JP2007299380A - Print support device, print support program, storage medium and print support method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print support device suitable for attaining specifications of printed matter. <P>SOLUTION: A host terminal acquires a print specification electronic job ticket, printer information and document data, acquires print setting candidates from condition setting information for conditions which are satisfied by the print specification of the print specification electronic job ticket, and calculates an adaptability with print setting candidate of the print specification as a specification evaluation value and an adaptability with printer thereof as a device evaluation value, respectively. A print setting is selected from the print setting candidates based on the specification evaluation value, a printing destination is selected from a plurality of printers based on the device evaluation value, processing of document data and generation of print setting electronic job ticket are performed based on the selected print setting and a processing method of document data corresponding to the selected print setting, and printing is requested to the selected printer based on the resulting print setting electronic job ticket and document data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus, a program, and a method for supporting printing based on an electronic job ticket, and in particular, a printing support apparatus, a printing support program, a storage medium, and a printing support method suitable for realizing the specifications of a printed matter. About.

  In order to obtain printed matter with the specifications intended by the creator of the document, a technology is known that generates what is called an electronic job ticket separately from the document data to be printed and performs printing based on the electronic job ticket and the document data. ing. As an electronic job ticket, for example, the specification of a printed matter including finishing information such as binding position as well as format information such as paper size, printing direction, layout setting, and presence / absence of double-sided printing is defined.

Conventionally, as a technique for performing printing using an electronic job ticket, for example, a digital information output system described in Patent Document 1 is known.
The invention described in Patent Document 1 is a system in which a host terminal and a plurality of printers are connected by a network. The host terminal selects the printer, creates a digital information processing output instruction, examines the processing capability of the output destination, interprets the digital information processing output instruction, and interprets the digital information according to the interpretation result. According to the processing capability of the printer, the digital information and the digital information processing output instruction or the processed digital information are transmitted to the printer that is the selected output destination. The first printer interprets the processing output instruction of the transmitted digital information, processes the digital information according to the interpretation result, and outputs the processed digital information. The second printer outputs digital information processed by the host terminal.
JP 2003-122524 A

  The invention described in Patent Document 1 aims at not limiting the devices that can be used, and arbitrarily selects a printer as an output destination. However, when a monochrome printer is selected as the output destination of the document data to be printed in color, or when an A4-compatible printer is selected as the output destination of the document data to be printed in A3, the specification of the printed matter is realized. I can't. Also, for example, when only two A4-compatible color printers and A3-compatible monochrome printers can be used, monochrome document data in which the cover of the first page is A4 color and the text after the second page is A3 is printed. Sometimes, no matter which printer is selected, the specification of the printed matter cannot be realized with one printer.

  Therefore, the present invention was made paying attention to such an unsolved problem of the conventional technology, and is suitable for realizing the specifications of the printed matter, a printing support apparatus, a printing support program, and a storage medium, An object of the present invention is to provide a printing support method.

[Mode 1] In order to achieve the above object, a printing support apparatus according to mode 1 includes:
A print support device that supports printing based on print specification information including specifications of printed matter,
Among the print specification information acquisition means for acquiring the print specification information, the condition setting information storage means for storing condition setting information including the conditions of the print specifications and the print settings, and the condition setting information of the condition setting information storage means, Print setting candidate acquisition means for acquiring the print setting candidates from the condition setting information of the condition that satisfies the print specifications of the print specification information acquired by the print specification information acquisition means, and the print acquired by the print specification information acquisition means Specification evaluation value calculation means for calculating the degree of suitability of the print setting candidate acquired by the print setting candidate acquisition means with respect to the print specification of the specification information as a specification evaluation value, and the specification evaluation value calculated by the specification evaluation value calculation means A print setting selection unit that selects the print setting from among the print setting candidates acquired by the print setting candidate acquisition unit, and the print setting selection Characterized in that it comprises a print setting information generating unit that generates print setting information based on the print settings selected stage.

  With such a configuration, the print specification information is acquired by the print specification information acquisition means. Next, the print setting candidate acquisition unit acquires a print setting candidate from the condition setting information of the condition that satisfies the print specification of the print specification information among the condition setting information of the condition setting information storage unit. Next, the degree of suitability of the print setting candidate for the print specification of the print specification information is calculated as the specification evaluation value by the specification evaluation value calculation means.

Next, the print setting selection unit selects a print setting from among the print setting candidates based on the calculated specification evaluation value.
Next, the print setting information generation unit generates print setting information based on the selected print setting.
As a result, the print setting is selected based on the degree of conformity to the print specification, and therefore, an effect that the degree of realizing the print specification can be improved as compared with the conventional case.

  Here, the print specification information refers to information in which a specification of a desired printed material is described as a final product by a printing process. Specifically, for example, information regarding the finishing paper size, the type of printing medium, the folding method and the cutting method, the binding position, the binding method, the number of copies, the duplex printing method, the document data and pages to be printed, and the ink to be used. Is included. The print specification information only needs to describe the specifications of the final product, and print setting information described later is not described. In other words, the printing apparatus cannot be automatically operated with only the print specification information, and it is necessary to convert the print specification information into print setting information that satisfies the specification in some form. The same applies to the printing support program of form 9, the storage medium of form 17, and the printing support methods of forms 22 and 23.

  The print specification information acquisition unit may have any configuration as long as it can acquire print specification information. For example, the print specification information acquisition unit may input the print specification information from an input device or the like. The print specification information may be acquired or received from a device or the like, or the print specification information may be read from a storage device or a storage medium. Thus, acquisition includes at least input, acquisition, reception and reading. The print setting candidate acquisition means and other acquisition concepts are the same.

  The condition setting information storage means stores condition setting information at any time and at any time, and may store condition setting information in advance or store condition setting information in advance. Instead, the condition setting information may be stored by an external input or the like during operation of the apparatus.

[Mode 2] Furthermore, the print support apparatus of mode 2 is the print support apparatus of mode 1,
The condition setting information includes a condition of the print specification, a print setting of the printing apparatus, and a document data processing method.
Further, a printing apparatus information acquisition unit that acquires printing apparatus information indicating the device capability of each of the plurality of printing apparatuses, and the printing apparatus information acquisition unit for the print setting candidate acquired by the printing setting candidate acquisition unit. An apparatus evaluation value calculating unit that calculates the degree of matching of the device capabilities of the acquired printing apparatus information as an apparatus evaluation value, and the apparatus evaluation value calculated by the apparatus evaluation value calculating unit for the print setting selected by the print setting selecting unit. A printing apparatus selection unit that selects the printing apparatus that is a printing destination from the plurality of printing apparatuses, a document data acquisition unit that acquires document data associated with the print specification information, and the print setting selection. The document data acquired by the document data acquisition means based on the print setting selected by the means and the processing method corresponding to the print setting. Document data processing means for processing data, and the printing apparatus selected by the printing apparatus selection means based on the print setting information generated by the print setting information generation means and the document data processed by the document data processing means Printing request means for requesting printing,
The print setting information generation unit generates the print setting information including the print setting of the printing apparatus selected by the printing apparatus selection unit based on the print setting selected by the print setting selection unit.

  With such a configuration, the printing specification information is acquired by the printing specification information acquisition unit, and the printing device information is acquired by the printing device information acquisition unit. Next, the print setting candidate acquisition unit acquires a print setting candidate from the condition setting information of the condition that satisfies the print specification of the print specification information among the condition setting information of the condition setting information storage unit. Next, the degree of suitability of the print setting candidate for the print specification of the print specification information is calculated as a specification evaluation value by the specification evaluation value calculation means, and the device evaluation value calculation means calculates the degree of the printing apparatus information for the print setting candidate. The degree to which the device capability is matched is calculated as a device evaluation value.

Next, a print setting is selected from the print setting candidates by the print setting selection unit based on the calculated specification evaluation value, and based on the device evaluation value calculated for the selected print setting by the printing device selection unit. Thus, a printing device to be a printing destination is selected from the plurality of printing devices.
Next, document data associated with the print specification information is acquired by the document data acquisition unit, and the document data is processed by the document data processing unit based on the selected print setting and a processing method corresponding to the print setting. . In addition, the print setting information generation unit generates print setting information including the print settings of the selected printing apparatus based on the selected print settings. Then, the printing request unit requests printing to the selected printing apparatus based on the generated print setting information and the processed document data.

As a result, the print setting and the printing apparatus are selected based on the degree of conformity with the print specification, so that it is possible to improve the degree of realizing the print specification.
Here, the print setting information refers to detailed setting information of the printing apparatus used for the printing process. Specifically, for example, the size, imposition method, and imposition of paper used for imposition (multiple pages are printed on one side of the paper so that the final paper size is obtained after folding and cutting). Includes detailed coordinate information, information on folding and cutting positions. Some of the setting information included in the print setting information overlaps with the print specification information. The same applies to the print support program of form 10, the storage medium of form 17, and the print support methods of forms 23 and 24.

In addition, the document data processing method includes information describing an execution command for processing the document data. The same applies to the print support program of form 10, the storage medium of form 17, and the print support methods of forms 23 and 24.
As processing of document data, for example, a page of document data is rotated (in units of 90 °), a page of document data is enlarged or reduced, a plurality of document data are combined, and one document data Creating impositioned document data from multiple pages of document data, extracting only specific pages of document data, dividing a single page of document data into multiple pages, This includes changing the page order (for example, changing the page order so that the even page is changed to the odd page or vice versa). The same applies to the print support program of form 10, the storage medium of form 17, and the print support methods of forms 23 and 24.

