JP2005275545A - Document print controller, document print control method and document print control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a document print controller for efficiently preparing output data. <P>SOLUTION: Document format data are classified into fixed data and variable item data, and the fixed data are converted into printer language, and stored, and attribute information included in the variable item data is converted into printer language, and the converted attribute information and storage information showing the storage place of item print data corresponding to the attribute information are stored for each item. The variable item data are registered as an item attribute table, and when the print data are compounded with the document format data, and the output data of printer language are prepared, each item print data are compounded with the variable item data based on the item attribute table, and compounded with the fixed data. That is, the item print data corresponding to the storage information shown for each item of the item attribute table are successively compounded for each item, and the variable item data with which the print data are compounded are compounded with the fixed data, so that the output data can be efficiently prepared. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a form printing control device, a form printing control method, and a form printing control program, and in particular, by combining print data for individual forms with pre-created form format data for form printing. The present invention relates to a form printing control apparatus, a form printing control method, and a form printing control program that are output to a forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that prints an image of a fixed form form on a printing paper is known. In such a printer, fixed data fixed for each form such as ruled lines, images, and characters is registered in advance as overlay data, and print data such as characters and images created for each page is added to the overlay data. Overlay printing that combines and prints is known. The print data in overlay printing includes an attribute representing a print form such as a print position, a color, and a size when printing the print data for each item of the print data. In overlay printing, when changing the form format, both the attribute data included in the print data and the overlay data are changed. Therefore, form printing is known as a printing method for easily dealing with format changes (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the form format printing, form format data including fixed data fixed for each form and attribute data indicating attributes for each item of print data is registered in advance. Printing is performed by combining print data for each item in this pre-registered form format. In form format printing, printing is performed by combining the print data with a form format that includes attributes. Therefore, form correction can be handled by correcting the form format, and it is easy to respond to format changes. be able to.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-328306 (page 4, FIG. 1)

  When combining print data in form format printing, output data is created by converting an image to be printed for each item into a printer language for print control by the image forming apparatus based on the form format data. In recent years, an image forming apparatus that prints a form based on output data performs high-speed printing that prints a form based on a large amount of print data at high speed. Along with the speeding up of the printing process in this image forming apparatus, a reduction in output data creation time is required.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a form printing control apparatus capable of efficiently generating output data.

  In order to achieve the above object, the form printing control apparatus of the present invention synthesizes print data for individual forms into form format data prepared in advance for form printing, and outputs the form print control to the image forming apparatus. In the device, the form format data, fixed data for the same use in each form, variable item data representing the position and attribute of the print data when the image of the item by the print data is stored in the form, And classifying means for classifying the fixed data into the unique language of the image forming apparatus, registering the attribute data indicating the attribute of the variable item data into the unique language of the image forming apparatus, and Registration means for generating and registering correspondence information between items and print data positions and attribute data; and receiving the print data Reads the fixed data registered as the form format data and the corresponding information for the received print data, and generates and outputs the output data in the specific language of the image forming apparatus by combining the fixed data, the print data, and the attribute data. Control means.

  In an image forming apparatus that prints a form such as a slip, the form is printed based on output data indicated in a specific language in which the form forming process can be executed by the image forming apparatus. This output data is created by combining print data to be printed on each form with form format data indicating the form layout. The form printing control apparatus of the present invention generates this output data and outputs it to the image forming apparatus, and registers form format data in advance. The classification means classifies the form format data into fixed data fixed for each form, which is the same data for each form, and variable item data. The variable item data represents the print data position corresponding to the image of each item of the print data stored in the form, and the printing form such as the color, size, and font of the image for each item of the print data. Indicates an attribute. The registration means converts the fixed data into a unique language of the image forming apparatus and registers it. The registration unit converts the attribute data indicating the attribute included in the variable item data into a specific language for executing form printing in the image forming apparatus for each corresponding item. Further, the registration means creates and registers correspondence information that associates the attribute data converted into the specific language for each item and the position of the print data corresponding to the item. For this reason, the fixed data of the specific language and the variable item data based on the correspondence information including the attribute converted into the specific language are registered in the registration unit as the form format data.

  The control means receives print data from the outside. The print data is created by an external device or the like for each form, and examples of the data format of the print data include data formats such as CSV format and XML format. Therefore, the position included in the variable item data is indicated by a column number indicating the position in the document in the CSV format when the data format of the print data is in the CSV format, for example, and in the XML format. Is indicated by tag information indicating a position in the XML document. When the print data is received, the control unit reads the fixed item converted into the specific language and the variable item data based on the correspondence information registered as the form format data. Further, for each item of the correspondence information, the control means reads the print data corresponding to the corresponding position, and synthesizes the read print data with the attribute data in the variable item data based on the correspondence information. Further, the control unit generates output data in the specific language of the image forming apparatus by combining the variable item print data obtained by combining the print data and the attribute data with the fixed data converted into the specific language. The generated output data is output to the image forming apparatus. In the image forming apparatus, form printing is executed based on the input output data.

