JP2005173913A - Printing system, printer driver, and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system that enables printing under printing requirements matching the files to be printed, without having to conduct the work of setting the printing requirements. <P>SOLUTION: A printer has the function of storing management information as a group of printing requirement information, associated with combinations of application names and file names. A printer driver has the functions of obtaining from the printer the printing requirement information that matches the name of a file to be printed and the name of an application opening the file (steps S203, S204, S206), and creating print data under the requirements indicated by the printing requirement information obtained (step S210). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system including a printer and at least one computer in which a printer driver for the printer is installed, and a printer driver and a printer used to construct such a printing system.

  As is well known, at the time of printing (when using the printer driver), the values of various printing condition items are set according to the contents of the file to be printed (or the intended use of the print result). Is desirable. However, since the number of print condition items that can be set by a recent printer driver (see, for example, Patent Document 1) is extremely large, the value of each print condition item depends on the contents of the file to be printed. (Hereinafter referred to as printing condition setting work) is quite complicated. Further, in order to perform the printing condition setting work, knowledge about the correspondence relationship between the values of the printing condition items and the printing results is required.

For this reason, there are many users who do not perform printing condition setting work at the time of printing (when using a printer driver).
JP 2002-287930 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing system in which a user can perform printing under printing conditions suitable for the contents of a print target file without performing a printing condition setting operation.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer driver and a printer that can construct a printing system according to the present invention by using them.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, in the present invention, a printing system including a printer and at least one computer in which a printer driver for the printer is installed is used as a printer. A device including a printing condition information storage means for storing one printing condition information in a form that can be specified by a computer is used, and a computer should be used as a printer driver to generate print data for the printer. Grasping means for grasping the file name of the file to be printed, and printing condition information obtaining means for acquiring printing condition information specified by the file name grasped by the grasping means, stored in the printing condition information storage means of the printer Print data acquired by the print condition information acquisition unit Generated under the condition indicated by the matter information should be configured as a system program is used to operate as an apparatus and a print data generation and transmission means for transmitting to the printer.

  That is, according to the printing system of the present invention, a printer driver (a computer on which the printer driver is executed) sends print condition information (print condition information specified by a file name of a print target file) according to a file to be printed to a printer ( After acquiring from the printing condition information storage unit), the printing data is generated under the conditions indicated by the acquired printing condition information. Therefore, if the printing system according to the present invention is operated in a state where printing condition information suitable for various files to be printed is stored in the printing condition information storage means of the printer, each user of the printer can set the printing condition. Even if no work is performed, it is possible to realize an environment in which a print result printed under a print condition according to the contents of the print target file can be obtained. In addition, it is easy for a plurality of users to print the same type of file (same file, revised file with the same name, file with the same / similar name with the same printing conditions) from the same computer under the same printing conditions. An environment that can be performed in a simple manner can also be realized.

  When realizing the printing system of the present invention, it is possible to specify several printing condition information as a printing condition information storage unit of the printer, and specify one printing condition information by a file name and an application (application program) name. In addition, the computer grasping means becomes a means for grasping the file name of the print target file and the name of the application that has opened the print target file. The printer so that the printing condition information acquisition means becomes a means for acquiring printing condition information that is stored in the printing condition information storage means of the printer and that is specified by the file name and application name that are grasped by the grasping means. The driver may be configured (created / programmed). Note that the printing system of the present invention configured as described above was printed under printing conditions corresponding to the contents of the print target file without each user (computer / printer user) performing the printing condition setting work. In addition to being a system that can obtain printing results, it functions as a system in which printing conditions can be set for each application program (the printing conditions can be changed by the application program).

  In realizing the printing system of the present invention, it is desirable to configure the printer and the printer driver so that a part of the file name is used and one piece of printing condition information is specified. This is because if the printer and the printer driver are configured so that a part of the file name is used and one piece of printing condition information is specified, the printer (printing condition information storage unit) is provided for each file name. It is not necessary to store printing condition information, and multiple users can use the same file (same file, revised file with the same / similar name, same / similar name with the same printing condition) from different computers. This is because it is easy to print the file under the same printing conditions.

