JP2004158046A - Printing information setting device, its method and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the quantity of operation required for inputting information by permitting various information temporarily set by a user for printing to be used by other users as well. <P>SOLUTION: A printer driver is stored in a RAM 33 and a table TBL2 for storing various data for currently set printing is included in the printer driver. In export processing A, various data are selected from the TAB2, an individual setting file FL1 in which information concerned with printing quality is recorded is prepared from these selected data and written in an HDD 41. Thereby the set information can be provided to other users. Then the HDD 41 is constituted so as to store the individual setting file FL1 in advance and it is also available to read out the file FL1 from the HDD 41 and write the read file FL1 in the table TBL2. Thus information about other users which is provided from the outside can be utilized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device, and a technology for supplying various information for printing in a predetermined printing device to the outside.

  Generally, when a printer is connected to a computer and print data created by the computer is to be printed on the printer, a device driver for the printer (hereinafter, referred to as a printer driver) must be installed in the computer. The printer driver is a computer program that controls various types of information about the printer, such as functions and interfaces of the printer, font information, and control codes, in the computer, and is prepared for each type of printer to be printed.

  The operator can operate the computer to start the printer driver incorporated in the computer and set various information. The setting is performed as follows. When the printer driver is activated, the computer displays a screen area for data input on a display. This screen area is provided with data input fields for the various information described above, and the operator operates a mouse and a keyboard to input data in these data input fields by keys, thereby setting various information. I was doing.

  In the above-mentioned conventional technique, there is a problem that when new information is set, the previously set information is lost. In order to solve this problem, a printer driver capable of registering a set of various kinds of set information in the driver is considered.

  However, such a printer driver merely assumes that registered information is used by individual users, and that information registered by one printer driver cannot be used by anyone other than that user.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to reduce the trouble of inputting information by adopting a configuration in which various information set once can be used by other users.

In order to solve such a problem, a first device of the present invention includes:
A print information setting device that sets various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controls the predetermined printing device,
File reading means for reading a data file recording the various information from an external storage device;
Information setting means for setting the various information based on the data file read by the file reading means.

  Here, the printing apparatus may have a configuration having a function of performing printing, and may be a single apparatus such as a printer, or a printing mechanism built in a specific apparatus (for example, a facsimile apparatus). It may be. The description of such data and the description of the printing apparatus will be described not only in the first apparatus, but also in the second to fifth apparatuses, first to fifth methods, and first to fourth methods described later. It shall be applied to a recording medium.

  According to the first apparatus having the above configuration, a data file in which various information for printing is recorded is read from the external storage device, and various information is set based on the data file. For this reason, various information for controlling the printing apparatus is set from this data file. Since the external storage device is a recording medium from which data can be read and written to and from the outside of the device, the data file can be provided from outside. Therefore, according to the first device, since various information can be set based on a data file created by another user, it is possible to reduce the trouble of inputting information.

  In the first device having the above configuration, the various information may be information relating to print quality. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the trouble of inputting information relating to information relating to print quality.

  In the first device having the above configuration, the external storage device may be a removable recording medium. According to this configuration, since the external storage device can be carried out as it is, there is an effect that the transfer of the data file is easy.

  In the first device, a registration unit for additionally registering various information in the data file read by the file reading unit with a name specifying the data file in a table prepared in advance, and the name in the table List display means for displaying a list on the display device, selection means for selecting one name from the list based on input data from the input means for accepting an operation by the user, and a data file having the selected name. Means for reading from the table.

  According to this configuration, the data file read from the external storage device is registered in the table, and a list of the contents of the table is displayed on the display device. When the user selects the name of one data file from the list, the data file with that name is read from the table. Therefore, the user can freely read the data file read from the external storage device even after the data file has been obtained, thereby eliminating the trouble of inputting information.

  In an apparatus in which the data file is registered in a table and can be displayed and selected, the list display unit stores the list, a name of a data file additionally registered in the table by the registration unit, and a previously prepared option. May be displayed separately.

  According to this configuration, the data file prepared in advance and the data file added by the user as desired can be displayed in a list in an easy-to-understand manner.

The second device of the present invention comprises:
A print information setting device that sets various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controls the predetermined printing device,
File receiving means for receiving the data file recording the various information from a predetermined server via a network,
Information setting means for setting the various information based on the data file received by the file receiving means.

  According to the second device having the above configuration, a data file recording various information for printing in a predetermined printing device is received from a predetermined server via a network, and various information is stored based on the data file. Is set. Therefore, according to the second device, since various information can be set based on the data file provided from the predetermined server, there is an effect that the trouble of inputting information can be reduced.

  In the second device having the above configuration, the various information may be information relating to print quality. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the trouble of inputting information relating to information relating to print quality.

  In the first or second apparatus, the information setting means may determine the content of the data file when the content of the data file includes data that cannot be handled by a printing device of a predetermined model. And a file conversion means for converting the converted data file into a data value that can be handled by a printing apparatus of the model and providing the converted data file for setting the various information.

  According to this configuration, even when a data file corresponding to a printing device of a predetermined model to be used is not prepared, it is possible to set various types of information for printing from a data file for another model.

A third device of the present invention comprises:
A print information setting device that sets various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controls the predetermined printing device,
Information setting means for setting the various information based on input data from the input means,
File writing means for creating a data file in which the various information is recorded based on the various information, and writing the created data file to an external storage device.

  According to the third apparatus having the above configuration, various information is set by the information setting means, and a data file is created based on the set various information. Then, the data file is written to the external storage device. Therefore, various information set by the information setting means can be provided to the outside. Therefore, according to the third device, since various information set by using the input means can be used by other users, there is an effect that the trouble of inputting information can be reduced.

  In the third device having the above configuration, the various information may be information relating to print quality. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the trouble of inputting information relating to information relating to print quality.

  In the third device having the above configuration, the external storage device may be a removable recording medium. According to this configuration, since the external storage device can be carried out as it is, there is an effect that the transfer of the data file is easy.

A fourth device of the present invention is:
A print information setting device that sets various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controls the predetermined printing device,
Information setting means for setting the various information based on input data from the input means,
File transmission means for generating a data file based on the various types of information and transmitting the generated data file to a predetermined server via a network.

  According to the fourth apparatus having the above configuration, various information is set by the information setting means. Based on the set various information, the paper type data and the data related to the various information corresponding to the paper type data are set. Is created. Then, the data file is written to a predetermined server via a network. Therefore, various information set by the information setting means can be provided to the outside.

  Therefore, according to the fourth device, since various information set by the user can be used by another user, there is an effect that the trouble of inputting information can be reduced.

  In the fourth device having the above configuration, the various information may be information relating to print quality. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the trouble of inputting information relating to information relating to print quality.

