JP2006293899A - Print setting device and print setting program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print setting device which allows detailed print settings from even a secondary application like a macro program. <P>SOLUTION: In a printer driver 14, three kinds of information of print settings of a printer, a decision condition indicating whether the print settings are applied to a print instruction from an application or not, and a flag indicating whether the registered print settings and decision condition should be deleted after the end of print or not are held in a print setting table 16. A secondary application 13 like a macro program uses a print setting registration API 17 to register print settings to the print setting table 16. When the printer driver 14 inputs a print instruction from a base application 11, it is decided whether the print instruction meets the decision condition registered in the print setting table 16 or not, and print settings corresponding to the decision condition are applied to transmit print data to the printer 2 when it meets the decision condition. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print setting apparatus and a print setting program that perform print settings of a printing apparatus in response to an instruction from an application program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a computer is provided with a printer driver that transmits data to be printed to a printer. This printer driver provides an interface for exchanging print setting information with the application, such as output paper size and duplex printing, paper selection at the time of printing, and consolidating multiple pages of documents into one sheet. Has been. In an application that performs printing using a printer, a predetermined command is output to the printer driver through the above-described interface to perform print settings.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the conventional host computer 3 and the printer 4, and a virtual machine that does not depend on an OS such as a macro program, a plug-in program, or JAVA (registered trademark) that runs on the base application 31. A print command from a secondary application 33 (hereinafter referred to as a secondary application) such as the above program is output from the above-described interface to the printer driver 34 via the base application 31. Here, the print setting applied to the print command from the secondary application 33 is either the application-side print setting 32 or the default print setting 35 held by the printer driver 34.
Note that Patent Documents 1 to 4 are known as prior art references relating to the present application.
JP-A-10-301723 JP 2001-202209 A JP 2002-036683 A JP 2003-337669 A

 However, in the conventional method, in order to perform detailed print settings from the secondary application 33, the secondary application 33 needs to directly rewrite the default settings 35 in the printer driver 34. When a plurality of secondary applications are executed at the same time, there is a first problem that instructions to the printer driver 34 conflict and the default setting 35 is not normally rewritten. Further, Patent Document 1 employs a method in which print condition settings are registered in advance for each application and the print settings are switched when the application is switched. In this method, the print settings are changed by a secondary application. There was a second problem that was not possible.

 The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer driver capable of performing detailed print settings of a printing apparatus by each of a plurality of secondary applications.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and the invention according to claim 1 is directed to the printing apparatus by sending a command for setting printing of the printing apparatus and print data for printing by the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus. Correspondence between print command input means for inputting a print command of an application, a print setting of the printing device, and a determination condition as to whether the print setting is applied to the print command A print setting storage unit that holds a print setting correspondence table in which is registered, a print setting registration unit that inputs the print settings and the determination condition from the application, and registers a correspondence relationship in the print setting correspondence table, and the input A print command that matches the determination condition, obtains the print setting from the print setting correspondence table based on the determination result, and outputs the print setting to the printing apparatus. It is characterized by having a force means.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the determination condition is a job name given to the print command.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the determination condition is a process ID of the application that outputs information to the print setting registration unit.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects of the invention, the print setting registering unit sets the determination condition and the deletion setting whether to delete the print setting after printing. Input from an application and register it in the print setting correspondence table, and the print setting output means deletes the determination condition and the print setting registered in the print setting correspondence table based on the deletion setting after printing is completed. It is characterized by.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print setting apparatus that transmits a command for performing print setting of a printing apparatus and print data to be printed by the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus. A print command input means for inputting a print setting, an identification number assigning means for assigning an identification number to the print setting of the printing apparatus, and a print setting storage for storing a print setting correspondence table in which a correspondence relationship between the print setting and the identification number is registered And the print setting input from the application, the identification number assigned to the print setting by the identification number assigning means is output to the application, and the correspondence between the print setting and the identification number in the print setting correspondence table Print setting registration means for registering the relationship and printing from the print setting correspondence table based on the identification number attached to the input print command Gets a constant, is characterized by comprising a print setting output means for outputting to the printing device.

