JP2006065565A - Printer driver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer driver capable of easily and appropriately inputting printing control information on the printer driver side after inputting the printing control information on the application software side. <P>SOLUTION: When there is a set item for reinputting printing control information inputted by the application software 2 on a user interface UI, the printer driver 1 sets at least a part of the set item to non-display. Even when there is a set item making it unnecessary to input the printing control information inputted by the application software 2, at least a part of the set item is set to non-display. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer driver that performs print control in response to a data print request from application software.

  For example, in a personal computer, application software such as a word processor or spreadsheet is activated, data such as text and tables is created by input operation, and then the printer driver is invoked from the application software via the operating system and activated. Then, data is transmitted and received from the application software to the printer driver, and the printer driver performs print control by the printer driver to print the data.

  In such a printing process, the setting items for inputting each print control information such as the number of pages and the paper size are usually displayed on the screen of the display device in both the application software and the printer driver. Print control information is input to each setting item. Therefore, even if the printer driver receives the print control information from the application software, the setting item of the already input print control information may be displayed again. Alternatively, print control information setting items that do not match the print control information already input on the application software side may be displayed. For this reason, the user may repeatedly input the same setting item, or may erroneously input the setting item.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, in the user interface display unit 101 of the printer driver, although the number of printed pages “1” already input on the application software side is displayed in the setting item “Copies:”, 1 A setting item “N-Up Printing” for inputting the number of pages laid out on one sheet of printing paper may also be displayed. If a plurality of pages are input to the setting item “N-Up Printing”, the number of pages laid out on the one printing sheet and the number of printed pages “1” input on the application software side are assumed. And the layout of the page on the printing paper is not as expected by the user.

  When the printing paper size “A4” already input on the application software side is displayed in the setting item “Paper Size” on the user interface display unit 101 of the printer driver as shown in FIG. Since it is possible to input “Size”, this input may be erroneously performed again, and the size of the printing paper may be changed.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, it is optimal to investigate the print data processing capability of the print data and the data processing means for processing the print data, and automatically select one of a plurality of data processing means according to the capability. Is determined, and the determination result is clearly indicated to the user. That is, before performing analysis processing on print information, it is proposed to clearly indicate to the user that the determined print processing means is incompatible and efficiently process the print information requested for printing in a short time. ing.

In Patent Document 2, the document server determines whether or not the print settings set in the document client can be combined. If the combination cannot be realized, the print setting is changed to a combination that can be realized for the document client. To return. That is, there has been proposed a printing system capable of performing print settings consistent with the application even if the application does not know the restrictions in the printer system.
JP 2002-259084 A JP 2002-215353 A

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since only the optimum one of the plurality of data processing means is determined, the inconvenience caused between the application software and the printer driver as described above cannot be solved. .

  Further, in Patent Document 2, since the print settings are changed to a combination that can be realized for the document client, the inconvenience between the application software and the printer driver as described above cannot be solved. It was.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and after print control information is input on the application software side, it is easy and accurate to input the print control information on the printer driver side. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer driver that can be used for the above.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, according to the present invention, when a print request is received from application software, a setting item for inputting print control information is displayed on the screen, and the print control information input to the setting item is displayed. A step of receiving, from the application software, print control information input on the application software side, and a step of switching a setting item display method based on the print control information received from the application software in a printer driver that performs print control of the printer; Is included.

  In the present invention, the setting item display method for re-inputting the print control information received from the application software is switched.

  Further, in the present invention, the setting item display method that is no longer required to be input is switched according to the print control information received from the application software.

  For example, the print control information received from the application software is a print instruction for one page, and the print control information of a setting item that does not need to be input by the received print control information is a printing method for a plurality of pages.

  In the present invention, switching of the display method of setting items is to hide at least a part of the setting items.

  Further, the present invention includes a step of requesting the print control information from the application software, and receiving the print control information input on the application software side from the application software in response to the request for the application software. .

  In such a print driver of the present invention, when print control information input on the application software side is received from the application software, the display method of the setting items of the print driver is switched based on the received print control information. . Therefore, for example, when there is a setting item for which the print control information input on the application software side is to be input again, the user is notified that the input to this setting item is unnecessary by switching the display method of this setting item. Can let you know.

  Alternatively, if there is a setting item that does not need to be entered due to the print control information entered on the application software side, the user is notified that the input to this setting item is unnecessary by switching the display method of this setting item. I can inform you. More specifically, if a one-page printing instruction is input as print control information on the application software side, setting items for inputting a printing method for a plurality of pages according to the one-page printing instruction are unnecessary. The display method of this unnecessary setting item is switched to notify the user that the input to this setting item is unnecessary.

