JP2009003712A - Printing system and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid such print setting that processing on print data is duplicately performed, to prevent data output unintended by a user. <P>SOLUTION: When the processing to the print data is performed on a printer, a printer driver, and an application, an execution place and an execution situation of the processing are made to be referred to in the printer delivered with the print data (step S803). When the printer confirms the effect that the processing of bookbinding layout is completed (step S805), setting of the processing related to the bookbinding layout is restricted on the printer such that the processing is not duplicated (step S806). Thereby, it is avoided that the print setting such that the processing to the print data is duplicately performed is performed to prevent the data output unintended by the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique capable of various processing such as imposition on data.

  In a printing system including an information processing apparatus and a printing apparatus such as a printer, a print document is processed mainly by an application, a printer driver, and a print processing unit on the printer.

  In a conventional printing system, a printer driver UI (User Interface) is opened from an application program, and a print execution instruction is given by performing desired print settings. In this case, the print setting of the processing to be performed on the printer driver and the printer is uniquely determined, and the processing is performed on the printer driver and the printer according to the determined print setting, and print data is output.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a system that performs print settings related to processing using a print instruction document called a job ticket. In the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the print server grasps the functions of the printer and the finishing machine (offline), and the job tickets for the printer and the finishing machine are set so as to satisfy the print settings from the client. It is created and printed.

JP 2002-116890 A

  However, the above-described conventional printing system is a system that assumes that print output is executed according to the print settings at the time of printing execution, and does not assume any change in print settings during the printing process.

  In a system that does not assume a change in print settings during print processing, each print processing unit cannot grasp the processing performed in the preceding stage. For this reason, in the subsequent printing processing unit, it is possible to perform processing that overlaps with the previous processing, or to set processing processing that is incompatible with the processing processing in the previous processing, that is, unnecessary processing.

  For example, the imposition in the main body is executed again on the subsequent printer driver, even though the imposition in the main body is performed on the application program, and the imprint is performed again on the subsequent printer. N-up imposition may be performed. As described above, in the conventional system, it is possible to set so as to obtain a final output result unintended by the user.

  Further, in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to provide a means for managing and executing print instructions on the print server, the configuration and control become complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and avoids setting of print settings such that duplicate processing is performed, and prevents data output not intended by the user from being performed. For the purpose.

The printing system of the present invention is a printing system constituted by an information processing device and a printing device, wherein the information processing device is set in a plurality of stages of processing for data that can be processed by a plurality of processing means. A generation unit that generates setting information indicating in which stage the process is performed on the data, and when the processing process is executed, the processing process is performed on the setting information generated by the generation unit. Adding means for adding execution status information indicating that execution has been performed, and the printing apparatus receives reception information for receiving a print job including the setting information, and execution status information included in the setting information. And a display means for displaying the functions that can be set by the printing apparatus and the functions that cannot be set in a distinguishable manner.
Further, the control method of the present invention is a control method in a printing system composed of an information processing device and a printing device, wherein the information processing device includes a plurality of stages of processing for data that can be processed by a plurality of processing steps. A generation step for generating setting information indicating at which stage the set processing is to be performed on the data; and when the processing is executed, the setting information generated by the generation step An additional step of adding execution status information indicating that the processing has been executed, and the printing apparatus includes a reception step of receiving a print job including the setting information, and the setting information. It is characterized by having a display step for displaying, in an identifiable manner, a function that can be set and a function that cannot be set in the printing apparatus, using information on the execution status.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid unnecessary settings from being duplicated, and to prevent data output unintended by the user.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments to which the invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The printing system according to the present embodiment is assumed to be a system that operates on Longhorn (code name), which is considered to be the next Windows (registered trademark) of a PC OS manufactured by Microsoft (registered trademark).

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to the present embodiment. The printing system includes a host computer (information processing apparatus) 3000 and a printer 1500 that is a printing apparatus that receives print data from the host computer 3000 and performs printout.