Further, the apparatus evaluation value calculation unit may calculate the apparatus evaluation value for each print setting candidate, or the apparatus evaluation value calculation unit does not perform the process for each print setting candidate, and the apparatus performs the print setting selected by the print setting selection unit. An evaluation value may be calculated.
Further, the document data associated with the print specification information refers to electronic document data to be subjected to print processing based on the print specification. As for the association method, the document data may be directly embedded in the print specification information, or only the location of the document data such as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or a file path is described in the print specification information. Good. A plurality of document data may be associated with the print specification information. Further, not only all pages of document data but also specific pages may be associated. The same applies to the print support program of form 10, the storage medium of form 17, and the print support methods of forms 23 and 24.

[Mode 3] Furthermore, the print support apparatus of mode 3 is the print support apparatus of mode 1,
Furthermore, it includes a constraint condition information acquisition means for acquiring constraint condition information regarding execution of printing,
The print setting candidate acquisition unit acquires the print setting candidate based on the constraint condition information acquired by the constraint condition information acquisition unit.
With such a configuration, the constraint condition information acquisition unit acquires the constraint condition information, and the print setting candidate acquisition unit acquires the print setting candidate based on the acquired constraint condition information.
As a result, the print setting is selected based on the degree of conformity to the print specification under the restriction on the execution of printing, so that an effect of improving the degree of realizing the print specification can be obtained.

[Form 4] Furthermore, the print support apparatus of form 4 is the print support apparatus of form 2,
The specification evaluation value calculation means calculates, for each print setting candidate acquired by the print setting candidate acquisition means, the degree to which the print setting candidate realizes the print specification of the print specification information as the specification evaluation value. Features.
With such a configuration, for each print setting candidate, the degree to which the print setting candidate realizes the print specification of the print specification information is calculated as the specification evaluation value by the specification evaluation value calculating unit.
As a result, since the degree to which the print setting candidate realizes the print specification is used as the evaluation value, the effect of further improving the degree to realize the print specification can be obtained.

[Mode 5] Furthermore, the print support apparatus according to mode 5 is the print support apparatus according to any one of modes 2 and 4,
The device evaluation value calculation means determines that the device capability of the printing device information corresponds to the print setting for each print setting candidate acquired by the print setting candidate acquisition device and for each printing device information acquired by the printing device information acquisition means. The degree of realizing a candidate is calculated as the device evaluation value.
With such a configuration, the device evaluation value calculation means calculates, for each print setting candidate and each printing device information, the degree to which the device capability of the printing device information realizes the print setting candidate as a device evaluation value. Is done.
As a result, the degree that the device capability of the printing apparatus realizes the print setting candidate is used as the evaluation value, so that the degree of realizing the printing specification can be further improved.

[Mode 6] Furthermore, the print support apparatus according to mode 6 is the print support apparatus according to any one of modes 2, 4 and 5,
The print setting information includes a print control command for controlling printing requested by the print request unit.

[Mode 7] Further, the print support apparatus of mode 7 is the print support apparatus of mode 6,
Further, it is characterized by further comprising message display means for displaying a message in accordance with a print control command included in the print setting information.
With such a configuration, the message is displayed by the message display unit in accordance with the print control command included in the print setting information.

[Mode 8] Further, the print support apparatus of mode 8 is the print support apparatus of mode 7,
Furthermore, it comprises a confirmation input means for inputting confirmation of the message,
The print requesting unit requests printing to the printing apparatus when the confirmation input unit inputs the confirmation.
With such a configuration, the message is displayed by the message display unit in accordance with the print control command included in the print setting information. Here, when the user inputs confirmation to the message by the confirmation input unit, the print request unit requests the printing apparatus to print.

[Mode 9] On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, a print support program of mode 9
A print support program that supports printing based on print specification information including specifications of printed matter,
Acquired in the print specification information acquisition step of the print specification information acquisition step of acquiring the print specification information and the condition setting information of the condition setting information storage means for storing the condition setting information including the condition of the print specification and the print setting The print setting candidate acquisition step for acquiring the print setting candidate from the condition setting information of the condition that satisfies the print specification of the print specification information, and the print specification information acquired in the print specification information acquisition step. Based on the specification evaluation value calculation step for calculating the degree of suitability of the print setting candidates acquired in the print setting candidate acquisition step as a specification evaluation value, and on the specification evaluation value calculated in the specification evaluation value calculation step, the print setting candidate A print setting selection step for selecting the print setting from among the print setting candidates acquired in the acquisition step; and the print Characterized in that it comprises a program for executing a process comprising a print setting information generation step of generating print setting information based on the print settings selected with a constant selection step to the computer.

  With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operation and effect as those of the printing support apparatus according to mode 1 can be obtained.

[Mode 10] Furthermore, the printing support program of mode 10 is the printing support program of mode 9,
The condition setting information includes a condition of the print specification, a print setting of the printing apparatus, and a document data processing method.
Further, a printing apparatus information acquisition step for acquiring printing apparatus information indicating the device capability of each of the plurality of printing apparatuses, and a printing setting candidate acquired in the printing setting candidate acquisition step in the printing apparatus information acquisition step. A device evaluation value calculating step for calculating the degree of matching of the device capabilities of the acquired printing device information as a device evaluation value, and the device evaluation value calculated in the device evaluation value calculating step for the print setting selected in the print setting selecting step. A printing device selection step of selecting the printing device as a printing destination from the plurality of printing devices, a document data acquisition step of acquiring document data associated with the print specification information, and the print setting selection. Based on the print setting selected in step and the processing method corresponding to the print setting, Document data processing step for processing the document data acquired in the document data acquisition step, the printing device selection step based on the print setting information generated in the print setting information generation step and the document data processed in the document data processing step Including a program for causing a computer to execute processing including a print request step for requesting printing to the printing apparatus selected in
In the print setting information generation step, the print setting information including the print setting of the printing apparatus selected in the printing apparatus selection step is generated based on the print setting selected in the print setting selection step.

With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operation and effect as those of the printing support apparatus according to mode 2 can be obtained.
Here, the apparatus evaluation value calculating step may calculate the apparatus evaluation value for each print setting candidate, or may not calculate the apparatus evaluation value for the print setting selected by the print setting selection unit without performing it for each print setting candidate. It may be calculated. The same applies to the storage medium of form 17 and the print support methods of forms 23 and 24.

[Mode 11] Further, the print support program of mode 11 is the print support program of mode 9,
Furthermore, a program for causing a computer to execute a process including a constraint condition information acquisition step for acquiring constraint condition information regarding execution of printing,
In the print setting candidate acquisition step, the print setting candidate is acquired based on the constraint condition information acquired in the constraint condition information acquisition step.
With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing in accordance with the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing support apparatus according to mode 3 can be obtained.

[Mode 12] Further, the print support program of mode 12 is the print support program of mode 10,
The specification evaluation value calculating step calculates, for each print setting candidate acquired in the print setting candidate acquisition step, a degree to which the print setting candidate realizes the print specification of the print specification information as the specification evaluation value. Features.
With this configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing support apparatus according to mode 4 are obtained.

[Mode 13] Further, the print support program of mode 13 is the print support program of any one of modes 10 and 12,
In the device evaluation value calculation step, for each print setting candidate acquired in the print setting candidate acquisition step and for each printing device information acquired in the printing device information acquisition step, the device capability of the printing device information indicates the print setting. The degree of realizing a candidate is calculated as the device evaluation value.
With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing support apparatus according to mode 5 are obtained.

[Form 14] Furthermore, the print support program of form 14 is the print support program of any one of forms 10, 12 and 13,
The print setting information includes a print control command for controlling the print requested in the print request step.
With this configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing support apparatus according to mode 6 can be obtained.

[Form 15] Further, the print support program of form 15 is the print support program of form 14,
Further, the present invention includes a program for causing a computer to execute a process including a message display step of displaying a message in accordance with a print control command included in the print setting information.
With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operation and effect as those of the printing support apparatus according to mode 7 can be obtained.

[Mode 16] Furthermore, the print support program of mode 16 is the print support program of mode 15,
And a program for causing a computer to execute processing including a confirmation input step for inputting confirmation of the message,
The printing request step requests printing to the printing apparatus when the confirmation input is input in the confirmation input step.
With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing support apparatus according to mode 8 are obtained.

