JP2006163986A - Method for retrieving character of preserved job - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To retrieve a character from a preview display result and to retrieve a character from data stored in a box. <P>SOLUTION: In a method for retrieving a character in a preserved job, an external information processor attaches a character code to each character at the time of preparing a first format, a printer 303 converts the first format into a second format with the character code attached thereto, and an external display device 302 extracts a character code from a character that the external display device 301 tries to retrieve and retrieves a character code coinciding with the character code from the second format to thereby be able to retrieve the character from the preview display result. Although it is desirable that a character can be retrieved for the improvement of convenience at the time of previewing print data stored in a printer box, this solves the problem that a PDL preserved in the box can not retrieve a character string after preview conversion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  According to the present invention, print data in a page description language (PDL) format input from an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer is converted into a general format such as SVG by a print processing apparatus such as a printer, and the general format is displayed. The present invention relates to a character search method for searching for a character from a preview when it is transmitted to a possible external display device and previewed on the external display device.

  With the explosive spread of the Internet in recent years, various office automation equipment has been used in combination with a network from a single use, and its functions have also diversified. The box function that temporarily saves data to the hard disk is also a function that uses the network, providing a variety of data utilization styles. Data can be shared and edited by creating a database of documents, saved documents can be recalled when necessary, settings can be re-outputted, previewed on a personal computer, and so on.

  However, in the preview in the conventional box function, the reusability of the document displayed in the preview is insufficient. This is because if the document stored in the box is in the raster format, information is missing compared to the original data (print data in the PDL format), and the quality may deteriorate. In addition, raster format data cannot be processed, and the data size is large, which may increase the load on the network and the preview display device. However, the original data (PDL format print data) could not be previewed.

  Therefore, in June 2003, the data was saved in the PDL format in the box, and when the preview was displayed, the data was converted into a format that solves the above problems and realizes reusability. Proposal for preview display. As a result, it can be expected that anyone can easily use it via a network without limiting the place or device.

Further, as another conventional example, for example, Patent Document 1 can be cited.
JP 2003-67149 A

  According to the above-described proposal, it is possible to preview a document (PDL format print data) stored in a box of the printing apparatus with high quality, and it is also possible to reuse (edit) the previewed document.

  After the preview, if the characters can be searched from the preview display result, the preview result can be used more effectively. However, since the PDL characters only contain TypeWing IDs, and the meaning of the characters cannot be interpreted, there is a problem that the characters cannot be searched after the preview conversion.

  I don't know what kind of information (images and characters) is contained in the PDL data stored in the box until I preview it, but if it is possible to perform a character search while it is stored in the box, You can easily find the necessary files from the files in the box without previewing them, which increases convenience. However, due to the above problems, it was not possible to search for characters.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and a first object is to make it possible to search for characters from a preview display result. Furthermore, the second object is to make it possible to search for characters from the data stored in the box.

  However, in realizing the search function, it must be avoided that the load of normal printing (printing without using a box) increases. Therefore, the third object is to realize a function that does not affect the normal print processing load.

  The invention for achieving the first object described above is the method according to claim 1, comprising a printing device, an external display device, and an external information processing device, wherein the external information processing device is a user. Is converted into a first format for input to the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus stores and saves the first format input from the external information processing apparatus in a memory. When there is a preview request of the first format from the display device, the first format is converted into the second format and transferred to the external display device, and the external display device receives the second format and displays it on the screen. In the preview system characterized by displaying a preview, the external information processing apparatus uses a character code for each character included in the first format when the first format is created. A character code adding means for adding, and the printing apparatus includes a format converting means for converting the first format to which the character code is added into a second format to which the character code is added, and the external display device A search character instruction means for indicating a character to be searched from the second format, a character code extraction means for extracting a character code from the character specified by the search character instruction means, and a character code extracted by the character code extraction means And a character code retrieval means for retrieving the character code to be retrieved from the second format.

  3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the external display device associates and manages the print coordinates of each character in the second format and the character code added to each character. The character string is searched by comparing whether there is a code string in the same sequence as the character code string to be searched.

