JP2009223529A - Print control device, print system, print control method, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform printing of each job by print data in a correct order only by an operator's simple operation on a print control device (computer). <P>SOLUTION: A CPU 52 of a host computer having a function as the print control device rearranges whenever a job-specific print instruction is received from an application, the order of each print object job in a job list showing information for each print object job corresponding to each print instruction received so far, preview-displays the information for each print job on a display part 55 according to the rearranged job list, and receives print the instruction of each print object job during display. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus that controls printing, a print system that includes the print control apparatus and the print apparatus, a print control method in the print control apparatus, and a function necessary for a computer that controls the print control apparatus (in the present invention). The present invention relates to a program for realizing the function and a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  For example, in a computer-based print control apparatus, an application (application software) creates print data such as a document (document) corresponding to an operation of a keyboard or the like on a screen of a monitor (display device), and the application is operated from the application by operating the keyboard or the like. When a print instruction is issued, the printer driver (printer driver program) has a language (printer language) that can be understood by a printer connected to the print control apparatus via a network or the like so that the print data from the application can be communicated. The data is translated (converted), and the translated data is output to a printer via a network or the like to be printed.

  Note that processing by a program (software) such as an application or a printer driver is actually executed by the CPU operating in accordance with those programs. However, for the convenience of explanation, these programs execute processing. Thereafter, the same applies to the case where the program is described as performing some processing.

  On the other hand, as seen in, for example, Patent Document 1, print data from an application is generated as a print data file in units of pages, the objects of the print data file are displayed as page objects in units of pages, and the page objects are displayed. When page editing such as page replacement or blank page insertion is performed, the page that is actually output during print control based on the print data from the application is reflected in the print data file. There has been proposed a print control apparatus in which an operator can visually confirm a page configuration of unit print data and perform page editing on the print data.

Here, for example, consider the following cases (a) to (d).
(A) Collecting a plurality of documents into a single meeting material (in the form of a printed matter).
(B) Each document is created by the print control apparatus, stored in a local folder in the print control apparatus or a shared folder on the network, and printed from the print control apparatus using a printer.
(C) Printed material used as material is created multiple times with the same document structure, but the document order is the same each time.
(D) During printing, one document is stapled together, or printing conditions common to all documents in one document (such as an aggregate print mode and a duplex print mode) are set.

In such a case, when printing is performed using a print control apparatus as described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of documents are selected in order so that the documents are arranged in the correct order. After issuing a print instruction or issuing a print instruction in an arbitrary order, it is necessary to arrange them in the correct order on the job edit screen of the preview screen. Since the documents stored in the folder in the print control apparatus are arranged in the folder according to the document name, creation date, etc., the procedure is as described above.
JP 2006-127281 A

However, the procedure as described above is cumbersome and may cause a wrong order.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and allows an operator to perform printing with print data of each job in the correct order by performing a simple operation on a print control apparatus (computer). The purpose is to do.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printing control apparatus, a printing system including the printing control apparatus and the printing apparatus, a printing control method in the printing control apparatus, and a program executed by a computer that controls the printing control apparatus. And a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  A print control apparatus according to the present invention is a print control apparatus having a communication unit that communicates with a printing apparatus and having a function of controlling printing by the printing apparatus based on print data of a job from the application. A first print instruction receiving unit that receives a print instruction for each job, and the first print instruction receiving unit based on a preset job order format each time a print instruction is received by the first print instruction receiving unit. A job rearranging unit for rearranging the order of the respective print target jobs in a job list indicating information on each print target job corresponding to each print instruction received up to now, and each of the print target by the job rearrangement unit According to the job list in which the job order is rearranged, Preview display means for previewing information relating to the information, and second print instruction accepting means for accepting a print instruction for each print target job when the preview display means displays information relating to each print target job. It is provided.

  A first data conversion unit that converts the print data into intermediate data, a preview image generation unit that generates a preview image based on the intermediate data converted by the first data conversion unit, and a document name for each job A document name setting unit for setting a print condition, a print condition setting unit for setting a print condition for each job, and a print setting information storage unit for storing print setting information indicating the print condition set by the print condition setting unit, In the job list, the document name, the intermediate data path, the memory address of the print setting information, and the preview image path corresponding to the intermediate data can be associated with each print target job.