A fifth device of the present invention comprises:
A print information supply device that supplies various information for printing in a predetermined printing device to the outside,
File storage means for storing a data file recording the various information,
File output means for outputting the data file from the file storage means in response to an external request.

  According to the fifth device having the above configuration, the data file in which various information for printing in the predetermined printing device is stored in the file storage means, and the data file is stored in the file storage means in response to an external request. This data file is output. Therefore, according to the fifth device, there is an effect that the user who uses this data file can reduce the trouble of inputting information.

  In the fifth apparatus having the above configuration, the various information may be information relating to print quality. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the trouble of inputting information relating to information relating to print quality.

A first method of the present invention comprises:
A print information setting method for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) reading a data file recording the various information from an external storage device;
(B) setting the various information based on the read data file.

  According to the first method having this configuration, as in the case of the first device, it is possible to reduce the trouble of inputting information.

A second method of the present invention is:
A print information setting method for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) receiving a data file recording the various information from a predetermined server via a network;
(B) performing the setting of the various information based on the received data file.

  According to the second method having this configuration, the labor for inputting information can be reduced as in the case of the second device.

A third method of the present invention is:
A print information setting method for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) setting the various information based on input data from input means;
(B) creating a data file recording the various information based on the various information, and writing the created data file to an external storage device.

  According to the third method having this configuration, as in the case of the third device, it is possible to reduce the trouble of inputting information.

According to a fourth method of the present invention,
A print information setting method for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) setting the various information based on input data from input means;
(B) creating a data file based on the various information, and transmitting the created data file to a predetermined server via a network.

  According to the fourth method having this configuration, as in the case of the above-described fourth device, the trouble of inputting information can be reduced.

According to a fifth method of the present invention,
A print information supply method for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and supplying various information for printing in the predetermined printing device to the outside to the outside,
(A) a step of preparing in advance a data file recording the various information;
(B) outputting the data file in response to a request from the outside.

  According to the fifth method having this configuration, as in the case of the fifth apparatus, it is possible to reduce the trouble of inputting information.

According to a first computer program of the present invention,
A computer program for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) a function of reading a data file in which the various information is recorded from an external storage device;
(B) A computer program for causing a computer to implement a function of setting the various information based on the read data file.

  According to the first computer program having this configuration, it is possible to reduce the trouble of inputting information as in the case of the first apparatus and the first method of the present invention.

According to a second computer program of the present invention,
A computer program for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) a function of receiving a data file recording the various information from a predetermined server via a network;
(B) a computer program for causing a computer to realize a function of setting the various information based on the received data file.

  According to the second computer program having this configuration, it is possible to reduce the trouble of inputting information as in the second apparatus and the second method of the present invention.

According to a third computer program of the present invention,
A computer program for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) a function of setting the various information based on input data from an input unit;
(B) A computer program for causing a computer to create a data file based on the various types of information and to write the created data file to an external storage device.

  According to the third computer program having this configuration, as in the case of the third apparatus and the third method of the present invention, it is possible to reduce labor for inputting information.

According to a fourth computer program of the present invention,
A computer program for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) a function of setting the various information based on input data from input means;
And (b) creating a data file in which the various information is recorded based on the various information, and transmitting the created data file to a predetermined server via a network. Features.

  According to the fourth computer program having this configuration, as in the case of the fourth apparatus and the fourth method of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the trouble of inputting information.

  The recording medium of the present invention is characterized by a computer-readable recording medium that records any of the first to fourth computer programs of the present invention. This recording medium has the same operation and effect as each computer program of the present invention.

  The present invention includes other aspects as described below. This embodiment is an embodiment as a program supply device that supplies, via a communication path, a computer program that causes a computer to realize the functions of each step or each unit of the above-described invention. In such an embodiment, the method and apparatus described above can be realized by placing the program on a server or the like on a network, downloading the necessary program to a computer via a communication path, and executing the program.

  In order to further clarify the configuration and operation of the present invention described above, embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on examples. FIG. 1 is an external view of a computer system to which the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. This computer system includes a computer 10, a CRT display 12 and a printer 14 as peripheral devices. The computer 10 includes a computer main body 16, a keyboard 18 and a mouse 20 as input devices. The computer body 16 is equipped with a floppy disk drive 24 for reading the contents of the floppy disk 22.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of hardware of the computer system. As shown in the figure, the computer main body 16 includes a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a mouse interface 34, a keyboard interface 35, an FDC 36, an HDC 37, a CRTC 38, a printer interface 39, which are interconnected by a bus around a CPU 31 as a central processing unit. An I / O port 40 is provided.

  The ROM 32 is a read-only memory for storing various built-in programs and the like. The RAM 33 is a readable / writable memory that stores various data and the like. The mouse interface 34 is an interface that controls exchange of data and the like with the mouse 20. The keyboard interface 35 is an interface that controls key input from the keyboard 18. The FDC 36 is a floppy disk controller that controls the floppy disk drive (FDD) 24. The HDC 37 is a hard disk controller that controls a hard disk drive (HDD) 41. The CRTC 38 is a CRT controller that controls signal output to the CRT display 12 for displaying necessary data and the like. The printer interface 39 is an interface for controlling output of data to the printer 14. The I / O port 40 has a serial output port, is connected to a modem 44, and is connected to a public telephone line 46 via the modem 44. The public telephone line 46 is connected to the Internet 47. Therefore, the computer 10 is connected to the Internet 47 by using the public telephone line 46, and can be connected to a specific server 48 on the Internet 47.

  In this computer system, the operating system is stored in the HDD 41, and when the power of the computer main body 16 is turned on, the operating system is loaded into a predetermined area of the RAM 33 according to the loader written in the boot block of the HDD 41. A printer driver prepared for each model of the printer 14 is stored in the floppy disk 22 in advance, and is installed from the floppy disk drive 24 to the computer main body 16 by activating a predetermined installation program. The installed printer driver is stored in the HDD 41, and is loaded into a predetermined area of the RAM 33 together with the operating system when the power of the computer main body 16 is turned on.

  When the CPU 31 executes the printer driver, various components of the present invention are realized. The software program of the printer driver is stored on the floppy disk 22 as described above, but may be replaced with another portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card, or the like. (Portable recording medium). In addition, the above-described software program can be obtained by downloading program data provided via a network from a specific server 48 connected to an external network and transferring the program data to the RAM 33 or the HDD 41. .

