JP2006195562A - Printing system and method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remarkably improve operability in document printing. <P>SOLUTION: This printing system capable of printing a document by a printer and on printing conditions set to a printer folder icon by dragging and dropping a document icon indicating a document, to the printer folder icon to which the printer and printing conditions are set, is provided with a printer folder icon creating part 1a for creating the printer folder icon to which the printer and printing conditions are set, and a sub-folder creating part 1b expressing a plurality of printer folder icons in tree structure by associating the plurality of printer folder icons hierarchically as a sub-folder under the printer folder icon. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  According to the present invention, a document icon representing a document is dragged and dropped to a printer folder icon in which a printer and printing conditions are set, and a document is printed with the printer and printing conditions set in the printer folder icon. The present invention relates to a printing system, method, information processing apparatus, printing apparatus, and computer program capable of printing.

  Conventionally, for example, when a document created by an application on a computer is printed by a printer, the printer is selected on the created application, and various types of document size, number of copies, duplex printing, printing magnification, etc. are selected for the selected printer. In general, printing is performed after setting the printing conditions.

  In order to deal with such problems in operability, an icon (printer icon) in which a printer and printing conditions are set is displayed on the user interface of the computer, and an icon (document icon) representing a document is displayed on the printer icon. Systems that automatically perform printing by using a preset printer and printing conditions by dragging and dropping are also becoming common.

  There is also a system in which a plurality of printers and printing conditions are associated with one printer icon, and printing is performed simultaneously with printing conditions preset by a plurality of printers by dragging and dropping document icons.

  However, as described above, when associating a plurality of printers and printing conditions with one printer icon, when it is desired to execute printing with only some of the plurality of printers associated with the printer icon, a new one is newly created. It is necessary to create a printer icon and newly set a necessary printer and printing conditions.

  Further, when a printer associated with a plurality of printer icons is changed to another printer, it is necessary to check necessary printer icon settings and change these settings one by one.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and dramatically improve operability during document printing.

The printing system according to the present invention prints a document with a printer and printing conditions set in the printer folder icon by performing a predetermined operation on a document icon representing the document with respect to a printer and a printer folder icon in which printing conditions are set. A printer folder icon creating means for creating a printer folder icon in which a printer and printing conditions are set, and a plurality of printer folder icons are hierarchically associated as subfolders under the printer folder icon. And a subfolder creating means for expressing a plurality of printer folder icons in a tree structure.
The printing method according to the present invention prints a document with a printer and printing conditions set in the printer folder icon by performing a predetermined operation on a document icon representing the document with respect to a printer and a printer folder icon in which printing conditions are set. A printing method using a printing system capable of creating a printer folder icon in which a printer and printing conditions are set by a printer folder icon creation unit, and a subfolder under the printer folder icon by a subfolder creation unit And a procedure for associating a plurality of printer folder icons in a hierarchical manner and expressing the plurality of printer folder icons in a tree structure.
The information processing apparatus according to the present invention prints a document with a printer and printing conditions set in the printer folder icon by performing a predetermined operation on a document icon representing the document with respect to the printer and the printer folder icon in which printing conditions are set. An information processing apparatus capable of giving instructions, a printer folder icon creating means for creating a printer folder icon in which a printer and printing conditions are set, and a plurality of printer folders hierarchically as subfolders under the printer folder icon It has a feature in that it includes subfolder creation means for associating icons and expressing a plurality of printer folder icons in a tree structure.
The printing apparatus according to the present invention prints a document with a printer and printing conditions set in the printer folder icon by performing a predetermined operation on a document icon representing the document with respect to the printer and the printer folder icon in which printing conditions are set. A printer folder icon creating means for creating a printer folder icon in which a printer and printing conditions are set, and a plurality of printer folder icons are hierarchically associated as subfolders under the printer folder icon. And a subfolder creating means for expressing a plurality of printer folder icons in a tree structure.
The computer program according to the present invention prints a document with a printer and printing conditions set in the printer folder icon by performing a predetermined operation on a document icon representing the document with respect to the printer and folder conditions in which printing conditions are set. A computer program for causing a computer to execute processing for creating a printer folder icon in which a printer and printing conditions are set, and associating a plurality of printer folder icons hierarchically as subfolders under the printer folder icon The present invention is characterized in that the computer executes processing for expressing a plurality of printer folder icons in a tree structure.

