JP2004287764A - Method for uninstalling printer driver, program and uninstaller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for uninstalling a printer driver, program and uninstaller for preventing inconvenience that the convenience of a user is spoiled when a printer driver is uninstalled. <P>SOLUTION: A PC detects an erasure request to request the erasure of a printer driver (S101), and when the printer driver being the target of the erasure request is set as a printer driver to be usually used (S103: YES), a user is urged to set a printer driver different from the printer driver being the target of the erasure request as the printer driver to be usually used (S104, S105). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer driver uninstallation method and a program incorporated in an operating system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When software is uninstalled and removed from the control of an operating system (OS) of a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as “PC”), files related to the software are deleted. Due to such a related file deletion process, there is a possibility that a malfunction in the operation of the operating system may occur, such as an abnormal termination when another program is executed after the uninstallation.
[0003]
In order to solve this problem, if it is determined that there is a possibility that a malfunction in the operation of the operating system may occur, an operation procedure for changing various software settings so that the malfunction does not occur. Has been proposed to notify the user (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-92642
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 does not describe any inconvenience that user convenience when uninstalling a printer driver installed in an operating system of a PC is impaired.
[0006]
That is, generally, when the printer driver to be uninstalled is set as the default printer driver (hereinafter, referred to as “default setting”), that is, the target of “set as default printer” on the setting screen of the PC display The operating system automatically determines the default printer driver after uninstallation. At this time, since the operating system does not consider the usability of the user, there is a possibility that a printer driver corresponding to a printer not desired by the user is set as a default. Further, there is a possibility that a printer driver corresponding to FAX, PDF Writer, or the like may be set to default settings contrary to general usage.
[0007]
Normally, the PC is restarted after the uninstallation of the printer driver, and in the meantime, the user often forgets the desired default setting of the printer driver and notices it after the print instruction. In this case, if the target of the automatically performed default setting does not meet the wishes, the user must reset the printer driver corresponding to the user-friendly printer. The technique described in Patent Document 1 does not consider the inconvenience of impairing the user's convenience when uninstalling the printer driver as described above, and presents a specific method for solving the problem. Not something.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method of uninstalling a printer driver which can prevent inconvenience of impairing user's convenience when uninstalling the printer driver. And to provide the program.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.
[0010]
(1) A procedure for detecting a deletion request for requesting deletion of a printer driver for controlling a printer, and a step of detecting the deletion request when the printer driver to be deleted is set as a normally used printer driver. And a procedure for performing a control for prompting the user to set a printer driver different from the printer driver to be used as a normally used printer driver.
[0011]
(2) The program described in (1) above, which is a program separated from an uninstaller for deleting a printer driver, wherein the step of detecting the deletion request is a step of detecting that the uninstaller has been started. Program.
[0012]
(3) An uninstaller attached to the printer driver for deleting the printer driver, the uninstaller including the program according to (1).
[0013]
(4) An uninstaller that is separate from the printer driver and can be incorporated into the operating system for deleting the printer driver, the uninstaller including the program according to (1).
[0014]
(5) detecting a deletion request that requests deletion of a printer driver for controlling the printer; and, if the printer driver that is the target of the deletion request is set to a normally used printer driver, Controlling the user to set a printer driver different from the printer driver to be used as a normally used printer driver.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which a printer driver uninstallation method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system includes a PC 100, printers 200A, 200B, and 200C. The printer 200A is directly connected (locally connected) between the PC 100 and the device. In this case, for example, interfaces and protocols such as USB and IEEE1284 are used. The PC 100 and the printers 200B and 200C are communicably connected to each other via a network 300. The network 300 includes a LAN conforming to standards such as Ethernet (R), token ring, and FDDI, and a WAN in which LANs are connected by a dedicated line. Note that the type and number of devices connected to the network 300 are not limited to the example shown in FIG.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of PC 100 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the PC 100 includes a CPU 101 for controlling the entire apparatus and performing various arithmetic processes, a ROM 102 for storing programs and data, a RAM 103 for temporarily storing programs and data as a work area, A hard disk 104 as an external storage device for storing programs and data, a display 105 for displaying various information, an input unit 106 including a keyboard and a mouse for inputting various instructions, and a connection for connecting to the network 300 It includes a network interface 107 such as a LAN card and a local interface 108 for local connection to the printer 200A, which are mutually connected via a bus 109 for exchanging signals.