  As described above, the correspondence information between the fixed data converted into the specific language of the image forming apparatus and the attributes converted into the specific language of the image forming apparatus and the position of the print data before the output data is created Can be registered as form format data. For this reason, when creating output data in the specific language of the image forming apparatus created by combining the print data with the form format data, the print data is printed in the variable item data for each item based on the correspondence information as the variable item data. Can be combined with fixed data, and output data can be created efficiently.

  The image of the item by the print data can be an image representing characters, figures, and images. The image based on the print data is not limited to characters, and can include images such as figures and images. Therefore, the form output by form printing can have versatility. In the case of an image, a plurality of image data is registered in advance, and in the print data, identification information such as a file name of the registered image data is expressed by text data. In the case of graphic data, for example, if the coordinates of the graphic are variable and the graphic type and color are fixed, such as a bar graph, the coordinate data of the variable part is represented by text data in the print data, and the graphic type and color The fixed part is registered as variable item attribute data.

  It may further comprise form format data receiving means for receiving the form format data from the outside. The form format and the print form of the print data may be changed as appropriate. Therefore, if the form format receiving means receives the form format data from the outside, the form format data changed in various ways in the external device can be received, and the change of the form format data can be easily handled.

  The registration means adds predetermined identification information to identify the form format data and registers the unique data and the correspondence information, and the control means synthesizes the print data together with the print data. The identification information of the form format data is received, and the output data can be generated and output based on the fixed data and the correspondence information of the form format data corresponding to the received identification information.

  If the received print data is combined with different form format data in the form print control apparatus, output data for outputting forms with different formats can be created in the form print control apparatus. Therefore, the registration means adds and registers identification information that can identify the form format data to each of the unique data and the corresponding information registered as the form format data. When receiving the identification information of the form format data for synthesizing the print data together with the print data, the control means extracts the fixed data and the correspondence information corresponding to the received identification information of the print data. Further, the control means creates output data by combining the extracted print data and the attribute data indicating the attribute of the variable item data of each item registered in the correspondence information and the received print data.

  Thus, output data can be created based on print data corresponding to identification information for identifying form format data, fixed data, and variable item data of correspondence information, so one form print control apparatus Therefore, output data with different form format data can be easily created.

  Note that output data can be efficiently created by the following form printing control method. Specifically, it is a form printing control method for combining print data for individual forms with pre-created form format data for form printing, and outputting the combined form print data to the image forming apparatus. The fixed data to be used in the same form, and the variable item data representing the position and attribute of the print data when the image of the item by the print data is stored in the form, and the fixed data is classified into the image The attribute data indicating the attribute of the variable item data is converted into the unique language of the image forming apparatus, and the correspondence information between the item and the position of the print data and the attribute data is registered. Generate and register, receive the print data, and register the received print data as the form format data With reading fixed data and corresponding information was fixed data to generate output data of the specific language of the synthesized the image forming apparatus the print data and the attribute data outputs.

  Moreover, output data can be created efficiently by causing the computer to process the next output data creation program. Specifically, it is a form printing control program executed on a computer that synthesizes print data for individual forms with form format data prepared in advance for form printing, and outputs the combined form print data to the image forming apparatus. The format data is classified into fixed data for the same use in each form, and variable item data representing the position and attribute of the print data when the image of the item by the print data is stored in the form, The fixed data is converted into a unique language of the image forming apparatus and registered, and the attribute data indicating the attribute of the variable item data is converted into a unique language of the image forming apparatus, and the positions and attributes of the items and print data Is generated and registered, the print data is received, and the received print data With reading fixed data and corresponding information is registered as a form format data, fixed data, print data, and attribute data to generate output data of the specific language of the synthesized the image forming apparatus to output, it is characterized.

  As described above, according to the form print control device, form print control method, and form print control program of the present invention, the fixed data converted into the native language of the image forming apparatus and the form format before the output data is created Variable item data based on the correspondence information between each item of data and the attribute data converted into the language specific to the image forming apparatus and the position of the print data can be registered as form format data, so the print data is included in the form format data. When creating output data in the native language of the image forming apparatus created by combining the print data with the attribute data of the variable item data for each item based on the correspondence information as the variable item data, the fixed data Can be synthesized efficiently, and output data can be created efficiently. Results can be obtained.

