JP2005276044A - Output control program for print data and image generation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate damage to cleaning mechanism and a photo conductor by discharging blank paper and waste of printing paper while maintaining layout created by a user based on a request by the user. <P>SOLUTION: When a blank page decision part decides existence of a page consisting only of data constituting the blank paper (S6, S7), a display control part displays a processing selection message urging input for direction of execution of print for the page on a display part for a computer (S9). After this display, responding to the direction received in a direction receiving part, a control part controls if the data for the page consisting only of the print data constituting the blank paper is outputted to an image generation device or a facsimile device from an output part (S10, S11). This enables the layout for every page created by the user to be maintained, and when the user intentionally arranges the blank paper, a state for making the blank paper to be printed can be maintained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for processing a data portion constituting blank paper that exists in print data.

Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, an image processing apparatus that analyzes image data transmitted from the computer side and skips output of the blank image when the data is blank or close to a blank sheet has been proposed. . The object of the image processing apparatus is to solve problems such as damage to the cleaning mechanism and the photosensitive member due to discharge of blank paper and waste of paper.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-123857

  However, when there is a blank-state dot image in the print data, the conventional image processing apparatus packs the blank-state dot image and prints the dot image that is not in the previous blank-state state. In addition, a process of not printing a blank dot image is performed regardless of the intention of the user. Therefore, even if the user dares to create a layout having a blank portion, the blank portion is lost, and the layout created by the user is destroyed regardless of the user's intention.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. While maintaining the layout created by the user based on the user's intention, the cleaning mechanism and the photosensitive member are damaged by discharging the blank paper, and the paper is wasted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print data output control program and an image forming apparatus that can eliminate the problem.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a print data output control program that causes an image forming apparatus or a facsimile apparatus to output print data stored in a storage unit of a computer,
Output means for outputting the print data to the image forming apparatus or facsimile apparatus;
Blank page judgment means for judging for each page whether or not the print data consists only of data constituting a blank page;
When the blank page determination unit determines that a page consisting only of data constituting the blank page exists in the print data, a process selection message prompting the user to input an instruction as to whether or not to print the page is displayed. Display control means for displaying on a display unit provided in the computer;
Instruction accepting means for accepting an input of an instruction for the process selection message displayed by the display control means;
When the instruction accepting unit accepts an instruction not to print a page consisting only of data constituting the blank sheet, the output unit does not output the data of the page portion to the image forming apparatus or the facsimile apparatus. When an instruction to print a page consisting only of the data constituting the blank sheet is received, the control means for causing the output means to output the data of the page portion to the image forming apparatus or the facsimile apparatus.
It is what makes a computer function.

  In this configuration, when the blank page determination unit determines that there is a page including only data constituting the blank page, the display control unit displays a process selection message that prompts the user to input an instruction as to whether or not to execute printing of the page. Whether to output the page data consisting only of the print data constituting the blank sheet from the output means to the image forming apparatus or the facsimile apparatus in accordance with the instruction displayed on the display unit of the computer and received by the instruction receiving means. This is controlled by the control means. As a result, whether or not to perform printing or facsimile communication is controlled for each page consisting only of the data constituting the blank sheet, so that the layout for each page created by the user is maintained. Further, since whether or not to print a page consisting only of data constituting the blank paper is controlled according to the user's intention, when the user dares to provide a blank paper, the state of printing the blank paper is maintained. be able to. Naturally, for the image forming apparatus, it is possible to eliminate the damage of the cleaning mechanism and the photosensitive member due to the discharge of the blank paper and the waste of the paper.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the print data output control program according to claim 1, wherein the blank page determination unit has a number of pixels other than white pixels included in the print data equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. Is determined for each page, and it is determined that a page in which the number of pixels other than white pixels is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold is composed only of data constituting a blank sheet.

  In this configuration, the blank page determination unit determines whether the page is composed of only data constituting the blank page based on the number of pixels other than the white pixels included in the print data for each page. It is possible to determine whether or not the page is a simple process. Further, according to the magnitude of the threshold value, it is possible to perform control so that printing or facsimile communication is not performed on a completely blank page or a page close to a blank page.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is the print data output program according to claim 2, wherein the threshold value acceptance for accepting an input of the threshold value used by the blank page judging means for judging whether or not the page is blank is received from the user. Means,
The blank page determination unit is configured to determine for each page whether or not the page is blank with the threshold received by the threshold reception unit.

