JP2004199581A - Printing instruction device, printer, and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing instruction method, printer and printing method improved in a user's operability by simplifying the setting of the printing condition of a form overlay printing. <P>SOLUTION: When a category "paper size" of printing condition items is selected (step 201), a paper size picture 60 is displayed (step 202), and when a paper size is selected (step 203), a printing number picture 64 is displayed (step 205). When the printing number is selected (step 206), a double/single picture 65 is displayed (step 208), and a double/single printing is selected (step 209), an overlay picture 70 is displayed (step 211). The user drags and drops the icon of a printing data file and the icon of a form data file to put them in an overlay holder 71, and sets printing data and form data (step 212). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print instruction device such as a personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, and a portable terminal device, a printing device such as a printer, and a printing method, and in particular, simplifies form overlay printing settings and improves user operability. The present invention relates to a printed instruction device, a printing device, and a printing method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when printing is performed by a printing device such as a printer, print data is generally transmitted from a host device such as a personal computer (PC) connected to the printing device via a printer driver included in the host device. It is being done.
[0003]
In this case, for example, when the user instructs the host device to print the print data created on a desired application, a printer driver corresponding to an arbitrary printer to be output by the user is called, and the printer can be interpreted. The print data is converted into a predetermined control code such as a PDL (Page Description Language) language and output to a printer. Further, the user can specify printing conditions such as the paper size of the print data, the number of output sheets, the number of copies, double-sided / single-sided printing, and the presence / absence of sorting by the printer driver. Thus, the print data can be output in a desired format.
[0004]
However, on the UI (User Interface) screen at the time of setting the printing conditions in the printer driver as described above, it is common to switch the plurality of screens by using a tab or the like to set the printing conditions. It is very difficult to know where the setting location for setting the desired function is located on the UI screen of the printer driver. Further, since the configuration of the UI screen of the printer driver differs for each printer maker, it is even more necessary to operate a printer driver that is not usually used.
[0005]
If a printer driver used in a conventional PC or the like is directly applied to a portable terminal device such as a mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) device, the display screen of the mobile phone or the portable terminal device is much smaller than that of the PC. However, the entire UI screen of the printer driver cannot be appropriately displayed in the display screen area, and the operability may be extremely deteriorated.
[0006]
Therefore, it is conceivable to divide the screen configuration more finely than the printer driver for PC so that it can be displayed on a mobile phone or a portable terminal device. However, the screen configuration becomes too fine, and in this case, too, it is very difficult. In some cases, the operability becomes poor.
[0007]
In view of such circumstances, the present applicant can apply the present invention not only to a PC but also to a case where a print instruction is issued from a mobile phone or a portable terminal device having a small display screen, and furthermore, to a print setting folder in which print conditions are set. Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-053218 has proposed a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a print instruction apparatus having a folder-type printer UI that performs print processing under print conditions set in a print setting folder by inserting print data. As a result, the operability for the user has been significantly improved.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the conventional print instruction apparatus, printing apparatus, and printing method, form overlay printing cannot be set using the above-described print setting folder. Therefore, when printing form data, printing is performed by switching a plurality of screens using tabs or the like. The operation is very complicated because it is necessary to set conditions, print data and form data.
[0009]
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a print instruction device, a print instruction device, and a printing method that simplify setting of printing conditions for form overlay printing and improve user operability.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in a print instruction apparatus for causing a printing apparatus to print a combined image obtained by combining fixed information and variable information, the fixed information is stored in a folder indicating a print instruction of the combined image. Printing condition setting means for setting printing conditions by storing the fixed information file and the variable information file storing the variable information, and transmitting the folder to the printing apparatus to store the fixed information stored in the folder. There is provided a print instruction device, comprising: a transmission unit that causes the printing device to print a composite image including information and the variable information.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus for printing a combined image in which fixed information and variable information are combined, the fixed information file storing the fixed information and the variable information file storing the variable information. Receiving means for receiving a folder indicating a print instruction of the stored composite image from a print instruction device, storage means for storing the folder storing the fixed information file and the variable information file, and printing indicated by the folder. There is provided a printing apparatus comprising: a data generating unit that generates composite image data from the fixed information and the variable information based on an instruction; and a printing unit that prints the composite image data.
[0012]
According to a third invention, in order to achieve the above object, in a printing method for causing a printing apparatus to print a combined image obtained by combining fixed information and variable information, the fixed information is stored in a folder indicating a print instruction of the combined image. Storing a fixed information file and a variable information file storing the variable information; a data generating step of generating composite image data from the fixed information and the variable information stored in the folder; Printing the composite image data.