  An example of an embodiment according to the print data generation apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a network system (hereinafter referred to as a printer system) connectable to a communication line.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of a printer system 10 according to the present embodiment. The printer 14 is connected to a network 22 as a communication line. A personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 16, a form format creation PC 18, and an output data creation PC 20 are connected to the network 22. These printer 14, PC 16, form format creation PC 18, and output data creation PC 20 are configured so that data and commands can be exchanged via the network 22 through mutual communication.

  In the present embodiment, the printer 14, the PC 16, the form format creation PC 18, and the output data creation PC 20 are described as being one each. However, the present invention is not limited to this and is configured by a plurality of units. May be. In the present embodiment, the case where the PC 16, the form format creation PC 18, and the output data creation PC 20 are provided as separate bodies will be described. However, they may be configured by a single device (PC). Further, the PC 16, form format creation PC 18, and output data creation PC 20 may be provided integrally with the printer 14.

  The PC 16 is for creating print data, and is used by the user when transmitting the created print data to the output data creation PC 20 via the network 22. The print data, which will be described in detail later, is data indicating variable characters, images, etc. for each page when the printer 14 prints a form image (hereinafter referred to as a form) on printing paper. To be created. Each page has one or more items defined in advance. An item is a classification of print data printed on printing paper, such as a headline, a department, and an address, for each print area printed in the same area. Therefore, the print data is created in units of pages, and the data created in units of pages includes characters or images that are actually printed on paper corresponding to one or more items. The print data (hereinafter referred to as item print data), which is data, is included. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the print data 36 is “Iueo, 10” shown in FIG. 2A, and this print data 36 includes two item print data 36A and 36B. The item print data is “Iueo” and “10”.

  In the present embodiment, the data format of the print data is assumed to be a CSV data format. That is, it is assumed that the print data is in a CSV data format in which each item is separated by a comma “,”. In the present embodiment, the data format of print data is described as being a CSV data format, but is not limited to such a format, and may be, for example, an XML format.

  In this embodiment, the print data is described as being composed of text data of a plurality of characters. However, the print data is information indicating the figure type, coordinates, color, etc. of the graphic, identification information of the image data, and the like. However, it is not limited to character data. In the case of an image, a plurality of image data is registered in advance, and in the print data, identification information such as a file name of the registered image data is expressed by text data. In the case of graphic data, for example, if the coordinates of the graphic are variable and the graphic type and color are fixed, such as a bar graph, the coordinate data of the variable part is represented by text data in the print data, and the graphic type and color The fixed part is registered as variable item attribute data.

  In the present embodiment, the items are described as being predetermined, but new creation, update, or change is performed each time print data is created by the operation of the operation unit (not shown) by the user. It may be.

  The form format creation terminal 18 is for creating form format data representing the layout of a form to be printed on printing paper. The form format creation terminal 18 is used by the user when transmitting the created form format data to the output data creation PC 20.

  The form format data includes fixed data and variable item data. The fixed data indicates the layout of the form, and indicates fixed data for each page of the form on which printing paper such as ruled lines, images, and characters is printed. For example, the fixed data includes a ruled line code corresponding to the type of ruled line, a character code corresponding to a character, or image data. The variable item data is variable data for each page of the form, and includes attribute information indicating the print form of each item print data included in the print data to be combined with the fixed data, and the storage destination of each item print data. Storage information shown. The attribute information indicates a printing form of each item print data when printing each item print data included in the print data on an image based on the fixed data on a print sheet. The attribute information includes, for example, position information on a form on which item print data is printed, character size information at the time of printing, color information such as a printing color, and the like. That is, for each item printed in the same area on the form, an attribute indicating a printing form such as a color to be printed and a size to be printed is determined. For this reason, an image of item print data having a different position, size, and color for each item is printed on the printing paper.

  The output data creation PC 20 synthesizes the form format data received from the form format creation PC 18 and the print data received from the PC 16 and generates output data in the printer language of the printer 14 (details will be described later). . The printer language is a printer language that can be used only by the printer 14 and is created in a command format.

  The printer 14 has a normal printing function, and outputs a form image corresponding to the received output data to printing paper. In this embodiment, continuous paper is used as printing paper. The continuous paper is paper continuous in the scanning direction of the printer 14, and an example of the continuous paper is roll paper. That is, in the present embodiment, the printer 14 is for printing a multi-page form image, and it is assumed that an image based on output data based on print data for a plurality of pages is subjected to high-speed printing processing on continuous paper.

  Next, schematic configurations of the PC 16, the form format creation PC 18, and the printer 14 will be described.