  In this configuration, when a threshold value input from the user is received by the threshold value receiving unit, the blank page determining unit determines whether the page is blank based on the received threshold value, so that the user performs printing or facsimile communication. It is possible to change the number of pixels of each page used for determining whether or not to make a page to be performed to a desired number so that the blank page determination unit determines whether or not the page is blank.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a printing unit that prints print data.
An informing means capable of informing a message to the user;
Blank page judgment means for judging for each page whether or not the print data consists only of data constituting a blank page;
When the blank page determination unit determines that a page consisting only of data constituting the blank page exists in the print data, a process selection message prompting the user to input an instruction as to whether or not to print the page is displayed. Notification control means for informing the notification means;
Instruction accepting means for accepting an input of an instruction for the process selection message notified by the notification control means;
When the instruction accepting unit accepts an instruction not to print a page consisting only of data constituting the blank page, the printing unit does not print the data of the page portion, and consists only of data constituting the blank page. When an instruction to print a page is received, the printing unit includes a control unit that causes the printing unit to print data of the page portion.

  In this configuration, when the blank page determination unit determines that there is a page composed only of data constituting the blank page, the display control unit displays a process selection message that prompts the user to input an instruction as to whether or not to execute printing of the page. The control means controls whether or not the printing means prints the page data consisting only of the print data constituting the blank paper according to the instruction displayed on the display means and received by the instruction receiving means. ing. As a result, whether or not to perform printing or facsimile communication is controlled for each page consisting only of the data constituting the blank sheet, so that the layout for each page created by the user is maintained. Further, since whether or not to print a page consisting only of data constituting the blank paper is controlled according to the user's intention, when the user dares to provide a blank paper, the state of printing the blank paper is maintained. be able to. Naturally, for the image forming apparatus, it is possible to eliminate the damage of the cleaning mechanism and the photosensitive member due to the discharge of the blank paper and the waste of the paper.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the blank page determination unit has a number of pixels other than white pixels included in the print data equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. Whether the number of pixels is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value is determined to be composed only of data constituting the blank page.

  In this configuration, the blank page determination unit determines whether the page is composed of only data constituting the blank page based on the number of pixels other than the white pixels included in the print data for each page. It is possible to determine whether or not a page is a simple process. Depending on the threshold value, control is performed so that printing or facsimile communication is not performed for pages that are close to blank pages in addition to completely blank pages. It becomes possible to do.

Further, the invention according to claim 6 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the threshold receiving unit receives an input of the threshold used by the blank page determining unit for determining whether or not the page is blank. When,
The blank page determination unit is configured to determine for each page whether or not the page is blank with the threshold received by the threshold reception unit.

  In this configuration, when a threshold value input from the user is received by the threshold value receiving unit, the blank page determining unit determines whether the page is blank based on the received threshold value, so that the user performs printing or facsimile communication. It is possible to change the number of pixels of each page used for determining whether or not to make a page to be performed to a desired number so that the blank page determination unit determines whether or not the page is blank.

  According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, whether or not to perform printing or facsimile communication is controlled for each page consisting only of the data constituting the blank sheet. Therefore, for each page created by the user, The layout is maintained. Further, since whether or not to print a page consisting only of data constituting the blank paper is controlled according to the user's intention, when the user dares to provide a blank paper, the state of printing the blank paper is maintained. be able to. Naturally, for the image forming apparatus, it is possible to eliminate the damage of the cleaning mechanism and the photosensitive member due to the discharge of the blank paper and the waste of the paper.

  According to the second and fifth aspects of the invention, it is possible to determine whether or not the page is a blank page by a simple process. Further, according to the magnitude of the threshold value, it is possible to perform control so that printing or facsimile communication is not performed on a completely blank page or a page close to a blank page.

  According to the invention described in claim 3 and claim 6, the user changes the number of pixels of each page used for determining whether or not to make a page for performing printing or facsimile communication to a desired number, It is possible to cause the blank page determination unit to determine whether or not the page is blank.

(First embodiment)
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) in which a print data output control program according to the present invention is installed, and a printer and a facsimile apparatus connected thereto. In this embodiment, the facsimile apparatus will be described as a part of a personal computer.