[0013]
According to the first, second, and third aspects of the present invention, by storing a fixed information file and a variable information file in a folder, it is possible to give a print instruction of a composite image such as form overlay printing, thereby improving user operability. .
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system including a printing instruction device and a printing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The printing system 1 includes a plurality of printing instruction devices 10 indicated by HOST1, HOST2, HOST3,... It is configured to be connected to the device 20. The print instruction device 10 is a host device (or higher-level device), specifically, a personal digital assistant (PC), a PDA device, a portable information terminal device such as a mobile phone, or the like. The printing device 20 is a printer such as an optical printer or an electrophotographic printer.
[0015]
The print instruction device 10 is configured by connecting a program storage unit 12, a data storage unit 13, an operation unit 14, an operation detection unit 15, a communication interface 16, and a display unit 17 to a print instruction control unit 11 by a CPU.
[0016]
The program storage unit 12 and the data storage unit 13 are secured in a part of a storage medium such as a hard disk and a semiconductor memory. The program storage unit 12 stores an OS (operating system), an application program, and the like. Reference numeral 13 stores data generated during processing, and data such as input contents and setting contents.
[0017]
In the data storage unit 13, an area for storing a file created by an application program in the program storage unit 12, print data as variable information created in PDL, and form data as fixed information is secured. The files stored in the data storage unit 13 include, in addition to those created by the application program of the print instruction apparatus 10, files transmitted from another host print instruction apparatus as e-mail attachments and files transmitted from the file server. Includes downloaded items.
[0018]
The operation unit 14 is a mouse, a keyboard, a touch pen, or the like. In the present invention, a mouse is mainly used. The operation detection unit 15 detects the coordinates of the mouse cursor. The communication interface 16 communicates with a selected one of the plurality of printing devices 20 via the LAN 30. The display unit 17 is a display device using a liquid crystal display, a CRT, or the like, and is built in the main body or externally connected.
[0019]
The print instruction device 10 transmits a data file and a form file specified by the user among the data files stored in the data storage unit 13 to one of the other specified printing devices 20 via the LAN 30. . In this transmission, as a file transfer protocol, general FTP (File Transfer Protocol), HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), or the like can be used.
[0020]
Further, the print instruction device 10 receives information on the folder configuration of the print condition of the data storage unit 24 in the printing device 20 from the printing device 20 via the communication interface 16 and displays the information on the display unit 17. Has become. On the display unit 17, the folder configuration stored in the data storage unit 24 of the printing apparatus 20 is displayed as an icon, and the print condition items corresponding to the folder are displayed as the folder names. Accordingly, the user can visually recognize and grasp the folder configuration related to the printing conditions stored in the data storage unit 24 of the printing device 20. When the user selects a folder, the print condition item set in the folder is selected.
[0021]
Although the print instruction device 10 receives information about the folder configuration from the printing device 20 and displays the information on the display unit 17, the information about the folder configuration of the printing device 20 is stored in a CD-ROM, a floppy disk (registered trademark), Alternatively, the program may be installed on the print instruction apparatus 10 in advance by downloading the program from a website of the manufacturer of the printing apparatus 20 or the like.
[0022]
The display on the display unit 17 is performed by file operation software (software for operating folders and files) provided in advance by the OS. In addition, for example, a Web server is provided on the printing apparatus 20 side, and printing is performed via the Internet. It is also possible to display information on printing conditions that can be set by the device 20 in a list on the display unit 17. In this case, the print instruction device 10 performs display via browser software for browsing a Web site.
[0023]
Next, the configuration of the printing device 20 will be described. The printing device 20 includes a data receiving unit 22, a data storage unit 24 of a storage unit 23, a parser unit 25, a PDL processing unit, and a printing control unit 21 configured using a CPU and performing overall control of the printing device 20. 26, a drawing processing unit 28, and a printing unit 29.
[0024]
The data receiving unit 22 has a communication interface function with the LAN 30, and receives print data transmitted from the print instruction device 10. The data receiving unit 22 has a function of automatically determining whether the file type of the print data received from the print instruction device 10 is PDL data represented by PDL or a predetermined application file. . Instead of this automatic determination, the user may manually specify the file type of the print data.