  In the host computer 3000, the CPU 1 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 4 in accordance with a program stored in the RAM 2. The RAM 2 functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 1.

  The ROM 3 stores various programs and data, and is divided into a font ROM 3a that stores various fonts, a program ROM 3b that stores a boot program, BIOS, and the like, and a data ROM 3c that stores various data.

  A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key input from a keyboard (KB) 9 or a pointing device (not shown) such as a mouse. A CRT controller (CRTC) 6 controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10. A disk controller (DKC) 7 controls access to an external memory 11 such as a hard disk. The printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 1500 via the bidirectional interface 21 and performs communication control processing with the printer 1500.

  The external memory 11 is composed of, for example, a hard disk (HD), MO, or flexible disk (FD), and stores an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) 205 and various applications. In addition to the OS 205 and the like, the external memory 11 includes a document processing application program 201 that processes a document in which graphics, images, characters, tables, and the like are mixed, a print processing related program 204, a user file and an unillustrated area. Edited files are stored. Note that a program or the like stored in the external memory 11 may be stored in the ROM 3.

  The print processing related program 204 stored in the external memory 11 is a program for generating print data described using a page description language, and can be commonly used for a plurality of printers of the same series. The print processing related program 204 includes a printer control command generation module (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver) 204-1 and a printer driver UI control module 204-2.

  A document processing application program 201 stored in the external memory 11 is loaded into the RAM 2 and executed by the CPU 1. As a result, the CPU 1 executes, for example, outline font development (rasterization) processing on the RAM 2 to enable WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) on the CRT 10.

  In the host computer 3000 as described above, the CPU 1 opens various windows registered based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing. For example, when the CPU 1 loads the printer driver UI control module 204-2, a print setting screen used when the user executes printing can be opened. Further, the CPU 1 loads the printer driver 204-1, so that the print setting of the processing for the print data can be performed based on the printer setting and the print mode selection performed by the user using the print setting screen.

  Next, the configuration of the printer 1500 will be described. In the printer 1500, the CPU 12 controls the overall operation of the printer 1500. The RAM 19 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 12, and is also used as an output information expansion area and an environment data storage area. The RAM 19 also includes an NVRAM (nonvolatile RAM) area, and is configured such that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown).

  The ROM 13 is divided into a font ROM 13a that stores various fonts, a program ROM 13b that stores a control program executed by the CPU 12, and a data ROM 13c that stores various data.

  The input unit 18 transmits / receives data to / from the host computer 3000 via the bidirectional interface 21. The printing unit interface 16 controls an interface with the printing unit 17 that is a printer engine that performs print output.

  Access to the external memory 14 is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 20 and includes an optional hard disk (HD), MO, flexible disk (FD), or IC card. The external memory 14 stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. When the external memory 14 such as a hard disk is not connected, information used by the host computer 3000 is stored in the data ROM 13c of the ROM 13. Further, the external memory 14 is not limited to one and may include a plurality of external memories. For example, an external memory storing an optional font card, a program for interpreting a printer control language having a different language system, and the like in addition to the built-in font. You may comprise so that multiple connection is possible.

  The operation unit 1501 has an operation panel that accepts an operation by a user, and a touch panel for operation is arranged on the operation panel (not shown). The operation unit 1501 may have an NVRAM (not shown) to store printer mode setting information from the operation panel.

  In the above configuration, the CPU 12 outputs an image signal as output information to the printing unit 17 via the printing unit interface 16 based on a control program or the like stored in the program ROM 13b of the ROM 13. The CPU 12 can perform communication processing with the host computer 3000 via the input unit 18, receives print data transmitted from the host computer 3000, and notifies the host computer 3000 of information in the printer 1500. You can also.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of the RAM 2 in a state in which the document processing application program 201 and the print processing related program 204 are activated and the programs and data are loaded into the RAM 2 of the host computer 3000.