[Mode 17] On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, the storage medium of mode 17
A computer-readable storage medium storing a print support program that supports printing based on print specification information including specifications of a printed matter,
A printing specification information obtaining step for obtaining the printing specification information; a printing device information obtaining step for obtaining printing device information indicating a device capability of each of a plurality of printing devices; a condition of the printing specification; printing of the printing device; Of the condition setting information of the condition setting information storage means for storing the condition setting information including the setting and processing method of the document data, the condition setting of the condition that satisfies the print specification of the print specification information acquired in the print specification information acquisition step The print setting candidate acquisition step for acquiring the print setting candidate from the information, and the print setting candidate acquired in the print setting candidate acquisition step match the print specification of the print specification information acquired in the print specification information acquisition step. Acquired in a specification evaluation value calculation step for calculating the degree as a specification evaluation value and the print setting candidate acquisition step. A device evaluation value calculating step for calculating, as a device evaluation value, a degree to which the device capability of the printing device information acquired in the printing device information acquisition step matches a print setting candidate, and a specification evaluation calculated in the specification evaluation value calculating step A print setting selection step for selecting the print setting from among the print setting candidates acquired in the print setting candidate acquisition step based on the value, and the apparatus evaluation value calculation step for the print setting selected in the print setting selection step. Based on the calculated device evaluation value, a printing device selection step for selecting the printing device as a printing destination from among the plurality of printing devices, and a document data acquisition step for acquiring document data associated with the printing specification information The print setting selected in the print setting selection step and the processing method corresponding to the print setting. The document data processing step for processing the document data acquired in the document data acquisition step, and the print settings of the printing device selected in the printing device selection step based on the print settings selected in the print setting selection step Selected in the printing device selection step based on the print setting information generation step for generating the print setting information including the print setting information generated in the print setting information generation step and the document data processed in the document data processing step. A program for causing a computer to execute processing including a print request step for requesting printing to a printing apparatus is stored.

  With such a configuration, when the program is read from the storage medium by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operation and effect as those of the printing support apparatus according to mode 1 can be obtained.

[Mode 18] Further, the storage medium of mode 18 is the storage medium of mode 17,
The specification evaluation value calculating step calculates, for each print setting candidate acquired in the print setting candidate acquisition step, a degree to which the print setting candidate realizes the print specification of the print specification information as the specification evaluation value. Features.
With such a configuration, when the program is read from the storage medium by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing support apparatus according to mode 4 are obtained.

[Mode 19] Furthermore, the storage medium of mode 19 is the storage medium of any one of modes 17 and 18,
In the device evaluation value calculation step, for each print setting candidate acquired in the print setting candidate acquisition step and for each printing device information acquired in the printing device information acquisition step, the device capability of the printing device information indicates the print setting. The degree of realizing a candidate is calculated as the device evaluation value.
With such a configuration, when the program is read from the storage medium by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing support apparatus according to mode 5 are obtained.

[Mode 20] Furthermore, the storage medium of mode 20 is the storage medium of any one of modes 17 to 19,
The print setting information includes a print control command for controlling the print requested in the print request step.
With such a configuration, when the program is read from the storage medium by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing support apparatus according to mode 6 are obtained.

[Mode 21] Furthermore, the storage medium of mode 21 is the storage medium of mode 20,
Further, a program for causing a computer to execute processing including a message display step for displaying a message according to a print control instruction included in the print setting information and a confirmation input step for inputting confirmation of the message is stored.
The printing request step requests printing to the printing program when the confirmation is input in the confirmation input step.
With such a configuration, when the program is read from the storage medium by the computer and the computer executes processing in accordance with the read program, the same operations and effects as those of the printing support apparatus according to mode 7 are obtained.

[Mode 22] On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, the printing support method of mode 22 includes:
A print support method for supporting printing based on print specification information including specifications of printed matter,
Acquired in the print specification information acquisition step of the print specification information acquisition step of acquiring the print specification information and the condition setting information of the condition setting information storage means for storing the condition setting information including the condition of the print specification and the print setting The print setting candidate acquisition step for acquiring the print setting candidate from the condition setting information of the condition that satisfies the print specification of the print specification information, and the print specification information acquired in the print specification information acquisition step. Based on the specification evaluation value calculation step for calculating the degree of suitability of the print setting candidates acquired in the print setting candidate acquisition step as a specification evaluation value, and on the specification evaluation value calculated in the specification evaluation value calculation step, the print setting candidate A print setting selection step for selecting the print setting from among the print setting candidates acquired in the acquisition step; and the print Characterized in that it comprises a print setting information generation step of generating print setting information based on the print settings selected with a constant selection step.
Thereby, an effect equivalent to that of the printing support apparatus according to mode 1 can be obtained.

[Form 23] Furthermore, the printing support method of form 23 is:
A print support method for supporting printing based on print specification information including specifications of printed matter,
A printing specification information obtaining step in which the computing means obtains the printing specification information; a printing device information obtaining step in which the computing means obtains printing device information indicating the device capability of each of a plurality of printing devices; and the computing Means acquired in the print specification information acquisition step among the condition setting information of the condition setting information storage means for storing condition setting information including the conditions of the print specifications, the print settings of the printing apparatus and the processing method of the document data A print setting candidate acquisition step for acquiring the print setting candidate from the condition setting information of the condition that satisfies the print specification of the print specification information, and the printing means prints the print specification information acquired in the print specification information acquisition step. A process for calculating, as a specification evaluation value, the degree to which the print setting candidate acquired in the print setting candidate acquisition step matches the specification. The evaluation value calculation step and the degree that the device capability of the printing device information acquired in the printing device information acquisition step matches the printing setting candidate acquired in the printing setting candidate acquisition step by the calculation unit as a device evaluation value A device evaluation value calculation step to calculate, and the calculation means selects the print setting from the print setting candidates acquired in the print setting candidate acquisition step based on the specification evaluation value calculated in the specification evaluation value calculation step A print setting selection step, and a printing destination selected from among the plurality of printing devices based on the device evaluation value calculated in the device evaluation value calculation step for the print setting selected in the print setting selection step. A printing device selection step of selecting the printing device, and a statement associated with the printing specification information by the computing means. Document data acquisition step for acquiring data, and the calculation means calculates the document data acquired in the document data acquisition step based on the print setting selected in the print setting selection step and the processing method corresponding to the print setting. A document data processing step to be processed, and a print setting for generating print setting information including a print setting of the printing device selected in the printing device selection step based on the print setting selected in the print setting selection step by the computing means An information generation step and a printing device selected by the printing device selection step based on the print setting information generated by the print setting information generation step and the document data processed by the document data processing step. And a print request step for requesting printing.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the printing support apparatus according to mode 2 can be obtained.

[Mode 24] Further, the printing support method of mode 24 is the printing support method of mode 22,
The condition setting information includes a condition of the print specification, a print setting of the printing apparatus, and a document data processing method.
Further, a printing apparatus information acquisition step for acquiring printing apparatus information indicating the device capability of each of the plurality of printing apparatuses, and a printing setting candidate acquired in the printing setting candidate acquisition step in the printing apparatus information acquisition step. A device evaluation value calculating step for calculating the degree of matching of the device capabilities of the acquired printing device information as a device evaluation value, and the device evaluation value calculated in the device evaluation value calculating step for the print setting selected in the print setting selecting step. A printing device selection step of selecting the printing device as a printing destination from the plurality of printing devices, a document data acquisition step of acquiring document data associated with the print specification information, and the print setting selection. Based on the print setting selected in step and the processing method corresponding to the print setting, Document data processing step for processing the document data acquired in the document data acquisition step, the printing device selection step based on the print setting information generated in the print setting information generation step and the document data processed in the document data processing step A print requesting step for requesting printing to the printing device selected in
In the print setting information generation step, the print setting information including the print setting of the printing apparatus selected in the printing apparatus selection step is generated based on the print setting selected in the print setting selection step.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the printing support apparatus according to mode 2 can be obtained.

[Mode 25] Furthermore, the printing support method of mode 25 is the printing support method of mode 22,
Furthermore, a constraint condition information acquisition step for acquiring constraint condition information regarding execution of printing is included,
In the print setting candidate acquisition step, the print setting candidate is acquired based on the constraint condition information acquired in the constraint condition information acquisition step.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the printing support apparatus according to mode 3 can be obtained.

[Form 26] Furthermore, the print support method of form 26 is the print support method of any one of forms 23 and 24,
The specification evaluation value calculating step calculates, for each print setting candidate acquired in the print setting candidate acquisition step, a degree to which the print setting candidate realizes the print specification of the print specification information as the specification evaluation value. Features.
Thereby, an effect equivalent to that of the printing support apparatus according to mode 4 is obtained.

[Form 27] Furthermore, the print support method of form 27 is the print support method of any one of forms 23, 24, and 26,
In the device evaluation value calculation step, for each print setting candidate acquired in the print setting candidate acquisition step and for each printing device information acquired in the printing device information acquisition step, the device capability of the printing device information indicates the print setting. The degree of realizing a candidate is calculated as the device evaluation value.
Thereby, an effect equivalent to that of the printing support apparatus according to mode 5 is obtained.

[Form 28] Furthermore, the print support method of form 28 is the print support method of any one of forms 23, 24, 26, and 27.
The print setting information includes a print control command for controlling the print requested in the print request step.
Thereby, the same effect as that of the printing support apparatus according to mode 6 can be obtained.

[Mode 29] Further, the printing support method of mode 29 is the printing support method of mode 28,
The information processing apparatus further includes a message display step of displaying a message in accordance with a print control command included in the print setting information.
Thereby, an effect equivalent to that of the printing support apparatus according to mode 7 is obtained.