  According to the present invention, since a plurality of printer folder icons are expressed in a tree structure, a plurality of printer folder icons can be recognized for each group, and the operability during document printing can be greatly improved. Can do.

  In addition, when a document icon is operated on a root node of a printer folder icon represented by a tree structure or a printer folder icon indicating an intermediate node, the printer folder icon on which the document icon is operated is set as a root node. By printing a document with the printer and printing conditions set in the printer folder icon included in the subtree, printing can be selectively executed by a plurality of printers.

  Further, by providing a duplicating unit that duplicates an arbitrary printer folder icon, the printer folder icon can be easily duplicated at a desired location in the tree structure.

  Further, a change unit that changes a printer and / or printing conditions set in an arbitrary printer folder icon, and a printer folder icon that has the same identifier as the printer folder icon that has changed the printer and / or printing conditions by the changing unit By providing the same identifier detecting means detected from the tree, and a change reflecting means for reflecting the change of the printer and / or the printing condition made by the changing means to the printer folder icon detected by the same identifier detecting means. When the setting of the duplicated printer folder icon is changed, the change of the setting can be easily reflected on the original or similarly duplicated printer folder icon.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an automatic printing system to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a personal computer having a display device 4 and an input device 5 such as a mouse or a keyboard. A printer 2 is connected to the personal computer 1 via the network 3.

  The personal computer 1 includes a printer folder icon creation unit 1a that creates a printer folder icon in which a printer and printing conditions are set, and a plurality of printer folder icons that are hierarchically associated as subfolders under the printer folder icon. A subfolder creation unit 1b for representing icons in a tree structure, an identifier setting unit 1c for setting an identifier for each printer folder icon, a duplication unit 1d for duplicating an arbitrary printer folder icon, a printer set for an arbitrary printer folder icon, and A change unit 1e for changing the printing conditions, and a printer folder icon having the same identifier as the printer folder icon for which the printer and / or the printing conditions have been changed by the changing unit 1e. The same identifier detection unit 1f that is detected from the library, the change reflection unit 1g that reflects the change of the printer and / or the printing conditions performed by the change unit 1e on the printer folder icon detected by the same identifier detection unit 1f, and the like. Prepare.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface of the automatic printing system. In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a document icon representing a document created using an application on a computer or a peripheral device such as a scanner.

  Reference numeral 101 denotes a printer folder icon corresponding to the root node of the tree structure. Reference numerals 110, 120, and 130 denote printer folder icons corresponding to intermediate nodes in the tree structure. Reference numerals 111, 112, and 113 denote printer folder icons corresponding to terminal nodes whose parent node is the printer folder icon 110. Reference numerals 121, 122, and 123 denote printer folder icons corresponding to terminal nodes whose parent node is the printer folder icon 120. Reference numerals 131, 132, and 133 denote printer folder icons corresponding to terminal nodes whose parent nodes are printer folder icons 130.

  Here, the arrow (1) in the figure represents the drag and drop of the document icon 100 to the printer folder icon 101. In this case, printing is executed with the printers set in the printer folder icons 101, 110, 120, 130, 111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, and 133 and their printing conditions. It is assumed that no printing conditions are set for the printer folder icon 101 corresponding to the root node and the printer folder icons 110, 120, and 130 corresponding to intermediate nodes.

  An arrow (2) in the drawing represents drag and drop of the document icon 100 to the printer folder icon 110. In this case, printing is executed using the printers set in the printer folder icons 110, 111, 112, and 113 and their printing conditions. It is assumed that no printing conditions are set for the printer folder icon 110 corresponding to the root node.

  An arrow (3) in the drawing represents drag and drop of the document icon 100 to the printer folder icon 111. In this case, printing is executed with the printer set in the printer folder icon 111 and its printing conditions.

  In the automatic printing system of the present embodiment, a document icon is dragged and dropped onto a printer folder icon of an arbitrary node of a printer folder having a created tree structure, thereby selectively printing to a plurality of set printers. Can be executed.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing automatic printing processing when a document icon is dragged and dropped onto the printer folder icon of an arbitrary node in the automatic printing system of the present embodiment.

In step S301, the total number n ₁ of printer folder icons constituting the folder tree having the printer folder icon to which the document icon is dragged and dropped as the root node is detected by a general method for detecting the number of nodes in the tree structure.

  In step S302, the value of the variable i for counting the number of detected printer folder icons is initialized to zero.