  Further, in the invention described in claim 6, in the invention described in claim 5, the print setting registration means inputs a deletion setting as to whether or not to delete the print setting and the identification number after printing from the application. And the print setting output means deletes the print setting and the identification number registered in the print setting correspondence table based on the deletion setting after printing is completed.

  The invention according to claim 7 is a printing command input procedure for inputting a printing command of an application to a computer, a printing setting of a printing apparatus, and a determination condition for applying the printing setting to the printing command. Is input from the application, a print setting registration procedure for registering the correspondence relationship in the print setting correspondence table in the storage means, and whether the input print command matches the determination condition, A print setting program for executing a print setting output procedure for acquiring print settings from the print setting correspondence table based on the print setting correspondence table and outputting the print settings to the printing apparatus.

  The invention described in claim 8 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 7, the determination condition is a job name given to the print command.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 7, wherein the determination condition is a process ID of the application that outputs information to the print setting registration procedure.

  The invention described in claim 10 is the invention described in claims 7 to 9, wherein the print setting registration procedure sets the determination condition and the deletion setting whether to delete the print setting after printing. Input from an application and register it in the print setting correspondence table, and the print setting output procedure deletes information on the determination condition and the print setting registered in the print setting correspondence table based on the deletion setting after printing is completed. It is characterized by doing.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, a print command input procedure for inputting a print command of an application to a computer, an identification number assigning procedure for assigning an identification number to a print setting of a printing apparatus, and the print setting as the application Print setting for outputting the identification number assigned to the print setting in the identification number assignment procedure to the application and registering the correspondence between the print setting and the identification number in the print setting correspondence table in the storage means A print setting program for executing a registration procedure and a print setting output procedure for acquiring print settings from the print setting correspondence table based on the identification number attached to the input print command and outputting the print settings to the printing apparatus It is.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the eleventh aspect, the print setting registration procedure inputs, from the application, a deletion setting for determining whether to delete the print setting and the identification number after printing. And the print setting output procedure deletes the print setting and the identification number registered in the print setting correspondence table based on the deletion setting after printing is completed.

 According to the present invention, a method for creating a database of print settings of a printing apparatus and determination conditions for applying the print settings to a print command from an application (including a secondary application) is provided. You can change the print settings without changing the default driver settings. For this reason, when a plurality of applications simultaneously output a printer driver default setting change command, it is possible to solve the problem that the command change to the printer driver conflicts and the setting change is not normally reflected. Further, detailed print settings can be made for each print command of the secondary application, and the problem that the print settings cannot be changed by the secondary application can also be solved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system including a host computer and a printer (printing apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this specification, the print setting program means a printer driver set in the host computer, and the print setting device means a printer driver and hardware (CPU (Central Processing Unit) for executing the printer driver). And memory). In FIG. 1, the connection between the host computer 1 and the printer 2 is a local connection or a network connection via a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like.

  The base application 11 is an application that runs on the host computer 1. The application-side print setting 12 is a default print setting held by the base application 11. A secondary application 13 such as a user-created macro program runs on the base application 11. The printer driver 14 receives a print command from the base application 11, converts it into a data format that can be interpreted by the printer 2, and outputs it. The default print setting 15 is a default print setting held by the printer driver 14. The print setting table (print setting correspondence table) 16 determines whether to delete the print setting, the determination condition for applying the print setting to the print command from the application 11, and whether to delete the registration of the print setting after the printing is finished. The three types of information (the deletion setting) are managed. A print setting registration API (Application Program Interface) (print setting registration means) 17 is an API used when the secondary application 13 registers print settings in the print setting table 16.

  Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure executed by the secondary application 13 when registering print settings in the print setting table 16, and FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of information managed by the print setting table 16.

  In FIG. 2, when the secondary application 13 inputs a user's instruction regarding print settings (step S201), the secondary application 13 calls the print setting registration API 17 (step S202). The print setting registration API 17 includes, as arguments, print settings to be registered in the print setting table 16, determination conditions for determining whether to apply the print settings to the print command from the application 11, and the print setting table 16 after completion of printing. Three types of flags indicating whether to delete the registered print settings and determination conditions can be designated. If the flag used in this embodiment is set to 1, the registration is deleted from the print setting table 16 after printing. If the flag is set to 0, the registration is not deleted after printing. The secondary application 13 specifies an argument of the print setting registration API 17 based on an instruction from the user. Here, the contents registered in the print setting table 16 will be specifically described with reference to the three examples shown in FIG.