  Next, a printing operation performed by the computer system having the above-described hardware configuration will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a state of processing from image information handled by the computer main body 16 to printing. As shown in the figure, an image is displayed on the CRT display 12 via a video driver 52 while processing the image by an application program 51 operating inside the computer main body 16. When the application program 51 issues a print command, a printer driver 53 in the computer main body 16 receives image information from the application program 51 and converts the image information into a signal printable by the printer 14.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, a rasterizer 54 that converts image information handled by the application program 51 into color information in dot units and image information (floor information) converted into color information in dot units are provided inside the printer driver 53. A color correction module 55 that performs color correction on the color data of the printer 14 in accordance with the color development characteristics of the printer 14. A halftone module 56 for generating halftone image information is provided. Further, an information setting module 57 for setting various information for printing by the printer 14 is provided inside the printer driver 53. Various types of information for printing include information on basic settings such as print resolution and color correction, and information on paper settings such as paper size and paper direction. The information of the color correction set by the information setting module 57 is sent to the color correction module 55. The information setting module 57 displays an image indicating the contents of the setting on the CRT display 12 via the video driver 52. The halftone module 56 may be provided on the printer 14 side.

  Further, inside the information setting module 57, a file reading unit 57a, an information setting unit 57b, and a file writing unit 57c are provided as main parts of the present invention. The operation of each module except the information setting module 57 is well-known, and therefore, the description is omitted in principle, and the information setting module 57 will be described below.

  The printer driver 53 can variously control printing by the printer 14 by changing the setting, but the user needs to make such setting in advance. The information setting module 57 performs the operation of setting various types of information for printing. Here, what operation the user performs by the operation of the information setting module 57 will be described first. In this description, Windows 95 (a trademark of Microsoft Corporation) will be described as an example of the operating system on which the printer driver 53 operates. The description will be made assuming that the name of the printer 14 is “PM-00”.

  The user first operates the computer 10 as follows to open a dialog box for setting various information for printing. That is, the "Printer" window is opened by performing operations of [Start] → [Settings] → [Printer]. Next, a window for the printer is opened by double-clicking the icon of the target printer on the window, here, the icon of “PM-00”. Then, from the window, [Printer] → [Properties] is operated to display a dialog box for setting various information about the printer.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the dialog box DB1. As shown, the dialog box DB1 includes six types of cards CD1, CD2, CD3, CD4, and CD5 of "information", "details", "basic setting", "paper setting", "layout", and "utility". , CD6 are prepared. The "information" card CD1 is for setting information about the printer, such as a comment on the printer. The "details" card CD2 is for setting detailed information about the printer, such as the port to which the printer is connected. The “basic setting” card CD3 is for setting basic information relating to print quality. The "sheet setting" card CD4 is used to set various kinds of information about the sheet. The “layout” card CD5 is for setting layout information for paper. The "utility" card CD6 is for setting other useful information. One of these cards CD1 to CD6 is selected by the operator by operating the mouse 20, and is displayed in the dialog box DB1. Note that the combination of the contents of the cards CD1 to CD6 is not limited to the above example, and may be configured to include all the contents in one card, or may be divided more finely into seven or more cards. It may be.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a dialog box DB1 in which the card CD3 of “basic setting” is opened. As shown in the figure, the card CD3 of "basic setting" has three data input fields E1, "paper type", "ink", and "mode setting" as data input fields for receiving data input from an operator. E2 and E3 are provided. The card CD3 is provided with a data display field E4 for displaying some information of the contents of the current setting of the printer driver.

  The “paper type” data input field E1 is for setting the type of paper, and “plain paper”, “special paper for super fine”, “special glossy film”, and the like are prepared as options. The “ink” data input field E2 is for setting the type of ink used for the printer 14, and “color” and “black” are prepared as options. The "mode setting" data input field E3 is used to select a basic setting mode. A "recommended setting" mode for automatically performing a predetermined setting and a "detailed" for manually setting in detail. The setting mode can be selected by buttons E3a and E3b.

  First, the operation when the button E3b is clicked and the “detailed setting” mode is selected will be described. When the "detailed setting" mode is selected, the data input fields E3c and E3d are displayed as "current setting" and "setting change", and become active. Thus, it is possible to input a printing purpose from the data input field E3c, and it is possible to open a dialog box for performing manual setting from the data input field E3d. The data input field E3c is for setting the type of image data to be printed, and has options such as a word processor, a graph, and a photograph.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a manual setting dialog box DB2 opened from the data input field E3d. As shown, data input fields E11, E12, E13 for "paper type", "ink", "print quality", "halftone", "microweave", "bidirectional printing", "color adjustment", etc. , E14, E15, E16, E17.

  The “paper type” data input field E11 and the “ink” data input field E12 are provided on the “basic setting” card CD3. The “paper type” data input field E1 and the “ink” data input field E2 are provided. , And the one input later is prioritized, and the display of the data input column of the former input is changed according to the data input later. The "print quality" data input field E13 is for setting the printing resolution, and four types of "draft", "fine", "super fine", and "photo" are prepared as options. Here, “draft”, “fine”, “super fine”, and “photo” are 180 × 180 [dot], 360 × 360 [dot], 720 × 720 [dot], 1440 × 720 [dot], respectively. Is the resolution of the image.

  The "halftone" data input field E14 is for setting the type of halftone, and "high-speed halftone" and "high-quality halftone" are prepared as options. The halftone type information is used in the halftone module 56 (FIG. 3). The “microweave” data input field E15 is for turning on / off the function of the microweave. Here, the microweave is a function provided in the printer 14, and the quality of printing can be improved by scanning different nozzles on the same line. The data entry field E16 of "bidirectional printing" is for turning on / off the function of bidirectional printing. Here, the bidirectional printing is a function provided in the printer 14, and the printing speed can be increased by moving the head from left and right in both directions.

  The “color adjustment” data input field E17 is for setting various information related to color correction, and “color correction by driver”, “auto photo fine”, “ICM”, and “sRGB” are prepared as options. In addition, brightness, contrast, and saturation can be set.

  In the data input fields E12 to E17 from “ink” to “color adjustment”, not all of the above-mentioned options are necessarily inputtable. The configuration is such that the options are limited depending on the type. For example, when the “paper type” data input field E1 is set to “plain paper”, the “print quality” data input field E13 can select “draft”, “fine”, and “super fine”. "Photo" is excluded from the options. Such a configuration is realized by preparing a paper setting information storage table for storing setting information for each paper in the printer driver stored in the RAM 33 and restricting the options based on the table. It should be noted that only the “paper type” registered in the paper setting information storage table can be selected in the “paper type” data input field E11.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the sheet setting information storage table TBL1 stored in the RAM 33. As shown in the drawing, the paper setting information storage table TBL1 has seven fields f1, f2, f3 from “paper type” to “bidirectional printing” corresponding to the data input fields E11 to E17 of the manual setting dialog box DB2. It is provided with a plurality of record data composed of f4, f5, f6 and f7. One record data corresponds to one combination of data that can be input from each of the data input fields E11 to E17, and all record data stored in the sheet setting information storage table TBL1 determines the data input fields E11 to E17. All of the combinations of data that can be input from are shown.