[Mode 30] Further, the printing support method of mode 30 is the printing support method of mode 29,
And a confirmation input step for inputting confirmation of the message,
The printing request step requests printing to the printing apparatus when the confirmation input is input in the confirmation input step.
Thereby, an effect equivalent to that of the printing support apparatus according to mode 8 is obtained.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 to FIG. 16 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of a print support apparatus, a print support program and a storage medium, and a print support method according to the present invention.
In this embodiment, the printing support apparatus, the printing support program and the storage medium, and the printing support method according to the present invention are printed by the printing apparatus 200b using a print specification electronic job ticket as shown in FIG. It applies to the case.

First, an outline of functions of a network system to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of functions of a network system.
As shown in FIG. 1, a host terminal 100b and a plurality of printing apparatuses 200b are connected to the network 199b.
The host terminal 100b includes a printing specification electronic job ticket acquisition unit 10b that acquires a printing specification electronic job ticket including a specification of printed matter, and printing apparatus information that acquires printing apparatus information indicating the device capability of each of the plurality of printing apparatuses 200b. And an acquisition unit 12b.

  The host terminal 100b further includes a condition setting information storage unit 23b for storing condition setting information including printing specification conditions, printing settings of the printing apparatus 200b, and document data processing method, and condition setting information of the condition setting information storage unit 23b. And a print setting candidate acquisition unit 24b that acquires print setting candidates from condition setting information of conditions that satisfy the print specifications of the print specification electronic job ticket acquired by the print specification electronic job ticket acquisition unit 10b. Has been.

  The host terminal 100b further uses, as a specification evaluation value, a degree to which the print setting candidate acquired by the print setting candidate acquisition unit 24b matches the print specification of the print specification electronic job ticket acquired by the print specification electronic job ticket acquisition unit 10b. The degree to which the device capability of the printing device information acquired by the printing device information acquisition unit 12b matches the printing setting candidate acquired by the specification evaluation value calculation unit 25b and the printing setting candidate acquisition unit 24b is calculated as a device evaluation value. And a device evaluation value calculation unit 26b.

  The host terminal 100b further includes a print setting selection unit 27b that selects a print setting from among the print setting candidates acquired by the print setting candidate acquisition unit 24b based on the specification evaluation value calculated by the specification evaluation value calculation unit 25b. Based on the device evaluation value calculated by the device evaluation value calculation unit 26b for the print setting selected by the print setting selection unit 27b, the printing device selection unit 28b that selects the printing device 200b that is the printing destination from the plurality of printing devices 200b. And is configured.

Further, the host terminal 100b is based on the document data acquisition unit 16b that acquires the document data specified by the print specification electronic job ticket, the print setting selected by the print setting selection unit 27b, and the processing method corresponding to the print setting. The document data processing unit 18b processes the document data acquired by the document data acquisition unit 16b.
The host terminal 100b further prints the printing device 200b selected by the printing device selection unit 28b based on the printing setting selected by the printing setting selection unit 27b and the printing device information of the printing device 200b selected by the printing device selection unit 28b. Based on the print setting electronic job ticket generation unit 20b that generates a print setting electronic job ticket including settings, the print setting electronic job ticket generated by the print setting electronic job ticket generation unit 20b, and the document data processed by the document data processing unit 18b. And a print request unit 22b that requests printing to the printing device 200b selected by the printing device selection unit 28b.

Next, the configuration of the host terminal 100b will be described in detail.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the host terminal 100b.
As shown in FIG. 2, the host terminal 100b includes a CPU 30b that controls operations and the entire system based on a control program, a ROM 32b that stores a control program of the CPU 30b in a predetermined area, and data read from the ROM 32b. And a RAM 34b for storing calculation results required in the calculation process of the CPU 30b, and an I / F 38b for mediating input / output of data to / from an external device. These signals are signals for transferring data. The buses 39b are connected to each other so as to be able to exchange data.

The I / F 38b includes, as external devices, an input device 40b including a keyboard and a mouse that can input data as a human interface, a storage device 42b that stores data, tables, and the like as files, and a screen based on image signals. Is connected to a signal line for connecting to the network 199b.
Next, the data structure of the print specification electronic job ticket will be described.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of the print specification electronic job ticket.
As shown in FIG. 3, the print specification electronic job ticket is electronic data in which print specifications are described, and can be described in a markup language such as XML (eXtensible Markup Language). In the example of FIG. 3, “CMYK”, “saddle stitching”, “left”, “double-sided”, and “A4 portrait” are described for color, binding type, binding position, double-sided printing, and finishing paper size.

Next, the data structure of the condition setting information will be described.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of the condition setting information.
The storage device 42b constitutes a condition setting information storage unit 23b and stores at least one condition setting information.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the condition setting information includes a condition clause in which a condition of the print specification is described, a print setting to be adopted as a candidate when the print specification of the print specification electronic job ticket satisfies the condition of the condition clause, and the condition setting information. This is electronic data composed of an execution clause in which the processing method is described when the processing of document data is required in accordance with the print setting, and can be described in a markup language such as XML, for example. In the example of FIG. 4A, the condition that the color is “CMYK” is described as the conditional clause, and the print setting for setting the color to “CMYK” is described as the execution clause. This indicates that when “CMYK” is set as the print specification of the print specification electronic job ticket, the print setting in the execution section of FIG. 4A is adopted as a candidate.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the execution clause partially implements the print settings that completely realize the print specifications set as the conditions of the conditional clause and the print specifications set as the conditions of the conditional clause. Print settings to be described. In the execution section, “Yes (true)” is set in the “Specification Satisfaction” item for the print settings that fully realize the print specifications, and “Specification Satisfaction” is set for the print settings that partially realize the print specifications. Set “x (false)” to each item. In the example of FIG. 4B, the binding type, binding position, double-sided printing, and finishing paper size are “saddle stitching”, “left”, “double-sided”, and “A4 portrait” as the conditional clause, and the binding type , Binding position, double-sided printing, paper feeding paper size and folding method of the printing apparatus 200b are “saddle stitching”, “left”, “double-sided (flip on Y axis)”, “A3 landscape” and “F4-1” The first print setting that completely realizes the print specifications in the conditional clause is “strip binding”, “left”, “double-sided (flip on Y axis)”, and “A4 portrait”. Are described as second print settings that partially realize the print specifications of the conditional clauses. In addition, “2-sided” is described in accordance with the folding method “F4-1” as the processing method corresponding to the first print setting. In the second print setting, since the paper feed paper size is “A4 portrait”, the binding type is “flat stitching”, and “saddle stitching” which is the printing specification of the conditional clause cannot be realized.

Next, how to fold a sheet will be described.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting the folding method.
As shown in FIG. 5, “F4-1” is a folding method when two pages are allocated on both sides of the printing paper, and indicates that the printing paper is folded in half in the left-right direction.
“F8-1” is a folding method when four pages are assigned to both sides of the printing paper, and indicates that the printing paper is folded in half in the left-right direction and further folded in half in the up-down direction.

“F16-1” is a folding method when 8 pages are allocated to both sides of the printing paper, and indicates that the printing paper is folded in half in the left-right direction, further folded in half in the up-down direction, and further folded in half in the left-right direction. ing.
“Double-sided (flip along Y axis)” means that double-sided printing is performed so that pages are turned along the Y-axis of the printing paper. On the other hand, “double-sided (flip along X axis)” means that double-sided printing is performed so that pages are turned along the X-axis of printing paper.

“F4-1”, “F8-1”, and “F16-1” are all unique identifiers that specify how to fold a sheet.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a setting example of the processing method.
The processing method “F4-1 with two sides” means that the document data is processed in a state in which two pages are allocated on both sides of the paper on the premise that the paper is folded by the folding method “F4-1”. To do. At that time, the imposition process is executed with reference to the set value of the processing method.

  For example, it is assumed that there are 8 pages of document data in the A4 portrait paper size. In that case, the paper size is processed into document data as shown in FIG. 8 with an A3 landscape. That is, 8 pages of the original document data are arranged on the left half and one page of the original document data is arranged on the right half on one page of the processed document data. Similarly, two pages of the processed document data are arranged such that two pages of the original document data are arranged on the left half and seven pages of the original document data are arranged on the right half, and the three pages of the processed document data are arranged on the original document. 6 pages of data are arranged in the left half, 3 pages of the original document data are arranged in the right half, 4 pages of the processed document data are arranged in 4 pages of the original document data in the left half, and 5 pages of the original document data are arranged. Place the page in the right half. After the document data processed in this way is printed and output in a paper size A3 landscape and double-sided (flip on the Y axis), the output paper is folded by the folding method F4-1, and the right side is opened when saddle stitching is performed on the left side of the binding position. This will produce an 8-page booklet.

Next, the data structure of the printing apparatus information will be described.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of printing apparatus information.
As shown in FIG. 7, the printing apparatus information is electronic data describing the device capability of the printing apparatus 200b. In the example of FIG. 7, the contents of the paper feed size, color, and duplex printing are described. In the example of FIG. 5A, for the printer 1 that is the printing apparatus 200b, “A4 portrait”, “A4 landscape”, “A3 portrait”, and “A3 landscape” are provided as the paper feed size. This indicates that “CMYK” and “monochrome” can be set as color, and “single side”, “double side (flip on X axis)” and “double side (flip on Y axis)” can be set as double-sided printing. In the example of FIG. 5B, for the printer 2 which is the printing apparatus 200b, “A4 portrait” and “A4 landscape” are used as the paper feed paper size, and “CMYK” and “monochrome” are used as the colors. As double-sided printing, “single-sided”, “double-sided (flip on X axis)” and “double-sided (flip on Y-axis)” can be set.