[0025]
The storage unit 23 includes a data storage unit 24 and a form data storage unit 27. The data storage unit 24 is for printing the print data and form data received by the data reception unit 22, and for printing the print data and form data. A plurality of print condition items necessary for the respective items are stored as folders as folder names. The form data storage unit 27 stores the form data expanded into image data and registered. The storage unit 23 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
[0026]
The parser unit 25 interprets the file data created by the application as it is, and processes the data so that the printing unit 29 can print the data. The PDL processing unit 26 interprets and processes print data represented in PDL. PDL is a command for controlling a page printer in a data description format.
[0027]
The drawing processing unit 28 expands print data and form data acquired via the data receiving unit 22 into image data. The printing unit 29 combines the print data generated by the drawing processing unit 28 and the image data of the form data, and prints the print data on a sheet of a designated size.
[0028]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a printing process of the printing system 1 including the print instruction device 10 and the printing device 20 according to the present invention. With reference to FIG. 2, an outline process until the print data and the form data designated by the user with the print instruction device 10 are printed by the printing device 20 will be described.
When printing is performed from the print instruction device 10 (HOST 1) using another printing device 20 (PRINTER 1) connected to the LAN 30, the user operates the operation unit 14 to perform a predetermined input operation. The screen 31 of the network computer connected to the print instruction device 10 is displayed on the display unit 17 of the print instruction device 10 (HOST1) (step 101).
[0029]
FIG. 3 is an example of a screen 31 of a network computer connected to the print instruction device 10 (HOST1) via the LAN 30. The screen 31 of the network computer displays other printing instruction devices 10 (HOST2 to 10), a file server, and the like, and a plurality of printing devices 20 (PRINTER1 to PRINTER3) connected to the LAN 30 with icons 32 and icon names 33. .
[0030]
When the user double-clicks “PRITER1” of the icon name 33 on the screen 31 of the network computer by operating the mouse of the operation unit 14 and selects “PRITER1” (step 101), the print instruction device 10 (HOST1) prints. In order to instruct the device 20 (PRITER1) to print, a request is made to transmit the print condition items provided in the printing device 20 (PRITER1) (step 102).
[0031]
When receiving the transmission request of the printing condition item for performing printing from the printing instruction device 10 (HOST1), the printing device 20 (PRITER1) transmits the printing condition item of its own stored in the data storage unit 24 (step 103). ).
[0032]
The print instruction device 10 (HOST1) receives the print condition items included in the print device 20 (PRINTER1) via the communication interface 16, stores the print condition items in the data storage unit 13 (Step 104), and selects a print condition from the print condition items. Then, print data and form data are set (step 105). The selection of print conditions and the setting processing of print data and form data in step 105 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0033]
The print conditions, print data, and form data designated by the user in step 105 among the data files stored in the data storage unit 13 are transmitted to the printing device 20 (PRINTER1) via the LAN 30 (step 106).
[0034]
The printing device 20 (PRINTER1) receives the print data and the form data from the print instruction device 10 (HOST1) by the data receiving unit 22 (step 107), and stores the print data and the form data in the data of the printing device 20 (PRINTER1). The print data and the form data are combined in accordance with the print conditions stored in the data storage unit 24, form overlay printing is performed, and the process is terminated (step 109). The processing of the form overlay printing in step 109 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0035]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the process of selecting print conditions and setting print data and form data in step 105 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 4, a process of selecting a printing condition by the print instruction device 10 (HOST1) and setting print data and form data will be described in detail.
[0036]
The print instruction device 10 (HOST1) receives the print condition items included in the print device 20 (PRINTER1) via the communication interface 16 and stores the print condition items in the data storage unit 13 in step 104 of FIG. First, the category of the printing condition item of the printing apparatus 20 (PRINTER1) is displayed as a PRINTER1 screen 50 from the printing condition item data file (step 200).
[0037]
FIG. 5 is an example of a PRINTER1 screen 50 of the printing device 20 (PRINTER1). A PRINTER1 screen 50 includes a group of four folders 51 having folder names 52 with four printing condition categories such as “paper size”, “number of copies”, “two-sided / one-sided printing”, and “overlay” as printing condition items. Is displayed. The user of the print instruction device 10 (HOST1) successively changes the print condition items “paper size”, “number of copies”, “double-sided / single-sided printing”, “overlay”, etc. from the PRINTER1 screen 50 displayed on the display unit 17. The printing conditions of PRITER 1 can be selected in a hierarchical structure.
[0038]
The category of the PRINTER1 screen 50 is not limited to “paper size”, “number of copies”, “double-sided / single-sided printing”, and “overlay”. Various categories of printing condition items such as “N-UP” and “sort” included in the printing apparatus 20 are prepared according to the type of the printing apparatus 20 and the setting of the apparatus.