  The PC 1 is connected to the printer 20 by a LAN (Local Area Network) cable, a parallel cable such as a Centronics interface, or a serial cable such as RS-232C, and print data output from the PC 1 is printed on recording paper by the printer 20. It has come to be. Here, the communication I / F 160 functions as a LAN interface, a parallel I / F unit, or a serial I / F unit. The printer 20 includes various apparatuses having a printer function, such as a multi-function machine and a facsimile apparatus having a facsimile function, a printer function, and a copy function.

  The facsimile communication unit 170 adjusts data necessary for facsimile communication, and performs data transmission / reception with the external facsimile apparatus 21 through the public line 51. The facsimile communication unit 170 is provided with an NCU (Network Control Unit) for controlling connection of a telephone line with the counterpart facsimile machine 21 which is a data transmission / reception partner.

  In addition to the communication I / F 160 and the facsimile communication unit 170, the PC 1 includes a CPU 100, a ROM (read only memory) 110, a RAM (random access memory) 120, a recording medium driving device 130, an operation unit 140, a display unit 150, and a storage device. 200.

  The ROM 110 stores a basic input / output system (BIOS) that is a basic program for controlling peripheral devices such as the storage device 200 and the recording medium driving device 130. The RAM 120 is used as a work area for the CPU 100 and temporarily stores various data. The recording medium driving device 130 reads various data recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, and a DVD (digital versatile disk) under the control of the CPU 100. The storage unit referred to in the claims includes not only the storage device 200 but also a recording medium such as a RAM 120 and a recording medium read by the recording medium driving device 130 and an external hard disk connected to the PC 1.

  The operation unit 140 includes a pointing device such as a keyboard and a mouse, receives a user operation command, and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the operation command to the CPU 100. The display unit 150 includes a liquid crystal panel, a CRT (cathode ray tube), or the like, and displays various images under the control of the CPU 100.

  The storage device 200 is composed of, for example, a magnetic disk, and stores an operating system, which is a basic program for overall control of a personal computer, a print data output control program according to the present invention, and the like. This print data output control program selects either fax transmission or printer printing for print data stored in the storage device 200 or the like of the PC 1 based on an instruction input to the instruction receiving unit 102 from the outside. Is to be executed. When the print data output control program is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a flexible disk, the print data output control program is stored in the storage device 200 by loading the recording medium into the recording medium driving device 130 and installing it. When the print data output control program is stored in a Web server on the Internet, the program may be stored in the storage device 200 by downloading the print data output control program from the Web server.

  The CPU 100 executes a print data output control program under the control of the operating system, whereby a display control unit 101 (display control unit), an instruction reception unit (instruction reception unit) 102, a blank page setting instruction reception unit 103, a threshold value It functions as a reception unit (threshold reception unit) 104, a blank page determination unit (blank page determination unit) 105, a control unit (control unit) 106, and an output unit (output unit) 107. Each unit of the CPU 100 may be realized by hardware, such as being configured by a circuit.

  In the display control unit 101, the blank page determination unit 105 determines that a page (hereinafter, referred to as a “blank page”) consisting only of data constituting a blank page (a portion where an image to be printed does not exist) exists in the print data. In this case, a processing selection message that prompts the user to input an instruction as to whether or not to execute printing of the blank page is displayed on the display unit 150.

  The instruction receiving unit 102 inputs an instruction as to whether or not to execute printing of the blank page when the display control unit 101 displays the processing selection message on the display unit 150 based on an external operation by the user. And accept.

  The blank page setting instruction receiving unit 103 receives an input from the user, such as an instruction for setting whether to process a blank page as printed or unprinted, or to display a warning to the user about the presence of a blank page.

  The threshold receiving unit 104 receives an input of a threshold used by the blank page determining unit 105 for determining whether or not the page is a blank page from the user. The value whose input is received by the threshold receiving unit 104 is a “predetermined threshold” shown below.

  The blank page determination unit 105 determines for each page whether or not the print data includes only data constituting the blank page. In this determination by the blank page determination unit 105, it is determined for each page whether the number of pixels other than white pixels included in the print data is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, and the number of pixels other than white pixels is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold. This is done by determining that the page to be composed of only the data constituting the blank page. The blank page determination unit 105 uses the threshold value received from the user by the threshold reception unit 104 to determine for each page whether or not the page is blank.