  Further, when realizing the printing system of the present invention, printing condition information can be registered in the printer (printing condition information storage means) by an operation on a computer used for causing the printer to perform printing. Therefore, it is desirable to employ a printer driver that causes the computer to operate as an apparatus that further includes editing means for editing information stored in the printing condition information storage means of the printer.

  The printer driver of the present invention is for a printer having a printing condition information storage means for storing several printing condition information in such a form that one printing condition information can be specified by a file name. It is a printer driver, and the computer is grasped by the grasping means stored in the print condition information storage means of the printer and the grasping means for grasping the file name of the print target file for generating the print data for the printer. Print condition information specified by the file name, print condition information acquisition means for acquiring, and print data relating to the print target file are generated under the conditions indicated by the print condition information acquired by the print condition information acquisition means and transmitted to the printer It is a program that can be operated as an apparatus including print data generation / transmission means.

  The printer of the present invention is a printer that receives print data generated by a printer driver and prints the contents according to the print data. Print that is a means for storing condition information in a form that allows one piece of print condition information to be specified by a file name, and an external device that can access the information stored therein The apparatus includes a condition information storage unit.

  Therefore, if the printer driver and printer of the present invention are used, the printing system of the present invention can be constructed. As a result, an environment in which each user of the printer driver / printer can obtain a print result printed with the print conditions corresponding to the contents of the file to be printed without performing the print condition setting work. It can be provided.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, an outline of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system according to the present embodiment is a system in which a printer 10, one computer 50, and several computers 51 are connected to a network.

  A computer 50 constituting the printing system is a computer used by an administrator of the printing system (printer 10). Each computer 51 is a computer used by a general user of the printing system. An administrator printer driver 20 and a general user printer driver 21 are installed in the computer 50 and the computer 51, respectively. The computer 50 and the computer 51 are also installed with an OS and various application programs (hereinafter simply referred to as applications).

  The printer 10 is a device (so-called network printer) including a control unit 11, a control panel 12, and a printing mechanism unit 13.

  The printing mechanism unit 13 provided in the printer 10 is a unit that actually performs printing on paper. The printing mechanism unit 13 includes a paper feeding device, a paper discharge device, a printing engine (in this embodiment, an engine that performs color printing and performs laser drawing), and the like. The control panel 12 is a unit provided on the housing of the printer 10 as an interface unit between the user and the printer 10. The control panel 12 includes an LCD, an LED, a push button switch, and the like.

  The control unit 11 is a unit that performs processing for causing the printing mechanism unit 13 to generate a printed matter, and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, a network interface circuit, and the like.

  A part of the storage area of the EEPROM of the control unit 11 (corresponding to the printing condition information storage means) is registration information having contents as schematically shown in FIG. 2, that is, an application name, a file name, and wild card information. It is used as a storage area for registration information that is a set of information (hereinafter referred to as individual registration information) consisting of printing condition information. The control unit 11 is configured as a unit that allows an external device to perform read / write access to the storage area.

  Specifically, the control part 11 is comprised as a unit which operate | moves in the procedure shown in FIG.

  That is, the control unit 11 that has been turned on starts a process (step S101) for waiting (monitoring) reception of various types of information. Then, when certain information is received (step S101; YES), the control unit 11 determines what information the received information is (step S102), and the received information includes management information. If the request is a management information write request (step S102; write request), in step S103, the management information instructed to be written by the request is written into the EEPROM (new management information existing). After performing the process of rewriting management information, the process of step S101 is started again.

  When the received information is a management information read request with a predetermined content (step S102; read request), the control unit 11 sends the management information stored in the EEPROM to the transmission source of the received management information read request. After returning (step S104), the process of step S101 is started.

  If the received information is print data (step S102; print data), the control unit 11 causes the print mechanism unit 13 to generate a printed matter having the content indicated by the print data (step S105). I do. And the control part 11 starts the process of step S101 after completion of the said process.

  Based on the above, the configuration and operation of the printing system according to the present embodiment will be described more specifically below.

  First, the function of the general user printer driver 21 will be described.