[0039]
For example, when the folder 51 of “paper size” on the screen 50 of PRINTER1 is double-clicked with the mouse and selected (step 201), the paper of the printing device 20 (PRINTER1) is displayed on the display unit 17 of the print instruction device 10 (HOST1). The screen 60 for the PRINTER1 paper size for selecting the size is displayed (step 202).
[0040]
FIG. 6 is a screen showing an example of selection of a printing condition item, and FIG. 6A shows an example of a paper size screen 60. The paper size screen 60 shows a plurality of paper sizes handled by the print instruction device 10 (HOST1), for example, folder names such as “A3 size”, “A4 size”, “B4 size”, and “B5 size” and a folder 61. .
[0041]
For example, if the paper size is selected by double-clicking the “B4 size” folder 61 (step 203) and the “print” icon 63 is not selected (step 204), the display unit 17 displays the number of copies to be selected. The screen 64 is displayed (Step 205).
[0042]
FIG. 6B is an example of the copy number screen 64. The number of copies screen 64 shows the number of prints, and a desired one can be selected from the number of copies. A desired number of prints, for example, a folder 61 of “5 copies” is double-clicked on the copy number screen 64 to select the number of prints (step 206). If the “print” icon 63 is not selected (step 207), the display 17 is displayed. A double-sided / single-sided screen 65 for selecting double-sided or single-sided printing is displayed (step 208).
[0043]
FIG. 6C is an example of a double-sided / single-sided screen 65. On the double-sided / single-sided screen 65, the user can select either double-sided printing or single-sided printing. For example, double-clicking the “single-sided printing” folder 61 to select single-sided printing (step 209), and unless the “printing” icon 63 is selected (step 210), an overlay screen 70 is displayed on the display unit 17. (Step 211).
[0044]
FIG. 7 is an example of an overlay screen 70. On the overlay screen 70, a folder 71 and a folder name 72 “overlay” are displayed. The user drags and drops a print data file such as “Doc1.pdf” icon (not shown) and a form data file such as “Form1.pdf” icon (not shown) of the print instruction device 10 (HOST1). Then, print data to be input to the folder 71 with the folder name 72 “overlay” and printed by the printing apparatus 20 (PRINTER1) and form data to output the data are set (step 212).
[0045]
The print data and the form data are created in advance by an application program or the like in the program storage unit 12 for overlay printing, and are stored in an area for storing a file created by the application program in the data storage unit 13 or print data created by the PDL. In addition to the stored file, for example, a file transmitted from another host print instruction apparatus as an attached document of an e-mail, a file downloaded from a file server, or the like may be used. The print data and the form data are displayed on the display unit 17 as data file icons using the file name as the icon name.
[0046]
Next, the "print" icon 73 is selected (step 213), and the selection of the printing conditions is terminated. The selected print condition, print data, and form data are stored in the data storage unit 13, and the print condition setting process ends. Subsequently, the process of step 105 in FIG. 2 is performed.
[0047]
Also, in step 201, from the PRINTER1 screen 50 of the printing apparatus 20, the print condition items other than "paper size" such as "number of copies", "double-sided / single-sided printing", and "overlay" are selected, and the printing conditions of PRITER1 are selected. You can also.
[0048]
For example, when the “number of copies” folder 51 is double-clicked with the mouse on the screen 50 of PRINTER 1 (step 201), the number of copies screen 64 for selecting the number of copies is displayed immediately in step 205, and the processing from steps 205 to 213 is performed. Can be used to select printing conditions in a hierarchical structure.
[0049]
Similarly, when the double-sided / single-sided folder 51 is double-clicked with the mouse on the PRINTER1 screen 50 (step 201), a double-sided / single-sided screen 65 for selecting between double-sided printing and single-sided printing is displayed in step 208. In step 213, printing conditions can be selected in a hierarchical structure.
[0050]
Similarly, when the overlay folder 51 is double-clicked with the mouse on the PRINTER1 screen 50 (step 201), the overlay screen 70 is displayed in step 211, and the print data and the form data file to be overlay-printed are printed in steps 211 to 213. Can be set.
[0051]
When the “print” icon 63 is double-clicked with the mouse on the display screen of FIG. 6 displayed at step 202, step 205, or step 208 and print is selected, steps 205 to 213 prepared in a hierarchical structure are selected. , The selection processing from step 208 to step 213, or the selection processing from step 211 to step 213 is omitted, and the printing conditions and printing are performed in accordance with the printing conditions set at the time of selecting “print” and the default. Set data and form data.