  When the instruction receiving unit 102 receives an instruction not to print a blank page from the user, the control unit 106 does not cause the output unit 107 to output the blank page portion data to the printer 20 or the facsimile communication unit 170. Further, when the instruction to print the blank page is received from the user, the control unit 106 causes the output unit 107 to output the data of the blank page portion to the printer 20 or the facsimile communication unit 170.

  The output unit 107 outputs print data (if no blank page is printed, print data other than the blank page portion that is not printed) to the printer 20 via the communication I / F 160, and the print data is sent to the facsimile communication unit 170. Output to. The data received by the facsimile communication unit 170 is transmitted to the external facsimile apparatus 21 through the public line 51.

  The CPU 100 converts the print data into a data format for printer printing (for example, PDL (Page Description Language) or the like) or a data format for fax transmission (for example, raster data). The description of the conversion process is omitted.

  Next, processing performed at the time of printer printing and fax transmission in the PC 1 in which the print data output control program is installed will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing performed at the time of printer printing and fax transmission in the PC 1 in which the print data output control program is installed, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an initial screen at the time of printing processing, and FIG. 4 is blank page setting FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for prompting selection of blank page printing or non-printing.

  When the print data output control program is started in accordance with a user instruction (S1), the control unit 106 determines whether the setting related to printing of a blank page set by the user is printing or non-printing ( S2).

  Settings relating to printing of this blank page will be described with reference to FIGS. The user displays the initial screen 1500 at the time of the printing process shown in FIG. 3 on the display unit 150, and the user presses the “blank page setting” button 1501 with a pointing device such as a mouse, or sets the blank page from the operation unit 140. When an instruction is input, the display control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display a blank page setting screen 1502. On this blank page setting screen 1502, when the user presses one of “blank page unprinted” 1503, “blank page warning request” 1504, and “blank page print” 1505 with the pointing device or designates with the operation unit 140. The blank page setting instruction accepting unit 103 accepts an instruction (any of blank page unprinted, blank page warning request, blank page print) indicated by the pressed or designated button. The contents of the received instruction are displayed in the “current setting” field 1506 of the blank page setting screen 1502 by the display control unit 101.

  Returning to the description of FIG. If the setting related to printing of a blank page is a setting for printing even a blank page (YES in S2), the control unit 106 prints each page of print data (for example, data created by spreadsheet software). In order to print, print data for all pages is output from the output unit 107 to the printer 20 via the communication I / F 160 (S11).

  In the case of facsimile communication, the control unit 106 determines whether the setting related to the transmission of the blank page by the user is transmission or non-transmission (S2), and when the setting is set to transmission (S2). YES), print data for all pages to be transmitted by facsimile is output from the output unit 107 to the facsimile communication unit 170 (S11).

  When the setting related to printing of the blank page is not set to print the blank page (that is, when the setting related to printing of the blank page is not printed, or after the warning from the user, If it is set to determine whether a blank page is printed or not based on the instruction (NO in S2), the following processing is performed.

  When the control unit 106 receives a signal indicating the start of the first page of print data (YES in S3), the control unit 106 is provided in a counter (for example, the blank page determination unit 105) for counting the number of pixels in the print data. (Not shown) is reset (S4). Then, this counter counts the number of pixels T other than pixels indicating white (indicating pixels or dots printed as white when printing on recording paper; hereinafter referred to as white pixels) (S5). In this count, when the number of pixels T is larger than the threshold value n (YES in S6), the blank page determination unit 105 determines that the page is not a blank page. The control unit 106 causes the print data of the page to be output from the output unit 107 to the printer 20 or the facsimile communication unit 170 (S11). If the control unit 106 determines that the next page exists based on the presence or absence of the next page start signal from the print data (YES in S12), the control unit 106 returns to the process of S4 and determines that the next page does not exist. In the case (NO in S12), the process is terminated.

  In S6, when the control unit 106 receives a signal indicating the end of the page (NO in S6) while the number of pixels T remains equal to or less than the threshold value n (NO in S6), the blank page determination unit 105 determines that the page is blank. Judge as a page. Then, the display control unit 101 determines whether or not the user is set to warn the user of the presence of a blank page (S8).