  In the example 1 of FIG. 3, “whether there is a character string“ work management table ”in the job name” as the determination condition, “execute punch” as the print setting, and “1” as the flag are registered. The job name is a name given to a print command output from the base application 11 to the printer driver 14, and Example 1 is characterized in that print settings are designated based on information given to the print command. Yes. As another example using the information given to the print command, a method using the size of data to be printed and the number of pages is also possible.

  In the example 2 of FIG. 3, “is a command from process ID = 123?” Is registered as a determination condition, “execute double-sided printing” is registered as a print setting, and “1” is registered as a flag. The process ID is a unique value given to all applications when they are activated. Even when a plurality of the same applications are started up, different process IDs are given to them, which is an effective means for specifying the application that called the print setting registration API 17.

  In the example 3 of FIG. 3, “is the print command for reference number 12?” As the determination condition, “output sheet is A3” as the print setting, and “0” as the flag are registered. The reference number (identification number) is an identification number assigned by the printer driver 14 to the print setting to be registered, and is transmitted to the secondary application 13 as a return value of the print setting registration API 17.

  Returning to FIG. 2, when the secondary application 13 calls the print setting registration API 17 by specifying an argument, it checks whether the same setting as the setting specified as the argument has already been registered in the print setting table 16 ( Step S203). If it has already been registered in the print setting table 16, the print setting registration procedure is terminated without performing new registration (step S203: Y). If it is not registered in the print setting table 16, the information specified as an argument is additionally registered in the print setting table 16 (step S204), and the print setting registration procedure is terminated.

  Next, a printing procedure in which the printer driver 14 processes a print command from the base application 11 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, when the secondary application 13 executes a print command, the print command is output to the printer driver 14 through the base application 11.

  In the case of Example 1 in FIG. 3, for example, “December work management table” is set as the job name so that the print command output here matches the determination condition registered in the print setting table 16. In the case of Example 2 in FIG. 3, the process ID can be determined by the printer driver 14, and thus a conventional print command may be used. In the case of Example 3 in FIG. 3, the reference number that is the return value of the print setting registration API 17 is attached to the print command and output.

  Returning to FIG. 4, when the print command output from the base application 11 is input to the printer driver 14 (step S 401), the printer driver 14 searches the print setting table 16 and prints that match the determination condition registered. It is determined whether it is an instruction (step S402). If the print command does not match any of the judgment conditions registered in the print setting table 16, the printer is applied by applying the print setting 12 on the base application side or the default print setting 15 held by the printer driver 15 as in the prior art. The print data is transmitted to 2 (step S406).

  On the other hand, if the print command has a matching determination condition, the print setting corresponding to the matching determination condition is applied and the print data is transmitted to the printer 2 (print setting output means, step S403). When printing is completed, the flag registered in the print setting table 16 is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the print setting applied at the time of printing is deleted from the print setting table 16 (step S404). In Example 1 and Example 2 of FIG. 3, since the flag is set to 1, the printer driver 14 deletes the print settings applied at the time of printing from the print setting table 16 (step S405), and ends the printing procedure. In Example 3 of FIG. 3, since the flag is set to 0, the print procedure is terminated without deleting from the print setting table 16 (step S404: N).

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, the concrete structure is not restricted to this embodiment, The design change etc. of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are included.

  The present invention is suitable for use in a print setting apparatus that performs print settings for a printing apparatus such as a printer.

