JP2006228103A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily change a value of a setting item, and to reflect it as a setting by registering a plurality of setting items as a composite setting item in a user interface having a plurality of setting items. <P>SOLUTION: When carrying out setting via the user interface, the plurality of setting items are registered in a composite setting item list as one composite setting item, and when one of the registered composite setting items is selected, the user interface for inputting a value of the registered setting item is displayed, and the inputted value is reflected and displayed in the user interface for setting as a new setting value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus for collectively handling a plurality of setting items in a user interface of a printer driver.

  In general, in an information processing apparatus that can communicate with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, when performing various settings through a user interface, when there are many setting items and there are complicated dependencies, a plurality of setting items are distinguished. In addition, when one composite setting is registered in the composite setting list and one of the composite settings registered in the composite setting list is selected, all the setting items of the composite setting are set and displayed. Some have (for example, Patent Document 1).

For example, taking a Canon printer driver as an example, settings such as input paper, output paper, paper feed method, paper discharge method, number of copies, page layout, etc. are registered in association with icons, and the registered ones are When selected, there is a function called “Favorite” where settings are switched at once.
JP 2000-222159 A

  However, in the above-described Patent Document 1 and the example of the printer driver, setting values can be registered, but setting items cannot be registered. Therefore, if one setting value is different, it is necessary to newly register or set a favorite and then search for the control of the setting item to change the setting value. That is, even if there are two setting items to be changed, if there are ten setting values to be used, ten favorites must be registered or the setting values must be changed after selecting the registered favorites each time.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to register a plurality of setting items as composite setting items in a user interface having a plurality of setting items. It is to provide an information processing apparatus having a function capable of easily changing the value of and reflecting it as a setting.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is an information processing apparatus that generates print data that can be interpreted by a printing apparatus according to document data generated by an application. A composite setting item registration unit that registers one set item as a composite setting item in the composite setting item list, a selection unit that selects one of the composite setting items registered in the composite setting item list, and the selection unit A setting value changing means for displaying a user interface for inputting a value of a registered setting item and holding the input value as a new setting value when a composite setting item is selected, and a changed setting Display control means for controlling the display so that the value is reflected in the setting user interface.

  Further, the information processing apparatus further includes an input unit for inputting a name of a composite setting item, and the composite setting item registration unit registers the name input by the input unit and the composite setting item in association with each other.

  The present invention is implemented by a method for realizing the above invention and a program stored in a program storage medium.

  In the present invention, when the value of a certain setting item is changed, the value of another setting item or the control state may be affected. It is possible to return to the state one step before, including the control state.

(Hardware configuration)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a print processing system showing an embodiment of the present invention. The print processing system includes a host computer 3000 and a printer 1500.

  In the host computer 3000, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU that comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 4, and 2 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, work area, and the like of the CPU 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a ROM for storing various programs and data. The ROM 3 is divided into a font ROM 3a for storing various fonts, a program ROM 3b for storing a boot program and BIOS, and a data ROM 3c for storing various data.

  A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (mouse) (not shown). Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC), which controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10.

  The external memory 11 (access controlled by the disk controller (DKC) 7) is a hard disk (HD), floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD), or the like, and includes an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) 205 as shown in the figure. In addition to storing various applications (for example, a document processing application program that performs document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables, and the like are mixed) and a print processing related program 204, user files, editing files, and the like are also stored. The print processing related program 204 is a program for generating print data described using a page description language, and can be used in common for a plurality of printers of the same series. Also, a printer control command generation module (hereinafter referred to as “printer driver”) 2041 and a printer driver UI control module 2042 are included.

  A printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 1500 via the bidirectional interface 21 and performs communication control processing with the printer 1500.

  The application stored in the external memory 11 is loaded into the RAM 2 and executed by the CPU 1. Further, the CPU 1 executes, for example, outline font development (rasterization) processing on the RAM 2 to enable WYSIWYG (What you see is What you get) on the CRT 10. Further, the CPU 1 opens various windows registered based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing. When the user executes printing, the user can open a print setting setting screen (controlled by the printer driver UI control module 2042), and perform print processing settings for the printer driver 2041 including printer settings and print mode selection. it can.

  In the printer 1500, reference numeral 12 denotes a CPU that controls the entire printer 1500. A RAM 19 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 12, and is used for an output information expansion area, an environment data storage area, an NVRAM, and the like. It is configured to be able to. A ROM 13 includes a font ROM 13a for storing various fonts, a program ROM 13b for storing control programs and the like, and a data ROM 13c for storing various data.

