JP2005135343A - Established information registration apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically register established information used in a printing mode on a registry. <P>SOLUTION: The various established information stored on the registry 111 of the hard disk 11 of a personal computer 10 is used by a printer driver A112 and a printer driver B113 to implement printing processing. Under the control of a CPU 14, the established information on the registry 111 is recorded as a print driver setting file 114, through an FDD 15, on an FD 20. The established information recorded on the FD 20 is read, through the FDD 35, by a personal computer 30. Under the control of a CPU 34, the established information specified by specification information included in the established information is registered on the registry 311. A printer driver A312 implements the printing processing based on the established information registered on the registry 311. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a setting information registration apparatus, and more particularly to a setting information registration apparatus that registers various setting information used when performing a printing process.

Conventionally, when installing a printer driver, various setting information is registered in the registry. A registry is a database in which setting information of systems and application software is registered in a Windows OS, and is usually stored in a hard disk.
Also, the printer driver is stored in the RAM, and the table TBL for storing various data (setting information) for printing that is currently set is included in the printer driver. Various data is selected from the table TBL by the export process. From this data, a personal setting file including print type data and data corresponding to the print type data can be created and written to a hard disk drive (HDD), and the set information can be provided to other users. There is. Further, the personal setting file is stored in advance in the HDD, and the file is read from the HDD and written in the table TBL stored in the RAM, so that the information of other users provided from the outside can be used. Some of the set information for printing can be used by other users, and the effort for inputting information can be reduced.
JP 2000-185450 A

  However, in the prior art, since the number of various setting information that can be registered in the registry is limited on the OS, when a new registration exceeding the upper limit that can be registered is made, the already registered information is deleted. It was necessary and troublesome. Also, when setting information is provided to other users by including a table for storing various setting information in the printer driver and writing the setting information to the HDD, the setting information is registered exceeding the upper limit of the registry, There was a problem that it could not be used.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and allows setting information to be registered exceeding the upper limit number that can be registered in a registry.

A setting information registering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of setting information for printing processing registered in the registry and designation information for designating setting information are recorded on a predetermined recording medium, and set from the recording medium Reading means for reading information and designation information, registration means for registering a predetermined set of setting information designated by the designation information in the registry based on the designation information read by the reading means, and settings registered in the registry And a printing control means for executing a printing process based on a predetermined information.
In addition, the information processing apparatus further includes a selection unit that selects a predetermined setting information. When the predetermined setting information selected by the selection unit is not registered in the registry, the reading unit is selected from the recording medium by the selection unit. It is possible to read out predetermined setting information and register it in the registry.

  According to the setting information registration apparatus of the present invention, a predetermined number of setting information exceeding the limit number of the OS (operating system) can be registered in the registry as appropriate and used for printing processing. A user who operates a type of paper can register desired setting information in the registry simply by preparing it in the FDD or HDD, and can improve usability. In addition, since the setting information designated by the designation information can be fetched from the FDD or HDD and registered in the registry, printing processing based on the setting information can be performed immediately after installing the printer driver.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an embodiment of a personal computer to which the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, a personal computer 10 includes a hard disk 11 that stores various setting information, a ROM (read only memory) 12 that stores a boot program, and a RAM that stores application data and stores various data. (Random access memory) 13, a CPU (central processing unit) 14 that executes various processes in accordance with an application program or the like developed in the RAM 13, and various data such as setting information for a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD) 20. The floppy (registered trademark) disk drive (FDD) 15 for writing and reading the data and the display unit 16 for displaying various information. The setting information recorded on the FD 20 can be read by another personal computer 30. The hard disk 11 stores a registry 111, a printer driver A 112, a printer driver B 113, and a printer driver setting file 114. The CPU 14 executes the printer driver A 112 or the printer driver B 113 as appropriate.

