JP2007219576A - Printer driver selection program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically select a printer driver for each application and each piece of file information. <P>SOLUTION: In a network system 1, a server SV is installed with a printer driver selection program, and if an application or a file is selected by operation from personal computers PC1 to PCn, the printer driver selection program, on the basis of printer driver assignment information assigned as a printer driver to be used in the relevant application or a file for the relevant file information from the plurality of printer drivers for each application or each piece of file information, automatically selects a printer driver assigned to the selected application or file information on the selected file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer driver selection program and a recording medium, and more particularly to a printer driver selection program for automatically selecting a printer driver for each application or file information and a recording medium for recording the printer driver selection program.

  In recent years, networking has progressed, and a plurality of information processing apparatuses such as computers and a plurality of image forming apparatuses such as printers are connected to the network, and each information processing apparatus selects an arbitrary printer to perform printing.

  In this case, in the information processing apparatus, when printing a file created by an application installed on the OS (Operating System), a printer driver for each printer connected to the network is installed on the OS. When printing, a printer driver set by the OS or a printer driver selected and set by each application is selected, print data is created using the printer driver, and the printer corresponding to the printer driver is used. You are printing.

  In recent years, there are a wide variety of types of information processing apparatuses, and various forms of using printers via a network, such as using a print server or using a data server (see Patent Document 1).

  In this way, when selecting one printer from a plurality of printers connected to the network from the information processing device and printing the file, select the appropriate printer for the file and the appropriate printer for the application that created the file. In this case, it is troublesome to select an appropriate printer, that is, to select a printer driver.

  Conventionally, when print attribute information for printing processing by a plurality of printers is managed and the print information is received from a client via the Internet, the print information is output using the managed print attribute information. There has been proposed a web server that performs print processing with a previous printer (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2004-213453 A JP 2000-298869 A

  However, in the prior art described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, the Web server can print out by a printer corresponding to the print attribute information from the client. For example, the color file is appropriately printed by the color printer. Or a monochrome printer that prints properly with a monochrome printer cannot be selected properly. A printer that is appropriate for the application and file information is automatically selected for more efficient printing. Above, there was a need for improvement.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a printer driver selection program and a recording medium that can automatically select a printer driver that is most suitable for application and file information, and can perform appropriate printing for the application and file information in a state of good usability. It is intended to provide.

  The printer driver selection program according to the first aspect of the invention is a printer driver selection program for selecting a printer driver to be used from a plurality of printer drivers, and for each of a plurality of applications, a printer to be used by the application from a plurality of printer drivers. Printer driver assignment information assigned as a driver, and when the application is selected, the printer driver assigned to the selected application is selected based on the printer driver assignment information. Has achieved.

  A printer driver selection program according to a second aspect of the present invention is a printer driver selection program for selecting a printer driver to be used from a plurality of printer drivers, and a file of the file information from a plurality of printer drivers for each of a plurality of file information. A printer assigned to the file information of the selected file on the basis of the printer driver assignment information when the file is selected. By selecting a driver, the above object is achieved.

  In each of the above cases, for example, as described in claim 3, the printer driver selection program can appropriately select and set a printer driver to be used for the application or the file information. It may be printer driver allocation information.

  For example, as described in claim 4, the printer driver assignment information may be used by being ported to another printer driver selection program.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 5, the printer driver selection program may have the printer driver allocation information as a file of a predetermined file format.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium for recording a printer driver selection program for selecting a printer driver to be used from a plurality of printer drivers, wherein the printer driver selection program is the first to fifth aspects. The above-described object is achieved by recording the printer driver selection program described in any of the above.

  According to the printer driver selection program of the present invention, when an application or a file is selected, a printer driver to be used for a file of the application or the file information from a plurality of printer drivers for each of a plurality of applications or for each file information. Since the printer driver assigned to the file information of the selected application or file is selected based on the assigned printer driver assignment information, the application or file can be selected by simply selecting the application or file. A printer driver can be automatically selected, and appropriate printing can be performed while improving usability.