Next, the data structure of the print setting electronic job ticket will be described.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of the print setting electronic job ticket.
The print setting electronic job ticket is electronic data in which detailed print settings of the printing apparatus 200b are described in order to control the printing apparatus 200b that executes printing. As shown in FIG. 8, a predetermined start tag (for example, , <Overall setting>) and an end tag (for example, </ overall setting>), a print set is set by nesting a tag set of a start tag and an end tag. For example, it can be described in a markup language such as XML.

  The print setting electronic job ticket has a part that directly inherits the contents of the print specification electronic job ticket, but often includes setting information unique to the printing apparatus 200b. For example, copy printing, paper feed tray setting, paper discharge tray setting, saving mode, and the like. The printing apparatus 200b can be controlled by inputting the print setting electronic job ticket to the printing apparatus 200b.

Next, processing executed by the CPU 30b will be described.
The CPU 30b includes a microprocessing unit and the like, starts a predetermined program stored in a predetermined area of the ROM 32b, and executes a print request process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 according to the program.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the print request process.

The print request process is a process for requesting printing to the printing apparatus 200b. When the print request process is executed in the CPU 30b, as shown in FIG. 9, first, the process proceeds to step S100b.
In step S100b, a print specification electronic job ticket is acquired. The print specification electronic job ticket may be acquired, for example, via the network 199b, or may be acquired by reading from an external storage medium such as a flash memory. The same applies to step S106b.

Next, the process proceeds to step S102b, and printing apparatus information is acquired for each of the plurality of printing apparatuses 200b. The printing apparatus information may be acquired by, for example, inquiring of a printer driver, or may be acquired by reading an electronic file describing device capabilities for each printing apparatus 200b connected in advance.
Next, the process proceeds to step S150b, the condition setting information of the condition that satisfies the print specifications of the acquired print specification electronic job ticket is searched from the storage device 42b, and the print setting candidates are acquired from the searched condition setting information. To do. The print setting candidates are configured by combining, in units of print settings included in the condition setting information, items that do not overlap among the acquired print settings. The example of FIGS. 3 and 4 is a case where there are five items of print specifications and two condition setting information corresponding thereto. First, for the color of the print specification items, one print setting is included in the first condition setting information. Among the print specification items, the second condition setting information includes two print settings for the binding type, binding position, double-sided printing, and finishing paper size. Therefore, three print settings are acquired from the first and second condition setting information. In this case, since the print setting candidates are a combination of the print settings acquired for the color and the print settings acquired for the binding type, etc., the number is 1 × 2 = 2.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S152b, and for each acquired print setting candidate, the degree to which the print setting candidate realizes the print specification of the print specification electronic job ticket is calculated as a specification evaluation value. Specifically, with the print setting item included in the condition setting information as a unit, whether or not the content of the item of the print setting candidate completely realizes the content of the corresponding item of the print specification is determined in the condition setting information. Determination is made based on the value of “specification satisfaction”, and when it is determined that the specification is completely realized, “1” is added. For example, if the print setting candidate is composed of a combination of print settings acquired from two condition setting information, the contents of the print setting candidate for the print setting item acquired from the first condition setting information are printed. It is determined whether or not the content of the item corresponding to the specification is realized, and for the print setting item acquired from the second condition setting information, the content of the item of the print setting candidate is the content of the item corresponding to the print specification. It is determined whether or not to realize. Since “1” is added to each when it is determined to be completely realized, in this case, the specification evaluation value can take a value of “0” to “2”.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S154b, and for each acquired print setting candidate and each printing device information, the degree to which the device capability of the printing device information realizes the print setting candidate is calculated as a device evaluation value. Specifically, when calculating device evaluation values for a set of print setting candidates and printing device information, the content of each item corresponding to the print setting candidate for all the possible contents for each item of printing device information Whether or not the contents of the items in the printing device information and the contents of the corresponding items of the print setting candidates match for each item of the combination of setting contents (hereinafter referred to as setting contents combination) When it is determined that they match, the device evaluation value is calculated by adding “1”. When there are three items of printing device information, “1” is added when it is determined that the contents match for each item, so the device evaluation value can take values from “0” to “3”.

Next, the process proceeds to step S156b, the print setting with the highest specification evaluation value is selected from the acquired print setting candidates, and the process proceeds to step S158b.
In step S158b, the setting content combination having the highest device evaluation value is selected from the combinations corresponding to the print settings selected in step S156b (hereinafter referred to as selected print settings) from among the print content candidates and print device information setting content combinations. Then, the printing device 200b of the printing device information related to the selected combination of setting contents is selected as the printing destination from the plurality of printing devices 200b. Since the contents of one set of print setting candidates and printing device information are combined brute force, even if there is only one print setting candidate corresponding to the selected print setting and only one printing device information, the corresponding setting content combination There may be more than one. Therefore, as the setting content combination having the highest apparatus evaluation value, one setting content combination is selected, and one or more setting content combinations corresponding to, for example, one set of print setting candidates and printing device information are set as one setting. As a content set, a set content set having the highest total, average value, maximum value, minimum value, median value, and other statistical values of apparatus evaluation values may be selected.

Next, the process proceeds to step S106b, and the document data specified by the print specification electronic job ticket is acquired. The process proceeds to step S108b, and the processing method associated with the selected print setting in the selected print setting and condition setting information is obtained. Based on this, the acquired document data is processed, and the process proceeds to step S110b.
In step S110b, a print setting electronic job ticket including the print settings of the selected printing apparatus 200b is generated based on the selected printing settings and the printing apparatus information of the printing apparatus 200b selected in step S158b (hereinafter referred to as the selected printing apparatus 200b). Then, the process proceeds to step S112b, based on the generated print setting electronic job ticket and the processed document data, print control processing for requesting printing to the selected printing apparatus 200b is performed, and the process proceeds to step S114b.

In step S114b, it is determined whether or not the process of step S112b has been completed for all the selected printing apparatuses 200b. When it is determined that the processes have been completed for all the selected printing apparatuses 200b (Yes), the series of processes is terminated. To return to the original process.
On the other hand, when it is determined in step S114b that the processing has not been completed for all the selected printing apparatuses 200b (No), the process proceeds to step S112b.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
In the host terminal 100b, the print specification electronic job ticket is acquired through step S100b. As a result, it is assumed that the print specification electronic job ticket having the contents shown in FIG. 3 is acquired.
In addition, printing apparatus information is acquired through step S102b. As a result, it is assumed that the printing apparatus information having the contents shown in FIG. 7 has been acquired.

Next, through step S150b, condition setting information for conditions satisfying the print specifications of the print specification electronic job ticket is searched from the storage device 42b, and print setting candidates are acquired from the searched condition setting information.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a list of print setting candidates.
Assume that two pieces of condition setting information having the contents shown in FIG. 4 are retrieved as condition setting information for conditions that satisfy the printing specifications. In this case, since the print setting candidates are a combination of the print settings acquired for the color and the print settings acquired for the binding type, etc., the number is 1 × 2 = 2.

As shown in FIG. 10, the print setting candidate 1 includes six items of color, binding type, binding position, double-sided printing, paper feed paper size, and folding method, and the contents are “CMYK” and “saddle stitching”. , “Left”, “Both sides (flip on Y axis)”, “A3 Landscape” and “F4-1”.
The print setting candidate 2 includes five items of color, binding type, binding position, double-sided printing, and paper feed paper size. The contents are “CMYK”, “flat binding”, “left”, “double-sided (Y axis) Flip) ”and“ A4 Portrait ”.

Next, through step S152b, a specification evaluation value is calculated for each print setting candidate.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a result of calculating the specification evaluation value for the print setting candidates 1 and 2.
For the print setting candidate 1, according to the “specification satisfaction” value of the condition setting information in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 11, the color contents of the print specification items can be completely realized, and the print specification Of these items, the contents such as the binding type can be completely realized, so that “1” is added to each item. As a result, the specification evaluation value is “2”.

For the print setting candidate 2, according to the “specification satisfaction” value of the condition setting information in FIG. 4, the color content can be completely realized among the print specification items, but the binding type among the print specification items Since only a part of the contents can be realized, “1” is added only for the color. As a result, the specification evaluation value is “1”.
Next, through step S154b, an apparatus evaluation value is calculated for each print setting candidate and for each printing apparatus information.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating all combinations of contents that can be taken for each printing apparatus 200b for each item of the printing apparatus information.
All combinations of contents that can be taken for each item of the printing apparatus information are as follows. For the printer 1, there are four kinds of contents of the paper feed paper size, two kinds of contents of color, and three kinds of contents of double-sided printing. As shown in FIG. 12, 4 × 2 × 3 = 24. For the printer 2, since there are two types of contents of the paper feed paper size, two types of color contents, and three types of double-sided printing contents, there are 2 × 2 × 3 = 12 types.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a result of calculating device evaluation values for the print setting candidate 1 and the printing device information of the printer 1.
Of the items of the print setting candidate 1, the items corresponding to the items of the printing apparatus information are paper feed paper size, color, and duplex printing. Therefore, when the contents of the corresponding items of the print setting candidate 1 are combined with the brute force for all the contents that can be taken for each item of the printing apparatus information, as shown in FIG. For each content of the size, “A3 landscape” of the print setting candidate 1 and for each color content of the printing device information, “CMYK” of the printing setting candidate 1 each content of the duplex printing of the printing device information Corresponds to “Double-sided (Y-axis flip)” of the print setting candidate 1.