  In the figure, "ED" in the column of the field f5 of "halftone" indicates a high-quality halftone, "DB" indicates a high-speed halftone, and "None" indicates that no halftone is performed. Is shown. Note that "/" in this field f5 indicates that it can take any value delimited by /, and is shown in one column in the figure. Will exist. For example, "ED / DB" means that two record data exist, one of which is "ED" in the field f5 of "halftone" and the other is "halftone". "In the field f5 is" DB ". "N / A" in the column of the field f6 of "microweave" indicates that selection of the setting of microweave is impossible.

  If the paper type stored in the field f1 is “plain paper” and the data stored in the “halftone” field f5 is constant, there are eight cases, which are the number of rows in the table in FIG. Considering the number of “halftones”, if the “ink” is a color, there are 4 × 2 (= 8) ways, and if the “ink” is black, there are 4 × 3 (= 12) ways. , 20 cases in total. Therefore, in the case of this example, 20 record data are prepared in the paper setting information storage table TBL1 assuming that the paper type is “plain paper”. As shown in the figure, the sheet setting information storage table TBL1 also has record data of “special paper for super fine” other than “plain paper” and “special gloss film”.

  When inputting data using the manual setting dialog box DB2, the computer 10 refers to the paper setting information storage table TBL1 and accepts only a combination of input data corresponding to the record data included in the table TBL1. In this configuration, a combination of input data that is not included in the table TBL1, such as a combination of input data whose print quality is “photo” when the paper type is “plain paper”, is not accepted.

  The manual setting dialog box DB2 shown in FIG. 6 is provided with a “Save / Delete” button E18 and an “Add paper” button E19. When the "Save / Delete" button E18 is clicked, the computer 10 executes a user setting process of saving the current settings in the manual setting dialog box DB2 or deleting the saved contents. When the button E19 of "sheet addition" is clicked, the computer 10 executes a sheet addition process for newly adding sheet type information to the above-described sheet setting information storage table TBL1. The user setting process and the paper adding process will be described later in detail.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the operation when the button E3a in the data input section E3 of "mode setting" is clicked and the mode of "recommended setting" is selected will be described below. When the "recommended setting" mode is selected, the slide lever-shaped button E3e is activated, so that it is possible to easily specify the quality of printing by the printer 14.

  In detail, as shown in FIG. 5, the characters "clean" and "fast" are clearly indicated at both ends of the slide lever displayed as the button E3e, and the slide lever portion can be dragged with the mouse 20. Thus, one of "clean" and "fast" can be selected. Note that the option by the button E3e is a parameter value such as “clean” and “fast” as described above, but “plain paper” is set in the input fields E1 and E11 of “paper type”. It is a thing of time. On the other hand, when another paper type is set in the input fields E1 and E11 of “paper type”, other plural parameter values, specifically, “more beautiful”, “fine”, “ Any two parameter values selected from "standard" and "fast" are displayed.

  The parameter values such as "Better", "Better", "Normal", and "Fast" determine the quality of printing step by step. In this "Recommended setting" mode, the slide lever button When one parameter value is selected by E3e, the computer 10 executes a process of obtaining various quality information for determining the print quality from the selected parameter value. Specifically, a process for obtaining information such as the printing resolution, the state of the micro weave, and the state of the halftone corresponding to the above parameter values is performed. The information thus obtained is of the same type as the information input from the manual setting dialog box DB2, and the same information as in the “detailed setting” mode can be easily set in the “recommended setting” mode. It has become.

  The data display field E4 can display a list of the contents set and input from the various cards CD1 to CD6. For details, "paper size", "print direction", "number of layout pages", " Information on “Presence / absence of stamp mark”, “Print quality”, “Micro weave”, “Bidirectional printing”, and “Color adjustment” is displayed.

  The various data input and set from the various cards CD1 to CD6 exist in the printer driver stored in the RAM 33 in the form of a data table TBL2 for storing setting data (see FIG. 12). . Further, the computer 10 generates various types of information for printing, including information on color correction, based on the data table TBL2, and these information are also stored in the RAM 33.

  Next, the user setting process executed when the “Save / Delete” button E18 is clicked in the manual setting dialog box DB2 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a user setting process routine executed by the CPU 31. When the "Save / Delete" button E18 is clicked to start the process, the CPU 31 first performs a process of opening a "user setting" dialog box DB3 as shown (step S100).

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a dialog box DB3 of “user setting”. The “user setting” dialog box DB3 registers a set of data (data from the data input field E11 to the data input field E17) currently set in the manual setting dialog box DB2 as a set in the printer driver. As shown in the figure, a data input field E21 for inputting a registration name (setting name) and a setting list field E22 for displaying a list of setting names registered so far are provided. I have. The dialog box DB3 further includes an “export” button E23 and an “import” button E24. The “export” button E23 is for instructing execution of an export process for saving all the currently set information as an “individual setting file” in an external storage device such as the hard disk drive (HDD) 41. The “import” button E24 is for instructing execution of import processing for reading the “personal setting file” stored in the HDD 41 into the computer main body 16.

  Returning to FIG. 8, when the "user setting" dialog box DB3 is opened in step S100, the CPU 31 then uses the dialog box DB3 to read an operation input from the keyboard 18 and the mouse 20 as input data. Is performed (step S110). Subsequently, it is determined what kind of operation the input data indicates (step S115). Here, if it is determined that the input data indicates that the “export” button E23 provided in the dialog box DB3 has been clicked, the process proceeds to step S120.

  In step S120, the CPU 31 performs a process of opening the dialog box DB4 of "exporting a setting file", that is, a process of displaying the dialog box DB4 on the CRT display 12.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a dialog box DB4 for “exporting a setting file”. As shown in the figure, a dialog box DB4 for “Exporting a setting file” is the same dialog box as a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for saving a file provided by Windows 95, and includes a data entry field E31 for “Location to save”. , A list field E32 for displaying a list of file names, a data input field E33 for "file name", a data input field E34 for "file type", and the like.

  Subsequently, the CPU 31 executes a process of saving the personal setting file (step S130). This save processing saves a set of data set in each of the input fields E11 to E17 of the manual setting dialog box DB2 as a personal setting file. The keyboard 18 according to the above-mentioned "export setting file" dialog box DB4 In response to the operation of the mouse 20, the storage process is executed. More specifically, in the dialog box DB4 of “Export setting file” in FIG. 10, a data input field E31 of “storage location”, a data input field E33 of “file name”, and a data input field E34 of “file type” are displayed. When the "Save" button E35 is clicked in the state in which is input, the personal setting file is saved with the storage location, file name, and file type according to the data input fields E31, E33, and E34.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the personal setting file FL1. As shown, the personal setting file FL1 is mainly composed of three fields F1, F2, and F3 of "file name", "print mode setting value", and "color adjustment setting value". The field F2 of the “print mode setting value” includes six fields F21, F22, F23, “print paper type”, “ink”, “print quality”, “halftone”, “micro weave”, and “bidirectional printing”. F24, F25 and F26 are provided. A field F3 of “color adjustment set value” includes fields F31, F32, and F33 of “color correction by driver”, “auto photo fine”, and “sRGB”. The field F31 includes five fields F311, F312, F313, F314, and F315 of "color correction method", "brightness", "contrast", "saturation", and "ink correction data", and the field F32 includes "color tone". , "Digital camera correction", and "sharpness".