  FIG. 4 shows an operation procedure of the computer 51 when the general user printer driver 21 is activated, and FIG. 5 displays the general user printer driver 21 (the general user printer driver 21 displays on the computer 51). ) Shows the configuration of the dialog box for setting print conditions.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the general user printer driver 21 is activated, the computer 51 first determines whether the setting value for the registration condition printing function is ON or OFF (step S101). Here, the setting value related to the registered condition printing function means ON / OFF setting (ON when checked) by operating the check box 27 on the print condition setting dialog box (FIG. 5) displayed by the general user printer driver 21. ). Note that this printing system is normally a system that is operated in a state in which this setting value for each general user printer driver 21 is ON.

  When the setting value related to the registration condition printing function is ON (step S201; YES), the computer 51 (general user printer driver 21) displays the name of the application that activated the general user printer driver 21 (hereinafter referred to as an activation source application). And a name of a file (hereinafter referred to as a print target file) opened by the application (hereinafter referred to as a print target file name) (step S202: as grasping means) Equivalent to the operation).

  Next, the computer 51 acquires management information from the printer 10 (step S203). That is, the computer 51 transmits a management information read request to the printer 10, and receives the management information (see FIG. 3: step S104) transmitted from the printer 10 as a response to the management information read request. This is done in step S203.

  Then, the computer 51 determines whether or not the management information acquired from the printer 10 includes individual management information for the file to be printed (step S204). Here, the individual management information for the print target file includes the application name that matches the start source application name, the print target file name, and the wild card at the end (immediately before “.extension”). This is individual registration information that includes a file name that matches the part excluding the number of characters indicated in the information.

  That is, in the process of step S204, for example, the management information acquired from the printer 10 has the contents shown in FIG. 2, the activation source application name is “document creation application α”, and the print target file name is “ In the case of “insurance proposal“ ???. Doc ”(? Is an arbitrary character), it is determined that the individual registration information described at the top of FIG. 2 is the individual management information for the print target file. It is processing.

  When the management information acquired from the printer 10 includes the individual management information for the file to be printed (step S204; YES), the computer 51 prints the printing condition information in the individual management information as the current print. Stored as condition information (step S206). The operation of the computer 51 from step S203 to step S206 described above corresponds to the operation as the printing condition information acquisition unit.

  On the other hand, if the management information does not include the individual management information for the print target file (step S204; NO), the computer 51 stores the default printing condition information as the current printing condition information (step S205). Thereafter, the computer 51 is instructed to start printing or to display a print condition setting dialog box (the “OK” button or “property” button on the print dialog box displayed by the application is pressed by the user). (Step S207).

  Then, when a print start instruction is given (step S207; print start), the computer 51 generates print data related to the print target file under the conditions specified by the current print condition information and transmits the print data to the printer 10. After performing the process (step S210; corresponding to the operation as the print data generation / transmission means), the process of FIG.

  In addition, when the display instruction of the print condition setting dialog box is input (step S207; DBox display), the computer 51 sets the values of various print condition items according to the current print condition information. A setting dialog box (FIG. 5) is displayed on the display (step S208). Thereafter, the computer 51 starts a printing condition change instruction receiving process (step S209) for receiving a user change instruction for the current printing condition information.

  The computer 51 ends the print condition change instruction acceptance processing when the “OK” button 28 or “Cancel” button on the print condition setting dialog box is pressed. Then, the computer 51 that has finished the printing condition change instruction acceptance processing is again in a state of waiting for a printing start instruction or a printing condition setting dialog box display instruction to be given (step S207).

  On the other hand, the administrator printer driver 20 is a program that causes the computer 50 to operate as an apparatus that allows the operator (administrator) to register printing condition information in the printer 10 through the following operations.

  That is, when registering the printing condition information in the printer 10, the administrator first performs an operation for opening a file for registering the printing condition information on the computer 50 using an application for the file. . Thereafter, the administrator performs an operation for displaying the print condition setting dialog box (an operation for displaying the print dialog box in the application and an operation for pressing the “property” button on the displayed print condition setting dialog box). Do.

  When an operation for displaying the print dialog box on the application is performed, the computer 50 starts processing of the procedure shown in FIG. 6 as a result of starting the administrator printer driver 20.