  The PC 16 includes a control unit, a storage unit, a communication unit, an input unit, and a display unit (not shown). Each of the above components is connected to the control unit, and is configured to be able to exchange data and commands with each other. The control unit is a functional unit that mainly performs processing related to printing. The storage unit stores various processing routines and various data. The communication unit is an interface function unit that enables the PC 16 to connect to the network 22 to exchange various data and commands including print data with the output data creation PC 20. The input unit is for inputting an instruction on the PC, and examples thereof include a keyboard and a mouse. The display unit is for displaying various setting screens.

  In the present embodiment, the PC 16 generates print data to be combined with the above-described form format data by an operation by a user of an input unit (not shown). Further, the PC 16 will be described on the assumption that the identification data that can identify the form format data to be combined with the print data and the created print data are transmitted to the output data creation PC 20 via the network 22. The identification data that can identify the form format data may be input at the time of creating the print data by an operation by a user of an input unit (not shown).

  The form format creation PC 18 has substantially the same configuration as the PC 16 and includes a control unit, a storage unit, a communication unit, an input unit, and a display unit (not shown). Each of the above components is connected to the control unit, and is configured to be able to exchange data and commands with each other. The control unit is a functional unit that mainly performs processing related to creation of form format data. The storage unit stores various processing routines and various data. The communication unit is an interface function unit for connecting the form format creation PC 18 to the network 22 and enabling exchange of various data and commands including form format data with the output data creation PC 20. The input unit is for inputting an instruction on the PC. The display unit is for displaying various setting screens. In the present embodiment, the form format creation PC 18 creates form format data including the above-described fixed data and variable item data by an operation of a user of an input unit (not shown). Further, the form format creation PC 18 will be described on the assumption that the created form format data and identification data that can identify the form format data are transmitted to the output data creation PC 20.

  The printer 14 includes a microcomputer, and includes a control unit for controlling a device (not shown), a storage unit for storing various data, and an output data creation PC 20 and output data via a network 22. It comprises a communication unit that inputs and outputs various data, an input unit such as a keyboard for inputting various data, and an image forming unit. Each of the above components is connected to the control unit, and is configured to be able to exchange data and commands with each other. The image forming unit (not shown) includes a known device for forming an image on printing paper. Examples of the device include a photosensitive drum charged by a charging device, and the photosensitive drum. A developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image exposed on the surface, a transfer unit for transferring the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum to the continuous paper supplied from the roll paper supply unit, and an image transferred to the continuous paper There is a fixing device or the like for flash fixing on a continuous paper. The continuous paper is a continuous paper that can be separated into a predetermined paper size. Examples of the continuous paper include continuous paper with a perforation, cut paper, and roll paper.

  Note that the PC 16, the form format creation terminal 18, and the printer 14 have general configurations, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Next, an outline of the main configuration of the output data creation PC 20 will be described with reference to FIG. The output data creation PC 20 includes a microcomputer (not shown) that includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. In terms of functional classification, the communication unit 40, the format registration unit 42, the print data storage unit 52, and the like. , An output data creation unit 54, a spool unit 56, and a print management control unit 58. The communication unit 40 connects the output data creation PC 20 to the network 22, and exchanges various data and commands including form format data, print data, and output data with the PC 16, form format creation PC 18, and printer 14. It is an interface function unit for enabling The format registration unit 42 is for storing the form format data received from the form format creation PC 18, and includes a fixed part extraction unit 44, a fixed part storage unit 46, a variable part extraction unit 48, and a variable part storage unit 50. It is configured to include.

  The fixed part extraction unit 44 extracts fixed data included in the form format data received from the form format creation PC 18 and converts the extracted fixed data into a printer language unique to the printer 14. The fixed part storage unit 46 is for storing fixed data. The fixed part extracted by the fixed part extraction unit 44 and converted into the printer language of the printer 14 is used to identify the form format of the fixed part. It is for storing in association with possible identification data.

  The variable part extraction unit 48 extracts variable item data included in the form format data received from the form format creation PC 18, and extracts storage information and attribute information indicating the storage location of the print data included in the extracted variable item data. . Further, the attribute information included in the extracted variable item data is converted into a printer language specific to the printer 14.

  The variable unit storage unit 50 includes an item attribute table 60, and stores attribute information converted into the printer language in association with each corresponding item. The item attribute table 60 stores attribute information converted into the printer language and storage information indicating the storage location of the item print data corresponding to the attribute information in association with each item.

  Specifically, the item attribute table 60 is configured as shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the item attribute table 60 includes five items of “item”, “print start position”, “font”, “size”, and “CSV column number”.

  The “item” indicates an item name that can identify each item indicating the print area. The “print start position” indicates the print start position on the form image of the item print data corresponding to the item. “Font” indicates a font when printing the item print data corresponding to the item. “Size” indicates the size of the item print data corresponding to the item. “CSV column number” indicates the position (storage information) of the item print data corresponding to the item. For example, “CSV column number” indicates the position of a field in one record of print data for one page.