  As in the case of the personal computer 10, the other personal computer 30 has a hard disk 31 that stores various setting information, a ROM (read only memory) 32 that stores a boot program, and application programs. RAM (random access memory) 33, a CPU (central processing unit) 34 that executes various processes in accordance with application programs developed in the RAM 33, and floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD) 20 with setting information A floppy disk drive (FDD) 35 for writing and reading various data such as, and a display unit 36 for displaying various information. The setting information recorded in the FD 20 can be read by another personal computer 10. The hard disk 31 stores a registry 311, a printer driver A 312, a printer driver B 313, and a printer driver setting file 314. The CPU 34 executes the printer driver A 312 or the printer driver B 313 as appropriate.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the registry 111. In this example, the registry 111 stores setting information A, an index of setting information B, setting information C, setting information D, and the like. When the user using the personal computer 10 selects desired setting information, the setting information stored in the registry 111 is read by the printer driver A 112 and a list of setting information indexes is displayed on the display unit 16. Since the setting information B is not in the registry 111, when the setting information B is selected, the setting information B stored in the FD 20 is read out via the FDD 15 and registered in the registry 111. At this time, when the number of setting information registered in the registry 111 exceeds a predetermined upper limit number, other stored setting information is deleted.

  The setting information registered in the registry 111 can be recorded in the FD 20 as the printer driver setting file 114 via the FDD 15. The printer driver setting file 114 also includes setting information designation data indicating setting information that is currently selected.

  Therefore, for example, in order to make the setting information recorded as the printer driver setting file 114 in the FD 20 by the personal computer 10 valid in the other personal computers 30, the printer driver recorded in the FD 20 by the personal computer 10. The setting file 114 may be read by the personal computer 30 via the FDD 35. The printer driver A 312 of the personal computer 30 reads the setting information designated by the setting information designation data included in the printer driver setting file 114 read from the FD 20 via the FDD 35 from the FD 20 and registers it in the registry 311 of the personal computer 30. Accordingly, the printer driver A 312 of the personal computer 30 can execute the printing process based on the setting information used in the personal computer 10 even if the user does not register the setting information again.

  Next, a series of operations of the present embodiment when setting information is set, registered, changed, etc. will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows a paper setting screen displayed when the menu “paper” is selected. The paper setting screen includes a “paper name” selection field for selecting a registered paper name, a “printing direction” designation field for designating a printing direction, and a “printing base point” for designating a printing base point correction value. "Correction" field, "Mechanism dimension correction" field for specifying mechanism dimension correction value, "Paper registration" button for paper registration, "Paper edit" button for paper editing, and paper deletion "Delete paper" button for performing the editing and "Free size editing" button for performing the free size editing are displayed, and the image of the paper is displayed in the "Setting location" display column so that the setting location can be understood. Yes.

  On this screen, a registered paper name can be selected and edited, or a new paper can be registered. As basic setting items, a printing direction, a printing base point correction value, a mechanism dimension correction value, and the like can be set. When necessary items are set on this screen and the “Apply” button is selected, the input set value is confirmed. When the “paper registration” button is selected, a paper registration screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed.

  The paper registration screen shown in FIG. 4 includes a “paper name” input field for inputting a paper name, a “density specification” field for specifying a print density, a “print density level” specification bar for specifying a print density level, , “Unit” specification field for specifying either millimeter (mm) or inch (inch) as a unit to be used, and “Various size setting” field for setting various sizes such as paper size width and length, and gap between labels And a “printable area” specification field for specifying the printable area and a “sensor ignore mode” setting field for setting whether or not to specify the label stop position in the vertical label size. The paper image is displayed in the “setting location” display field so that the location can be seen.

  On this screen, enter the name of the paper to be registered, specify the density, specify the print density level, specify the unit, specify various size settings, specify the printable area, and specify the sensor ignore mode . When necessary items are set on this screen and the “OK” button is selected, paper registration is completed.

  When the menu “utility” is selected on the paper setting screen in FIG. 3, a printer driver property screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. FIG. 5 is a screen for saving and reading driver properties (setting information). On this screen, there is a “File Name” input field for entering the file name of the file to be saved, a “Save” button, a “File Name” input field for entering the file name of the file to be read, and “Read” "Button. When necessary items are entered on this screen and the “OK” button is selected, driver properties are saved or read.

  When the menu “Create Font” is selected on the screen of FIG. 3, a screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. FIG. 6 is a screen for designating a decoration font and a barcode font. This screen includes a “decoration font” display field for displaying a list of registered decoration fonts, a “new registration” button for newly registering decoration fonts, and a “change” button for changing decoration fonts. , “Delete” button for deleting decoration fonts, “Barcode font” display field for displaying a list of registered barcode fonts, “New registration” button for newly registering barcode fonts, A “change” button for changing the barcode font and a “delete” button for deleting the barcode font are displayed.