  Then, for each set content combination, “1” is set when the content of the paper feed size is the same, the color content is the same, and the double-sided print content is the same. Addition is performed to calculate a device evaluation value for each setting content combination. In the example of FIG. 13, for the setting content combination in the third row, the contents of color and double-sided printing match, so the apparatus evaluation value is 1 + 1 = “2”.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a result of calculating device evaluation values for the print setting candidate 2 and the printing device information of the printer 1.
Of the items of the print setting candidate 2, the items corresponding to the items of the printing apparatus information are paper feed paper size, color, and duplex printing. Therefore, when the contents of the corresponding items of the print setting candidate 2 are combined with the brute force for all the contents that can be taken for each item of the printing apparatus information, as shown in FIG. “A4 portrait” of print setting candidate 2 for each size content, and “CMYK” of print setting candidate 2 for each color content of printing device information The contents correspond to “both sides (flip on Y axis)” of the print setting candidate 2 respectively.

  Then, for each set content combination, “1” is set when the content of the paper feed size is the same, the color content is the same, and the double-sided print content is the same. Addition is performed to calculate a device evaluation value for each setting content combination. In the example of FIG. 14, with regard to the setting content combination in the third row, since the paper feed paper size, color, and double-sided printing content all match, the apparatus evaluation value is 1 + 1 + 1 = “3”.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a result of calculating the device evaluation values for the printing setting candidate 1 and the printing device information of the printer 2.
Of the items of the print setting candidate 1, the items corresponding to the items of the printing apparatus information are paper feed paper size, color, and duplex printing. Accordingly, when the contents of the corresponding items of the print setting candidate 1 are combined with the brute force for all the contents that can be taken for each item of the printing apparatus information, as shown in FIG. For each content of the size, “A3 landscape” of the print setting candidate 1 and for each color content of the printing device information, “CMYK” of the printing setting candidate 1 each content of the duplex printing of the printing device information Corresponds to “Double-sided (Y-axis flip)” of the print setting candidate 1.

  Then, for each set content combination, “1” is set when the content of the paper feed size is the same, the color content is the same, and the double-sided print content is the same. Addition is performed to calculate a device evaluation value for each setting content combination. In the example of FIG. 15, for the setting content combination in the third row, the contents of color and double-sided printing match, so the device evaluation value is 1 + 1 = “2”.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a result of calculating device evaluation values for the print setting candidate 2 and the printing device information of the printer 2.
Of the items of the print setting candidate 2, the items corresponding to the items of the printing apparatus information are paper feed paper size, color, and duplex printing. Therefore, when the contents of the corresponding items of the print setting candidate 2 are combined with the brute force for all the contents that can be taken for each item of the printing apparatus information, as shown in FIG. “A4 portrait” of print setting candidate 2 for each size content, and “CMYK” of print setting candidate 2 for each color content of printing device information The contents correspond to “both sides (flip on Y axis)” of the print setting candidate 2 respectively.

  Then, for each set content combination, “1” is set when the content of the paper feed size is the same, the color content is the same, and the double-sided print content is the same. Addition is performed to calculate a device evaluation value for each setting content combination. In the example of FIG. 16, for the setting content combination in the third row, since the paper feed paper size, color, and double-sided printing content all match, the apparatus evaluation value is 1 + 1 + 1 = “3”.

Next, through step S156b, the print setting with the highest specification evaluation value is selected from the print setting candidates. In the example of FIG. 11, the print setting candidate 1 is selected because the specification evaluation value of the print setting candidate 1 is the highest.
Next, through step S158b, the setting content combination with the highest device evaluation value is selected from among the print content candidates and the setting content combinations of the printing device information corresponding to the selected print setting, and from among a plurality of printing devices 200b. The printing apparatus 200b of the printing apparatus information related to the selected setting content combination is selected as the printing destination. In the example of FIGS. 13 to 16, since the calculation result of FIG. 13 corresponds to the selected print setting, the combination of setting contents is selected, and the printing apparatus 200b of the printing apparatus information related to the selected setting content combination, that is, the printer 1 Is selected.

Next, through step S106b, the document data specified by the print specification electronic job ticket is acquired. Since the location of the document data is described in a format such as a URL in the print specification electronic job ticket, the document data is acquired from the described location.
Next, the document data is processed through step S108b. In the above example, since the print setting candidate 1 is selected, the binding type of the condition setting information in FIG. 4 is “saddle stitching”, the binding position is “left”, the duplex printing is “double-sided (flip on the Y axis)”, The document data is processed in accordance with the processing method “F4-1 with 2 sides” associated with the paper sheet size “A3 landscape”.

Next, through step S110b, a print setting electronic job ticket including print settings of the selected printing apparatus 200b is generated. In the above example, printing including a print setting in which the paper size is “A3 landscape”, the color is “CMYK”, the double-sided printing is “double-sided (flip on the Y axis)”, and the designation of the printing destination is the selective printing apparatus 200b. A setting electronic job ticket is generated.
Then, after step S112b, the print setting described in the print setting electronic job ticket is automatically performed on the selected printing apparatus 200b, and then the print control command for the document data described in the print setting electronic job ticket is issued. publish. As a result, it is possible to obtain a printed matter that conforms to the printing specifications from the selective printing apparatus 200b.

  In this way, in the present embodiment, the printing specification electronic job ticket is acquired, the printing device information indicating the device capability is acquired for each of the plurality of printing devices 200b, and the printing specification of the printing specification electronic job ticket is satisfied. The print setting candidate is acquired from the condition setting information of the condition to be used, and the degree of suitability of the device capability of the printing apparatus information is set as a specification evaluation value based on the degree to which the print setting candidate matches the print specification of the print specification electronic job ticket. Each is calculated as an evaluation value, a print setting is selected from among the print setting candidates based on the specification evaluation value, and a printing destination is selected from among the plurality of printing apparatuses 200b based on the apparatus evaluation value calculated for the selected print setting. , Obtain document data, process the document data based on the selected print settings, generate print settings electronic job ticket, Set based on the electronic job ticket and the document data, and requests printing on selected printing apparatus 200b.

As a result, the print setting and the printing apparatus 200b are selected based on the degree of conformity with the print specification, and therefore the degree of realizing the print specification can be improved as compared with the conventional case.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, for each print setting candidate, the degree to which the print setting candidate realizes the print specification of the print specification information is calculated as a specification evaluation value.
As a result, the degree to which the print setting candidate realizes the print specification is used as the evaluation value, so that the degree to which the print specification is realized can be further improved.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, for each print setting candidate and for each printing apparatus information, the degree to which the device capability of the printing apparatus information realizes the printing setting candidate is calculated as an apparatus evaluation value.
Thereby, since the degree by which the device capability of the printing apparatus realizes the print setting candidate is used as the evaluation value, the degree of realizing the printing specification can be further improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the document data is processed based on the selected print setting and the printing device information of the selected printing device 200b.
Thereby, since the document data is processed so as to match the device capability of the selective printing apparatus 200b, the degree of realizing the printing specification can be further improved.
Further, in the present embodiment, the print setting electronic job ticket is processed based on the selected print setting and the printing apparatus information of the selected printing apparatus 200b.

As a result, the print setting electronic job ticket is generated so as to match the device capability of the selected printing apparatus 200b, so that the degree of realizing the print specifications can be further improved.
In the first embodiment, the storage device 42b corresponds to the condition setting information storage unit in the form 1, 9, 17, 22 or 23, and the print specification electronic job ticket acquisition unit 10b and step S100b are in the form 1. Corresponding to the printing specification information acquisition means, step S100b corresponds to the printing specification information acquisition step of the form 9, 17, 22 or 23. Further, the printing apparatus information acquisition unit 12b and step S102b correspond to the printing apparatus information acquisition unit of form 2 or 5, and step S102b acquires the printing apparatus information of form 10, 13, 17, 19, 23, 24, or 27. Corresponding to the step, the print setting candidate acquisition unit 24b and step S150b correspond to the print setting candidate acquisition means of the form 1, 2, 4 or 5.

  In the first embodiment, step S150b corresponds to the print setting candidate acquisition step of modes 9, 10, 12, 13, 17 to 19, 22 to 24, 26, or 27, and a specification evaluation value calculation unit. 25b and step S152b correspond to the specification evaluation value calculation means of the form 1 or 4. Further, step S152b corresponds to the specification evaluation value calculation step of the mode 9, 12, 17, 18, 22, 23, or 26, and the device evaluation value calculation unit 26b and the step S154b calculate the device evaluation value of the mode 2 or 5. Corresponding to the means, step S154b corresponds to the apparatus evaluation value calculating step of the mode 10, 13, 17, 19, 23, 24 or 27.