[0052]
It should be noted that a combination of selected print condition items such as “A4”, “1 copy”, “one-sided”, “1-UP”, and “no sort” is displayed on the PRINTER1 screen 50 of FIG. One print condition is displayed with a folder name 52 attached, “Print” is provided on the PRINTER1 screen 50, and a print condition is selected and printed from a combination of print conditions displayed on the PRINTER1 screen 50. Is also good. As the combination of printing condition items, all combinations of printing condition items included in PRINTER1 may be displayed, or combinations of frequently used printing conditions may be displayed in order of use frequency from combinations of all printing condition items. Some combinations of frequently used printing conditions may be displayed.
[0053]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of the data storage unit 24 of PRITER1. As shown in FIG. 8, the storage unit 23 includes a data storage unit 24 and a form data storage unit 27. (Not shown) and an area for storing the selected printing condition. The area for storing the printing conditions includes the printing condition storage areas (1 to n) 80 (n is a natural number). The print conditions and print data received in step 107 of FIG. 2 are stored in any one of the print condition storage areas 80 of 1 to n of the data storage unit 24.
[0054]
In the print condition storage area (1 to n) 80, a paper size storage area 82, a copy number storage area 83, a two-sided / single-sided storage area 84, an overlay area 85, and the like are secured as the print condition area 81. , An overlay designation area 86, a form file storage area 87, and a data file storage area 88 are further secured.
[0055]
In the paper size storage area 82, paper sizes A4, A3, B4, etc. are set. In the copy number storage area 83, each number of copies, such as one copy, two copies, three copies, etc., is set. Both sides and one side are set in the single-sided storage area 84, an overlay is specified in the overlay designation area 86 of the overlay area 85, the form file of the form data is set in the form file storage area 87, and the data file storage area 88 is set in the data file storage area 88. Is set to a data file of print data.
[0056]
The printing conditions stored in the printing condition storage areas (1 to n) 80 store a combination pattern of several printing conditions in advance, and select the printing condition received from step 107 in FIG. The same is searched for and print data is stored in the print condition storage area (i) (1 ≦ i ≦ n). The printing conditions stored in advance in the printing condition storage areas (1 to n) 80 are all combinations of printing conditions permitted by PRINTER1 or some selected from combinations of printing conditions permitted by PRINTER1. is there. Further, the print conditions and data received in step 107 of FIG. 2 may be sequentially stored in the print condition storage area (i).
[0057]
FIG. 8 shows the designation of an overlay in the printing condition storage area (3), which is the same printing condition as the printing condition received in step 107 of FIG. 2, from among those registered in advance, and the form file “Form1.pdf”. , And a data file “Doc1.pdf”.
[0058]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the form overlay printing process in step 109 of FIG. Form overlay printing is performed by synthesizing the form data of the form file “Form1.pdf” in the printing condition storage area (3) and the print data of the data file “Doc1.pdf”.
[0059]
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the form overlay printing of FIG. 9 with a specific image. The output image 91 of the form data file “Form1.pdf” and the output image 90 of the print data file “Doc1.pdf” are combined to form the output image 92 of the sales slip.
[0060]
In step 108 of FIG. 2, “B4” is stored in the paper size storage area 82 of the print condition storage area (3) of the data storage unit 24, “5 copies” is stored in the copy number storage area 83, and “B4” is stored in the double-sided / single-sided storage area 84. “Single side”, “Overlay” is stored in the overlay designation area 86 of the overlay area, “Form1.pdf” is stored in the form file storage area 87, and “Doc1.pdf” is stored in the data file storage area 88.
[0061]
First, the printing apparatus 20 (PRINTER1) is set according to the sheet size, the number of copies, and the printing conditions of both sides / one side of the printing condition storage area (3) stored in the data storage unit 24 (step 300). Next, the print control unit 21 activates the parser unit 25 or the PDL processing unit 26, and interprets the print data based on the print conditions corresponding to the print data storage area.
[0062]
A form file of “Form1.pdf” stored in the form file storage area 87 is set in the processing file (step 301), and the form file is processed. If the processing file is PDL data (step 302), the PDL processing unit 26 interprets the data of the processing file described in the page description language (step 303). The data of the processing file is directly interpreted (step 304).