  In this case, when the print instruction for each print target job is received by the second print instruction reception unit, the intermediate data corresponding to each print target job converted by the first data conversion unit is stored in the above-described intermediate data. It is desirable to provide a second data conversion means for sequentially converting the data for the printing apparatus according to the job list.

  Further, when a print instruction is received by the job order format storage means for storing the job order format and the first print instruction reception means, it is determined whether or not the job corresponding to the print instruction is the first job. A job determination unit; an activation unit that activates the preview display unit when the job determination unit determines that the job is the first job; and the job order format storage after the preview display unit is activated by the activation unit. It is preferable to provide job order format reading means for reading the job order format stored in the means.

Further, the preview display means displays the information on each print target job, the order and document name of each print target job, the preview image and print settings corresponding to the selected print target job among the print target jobs. It is good to display it divided into information.
In this case, the preview display means also displays a job order and document name different from each print target job in the job order format, and a print instruction from the application is given to each print target job. It is desirable to indicate that there is no print instruction from the application for a job different from each print target job.

  The preview display means separately displays the print target jobs not in the job order format among the print target jobs, and the print target jobs not in the job order format are separately displayed by the preview display means. A job addition instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction to add the print target job to the job list, and an instruction to add a print target job that is not in the job order format to the job list by the job addition instruction receiving unit. It is preferable to provide job addition means for adding information related to the print target job to the job list when it is received.

Further, it is preferable to provide job order format storage means for storing the order of each print target job in the job list in which the order of each print target job is rearranged by the job rearranging means as the job order format.
A printing system according to the present invention includes the above-described printing control apparatus and a printing apparatus that performs printing based on data from the printing control apparatus.

  A printing control method according to the present invention is a printing control method in a printing control apparatus having a communication means for communicating with a printing apparatus and having a function of controlling printing by the printing apparatus based on print data of a job from an application. A first print instruction receiving step for receiving a print instruction for each job from the application, and each time a print instruction is received by the first print instruction receiving step, the first print instruction receiving step is performed based on a preset job order format. A job rearrangement step for rearranging the order of each print target job in a job list indicating information on each print target job corresponding to each print instruction received so far by the print instruction reception step, and the job rearrangement step Follow the job list in which the order of each print target job is sorted. A preview display step for previewing information on each print target job; and a second instruction for accepting a print instruction for each print target job when the information on each print target job is displayed in preview by the preview display step. A printing instruction receiving step.

A program according to the present invention includes a communication unit that communicates with a printing apparatus, and a computer that controls a printing control apparatus having a function of controlling printing by the printing apparatus based on print data of a job from the application. A first print instruction reception function for receiving a print instruction for each job, and the first print instruction reception function based on a preset job order format each time a print instruction is received by the first print instruction reception function A job rearrangement function for rearranging the order of the respective print target jobs in a job list indicating information on each print target job corresponding to each print instruction received up to now, and each of the print target by the job rearrangement function According to the job list in which the job order is rearranged, A preview display function for previewing information on the print target job, and a second print instruction reception for receiving a print instruction for each print target job when the preview display function displays the information on each print target job as a preview This is a program for realizing the functions.
A recording medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium on which the above program is recorded.

According to the present invention, each time the print control apparatus (computer) receives a print instruction for each job from the application, each print corresponding to each print instruction received so far based on a preset job order format. The order of each print target job in the job list indicating the information on the target job is rearranged, and the information on each print target job is previewed according to the rearranged job list, and at the time of display, the information on each print target job is displayed. By receiving a print instruction, printing device data corresponding to each job to be printed (code data generated based on the print data, etc.) is sequentially output to the printing device according to the rearranged job list and printed. Can be performed.
Therefore, when the operator performs a simple operation on the print control apparatus (computer), it is possible to print the print data of each job in the correct order.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an example in which a printer system including a host computer and a printer is used as a printing system including a print control apparatus and a printing apparatus (image forming apparatus) according to the present invention will be described.