  Note that the threshold value n can be varied by the user operating the operation unit 140 or the like to input a desired value and the threshold value receiving unit 104 receiving the input of this value. If the user sets the threshold value n to “0”, only a completely blank page can be a blank page. Also, when the user sets the threshold value n to a desired value other than “0”, printing is performed or printing is not performed when there is a print portion on each page, or blank paper is printed. It is possible to freely control whether or not to warn of page existence.

  If it is set in S8 to warn the user of the presence of a blank page (YES in S8), the display control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display a selection screen 1507 as shown in FIG. (S9) prompts the user to select whether or not to print the blank page. After this display, the instruction receiving unit 102 receives the instruction by pressing a “print” button 1508 displayed on the display unit 150 with a pointing device such as a mouse or operating the operation unit 140. When the unit 102 receives an instruction to print the blank page from the user (YES in S10), the control unit 106 causes the output unit 107 to output print data of the blank page to the printer 20 (S11). .

  In the case of facsimile transmission, if it is set to warn the user of the presence of a blank page (YES in S8), the control unit 106 determines whether or not to transmit the blank page to the user by facsimile. A message for prompting selection is displayed (S9). After this display, when the instruction receiving unit 102 receives an input of an instruction to send a blank page by facsimile (YES in S10), the control unit 106 sends print data of the blank page from the output unit 107 to the facsimile communication unit. It is made to output to 170 (S11).

  After the selection message is displayed in S9, the instruction receiving unit 102 inputs an instruction not to print or send the blank page by the user pressing the “do not print” button 1509 or operating the operation unit 140. When received from the user (NO in S10), the control unit 106 does not output the blank page print data from the output unit 107, and does not perform printing or facsimile transmission of the blank page. It should be noted that the display control unit 101 displays in the page display column 1510 how many pages are blank based on the page start signal and the like.

  Thereafter, based on the presence / absence of the next page start signal from the print data, the control unit 106 returns to the process of S4 if there is a next page (YES in S12), and if there is no next page (in S12). NO), the process is terminated. The processing described above can be variously modified as follows.

  (1) In the above, as described in S2, regarding the printing of blank pages, (a) whether to print blank pages, (b) not printing, or (c) instructions from the user after warning to the user The user can select and set whether to perform printing or non-printing according to (b) whether to blank page or not (c) print after confirmation to the user. Alternatively, either unprinting or automatic processing may be performed.

  (2) Also, in the above description, it is described that it is possible to set whether or not to display a user to select printing or non-printing when there is a blank page, but this warning display is not performed. If a blank page exists, the control unit 106 may perform processing so as not to automatically print a blank page.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a printer as an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  The second embodiment according to the present invention is a printer 3. The printer 3 performs the same process as the print process for the blank page described in the first embodiment on the print data transmitted from the personal computer 4. The same components as those of the personal computer 1 installed with the print data output control program described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The CPU 300 executes a control program stored (installed) in the storage device 200 under the control of the operating system, whereby a display control unit 101 (notification control unit), an instruction reception unit (instruction reception unit) 102, It functions as a blank page setting instruction receiving unit 103, a threshold receiving unit (threshold receiving unit) 104, a blank page determining unit (blank page determining unit) 105, a control unit (control unit) 106, and a data receiving unit 307. Note that each unit of the CPU 300 may be realized by hardware, such as being configured by a circuit.

  The data receiving unit 307 receives print data transmitted from the external personal computer 4 via the communication I / F 310. The recording unit (printing unit) 320 is, for example, an electrophotographic image forming mechanism including an electrifying unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, or the like, or an inkjet image forming mechanism, and is sent from the control unit 106. The incoming print data is printed on a recording sheet for each page.

  Note that a selection display screen 1507 (FIG. 5) is displayed on the display unit 150 by the display control unit (notification control unit) 101. The display unit 150 functions as an example of notification means in the claims.