  The switching of the display method of the setting item includes non-display of at least a part of the setting item.

  Therefore, when inputting on the print driver side, the user does not need to input the print control information already input on the application software side or input unnecessary setting items. It can be done accurately.

  In the print driver of the present invention, the print control information is requested from the application software, and the print control information input on the application software side is received from the application software as a response to the request. Thereby, print control information can be promptly transmitted and received between the print driver and the application software.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram conceptually showing the relationship between the first embodiment of the printer driver of the present invention and application software.

  Here, using a personal computer, the printer driver 1 and application software 2 are operated based on an operating system (not shown), and the printer driver 1 performs print control of a peripheral printer (not shown). Yes.

  Application software 2 includes a word processor and a spreadsheet. With this application software 2, data such as text and tables can be created by an input operation. When data printing is instructed, the respective setting items for inputting each print control information such as the number of pages and the paper size are displayed on the screen of the display device. Further, when each print control information is input to each setting item on the screen by an input operation, the printer driver 1 is called and started via the operating system, and each print control information is transferred from the application software 2 to the printer driver 1. Send and receive.

  When the printer driver 1 is called by the application software 2 and started, the setting items for inputting each print control information such as the number of pages and the paper size are displayed on the screen of the display device in the same manner as the application software 2. indicate. More specifically, the user interface display unit 3 of the printer driver 1 displays a user interface UI (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) on the screen of the display device, and inputs each print control information to the user interface UI. Each setting item is displayed. Then, in response to a user input operation, the user interface display unit 3 writes and inputs each print control information in each setting item of the user interface UI.

  Thereafter, the printer driver 1 receives data such as text and a table from the application software 2 and is based on each print control information received from the application software 2 and each print control information input to each setting item of the user interface UI. Then, print control of the printer is performed, and data is printed on the printing paper by the printer.

  In this way, the printer driver 1 receives each print control information from the application software 2, and based on each received print control information and each print control information input to each setting item of the user interface UI, the printer driver 1 Print control is performed.

  By the way, in the user interface UI of the printer driver 1, the print control information already input on the application software 2 side is changed carelessly, or the print control information and the print control information input on the user interface UI side are matched. Otherwise, printing will not be performed as expected by the user.

  Therefore, in the printer driver 1 according to the present embodiment, if there are setting items on the user interface UI where the print control information input on the application software 2 side is input again, at least a part of the setting items is set. It is hidden. This prevents the print control information input on the application software 2 side from being changed carelessly. Further, even when there are setting items that do not need to be input by the print control information input on the application software 2 side, at least a part of the setting items is not displayed. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the print control information input on the application software 2 side does not match the print control information input on the user interface UI side.

  Next, display processing of the user interface UI by the printer driver 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, on the application software 2 side, data such as text and a table is created by an input operation, each print control information is input, and when printing of the data is instructed, the application software 2 sends the printer driver 1 via the operating system. Is called and activated (steps S21 and S22).

  When the printer driver 1 is called from the application software 2 and started, the printer driver 1 requests each print control information input on the application software 2 side (step S23), and uses the print control information as an application in response to the request. Received from the software 2 (step S24).

  Then, the printer driver 1 compares each print control information input on the application software 2 side with each setting item of the user interface UI, and sets the print control information input on the application software 2 side again. If there is an item, this setting item is not displayed, and if there is a setting item that does not need to be input by the print control information input on the application software 2 side, this setting item is not displayed (step S25).

  Subsequently, the user interface display unit 3 of the printer driver 1 displays only the remaining setting items on the user interface UI except for the setting items that are not displayed (step S26).

  Next, a specific example of step S25 in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  Here, it is assumed that print control information of each setting item of the user interface UI includes “color matching”, “number of printed pages”, “number of copies”, and “print paper size”.

  First, the printer driver 1 determines whether or not “color matching” is included in each print control information input on the application software 2 side (step S31). If “color matching” is included (“Yes” in step S31), there is no need to perform “color matching” on the printer driver 1 side, so the printer driver 1 displays “color matching” on the user interface UI. The “matching” setting item is hidden, and “color matching” is set to OFF (step S32). If “color matching” is not included (“No” in step S31), step S32 is skipped.