  In the first embodiment, the print setting selection unit 27b and step S156b correspond to the print setting selection unit of form 1 or 2, and step S156b is the print of forms 9, 10, 17, 22 to 24. Corresponding to the setting selection step, the printing device selection unit 28b and step S158b correspond to the printing device selection means of mode 2. Step S158b corresponds to the printing device selection step of form 10, 17, 23, or 24, the document data acquisition unit 16b and step S106b correspond to the form 2 document data acquisition unit, and step S106b corresponds to form 10. , 17, 23 or 24 corresponds to the document data acquisition step.

  In the first embodiment, the document data processing unit 18b and step S108b correspond to the document data processing unit of form 2, and step S108b corresponds to the document data processing step of form 10, 17, 23, or 24. Correspondingly, the print setting electronic job ticket generation unit 20b and step S110b correspond to the print setting information generation means of mode 1 or 2. Step S110b corresponds to the print setting information generation step of forms 9, 10, 17, 22 to 24, print request unit 22b and step S112b correspond to the print request means of form 2, and step S112b This corresponds to the print request step of 10, 17, 23 or 24.

In the first embodiment, the print specification electronic job ticket corresponds to the print specification information of the forms 1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 12, 17, 18, 22 to 24, or 26, and print settings. The electronic job ticket corresponds to the print setting information in the form 2, 10, 17, 23 or 24, and the CPU 30b corresponds to the calculation means in the form 23.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 17 to 20 are diagrams showing a second embodiment of the print support apparatus, print support program and storage medium, and print support method according to the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the print support apparatus, the print support program and the storage medium, and the print support method according to the present invention are applied to a case where printing is performed by the printing apparatus 200b using a print specification electronic job ticket. The difference from the first embodiment is that exclusive processing is controlled for the print setting electronic job ticket when double-sided printing is performed using the printing apparatus 200b capable of only single-sided printing.

First, the print control process in step S112b will be described in detail.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the print control process.
When the print control process is executed in step S112b, the process first proceeds to step S200b as shown in FIG.
In step S200b, a print setting electronic job ticket is received, the process proceeds to step S202b, the document data is transmitted to the selected printing apparatus 200b, the process proceeds to step S204b, and new reception of the print setting electronic job ticket is prohibited. The process proceeds to S206b.

In step S206b, the first element is acquired from the accepted print setting electronic job ticket, and the process proceeds to step S208b to determine whether the acquired element is a print control command, and it is determined that the acquired element is not a print control command. When it is (No), the process proceeds to step S210b and proceeds to step S210b.
In step S210b, it is determined whether or not the acquired element is a print setting. When it is determined that the acquired element is a print setting (Yes), the process proceeds to step S212b and the selected printing apparatus 200b is performed according to the acquired print setting. In step S214b, the selective printing apparatus 200b is instructed to print document data, and the process proceeds to step S216b.

In step S216b, it is determined whether or not there is an unprocessed element in the print setting electronic job ticket. If it is determined that there is no unprocessed element (No), the process proceeds to step S218b and printing is performed. A new acceptance of the set electronic job ticket is permitted, a series of processing is terminated, and the original processing is restored.
On the other hand, when it is determined in step S216b that there is an unprocessed element in the print setting electronic job ticket (Yes), the process proceeds to step S220b, and the next element is acquired from the print setting electronic job ticket. The process proceeds to S208b.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S210b that the acquired element is not a print setting (No), the process proceeds to step S216b.
On the other hand, when it is determined in step S208b that the acquired element is a print control command (Yes), the process proceeds to step S222b, a dialog message is displayed according to the acquired print control command, and the process proceeds to step S224b.

In step S224b, it is determined whether or not the OK button arranged on the dialog message screen has been clicked. When it is determined that the OK button has been clicked (Yes), the process proceeds to step S226b. (No) stands by in step S224b until the OK button is clicked.
In step S226b, the dialog message is deleted, and the process proceeds to step S228b to determine whether or not the selected printing apparatus 200b is in a job waiting state. When it is determined that the job is in a job waiting state (Yes), the process proceeds to step S216b. To do.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S228b that the selected printing apparatus 200b is not in a job waiting state (No), the process proceeds to step S222b.
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a print specification electronic job ticket.
Consider a case where a print specification electronic job ticket having the contents shown in FIG. 18 is received as an input. As in the first embodiment, the printing apparatus 200b is selected through steps S102b to S158b. If there is no printing apparatus 200b capable of duplex printing, the printing apparatus 200b capable of single-sided printing is selected. Is done.

  Here, the print specification specifies double-sided printing, but the selected printing apparatus 200b does not have a double-sided printing capability. As described above, when the selective printing apparatus 200b that can only perform single-sided printing receives the printing specifications for double-sided printing, the document data includes the document data for the front side of the page printed on the front side and the back side of the page printed on the back side. If the document data is divided, the front side document data is printed first, the paper ejected manually is re-fed, and then the back side document data is printed to easily realize double-sided printing. it can.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of the print setting electronic job ticket.
FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a dialog message screen.
Therefore, it is divided into document data for only odd pages (front side document data) and document data for only even pages (back side document data), as shown in FIG. A job ticket is generated. Further, after printing the front-side document data, a print control command for displaying a dialog message as shown in FIG. 20 is also generated.

  When the front-side print setting electronic job ticket is input, a message dialog is output according to the print control command when the front-side print processing is completed. When it is determined that the user has clicked the OK button, the back side printing process is executed according to the back side print setting electronic job ticket. Here, the determination as to whether or not the front surface printing process has ended may be realized by periodically inquiring the state to the selected printing apparatus 200b, or the selected printing apparatus 200b outputs an end notification to the host terminal 100b. You may have the function to do.

  In the second embodiment, steps S212b and S214b correspond to the print request unit of form 6 or 8, or the print request step of form 14, 16, 20, 21, 28 or 30, and step S222b is form. This corresponds to 21 message display steps. Step S224b corresponds to the confirmation input unit of form 8, or the confirmation input step of form 16, 21, or 30, and the print setting electronic job ticket is printed in forms 6, 7, 14, 15, 20, 21, 28, or It corresponds to 29 print setting information.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 21 and 22 are diagrams showing a third embodiment of the print support apparatus, print support program and storage medium, and print support method according to the present invention.
The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a print setting candidate is selected based on constraint condition information. Hereinafter, only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described, and the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

First, an outline of functions of a network system to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 21 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of functions of the host terminal 100b.
As shown in FIG. 21, the host terminal 100b includes a print specification electronic job ticket acquisition unit 10b, a condition setting information storage unit 23b, a specification evaluation value calculation unit 25b, a print setting selection unit 27b, and a print request unit 22b. It is configured.

  The host terminal 100b further prints based on the constraint condition information acquired by the constraint condition information acquisition unit 12c and the constraint condition information acquisition unit 12c that acquires printing device information, material inventory information, and other constraint condition information related to execution of printing. A print setting candidate acquisition unit 24b that acquires setting candidates and a print setting electronic job ticket generation unit 20c that generates a print setting electronic job ticket based on the print settings selected by the print setting selection unit 27b are configured. Yes.

Next, the print request process will be described.
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing print request processing.
When the print request process is executed in the CPU 30b, as shown in FIG. 22, first, the process proceeds to step S102c via step S100b.
In step S102c, constraint condition information is acquired, the process proceeds to step S150c, print setting candidates are acquired based on the acquired constraint condition information, and the process proceeds to step S110c via steps S152b and 156b. In step S150c, each item related to print specifications and print settings may be processed separately. For example, bookbinding, paper size, double-sided printing, color setting, and paper type may be processed separately and selected.

In step S110c, a print setting electronic job ticket is generated based on the print setting selected in step S156b, and a series of processing is terminated through steps S112b and 114b, and the original processing is restored.
As a result, the print settings are selected based on the degree of conformity to the print specifications under the restrictions on the execution of printing, so that the degree of realizing the print specifications can be improved.

  In the third embodiment, the constraint condition information acquisition unit 12c and step S102c correspond to the constraint condition information acquisition unit of mode 3, and step S102c corresponds to the constraint condition information acquisition step of mode 11 or 25. The print setting candidate acquisition unit 24c and step S150c correspond to the print setting candidate acquisition unit of mode 3. Step S150c corresponds to the print setting candidate acquisition step of form 11 or 25.

In the first embodiment, the print setting electronic job ticket is generated on the basis of the selected print setting and the printing apparatus information of the selected printing apparatus 200b. The print setting electronic job ticket may be generated based on the print setting.
In the second embodiment, the dialog message is displayed in accordance with the print control command, and when it is determined that the OK button is clicked, the printing apparatus 200b is requested to perform printing. However, as shown in FIG. 23, a print setting electronic job ticket including a control command for displaying a print setting confirmation at the head is generated, and the print setting is displayed according to the control command without waiting for a confirmation input by the user. It can also be configured.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of the print setting electronic job ticket.
In the first embodiment, the condition setting information shown in FIG. 4 is used. Alternatively, the condition setting information shown in FIG. 24 can be used instead.
FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of the condition setting information.
In the example of FIG. 24, the first level record includes the condition that the ink used is “CMYK-JapanColor” as a conditional clause, the print setting that the color setting is “JapanColor simulation” as the execution clause, and specification satisfaction “0.9” is described. This applies to the print specification for which the used ink “CMYK-JapanColor” is set, but the print setting with the color setting “JapanColor simulation” is applied, but the specification satisfaction is “0.9” in this conversion. Means. The specification satisfaction is set in the range of 0 to 1, and is an index indicating that the degree of achievement of the printing specification is lower as the value approaches “0” and the degree of achievement of the printing specification is higher as the value approaches “1”. is there.