In step S303, it is determined whether or not the variable i for counting the number of printer folder icons exceeds the total number n ₁ of printer folder icons, and the variable i does not exceed the total number n ₁ of printer folder icons. If so, the process proceeds to step S304 (step S303: Yes), and if exceeded, the process proceeds to step S308 (step S303: No).

  In step S304, it is detected whether or not the printing conditions set for the i-th printer folder icon are set.

  In step S305, it is determined whether or not the printing condition of the printer folder icon has been detected in step S304. If the printing condition is set, the process proceeds to step S306 (step S305: Yes), and is not set. Then, the process proceeds to step S307 (step S305: No).

  In step S306, when it is determined in step S305 that printing conditions are set for the i-th printer folder icon, the set printing conditions are stored.

  In step S307, the variable i for counting the printer folder icon is incremented, and the process returns to step S303.

  In step S308, the printing process of the document indicated by the document icon is executed according to the printing conditions stored in step S306.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a case where the setting conditions of the printer folder icons belonging to the printer folder tree A, the printer folder tree B, and the printer folder tree C are changed in the automatic printing system of the present embodiment. In the figure, it is assumed that printer folder icons 401 and 402 of the printer folder trees B and C are created by duplicating the printer folder icon 400 of the printer folder tree A.

  Here, an arrow (1) in the drawing represents that the printer A set as the output destination of the printer folder icon 400 is changed to the printer B.

  The arrow (2) in the figure detects the printer folder icon 401 copied from the printer folder icon 400 among the printer folder icons belonging to the printer folder tree B, and similarly changes the printer A set as the output destination to the printer B. It represents what has been done.

  The arrow (3) in the figure detects the printer folder icon 402 copied from the printer folder icon 400 among the printer folder icons belonging to the printer folder tree C, and similarly changes the printer A set as the output destination to the printer B. It represents what has been done.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing when the printing condition of the printer folder icon of an arbitrary node is changed in the automatic printing system of this embodiment. It is assumed that an identifier is assigned when the printer folder icon is created, and when the printer folder icon is duplicated, the same identifier as the original printer folder icon is assigned.

  In step S501, the printing condition is changed to a printer folder icon to which an arbitrary identifier y is assigned.

In step S502, detected by a general method of detecting the number of nodes in the tree structure the total number n ₂ of the nodes of all the printers folder tree created by the automatic printing system.

  In step S503, the value of a variable j for counting the number of printer folder icons belonging to all detected printer folder trees is initialized to zero.

In step S504, it is determined whether or not the variable j for counting the number of printer folder icons exceeds the total number n ₂ of printer folder icons belonging to all printer folder trees. When the total number n ₂ is not exceeded, the process proceeds to step S505 (step S504: Yes), and when it exceeds, the process is terminated (step S504: No).

  In step S505, the identifier assigned to the jth printer folder icon is detected.

  In step S506, it is determined whether or not the identifier of the printer folder icon detected in step S505 matches the identifier y of the printer folder whose setting has been changed in step S501. If they match, step S507 (step S506: Yes), if not coincident, the process proceeds to step S508 (step S506: No).

  In step S507, if it is determined in step S506 that the jth printer folder icon has the same identifier y as the identifier y assigned to the printer folder icon whose setting has been changed in step S501, the printing conditions of step 501 are set. The same change as the change is made to the jth printer folder icon.

  In step S508, the variable j for counting the printer folder icon is incremented, and the process returns to step S504.

  Note that the user interface and the automatic processing procedure described above can be similarly applied to various output devices, for example, when document output is executed by a facsimile machine, or by e-mail or the like.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a memory map of a CD-ROM which is an example of a computer-readable recording medium storing a program of an automatic printing system to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 9999 denotes an area for storing directory information, and shows the positions of an area 9998 for storing subsequent installation programs and an area 9997 for storing programs of the automatic printing system. Reference numeral 9998 denotes an area for storing an installation program. Reference numeral 9997 denotes an area for storing an automatic printing system program.

  When the automatic printing system to which the present invention is applied is installed in a personal computer, the installation program stored in the area 9998 for storing the installation program is first loaded into the system and executed. Next, the installation program reads the program of the automatic printing system from the area 9997 for storing the program of the automatic printing system, and stores it in the hard disk.

  Note that the present invention may be applied to a system or an integrated device including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, and the like) or an apparatus including a single device.