1 is a configuration diagram of a system including a print setting apparatus and a printer (printing apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for a secondary application 13 in FIG. 1 to register print settings in a print setting table 16. 3 is a table showing an example of settings held in a print setting table 16 of FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for processing a print command by the printer driver 14 of FIG. 1. It is a block diagram of the system comprised by the print setting apparatus and printer (printing apparatus) in a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

1, 3 ... Host computer 2, 4 ... Printer (printing device)
11, 31 ... Application 12, 32 ... Application-side print setting 13, 33 ... Secondary application 14, 34 ... Printer driver 15, 35 ... Default print setting 16 ... Print setting table (print setting correspondence table)
17 ... Print setting registration API (print setting registration means)

Claims (12)

In a print setting apparatus that transmits a command for performing print setting of a printing apparatus and print data to be printed by the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus,
A print command input means for inputting an application print command;
A print setting storage unit for storing a print setting correspondence table in which a correspondence relationship between a print setting of the printing apparatus and a determination condition for applying the print setting to the print command is registered;
Print setting registration means for inputting the print setting and the determination condition from the application and registering a correspondence relationship in the print setting correspondence table;
A print setting output unit that determines whether the input print command matches the determination condition, acquires a print setting from the print setting correspondence table based on the determination result, and outputs the print setting to the printing apparatus;
A print setting apparatus comprising:   The print setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination condition is a job name assigned to the print command.   The print setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination condition is a process ID of the application that has output information to the print setting registration unit. The print setting registration means
The determination condition and the deletion setting whether to delete the print setting after printing are input from the application and registered in the print setting correspondence table,
The print setting output means includes
The print setting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the determination condition and the print setting registered in the print setting correspondence table are deleted based on the deletion setting after printing is completed. In a print setting apparatus that transmits a command for performing print setting of a printing apparatus and print data to be printed by the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus,
A print command input means for inputting an application print command;
An identification number giving means for giving an identification number to the print setting of the printing apparatus;
A print setting storage means for holding a print setting correspondence table in which the correspondence between the print settings and the identification numbers is registered;
The print setting is input from the application, the identification number assigned to the print setting by the identification number assigning means is output to the application, and the correspondence relationship between the print setting and the identification number is registered in the print setting correspondence table. Print setting registration means to
Print setting output means for acquiring print settings from the print setting correspondence table based on the identification number attached to the input print command, and outputting the print settings to the printing apparatus;
A print setting apparatus comprising: The print setting registration means
Entering the print setting and the deletion setting whether to delete the identification number after printing from the application and registering it in the print setting correspondence table,
The print setting output means includes
The print setting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the print setting and the identification number registered in the print setting correspondence table are deleted based on the delete setting after printing is completed. On the computer,
A print command input procedure for inputting a print command of the application;
Print setting registration procedure for inputting a print setting of a printing apparatus and a determination condition as to whether to apply the print setting to the print command from the application, and registering a correspondence relationship in a print setting correspondence table in a storage unit When,
Determining whether the input print command matches the determination condition, obtaining a print setting from the print setting correspondence table based on the determination result, and outputting the print setting to the printing apparatus;
Print setting program to execute.   The print setting program according to claim 7, wherein the determination condition is a job name given to the print command.   The print setting program according to claim 7, wherein the determination condition is a process ID of the application that outputs information to the print setting registration procedure. The print setting registration procedure includes:
The determination condition and the deletion setting whether to delete the print setting after printing are input from the application and registered in the print setting correspondence table,
The print setting output procedure includes:
The print setting program according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the determination condition and the print setting registered in the print setting correspondence table are deleted based on the delete setting after printing is completed. On the computer,
A print command input procedure for inputting the print command of the application;
An identification number assignment procedure for assigning an identification number to the print setting of the printing apparatus;
The print setting is input from the application, the identification number assigned to the print setting in the identification number assigning procedure is output to the application, and the print setting and the identification number are stored in a print setting correspondence table in a storage unit. Print setting registration procedure for registering correspondence,
A print setting output procedure for obtaining a print setting from the print setting correspondence table based on the identification number attached to the input print command and outputting the print setting to the printing apparatus;
Print setting program to execute. The print setting registration procedure includes:
Entering the print setting and the deletion setting whether to delete the identification number after printing from the application and registering it in the print setting correspondence table,
The print setting output procedure includes:
12. The print setting program according to claim 11, wherein the print setting and the identification number registered in the print setting correspondence table are deleted based on the delete setting after printing is completed.

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