  In the field F1, the file name set in the data input column E31 of the dialog box DB4 of “Export setting file” shown in FIG. 10 is written, and in the other fields F21 to F33, the manual setting is performed. The contents set in each of the input fields E11 to E17 of the dialog box DB2 are written. More specifically, fields F21, F22, F23, F24, F25, and F26 include “paper type”, “ink”, “print quality”, “halftone”, “micro weave”, and “bidirectional printing”. The contents of the input fields E11 to E16 are written in order. In the fields F311, F312, F313, F314, and F315, set values such as brightness, contrast, and saturation when "color correction by driver" is selected in the data input field E17 of "color adjustment" are written. ing. In the fields 321, F322, and F323, set values of color tone, digital camera correction, and sharpness when "auto photo fine" is selected in the data input column E17 of "color adjustment" are written. In the field F33, when "sRGB" is selected in the data input field E17 of "color adjustment", a set value indicating that is selected is written.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing where the personal setting file FL1 is stored by the export process of steps S110 to S140. As shown in the figure, a printer driver is stored in the RAM 33, and the printer driver includes the data table TBL2 for storing setting data described above. The data table TBL2 stores each data currently set in the manual setting dialog box DB2. According to the export process A, each of the above data is selected from the data table TBL2, and the selected data is written to the HDD 41 in the form of a personal setting file FL1 (for example, file name = “landscape photo setting”).

  Returning to FIG. 8, after execution of step S130, the CPU 31 closes the dialog box DB4 of “Export setting file” opened in step S120 (step S140), and then opens the “user setting” dialog box opened in step S100. The box DB3 is closed (step S150). Thereafter, the CPU 31 advances the processing to “return”, and ends this processing routine once.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S115 that the input data indicates that the "import" button E24 provided in the "user setting" dialog box DB3 has been clicked, the "import setting file" is displayed. Is performed, that is, a process of displaying the dialog box DB5 on the CRT display 12 (step S170).

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the dialog box DB5 of “Import setting file”. As shown in the figure, the dialog box DB5 for "Importing a setting file" is the same dialog box as a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for reading a file provided by Windows 95, and includes a data entry field E41 for "File location" and a , A list field E42 for displaying a list of file names, a data input field E43 for "file name", a data input field E44 for "file type", and the like.

  Subsequently, the CPU 31 executes a reading process of the personal setting file (step S180). This reading process is executed in response to the operation of the keyboard 18 and the mouse 20 according to the dialog box DB5 of “Import of setting file”. More specifically, in the dialog box DB5 of “Import setting file” in FIG. 13, a data input field E41 of “file location”, a data input field E43 of “file name”, and a data input field E44 of “file type” are displayed. When the "open" button E45 is clicked in the state where the "." Is input, the CPU 31 sets the personal setting file defined by the file location, file name, and file type according to the data input fields E41, E43, and E44. Read.

  Subsequently, the CPU 31 performs a process of setting the data of the read personal setting file in the printer driver (step S190). More specifically, as shown in the import processing B in FIG. 12, for example, the personal setting file FL1 read from the HDD 41 is written in the setting data storage data table TBL2 stored in the RAM 33. As a result, the data of the fields F2 to F33 excluding the “file name” of the personal setting file shown in FIG. 11 are stored in the data input fields E11 to E17 of the manual setting dialog box DB2 shown in FIG. Will be displayed.

  In this step S190, the process of registering the personal setting file FL1 written in the data table TBL2 for storing setting data in the setting list field E22 of the dialog box DB3 of "user setting" shown in FIG. 9 is also performed. . More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, a setting list table TBL3 for storing the registered contents is prepared in the RAM 33. In step S190, as shown in the processing C (FIG. 12), the personal setting Writing is performed to add the data of the file FL1 to the setting list table TBL3. The setting list table TBL3 is a tabular table in which a plurality of records are collected using the same data structure as the personal setting file FL1 as one record, and the data of the personal setting file FL1 is registered as one new record. become. The "file name" of one record registered in the setting list table TBL3 is displayed in the setting list column E22 of the dialog box DB3 of "user setting" shown in FIG.

  As a result, for example, when the read personal setting file is “Twilight Photo Setting” as shown in FIG. 13, as shown in FIG. 14, the setting list field E22 of the “user setting” dialog box DB3 is displayed as shown in FIG. "Twilight Photo Setting" is additionally displayed. As shown in FIG. 15, when the "basic setting" card CD3 is opened and the data input field E3c is clicked, a dialog box DB6 for displaying options is opened. Will be additionally displayed. Therefore, when "Twilight Photo Setting" is selected from this dialog box DB6, the CPU 31 compares the result of the selection with the setting list table TBL3, thereby obtaining various data (the above data) corresponding to the "Twilight Photo Setting". (Data corresponding to the input fields E11 to E17).

  After execution of step S190, the CPU 31 closes the dialog box DB5 of “Import setting file” opened in step S170 (step S200). Thereafter, the CPU 31 advances the process to step S150, closes the “user setting” dialog box DB3 opened in step S100, advances the process to “return”, and ends the processing routine once.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S115 that the input data indicates another operation other than the operation of the “export” and “import” buttons E23 and E24, the above-described export and import processing is performed. The other processing is performed (step S210). The main processing of other processing is processing for saving / deleting data in the setting list table. This save / delete process is performed by extracting various data (data from the data input field E11 to the data input field E17) currently set in the manual setting dialog box DB2 from the data table TBL2 for storing setting data. This is to register in the setting list column E22 of the “user setting” dialog box DB3 shown in FIG. 9 or delete the registered contents. As a result, as shown in the processing of FIG. 12, specific data among various data stored in the data table TBL2 for storing setting data is transferred to the setting list table TBL3.

  After execution of step S210, the CPU 31 advances the process to step S150, closes the "user setting" dialog box DB3 opened in step S100, advances the process to "return", and executes this user setting processing routine. Is temporarily terminated.

  Next, a description will be given of a paper addition process executed when the “paper addition” button E19 is clicked in the manual setting dialog box DB2. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a sheet addition processing routine executed by the CPU 31. When the "Add paper" button E19 is clicked to start the process, the CPU 31 first performs a process of opening a "Add paper type" dialog box DB6 as shown in the figure (step S300).

  FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing the dialog box DB7 of “Add paper type”. As shown in the figure, a dialog box DB7 of “Add paper type” is the same dialog box as a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for reading a file provided by Windows 95, and includes a data entry field E51 of “File location” and , A list field E52 for displaying a list of file names, a data input field E53 for "file name", a data input field E54 for "file type", and the like.

  Subsequently, the CPU 31 executes a paper setting file reading process (step S310). This reading process is executed in response to an operation of the keyboard 18 and the mouse 20 in accordance with the dialog box DB7 of “Add paper type”. Specifically, in the dialog box DB7 of “Add paper type” in FIG. 17, a data input column E51 of “file location”, a data input column E53 of “file name”, and a data input column E54 of “file type” are displayed. When the “open” button E55 is clicked in the input state, the CPU 31 reads the paper setting file defined by the file location, file name, and file type according to the data input fields E51, E53, E54. .

  In the example of FIG. 17, the “file location” is “PM-00”, but the “PM-00” holder has a paper setting suitable for the model of the printer 14 (PM-00). Several files are prepared in advance. The paper setting file is usually provided from the printer maker in accordance with the type of the new paper, and is specific to the printer model. In the “PM-00” holder, the paper setting file thus obtained is obtained. A paper setting file is stored in advance. In step S310, a process of selecting and reading a desired file to be added from these paper setting files in accordance with a user operation is performed.

  FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the paper setting file FL2. As shown in the drawing, the paper setting file FL2 includes a plurality of record data including a field G1 of “print mode data” and a field G2 of “ink weight correction information”. A field G1 of "print mode data" defines a print mode supported by the sheet defined by the sheet setting file FL2, and includes the same "sheet type", "ink", and "print quality" as those in the above-described sheet setting information storage table TBL1. , "Resolution", "halftone", "microweave", and "bidirectional printing" are provided with seven fields G11, G12, G13, G14, G15, G16, and G17.

  In the field G2 of "ink weight correction information", information for correcting the weight of each color ink according to the print mode is written. The field G2 of "ink weight correction information" is paired with the field G1 of "print mode data" at the front, and ink weight correction information suitable for the print mode determined from the data of field G1 is stored in field G2. Has been written. Specifically, a three-dimensional table used for conversion from RGB to CMYK is prepared in the form of resources individually for the print mode determined from the data in the field G1, and the file names of the corresponding resources (for example, , “Rs001”, “rs002”, etc.) are stored in the field G2.

  After reading the paper setting file having the above configuration in step S310, the CPU 31 performs a process of setting the data of the read paper setting file in the printer driver (step S320). More specifically, as shown in process D of FIG. 19, for example, the paper setting file FL2 read from the holder HLD of “PM-00” on the HDD 41 is stored in the paper setting information storage table in the printer driver stored in the RAM 33. A process for adding to TBL1 is performed. As a result, data that can be input from each of the data input fields E11 to E17 of the manual setting dialog box DB2 shown in FIG. 6 is restricted based on the sheet setting file FL2 read from the HDD 41. That is, as shown in FIG. 20, when the "manual setting" dialog box DB2 is opened and the data input field E11 is clicked, a dialog box DB8 displaying options is opened, but the read sheet setting file FL2 is displayed in FIG. As shown in the figure, in the case of "pre-curror paper type B", as shown in FIG. 20, "pre-curror paper type B" is additionally displayed in this dialog box DB8. Therefore, "Printer paper type B" can be selected as the paper type in the "manual setting" dialog box DB2. As for the paper type, “Printer paper type B” can be similarly selected in the “paper type” data input field E1 provided on the card CD3 of “basic setting”.

  After the execution of step S320, the CPU 31 closes the dialog box DB7 of "Add paper type" opened in step S300 (step S330). Thereafter, the CPU 31 advances the processing to “return”, and ends this processing routine once.

  In the first embodiment described in detail above, a set of various data input by the user operating the keyboard 18 and the mouse 20 from the screen of the "manual setting" dialog box DB2 is stored in the external storage as the personal setting file FL1. It is configured to write to the HDD 41 which is a device. Since the data on the HDD 41 can be transferred to another storage medium, it is possible to provide printing information relating to the “basic settings” set by the user to other users in the form of a personal setting file FL1. In addition, since the personal setting file FL1 includes data of the paper type and data relating to various information corresponding to the paper type data, it is possible to set various information for printing from the personal setting file FL1. is there. Therefore, other users can use the various types of information for printing set by the computer 10 as they are, and can reduce the trouble of inputting information.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the computer 10 reads the personal setting file FL1 from the HDD 41 which is an external storage device, and sets various information for printing based on the personal setting file FL1. . Accordingly, by preparing the personal setting file FL1 created by another user in the HDD 41, various information for printing set by another user can be used on the computer 10 side. Therefore, in this embodiment, the trouble of inputting various information for printing can be reduced.

  Further, in the first embodiment, a paper setting file FL2 indicating setting data according to the type of paper is stored in the HDD 21 in advance, the paper setting file FL2 is read, and the keyboard 18 of the print information by the user is read. The configuration is such that setting input using the mouse 20 is restricted in accordance with the paper setting file FL2. Therefore, there is an effect that the user can reduce labor for inputting various information.

  In the first embodiment, the personal setting file FL1 is stored in the HDD 41. However, the personal setting file FL1 may be stored in the floppy disk 22 instead. That is, in the processing of step S130 of the first embodiment, the writing destination of the personal setting file FL1 is set to the floppy disk drive 24, and the personal setting file FL1 is stored in the floppy disk 22 in advance, and the processing of step S180 is performed. In this configuration, the reading destination of the personal setting file FL1 is the floppy disk drive 24.

  With this configuration, as in the first embodiment, there is an effect that the labor for inputting various types of information for printing can be reduced. In particular, in this modified example, since the storage medium for storing the personal setting file FL1 is the floppy disk 22, the file FL1 can be transferred to and from the floppy disk 22, which is easy. Note that, instead of the floppy disk 22, another removable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, or an IC card may be used.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the paper setting file FL2 provided from the outside (the maker of the printer) is prepared on the HDD 21 in advance, and the paper setting file FL2 is read from the HDD 21. In the example, the paper setting file FL2 is read from an external server via the Internet. The second embodiment has the same hardware configuration as that of the first embodiment, has almost the same configuration in software, and differs only in the “paper addition processing routine”.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a sheet addition processing routine according to the second embodiment. This sheet addition processing routine is different from that of the first embodiment only in the processing of reading the sheet setting file FL2 in step S310, and the processing in steps S300, S320 and S330 is the same.