  The external memory 14 (access is controlled by the memory controller (MC) 20) is an optional hard disk (HD), floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD), IC card, etc., font data, emulation program Stores form data and the like. When the external memory 14 such as a hard disk is not connected, information used in the host computer 3000 is stored in the data ROM 13c of the ROM 13. The number of external memories 14 is not limited to one, and a plurality of external memories 14 may be provided. For example, an external memory storing an optional font card, a program for interpreting a printer control language having a different language system, etc. in addition to a built-in font You may be comprised so that two or more can be connected.

  The operation unit 1501 is provided with an operation panel that receives an operation from the user, and an operation switch, an LED display, and the like are arranged on the operation panel (not illustrated). Further, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1501.

  The printer CPU 12 outputs an image signal as output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected to the system bus 15 via the printing unit interface 16 based on a control program stored in the program ROM 13 b of the ROM 13. The CPU 12 can communicate with the host computer 3000 via the input unit 18 and can notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer 1500 and the like.

(Software configuration)
FIG. 2 shows a memory map of the RAM 2 in a state where a predetermined application and a print processing related program are activated and loaded into the RAM 2 on the host computer 3000. As shown in the figure, the RAM 206 is loaded with a BIOS 206, an OS 205, an application 201, a print processing related program 204, and related data 203, and a free memory area 202 is also secured. Thereby, the application 201 and the print processing related program 204 are in an executable state.

  The printer driver UI control module 2042 in the print processing related program 204 displays a print setting screen on the CRT 10 in accordance with a print setting command from the user, and enables the setting from the user.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the print setting screen.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the setting item registration screen. The screen of FIG. 4 can be displayed by selecting the registration button 301 on the print setting screen of FIG. Setting items that are not registered are displayed in a list in the left list box 403, and setting items to be registered are displayed in a list in the right list box 402. There is a move button 404 between the two combo boxes. If you select the setting item displayed in the list and select the move button 404, if the setting item is displayed in the list box to be registered, it is not registered If the setting item is displayed in the list box that is not registered, it moves to the list box that is to be registered. At this time, the move button 404 may be divided into an add button and a delete button. Further, in this setting item registration screen, a name can be set by inputting an arbitrary name in the edit box 401. Finally, registration is completed by selecting the OK button.

  The registered composite setting item can be called by selecting the name of the composite setting item registered in the favorite combo box. When a composite setting item is selected, a dialog showing a control corresponding to the registered setting item is displayed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for inputting a set value to the control registered in the composite setting item. In step S401, it is displayed on the control corresponding to the registered setting item that is not displayed. When a setting value is input in S402 and a setting button is selected in S403, the setting value of the print setting and the setting value of the print setting screen are changed in S404. In S505, it is determined whether all registered setting items are displayed, and S401 to S405 are repeated until all the setting items are displayed.

[Other Embodiments]
In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the printer apparatus performs a process of returning one step in UI control in which a change in a certain setting value affects another setting value or the control state. The invention is not limited to the printer device, but can be applied to peripheral devices such as digital cameras, digital recorders, and image scanners, control devices, and network-related devices such as modems and routers. It is also possible to apply to a system composed of these plural devices.

  As described above, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) that records a program code of software that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to perform a computer ( Alternatively, it can be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium by the CPU or MPU. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the storage medium provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU of the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a block configuration diagram of a print processing system according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the memory map of RAM2 in embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the composite setting item registration screen in an Example. It is a flowchart which shows the input method of the setting value in an Example.

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU
2 RAM
3 ROM
4 buses 5 KBC
6 CRTC
7 DKC
8 PRTC
9 KB
10 CRT
11 External memory 12 CPU
13 ROM
14 External memory 15 Bus 16 Print section I / F
17 Printing section 18 Input section 19 RAM
20 MC
21 LAN
1500 printer 3000 host computer

Claims (3)

An information processing apparatus that generates print data that can be interpreted by a printing apparatus according to document data generated by an application,
A composite setting item registration unit for registering one composite setting item in a composite setting item list by combining a plurality of setting items when performing print settings when generating print data on the user interface;
Selecting means for selecting one of the composite setting items registered in the composite setting item list;
Display means for displaying a user interface for inputting a value of a setting item registered in the composite setting item selected by the selection means;
A value input to the interface displayed by the display means, and a setting value changing means for changing the setting value;
Control means for controlling the setting value changed by the setting value changing means to be set and displayed on a user interface for print setting;
An information processing apparatus comprising: It further has an input means for inputting the name of the composite setting item,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the composite setting item registration unit registers the name input by the input unit and the composite setting item in association with each other.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a user interface that performs the print setting performs print setting using a plurality of setting sheets.

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