[0019]
The PC 100 may include components other than the above-described components, or may not include some of the above-described components.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a file tree configured on the hard disk 104. As shown in FIG. 3, the operating system 122 is stored as a directory on the logical drive 121 provided on the hard disk 104.
[0021]
When a printer driver for controlling the printer is installed in the PC 100, the printer driver is installed under the control of the operating system 122 in a form accompanied by an uninstaller for deleting the printer driver. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the uninstaller is stored in the SYSTEM 123 which is a directory under the control of the operating system 122, and the printer driver is stored in the driver 124 which is a directory.
[0022]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing functions related to the printer driver when the printer driver is installed in the PC 100. The illustrated functions are realized by the CPU 101 and a storage unit such as the RAM 103.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 4, the application 131 outputs print data to the operating system 122. The operating system 122 delivers the received print data to the printer driver 132. The printer driver 132 converts the delivered print data into a format that can be directly interpreted by the printer, including color space conversion (from RGB to CMYK) and conversion to a printer language when the data is color. Is performed. The spooler 133 stores the print data subjected to the conversion processing. The port monitor 134 outputs the print data stored in the spooler 133 to the network interface 107 or the local interface 108. The uninstaller 135 deletes the printer driver 132 based on a user operation.
[0024]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing functions of the uninstaller 135 shown in FIG. The illustrated functions are realized by the CPU 101 and a storage unit such as the RAM 103.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 5, the uninstaller 135 includes an uninstalling start unit 141 that starts the uninstaller 135, a default setting target detecting unit 142 for detecting a printer driver that is set as a default, and the hard disk 104 of the printer driver. An uninstall execution unit 143 for executing deletion from a printer, a setting screen display unit 144 for displaying a setting screen for setting a printer driver to be used normally based on a user operation on the display 105, and managing the above units. And an uninstall management unit 145 that performs the uninstallation.
[0026]
Next, a procedure for uninstalling the printer driver performed by the PC 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. The algorithm shown by the flowchart in FIG. 6 is stored as a program in a storage unit such as the hard disk 104 of the PC 100, and is executed by the CPU 101.
[0027]
First, a request to delete a printer driver based on a user's operation is detected, and the uninstaller 135 is started up as a whole by the uninstallation starter 141 (S101).
[0028]
When the uninstaller 135 is started, a process of detecting a printer driver set as a default is performed (S102). That is, the uninstall management unit 145 instructs the default setting target detection unit 142 to detect the printer driver set as default. In response to this instruction, the default setting target detection unit 142 refers to a file in which various setting information managed by the operating system 122 is stored, and detects a printer driver set as default. The detection result is sent to the uninstall management unit 145.
[0029]
Upon receiving the detection result from the default setting target detection unit 142, the uninstall management unit 145 determines whether the printer driver that is the target of the deletion request detected in step S101 is set as a default (S103). If the printer driver that is the target of the deletion request is not set to the default (NO in S103), it is determined that there is no possibility that the user's usability will be impaired, and the process proceeds to step S107.
[0030]
If the printer driver to be deleted is set as the default (YES in S103), the uninstall management unit 145 sets a printer driver different from the printer driver to be deleted as a normal printer driver. Control to prompt the user is performed. Specifically, the uninstall management unit 145 instructs the setting screen display unit 144 to display a setting screen for setting a normally used printer driver based on a user operation (S104).
