JP2005063321A - Printing information display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a preview display method capable of realizing printing preview display faithfully reflecting the state of a document to be actually printed, and an information processor. <P>SOLUTION: A printing control application acquires a printing format setting at preview display (step 501), determines if there is a printing setting that can not be realized in actual printing in the printing setting (step 503), determines a user setting if there is a printing setting that can not be realized (step 507), and if there is a setting of reflecting the printing setting in a preview, generates a preview image so as not to reflect the printing setting that can not be realized (steps 506 and 508) on the preview, and displays it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to, for example, a text print information display method and an information processing apparatus for displaying text print information. In particular, in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a print format is set for text including chapters and pages. The present invention relates to a preview display method for performing a print preview based on a set print format and an information processing apparatus capable of displaying a preview of a document.

When text is printed on an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a document processing system has been proposed that allows a user to print with a high degree of freedom by enabling various print style settings for a document ( (See Patent Document 1). Then, by creating and displaying a print preview using the original document and the print format settings made by the user, the user confirms how the settings made by the user are reflected in the document. There is also a function that can be used.
JP 2003-162404 A

  In the above system, the user can confirm how the print style setting is reflected in the text by the print preview. In the system described above, one printer can be arbitrarily set as an output destination in an application for setting a print format. However, depending on the setting mode, the user can freely set without depending on the output destination device. Therefore, for example, the lower limit of the device function of the set printer, such as stapling on one print sheet, can be set. It is also possible to set a lower print appearance setting (that is, a print appearance setting that is not actually executed by the printer regardless of the print appearance setting). For example, when such a setting is made, the print preview is created from the document to be processed and the print style setting set by the user, so that the setting below the lower limit of the device function is reflected, that is, depending on the printer. Although it is not executed, it is created and displayed on the preview as if the print format setting is realized.

  For this reason, for example, the user who viewed the preview display in the above example thinks that stapling is possible with the device, and prints it as it is even though it is not possible with the device on which stapling is selected. It may be recognized that stapling is not possible. This does not accurately reflect the state in which the print preview is printed, so that operability and productivity are reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional example, and provides a preview display method and an information processing apparatus capable of realizing a print preview display that faithfully reflects the state of an actually printed document on a selected device. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration.

A preview display method capable of displaying a print preview of a document connected to a printing device,
A setting storage step for storing the print format setting of the document in the storage means;
A preview creation step of creating a print preview reflecting the print style executed by the printing apparatus based on the text information and the print style setting.

  Preferably, the preview creating step determines whether or not a condition for executing the print appearance setting item set in the print appearance setting according to the setting in the printing apparatus is satisfied. A print preview according to the print style setting is created, and if not satisfied, a print preview in a state where the print style setting is not set is created.

  Preferably, the method further includes a step of storing a display setting for displaying the print appearance setting in an unconditional manner, and the preview creating step includes the step of setting the print appearance setting item set in the print appearance setting. If the conditions to be executed as set in the printing apparatus are satisfied, or if the display settings are set, a print preview is created according to the print format settings, and the conditions are not satisfied If the display setting is not set, a print preview in a state where the print style setting is not set is created.

  Preferably, an acquisition step of acquiring the function of the printing apparatus is further provided, and the preview generation step generates a print preview based on a print format executed by the function acquired by the acquisition step.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the print style setting set by the user is not executed by the device, it is possible to perform print preview display in a state where the print style setting is not reflected. For this reason, the user can see a print preview with a more faithful appearance than the document that is actually printed out, and it is easy to perform the print appearance, and the operability is improved. In addition, it is possible to display the print preview based on only the print format setting by separately setting. In this case, even if the print setting is not reflected in the actual print output document due to other conditions, the print format is displayed. There is an effect that it is easy to grasp the setting visually.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[Outline of Document Processing System of this Embodiment]
The outline of the document processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this document processing system, a data file created by a general application is converted into electronic document data by a print data storage driver (also referred to as electronic document writer) and stored in a storage file (also referred to as electronic document file). The A print control application (also called a bookbinding application) provides a function for editing the saved file. For the save file edited by the print control application, an edit information file associated with the save file is generated and saved. Then, the content of the saved file is read out by a print application (also called a despooler) via the print control application and is used for printing. In this example, the general application, the print data saving driver, the print control application, and the print application are shown separately to clarify the functions, but the packages provided to the user are limited to these. Instead, it may be provided as an application or graphic engine combining these. Details will be described below.

<Hardware Configuration Example of Document Processing System of this Embodiment>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the document processing system according to this embodiment. As long as the function of the present invention is executed, a system in which processing is performed by being connected via a network such as a LAN or WAN, whether it is a single device or a system composed of a plurality of devices. Even so, the present invention can be applied.

  In the figure, a host computer 100 includes a CPU 201, a RAM 202, a ROM 203, and the like. The CPU 201 executes document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets), and the like are mixed based on a document processing program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 203 or the external memory 211. The CPU 201 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 204. The ROM 203 program ROM area or external memory 211 stores an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) as a control program of the CPU 201, and the ROM 203 font ROM area or external memory 211 stores the above-mentioned document processing. Font data used for the above-described processing is stored, and various data used when the document processing is performed is stored in the data ROM area of the ROM 203 or the external memory 211. The RAM 202 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201.