  Next, processing performed at the time of printing by the printer 3 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing performed when the printer 3 performs printing. In addition, about the process similar to FIG. 2, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  When the data receiving unit 307 receives print data from the external personal computer 4 (S21), processing similar to the processing shown in FIG. 2 is performed (S2 to S10). After the display control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display a selection screen 1507 (FIG. 5) that prompts the user to select whether or not to print a blank page, the instruction receiving unit 102 prints the blank page. When an instruction to do so is received from the user (YES in S10), the control unit 106 sends the print data of the blank page to the recording unit 320, and causes the recording unit 320 to print the blank page (S22). When the instruction receiving unit 102 receives an instruction from the user that the blank page is not to be printed (NO in S10), the control unit 106 does not send the print data of the blank page to the recording unit 320. The blank page is not printed.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in each of the above embodiments, the user is warned of the presence of a blank page by displaying the selection screen 1507 on the display unit 150. In addition to this, the user is warned by sound, voice, or the like. Or may prompt the user to select whether or not to print a blank page. In addition, a light emitting unit such as an LED (light emitting diode) may be used to warn the user or prompt the user to select whether to print or not print a blank page.

1 is a block diagram showing a personal computer installed with a print data output control program according to the present invention, and a printer and a facsimile machine connected to the personal computer. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed at the time of printer printing and fax transmission in a personal computer in which a print data output control program is installed. It is a figure which shows the example of the initial screen at the time of a printing process. It is a figure which shows the example of a blank page setting input screen. It is a figure which shows the example of the display screen which prompts | selects the printing of a blank page or unprinting. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a printer that is an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed when printing by the printer of FIG. 6.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer 3 Printer 20 Printer 21 Facsimile device 101 Display control part 102 Instruction reception part 103 Blank page setting instruction reception part 104 Threshold reception part 105 Blank page judgment part 106 Control part 107 Output part 140 Operation part 150 Display part 170 Facsimile communication Section 307 Data receiving section 320 Recording section 1500 Initial screen 1501 “Blank page setting” button 1502 Blank page setting screen 1506 “Current setting” field 1507 Selection screen 1507 Selection display screen 1508 “Print” button 1509 “Do not print” button

Claims (6)

A print data output control program for outputting print data stored in a storage unit of a computer to an image forming apparatus or a facsimile machine,
Output means for outputting the print data to the image forming apparatus or facsimile apparatus;
Blank page judgment means for judging for each page whether or not the print data consists only of data constituting a blank page;
When the blank page determination unit determines that a page consisting only of data constituting the blank page exists in the print data, a process selection message prompting the user to input an instruction as to whether or not to print the page is displayed. Display control means for displaying on a display unit provided in the computer;
Instruction accepting means for accepting an input of an instruction for the process selection message displayed by the display control means;
When the instruction accepting unit accepts an instruction not to print a page consisting only of data constituting the blank sheet, the output unit does not output the data of the page portion to the image forming apparatus or the facsimile apparatus. When an instruction to print a page consisting only of the data constituting the blank sheet is received, the control means for causing the output means to output the data of the page portion to the image forming apparatus or the facsimile apparatus.
Print data output control program that causes a computer to function.   The blank page determination unit determines, for each page, whether the number of pixels other than white pixels included in the print data is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, and the number of pixels other than white pixels is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. The print data output control program according to claim 1, wherein the page is determined to include only data constituting a blank sheet. Threshold receiving means for receiving from the user the input of the threshold used for determining whether or not the page is blank by the blank page determining means;
The print data output program according to claim 2, wherein the blank page determination unit determines for each page whether or not the page is blank with the threshold received by the threshold reception unit. An image forming apparatus including a printing unit for printing print data,
An informing means capable of informing a message to the user;
Blank page judgment means for judging for each page whether or not the print data consists only of data constituting a blank page;
When the blank page determination unit determines that a page consisting only of data constituting the blank page exists in the print data, a process selection message prompting the user to input an instruction as to whether or not to print the page is displayed. Notification control means for informing the notification means;
Instruction accepting means for accepting an input of an instruction for the process selection message notified by the notification control means;
When the instruction accepting unit accepts an instruction not to print a page consisting only of data constituting the blank page, the printing unit does not print the data of the page portion, and consists only of data constituting the blank page. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that causes the printing unit to print data of the page portion when an instruction to print a page is received.   The blank page determination means determines, for each page, whether or not the number of pixels other than white pixels included in the print data is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, and a page where the number of pixels is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus determines that the data includes only data constituting a blank sheet. Threshold receiving means for receiving from the user the input of the threshold used for determining whether or not the page is blank by the blank page determining means;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the blank page determination unit determines for each page whether or not the page is blank with the threshold received by the threshold reception unit.

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