[0031]
FIG. 7 shows an example of a setting screen for setting a normally used printer driver based on a user operation. As shown in FIG. 7, the setting screen 151 has a printer display window 152. In the printer display window 152, the currently installed printer driver is displayed. However, in FIG. 7, printer drivers corresponding to more various devices than the devices shown in FIG. 1 are displayed. Note that a plurality of printer drivers may be installed for one printer.
[0032]
In the lower part of the printer display window 152, for example, "The printer set as default is uninstalled. Select the printer to be set as default after uninstallation, and click OK. To cancel the uninstallation, click Cancel. Is displayed. In the printer display window 152, devices such as a printer controlled by the printer driver are displayed as icons. Here, the target of uninstallation or default setting is not a printer but actually a printer driver.
[0033]
In step S105, the uninstall management unit 145 determines whether the “OK” button 154 has been pressed after the user has selected a desired printer driver on the setting screen 151 (S105).
[0034]
If "OK" button 154 is pressed (YES in S105), default setting processing is performed (S106). That is, the uninstall management unit 145 instructs the operating system 122 to change the setting information regarding the printer driver to be used normally based on the user's selection on the setting screen 151.
[0035]
Subsequently, an uninstallation process is performed (S107). That is, the uninstall management unit 145 instructs the uninstall execution unit 143 to uninstall the printer driver that is the target of the deletion request detected in step S101. Then, the uninstall execution unit 143 deletes, from the hard disk 104, the file related to the printer driver that is the target of the deletion request.
[0036]
When the execution of the uninstallation process is completed, the uninstallation management unit 145 causes the display 105 to display that the uninstallation of the printer driver has been completed, as shown in FIG. 8 (S108). At this time, when the user presses the “restart” button 162 on the display screen 161 indicating that the uninstallation has been completed, the operating system 122 of the PC 100 can recognize the printer driver after the uninstallation. Note that, when the “restart later” button 163 is pressed by the user, other applications can be executed without restarting.
[0037]
On the other hand, if the “OK” button 154 has not been pressed in step S105 (NO in S105), the uninstall management unit 145 determines whether the “cancel” button 155 has been pressed by the user on the setting screen 151. (S109). If the “cancel” button 155 has not been pressed (NO in S109), the process returns to step S105.
[0038]
If the “cancel” button 155 is pressed (YES in S109), the uninstall management unit 145 displays on the display 105 that the uninstallation of the printer driver has been interrupted, as shown in FIG. 9 (S110). . At this time, when the user presses the “OK” button 172 on the display screen 171 indicating that the uninstallation has been interrupted, for example, other applications can be executed.
[0039]
In the present embodiment, the control (S104 and S105) for prompting the change of the target of the default setting is performed before the execution of the uninstallation process (S107). However, the present invention is not limited to this. (S107).
[0040]
As described above, according to the printer driver uninstallation method of the present embodiment, the deletion request that requests the deletion of the printer driver is detected, and the printer driver that is the target of the deletion request is set as the normally used printer driver. If so, control is performed to prompt the user to set a printer driver that is different from the printer driver that is the target of the deletion request as the default printer driver.
[0041]
Therefore, when deleting the default printer driver, the user can easily and reliably set the default printer driver corresponding to the user's easy-to-use printer as the next candidate. This eliminates the trouble of resetting the default setting again because the target of the default setting does not meet the request. In this way, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that the user's usability is impaired when uninstalling the printer driver.
[0042]
The present invention is not limited to only the above-described embodiments, but can be variously modified within the scope of the claims.
[0043]
For example, the present invention relates to an uninstaller for deleting the printer driver 132 attached to the printer driver 132 in the embodiment described above, and a procedure for detecting a deletion request for requesting deletion of the printer driver 132. When the printer driver 132 to be deleted is set as a default printer driver, the user is prompted to set a printer driver different from the printer driver 132 to be deleted as the default printer driver. Is provided as an uninstaller 135 including a program for causing a computer to execute the procedure for performing the above operation, but the present invention is not limited to this.