  A keyboard controller (KBC) 205 controls key input from a keyboard 209 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 206 controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 210. A disk controller (DKC) 207 controls access to an external memory 211 such as a hard disk (HD) or a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD). The external memory 111 stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, a printer control command generation program (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver), and the like. A printer controller (PRTC) 208 is connected to the printer 107 via the bidirectional interface (interface) 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 107.

  Note that the CPU 201 executes, for example, outline font development (rasterization) processing on the display information RAM set on the RAM 202 to enable WYSIWYG on the CRT 210. The CPU 201 opens various windows registered based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 210 and executes various data processing. When printing, the user opens a window related to print settings provided by the printer driver, and can set the print processing method for the printer driver, including printer settings and print mode selection.

  The printer 107 is controlled by the CPU 312. The printer CPU 312 outputs output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 317 connected to the system bus 315 based on a control program stored in the program ROM area of the ROM 313 or a control program stored in the external memory 314. Output image signal. Further, a control program for the CPU 312 is stored in the program ROM area of the ROM 313. Font data used when generating the output information is stored in the font ROM area of the ROM 313, and in the case of a printer without the external memory 314 such as a hard disk in the data ROM area of the ROM 313, a host computer Information used above is stored.

  The CPU 312 can communicate with the host computer via the input unit 318 and can notify the host computer 100 of information in the printer. The RAM 319 is a RAM that functions as a main memory of the CPU 312, a work area, and the like, and is configured such that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 319 is used for an output information expansion area, an environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like. Access to the above-described external memory 314 such as a hard disk (HD) or IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 320. The external memory 314 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. Reference numeral 318 denotes a switch for operation on the operation panel described above, an LED display, and the like.

  Further, the external memory 314 is not limited to one, and a plurality of external memories 314 are provided so that a plurality of external memories storing an option card and a program for interpreting a printer control language having a different language system in addition to the built-in font can be connected. May be. Further, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store printer mode setting information from the operation unit 321.

<Software Configuration Example of Document Processing System According to this Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a software configuration of the document processing system according to the present embodiment.
The document processing system is realized by a digital computer 100 (hereinafter also referred to as a host computer) which is a preferred embodiment of a document processing apparatus (information processing apparatus) according to the present invention. The general application 101 is an application program that provides functions such as word processing, spreadsheet, photo retouching, drawing or painting, presentation, and text editing, and has a function of requesting a printing process from the operating system (OS). ing. These applications use a predetermined interface provided by the OS when printing application data such as created document data and image data. That is, the application 101 issues an output instruction in a predetermined format to the OS output module that provides the interface in order to print the created data. Upon receiving the output instruction, the output module converts the command into a format that can be processed by an output device such as a printer, and outputs the converted command. Since the format that can be processed by the output device varies depending on the device type, manufacturer, model, etc., a device driver is provided for each device. The OS uses the device driver to convert commands and print data. A print job is generated by generating and enclosing in JL (Job Language).

  When using Microsoft Windows (registered trademark) as an OS, a module called GDI (Graphic Device Interface) is used as an output module. Then, the application 101 calls a GDI function using the created data as a parameter in a format compatible with GDI. By doing so, the above-described output instruction is sent to the OS.

  The print data storage driver 102 is an improvement of the above-described device driver, and is a software module provided for realizing the document processing system. However, the print data storage driver 102 is not intended for a specific output device, and converts the output command into a format that can be processed by the print control application 104 and the printer driver 106 described later. The format converted by the print data storage driver 102 (hereinafter referred to as “storage file format”) is not particularly limited as long as it can represent the document structure and the document in page units in a detailed format. As a format for expressing a document in page units, for example, a PDF format by Adobe Systems, an SVG format, or the like can be adopted as a storage file.

  In the present embodiment, the storage file 103 and the editing information file 111 are separate files. However, these files are integrated as an archive file in order to maintain their integrity when the file is not opened. May be. In this description, the save file 103 and the edit information file 111 may be collectively referred to as an electronic document file. The print data saving driver may be called an electronic document writer in the sense of a program for generating an electronic document file.

  In the system shown in FIG. 1, processing can be performed on the contents of data stored in the storage file 103. As a result, it is possible to realize functions that the application does not have, such as enlargement / reduction or printing by reducing a plurality of pages into one page with respect to print data from the application. For these purposes, the system shown in FIG. 1 has been extended to a conventional system such as spooling with intermediate code data. In order to process the print data, settings are made from a window provided by the normal print control application 104, and the setting contents are stored in the RAM 202 or the external memory 211.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in this expanded processing method, first, print data from the application 101 is saved on the system as a save file 103 via the print data saving driver 102. The storage file 103 is also called an intermediate file, and includes content data of printed matter, setting data for printing, and the like. The content data of the printed matter is data obtained by converting data created by the user on the application into an intermediate code, and the setting data for printing is data describing how the content data is output (output format etc.) . In addition, application extension data called an editing information file for providing a user interface for allowing the user to edit the contents of the saved file and output instructions by the print control application is included. The editing information file 111 stores not only extended data for providing a user interface but also print setting data that cannot be stored in a save file. Therefore, for example, when a standardized format is used as the save file, print settings that cannot be saved in that format can be saved in the edit information file 111.