  In the present embodiment, the attribute information is a value indicated by the “print start position”, “font”, and “size”. The attribute information 62 of each item is a printer language that can be analyzed by the printer 14. And converted into the item attribute table 69.

  Thus, the attribute information 62 included in the variable item data is converted into a printer language such as a code that can be analyzed by the printer 14 for each item, and storage information indicating the storage location of the item print data corresponding to the item. And the item name indicating the item are stored in the variable part storage unit 50 in a table format. The variable unit storage unit 50 stores this item attribute table in association with each identification data that can identify the form format.

  That is, the format registration unit 42 extracts fixed data from the form format data received from the form format creation PC 18, converts it into the printer language of the printer 14, and stores it in the fixed part storage unit 46. Further, the format registration unit 42 extracts variable item data from the form format data, converts the attribute information included in the variable item data into the printer language of the printer 14, the attribute information converted into the printer language, The item information indicating the item corresponding to the attribute information and the storage information indicating the storage destination of the item print data corresponding to the item are associated and stored in the variable part storage unit 50 in a table format.

  The print data storage unit 52 receives and temporarily stores CSV format print data from the PC 16 and identification data that can identify the form format for outputting the print data. The output data creation unit 54 stores the print data stored in the print data storage unit 52, fixed data corresponding to the form format identification data of the print data stored in the fixed unit storage unit, and the variable unit storage unit 50. This is for creating output data to be output by the printer 14 from the value based on the item attribute table corresponding to the identification data of the form format of the stored print data (details will be described later).

  The spool unit 56 is for temporarily storing the output data created by the output data creation unit 54. The print management control unit 58 is for sequentially transmitting the output data stored in the spool unit 56 to the printer 14.

  The form format data corresponds to the form format data of the present invention, the print data corresponds to the print data of the present invention, the fixed data corresponds to the fixed data of the present invention, and the variable item data corresponds to the present invention. It corresponds to variable item data.

  The output data creation PC 20 corresponds to the form printing control apparatus of the present invention, and the printer 14 corresponds to an image forming apparatus. Further, the fixed part extraction unit 44 and the variable part extraction unit 48 correspond to the classification unit of the present invention, the fixed part storage unit 46 and the variable part storage unit 50 correspond to the registration unit, and the output data creation unit 54 It corresponds to the control means.

  Here, an outline of a form printing process in the printer system 10 of the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the form format data created by the form format creation PC 18 is transmitted to the output data creation PC and registered in the output data creation PC 20 (process 1). When the print data is created by the PC 16, the created print data is transmitted to the output data generation PC 20 (process 2). Upon receiving the print data, the output data creation PC 20 creates output data by synthesizing the received print data with the form format data registered in the process 1 (process 3). The created output data is transmitted to the printer 14 (process 4). When the printer 14 receives the output data, it executes form printing based on the output data.

  For example, if the printer 14 obtains a form image 24 showing the output result of the form printing shown in FIG. 2B, the form format creation terminal 18 uses the fixed data 27 shown in FIG. Also, form format data 26 including attribute information 29 and attribute information 27 indicating the attribute information of each item 30 and storage information indicating the storage position of the item print data to be combined with each item (not shown) is created. Further, in the PC 16, item print data 36A and 36B, that is, print data 36 composed of “Iueo” and “10” is created. The output data creation PC 20 creates output data by synthesizing the print data 36 with the form format data 26. The created output data is transmitted to the printer 14. When the printer 14 receives the output data, the printer 14 prints a form image 24 (FIG. 2B) based on the output data on the printing paper.

  Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 shows a processing routine executed by the output data creation PC 20.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the print management control unit 58 stores in advance various setting information indicating environment settings of the printer 14, printing conditions at the time of printing, and the address of the printer 14 as initial settings.

  In the output data creation PC 20, when the power is turned on, the processing routine shown in FIG. 5 is executed every predetermined time, and the process proceeds to Step 100.

  In step 100, it is determined whether or not form format data and identification data for identifying the form format have been received. When the result is affirmative in step 100 and the form format data and identification data are received, the received form format data and identification data are associated with each other and stored in the format registration unit 42 in the next step 102.

  Next, in step 104, fixed data extraction processing is executed. The process of step 104 is to extract the fixed part data of the fixed part from the form format data stored in the format registration part 42 in step 102.

  In step 106, the fixed data extracted in step 104 is converted into a printer language that can be interpreted by the printer 14. Next, in step 108, the fixed data converted into the printer language is stored in the fixed part storage unit 46 in association with the identification data stored in the format registration unit 42 in step 102.

  Next, in step 110, variable item data extraction processing is executed. The process of step 110 is to extract the variable part data of the variable part from the form format data stored in the format registration part 42 in step 102.