  In such a configuration, the external information processing device adds a character code to each character when the first format is created, the printing device converts the first format into the second format with the character code added, and the external display device searches A character code can be retrieved from the preview display result by extracting the character code from the character to be tried and retrieving the character code that matches the character code from the second format.

  The invention for achieving the second object described above is the method according to claim 3, comprising a printing device, an external display device, and an external information processing device, and the external information processing device is created by a user. The converted image data is converted into a first format for input to the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus stores and saves the first format input from the external information processing apparatus in a memory, and the external display apparatus When the preview request for the first format is received, the first format is converted into the second format and transferred to the external display device. The external display device receives the second format and displays the preview on the screen. In the preview system, the external information processing apparatus adds a character code to each character included in the first format when the first format is created. The external display device includes search character instruction means for instructing the printing device of a character to be searched from the first format, and the printing device includes the first character code to which the character code is added. A format conversion means for converting the format into a second format to which a character code is added; a character code extraction means for extracting a character code from the character indicated by the search character instruction means; and a character extracted by the character code extraction means Character code search means for searching for a character code that matches the code from the second format, and search result transmission means for sending a search result by the character code search means to the external display device.

  Furthermore, in the method according to claim 4, the printing apparatus includes character position management means for managing the print coordinates of each character in the second format in association with the character code added to each character, A character string is searched by comparing whether there is a code string in the same sequence as the character code string to be searched.

  In such a configuration, the external information processing apparatus adds a character code to each character when the first format is created, and the printing apparatus extracts the character code from the character to be searched instructed from the external display device, and the character that matches the character code By retrieving the code from the second format, it is possible to retrieve characters from the data stored in the box.

  The invention for achieving the third object described above is the method according to claim 5, wherein the external information processing apparatus stores or stores the first format in a memory. Or a printing apparatus operation detection unit that knows whether to generate and print a raster image from the first format, and when storing and saving in a memory, a character code is added by the character code adding unit to the first format Is created and printed, the first format is created without adding a character code.

  In this configuration, the external information processing apparatus creates the first format by adding the character code by the character code adding means only when storing and saving in the memory, thereby realizing a function that does not affect the normal print processing load. It becomes possible.

  According to the method of claim 1, the printing apparatus includes an printing apparatus, an external display apparatus, and an external information processing apparatus, and the external information processing apparatus inputs the image data created by the user to the printing apparatus. When the first format input from the external information processing device is stored and saved in a memory, and the preview request for the first format is received from the external display device, the first format is converted into one format. In the preview system, the format is converted into a second format and transferred to the external display device, and the external display device receives the second format and displays a preview on the screen. Comprises character code adding means for adding a character code to each character included in the first format when the first format is created, and the printing apparatus And a format conversion means for converting the first format to which the character code is added into the second format to which the character code is added, and the external display device designates a search character instruction for indicating a character to be searched from the second format. Means, character code extraction means for extracting a character code from the character specified by the search character instruction means, and a character code for searching the character code that matches the character code extracted by the character code extraction means from the second format And a search means.

  Furthermore, according to the method of claim 2, the external display device includes a character position management unit that associates and manages the print coordinates of each character in the second format and the character code added to each character. The character string is searched by comparing whether there is a code string in the same sequence as the character code string to be searched.

  In such a configuration, the external information processing device adds a character code to each character when the first format is created, the printing device converts the first format into the second format with the character code added, and the external display device searches A character code can be retrieved from the preview display result by extracting the character code from the character to be tried and retrieving the character code that matches the character code from the second format.

  According to the method of claim 3, the first format includes a printing device, an external display device, and an external information processing device, and the external information processing device inputs image data created by a user to the printing device. And the printing apparatus stores and saves the first format input from the external information processing apparatus in a memory, and when there is a preview request for the first format from the external display apparatus, the first format is In the preview system, the external information processing apparatus receives the second format and displays the preview on the screen. Character code adding means for adding a character code to each character included in the first format when the first format is created, and the external display device Searching character instruction means for instructing the printing apparatus to search for a character desired to be searched from the first format, and the printing apparatus converts the first format to which the character code is added into the second format to which the character code is added. A format conversion means, a character code extraction means for extracting a character code from the character specified by the search character instruction means, and a character code that matches the character code extracted by the character code extraction means is searched from the second format. Character code search means and search result transmission means for transmitting a search result obtained by the character code search means to the external display device.