  The print control application 104 reads this save file 103. The print control application 104 expands the contents of the storage file 103 as a table in the memory, and if the editing information file 111 includes specific settings not included in the storage file, the settings are stored in the memory. Reflect in the expanded table. Then, the output format of the contents can be changed, displayed, saved and printed in the read saved file 103. The printing application (despooler) 105 actually performs processing for printing. A print application (despooler) 105 that has received a print command from the print control application 104 inputs data to the graphic engine 121 in a predetermined format, such as a GDI function, according to the output format set by the print control application 104. The graphic engine 121 converts the input data such as the GDI function format into a DDI function, and outputs the DDI function to the printer driver 106. The printer driver 106 generates a printer control command including a page description language based on the DDI function acquired from the graphic engine 121 and outputs the printer control command to the printer 107 via the system spooler 122.

<Data format example of saved file>
Before referring to details of the print application 104, the data format of the storage file will be described. The save file includes data of each original page (page unit data generated by an application, also referred to as a logical page) as content data, and includes, for example, data in a format called a job ticket as print setting data. Further, an editing information file 111 that is independently referred to by a print control application 104 to be described later is also stored along with the storage file 103. In the save file 103, the document page data in PDF format and the data in the format called job ticket are intermediate data.

  In the saved file, the manuscript page data is defined in, for example, the PDF format, and includes character font and color designation, layout information such as characters and graphics in the manuscript page, and the like.

  The job ticket stored as a storage file is data having a structure in which a document page is a minimum unit. The structure in the job ticket defines the layout of the manuscript page on the paper. One job ticket corresponds to one print job. There is a node for the entire document at the top, and attributes of the entire document, such as double-sided printing / single-sided printing, are defined. Below that is included information indicating the structure of the document and the settings for each component. Specifically, a sheet bundle node belongs, and includes attributes such as an identifier of a sheet to be used and a designation of a paper feed port in the printer. Each sheet bundle node includes a node of a sheet included in the sheet bundle. One sheet corresponds to one sheet. A print page (physical page) belongs to each sheet. For single-sided printing, one physical page belongs to one sheet, and for double-sided printing, two physical pages belong to one sheet. Each physical page has an original page arranged thereon. The physical page attribute includes the layout of the original page. The document page includes association information (link information) to document page data which is the substance of the document page.

  An example of the data structure of the job ticket is shown in FIG. In printing data, a document is composed of a set of sheets, and each sheet is composed of two sides, a front side and a back side. Each side has an area (physical page) for laying out a document, and each physical page. Is composed of a set of manuscript pages which is the minimum unit. Reference numeral 1101 denotes data corresponding to a document, which includes data relating to the entire document and a list of paper information constituting the document. The paper information 1102 includes information related to paper such as paper size and a list of surface information arranged on the paper. The surface information 1103 includes data specific to the surface and a list of physical pages arranged on the surface. The physical page information 1104 includes information such as the physical page size and header / footer, and a list of manuscript pages constituting the physical page. The manuscript page information 1105 includes manuscript page settings and a link to page data representing the contents of the page.

The setting of the entire document includes the following information, for example.
(1) Document page layout information on a physical page (referred to as a sheet surface of a print medium) (so-called N-up (N-up) printing setting for arranging N pages on one physical page) and order
(2) Document name
(3) Whether both sides can be specified
(4) Availability of variable printing (technology that embeds and prints data prepared in advance with the contents of a predetermined field)
(5) Number of manuscript pages included
(6) Color type
(7) Number of copies
(8) Watermark (Ground pattern that overlaps the original page or printed page)
(9) Printer status
(10) Media type
(11) Logical page number list on the sheet
(12) Printing quality etc.

The following parameters can be set for print settings for each sheet bundle.
(13) Specifying N-up printing
(14) Color type
(15) Paper source.
The print settings for each sheet belonging to each sheet bundle can be set as follows.
(16) Setting for duplex / single-sided printing.
The following settings can be made for the print settings for each physical page (surface) belonging to each sheet.
(17) Color type
(18) Specification of whether to correspond to either front or back.
The following settings can be made for the print settings for each document page arranged on each physical page.
(19) Start coordinates
(20) Size
(21) Order.

  As described above, the job ticket is data having a hierarchical structure in which the manuscript page is the minimum. Many of the print settings defined by these job tickets are common to each hierarchy set in document units, but some of them are common between hierarchies such as N-up settings and color types. Some exist. As for the common setting, the lower layer inherits the value of the same setting in the upper layer in principle. However, in the case where attributes common between layers have different values, the value set for the target layer is used as the value of the attribute. For example, the color type can be set for the entire document, a sheet bundle (sheet wrapping), and a physical page (also called a surface or a print page). The color type is a setting for specifying a mode in the printing apparatus, and print data is generated so that printing is performed in monochrome by the printing apparatus when the monochrome mode is set, and printing is performed in color when the color mode is set. .