[0044]
The present invention is, for example, an uninstaller for deleting a printer driver, which can be incorporated into the operating system 122 separately from the printer driver, and includes a procedure for detecting the above-described deletion request and a procedure for performing the above-described prompting control. May be provided as an uninstaller including a program for causing a computer to execute the program.
[0045]
Further, the present invention is a program separated from an uninstaller for deleting a printer driver, and when detecting that any one of the uninstallers has been started, the program interrupts the processing of the uninstaller, and May be provided as a program for causing a computer to execute a procedure for performing the control promoted by the user.
[0046]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, a computer such as a workstation or a server may be used instead of the PC. Further, in place of the printer, an image forming apparatus such as a copier and a multi-function peripheral (MFP) may be used.
[0047]
The above-described embodiments of the present invention include the following inventions 1 to 6 in addition to the inventions described in claims 1 to 5 of the claims.
[0048]
[Supplementary Note 1] The program according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of performing the prompting control is executed before a printer driver that is a target of the deletion request is deleted.
[0049]
[Supplementary Note 2] The program according to claim 1, wherein the step of performing the prompting control includes a step of displaying a setting screen for setting a normally used printer driver based on a user operation.
[0050]
(Supplementary Note 3) The uninstaller according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the step of performing the prompting control is executed before the printer driver that is the target of the deletion request is deleted.
[0051]
(Supplementary Note 4) The uninstaller according to Supplementary Note 3 or 4, wherein the step of performing the prompting control includes a step of displaying a setting screen for setting a normally used printer driver based on a user operation.
[0052]
[Supplementary Note 5] A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 1, 2, or 1 or 2.
[0053]
[Supplementary Note 6] A computer-readable recording medium recording the uninstaller according to claim 3, 4, or 3 or 4.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when deleting a default printer driver, a user can easily and reliably set a default printer driver corresponding to the user-friendly printer as a next candidate. This eliminates the trouble of resetting the default setting again because the default setting object that has been automatically performed does not meet the desire as in the related art. In this way, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that the user's usability is impaired when uninstalling the printer driver.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which a printer driver uninstallation method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a PC shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a file tree configured on a hard disk.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating functions related to the printer driver when the printer driver is installed in a PC.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing functions of an uninstaller shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing a procedure performed by a PC to uninstall a printer driver.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen for setting a printer driver to be used normally based on a user operation.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen indicating that the uninstallation of the printer driver has been completed.
FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a display screen indicating that the uninstallation of the printer driver has been interrupted.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 ... PC,
101 ... CPU,
102 ... ROM,
103 ... RAM,
104 ... Hard disk,
105 ... display,
106 ... input unit,
107 network interface,
108 ... local interface,
109 ... bus,
122 operating system,
132 ... Printer driver,
135 ... Uninstaller,
151 ... setting screen,
200A to 200C: Printer,
300 Network.

Claims (5)

Detecting a delete request requesting that the printer driver for controlling the printer be deleted; and
When the printer driver that is the target of the deletion request is set as the default printer driver, control is performed to prompt the user to set a printer driver different from the printer driver that is the target of the deletion request as the default printer driver. A program that causes a computer to perform the steps. A program that is separate from the uninstaller to remove the printer driver,
The program according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the deletion request is a step of detecting that the uninstaller has been started. An uninstaller attached to the printer driver for deleting the printer driver, the uninstaller including the program according to claim 1. An uninstaller including a program according to claim 1, wherein the uninstaller is separate from the printer driver and can be installed in an operating system, and is for removing the printer driver. Detecting a delete request requesting to delete a printer driver for controlling the printer;
When the printer driver that is the target of the deletion request is set as the default printer driver, control is performed to prompt the user to set a printer driver different from the printer driver that is the target of the deletion request as the default printer driver. And a method of uninstalling a printer driver.

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