  That is, after the computer 50 performs the same processing (steps S301 to S306) as that performed by the computer 51 (see FIG. 4), it receives a print start instruction or a print condition setting dialog box display instruction (see FIG. 4). The process waits for the user to press the “OK” button or “Property” button on the print dialog box displayed by the application (step S307).

  Then, when an operation of pressing the “property” button is performed (step S307; DBox display), the computer 50 displays the print condition setting dialog box having the configuration shown in FIG. 7 on the display (step S308). ). That is, the computer 50 sets a printing condition corresponding to a printing condition setting dialog box (see FIG. 5) displayed by the general user printer driver 21 with a registration check box 25 and an “edit registration setting” button 26 added. Displays a dialog box on the display.

  Then, since the computer 50 is in a state of executing the printing condition change instruction receiving process (step S309) for receiving a change instruction relating to the current printing condition information and the like, the administrator stores the current printing condition information in the current file. The user presses the “OK” button 28 after performing the work for making it suitable for printing from the current application and the work for checking the registration check box 25.

  When the “OK” button 28 is pressed, the computer 50 stores information consisting of values of a predetermined item (control) group on the print condition setting dialog box as current print condition information, and print condition setting. After performing the process of deleting the dialog box from the display, the print condition change instruction receiving process is terminated. Then, since the computer 50 is in a state where the print dialog box has the input focus (the state in which the process of step S307 is executed), the administrator presses the “OK” button on the print dialog box, The computer 50 is instructed to start printing.

  When this operation is performed (step S307; printing start), the computer 50 determines whether the setting value related to the registration function, which is the setting value corresponding to the registration check box 25, is ON or OFF (step S310). ).

  If the setting value related to the registration function is ON (step S310; YES), the computer 50 determines the management information in the printer 10 from the start source application name, the print target file name, and the current print condition information. Management information update processing (corresponding to an operation as an editing unit) is performed to include the individual management information.

  Specifically, in this step S311, the computer 50 operates as follows.

  When the computer 50 has not acquired management information from the printer 10 (when the process of step S303 is not performed), the computer 50 acquires management information from the printer 10. Next, the computer 50 corrects the management information acquired from the printer 10 to include the individual management information (wildcard information is 0 ") including the activation source application name, the print target file name, and the current print condition information. (The process of adding new individual management information to the management information / the process of rewriting the existing individual management information including the application name and file name that are the same as the print target file name and the name of the file to be printed). Then, a management information write request regarding the corrected management information is transmitted to the printer 10.

  Then, the computer 50 (printer driver 20) ends the management information update process and the process of FIG.

  When the administrator wants to delete or change the information registered in the printer 10, the administrator causes the computer 50 to display a print condition setting dialog box (starts the print condition change instruction reception process in step S 309). After), the “Edit registered setting” button 26 on the print condition setting dialog box (FIG. 7) is pressed.

  When the “Edit registered setting” button 26 is pressed, the computer 50 (the administrator printer driver 20) executing the print condition change instruction reception process has not acquired management information from the printer 10 ( If the process of step S303 is not performed), management information is acquired from the printer 10. The computer 50 uses the registration information acquired from the printer 10 to display a registration information change dialog box having the configuration shown in FIG. 8 on the display.

  The registration information display area 31 provided in the registration information change dialog box is an area where the contents of the registration information are displayed in the form shown in the figure. That is, the registration information display area 31 has information ("document creation application α insurance proposal ????. Doc color, A3, MP tray, cardboard, 300 dpi") for each individual registration information in the registration information. Etc .; hereinafter referred to as a registered information presentation character string). Further, the registration information display area 31 is an area in which one registration information presentation character string shown therein can be selected by operating a mouse or the like.

  The wild card information setting item 32 provided in the registration information change dialog box is a wild card in individual registration information (hereinafter referred to as selected individual registration information) corresponding to the selected registration information presentation character string. Information (the number of “?” Included in the selected registered information presentation character string) is an item indicated therein. The wild card information setting item 32 is an item whose numerical value shown therein can be changed.