<Document structure managed by editing information file>
The print control application 104 is a program that provides a user interface for allowing a user to specify data included in the storage file 103 by various methods and for changing print settings. Although the save file itself is a file having the above-described structure, the print control application 104 manages the edit information file 111 described above separately from the save file 103 in association with the save file. Based on the editing information included in the editing information file, the print control application 104 manages the document with a management structure independent of the storage file 103, for example, a document defined by a job ticket. The management structure is a hierarchical structure similar to a job ticket, but unlike a job ticket, it has a hierarchy of “book”, “chapter”, and “original (logical) page” from the top. Of these, the manuscript page is the same as the manuscript page in the job ticket. A chapter corresponds to a sheet bundle (sheet punching).

  The document file displayed as the user interface is temporarily constructed for the user interface when the user changes the print setting of the storage file 103 or prints an instruction using the print control application 104. Therefore, the print control application 104 opens the save file 103 together with the corresponding edit information file 111, and develops a despool table (described later) having a structure defined by the edit information from the save file on the memory. Then, the structure of the document file and the preview screen are displayed as a user interface as will be described later. A document file constructed by the print control application (bookbinding application) 104 based on the storage file 103 and the editing information file 111 is referred to as a book file. At this time, if there is a setting item unique to the editing information file, the user can change the print setting while referring to the book file via the user interface. The changed setting is reflected in a table (despool table) on the memory, and is saved in the save file 103 and the edit information file 111 when a save instruction is given.

<Example format of editing information file>
Before mentioning details of the print control application 104, a data format of a book file, that is, an editing information file will be described. The book file has a three-layer hierarchical structure that imitates a paper medium book. The upper layer is called a “book”, imitating one book, and attributes related to the whole book are defined. The middle layer below it corresponds to the chapter in the book and is also called “chapter”. For each chapter, attributes for each chapter can be defined. The lower layer is a “page” and corresponds to each page defined by the application program. You can define attributes for each page. A book may contain multiple chapters, and a chapter may contain multiple pages.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a book file format. The book, chapter, and page in the book file of this example are indicated by corresponding nodes. One book file contains one book. Since a book and a chapter are concepts for defining a structure as a book, the defined attribute values and links to lower layers are used as entities. The substance of the page is manuscript page data in PDF format or the like included in the save file 103. That is, the editing information file only defines the format and attributes of the book file, and does not include the original page data itself. The page has data for each page output by the application program as an entity. Therefore, the page includes an original page entity (original page data) and a link to each original page data in addition to the attribute value. Note that a print page when outputting to a paper medium or the like may include a plurality of document pages. This structure is not displayed by a link, but is displayed as an attribute in each hierarchy of a book, chapter, and page.

In FIG. 3, since the book file does not have to be one complete book, “book” is generalized as “document”. Information relating to a document is generally referred to as document information, information relating to a chapter is referred to as chapter information, and information relating to a page is collectively referred to as page information.
In FIG. 3, first, document information 401 is held at the top. The document information 401 can be roughly divided into three parts 402 to 404. The document control information 402 holds information such as a path name in the file system of the document file. The document setting information 403 holds layout information such as page layout and printing apparatus function setting information such as stapling, and corresponds to book attributes. The chapter information list 404 holds a set of chapters constituting a document in a list format. The list holds chapter information 405.

  The chapter information 405 can be roughly divided into three parts 406 to 408. The chapter control information 406 holds information such as a chapter name. The chapter setting information 407 holds page layout and staple information unique to the chapter, and corresponds to chapter attributes. By having setting information for each chapter, it is possible to create a document having a complicated layout such that the first chapter has a 2UP layout and the other chapters have a 4UP layout. The page information list 408 is held in the form of a collection list of manuscript pages constituting each chapter. The page information list 408 indicates page information data 409.

  The page information data 409 is also roughly divided into three parts 410 to 412. The page control information 410 holds information such as page numbers to be displayed on the tree. The page setting information 411 holds information such as page rotation angle and page layout position information, and corresponds to an original page attribute. The page link information 412 is document data corresponding to a page. In this example, the page information 409 does not directly have document data, but has only link information 412, and actual document data is held in a page data list 413.

  FIG. 4 is a list showing an example of book attributes (document setting information 403). Normally, for items that can be defined overlapping with the lower layer, the attribute value of the lower layer is preferentially adopted. Therefore, for items included only in the book attribute, the value defined in the book attribute becomes a valid value throughout the book. However, items that overlap the lower layer have meanings as default values when they are not defined in the lower layer. However, in this example, as described later, it is possible to select whether to give priority to the attribute value of the lower layer. Each item illustrated does not specifically correspond to one item, but may include a plurality of related items.