  In addition, a recording medium that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a program code stored in the recording medium by a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and the recording medium storing the program code constitute the present invention. As a recording medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  In addition to executing the program code read out by the computer, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, and an OS or the like running on the computer is part of the actual processing based on an instruction of the program code. Alternatively, the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing all of them and performing the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. The CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized by the processing.

  Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a program is distributed from a recording medium on which a program code of software realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a requester via a communication line such as personal computer communication. Yes.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the automatic printing system to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface of an automatic printing system. 6 is a flowchart showing an automatic printing process when a document icon is dragged and dropped onto a printer folder icon of an arbitrary node in the automatic printing system of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a case in which setting conditions for printer folder icons belonging to a printer folder tree A, a printer folder tree B, and a printer folder tree C are changed. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the printing condition of the printer folder icon of an arbitrary node is changed in the automatic printing system of the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows the memory map of CD-ROM which is an example of the recording medium with which the program of the automatic printing system to which this invention was applied was stored.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer 2 Printer 3 Network 4 Display apparatus 5 Input device 1a Printer folder icon creation part 1b Subfolder creation part 1c Identifier setting part 1d Duplication part 1e Change part 1f Same identifier detection part 1g Change reflection part

Claims (9)

A printing system capable of printing a document with a printer and printing conditions set in the printer folder icon by performing a predetermined operation on a document icon representing the document with respect to the printer and the printing folder icon set with the printing conditions. There,
A printer folder icon creating means for creating a printer folder icon in which a printer and printing conditions are set;
A printing system comprising subfolder creation means for hierarchically associating a plurality of printer folder icons as subfolders under a printer folder icon and expressing the plurality of printer folder icons in a tree structure.   When a document icon is operated on a root node of a printer folder icon represented by the tree structure or a printer folder icon indicating an intermediate node, the printer folder icon on which the document icon is operated is used as a root node. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the document is printed with a printer and printing conditions set in a printer folder icon included in the subtree.   3. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising identifier setting means for setting an identifier for each printer folder icon.   4. The printing system according to claim 3, further comprising duplicating means for duplicating an arbitrary printer folder icon, wherein the identifier setting means assigns the same identifier as the original printer folder icon to the duplicated printer folder icon. Changing means for changing the printer and / or printing conditions set in any printer folder icon;
The same identifier detecting means for detecting from the folder tree a printer folder icon having the same identifier as the printer folder icon whose printer and / or printing conditions have been changed by the changing means;
5. The printing according to claim 4, further comprising: a change reflecting unit that reflects a change in the printer and / or printing conditions performed by the changing unit on the printer folder icon detected by the same identifier detecting unit. system. A printing system capable of printing a document with a printer and printing conditions set in the printer folder icon by performing a predetermined operation on a document icon representing the document with respect to the printer and the printer folder icon in which printing conditions are set. Printing method used,
A procedure for creating a printer folder icon in which a printer and printing conditions are set by the printer folder icon creating means;
A printing method comprising: a step of hierarchically associating a plurality of printer folder icons as subfolders under a printer folder icon by a subfolder creation means and expressing the plurality of printer folder icons in a tree structure. Information capable of instructing to print a document with a printer and printing conditions set in the printer folder icon by performing a predetermined operation on a document icon representing the document with respect to the printer folder icon in which the printer and printing conditions are set A processing device comprising:
A printer folder icon creating means for creating a printer folder icon in which a printer and printing conditions are set;
An information processing apparatus comprising: subfolder creation means for hierarchically associating a plurality of printer folder icons as subfolders under a printer folder icon and expressing the plurality of printer folder icons in a tree structure. A printing apparatus capable of printing a document with a printer and printing conditions set in the printer folder icon by performing a predetermined operation on a document icon for the printer and a printer folder icon in which printing conditions are set. There,
A printer folder icon creating means for creating a printer folder icon in which a printer and printing conditions are set;
A printing apparatus comprising: subfolder creation means for hierarchically associating a plurality of printer folder icons as subfolders under the printer folder icon and expressing the plurality of printer folder icons in a tree structure. By performing a predetermined operation on a document icon representing a document with respect to a printer folder icon for which a printer and printing conditions are set, the computer executes processing for printing the document with the printer and printing conditions set for the printer folder icon. A computer program,
A process for creating a printer folder icon in which a printer and printing conditions are set;
A computer program characterized by associating a plurality of printer folder icons hierarchically as subfolders under a printer folder icon and causing a computer to execute a process of expressing the plurality of printer folder icons in a tree structure.

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