an intermediate language information storage buffer 8, a printer unit 9, a paper feed cassette 10, an operation display unit 11, and a DF I / F.
12; DF
13; DF cable 14; scanner device 15; image processing unit 16; bitmap memory 17;
18; image memory 19; network I / F
20; modem 21; NCU
22; I / F for post-processing device
23; post-processing device 24; dedicated cable 25; bus 26; network cable 27;

Claims (3)

Keyword input screen for displaying first information relating to a function or a printing method, an operation method, and the like of the printer, table data in which second information as a keyword related to the first information is associated, and a keyword input screen A display unit that searches the second information of the table data for a match with the keyword input on the keyword input screen, and if there is a match, the first information associated with the second information; Help display means, comprising: a synonym search means for searching for information of the first type; and a setting screen switching means for displaying an order of switching to a setting screen related to the first information. The setting screen switching means, when there are a plurality of first information of the table data that match the keyword input on the keyword input screen, sets the first information associated with the second information. 2. The help display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display is sequentially switched to a screen. 3. The help display means according to claim 1, wherein the help display means is activated together with a print menu of the application.

Images