  Items unique to the book attributes are six items: printing method, bookbinding details, front / back cover, index paper, slip sheet, and chapter break. These are items defined throughout the book. As the printing method attribute, three values of single-sided printing, double-sided printing, and bookbinding printing can be designated. Bookbinding printing is a method of printing in a format that enables bookbinding by bundling a separately designated number of sheets into two and folding the bundle. As the bookbinding details attribute, when bookbinding printing is designated, the spread direction, the number of sheets to be bundled, and the like can be designated.

  The front cover / back cover attribute includes designation of adding sheets to be a front cover and a back cover when printing a storage file to be collected as a book, and designation of print contents on the added sheet. The index sheet attribute includes designation of insertion of index sheets with ears separately prepared in the printing apparatus as chapter breaks and designation of print contents in the index (ear) portion. This attribute can be used when a printing device used by an inserter having an insert function for inserting a sheet prepared separately from the printing sheet into a desired position, or a plurality of paper cassettes can be used. Effective in some cases. The same applies to the slip sheet attribute.

  The slip sheet attribute includes designation of insertion of a sheet supplied from an inserter or a sheet feed cassette as a chapter break, and designation of a sheet feed source when a slip sheet is inserted.

  The chapter break attribute includes designation of whether to use a new sheet, use a new print page, or do nothing in particular at the chapter break. During single-sided printing, the use of new paper and the use of a new print page have the same meaning. In double-sided printing, if “use new paper” is specified, consecutive chapters will not be printed on one sheet, but if “use new print page” is specified, consecutive chapters will be 1 It may be printed on the front and back of a sheet of paper.

FIG. 5 is a list showing chapter attributes (chapter setting information 407), and FIG. 6 is a list showing page attributes (page setting information 411). The relationship between chapter attributes and page attributes is the same as the relationship between book attributes and lower layer attributes.
As for chapter attributes, there are no items specific to chapters, and all items overlap with book attributes. Therefore, normally, if the definition in the chapter attribute is different from the definition in the book attribute, the value defined in the chapter attribute has priority. However, in this example, as described later, it is possible to select whether to give priority to the attribute value of the lower layer.

  Items common only to the book attribute and chapter attribute are five items: paper size, paper orientation, N-up printing designation, enlargement / reduction, and paper discharge method. Among these, the N-up print designation attribute is an item for designating the number of document pages included in one print page. Examples of arrangements that can be specified include 1 × 1, 1 × 2, 2 × 2, 3 × 3, and 4 × 4. The paper discharge method attribute is an item for designating whether or not to perform stapling processing on the discharged paper, and the validity of this attribute depends on whether or not the printing apparatus to be used has a stapling function.

  Items unique to the page attribute include a page rotation attribute, zoom, layout designation, annotation, and page division. The page rotation attribute is an item for designating a rotation angle when placing an original page on a print page. The zoom attribute is an item for designating the scaling factor of the original page. The scaling factor is specified with the size of the virtual logical page area as 100%. The virtual logical page area is an area occupied by one manuscript page when the manuscript page is arranged in accordance with designation of N-up or the like. For example, if it is 1 × 1, the virtual logical page area is an area corresponding to one print page, and if it is 1 × 2, each side of one print page is an area reduced to about 70%.

  Attributes common to the book, chapter, and page include a watermark attribute and a header / footer attribute. A watermark is a separately designated image or character string that is printed over data created by an application. The header / footer is a watermark printed on the upper margin and the lower margin of each page. However, items that can be specified by variables, such as page numbers and date / time, are prepared in the header / footer. The contents that can be specified in the watermark attribute and the header / footer attribute are common to the chapter and the page, but the book is different from them. In the book, the contents of the watermark and header / footer can be set, and how the watermark, header and footer are printed throughout the book can be specified. On the other hand, for a chapter or page, whether or not to print a watermark or header / footer set in the book can be specified for the chapter or page.

<Generate save file>
When the storage file 103 is generated by the print data storage driver 102, first, a new storage file 103 is created and opened, an application corresponding to the designated application data is started, and the print data storage driver 102 is started. As a device driver, an output command is transmitted to an output module of the OS (for example, GDI of Windows (registered trademark)). The output module converts the received output command into data in a predetermined format (for example, PDF format) by the print data storage driver 102 and outputs the data. The output destination is the saved file 103 that has been opened. It is determined whether conversion has been completed for all specified data, and if it has been completed, the save file is closed. The storage file generated by the print data storage driver 102 in this way is a file called a job ticket that includes the structure shown in FIG. 7 and the actual document page data.

  The editing information file created and edited as described above has the final purpose of print output. When the user selects a file menu from the UI screen of the print control application and selects print from the file menu, the print is output by the designated output device. At this time, first, the print control application 104 creates data called a despool table described above from the currently opened editing information file and a corresponding saved file (for example, a job ticket) and passes the data to the print application 105. The print application 105 converts the despool table into parameters to be passed to the graphic engine 121. The print application 105 converts the saved file 103 into an OS output command, for example, a Windows (registered trademark) GDI command, and calls a GDI function, which is a graphic engine, using it as a parameter. The graphic engine 121 causes the designated printer driver 121 to generate a command suitable for the device (for example, a printer) and transmits the command to the device.