[Configuration of printer system]
First, the configuration of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the printer system.
A host computer 10 for carrying out the present invention is directly connected to the printer 1 by a cable 5 and indirectly connected to the printers 2 and 3 via a network 6 such as a LAN (local area network). In addition, on the host computer 10, printing can be selectively performed on each of the printers 1 to 3 connected through a printer driver from an arbitrary application.

  The host computer 10 is an information processing apparatus such as a PC (personal computer) or a workstation, and may be a client computer or a print server. In the case of a print server system, the client computer may be a Web client (Web server, Web browser, etc.) of a print server (print service).

  Each of the printers 1 to 3 is a printing device that forms (prints) an image on a print medium such as paper based on data (in this example, code data) from the host computer 10, and includes a laser printer, an LED printer, The printer has only a print function such as an inkjet printer. In place of the printers 1 to 3, a printing apparatus such as a digital copying machine, a digital multi-function peripheral, or a facsimile machine having other functions such as a copy function in addition to the print function may be used. Further, the printers 1 to 3 may have a print server function.

[Hardware configuration of host computer]
Next, the hardware configuration of the host computer 10 in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the host computer 10.
The host computer 10 includes an interface (hereinafter referred to as “I / F”) unit 51, a CPU 52, a ROM 53, a RAM 54, a display unit 55, an HDD (hard disk device) 56, an input unit 57, and a storage medium drive 58.

The I / F unit 51 is a communication unit for communicating with the printer 1 as an external device via the cable 5 and communicating with the printers 2 and 3 via the network 6.
The CPU 52 is a central processing unit that manages and controls the entire host computer 10.
The ROM 53 is a read-only storage unit (memory) that stores a fixed program executed by the CPU 52.

The RAM 54 is a readable / writable storage means that develops a program executed by the CPU 52 and uses it as a work area for various processes.
The display unit 55 is a display unit such as a CRT display or an LCD display that displays various data, a work screen, and the like.
The HDD 56 is a mass storage means for storing programs and data related to the present invention. The HDD 56 functions as print setting information storage means, job order format storage means, and job order format storage means.

The input unit 57 is an input means for the user to input various operation information, and a pointing device such as a keyboard or a mouse can be used.
It is possible to provide a touch panel on the display unit 55 and cause the CPU 52 to perform various processes by performing various operations on the operation screen displayed on the display unit 55. In this case, the display unit 55 also functions as an input unit.

The storage medium drive 58 is a recording / reproducing unit that performs recording or reproduction on the storage medium 59.
The storage medium 59 is a computer-readable recording medium (storage means) such as MO, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD + R, DVD + RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM that is removable from the host computer 10. And a program (software) for executing print control according to the present invention is recorded. The storage medium 59 can also function as print setting information storage means, job order format storage means, and job order format storage means.

  In the host computer 10 configured as described above, the CPU 52 reads a necessary program such as a program related to the present invention from the storage medium 59 via the storage medium drive 58 by the operation on the input unit 57 by the operator, and the HDD 56. Can be installed on.

  When the power is turned on, various programs and data (such as job sequence format data described later) including the OS (operation system), applications, and user interface in the HDD 56 are read according to the boot loader (boot program) in the ROM 53 and stored in the RAM 54. After writing, it operates according to the various programs (selectively executes the various programs as necessary), and controls the device including the I / F unit 51, the display unit 55, the HDD 56, and the input unit 57, Functions related to the present invention, that is, first print instruction receiving means, job rearranging means, preview display means, second print instruction receiving means, first data converting means, preview image creating means, document name setting means, printing Condition setting means, second data conversion means, job size Means, activation means, the job sequence format reading means, it is possible to realize the job add instruction receiving means, and a variety of functions including the function of the job additional means.

[Software configuration of the host computer]
Next, the software configuration of the host computer 10 in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration example of the host computer 10.
In this host computer 10, it is assumed that the application 101 is running on an OS such as Windows (registered trademark).