  The “setting change” button 33 is a button to be pressed when the administrator wants to change the wild card information of the selected individual registration information after the administrator displays a desired numerical value in the above-described wild card information setting item 32. It is. When this “setting change” button 33 is pressed, the computer 50 (the administrator printer driver 20) generates management information in which the corresponding wild card information is changed to the designated one, and relates to the management information. A management information write request is transmitted to the printer 10. In addition, the computer 50 reflects the change of the wild card information in the display contents of the registration information change dialog box being displayed (“in the selected registration information presentation character string in the registration information display area 31” The process of changing the number of?

  The “setting deletion” button 34 is a button to be pressed by the administrator when it is desired to delete the selected individual registration information. When this “setting deletion” button 34 is pressed, the computer 50 (the administrator printer driver 20) generates management information from which the selected individual registration information has been deleted, and issues a management information write request regarding the management information to the printer 10. Send to. In addition, the computer 50 changes the displayed registration information change dialog box to the one in which the number of registration content presentation information is reduced by one (from the registration information display area 31, the registration content presentation information selected). Is performed).

  As described above, the printer driver 21 for general users used in the printing system according to the present embodiment causes the computer 51 for general users to “automatically print the printer when printing a certain file. 10 is a program that operates as a “device in which the printing condition information registered in the printer 10 is set as information that predefines the operating conditions of the printer driver 21”. In addition, the administrator printer driver 20 sets the administrator computer 50 to “print information on print conditions suitable for printing various files in the printer 10 (on the EEPROM) by the administrator”, and the file name of each file. And an apparatus that can be registered in a form corresponding to the application name ”.

  Therefore, if this printing system is operated in a state where printing condition information suitable for various files to be printed is registered in the printer 10, printing can be performed without each user performing a printing condition setting operation. It is possible to realize an environment in which a print result printed under a print condition suitable for the contents of the target file can be obtained. Also, it is easy for multiple users to print the same type of file (same file, revised file with the same name, file with the same print name that may have the same printing conditions) from the same computer under the same printing conditions. It will also be possible to realize an environment that can be carried out easily.

  The administrator printer driver 20 is a program (FIG. 6) that causes the computer 50 to perform the same processing as steps S101 to S106 (FIG. 4), and the setting value related to the registration function is OFF ( In step S310; NO), the program causes the computer 50 to perform processing (step S311) of generating print data relating to a print target file under the conditions specified by the current print condition information and transmitting the print data to the printer 10. Yes. Therefore, this printing system is a system in which an administrator can obtain a printing result printed under printing conditions suitable for the contents of a file to be printed without performing the printing condition setting work one by one. You can also say.

<Deformation>
The printing system described above can be variously modified. For example, the printer 10 may be modified so that the printing condition information can be registered from the control panel 12. Further, the general user printer driver 21 installed in the computer 51 constituting the printing system may be the same as the administrator printer driver 20 (having a printing condition information registration function or the like). Further, a program for registering the printing condition information in the printer 10 may be prepared separately from the administrator printer driver 20.

  Further, the printing system may be modified so that the application name is not included in the registration information. However, since there are cases where it is desired to change the printing conditions depending on the application (for example, printing from an application that displays HTML data as text may be performed at high speed), the application name and the file name are included in the printing condition information. The printing system used for the search (that is, the printing system of the embodiment) functions as a system that is easier to use (the usage is not limited) than the printing system in which the application name is not used for searching the printing condition information. become.

  In addition, the printer 10 includes a plurality of printing condition information and a printing condition information list indicating a correspondence relationship between the printing condition information and the application name (management information including the printing condition information name instead of the printing condition information). Corresponding information) can be stored, and a device capable of responding to a change request or output request for each information, and after the printer drivers 20 and 21 have once acquired the print condition information list from the printer 10, The printing condition information may be acquired from the printer 10 as a program.

  Further, when the printer 10 receives a request including an activation source application name and a print target file name, the printer 10 returns a print condition information corresponding to the activation source application name and the print target file name in the request. In addition, the printer drivers 20 and 21 may be programs that transmit the request to the printer 10 when printing condition information for a print target file is needed.