  Here, the graphic engine 121 loads the printer driver 106 prepared for each printing device from the external memory 211 to the RAM 202 and sets the output to the printer driver 106. The graphic engine 121 converts a GDI (Graphic Device Interface) function into a DDI (Device Driver Interface) function and calls a DDI function provided by the printer driver 106. Based on the DDI function called from the output module, the printer driver 106 converts it into a control command that can be recognized by the printer, for example, PDL (Page Description Language). The converted printer control command is output as print data to the printer 107 via the interface 21 via the system spooler 122 loaded into the RAM 202 by the OS.

  Next, the print setting processing operation by the bookbinding application 104 will be described. The bookbinding application 104 is configured to be able to perform print settings within a range of functions that can be used by a specific printing apparatus, or to freely perform print settings regardless of the functions of the specific printing apparatus. Hereinafter, the former is referred to as a function limited mode, and the latter is referred to as a function non-limited mode. When creating a document on the premise that it will be printed on a specific printer that can be used in the document creation environment, the document creator must create the document in the function-restricted mode and set the document print settings within the range that can be realized by the specific printer. Is possible. On the other hand, when creating a document on the premise that printing is not performed on a printer not in the document creation environment, or on the premise that the printer to be printed is not limited, by creating a document in the function non-restricted mode, a highly functional printer Even in a non-existent environment, it is possible to make print settings using a high function for a document.

  In order to create a new document by the bookbinding application 104, an operation such as selecting a new creation in the file menu is performed, and a “new creation” dialog shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. A list of printers available in the current environment is displayed in the “Printer Name” drop-down list of the “New Creation” dialog. A printer to be used for printing is selected from these. On the other hand, when a document is created without presuming printing to a printer included in the list, any printer may be selected here.

  In the “function list”, the functions of the printer designated by “printer name” are listed in the area 1301. When the selected printer of “printer name” is changed, the display of “function list” also matches the printer. It is configured to be changed. The document creator can select a printer capable of realizing the document setting to be created by referring to the display contents of the “function list”.

  As described above, the basic functions of the printer functions are recognized by the OS, and there are OSs configured to acquire the capabilities related to the basic functions of the output destination printer from the application. For example, in the Windows (registered trademark) OS, functions such as the number of copies, double-sided printing, paper size, and resolution can be acquired between the application, the OS, and the printer driver, and setting values can be acquired and set. Yes.

  The print control system of the present invention is not limited to the range of basic functions recognized by the OS. For example, printer functions that are not generally recognized by the current OS, such as staple, saddle stitch (saddle stitching), and Z-fold. With regard to the above, it is possible to acquire the ability, acquire and set the setting value, and the like. For example, these functions are not recognized in the Windows (registered trademark) OS, and acquisition of capability, acquisition of setting values, setting, and the like cannot be generally performed between the application, the OS, and the printer driver.

  In the print control system of the present invention, in particular, when creating a document in the non-function-limited mode, the user can freely set the print format, and when the function is lower than the function of the selected device, the print preview is displayed to the user. It features a preview display that reflects device functions.

<Explanation of preview display>
FIG. 8 is an example of an operation screen of the application 104. The application 104 can perform function settings of the printing device such as stapling and punching holes in addition to editing of the page order of the document, duplication, deletion, and the like, and can print on the designated printing device. . In the area 801 on the left side of FIG. 8, a tree view showing the structure of the document is displayed. The document is composed of a set of chapters (chapter 801a, 801b, 801c), and each chapter is composed of a set of manuscript pages (page 1-1 to page 1-8, etc.).

  A print preview of each page is displayed in an area 802 on the right side of FIG. In the print preview 802, a document to be printed is reproduced on the screen. However, as will be described later, even items set in the print settings may not be executed depending on device functions. Such print settings may or may not be displayed in the preview. A menu column is displayed at the top of the window screen, and a “tool” menu 811 is included therein. From this tool menu 811, it can be set whether or not the function provided by the hardware is unconditionally reflected in the preview display.

  FIG. 9 shows the “detailed document settings” window of the application 104. This window is activated from the “detailed document settings” menu in the “edit” menu 812 on the application operation screen of FIG. 8 or from the “detailed document settings” button on the toolbar. The “detailed document settings” window is a window for setting attributes that affect the entire document. This window is composed of five sheets of page setting, finishing, editing, paper feeding, and print quality, and FIG. 9 shows a state in which the “finishing” sheet is displayed. In this finishing sheet, settings relating to the finisher can be mainly performed. In this sheet, stapling can be set. In FIG. 9, stapling is actually set. The values set in the detailed document setting window are written in the editing information file 111 as the book attributes (document setting information 403) of FIG. 4 and stored in a storage such as the hard disk 211. For example, “designation of staples” 901 in FIG. 9 indicates the designated staple method (“collect all pages” in FIG. 9) as the setting value in the “discharge method” column 9 in FIG. A code indicating a position (one place at the upper left in FIG. 9) is set.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a user interface screen for setting options for preview display. When the user selects a “tool” menu 811 displayed on the user interface screen 1000 of the application 104, an “option” menu 1001 is displayed as a submenu. When the user selects the “option” 1001, an “option” screen 1010 is displayed. The “option” screen 1010 includes an item 1011 “display lower limit of device in preview”. Since this item is not a document print setting, it is not included in the attributes of FIGS. 4 to 6 and is not stored as a document attribute. However, apart from the attribute of the document itself, it may be stored as a part of the setting value included in the editing information file 111.