  In addition, the printer driver 1 includes “print page number” in each print control information input on the application software 2 side, and determines whether “1” is set as the “print page number”. If the determination is made (step S33) and the “number of printed pages” is included and “1” is set as the “number of printed pages” (“Yes” in step S33), a method of printing a plurality of pages on the user interface UI The setting item is not displayed (step S34). More specifically, since “1” is already input as the “number of printed pages” on the application software side, the setting item “Copies:” is displayed on the user interface UI of the printer driver 1 as shown in FIG. If the number of printed pages “1” already input on the application software side is displayed, the setting item “2-Sided” on “Double-sided printing (indicating printing on both sides of printing paper)” on the user interface UI. The setting items “Finishing” of “Book”, “2-Sided [Tablet]”, and “Bookbinding printing (indicating that stapling or the like is performed)” are not displayed. Similarly, the setting item “N-Up Printing” of “N-up printing (indicating that a plurality of pages are arranged and printed)” as shown in FIG. 6 is not displayed. As a result, the setting items “2-Sided [Book]” and “2-Sided [Tablet]” are input, the setting item “Finishing” is input, and the setting item “N-Up Printing” has multiple pages. The situation where the input is not performed and the printing method of a plurality of pages and the number of printed pages “1” input on the application software side do not match can be avoided, and printing as expected by the user is performed. If the “number of printed pages” is not included or is included, and if a plurality of pages are set as the “number of printed pages” (“No” in step S33), step S34 is skipped.

  Further, the printer driver 1 determines whether or not “number of copies” is included in each print control information input on the application software 2 side, and “1” is set as the “number of copies”. (Step S35) If “number of copies” is included and “1” is set as the “number of copies to be printed” (“Yes” in Step S35), “copy by unit (multiple pages are printed)” on the user interface UI. The setting item “indicating that printing is performed in units of copies when printing a plurality of copies” is not displayed (step S36). If the “number of printed copies” is not included or is included, but multiple copies are set as the “number of printed copies” (“No” in step S35), step S36 is skipped.

  Further, the printer driver 1 determines whether or not “print paper size” is included in each print control information input on the application software 2 side (step S37), and “print paper size” is included. If so (“Yes” in step S37), a part of the setting item of “printing paper size” on the user interface UI is hidden (step S38). More specifically, since “A4” has already been input as the “printing paper size” on the application software side, the “printing paper size” is set on the user interface UI of the printer driver 1 as shown in FIG. Hide part of the item “Paper Size”. As a result, the print paper size is not input again to the setting item “Paper Size”, and the size of the print paper is not changed by mistake. If “printing paper size” is not included (“No” in step S37), step S38 is skipped.

  As described above, in the printer driver 1 according to the present embodiment, the setting item for inputting the print control information input on the application software 2 side again on the user interface UI, and the print control input on the application software 2 side. If there is a setting item that does not need to be input due to information, at least a part of these setting items is hidden, so that the print control information already input on the application software 2 side may be changed carelessly, The print control information and the print control information input on the user interface UI side do not match each other. For this reason, printing is performed as expected by the user.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, It can deform | transform variously. For example, instead of hiding at least a part of the setting items, the setting items are grayed out like the setting item “Collate” G in FIG. 4, and this graying display allows the user to know the existence of the setting items. However, input to the setting item may be prohibited.

  Further, it is not always necessary that an operating system be interposed between the printer driver and the application software.

1 is a block diagram conceptually showing a relationship between a printer driver according to a first embodiment of the present invention and application software. 3 is a flowchart illustrating user interface display processing by the printer driver of FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the process of FIG.2 S25 in detail. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface displayed by the printer driver of FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of a user interface displayed by the printer driver in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface displayed by the conventional printer driver. It is a figure which shows the other example of the user interface displayed by the conventional printer driver.

Explanation of symbols

1 Printer Driver 2 Application Software 3 User Interface Display Unit UI User Interface

Claims (6)

When a print request is received from the application software, a setting item for inputting print control information is displayed on the screen, and a printer driver that performs print control of the printer based on the print control information input to the setting item.
Receiving from the application software print control information input on the application software side;
And a step of switching a display method of setting items based on print control information received from application software.   2. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the setting item display method for re-inputting the print control information received from the application software is switched.   The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the display method of setting items that do not need to be input is switched according to print control information received from application software. The print control information received from the application software is a one-page print instruction,
4. The printer driver according to claim 3, wherein the print control information of the setting item that is no longer required to be input by the received print control information is a printing method for a plurality of pages.   The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the switching of the display method of the setting item is to hide at least a part of the setting item. Requesting print control information from the application software,
The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein print control information input on the application software side is received from the application software in response to a request for the application software.

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