  Further, according to the method of claim 4, the printing apparatus includes character position management means for managing the print coordinates of each character in the second format and the character code added to each character in association with each other. The character string is searched by comparing whether there is a code string in the same sequence as the character code string to be processed.

  In such a configuration, the external information processing apparatus adds a character code to each character when the first format is created, and the printing apparatus extracts the character code from the character to be searched instructed from the external display device, and the character that matches the character code By retrieving the code from the second format, it is possible to retrieve characters from the data stored in the box.

  According to the method of claim 5, the external information processing apparatus determines whether the printing apparatus stores and saves the first format in a memory, or generates and prints a raster image from the first format. When the printing apparatus operation detecting means is known and stored in the memory, the character code is added by the character code adding means to create the first format, and when printing, the character code is not added. A first format is created.

  In this configuration, the external information processing apparatus creates the first format by adding the character code by the character code adding means only when storing and saving in the memory, thereby realizing a function that does not affect the normal print processing load. It becomes possible.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before describing the configuration of this embodiment, the configuration of a laser beam printer suitable for applying this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Needless to say, the printer to which this embodiment is applied is not limited to a laser beam printer, but may be a printer of another printing method.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, and shows a case where it is constituted by a laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as LBP) and a host computer. In FIG. 1, 101 is an external device such as a host computer, and 102 is an LBP main body to which this embodiment is applied. The LBP102 inputs and stores print information (character code, etc.), form information, macro commands, etc. supplied from an externally connected host computer, and the corresponding character pattern, form pattern, etc. according to the information. An image is formed on a recording paper that is a recording medium. Reference numeral 103 denotes a printer control unit (controller unit) that controls the entire LBP 102 main body and analyzes the information supplied from the host computer 101. The printer control unit 103 is connected to the printer engine unit 105, generates page information composed of dot data of a pattern corresponding to the information, and sequentially transmits dot data (video signal) to the printer engine unit 105. A printer engine unit 105 performs printing by actually forming a latent image on a photosensitive drum in accordance with the dot data (video signal) and thermally fixing the latent image on a sheet. Reference numeral 104 denotes an operation panel on which an operation switch, an LED display, and the like are arranged. The operator (user) operates the panel unit 104 to designate a predetermined operation in the LBP 102 or to set a printing environment. Settings can be made. Also, various statuses of the printer (error occurrence status, operator call, etc.) are displayed on the LED display. A communication medium 106 connects the host computer 101 and the LBP 102 to enable communication.

  FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the LBP 102 to which the present invention can be applied, and mainly shows the configuration of the printer engine unit 105. In FIG. 2, 201 is an LBP main body, and 202 is an operation panel. The laser driver 204 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 205, and switches on / off the laser light 206 emitted from the semiconductor laser 205 in accordance with the video signal output from the control unit 203. The laser beam 206 is shaken in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 207 to scan and expose the electrostatic drum 208. As a result, an electrostatic latent image such as a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 208. This latent image is developed by the developing unit 209 around the electrostatic drum 208 and then transferred to the recording paper. A cut sheet is used as the recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 210 mounted on the LBP 201, and is taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 211 and transport rollers 212 and 213, and the electrostatic drum 208 To be supplied.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the printer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is assumed.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the preview system according to the present invention includes an external display device capable of displaying the second format, an external information processing device capable of creating the first format, and printing such as a printer. In the figure, as an example, 301 is an external information processing device, 302 is an external display device, and 303 is a printer. Details of the first format and the second format will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The external information processing apparatus 301 creates a first format 305 from image data created by the user using various applications using a printer driver or the like, and transfers it to the printer. The first format is described in a language that can be interpreted by the printer 303. The normal printer analyzes the first format input from the external information processing apparatus 301, generates a raster image, prints it on paper, and outputs it 306. On the other hand, the first format input from the external information processing apparatus 301 can be stored in the memory 304 without being analyzed in accordance with an instruction from the user. However, when the first format is generated, a character code is added to each character by the character code adding means 319 so that the meaning of each character can be interpreted at the time of preview. The first format 308 (same as 305) stored in the memory 304 can also be printed 314.