  Now, in the item 1011 “display the lower limit of the device in the preview” set on the screen of FIG. 10, a corresponding flag is provided in the RAM 202, and a value corresponding to the set value is stored. The flag is referred to in the procedure of FIG.

<Preview procedure (part)>
FIG. 11 shows a processing flowchart for creating a preview image by the print control application 104. Only the part relating to the present invention is shown here. FIG. 11 shows a sequence for creating a preview image after setting the print style. For example, when “print preview” is designated on the user interface screen of FIG. 10, this processing is executed for a document (or a designated portion of the document) that is to be edited at that time. In the print control system, it is preferable that the following processing is performed when the print appearance is set in the function non-restricted mode and the function reflection preview is selected. Of course, the following processing may be performed even in the function limited mode. In that case, it is assumed that the print format is set according to the function of the device selected in the function restriction mode. When the function is not realized depending on the condition, an effect that it can be reflected in the print preview is obtained.

  In step 501, the print format setting set in the document is acquired. In this case, the entire sentence, chapter, and page settings are also acquired. That is, the print settings included in the book attribute, chapter attribute, and page attribute of FIGS. 4 to 6 are acquired from the editing information file 111. Acquiring means loading a data file stored in an external memory such as a hard disk into the RAM 202. By loading into the RAM, the print setting items can be accessed from the print control application 104 by arranging them in a predetermined order, for example, or by arranging them in accordance with a predetermined index. It becomes.

  In step 502, the function of the device (that is, a code indicating the function) is acquired. The device function is a function provided in the printer, for example, a function realized by a sorter connected to the printer, a finisher having a staple function in addition to the sorter, or the like. These functions can be recognized by the CPU 312 in the printer 107 by storing, for example, a code indicating the presence or absence of the function in the RAM 319 or the like. Therefore, the host computer 100 can also obtain directly from the printer 107 in step 502. In addition, regarding a function that is optionally attached to the printer 107, the user can input information indicating that the function is provided from a user interface screen provided by the printer driver 106. In this case, whether or not the printer actually has the function depends only on information input by the user. In step 502, information indicating the printer function, for example, the presence or absence of the stapling function, is obtained by referring to the information indicating the printer function input by the user.

  In step 503, it is determined whether there is a print format setting acquired in step 501 that is not realized by the function of the device in step 502. The item to be determined is an item that is realized by the function of the device for the first time when a certain condition is satisfied among the item of whether or not the function exists in the device and the print appearance setting. For example, stapling should not be performed unless the stapling function (designated stapling unit or position, etc.) in the “printing method” included in the book attribute etc. exists in the target device. Even when the stapling function is present in the target device, it is not performed when the number of output sheets is one in spite of this setting, and a plurality of sheets are processed as a processing target document. When the output is based on this, it is realized by the stapling function of the printer. Since the determination that the stapling is not executed for one sheet is performed by the printer, the conventional stapling has been processed as being executed. However, in this embodiment, it is also determined whether or not it is actually executed by the printer. Therefore, the staple setting is an item to be determined in step 503. The items to be determined may be determined in advance. In addition, for example, inserting a slip sheet between chapters is not executed if the document is composed of only one chapter. On the other hand, unlike the staple, the print appearance setting for punching holes is realized by the device function even for a single sheet. In step 503, the determination is made by paying attention to the printing style setting items determined in advance in this way. Since the determination criteria may differ for each print style setting item, this is also determined in advance for each print style setting item.

  As a result of the determination, if the print format setting of interest is not realized by the device function (if the print setting is lower than the device function, it is not lower than the device function but the function is not realized), the process of step 504 Proceed to On the other hand, if the print style setting can be realized by the device function, the process proceeds to step 505. For example, if “printing method” in the print setting is set to “perform stapling” and the number of output sheets is one, the process proceeds to step 504, and if there are a plurality of sheets, the process proceeds to step 505. .

  In step 504, a flag that is set from the user interface screen of FIG. 10 and indicates that “the lower limit of the device is reflected in the preview” is referred to, and its value is determined. If this flag is set, the process proceeds to step 506, and if it is not set, the process proceeds to step 505.

  In step 506, a print preview image when the print format setting item of interest (that is, the print format setting determined not to be realized by the device function) is not realized is created. For example, even if the print setting for stapling is performed, if the number of sheets is one, the print preview image is created assuming that the stapling setting is not realized. It is assumed that the created image is a part related to the print format setting item that is focused in this step.

  FIG. 12 shows an example in which a print preview image is created in step 506 of FIG. In this case, since there is only one print page, even if stapling is set by the stapling device function, the stapling function is not realized for the actual printed matter (lower than the device function). This is because two or more print pages are required to realize stapling. Accordingly, a preview image without stapling is created in the print preview as well.