  In step 112, the attribute information included in the variable item data extracted in step 110 is converted into the printer language of the printer 14 for each item corresponding to the attribute information. Further, in the next step 114, the converted attribute information and the storage information of the item corresponding to the attribute information are registered in the item attribute table in association with the corresponding item information, and then this routine is terminated.

  For example, the item attribute table shown in FIG. 4 is created by the process of step 114 and stored in the variable unit storage unit 50. Specifically, in the item attribute table, the attribute information converted into the printer language and the storage information for identifying the position of the item print data corresponding to the item of the attribute information are associated with the corresponding item. Stored in That is, the attribute information included in the variable item data is converted into the printer language by the processing in step 114 and is stored in the item attribute table in association with the corresponding item. The item attribute table also stores storage information indicating the storage location of the item print data corresponding to each item in association with each other. The stored information is used as reference data for extracting item print data during output data creation processing, which will be described later, and therefore does not need to be converted into a printer language, and matches the data format of print data received from the PC 16. Registered in the item attribute table.

  Note that the processing from step 100 to step 114 corresponds to the process 1 described above.

  Through the processing from step 102 to step 114, the form format data is divided into fixed data 64 and variable item data 66 and stored in the fixed part storage unit 46 and the variable part storage unit 50, respectively.

  On the other hand, if the result in Step 100 is negative, the process proceeds to Step 116 to determine whether print data and identification information have been received. If the result in Step 116 is negative, the process returns to Step 100 above. If the result in step 116 is affirmative (corresponding to process 2 above), the process proceeds to step 118. In step 118, the print data and identification data received in step 116 are associated with each other and stored in the print data storage unit 52.

  Next, in step 122, a fixed data grasping process is executed. The process of step 122 is to grasp the fixed data corresponding to the identification data from the fixed part storage unit 46 according to the identification data stored in the print data storage unit 52 in step 118.

  Next, in step 124, an item attribute table grasping process is executed. The process of step 124 is to grasp the item attribute table corresponding to the identification data from the variable unit storage unit 50 according to the identification data stored in the print data storage unit 52 in step 118.

  By the processing in the above step 122 and step 124, the fixed data converted into the printer language corresponding to the form format data to be combined with the print data stored in the print data storage unit 52, and converted into the printer language An item attribute table in which attribute information is stored in association with corresponding items is grasped.

  In step 126, the item print data included in the column corresponding to the value indicated in the “CSV column number” item of the item attribute table is extracted from the print data. Specifically, the value indicated in the “CSV column number” item of the item attribute table is sequentially read, and the item print data included in the column corresponding to the value is stored in one or more records constituting the print data. Extract sequentially from one record. Thereby, the item print data stored in the column corresponding to the value indicated by “CSV column number” in the item attribute table is sequentially extracted for each item for one record.

  In step 128, the extracted item print data for one record is associated with the attribute data of the corresponding item. The process of step 128 is to add item print data corresponding to each item to the corresponding attribute information.

  In step 130, the attribute information to which the item print data is added in step 128 is added to the fixed data grasped in step 122. Through the processing in step 130, output data for one page converted into the printer language is obtained. That is, this output data includes fixed data converted into the printer language, attribute information converted into the printer language, and item print data corresponding to each item of the attribute information. This is output data for outputting a form image for a page.

  Next, in step 132, it is determined whether there is remaining print data. The determination at step 132 can be made by determining whether there is unextracted print data in addition to the print data extracted at step 126. For example, in the process of step 126, the print data is sequentially read from the preceding stage one record at a time, and the item print data included in the read print data is processed in the process of steps 126 to 130. The record number to be counted is incremented to sequentially process the print data indicated in the subsequent record. Then, when there is no print data corresponding to the subsequent record, it may be determined that there is no remaining print data.

  If the result in step 132 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 134. After adding a page break command to the end of the output data created in step 130, the process returns to step 126.

  By executing the processing from step 126 to step 134, output data is sequentially created for each page, and as a result, output data corresponding to the print data stored in the print data storage unit 52 is created.

  When the creation process for creating output data from the print data for all pages (all records) included in the print data is completed in step 132, the process proceeds to step 136, and the spool for spooling the created output data to the spool unit 56 is performed. Processing is executed.

  Note that the processing from step 118 to step 136 corresponds to the process 3.

  In step 138, the output data spooled in the spool unit 56 is transmitted to the printer 14 (corresponding to the process 4), and then this routine is terminated.

  Upon receiving the output data, the printer 14 executes form printing based on the output data, and prints the form image on the printing paper.