  The recording medium of the present invention is a recording medium for recording a printer driver selection program for selecting a printer driver to be used from a plurality of printer drivers, and when an application or a file is selected as the printer driver selection program. The selected application or file based on the printer driver assignment information assigned as the printer driver to be used for the application or the file of the file information from a plurality of printer drivers for each of the plurality of applications or for each file information Since the printer driver selection program for selecting the printer driver assigned to the file information is recorded, the printer driver selection program recorded on this recording medium is copied. When an application or file is selected by being read and introduced into an information processing device such as a computer or a server, the file information of the selected application or the selected file is selected based on the printer driver allocation information. The assigned printer driver can be selected, and appropriate printing can be performed while improving the usability.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 and 2 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a printer driver selection program and a recording medium of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a network system to which an embodiment of the printer driver selection program and the recording medium of the present invention is applied. 1 is a system configuration diagram of FIG.

  In FIG. 1, a network system 1 includes a plurality of personal computers PC1 to PCn, a server SV, and a plurality of printers Pr1 to Prn connected to a network NW such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The number of printers Pr1 to Prn is as follows. As long as there are a plurality of units, the number is not limited.

  Each of the personal computers PC1 to PCn includes a main body device, a display, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and is connected to the network NW and transmits data and signals to and from the printers Pr1 to Prn and the server SV via the network NW. It has a communication function for sending and receiving. The personal computers PC1 to PCn are connected to various application software (hereinafter referred to as applications) such as document creation software, figure creation software, spreadsheet software, database software, and the network NW on an OS (Operating System). When printer drivers corresponding to the printers Pr1 to Prn are installed in the number corresponding to the number of the printers Pr1 to Prn and a print command is issued from the application that created the file to the files created by these applications, The printer driver converts the file into print data, and transmits the print data together with a print request to the printers Pr1 to Prn corresponding to the printer driver.

  Each of the personal computers PC1 to PCn is equipped with a printer driver selection program for automatically selecting a printer driver according to the application and file information, and this printer driver selection program automatically selects a printer driver to be used. This printer driver selection program reads a printer driver selection program and necessary data stored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a flexible disk, a DVD (Digital Video Disk), and a memory card. Therefore, it is introduced into the personal computers PC1 to PCn.

  The server SV is connected to a network NW and has a communication function for transferring data and signals to and from the personal computers PC1 to PCn and printers Pr1 to Prn via the network NW. The server SV has applications necessary for the server installed on the OS, and printer drivers corresponding to the printers Pr1 to Prn connected to the network NW are installed by the number of the printers Pr1 to Prn. In response to a print request specifying a file from each of the personal computers PC1 to PCn, the printer driver creates print data from the file data, and transmits the print data to the printers Pr1 to Prn together with the print request.

  The server SV is equipped with a printer driver selection program that automatically selects a printer driver in accordance with the application and file information. The printer driver selection program automatically selects a printer driver to be used. As in the case of the personal computers PC1 to PCn, this printer driver selection program reads the printer driver selection program and necessary data stored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk, DVD, and memory card. In the server SV.

  The printers Pr1 to Prn are connected to a network NW and have a communication function for transferring data and signals between the server SV and the personal computers PC1 to PCn via the network NW. Each of the printers Pr1 to Prn is equipped with a printing mechanism of a predetermined printing method, for example, an ink jet printing mechanism, an electrophotographic printing mechanism, and the server SV or personal computer PC1 via the network NW. Based on the print data received from PCn, the printing process is performed by the printing method corresponding to the installed printing function.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the network system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the personal computers PC1 to PCn cause the printers Pr1 to Prn to print a file, the printer driver selection program applies in advance to the application that created the file or the file information. A printer driver is automatically selected according to the selected / set printer driver assignment information, a file is converted into print data by the selected printer driver, and the print data is transmitted to the printers Pr1 to Prn corresponding to the printer driver. And print it.

  In the network system 1, the server SV manages files and printer drivers and performs automatic printer driver selection processing using the printer driver selection program installed therein, and the personal computers PC 1 to PCn store files and printer drivers. Printer driver automatic selection processing may be performed.

  First, a case where the server SV performs printer driver automatic selection processing will be described. In this case, in the network system 1, at least the server SV has printer drivers for the personal computers PC1 to PCn connected to the network NW, and the printer driver selected automatically by the printer driver selection program as will be described later. Are used to convert files created by the personal computers PC1 to PCn into print data, and the created print data is transmitted to the corresponding printers Pr1 to Prn for printing.