  On the other hand, in step 505, a print preview image is created in accordance with the set print style setting. FIG. 13 shows an example in which a print preview image is created in step 505 of FIG. In this case, since there are two print pages, stapling is realized by the device function (the print setting does not fall below the device function), so stapling is performed on the actual printed matter. Accordingly, a preview image for stapling is created in the print preview as well. Incidentally, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are print preview screens for documents with exactly the same print format settings, except that the number of output sheets is different.

  In step 507, it is determined whether or not the determination in step 503 has been made for all items of the print appearance setting determined to be determined in step 503. If all the processing has been completed, the process proceeds to step 508, where an image is also generated for the portions related to other print setting items and the print preview image is completed. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the determination in step 503 is performed for only one item for staples. However, since there are other items that can be determined, such as the chapter break slips described above, the determination can be made including them.

  As described above, the print preview display is not performed based only on the print style setting, and whether the setting is actually realized by the device (that is, whether it is applied to the actual output product) or not. The print preview image is generated according to the determination result. Thereby, it is possible to display a print preview image that faithfully represents an actual print result. Therefore, before printing, the user can observe a faithful preview image based on the printing result, and can change settings based on only the preview image. Therefore, the operability is improved, the productivity of the printing process is improved, and there is an effect of preventing waste of resources.

  Furthermore, since the option setting for displaying the print preview image can be performed based on the user's will only based on the print format setting, whether the print setting is realized by the printer by specifying the option setting by the user. Regardless of this, it is possible to visually observe the print format setting of the document of interest on the print preview screen, making it easy to grasp the print settings and improving operability.

[Modification]
In step 502, the device function is acquired. However, when the user inputs the print setting, the device function is checked. If the setting of the function not provided by the device is not permitted, the print setting The determination in step 503 can be made with reference to only the value. For example, when stapling is set, it is possible to determine whether there is a print setting that is not realized by the device function by determining in step 503 whether there are a plurality of sheets to be output.

  In addition, the present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.), or a device (for example, a copier, a facsimile device, etc.) composed of a single device. You may apply to.

In addition, the object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) in which the program code of the software shown in FIG. 11 that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus. It is also achieved by a computer (or CPU or MPU) reading and executing program code stored in a storage medium.
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. A case where part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. This includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the stand-alone type document processing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a host computer and a printer in the document processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the book file which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the book attribute which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the chapter attribute which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the page attribute which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of a job ticket. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen of an application 201. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface which performs the printing style setting of a document. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface which performs the printing style setting of the document which sets an option. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the process at the time of creating a print preview. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a preview image when stapling is performed when a document is one page. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a preview image when stapling is set when the document is two pages. It is a figure which shows an example of the "new creation" dialog for producing a new document.

Claims (8)

A preview display method capable of displaying a print preview of a document connected to a printing device,
A setting storage step for storing the print format setting of the document in the storage means;
A preview display method comprising: a preview creation step of creating a print preview reflecting a print style executed by the printing apparatus based on text information and print style settings. The preview creation step determines whether or not a condition for executing the print appearance setting item set in the print appearance setting according to the setting in the printing apparatus is satisfied. The preview display method according to claim 1, wherein a print preview according to the print appearance setting is created, and if not satisfied, a print preview in a state where the print appearance setting is not made is created. The method further comprises a step of storing display settings for displaying in accordance with the print appearance settings unconditionally, wherein the preview creating step is performed in the printing apparatus with respect to the print appearance setting items set in the print appearance settings. If the condition to be executed as set is satisfied, or if the display setting is made, a print preview is created according to the print format setting, the condition is not satisfied, and 2. The preview display method according to claim 1, wherein when the display setting is not set, a print preview in a state where the print style is not set is created. The acquisition step of acquiring the function of the printing apparatus is further provided, and the preview generation step generates a print preview based on a print appearance executed by the function acquired by the acquisition step. 4. The preview display method according to any one of items 1 to 3. An information processing apparatus connected to a printing apparatus and capable of displaying a print preview of a document,
A setting storage means for storing print format settings of the document;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a preview creating unit that creates a print preview reflecting a print style executed by the printing apparatus based on text information and print style settings. The preview creation means determines whether or not a condition for executing the print appearance setting item set in the print appearance setting according to the setting in the printing apparatus is satisfied. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a print preview according to the print appearance setting is created, and if not satisfied, a print preview in a state where the print appearance setting is not made is created. The printing apparatus further comprises means for storing a display setting indicating that the print appearance setting is unconditionally displayed, and the preview creating means sets the print appearance setting item set in the print appearance setting as set in the printing apparatus. If the condition to be executed is satisfied, or if the display setting is made, a print preview is created according to the print appearance setting, the condition is not satisfied, and the display The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the setting is not made, a print preview in a state where the print style is not set is created. By a computer connected to the printing device,
A setting storage means for storing print format settings of the document;
A program that realizes a preview creation unit that creates a print preview reflecting a print style executed by the printing apparatus based on text information and print style settings.

Images