[0063]
The interpreted print data is developed into image data by the drawing processing unit 28 (step 305), and an output image 91 of “Form1.pdf” is generated. If the developed image data is form data (step 306), the developed image data is registered in the form data storage unit 27 (step 306), and if there is a next form file (step 308), the next (Step 309), and if the processing for one page has not been completed (step 311), the flow returns to step 302 to perform the processing for the next form file in the same manner.
[0064]
If there is no next form file in step 308, a data file is set in the processing file (step 310). If processing for one page has not been completed (step 311), the process returns to step 302 and returns to the same manner as the form file. The processing from step 302 to step 305 is performed, and the print data of “Doc1.pdf” is developed into the output image 90 of the print data file “Doc1.pdf”.
[0065]
In the processing of the print data file, since the data expanded in step 305 is not a form file, it is not registered in the form data storage unit 27 in step 307. The process proceeds from step 306 to step 312. If there is form data of, for example, “Form1.pdf” previously developed in the form data storage unit 27 (step 312), the drawing processing unit 28 outputs the image data and data of the form data. The image data of the file is synthesized (step 313), and an output image 92 of, for example, the print data sales slip shown in FIG. 10 is created. If there is no form data in step 312, the print data is output as it is.
[0066]
When the processing for one page is completed (step 311), the print control unit 21 controls the printing unit 29, and the printing unit 29 prints the image data created by the drawing processing unit 28 on the printing unit 29 (step 311). 314). If there is a next page (step 315), the flow returns to step 301 to develop and print the image data of the new page. If there is no next page (step 315), it is determined whether or not the printing has been completed normally for the printed printing data. If the normal printing is confirmed, the form data is not registered. The image data in the data storage unit 27 is deleted (step 316).
[0067]
FIG. 11 is a diagram of a combination of a form file and a data file. The combination 1 is a normal combination for outputting one page of data file to one type of form file. In the present invention, one type of form file as in combination 2 can be registered in the form data storage unit 27 and used repeatedly for data of a plurality of pages.
[0068]
Further, even when there are a plurality of types of form data in one page as in the case of combination 4, in step 309, a new form file can be expanded in one page. By expanding the file, one page of data can be output. In addition, if form data and print data are associated with each other as in combination 3, data files for a plurality of pages can be output to a plurality of types of form files.
[0069]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the form data is not erased in step 316 of FIG. 9 but remains registered in the form data storage unit 27, and the registered form data is used for the next form overlay printing.
[0070]
FIG. 12 is an example of a PRINTER1 screen 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The PRINTER1 screen 100 in FIG. 12 has four categories of printing conditions of the printing condition items “paper size”, “number of copies”, “two-sided / single-sided printing”, and “overlay” which are the printing condition items of the PRINTER1 screen 50 in FIG. A folder 103 having a folder name 104 of “form data” is newly provided.
[0071]
In the second embodiment configured as described above, print data is input to the “overlay” folder 101 by drag and drop, and form data is input to the “form data” folder 103 by drag and drop. The form data file entered in the “form data” folder 103 remains registered in the form data storage unit 27 without deleting the image data in the form data storage unit 27 in step 316 of FIG. At the time of the next printing, if the print data is specified in the “overlay” folder 101 in step 212 in FIG. 4 and the form data is not set in the “form data” folder 103, the step 301 in FIG. If not, it is possible to change the data file to be set as the processing file and perform overlay printing again using the previously registered image data in the form data storage unit 27.
[0072]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, a plurality of form data are registered and are not deleted in step 316 of FIG. 9 but remain registered in the form data storage unit 27, and form overlay printing is performed by changing print data. .
[0073]
FIG. 13 is an example of a screen 110 of PRINTER1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. A screen 110 of PRINTER1 in FIG. 12 includes a folder 111 having a folder name 112 of “overlay 1” as a folder for overlay printing, a folder 113 having a folder name 114 of “overlay 2”, and a folder name of “form data 1”. There are provided four folders: a folder 115 as 116 and a folder 117 with “form data 2” as the folder name 118.
[0074]
In the third embodiment configured as described above, when the form data 1 is dragged and dropped into the folder 115 of “form data 1” and the folder 117 of “form data 2”, the form data is stored in the image data of the form data storage unit 27. Are not deleted in step 316 of FIG. 9 and remain registered in the form data storage unit 27.
[0075]
When print data is input to the folder 111 of “Overlay 1” by drag and drop, the form data in which the print data input to “Overlay 1” is combined with the form data registered in the form data 1 is printed. When the print data is input to the folder 113 of “Overlay 2” by drag and drop, the form data in which the print data input to the overlay 2 is combined with the form data registered in the form data 2 is printed. By further increasing the number of overlay folders corresponding to two types or form data folders according to the third embodiment, the user can freely select two or more types of form data and perform form overlay printing.