  That is, when the printer driver selection program is activated, the server SV first executes a personal computer connected to the network NW as shown in FIG. 2 as a pre-process for the printer driver selection program to perform automatic printer driver selection. Various types of information such as types of a plurality of applications installed in PC1 to PCn are acquired (step S101), and then, for example, file attributes are acquired as file information of various files created by the application (step S101). S102). In the following description, a case where the file information is a file attribute will be described. Further, the printer driver selection program acquires all the installed printer drivers (step S103), displays a selection screen as to whether to assign a printer driver for each application or each file attribute, and displays the application or file. It is checked whether selection for assigning a printer driver for each attribute has been made (step S104).

  When selection for assigning a printer driver for each application or for each file attribute is performed in step S104, the printer driver selection program compares the acquired application or / and file attribute with the printer driver, for example. A printer driver assignment screen for assigning a printer driver for each file and / or for each file attribute is displayed. On this printer driver assignment screen, the printer driver can be assigned for each application or / and for each file attribute by the administrator of the server SV. When done, the assignment result is used as printer driver assignment information, and a file of a predetermined file format, for example, File. Save ini (step S105).

  When the server SV performs the selection operation of the assigned application or the assigned file attribute in the state where the printer driver assignment information is stored in this manner (step S106), the printer driver selection program With reference to the printer driver assignment information, the printer driver assigned to the file attribute of the selected application or the selected file is activated (step S107). A file for which a print instruction is given by the application or the file is converted into print data by the selected printer driver, and the converted print data is transmitted to the printers Pr1 to Prn corresponding to the printer driver to perform printing. , Printed It ends the driver automatic selection processing (step S108).

  On the other hand, when the selection for assigning the printer driver for each application or for each file attribute is not performed in step S104, the printer driver selection program does not perform the printer driver automatic selection process, but performs the application as in the normal printer driver selection process. Alternatively, when a file is selected (step S109), the selected application or file is activated, and when a print request is made thereafter, a printer driver selection screen is displayed to select the printer driver ( Step S110). In the case of step S109 described above, selection for assigning a printer driver is performed for each application or for each file attribute. However, the same applies to the case where an application or file that is not the assignment target is selected. When the application or file for which the selection operation has been performed is started and a print request is made thereafter, a printer driver selection screen is displayed to select the printer driver (step S110).

  Next, in the server SV, the selected printer driver converts the file into print data, transmits the converted print data to the printers Pr1 to Prn corresponding to the printer driver, and prints with the printers Pr1 to Prn. To complete the printer driver automatic selection process (step S108).

  In this case, instead of displaying the printer driver selection screen when a print request is made, the printer driver or application print setting screen set in advance by the OS is selected in advance, as in the case of a normal print request. A print setting screen in which the selected printer driver is the selected printer driver may be displayed.

  In the above description, the printer driver assignment for each application and each file attribute (file information) is performed by the administrator of the server SV. However, the printer driver assignment for each application and each file attribute is performed by the server SV. For example, the operator (user) of each of the personal computers PC1 to PCn may perform the operation. In this case, when the printer driver assignment screen is transmitted from the server SV to each of the personal computers PC1 to PCn and the user of each of the personal computers PC1 to PCn selects assignment of the printer driver, the selection result is used as the printer driver for each user. Created and saved as allocation information, and when there is an application operation or file operation, it detects which user the application operation or file operation is, and performs the operation based on the user's printer driver allocation information. The selected driver or the printer driver assigned to the file attribute of the operated file is selected and activated.

  Next, a case where the printer driver selection program installed in each personal computer PC1 to PCn manages files and printer drivers and performs printer driver automatic selection processing will be described.

  In this case, the personal computer PC1 to PCn may create the printer driver allocation information by performing the processing from step S101 to step S105, but the printer driver allocation information is already stored in the server SV. In some cases, the printer driver assignment information is sent from the server SV, for example, the File. ini etc. and sent to each personal computer PC1 to PCn via the network NW, and the printer driver selection program of each personal computer PC1 to PCn is sent to the sent File. Printer driver allocation information such as ini may be used.

  In this way, it is possible to reduce labor and time for creating printer driver allocation information.