  In FIG. 2, a BIOS 206, an OS 205, a document processing application program 201, a print processing related program 204, and related data 203 are loaded in the RAM 2. Furthermore, a free memory area 202 is also secured. As a result, the document processing application program 201 and the print processing related program 204 can be executed. Note that the printer driver UI control module 204-2 in the print processing related program 204 displays a print setting screen on the CRT 10 in response to a print setting command by the user, and enables print settings from the user using KB9 or the like.

  Here, print data used in the printing system according to the present embodiment will be described. As described above, the present embodiment assumes a printing system that operates on Longhorn (code name), which is assumed to be the next Windows (registered trademark). FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a data format for handling a document adopted on Longhorn.

  In current Windows (registered trademark), when printing a document, the print setting is notified to the printer driver via a binary data structure including the print setting of the printer driver called Devmode, and processing corresponding to the print setting is performed. Processing is in progress. Here, the above-described Devmode structure cannot be set directly by an application such as the document processing application program 201 except for some OS definition information.

  On the other hand, in Longhorn, as shown in FIG. 3, print settings are held in an XML format called PrintTicket (hereinafter referred to as PT). Therefore, an application such as the document processing application program 201 can perform each print setting. In the document processing application program 201 of this embodiment, it is possible to perform print settings by using this PT, and the print document to be printed includes a set of PT and drawing data as shown in FIG. It is sent to the printer driver and so on. The PT described here is an example of setting information in the present invention.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a processing flow of the printing system according to the present embodiment. The processing for print data such as imposition executed in this printing system involves the document processing application program 201, the printer driver 204-1, and the print processing unit (processing means) on the printer (device) 1500. This figure shows what kind of processing is performed in the processing in the print processing unit in a plurality of stages.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of processing when a four-page document is output by the bookbinding main body (when the final output is folded at the center of the paper, it becomes a bookbinding appearance). In the present embodiment, the PT has attributes indicating the execution location of the processing process and the execution status of the processing process for a plurality of types of items in each print setting. Here, in each block (400 to 420) in FIG. 4, for convenience of explanation, only the bookbinding setting is described among various print settings in the PT as a part of the PT. Processing corresponding to the print setting may be used.

Reference numeral 400 denotes processing in the application layer, that is, the document processing application program 201. In this example, the PT is set in the application layer so that four pages of drawing data are printed using the bookbinding function in the printer driver layer.
In the figure, <Booklet Action = "Driver" Status = "Yet"> ON </ Booklet> means that booklet printing (Booklet) is ON and the bookbinding process is performed by the printer driver layer. Means. Furthermore, the processing status means that it has not been performed yet at the application layer stage (Status = "Yet").

  Reference numeral 410 denotes processing in the printer driver layer, that is, the printer driver 204-1. When the PT and drawing data are transferred to the printer driver layer, as shown in the figure, the printer driver layer changes and updates the PT processing status (Status = "Done", 411 in the figure). Then, the printer driver layer performs imposition processing so that the drawing data is output in the main body, and passes the drawing data for four pages to the device layer as double-sided drawing data for two pages.

  Reference numeral 420 denotes processing in the device layer, that is, the printer 1500. In the device layer, the location of the bookbinding process is the printer driver layer, and it can be seen by referring to the PT that the imposition process of the bookbinding main body has already been completed. Therefore, the processing process related to bookbinding is not performed. The device layer prints out the received double-sided drawing data.

  In the printing system of the present embodiment, the drawing data is produced and printed out in the above procedure. In this example, the PT is described in the XML format so that the PT can be interpreted also in the device layer. However, the data may be converted into other format data. For example, the PT may be converted into a print job control command that can be interpreted by the device layer in the printer driver layer. Similarly, drawing data in the XML format may be converted into PDL commands in the printer driver layer.

  Next, the above-described processing in the printing system according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing in the document processing application program 201.