  The external display device 302 can display (preview) 313 data of the second format 311 such as a web browser or a dedicated viewer. The second format 311 is generated by the format conversion means 310 based on the first format 308, and the image represented by the first format 308 and the image represented by the second format 311 are substantially the same.

  The external display device 302 also sends a request 309 for extracting an arbitrary first format 308 from the first format group stored in the printer and displaying the preview on the external display device 302 by a user operation. It can be sent to the printer 303. Here, the first format is print data described in a language interpretable by the printing apparatus. The second format is data described in an open standard format such as XML. If the format has a graphic drawing function, data can be previewed on the external display device. Further, if the format is a vector format, the image can be expressed with high quality, and if it is a device-independent format, it can be expressed with an optimum quality regardless of the type of the external display device.

  The external display device includes management means 318 that manages character positions in order to realize character search on the preview. When the preview 313 is performed, the print coordinates of each character and the character code are associated and stored as a reference table. The reference table will be described later with reference to FIG.

  When there is a character to be searched, the user inputs 315 the character on the external display device. Then, the external display device takes out the character code of the character by the character code taking-out means 316. Further, the character code search means 317 searches the character code and the coordinates whose coordinates match by comparing the extracted character code with the reference table. If a match is found, the corresponding character is marked on the preview screen. An example of the result is shown at 410 in FIG.

  In this example, the external display device 302 and the external information processing device 301 have been described as different devices, but they may be the same device.

  Next, the first format, the second format, and the reference table described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the first format 401 stored in the printing apparatus includes a plurality of control / drawing commands 405 that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus, such as a page description language. 402 is composed of a plurality of elements 406 such as commands such as the SVG format. The data format conversion means is executed by passing the conversion filter that converts the command 405 of the first format into the component 406 of the second format. The conversion filter includes a conversion library that associates which elements should be converted.

  Conventionally, the PDL characters only contain the ID (407) for TypeWing as shown in Fig. 4 (b), and it cannot be interpreted what the characters mean. In this embodiment, not only the ID but also the character code and coordinates are added to each character (408) as shown in FIG. 4C. At the time of format conversion of each character, the coordinates and the character code are extracted and a reference table 409 (same as 404) is created as shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation flow of character search according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5A shows the operation flow of the printer. When a preview request is received 501 from the external device, a command constituting the first format stored in the memory is read from the top (502). This command is converted 503 into elements of the second format. Then, the second format element after conversion is transferred 504 to the external display device that issued the preview request. If there is still a command to be read (505Y), the processing of 502 to 505 is repeated until there is no command to be read (reading of all stored commands in the first format is completed). As a result of the processing being completed, a preview is realized on the external display device.

  FIG. 5B shows an operation flow of the external display device. When the second format (preview data) is received 506 from the printer, first, it is checked whether there is a character in the preview data. If there is no character, 507N preview 510 as it is. If there is a character, 507Y obtains the coordinates and character code from each character in step 508, prepares a reference table in which the coordinates and the character code are associated 509, and then displays the preview 510.

  If a character search is instructed from the external display device 511Y, a character code is extracted from the character to be searched 512, and it is checked 513 whether there is a match with the extracted character code 513. If there is a match, 513Y indicates that the search result is indicated by marking 514 the character at that coordinate on the preview result. If no character search is instructed from the external display device, 511N is simply left in the preview display.

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the printer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is assumed.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the preview system according to the present invention includes an external display device capable of displaying the second format, an external information processing device capable of creating the first format, and printing such as a printer. In the figure, as an example, 601 is an external information processing device, 602 is an external display device, and 603 is a printer. The details of the first format and the second format have been described above with reference to FIG.