  In the sixth row record, the condition that the surface coat is “art” is described as the conditional clause, the print setting that the paper type is “glossy paper” is the execution clause, and the specification satisfaction is “1”. Yes. This means that the print setting for the paper type “glossy paper” is applied to the print specification for which the surface coat “art” is set, but the specification satisfaction is “1” in this conversion. To do.

In the 10th row record, the condition that the paper thickness is “50 to 70 g / m ² ” is the conditional clause, the print setting that the paper thickness is “thin” is the execution clause, and the specification satisfaction is “1”. Is described. This applies the print setting for the paper thickness “thin” to the print specification for which the paper thickness “50 to 70 g / m ² ” is set, but the specification satisfaction is “1” in this conversion. It means that.

The same applies to the records in the second to fifth, seventh to ninth, eleventh, and twelfth tiers, and for the print specifications that satisfy the condition clause in the left column, the execution clause in the right column. Means to apply the print settings.
In the first to third embodiments, the selection printing apparatus 200b is requested to print based on the generated print setting electronic job ticket and the processed document data. Alternatively, the generated print setting electronic job ticket may be output as a file or the like.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, the case where the control program stored in advance in the ROM 32b is executed when executing the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 9, 17, and 22 will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 25, the program may be read from the storage medium storing the program showing these procedures into the RAM 34b and executed.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a storage medium and its data structure.
Here, the storage medium is a semiconductor storage medium such as RAM or ROM, a magnetic storage type storage medium such as FD or HD, an optical reading type storage medium such as CD, CDV, LD, or DVD, or a magnetic storage type such as MO. / Optical reading type storage media, including any storage media that can be read by a computer regardless of electronic, magnetic, optical, or other reading methods.

  In the first and second embodiments, the print support apparatus, the print support program and the storage medium, and the print support method according to the present invention are printed by the printing apparatus 200b using the print specification electronic job ticket. However, the present invention is not limited to this, but can be applied to other cases without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the function outline | summary of a network system. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the host terminal 100b. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a printing specification electronic job ticket. It is a figure which shows the data structure of condition setting information. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting of a folding method. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting of a processing method. It is a figure which shows the data structure of printing apparatus information. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a print setting electronic job ticket. 6 is a flowchart illustrating print request processing. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a list of print setting candidates. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a result of calculating a specification evaluation value for print setting candidates 1 and 2; It is a figure which shows all the combinations of the content which can be taken for every printing apparatus 200b about each item of printing apparatus information. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a result of calculating device evaluation values for printing setting candidates 1 and printing device information of the printer 1. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a result of calculating device evaluation values for print setting candidates 2 and printing device information of the printer 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a result of calculating device evaluation values for printing device candidates 1 and printing device information of a printer 2; FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a result of calculating device evaluation values for print setting candidates 2 and printing device information of the printer 2. 6 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a printing specification electronic job ticket. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a print setting electronic job ticket. It is a figure which shows a dialog message screen. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function outline | summary of the host terminal 100b. 6 is a flowchart illustrating print request processing. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a print setting electronic job ticket. It is a figure which shows the data structure of condition setting information. It is a figure which shows a storage medium and its data structure.

Explanation of symbols

100b ... Host terminal, 10b ... Print specification electronic job ticket acquisition unit, 12b ... Printing device information acquisition unit, 16b ... Document data acquisition unit, 18b ... Document data processing unit, 20b ... Print setting electronic job ticket generation unit, 22b ... Print Request section, 23b ... Condition setting information storage section, 24b ... Print setting candidate acquisition section, 25b ... Specification evaluation value calculation section, 26b ... Apparatus evaluation value calculation section, 27b ... Print setting selection section, 28b ... Printing apparatus selection section, 30b ... CPU, 32b ... ROM, 34b ... RAM, 38b ... I / F, 39b ... Bus, 40b ... Input device, 42b ... Storage device, 44b ... Display device, 200b ... Printing device, 199b ... Network

Claims (10)

A print support device that supports printing based on print specification information including specifications of printed matter,
Among the print specification information acquisition means for acquiring the print specification information, the condition setting information storage means for storing condition setting information including the conditions of the print specifications and the print settings, and the condition setting information of the condition setting information storage means, Print setting candidate acquisition means for acquiring the print setting candidates from the condition setting information of the condition that satisfies the print specifications of the print specification information acquired by the print specification information acquisition means, and the print acquired by the print specification information acquisition means Specification evaluation value calculation means for calculating the degree of suitability of the print setting candidate acquired by the print setting candidate acquisition means with respect to the print specification of the specification information as a specification evaluation value, and the specification evaluation value calculated by the specification evaluation value calculation means A print setting selection unit that selects the print setting from among the print setting candidates acquired by the print setting candidate acquisition unit, and the print setting selection Print support apparatus comprising: a print setting information generating unit that generates print setting information based on the print settings selected stage. In claim 1,
The condition setting information includes a condition of the print specification, a print setting of the printing apparatus, and a document data processing method.
Further, a printing apparatus information acquisition unit that acquires printing apparatus information indicating the device capability of each of the plurality of printing apparatuses, and the printing apparatus information acquisition unit for the print setting candidate acquired by the printing setting candidate acquisition unit. An apparatus evaluation value calculating unit that calculates the degree of matching of the device capabilities of the acquired printing apparatus information as an apparatus evaluation value, and the apparatus evaluation value calculated by the apparatus evaluation value calculating unit for the print setting selected by the print setting selecting unit. A printing apparatus selection unit that selects the printing apparatus that is a printing destination from the plurality of printing apparatuses, a document data acquisition unit that acquires document data associated with the print specification information, and the print setting selection. The document data acquired by the document data acquisition means based on the print setting selected by the means and the processing method corresponding to the print setting. Document data processing means for processing data, and the printing apparatus selected by the printing apparatus selection means based on the print setting information generated by the print setting information generation means and the document data processed by the document data processing means Printing request means for requesting printing,
The print setting information generation unit generates the print setting information including the print setting of the printing device selected by the printing device selection unit based on the print setting selected by the print setting selection unit. Support device. In claim 1,
Furthermore, it includes a constraint condition information acquisition means for acquiring constraint condition information regarding execution of printing,
The print support apparatus, wherein the print setting candidate acquisition unit acquires the print setting candidate based on the constraint condition information acquired by the constraint condition information acquisition unit. In claim 2,
The specification evaluation value calculation means calculates, for each print setting candidate acquired by the print setting candidate acquisition means, the degree to which the print setting candidate realizes the print specification of the print specification information as the specification evaluation value. A printing support apparatus. In any one of Claim 2 and 4,
The device evaluation value calculation means determines that the device capability of the printing device information corresponds to the print setting for each print setting candidate acquired by the print setting candidate acquisition device and for each printing device information acquired by the printing device information acquisition means. A printing support apparatus that calculates a degree of realizing a candidate as the apparatus evaluation value. In any one of claims 2, 4 and 5,
The print support apparatus, wherein the print setting information includes a print control command for controlling printing requested by the print request unit. In claim 6,
The printing support apparatus further comprises message display means for displaying a message in accordance with a print control command included in the print setting information. In claim 7,
Furthermore, it comprises a confirmation input means for inputting confirmation of the message,
The print requesting device requests printing to the printing device when the confirmation input unit inputs the confirmation message. A print support program that supports printing based on print specification information including specifications of printed matter,
Acquired in the print specification information acquisition step of the print specification information acquisition step of acquiring the print specification information and the condition setting information of the condition setting information storage means for storing the condition setting information including the condition of the print specification and the print setting The print setting candidate acquisition step for acquiring the print setting candidate from the condition setting information of the condition that satisfies the print specification of the print specification information, and the print specification information acquired in the print specification information acquisition step. Based on the specification evaluation value calculation step for calculating the degree of suitability of the print setting candidates acquired in the print setting candidate acquisition step as a specification evaluation value, and on the specification evaluation value calculated in the specification evaluation value calculation step, the print setting candidate A print setting selection step for selecting the print setting from among the print setting candidates acquired in the acquisition step; and the print Printing support program characterized by including a program for executing a process comprising a print setting information generation step of generating print setting information based on the print settings selected with a constant selection step to the computer. A print support method for supporting printing based on print specification information including specifications of printed matter,
Acquired in the print specification information acquisition step of the print specification information acquisition step of acquiring the print specification information and the condition setting information of the condition setting information storage means for storing the condition setting information including the condition of the print specification and the print setting The print setting candidate acquisition step for acquiring the print setting candidate from the condition setting information of the condition that satisfies the print specification of the print specification information, and the print specification information acquired in the print specification information acquisition step. Based on the specification evaluation value calculation step for calculating the degree of suitability of the print setting candidates acquired in the print setting candidate acquisition step as a specification evaluation value, and on the specification evaluation value calculated in the specification evaluation value calculation step, the print setting candidate A print setting selection step for selecting the print setting from among the print setting candidates acquired in the acquisition step; and the print Printing support method characterized by including the print setting information generation step of generating print setting information based on the print settings selected with a constant selection step.

Images