  First, in step S510, the document processing application program 201 sets PT. In step S520, the document processing application program 201 performs a drawing process using the PT set in step S510. Thereafter, the drawing data and PT are delivered to the printer driver 204-1. Note that the processing in step S510 includes setting information indicating in which stage the set processing is to be executed on the data among the processing steps of a plurality of steps for data that can be processed by a plurality of processing means. This corresponds to an example of processing by the generating means referred to in the present invention.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of the printer driver 204-1. Here, for convenience of explanation, only the bookbinding setting process is described, but it is assumed that the printer driver 204-1 also performs processing other than the bookbinding process corresponding to the bookbinding setting.

  In step S610, the printer driver 204-1 receives drawing data and PT from the document processing application program 201, and refers to the setting of PT.

  In step S620, the printer driver 204-1 refers to the PT and determines whether the bookbinding setting is ON and the execution location is set as the printer driver. If the bookbinding setting is ON and the execution location is the printer driver, the process proceeds to step S625, and the drawing data is changed to the drawing data that has been subjected to imposition processing using the bookbinding main body.

  In step S626, the printer driver 204-1 changes the status relating to the bookbinding setting of PT to “Done”, and the process advances to step S630. In step S630, the printer driver 204-1 transmits a print job (here, the changed PT and the processed drawing data) to the printer 1500, and the process ends in step S640.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S620 that the bookbinding setting is ON and the execution location is not set as the printer driver, the printer driver 204-1 proceeds to step S630 without executing steps S625 and S626. Proceed. That is, the printer driver 204-1 transmits PT and drawing data in step S630 without changing the drawing data subjected to imposition processing or changing the PT. Then, the process ends. Note that the processing in step S610 corresponds to an example of processing by the receiving means referred to in the present invention, and the processing in step S626 corresponds to an example of processing of the updating means referred to in the present invention.

  Here, the printer 1500 according to the present embodiment temporarily spools the received print job, and the user designates the print job and sets the print setting again using the operation unit 1501 having the touch panel of the main body. It is possible to execute printing. In such a printer 1500, the output format of the print job can be changed on the operation unit 1501. In the printing system according to the present embodiment, the document processing application program 201 and the printer driver 204-1 have the same function.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a setting UI for making print settings for output style using a touch panel provided on the operation unit 1501 of the printer 1500. In the example shown in this figure, it is indicated that settings that are invalid when the output format is changed for a print job are restricted so that the settings cannot be changed. That is, the printer 1500 displays a settable function and a non-settable function in an identifiable manner.

  Specifically, since a print job that has already undergone imposition processing for the main body is transmitted to the printer 1500, the printer 1500 performs bookbinding print settings, duplex printing settings, N-up settings, stapling. If set, the output will be incorrect. For this reason, it is impossible to set all the same or similar predetermined print settings that may be illegal output. A cross in the figure indicates that setting is not possible.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of setting UI control processing on the printer 1500. However, for the sake of convenience of explanation, only the bookbinding setting is determined, but actually, it is assumed that other settings are also determined and UI control is similarly performed.

  First, in step S802, when the user operates the touch panel or the like and is instructed to display a print setting screen, the printer 1500 displays a setting UI.

  In step S803, the printer 1500 refers to the received print job setting.

  Next, in step S805, the printer 1500 determines whether or not the imposition processing in the body making process has already been completed. If imposition processing has been completed in the main body, the process advances to step S806, and the printer 1500 disables setting buttons that would be illegal when set to booklet imposition printing, and the process in step S807 is performed. finish. FIG. 7 shows settings in which bookbinding print settings, duplex print settings, N-up settings, and staple settings cannot be set. If it is determined in step S805 that imposition processing in the main body is not performed, the printer 1500 does not perform any particular processing and ends the processing in step S807.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a PT indicating the execution location and execution status of the processing process for the print setting is generated and added to the drawing data. In the document processing application program, the printer driver, and the printer, the drawing data and PT was handed over. Further, in each of the document processing application program, the printer driver, and the printer, the print settings are restricted according to the PT by referring to the PT. As a result, it is possible to avoid duplicating unnecessary settings, and to prevent data output unintended by the user.