  Usually, in a system such as Windows (registered trademark), when printing is performed using drawing data (print data) for printing created by the application 101 operating on the host computer 10, the graphic engine 102 is started by the application 101. Then, the drawing data is transferred to the printer driver 103.

The printer driver 103 converts the received drawing data into code data that can be understood by a printer such as PDL (Page Description Language), and stores the code data in the spooler 104.
The spooler 104 executes printing by transmitting the accumulated code data to one of the printers 1 to 3.
In an OS such as Windows (registered trademark), the graphic engine 102 is called GDI (Graphic Device Interface), and the OS provides this GDI. A spooler 104 is also provided by the OS.

In the host computer 10 of this embodiment, the printer driver 103 converts the drawing data from the application 101 into print intermediate data (intermediate data), which is data at the previous stage, which is converted into code data for a printer such as PDL. The data is accumulated in the RAM 54 (other storage means such as the HDD 56 and the storage medium 59 may be used) of the host computer 10 as a print intermediate file (print data file) 105 in page units.
Further, the host computer 10 adds print setting information (print setting command) described later to the print intermediate file 105 (print intermediate data) stored in the storage means, and sends the data to the printer driver 103 again. The page-by-page print data can be output to any of the printers 1 to 3 under a preset print condition to be printed.

  In this embodiment, the print setting module 107 receives the print intermediate data via the print intermediate data management module 106 that manages the print intermediate data for each page constituting the print intermediate file 105 stored in the storage unit. Further, print setting information that can be printed while exchanging information with the printer driver 103 is generated, and is added to the print intermediate data received from the print intermediate data management module 106. Then, when the print intermediate data with the print setting information added is sent to the printer driver 103 as it is, printing is executed. Alternatively, print intermediate data with print setting information added is passed to the print intermediate data management module 106, and the print intermediate data received by the print intermediate data management module 106 is sent to the printer driver 103, whereby printing is executed.

Note that print conditions indicated by the print setting information include print modes such as a well-known aggregate print mode, double-sided print mode, bookbinding print mode, and staple mode. Various printing conditions including these printing modes can be set in advance via a UI (user interface) unit 110 or the like by operating the input unit 57 or the like.
The print intermediate data management module 106, the drawing data creation module 108, the job list management unit 109, the UI unit 110, and the job order format management unit 111 perform processes related to the present invention, which will be described later.

  Hereinafter, different examples (first to fourth embodiments) of print control according to the present invention by the host computer 10 shown in FIG. 3 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Here, the storage destination of the print intermediate data is the HDD 56, but may be the RAM 54 or the storage medium 59. For convenience of explanation, a part of the explanation of the processing by the print setting module 107 is omitted.

[First embodiment]
First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the first embodiment, every time a print instruction issued for each job is received from the application 101 by an operation (hereinafter simply referred to as “user operation”) on the input unit 57 by the user (operator), the received print instruction is changed to the received print instruction. Corresponding jobs (jobs to be printed) are added to a job list on the preview screen, which will be described later, in a state of being sorted (sorted) in the order of a preset job order format. Then, when all the print target jobs are prepared and the “print” button on the preview screen is designated (clicked or touched), printing is performed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of print control by the host computer 10.
In the host computer 10, when the printer driver 103 receives a print instruction from the application 101, the printer driver 103 determines that in step S1 and proceeds to step S2, and determines whether or not the received print instruction is the first (first job). If it is the first time, the print review screen display function is activated in step S3.

The UI unit 110 displays a print preview screen showing information on the print target job on the display unit 55 by starting the print review screen display function. An example of the print preview screen is shown in FIG.
In step S4, the job order format management unit 111 reads the job order (document order) format data stored in the RAM 54. The job order format data (information on the job format) is created (set) by the user in advance via the UI unit 110 or the like by an operation on the input unit 57 or the like, and the HDD 56 (the recording medium 59 or a flash memory not shown). Other non-volatile storage means may be used). An example of job order format data is shown in FIG.

  The job order format data read by the job order format management unit 111 is displayed on the print preview screen shown in FIG. 5 by the UI unit 110. In this example, three job order format names “format 1”, “format 2”, and “format 3” are displayed in the “job order format” area of the “job list” area on the print preview screen.