[0076]
In addition, two folders “overlay” and “form data” are provided on the screen 100 of PRINTER1 in FIG. 12, and “overlay 1”, “overlay 2”, “form data 1”, “form data 1” on the screen 110 of PRINTER1 in FIG. Although four folders of “form data 2” are provided, a plurality of folders of form data are hierarchized, and “overlay”, “form data”, and “overlay 1” are provided in a lower hierarchy of the screen 100 of PRINTER1 and the screen 110 of PRINTER1. , “Overlay 2”, “form data 1”, and “form data 2”.
[0077]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fourth embodiment, a plurality of types of characters or symbols commonly used in the printing apparatus 20 (PRINTER 1) are prepared in advance as existing form data. The print instruction device 10 (HOST1) does not need to input the form data again by drag and drop, and can use the form data of PRINTER1 repeatedly as needed.
[0078]
FIG. 14 is an example of a screen 120 of PRINTER1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The PRINTER1 screen 120 in FIG. 14 includes four categories of printing conditions of “paper size”, “number of copies”, “two-sided / single-sided printing”, and “overlay” which are printing condition items of the PRINTER1 screen 50 in FIG. Is provided with a folder 121 having “default form data” as a folder name 122. When the default form data is designated by double-clicking the folder 121 of “default form data”, a default form data screen 130 is displayed.
[0079]
FIG. 15 is an example of a screen 130 of the default form data. On the default form data screen 130, a folder name 132 of the default form data is prepared and displayed together with the folder 131 as fixed information commonly used in daily life such as "circulation", "confidential", "prohibited copying", "reference", and the like. Have been. The default form data is stored in the data storage units 13 and 24 of the print instruction device 10 (HOST1) or the print device 20 (PRINTER1) in advance. When the print data file is set by dragging and dropping the print data file icon to the folder name “prohibition copy” folder, the print data is synthesized and printed on the default prohibition copy form data.
[0080]
FIG. 16 shows a display example of the default form data of prohibited copying. FIG. 16A shows an example in which a forbidden character 140 is printed on a part, and FIG. 16B shows an example in which a forbidden character 141 is printed thinly on the entire surface. The print data input by drag and drop is combined with the print data on the form data of the forbidden copy shown in FIG. 16 and printed. FIG. 16 shows an example in which only a character string is selected. However, the folder may be further hierarchized so that decoration information such as font size, type, color, angle, and printing position can be set.
[0081]
Further, in the first embodiment, when print data is stored in an area (for example, a folder) provided in the data storage unit 24 of the printing apparatus 20 having a hierarchical structure with respect to the printing conditions, the area corresponds to the area. Although the processing of the print data is performed according to the print conditions, the print data may be printed according to the information about the hierarchical structure of the print conditions from the print instruction device 10 (host device) side.
[0082]
Further, in the above embodiment, the print data is created by the print instruction device 10 (host device). However, the present invention is created by another device (for example, a dedicated word processor, another PC, etc.). Needless to say, a case where the print data is read into the print instruction device 10 (host device) is also included. Sources for reading the print data include a network and a storage medium (magnetic disk, CD-ROM, CD-RW, memory card, etc.).
[0083]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, when setting the printing conditions, a plurality of printing condition items are displayed on the screen in a hierarchical structure, and the composite image is printed in the hierarchical structure of the printing condition items. A folder for storing variable information such as print data and fixed information such as form data is provided, and the printing conditions are set by dragging and dropping the variable information file and fixed information file into the folder. It is possible to print a composite image such as a form, so that the setting operation of the printing conditions is simplified and the operability of the user is improved. This is particularly effective when the print instruction device is a portable terminal device having a small screen, such as a mobile phone or a PDA.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system including a printing instruction device and a printing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a printing process of a printing system 1 including a print instruction device 10 and a printing device 20 of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an example of a screen 31 of a network computer connected to the print instruction device 10 (HOST1) via a LAN 30;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing for selecting print conditions and setting print data and form data in step 105;
FIG. 5 shows an example of a screen 50 of PRINTER1.
FIGS. 6A to 6C are screens showing examples of selection of print condition items.
FIG. 7 shows an example of an overlay screen 70;
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data storage unit 24 of PRITER1.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing form overlay printing processing in step 109;
FIG. 10 is a view for explaining form overlay printing with a specific image.