  Specifically, in the present embodiment, when imposition processing is completed by the printer driver 204-1, the setting of a predetermined processing is limited in the setting UI on the printer 1500. To avoid duplicating unnecessary settings. As described above, in recent years, it has become possible to transmit a print job to a printing apparatus such as a copying machine and change the setting of the print job using a touch panel on the printing apparatus. Although it is possible to refer to the print image of the print job on the panel of the printing apparatus, it may be difficult to determine what imposition processing is being performed because the display area is limited . According to the present embodiment, in such a case, it is possible to prevent the user from making a setting inconsistent with the print job on the panel of the printing apparatus, which is effective.

  In addition to this example, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, when the 4-Up imposition processing has been completed on the document processing application program, the layout-related setting change is performed on the printer driver UI. You may make it restrict | limit on UI so that it cannot perform.

  In this embodiment, the setting UI on the printer 1500 is controlled so that print settings that can be illegal output cannot be set. However, when a specific processing is completed in the document processing application program or printer driver in the previous stage, that fact may be displayed on the setting UI. Even in this case, it is possible to avoid unnecessary settings from being duplicated by the user viewing and judging directly.

  In this embodiment, PT is added to the drawing data, and the document processing application program, the printer driver, and each print processing unit of the printer determine and control the print setting performed in the preceding process. . Therefore, control is possible without the need for a control unit that controls the entire printing process, and the configuration and control can be simplified.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the long Windows printing system which is the next Windows (registered trademark) is assumed. However, in the second embodiment, the current Windows (registered trademark) printing system is used. However, it will be explained that similar processing can be performed. In the second embodiment, only the bookbinding setting will be described, but the processing corresponding to other settings may be performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The system configuration of the printing system according to the second embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a Devmode structure that is a structure for holding print settings in the current Windows (registered trademark) system. The Devmode structure is composed of a Public area (Public Devmode) and a Private area (Private Devmode). The Public area is defined by the OS, and is an area where the OS, application (corresponding to the document processing application program in the first embodiment), and printer driver can recognize the settings in common. The private area is an area that holds settings specific to each printer driver and can be recognized only by the printer driver.

  In Devmode of the printer driver according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, print settings exist in the Private area in the same manner as the PT according to the first embodiment. Specifically, there are a member (bBOOKLET) that holds the bookbinding setting itself, a member that indicates the execution location (wBookletAction), and a member (bBookletStatus) that indicates whether or not the processing has been completed.

  In addition, the printer driver of the present embodiment has a function I / F (Driver SDK) so that the private Devmode member settings that can be recognized only by the printer driver can be changed from the application. An example of the function specification is shown in FIG.

  When the application uses the function I / F shown in FIG. 10, it becomes possible to change the set value of each member shown in FIG. 9 in Private Devmode.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing print processing in the application.

  First, in step S1110, the application determines whether to perform bookbinding imposition with the application. When bookbinding imposition is performed, the process proceeds to step S1120. When the bookbinding setting is not performed, the process proceeds to step S1125.

In step S1120, the application uses the function I / F shown in FIG. 10 described above to make settings for Private Devmode when bookbinding imposition is performed. Specifically, when the bookbinding process is performed by an application, the setting represented by the following is performed for Private Devmode.
(bBOOKLET = TRUE, wBookletAction = 1, bBookletStatus = 1)

On the other hand, in step S1125, the application uses the function I / F shown in FIG. 10 described above to make settings for Private Devmode when bookbinding imposition is not performed. Specifically, when not performed by the application, the setting represented by the following is performed for Private Devmode.
(bBOOKLET = TRUE, wBookletAction = 2, bBookletStatus = 0)

  Note that the processing in steps S1120 and S1125 corresponds to one processing example of the generation unit referred to in the present invention.

  In step S1130, the application determines whether the user has issued an instruction to open the printer driver UI on the application. If it is determined that an instruction to open the printer driver UI has been issued, the process proceeds to step S1140, the application opens the printer driver UI, and the process ends in step S1150. Otherwise, the application does not perform control to open the printer driver UI, and the process ends in step S1150.