  When the dialog box DB6 of “Add paper type” is opened in step S300, then, as shown in FIG. 22, when an Internet address is entered in the data entry field E51 of “File location”, A process for taking in an address is performed (step S310A).

  The Internet address input to the data input field E51 specifies, for example, a server owned by a printer maker. In this server, a holder for an individual paper setting file FL2 is prepared in advance for each printer model. ing. In the example of the data input field E51 shown in FIG. 22, the folder of the printer model “PM-00” on the server is specified in the data input field E5 of “file location”. In step S311, the designated Internet address is fetched.

  Next, the CPU 31 performs a process of connecting to the computer (server) specified by the Internet address (step S312). Thereafter, a process of receiving the paper setting file FL2 from the holder of the connected computer is performed by the file transfer function (step S313).

  After that, the processes of steps S320 and S330 are executed as in the first embodiment, and the data of the paper setting file FL2 is registered in the printer driver, and the process of closing the dialog box is performed. Thereafter, the process returns to "return" and the process of this routine is temporarily ended.

  FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a file transmission processing routine executed by the computer (server) in which the above-described paper setting file FL2 is stored. This processing routine is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals. As shown, when the process is started, the computer determines whether there is a data transmission request (step S400). If it is determined that there is a transmission request, the computer determines the file designated by the transmission request. Is transmitted (step S410). More specifically, when a transmission request based on the file transfer function is received from the computer 10 that sets print information in step S313 of the paper addition processing routine shown in FIG. A process for transmitting the paper setting file FL2 is performed. In step S313, the transmitted sheet setting file FL2 is received.

  After execution of step S410, the process exits to "Return" and ends this processing routine once. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S400 that there is no transmission request, the process directly returns to "return" without executing the process of step S410, and the process routine is temporarily ended.

  In the second embodiment configured as described above, the paper setting file FL2 is read from an external server via the Internet, and printing information relating to “basic settings” is set based on the paper setting file FL2. It has a configuration. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the user can reduce labor for inputting various information. In particular, in the second embodiment, it is possible to access the paper setting file FL2 on a predetermined server only by designating the Internet address without preparing the paper setting file FL2 in the HDD 21 in advance. Therefore, the operability is extremely excellent.

  Further, in this embodiment, a paper setting file FL2 including at least the paper type data and the data relating to the various types of information corresponding to the paper type data is stored on a predetermined server. The paper setting file is output from a predetermined server via the Internet in response to a request from the user. Since this data file includes paper type data and data related to various information corresponding to the paper type data, it is possible to set various information for printing from this data file.

  Therefore, according to this server, it is possible to reduce the trouble of inputting information for the user using the data file.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the paper setting file prepared in advance for each model of the printer is configured to be read from the holder of the corresponding model, but in the third embodiment, the paper setting file corresponding to the model of the printer 14 to be used is read. When the paper setting file does not exist in the HDD 21 as the storage means, the paper setting file for another model is read, the paper setting file for the other model is converted for the model of the printer, and the converted paper setting file is converted. Is configured to set various types of information for printing based on.

  FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a sheet addition processing routine according to the third embodiment. This sheet addition processing routine includes the same steps S300 to S330 as the sheet addition processing routine of the first embodiment (FIG. 16), and further includes a step of executing a file conversion process between steps S310 and S320. S310B is provided. Note that the sheet setting file FL2 read in step S310 is different from the first embodiment and is a sheet setting file for another model.

  The file conversion process in step S311B is for converting the read paper setting file FL2 for another model into a model for the printer used. More specifically, it is determined whether the data stored in each of the fields G1 (G11 to G17) and G2 of the read sheet setting file FL2 corresponds to the allowable data supported by the model of the printer to be used. Uses the data as it is, and if not applicable, performs a process of replacing it with higher-order (adjusting printing to a finer side) data. Note that the above determination is realized by preparing in advance the allowable data for the corresponding model in the printer driver.

  Thereafter, as in the first embodiment, the processing of steps S320 and S330 is executed to register the data of the sheet setting file FL2 (the sheet setting file converted in step S310B) in the printer driver and close the dialog box. Perform Thereafter, the process returns to "return" and the process of this routine is temporarily ended.

  In the third embodiment configured as described above, even when a paper setting file corresponding to the model of the printer 14 to be used is not prepared, various kinds of information for printing can be transferred from the paper setting file for another model. It can be set.

  In the third embodiment, the personal setting file may be provided with a file conversion process for matching the corresponding model of the printer. Specifically, in the user setting processing routine of FIG. 8, a step of performing a file conversion process is provided between step S180 and step S190. That is, it is determined whether the data stored in each field of the paper setting file FL2 read in step S180 corresponds to the allowable data supported by the type of the printer to be used, and if so, the data is used as it is. On the other hand, if not applicable, a file conversion process of replacing the data with higher-order (adjusting the printing to a finer side) is performed.

  According to this configuration, even when a personal setting file corresponding to the model of the printer 14 to be used is not prepared, it is possible to set various types of information for printing from a personal setting file for another model.

  The configuration for performing the file conversion processing can be applied to the second embodiment described above. That is, when the paper setting file corresponding to the model of the printer 14 to be used does not exist in the predetermined server 48 connected to the Internet, the paper setting file for the other model is read from the server 48 and the paper setting file for the other model is read. The file may be converted for the model of the printer, and various information for printing may be set based on the converted sheet setting file.

  As described above, various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and may be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. it can.

(1) For example, in the above-described embodiment, the printer 14 is applied to a computer system directly connected to the local computer 10 by a cable. Alternatively, a plurality of printers connected to a server on a LAN may be connected. The present invention may be applied to a computer system shared by computers.

(2) Alternatively, the printer connected to the server connected to the Internet may be applied to a computer system controlled by a computer via the Internet.

(3) The server connected to the Internet may be connected to the LAN so that the data file on the server is transmitted to the computer via the LAN.

(4) In the above embodiment, the printer 14 is applied to the computer system connected to the computer 10, but may be applied to a facsimile machine having a built-in printing mechanism.

(5) In the above embodiment, the data files stored in the storage means include “paper type”, “ink”, “print quality”, “halftone”, “microweave”, “bidirectional printing”, and “color adjustment”. Is used, but the data file does not necessarily need to include all of these data. Any data may be used as long as it includes data of “paper type” and data corresponding to the paper type, that is, data of a parameter whose set value can be changed depending on the paper type. , "Print quality", or a data file including three data of "paper type", "ink", and "print quality".