FIG. 11 is a diagram of a combination of a form file and a data file.
FIG. 12 is an example of a screen 100 of PRINTER1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 shows an example of a screen 110 of PRINTER1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 shows an example of a screen 120 of PRINTER1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 shows an example of a default form data screen 130;
16A and 16B are display examples of default form data for which copying is prohibited
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D Printing instruction device (HOST)
11 Print instruction control unit
12 Program storage
13 Data storage unit
14 Operation unit
15 Operation detector
16 Communication interface
17 Display
20, 20A, 20B, 20C Printer (PRINTER)
21 Print control unit
22 Data receiving unit
23 Memory
24 Data storage unit
25 Parser part
26 PDL processing unit
27 Form data storage
28 Drawing processing unit
29 Printing department
30 LAN
31, 50, 60, 64, 65, 70, 100, 110, 120, 130 Display screen
32, 63, 73 Icon
33 Icon Name
51, 61, 71, 101, 103, 111, 113, 115, 117, 121, 131 folders
52, 62, 72, 102, 104, 112, 114, 116, 118, 122, 132 Folder name
80 Print condition storage area
81 Print condition area
82 Paper size storage area
83 copies storage area
84 double-sided / single-sided storage area
85 Overlay area
86 Overlay designation area
87 Form file storage area
88 Data file storage area
90 Output image of print data file "Doc1.pdf"
91 Output image of form data file "Form1.pdf"
92 Sales slip output image
140 Forbidden characters
141 Forbidden characters

Claims (19)

In a print instruction device that causes a printing device to print a combined image obtained by combining fixed information and variable information,
A printing condition setting unit for setting printing conditions by storing a fixed information file storing the fixed information in a folder indicating a print instruction of the composite image and a variable information file storing the variable information;
A print instruction apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the folder to the printing apparatus and causes the printing apparatus to print a composite image including the fixed information and the variable information stored in the folder. The print condition setting means sets a print condition item as a folder name, selects a plurality of folders having a hierarchical structure including the folder indicating a print instruction of the composite image, and sets a desired print condition. The print instruction device according to claim 1, wherein The print instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the folder stores the variable information file and the fixed information file in one folder. 2. The print instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the folder includes one or more folders storing the variable information and one or more folders storing the fixed information in a pair. The print instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixed information is table information. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixed information is character information. In a printing apparatus that prints a composite image obtained by combining fixed information and variable information,
Receiving means for receiving a fixed information file storing the fixed information and a variable information file storing the variable information, a folder indicating a print instruction of the stored composite image from a print instruction device,
Storage means for storing the folder storing the fixed information file and the variable information file,
Data generation means for generating composite image data from the fixed information and the variable information based on a print instruction indicated by the folder,
A printing unit for printing the composite image data. 8. The storage unit according to claim 7, wherein the storage unit stores folders forming a plurality of layers in which printing condition items including the folder storing the variable information file and the fixed information file are set as folder names. Printing equipment. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the receiving unit includes a transmission unit configured to transmit the printing conditions provided by the receiving unit to the printing instruction apparatus in response to a request from the printing instruction apparatus. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the data generation unit generates and registers fixed image information from the fixed information and uses the fixed image information for another printing. The printing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of the fixed image information are registered. The printing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the fixed image information is predetermined information fixed in advance. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the storage unit stores one or more of the variable information files and one or more of the fixed information to be combined by the data generation unit in a pair. In a printing method for causing a printing device to print a combined image obtained by combining fixed information and variable information,
A storage step of storing a fixed information file storing the fixed information and a variable information file storing the variable information in a folder indicating a print instruction of the composite image;
A data generation step of generating composite image data from the fixed information and the variable information stored in the folder,
Printing the composite image data under the printing conditions. 15. The storage step according to claim 14, wherein in the storing step, a desired printing condition is selected and set from the printing conditions composed of a plurality of folders constituting a plurality of hierarchies in which a printing condition item is set as a folder name. Printing method. 15. The printing method according to claim 14, wherein in the data generating step, fixed image information is generated from the fixed information file, registered, and used for another printing process. 17. The printing method according to claim 16, wherein a plurality of the fixed image information are registered. 17. The printing method according to claim 16, wherein the fixed image information is predetermined information fixed in advance. 15. The printing method according to claim 14, wherein the storing step stores one or more of the variable information files and one or more of the fixed information to be combined in the data generating step in a pair.

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