From these job order format data, the user can operate the input unit 57 or the display unit 55 and select job order format data to be used by the user via the UI unit 110.
The order and name (document name) of each job constituting the selected job order format data are displayed by the UI unit 110 in the “job list” area on the print preview screen.

Returning to FIG. 4, next, the process proceeds to step S <b> 5, where the printer driver 103 determines based on the print data of the print target job corresponding to the print instruction accepted this time (created by the user in advance and stored in the HDD 56 or the like). As described above, a print intermediate file is created and stored in the RAM 54. Although not shown, the print setting module 107 expands on the RAM 54 print setting information indicating print conditions set by a user operation.
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S6, where the drawing data creation module 108 creates a preview image file based on the print intermediate file and print setting information on the RAM 54 created this time. Thereby, the image (review image) of the preview image file can be displayed in the “preview” area on the print preview screen shown in FIG.

  In step S7, the job list management unit 109 performs processing for sorting (rearranging) the order of jobs to be printed in the job list. In other words, among the job order format data read by the job order format management unit 111 in step S4, the job to be added this time (current time) according to the job order (print order) of the job order format data selected by the user operation. Information corresponding to the received print instruction) is inserted into an appropriate position in the job list. If the print instruction received this time from the application 101 is not the first time, information on the print target job corresponding to one or a plurality of print instructions is already in the job list, and thus corresponds to each print instruction received so far. The order of each print target job in the job list indicating information on each print target job is rearranged.

  Here, the job list is managed on the RAM 54, and for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a document name (job name), a path of intermediate data (print intermediate file), and a memory of print setting information for each print target job. The address is associated with the path of the preview image file corresponding to the intermediate data.

When the contents of the job list are as shown in FIG. 7, for example, when “format 2” in FIG. 5 is designated (black / white reverse display), the job order format shown in FIG. 6 is selected, and the contents are shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, it is displayed on the print preview screen.
Thereafter, when a print instruction for a document “development plan.xls” is issued from the application 101, corresponding intermediate data is created, print setting information is expanded on the RAM 54, a preview image file is created, and a job is created. According to the order format, the order of each print target job in the job list is rearranged as shown in FIG. 8, for example.

Returning to FIG. 4, the process proceeds to step S <b> 8, and the UI unit 110 performs information (preview image, print) regarding each print target job according to the job list in which the order of each print target job is rearranged by the job list management unit 109. The print preview screen showing the setting information, job list, etc.) is updated.
After that, if the printer driver 103 receives another print instruction from the application 101 before the “print” button in FIG. 5 is designated, it is determined in step S1 and the process proceeds to step S2.

In this case, since the print instruction accepted this time is not the first time (the print review screen display function has already been activated), the process proceeds to step S5 and the same processing as described above is performed.
If the “print” button in FIG. 5 is designated before accepting another print instruction from the application 101, the print instruction of each print target job (accepted so far) in the job list is accepted. The UI unit 110 determines this and moves to step S10.

In step S10, the print setting module 107 prints the print setting information for each print target job on the job list (print setting information indicating the print condition specified for each print target job on the print preview screen) for each print. Apply to the target job and go to step S11.
In step S11, the printing intermediate data management module 106 issues a printing intermediate file printing instruction to the printer driver 103 according to the order of the job list, so that the printer driver 103 performs printing processing. That is, the print intermediate file corresponding to each job to be printed on the job list is sequentially converted into code data for the printer to be used according to the job list, and is sent to the printer for printing.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the UI unit 110 displays information on each print target job in the order and document name of each print target job, and the selected print target job (monochrome inversion display location). (B) A preview image corresponding to the print target job and print setting information are displayed on the print preview screen.