  Note that the processing of step 104 and step 110 corresponds to the function of the classification means of the present invention, and the processing of step 106 and step 108 and the processing of step 112 and step 114 corresponds to the function of the registration means of the present invention. To do. Further, the processing from step 116 to step 138 corresponds to the function of the control means of the present invention. The processing in step 100 corresponds to the function of the form format data receiving means of the present invention.

  As described above, in this embodiment, before the output data is created, the form format data is classified into fixed data and variable item data in each form, and the fixed data is converted into a printer language and stored. The attribute information included in the variable item data is converted into the printer language, and the converted attribute information and storage information indicating the storage location of the item print data corresponding to the attribute information are stored in a table format for each item.

  That is, the form format data can be classified and stored into fixed data converted into the printer language of the printer 14 and variable item data as an item attribute table including attribute information converted into the printer language. As described above, the item attribute table of the variable item data associates the attribute information converted into the printer language and the storage information indicating the position of the item print data corresponding to the item of the attribute information with each corresponding item. Stored.

  Before the output data is created, the attribute information of fixed data and variable item data that can be converted to printer language included in the form format data can be converted into the printer language and stored. Output data in the printer language of the printer 14 can be efficiently created only by combining.

  In addition, variable item data can be registered as an item attribute table, so when creating print language output data by combining print data with form format data, each item is printed on variable item data based on the item attribute table. What is necessary is just to combine data with fixed data. That is, after the item print data corresponding to the storage information shown in each item of the item attribute table is sequentially synthesized for each item, the variable item data obtained by synthesizing the print data is synthesized with the fixed data, thereby combining the printer language Therefore, the print data composition process at the time of output data creation can be executed efficiently, and the output data can be created efficiently.

  Further, the variable item data can be stored as an item attribute table in which attribute information converted into the printer language and storage information indicating the position of the item print data are associated with each item of the print data. When the change is made, the attribute information and the storage information corresponding to the item to be changed in the print data may be changed from the item attribute table, and the change of the print data can be easily handled. Specifically, for example, when deleting specific item print data included in the print data, or changing the position and color of the item print data on the form, deleting the corresponding item in the item attribute table, This can be easily handled by changing the attribute information of the corresponding item. Similarly, when changing the position of the item print data corresponding to each item of the print data, it is only necessary to change the storage information of the corresponding item, and the change can be easily handled.

  In this way, variable item data, such as the print data composition position and attributes, included in the form format data can be stored in a table format for each item, making it easy to change the form format data and print data. It can correspond to. Furthermore, attribute information included in the item attribute table can be registered by converting it into the printer language of the printer that prints the form in advance before creating the output data, so that the print data composition processing in the output data creation is efficiently performed. be able to.

  In addition, since fixed fixed data can be classified for each form such as ruled lines from the form format data and converted into a printer language and registered, when the fixed data portion of the form format data is changed, the fixed data is What is necessary is just to change, and it becomes possible to change the fixed area | region of form format data easily.

  In the above description, the fixed data and variable item data are stored separately in the fixed part storage unit 46 and the variable part storage unit 50. However, it is generally preferable to handle the form format data as one file structure. Therefore, form format data having the fixed data and variable item data as one data structure may be stored in the format registration unit 42.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the data structure of the form format data composed of the fixed data area and the variable item data area.

  The form format data 65 shown in FIG. 6 includes a fixed data area 64 and a variable item data area 66. The fixed data area 64 is an area for storing the above-mentioned fixed data, and the variable item data area 66 is an area for storing variable item data based on the above-mentioned item attribute table. Thus, by forming the form format data 65 from the fixed data area 64 and the variable item data area 66, each of the fixed data and the variable item data is used as necessary in the handling of the form format data 65. can do.

  For example, when correcting, adding, or deleting at least one of fixed data and variable item data, it is easy to grasp the corresponding part. That is, the corresponding processing may be performed on the fixed data area 64 and the variable item data area 66.

  This works effectively for variable item data. For example, when it is desired to change the type of print data (properties such as fonts and typefaces), only the intended change of the intended part can be executed by referring to the above table and changing the corresponding part. For this reason, it is not necessary to rewrite the entire form format data, and the process intended by the user can be executed by a simple process of changing the corresponding part.

  In this embodiment, the case where output data is transmitted to the printer 14 has been described. However, in addition to the printer 14, a printer may be connected to the network 22, and the output data may be transmitted to the connected printer. .