FIG. 1 is an external view of a computer system to which a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of hardware of a computer system. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a process from image information handled by a computer main body 16 to printing. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a dialog box DB1 for setting various information about a printer. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates dialog box DB1 in which the card of "basic setting" was opened. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates dialog box DB2 in which the card of "manual setting" was opened. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a sheet setting information storage table TBL1. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a user setting process routine executed by a CPU 31. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a dialog box DB3 of “user setting”. It is explanatory drawing which shows the dialog box DB4 of "export of a setting file." FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure of a personal setting file FL1. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing how the personal setting file FL1 is transferred by export and import processing. It is explanatory drawing which shows the dialog box DB5 of "import of a setting file". FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a dialog box DB3 of “user setting” when a personal setting file is added. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a dialog box DB6 when a personal setting file is added. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a sheet addition processing routine executed by a CPU 31. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a dialog box DB7 of “Add paper type”. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data structure of a sheet setting file FL2. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing how a paper setting file is transferred by a paper type addition process. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a dialog box DB8 when a paper setting file is added. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a sheet addition processing routine according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a dialog box DB7 of “Add paper type” in a state where an Internet address is input in a data input field E51. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a file transmission processing routine by a server according to the second embodiment. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a sheet addition processing routine according to a third embodiment.

Explanation of reference numerals

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Computer 12 ... CRT display 14 ... Printer 16 ... Computer body 18 ... Keyboard 20 ... Mouse 21 ... HDD
22 ... Floppy disk 24 ... Floppy disk drive 31 ... CPU
32 ... ROM
33 ... RAM
34 ... Mouse interface 35 ... Keyboard interface 36 ... FDC
37 ... HDC
38 ... CRTC
39 ... Printer interface 40 ... I / O port 41 ... HDD
44 ... Modem 46 ... Public telephone line 48 ... Server 51 ... Application program 52 ... Video driver 53 ... Printer driver 54 ... Rasterizer 55 ... Color correction module 56 ... .Halftone module 57 ... Information setting module FL1 ... Personal setting file FL2 ... Paper setting file

Claims (32)

A print information setting device that sets various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controls the predetermined printing device,
File reading means for reading a data file recording the various information from an external storage device;
A print information setting device comprising: an information setting unit configured to set the various information based on the data file read by the file reading unit.   The print information setting device according to claim 1, wherein the various information is information related to print quality.   3. The print information setting device according to claim 1, wherein the external storage device is a removable recording medium. The print information setting device according to claim 1, wherein:
Registration means for additionally registering the various information in the data file read by the file reading means with a name specifying the data file in a table prepared in advance;
List display means for displaying a list of the names in the table on a display device,
A selection unit that selects one name from the list based on input data from an input unit that receives an operation by a user;
Means for reading out the data file having the selected name from the table. The print information setting device according to claim 4, wherein
The list display means,
A print information setting device configured to display the list separately from names of data files additionally registered in the table by the registration unit and options prepared in advance. A print information setting device that sets various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controls the predetermined printing device,
File receiving means for receiving the data file recording the various information from a predetermined server via a network,
An information setting unit configured to set the various types of information based on the data file received by the file receiving unit.   The print information setting device according to claim 6, wherein the various information is information relating to print quality. The print information setting device according to claim 1, wherein:
The information setting means,
When the content of the data file includes data that cannot be handled by the predetermined printing device, the content of the data file is converted into a data value that can be handled by the predetermined printing device, and the converted data is output. A print information setting device, comprising: a file conversion unit for providing a file for setting the various information. A print information setting device that sets various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controls the predetermined printing device,
Information setting means for setting the various information based on input data from the input means,
A print information setting device comprising: a file writing unit that creates a data file in which the various types of information are recorded based on the various types of information and writes the created data file to an external storage device.   The print information setting device according to claim 9, wherein the various information is information relating to print quality.   The print information setting device according to claim 9, wherein the external storage device is a removable recording medium. A print information setting device that sets various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controls the predetermined printing device,
Information setting means for setting the various information based on input data from the input means,
A file transmission unit for creating a data file based on the various kinds of information and transmitting the created data file to a predetermined server via a network.   13. The print information setting device according to claim 12, wherein the various information is information relating to print quality. A print information supply device that supplies various information for printing in a predetermined printing device to the outside,
File storage means for storing a data file recording the various information,
A file output unit that outputs the data file from the file storage unit in response to an external request.   The print information supply device according to claim 14, wherein the various information is information relating to print quality. A print information setting method for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) reading a data file recording the various information from an external storage device;
(B) setting the various information based on the read data file. A print information setting method for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) receiving a data file recording the various information from a predetermined server via a network;
(B) setting the various information based on the received data file. A print information setting method for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) setting the various information based on input data from input means;
(B) creating a data file on which the various types of information are recorded based on the various types of information, and writing the created data file to an external storage device. A print information setting method for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) setting the various information based on input data from input means;
(B) creating a data file based on the various information, and transmitting the created data file to a predetermined server via a network.   20. The print information setting method according to claim 16, wherein said various information is information relating to print quality. A printing information supply method for supplying various information for printing in a predetermined printing device to an external,
(A) a step of preparing in advance a data file recording the various information;
(B) outputting the data file in response to an external request.   22. The print information setting method according to claim 21, wherein the various information is information relating to print quality. A computer program for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) a function of reading a data file in which the various information is recorded from an external storage device;
(B) A computer program for causing a computer to realize the function of setting the various information based on the read data file.   The computer program according to claim 23, wherein the various information is information relating to print quality. A computer program according to claim 23 or claim 24,
(C) a function of additionally registering the various information in the data file read by the function (a) in a table prepared in advance with a name for specifying the data file;
(D) displaying a list of the names in the table on a display device;
(E) a function of selecting one name from the list based on input data from input means for receiving an operation by a user;
(F) a computer program that causes a computer to realize a function of reading the data file having the selected name from the table. A computer program according to claim 25,
The function (d) is
A computer program configured to display the list separately from names of data files additionally registered in the table by the registration unit and options prepared in advance. A computer program for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) a function of receiving a data file recording the various information from a predetermined server via a network;
(B) A computer program for causing a computer to realize a function of setting the various information based on the received data file. A computer program according to claim 23 or claim 27,
The function (b) is
When the content of the data file includes data that cannot be handled by a predetermined type of printing device, the content of the data file is converted into a data value that can be handled by the predetermined type of printing device, and the conversion is performed. A computer program having a function of providing a later data file for setting the various information. A computer program for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) a function of setting the various information based on input data from an input unit;
And (b) a function of creating a data file based on the various types of information and writing the created data file to an external storage device. A computer program for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printing device and controlling the predetermined printing device,
(A) a function of setting the various information based on input data from input means;
(B) A computer program for realizing, on a computer, a function of creating a data file in which the various information is recorded based on the various information and transmitting the created data file to a predetermined server via a network.   31. The computer program according to claim 27, wherein the various information is information related to print quality.   A computer-readable recording medium recording the computer program according to any one of claims 23 to 31.

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