In this way, each time the host computer (printing control apparatus) receives a print instruction for each job from the application, each print target corresponding to each print instruction received so far, based on a preset job order format. The order of each print target job is rearranged in the job list indicating the information about the job, the information about each print target job is previewed according to the rearranged job list, and the print of each print target job is displayed at the time of display. By receiving the instruction, the printing apparatus data (code data generated based on the print data) corresponding to each print target job is sequentially output to the printer in accordance with the rearranged job list for printing. be able to.
Therefore, when the user performs a simple operation on the host computer, printing with the print data of each job can be performed in the correct order.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the second embodiment, the following processing is performed in addition to the print control of the first embodiment.
That is, when the “Save Job Order Format” button on the print preview screen shown in FIG. 5 is designated, the order of each print target job in the job list on the current screen is saved in the HDD 56 as job order format data. .

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of job order format data storage processing by the host computer 10.
When the “job order format save” button on the print preview screen shown in FIG. 5 is designated in the host computer 10, the UI unit 110 determines this in step S 21, and in step S 22 the name of the job order format ( A name designation screen for designating (job order format name) is displayed on the sign section 55. An example of the name designation screen is shown in FIG.

  When an arbitrary job order format name is input in the “job order format name” input area of the name designation screen and a “OK” button is designated by a user operation, the job order format management unit 111 executes step S23. Then, the current job list order is set as the job order format, and the job order format name input to the data is associated and stored in the HDD 56. When the “OK” button is designated without inputting the job order format name, the job order format name may be automatically generated and associated with the job order format data. In the example of FIG. 5, “format 1”, “format 2”, and “format 3” are displayed as job order format names. For example, “format 4” may be associated with job order format data.

  Therefore, after that, the new job order format data stored in the HDD 56 is read together with other job order format data when the power is turned on, and written in the RAM 54, whereby the job order format name associated with the new job order format data is stored. Is displayed in the “job order format” area of the “job list” area on the print preview screen, and the new job order format data can be selected.

  According to the second embodiment, in addition to the same functions and effects as those of the first embodiment, the following functions and effects can be obtained. That is, since the order of each print target job in the job list in which the order of each print target job is rearranged can be saved as a job order format, it can be used for later printing.

[Third embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the third embodiment, in addition to the print control of the first or second embodiment, the following processing is performed.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the job list display process during the print preview screen update process in step S8 of FIG.

As described above, the UI unit 110, according to the job list in which the order of each print target job is rearranged by the job list management unit 109, information on each print target job (preview image, print setting information, job list, etc.). Update the print preview screen showing. At this time, steps S31 to S34 in FIG. 11 are performed.
In step S31, the order and document names of all jobs in the job order format data selected by the user operation are displayed in the “job list” area of the print preview screen.

  In steps S32 to S34, information indicating whether or not there is a print instruction from the application 101 (whether or not intermediate data is created) is displayed for all the jobs. In the example of FIG. 12, information “○” indicating that there is a print instruction from the application 101 for each job (job to be printed) corresponding to “plan document.doc” and “sales manual.ppt”, It is shown that there is no print instruction from the application 101 for each job corresponding to “development plan.xls”, “quality result.xls”, and “sales table.xls” (job different from the job to be printed). Information “x” to be displayed is displayed.

  According to the third embodiment, in addition to the same functions and effects as those of the first or second embodiment, the following functions and effects can be obtained. In other words, the job order and document name that are different from each print target job in the job order format are displayed, and the fact that there is a print instruction from the application for each print target job, By displaying that there is no print instruction from the application for different jobs, it is possible to check jobs that have not been issued a print instruction and prevent job omission.

[Fourth embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the fourth embodiment, the following processing is performed in addition to the printing control of the first or second embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing another example of the job list display process during the print preview screen update process in step S8 of FIG.

As described above, the UI unit 110 updates the print preview screen indicating information regarding each print target job according to the job list in which the order of each print target job is rearranged by the job list management unit 109. At this time, steps S41 to S45 of FIG. 13 are performed.
In step S41, the order and document names of all jobs in the job order format data selected by the user operation are displayed in the “job list” area of the print preview screen.