  The external information processing apparatus 601 creates a first format 605 from image data created by the user using various applications using a printer driver or the like, and transfers it to the printer. The first format is described in a language that can be interpreted by the printer 603. The normal printer analyzes the first format input from the external information processing apparatus 601, generates a raster image, prints it on paper, and outputs it 606. On the other hand, the first format input from the external information processing apparatus 601 can be stored in the memory 604 without being analyzed according to an instruction from the user. However, when the first format is generated, a character code is added to each character by the character code adding means 619 so that the meaning of each character can be interpreted at the time of preview. The first format 608 (same as 605) stored in the memory 604 can also be printed 614.

  The external display device 602 can display (preview) 613 data of the second format 611 such as a web browser or a dedicated viewer. The second format 611 is generated by the format conversion means 610 based on the first format 608, and the image expressed by the first format 608 and the image expressed by the second format 611 are substantially the same.

  The external display device 602 also outputs a request 609 for taking out an arbitrary first format 608 from the first format group stored in the printer and displaying the preview on the external display device 602 by a user operation. It can be sent to the printer 603. Here, the first format is print data described in a language interpretable by the printing apparatus. The second format is data described in an open standard format such as XML. If the format has a graphic drawing function, data can be previewed on the external display device. Further, if the format is a vector format, the image can be expressed with high quality, and if it is a device-independent format, it can be expressed with an optimum quality regardless of the type of the external display device.

  The printer includes management means 621 for managing character positions in order to realize character search on the preview. When converting from the first format to the second format, the print coordinates of each character and the character code are associated with each other and stored as a reference table. The reference table has been described with reference to FIG.

  When there is a character to be searched, the user inputs 617 the character on the external display device. Then, the printer retrieves the character code of the character by the character code retrieving means 619. Further, the character code search means 620 searches the character code and the coordinates whose coordinates match by comparing the extracted character code with the reference table. If a match is found, the search result transmission means 618 transmits the result to the external display device and displays the result on the screen of the external display device. An example of the result is shown at 411 in FIG.

  In this example, the external display device 602 and the external information processing device 601 have been described as different devices, but they may be the same device.

  Next, the operation flow of character search according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7A shows the operation flow of the printer. When a preview request is received 701 from the external display device, a command constituting the first format stored in the memory is read from the top (702). This command is converted 703 into a second format element. Further, in preparation for character search, coordinates and character codes are acquired from each character 704, and a reference table in which the coordinates and character codes are associated is created 705. Then, the converted second format elements are transferred 706 to the external display device that issued the preview request. If there is still a command to be read (707Y), the processing of 702 to 707 is repeated until there are no more commands to be read (reading of all stored commands in the first format is completed). As a result of the processing being completed, a preview is realized on the external display device.

  If a character search is instructed from the external display device, 507Y, a character code is extracted from the character to be searched 709, and it is checked 710 whether there is a match with the extracted character code 710. If there is a match, 710Y, and the file name and other information of the file with the matched character are sent 711 to the external display device to indicate the search result. If a character search is not instructed from the external display device, the search process is not performed in 708N.

  FIG. 5B shows an operation flow of the external display device. The second format (preview data) is received 712 from the printer and previewed. If a character search is instructed by the user, 713Y, and the character to be searched is transmitted 714 to the printer. Thereafter, when the search result is received 715, the search result is displayed 716. If there is no character search instruction from the user, the preview display is simply left at 712N.

  A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the printer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is assumed.

  An operation flow of character search according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Since the outline of the system configuration, the preview, and the character search operation may be in the first embodiment or the second embodiment, they are omitted here. The third embodiment is an embodiment showing a method for avoiding an increase in the load of normal printing (printing without using a box) in realizing the search function, and focuses only on the external information processing apparatus. I will explain.

  When storing the first format in the printer memory without printing, the external information processing device adds the character code to each character in preparation for character search 801Y, 802, and stores the first format along with the storage command to the printer. 803 to send. On the other hand, if the purpose is to print as usual without storing in the memory, 801N is transmitted 804N together with the print command to the printer 804. As a result, since the character code is added only when the memory is stored, it is possible to avoid an increase in printing addition during normal printing.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, the conversion to the second format is performed by the printer, but may be performed by an external display device. The external display device converts to the second format by referring to the character code and replacing the character of the first format with the font of the external display device. In this case, it is possible to reduce the data transmission load from the printer to the external information processing apparatus during preview.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus to which the present invention is applicable. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of LBP which can apply this invention. It is the schematic of the system configuration | structure which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. (a) is a diagram showing a data format in the first, second and third embodiments of the present invention.