  Thereafter, the processing flow after instructing the printing process on the application is the same as that in FIG. As described above, the printer driver can recognize all the settings for Private Devmode in the same way as PT.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing UI control processing (step S1140) when the printer driver UI is opened in FIG.

  First, in step S1210, the printer driver displays a printer driver UI.

  Next, in step S1220, the printer driver refers to the setting value in Private Devmode.

  In step S1230, the printer driver determines whether bookbinding imposition has already been performed (executed by an application). If the bookbinding imposition is set to be performed by the application, the process proceeds to step S1240. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1250 and the process ends.

  In step S1240, the printer driver sets a setting that causes unauthorized output if settings are made for a printed document with bookbinding imposition, and the process ends in step S1250.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a driver UI when the printer driver UI is opened when bookbinding imposition is performed by an application. In this UI example, the page layout setting and enlargement / reduction setting UI control, which are output illegally when further processing is performed by the printer driver for bookbinding-imposed print data, are grayed out and cannot be set. It is shown that. The page layout setting refers to N-up, poster printing, and the like.

  As described above, even in a printing system using the current Devmode structure, control can be performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment by having the execution location of each setting item and the member of the actual status in Devmode. Is possible. Specifically, in the second embodiment, the print processing unit of the printer driver is referred to a member indicating the execution location and execution status of the processing process, and print settings are limited accordingly. That is, since it is possible to avoid duplication of settings between different print processing units, it is possible to prevent data output unintended by the user.

  In order to realize the present invention, a storage medium in which a program code (computer program) of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments may be used. In this case, the object of the present invention is achieved by supplying the storage medium to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Needless to say, the OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code.

  Furthermore, the program code read from the storage medium may be written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. In this case, based on the instruction of the written program code, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit may perform part or all of the actual processing.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the memory map of RAM in the state which started the printing system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the application and program were loaded to RAM. It is a figure which shows the structure of the document on Longhorn (code name) made into the next Windows (trademark). It is the figure which showed typically the flow of the printing process from the application of the printing system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention to a printer. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing in an application of the printing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing in the printer driver of the printing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI in the printer of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating UI control in the printer of the printing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of a Devmode structure. It is a figure which shows the example of a function for Devmode setting. It is the flowchart which showed the process in the application of the printing system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating control of a printer driver UI of a printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer driver UI of a printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed typically the flow of the printing process from the application of the printing system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention to a printer.

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU
2 RAM
3 ROM
3a Font ROM
3b Program ROM
3c Data ROM

Claims (4)

In a printing system composed of an information processing device and a printing device,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Generating means for generating setting information indicating at which stage the set processing is to be performed on the data, out of a plurality of stages of processing for data that can be processed by a plurality of processing means;
When the processing process is executed, it has an adding means for adding execution status information indicating that the processing process has been executed to the setting information generated by the generating means,
The printing apparatus includes:
Receiving means for receiving a print job including the setting information;
A printing system comprising: a display unit that displays, in an identifiable manner, a function that can be set by the printing apparatus and a function that cannot be set using the execution status information included in the setting information.   The information processing apparatus further includes an updating unit configured to update information on an execution status of the set processing process included in the setting information when the set processing process is executed. The printing system according to 1.   The information processing apparatus receives setting information indicating in which stage the set processing is performed on the data among the processing steps of the plurality of steps for data that can be processed by a plurality of processing means. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising: In a control method in a printing system composed of an information processing device and a printing device,
The information processing apparatus includes:
A generation process for generating setting information indicating in which stage the set processing process is performed on the data among the multi-stage processing processes for data that can be processed by a plurality of processing steps;
An additional step of adding information on an execution status indicating that the processing processing has been executed with respect to the setting information generated by the generation step when the processing processing is executed;
The printing apparatus includes:
A receiving step of receiving a print job including the setting information;
A control method comprising: a display step of displaying, in an identifiable manner, a function that can be set by the printing apparatus and a function that cannot be set using the execution status information included in the setting information.

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