  In steps S42 to S45, information indicating whether or not there is a print instruction from the application 101 (whether or not intermediate data is created) is displayed for all the jobs, and the selected job order format data among the print target jobs is displayed. If there is a job to be printed that is not in the list, it is used for another job list, and its name (document name) is displayed as an unformatted job. In the example of FIG. 14, there is a print instruction from the application 101 for each job (print target job) corresponding to “plan document.doc” and “sales manual.ppt” in the selected job order format data. Application 101 for each job (a job different from the print target job) corresponding to the information “○”, “development plan.xls”, “quality result.xls”, and “sales table.xls” indicating that Information “x” indicating that there is no print instruction from is displayed. In addition, the names of the jobs corresponding to “market trend.doc” and “raw material table.xls”, which are jobs to be printed that are not included in the selected job order format data, are displayed as unformatted jobs.

Information related to non-format jobs displayed in the “job list” area of the print preview screen can be added to the job list by a user operation. One example will be described below.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of job insertion processing by the host computer 10.

  When the “add to job list” button on the print preview screen shown in FIG. 14 is designated in the host computer 10, the UI unit 110 determines that in step S 51, and in step S 52, information on the unformatted job is displayed. Add to job list. In the example of FIG. 14, a job with a specified name is selected from the jobs to be printed corresponding to “market trend.doc” and “raw material table.xls”, which are non-format jobs, and added to the job list. Can do. FIGS. 16A and 16B show display changes in the “job list” area of the print preview screen when “market trend.doc” is selected and added to the job list.

  According to the fourth embodiment, in addition to the same functions and effects as those of the first or second embodiment, the following functions and effects can be obtained. In other words, among the print target jobs, the print target jobs that are not in the job order format are displayed separately, and when the print target job is received, an instruction to add to the job list of the print target job is received. By adding information related to the print target job to the job list, it is possible to prevent printing of a document by the job when a print instruction for a job (document) that is not in the job order format is issued by mistake. In addition, a job that is not in the job order format can be inserted as a special case this time. Further, it is possible to save a new job order format including the job order.

[Program related to this invention]
This program allows a CPU (computer) that controls a print control apparatus such as a host computer to receive a first print instruction accepting means, a job rearranging means, a preview display means, and a second print instruction accepting functions related to the present invention. Means, first data conversion means, preview image creation means, document name setting means, print condition setting means, second data conversion means, job determination means, starting means, job order format reading means, job addition instruction receiving means, And a program for realizing a function as job adding means. By causing the CPU to execute such a program, the above-described effects can be obtained.

Such a program may be stored in a storage means such as a ROM provided in the printing control apparatus from the beginning, a nonvolatile memory (flash ROM, EEPROM, etc.), or an HDD (hard disk device). Recording on a CD-ROM or a non-volatile recording medium (memory) such as a memory card, flexible disk, MO, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD + R, DVD + RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, or DVD-RAM Can also be provided. The above-described procedures can be executed by installing the program recorded on the recording medium in the print control apparatus and causing the CPU to execute the program, or by causing the CPU to read and execute the program from the recording medium. .
Furthermore, it is also possible to download and execute an external device that is connected to a network and includes a recording medium that records the program, or an external device that stores the program in the storage unit.

  As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform printing according to the print data of each job in the correct order by the operator performing a simple operation on the print control apparatus. . Therefore, by using the present invention, it is possible to provide a print control apparatus (various computers such as a personal host computer and a workstation) that can execute more convenient print control.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the host computer 10 of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a software structure of the host computer 10 of FIG.

It is a flowchart which shows an example of the printing control by the host computer 10 shown in FIG. 2, FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print preview screen displayed on the display unit of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of job order format data stored in an HDD 56 in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a job list managed on a RAM 54 in FIG. 2.

It is a figure which shows an example of the rearranged job list after the same sort. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the job order format data storage process by the host computer 10 shown in FIG. 2, FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the name designation | designated screen displayed on the display part of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a job list display process during a print preview screen update process in step S8 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of a print preview screen displayed on the display unit in FIG. 2. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another example of job list display processing during print preview screen update processing in step S8 of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a further example of a print preview screen displayed on the display unit of FIG. 2. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the job insertion process by the host computer 10 shown in FIG. 2, FIG. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display change example on a “job list” area of the print preview screen illustrated in FIG. 14.