  When the “change” button of the decoration font is selected on this screen, a screen for changing the decoration font as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. In this screen, you can enter the “Registered Font Name” input field for entering the font name of the registered decoration font, and specify the font size, character pitch, presence / absence of rotation, outline shape specification, etc. A “decoration information setting” field and a “serial number setting” field are displayed.

  The “decoration information setting” field includes an “valid / invalid” designation field for designating validity / invalidity of the setting, and a “width / height magnification”, “width / height / size”, and “unit” for designating the font. "Font size" specification field, "Character pitch" selection field for selecting a fixed pitch or proportional pitch, "Rotation" angle specification field for specifying a rotation angle, and "Black and white reversal" specification for specifying whether black / white reversal is present or not Field, “Smoothing” designation field for specifying presence / absence of smoothing, “Highlight” display designation field for designating presence / absence of highlighting, and “Outline shape designation” field for designating outline shape Is displayed. The “serial number setting” field includes an “valid / invalid” designation field for designating validity / invalidity of this setting, a “mode” designation field, a “same number of issued sheets” designation field, an “increase / decrease value” designation field, , “Sequential number effective digit number” designation field and “Lower order invalid digit number” designation field are displayed.

  When necessary items are set on this screen, a font image reflecting the decoration information set in the “character preview” field is displayed.

  When the “change” button of the barcode font is selected on the screen shown in FIG. 6, a screen for changing the barcode font as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. In this screen, a “registered font name” input field for inputting or selecting a font name of a registered barcode font, a “font type” input field for inputting a font type, and a barcode type are displayed. A “barcode type” selection column for selection, a “detailed setting” button for performing detailed setting of the barcode type, and a “serial number setting” column are displayed.

  When the necessary items are entered on the screen of FIG. 8 and the “detailed setting” button is selected, a detailed setting screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. On this screen, a "Generation unit" designation field for designating the generation unit in millimeters, inches, or printer resolution (dots), and a "Comment text / guide bar" designation field for designating the presence or absence of commentary characters and guide bars A “rotation” angle designation field for designating the rotation angle, a “bar width (thin bar)” designation field for designating the bar width, and a “barcode top and bottom” designation field for designating the barcode top and bottom. Is displayed. After inputting necessary items on this screen, if the “OK” button is selected, these setting values are temporarily saved, and then the screen returns to the screen of FIG. 8. When the “OK” button is further selected on the screen of FIG. The contents set on the screen of FIG. 8 are temporarily saved, and the screen returns to the screen of FIG. When the “apply” button is selected on the screen of FIG. 6, the contents set on the screens of FIGS. 6 to 9 are confirmed.

  Next, when the menu “others” is selected on the paper setting screen of FIG. 3, a screen as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. On this screen, a “cut mode” designation field for designating a cut mode and a “form overlay” designation field for designating a form overlay are displayed. In the “Cut Mode” designation field, a “Control Font [Cut]” designation field for designating whether or not to use a cut of the control font, and “Specified quantity cut designation” for designating whether or not to designate a specified number of cuts are specified. And a “paper end cut designation” field for designating whether or not to cut the paper at the end of printing. The form overlay designation field includes a “form overlay function selection” field for designating normal printing, overlay printing, overlay registration, and overlay deletion as a form overlay function, and a “form overlay function selection” field for obtaining overlay information from the printer. "Get form overlay information" button is displayed.

  In this screen, after inputting the necessary items, if the “Apply” button is selected, the set value that has been input is confirmed.

  Next, when the menu “TrueType font” on the paper setting screen in FIG. 3 is selected, a screen as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. Since this screen displays a “TrueType font name” selection field for selecting a TrueType font name, a desired TrueType phone name and name are selected. Thereafter, when the “Apply” button is selected, the selected TrueType font is fixed.

  The setting information set in this way is registered in the registry 111 under the control of the CPU 14. The setting information registered in the registry 111 can be written in the FD 20 via the FDD 15 as the printer driver setting file 114 as necessary. The printer driver setting file 114 written in the FD 20 is appropriately read out by another personal computer 30 and registered in the registry 311 or only the setting information index is registered in the registry 311. When a list is displayed and desired setting information is selected from the displayed list, if the selected setting information is not registered in the registry 311, the setting information stored in the FD 20 or the like is read out. Can be registered in the registry 311.