  (b), (c), and (d) are diagrams showing reference tables in which character codes and coordinates are associated in the first, second, and third embodiments of the present invention.

(e) is a figure which shows the character search result in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Example of this invention.
It is a flowchart showing the operation | movement of the preview process and character search in 1st Example of this invention. It is the schematic of the system configuration | structure which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the operation | movement of the preview process and character search in 2nd Example of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the operation | movement of the character code addition in 1st Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 Information processing equipment
102 Laser beam printer body
106 Communication media
201 Laser beam printer
202 Operation panel
203 Control unit
210 Paper cassette
301, 601 External information processing
302,602 External display device
303, 603 printer
304, 604 Printer memory (BOX)
307, 607 The first format is stored in the printer memory (BOX).
314, 614 Printing printer memory (BOX) data
310,610 Means for converting the first format to the second format
312, 612 Send second format to external display
401 first format
402 2nd format
405 Commands that make up the first format
406 Elements of the second format
407 Examples of conventional ID-added characters
408 Examples of characters with proposed character codes
409 Character position reference table example
410 Example of character search result in preview display
411 Example of character search result in printer memory (BOX)

Claims (6)

Consists of a printing device, an external display device, and an external information processing device,
The external information processing apparatus converts image data created by a user into a first format for input to the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus converts the first format input from the external information processing apparatus. When the preview request for the first format is received from the external display device, the first format is converted into the second format and transferred to the external display device, and the external display device In a preview system characterized by receiving two formats and displaying a preview on the screen,
The external information processing apparatus includes character code adding means for adding a character code to each character included in the first format when the first format is created.
The printing apparatus includes a format conversion unit that converts the first format to which a character code is added into a second format to which a character code is added,
The external display device includes a search character instruction means for indicating a character to be searched from the second format, a character code extraction means for extracting a character code from the character indicated by the search character instruction means, and the character code extraction means. A character search method for a stored job, comprising: character code search means for searching a character code matching the extracted character code from the second format. The external display device includes character position management means for managing the print coordinates of each character in the second format and the character code added to each character in association with each other.
2. The stored job character search method according to claim 1, wherein the character string is searched by comparing whether or not there is a code string in the same sequence as the character code string to be searched. Consists of a printing device, an external display device, and an external information processing device,
The external information processing apparatus converts image data created by a user into a first format for input to the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus converts the first format input from the external information processing apparatus. When the preview request for the first format is received from the external display device, the first format is converted into the second format and transferred to the external display device, and the external display device In a preview system characterized by receiving two formats and displaying a preview on the screen,
The external information processing apparatus includes character code adding means for adding a character code to each character included in the first format when the first format is created.
The external display device includes search character instruction means for instructing the printing device to search for characters from the first format,
The printing apparatus includes: a format conversion unit that converts the first format to which the character code is added into a second format to which the character code is added; and a character code that extracts the character code from the character instructed by the search character instruction unit. A retrieval unit; a character code retrieval unit that retrieves a character code that matches the character code retrieved by the character code retrieval unit from the second format; and a search result by the character code retrieval unit is transmitted to the external display device. And a retrieval result transmission unit. A method for retrieving a character of a stored job. The printing apparatus includes character position management means for managing the print coordinates of each character in the second format in association with the character code added to each character,
4. The stored job character search method according to claim 3, wherein the character string is searched by comparing whether there is a code string in the same sequence as the character code string to be searched. The external information processing apparatus includes a printing apparatus operation detection unit that knows whether the printing apparatus stores and saves the first format in a memory or generates and prints a raster image from the first format.
When storing and saving in the memory, the character code is added by the character code adding means to create a first format, and when printing, the first format is created without adding the character code. 4. The character search method for stored jobs according to claim 1 and claim 3.   4. The stored job character search method according to claim 1, wherein the external display device and the external information processing device are the same device or different devices connected by a network or the like. .

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