  When the application driver or file is selected and operated in the same manner as in FIG. 2 with the printer driver assignment information stored in the personal computers PC1 to PCn in this way (step S106), the printer driver selection program displays the printer driver selection information. Referring to the driver assignment information, the printer driver assigned to the file attribute of the selected application or the selected file is activated (step S107). A file for which a print instruction has been issued by the application or the selected file is converted into print data by the automatically selected printer driver, and the converted print data is transmitted to the printers Pr1 to Prn corresponding to the printer driver. Let me print And it ends the printer driver automatic selection processing (step S108).

  As described above, the network system 1 according to the present embodiment has a printer driver selection program installed in the server SV. When an application or file is selected by the operation from the personal computers PC1 to PCn in the server SV, the printer driver is selected. The selected application is selected based on printer driver assignment information assigned as a printer driver to be used by the application or the file of the file information from a plurality of printer drivers for each of a plurality of applications or for each file information. Alternatively, the printer driver assigned to the file information of the selected file is selected.

  Therefore, only by selecting an application or file, a printer driver appropriate for the application or file can be automatically selected, and usability can be improved.

  Further, the network system 1 of this embodiment has a printer driver selection program mounted on the personal computers PC1 to PCn, and when an application or file is selected on the personal computers PC1 to PCn, a plurality of printer driver selection programs are provided. The selected application or the selected application based on the printer driver assignment information assigned as a printer driver to be used for the application or the file of the file information from a plurality of printer drivers for each application or for each file information The printer driver assigned to the file information of the file is selected.

  Therefore, only by selecting an application or file, a printer driver appropriate for the application or file can be automatically selected, and usability can be improved.

  Furthermore, the printer driver selection program of the network system 1 of the present embodiment can appropriately select and set a printer driver to be used for application or file information, and automatically select a printer driver using the selection setting result as printer driver allocation information. Processing is in progress.

  Therefore, the printer driver intended by the user can be selected more appropriately, and the printing result can be further improved.

  Further, in the printer driver selection program of the network system 1 according to the present embodiment, the printer driver allocation information can be used by transplanting it among a plurality of printer driver selection programs.

  Accordingly, the printer driver allocation information can be mutually used by the personal computers PC1 to PCn, etc., and the need for selecting / setting the printer driver for each of a plurality of applications or file information can be saved, thereby further improving the usability. Can be improved.

  Furthermore, the printer driver selection program of the network system 1 of the present embodiment has printer driver allocation information as a file of a predetermined file format (for example, File.ini).

  Therefore, the printer driver allocation information can be easily used mutually between the personal computers PC1 to PCn.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention can be applied to a printer driver selection program for appropriately and efficiently selecting printer drivers for a plurality of connected printers and a recording medium for recording the printer driver selection program.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a network system to which an embodiment of a printer driver selection program and a recording medium of an embodiment is applied. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing printer driver automatic selection processing by the server of the network system of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Network System NW Network PC1-PCn Personal Computer SV Server Pr1-Prn Printer

Claims (6)

  A printer driver selection program for selecting a printer driver to be used from a plurality of printer drivers, and having printer driver allocation information allocated for each of a plurality of applications as a printer driver to be used by the application from a plurality of printer drivers When the application is selected, a printer driver selection program that selects a printer driver assigned to the selected application based on the printer driver assignment information.   A printer driver selection program for selecting a printer driver to be used from a plurality of printer drivers, and for each of a plurality of file information, a printer driver allocation allocated as a printer driver to be used for a file of the file information from a plurality of printer drivers And a printer driver selection program that selects a printer driver assigned to the file information of the selected file based on the printer driver assignment information when the file is selected. .   The printer driver selection program can appropriately select and set a printer driver to be used for the application or the file information, and uses the selection setting result as the printer driver allocation information. Item 3. A printer driver selection program according to Item 2.   3. The printer driver selection program according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver allocation information can be used after being ported to another printer driver selection program.   5. The printer driver selection program according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver selection program has the printer driver allocation information as a file of a predetermined file format. 6. A recording medium for recording a printer driver selection program for selecting a printer driver to be used from a plurality of printer drivers, wherein the printer driver selection program according to claim 1 is used as the printer driver selection program. A recording medium for recording.

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