  Also, printing is performed even when printing condition information is registered (print data including information instructing registration of printing condition information is passed from the administrator printer driver 20 to the printer 10 / in step S311). The printing system may be modified so that step S312 is executed after execution). In addition, the administrator printer driver 20 is modified so that printing condition information is registered when a specific button on the printing condition setting dialog box is pressed (without pressing the OK button in the printing dialog box). The administrator printer driver 20 may be configured so that wildcard information can be specified when registering the printing condition information (so that it is not necessary to specify the wildcard information after registering the printing condition information). May be modified.

1 is a configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing of the registration information memorize | stored in the printer which concerns on embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the printer according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a computer in which an administrator printer driver is installed. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a print condition setting dialog box displayed by the administrator printer driver. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a computer in which a general user printer driver is installed. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a print condition setting dialog box displayed by a general user printer driver. Explanatory drawing of the registration information change dialog box displayed by the general user printer driver.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer, 11 Control part, 12 Control panel, 13 Printing mechanism part 20 Printer driver for administrators, 21 Printer driver for general users

Claims (8)

A printing system including a printer and at least one computer on which a printer driver for the printer is installed,
The printer is
A printing condition information storage unit for storing several pieces of printing condition information in a form in which one piece of printing condition information can be specified by a file name;
The printer driver is
The computer,
Grasping means for grasping a file name of a print target file for generating print data for the printer;
Print condition information acquisition means for acquiring print condition information specified by the file name grasped by the grasping means, stored in the print condition information storage means of the printer;
A program that operates as an apparatus comprising: print data generation / transmission means that generates print data related to the print target file under the conditions indicated by the print condition information acquired by the print condition information acquisition means and transmits the print data to the printer The printing system characterized by being. The printing condition information storage means of the printer is
A means for storing several pieces of printing condition information in a form capable of specifying one piece of printing condition information by a file name and an application name;
The grasping means of the computer;
Means for grasping a file name of the print target file and a name of an application that opens the print target file;
The printing condition information acquisition means of the computer is
The printing condition information specified by the file name and the application name grasped by the grasping means stored in the printing condition information storage means of the printer is obtained. The printing system described. The printing condition information storage means of the printer is
A means for storing several pieces of printing condition information in a form capable of specifying one piece of printing condition information by a part of a file name;
The printing condition information acquisition means of the computer is
The printing condition information specified by a part of the file name grasped by the grasping means, which is stored in the printing condition information storage means of the printer, is acquired. Printing system. The printing condition information storage means of the printer is
A means for storing several pieces of printing condition information in a form that allows one piece of printing condition information to be specified by a part of a file name and an application name;
The printing condition information acquisition means of the computer is
Print condition information specified by a part of the file name grasped by the grasping means and the name of the application grasped by the grasping means, which is stored in the printing condition information storage means of the printer The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the printing system is a means. The printer driver is
The computer,
5. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising an editing unit that edits information stored in the printing condition information storage unit of the printer. A printer driver for a printer provided with printing condition information storage means for storing several pieces of printing condition information in a form capable of specifying one printing condition information by a file name,
Computer
Grasping means for grasping a file name of a print target file for generating print data for the printer;
Print condition information acquisition means for acquiring print condition information specified by the file name grasped by the grasping means, stored in the print condition information storage means of the printer;
A print data generation / transmission unit configured to generate print data related to the print target file under the conditions indicated by the print condition information acquired by the print condition information acquisition unit and transmit the print data to the printer. Printer driver. The printing condition information storage means of the printer is means for storing several pieces of printing condition information in a form that allows one printing condition information to be specified by a file name and an application name,
The grasping means includes
Means for grasping a file name of the print target file and a name of an application that opens the print target file;
The printing condition information acquisition means includes
The printing condition information stored in the printing condition information storage unit of the printer, the printing condition information specified by the file name and the application name grasped by the grasping unit, being acquired. The printer driver described. A printer that receives print data generated by a printer driver and prints content according to the print data,
The printer driver is means for storing several print condition information for defining print data generation conditions in such a form that one print condition information can be specified by a file name, and the external A printer, comprising: a printing condition information storage unit that is a unit capable of accessing information stored therein.

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