  In the present embodiment, the output data creation PC 20 is described as generating output data in the printer language of the printer 14 as a predetermined printer. However, the output printer is not limited to the printer 14. . In this case, the output data creation PC 20 may store in advance the printer identification information that can identify each of the plurality of printers and the language information indicating the printer language of the printer in association with each other. Then, the printer identification information is transmitted from the form format creation terminal 18 to the output data creation PC 20 together with the form format data. Further, the format registration unit 42 may store the fixed data and the item attribute table in association with the received printer identification information. Further, the printer identification information is transmitted from the PC 16 to the output data creation PC 20 together with the print data. In this way, the output data creation PC 20 creates output data by combining the print data with the fixed data and attribute table converted into the printer language corresponding to the printer identification information of the print data. That's fine.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a format registration unit 42 that registers form format data, and an output data creation unit 54 that creates output data based on the received print data, fixed data, and item attribute table when print data is received. Is described as being provided in the same device (output data creation terminal 20), but may be provided separately. In this case, the form format data and the identification data are transmitted from the form format creation terminal 18 to a terminal having the function of the format registration unit 42. In addition, the terminal having the function of the format registration unit 42 may execute the processing of the above steps 100 to 114 to convert and store the received fixed data and variable item data of the form format data. Further, the print data and the identification data are transmitted from the PC 16 to the PC having the function of the output data creation unit 54. In the PC having the function of the output data creation unit 54, the processing from step 116 to step 138 may be executed. In the fixed data grasping process in step 122 and the item attribute table grasping process in step 124, a transmission request for the fixed data and item attribute table corresponding to the identification data is sent to the terminal having the function of the format registration unit 42. And the corresponding fixed data and the item attribute table may be received.

  In the present embodiment, the PC 16 that creates print data, the form format creation terminal 18 that creates form format data, the output data creation PC 20, and the printer 14 have been described as separate units. You may make it provide all the functions.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overview of a printer system according to an embodiment. (A) is a schematic diagram illustrating an output data creation method by form printing, and (B) is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a form image obtained by form printing. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of an output data creation PC in the printer system according to the present embodiment. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of an item attribute table. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the output data creation PC which concerns on this Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows the form format data stored in the fixed part storage part and variable part storage part of the format registration part which concerns on this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer system 14 Printer 44 Fixed part extraction part 46 Fixed part storage part 48 Variable part extraction part 50 Variable part storage part 54 Output data creation part

Claims (6)

In the form print control device that synthesizes the print data for each form into the form format data created in advance for form printing and outputs it to the image forming apparatus.
The form format data is classified into fixed data for use in the same form in each form, and variable item data representing the position and attributes of print data when an image of an item based on the print data is stored in the form. Classification means;
The fixed data is converted into a unique language of the image forming apparatus and registered, and attribute data indicating the attribute of the variable item data is converted into a unique language of the image forming apparatus, and the position of the item and print data Registration means for generating and registering correspondence information with attribute data;
The print data is received, the fixed data registered as the form format data and the corresponding information are read for the received print data, and the fixed language, the print data, and the attribute data are combined in a unique language of the image forming apparatus. Control means for generating and outputting output data;
A form printing control apparatus characterized by comprising:   The form print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image of the item by the print data is an image representing a character, a figure, and an image.   3. The form printing control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising form format data receiving means for receiving the form format data from outside.   The registration means adds predetermined identification information to identify the form format data and registers the unique data and the correspondence information, and the control means synthesizes the print data together with the print data. 4. The identification information of form format data is received, and the output data is generated and output based on fixed data and correspondence information of form format data corresponding to the received identification information. The form printing control apparatus according to any one of the above. A form printing control method for synthesizing print data for individual forms into pre-created form format data for form printing and outputting it to the image forming apparatus,
The form format data is classified into fixed data for the same use in each form, and variable item data representing the position and attributes of print data when the image of the item by the print data is stored in the form. ,
The fixed data is converted into a unique language of the image forming apparatus and registered, and attribute data indicating the attribute of the variable item data is converted into a unique language of the image forming apparatus, and the position of the item and print data Generate and register correspondence information with attribute data,
Receiving the print data, reading the fixed data and correspondence information registered as the form format data for the received print data, and outputting the specific language of the image forming apparatus that combines the fixed data, the print data, and the attribute data Generate and output data,
A form printing control method characterized by that. A form printing control program that is executed in a computer that synthesizes print data for individual forms into pre-created form format data for form printing and outputs it to the image forming apparatus,
The form format data is classified into fixed data for use in the same form in each form, and variable item data representing the position and attributes of print data when the image of the item by the print data is stored in the form. ,
The fixed data is converted into a unique language of the image forming apparatus and registered, and attribute data indicating the attribute of the variable item data is converted into a unique language of the image forming apparatus, and the position of the item and print data Generate and register the corresponding information with the attribute,
The print data is received, the fixed data and the correspondence information registered as the form format data are read for the received print data, and the fixed language, the print data, and the attribute data are combined in a unique language of the image forming apparatus. Generate and output output data,
A form printing control program characterized by that.

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