  Next, a processing procedure when registering, deleting, or editing setting information relating to paper to be printed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the power of the personal computer 10 is turned on in step S1, the OS is started up, the printer driver property screen (FIG. 5) is started, and initial value data is displayed in step S2. Next, in step S3, when the menu “paper” on the printer driver property screen is clicked and selected using a mouse or the like, a paper setting screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed.

  Next, in step S4, it is determined whether or not the “paper registration” button has been clicked and execution of paper registration processing has been selected. As a result, if it is determined that the execution of the paper registration process is selected, the process proceeds to step S9, and the setting information (paper information) set on the paper setting screen (FIG. 3) and the paper registration screen (FIG. 4) is stored in the RAM 13 or the like. Is temporarily saved. Then, it returns to step S4 and the process after step S4 is repeatedly performed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that execution of the paper registration process is not selected, the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S5, it is determined whether or not the “paper deletion” button on the paper setting screen of FIG. 3 has been clicked and execution of paper deletion processing has been selected. As a result, if it is determined that the execution of the paper deletion process is selected, the process proceeds to step S10, and the setting information corresponding to the paper name designated on the paper setting screen (FIG. 3) is temporarily deleted. Then, it returns to step S4 and the process after step S4 is repeatedly performed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that execution of the sheet deletion process has not been selected, the process proceeds to step S6.

  In step S6, it is determined whether or not the “paper editing” button on the paper setting screen in FIG. 3 has been clicked and execution of paper editing processing has been selected. As a result, if it is determined that the execution of the paper editing process is selected, the process proceeds to step S11, where the setting information corresponding to the paper name designated on the paper setting screen is edited and temporarily stored. Then, it returns to step S4 and the process after step S4 is repeatedly performed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S6 that execution of the paper editing process is not selected, the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S7, it is determined whether or not the “OK” button on the paper setting screen in FIG. 3 has been clicked. If it is determined that the “OK” button has been clicked, the process advances to step S 12, and setting information registered or edited on the paper setting screen is registered in the registry 111. Alternatively, the setting information temporarily deleted on the paper setting screen is actually deleted. Thereafter, the paper setting screen is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the “OK” button has not been clicked, the process proceeds to step S8, and it is determined whether or not the “cancel” button on the paper setting screen in FIG. 3 has been clicked. If it is determined that the “Cancel” button has been clicked, the process proceeds to step S13, and the paper setting screen is terminated without performing any processing. On the other hand, when it is determined that the “cancel” button has not been clicked, the process returns to step S4, and the processes after step S4 are repeatedly executed. In this way, the setting information is registered, edited, and deleted.

  In the above embodiment, the personal computer 10 and the personal computer 30 exchange the printer driver setting file 114 via the FD 20, but via a network such as a LAN (local area network) or the Internet. The printer driver setting file 114 can be exchanged.

  Further, the configuration and operation of the above-described embodiment are examples, and it goes without saying that they can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of one Embodiment of the personal computer to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a registry. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a paper setting screen. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a paper registration screen. It is an example of a screen instructing to save and read driver properties. It is a figure which shows the example of a create font setting screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a decoration font change screen. It is a figure which shows the change screen of a barcode font. It is a figure which shows the example of a detailed setting screen of barcode font. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting screen of other setting information. It is a figure which shows the example of a selection screen of TrueType font. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the procedure at the time of paper setting.

Explanation of symbols

10, 30 Personal computer 11, 31 Hard disk 12, 32 ROM
13,33 RAM
14,34 CPU
15,35 FDD
16, 36 Display 20 FD
111,311 Registry 112,312 Printer Driver A
113,313 Printer driver B
114, 314 Printer driver setting file

Claims (2)

Recording means for recording a plurality of setting information for printing processing registered in the registry and designation information for designating the setting information on a predetermined recording medium;
Reading means for reading the setting information and the designation information from the recording medium;
Registration means for registering a predetermined one of the setting information designated by the designation information in the registry based on the designation information read by the reading means;
A setting information registration apparatus comprising: a printing control unit that executes a printing process based on a predetermined one of the setting information registered in the registry. A selection means for selecting a predetermined one of the setting information;
When the predetermined setting information selected by the selecting means is not registered in the registry, the reading means reads the predetermined setting information selected by the selecting means from the recording medium. The setting information registration device according to claim 1, wherein the setting information registration device is registered in the registry.

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