Explanation of symbols

1-3: Printer 5: Cable 6: Network 10: Host computer 51: I / F 52: CPU 53: ROM
54: RAM 55: Display unit 56: HDD 57: Input unit 58: Storage medium drive 59: Storage medium 101: Application 102: Graphic engine 103: Printer driver 104: Spooler 105: Print intermediate file 106: Print intermediate data management module 107 : Print setting module 108: Drawing data creation module 109: Job list management unit 110: UI unit 111: Job order format management unit

Claims (12)

A printing control apparatus having a communication unit that communicates with a printing apparatus and having a function of controlling printing by the printing apparatus based on print data of a job from an application;
First print instruction receiving means for receiving a print instruction for each job from the application;
Each time a print instruction is received by the first print instruction receiving means, each print corresponding to each print instruction received so far by the first print instruction receiving means based on a preset job order format. Job rearranging means for rearranging the order of each print target job in the job list indicating information on the target job;
Preview display means for previewing information relating to each print target job according to the job list in which the order of each print target job is rearranged by the job rearranging means;
A print control apparatus comprising: a second print instruction receiving unit configured to receive a print instruction for each print target job when the preview display unit displays information related to each print target job as a preview. The print control apparatus according to claim 1,
First data conversion means for converting the print data into intermediate data;
Preview image creation means for creating a preview image based on the intermediate data converted by the first data conversion means;
A document name setting means for setting a document name for each job;
Print condition setting means for setting print conditions for each job;
Print setting information storage means for storing print setting information indicating the printing conditions set by the printing condition setting means,
In the job list, a document name, an intermediate data path, a memory address of print setting information, and a preview image path corresponding to the intermediate data are associated with each print target job. Print control device. The print control apparatus according to claim 2,
When the print instruction of each print target job is received by the second print instruction reception unit, the intermediate data corresponding to each print target job converted by the first data conversion unit according to the job list A printing control apparatus comprising a second data conversion means for sequentially converting the data for the printing apparatus. The print control apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,
Job order format storage means for storing the job order format;
Job determination means for determining whether or not the job corresponding to the print instruction is the first job when the print instruction is received by the first print instruction reception means;
An activation unit that activates the preview display unit when the job determination unit determines that the job is the first job;
A print control apparatus comprising: job order format reading means for reading the job order format stored in the job order format storage means after the preview display means is activated by the activation means. The print control apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The preview display means converts the information about each print target job into the order and document name of each print target job, a preview image and print setting information corresponding to the selected print target job among the print target jobs. A printing control apparatus characterized by being a means for displaying separately. The print control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
The preview display means also displays a job order and document name different from each print target job in the job order format, and indicates that there is a print instruction from the application for each print target job. A print control apparatus that displays that there is no print instruction from the application for a job different from each of the print target jobs. The print control apparatus according to claim 6.
The preview display means includes means for separately displaying print target jobs that are not in the job order format among the print target jobs.
A job addition instruction accepting means for accepting an instruction to add the print target job to the job list when a print target job not in the job order format is separately displayed by the preview display means;
Job addition means for adding information related to the print target job to the job list when the job addition instruction reception means receives an instruction to add a print target job that is not in the job order format to the job list. A printing control apparatus characterized by that. The print control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Printing comprising: job order format storage means for storing the order of each print target job in the job list in which the order of each print target job is rearranged by the job rearranging means as the job order format Control device.   9. A printing system comprising: the printing control apparatus according to claim 1; and a printing apparatus that performs printing based on data from the printing control apparatus. A print control method in a print control apparatus having a communication means for communicating with a printing apparatus and having a function of controlling printing by the printing apparatus based on print data of a job from an application,
A first print instruction receiving step for receiving a print instruction for each job from the application;
Each time a print instruction is received in the first print instruction reception step, each print corresponding to each print instruction received up to the present time in the first print instruction reception step based on a preset job order format. A job rearrangement step for rearranging the order of each print target job in the job list indicating information on the target job;
A preview display step for previewing information related to each print target job according to the job list in which the order of each print target job is rearranged by the job rearrangement step;
A print control method, comprising: a second print instruction receiving step for receiving a print instruction for each print target job when information regarding each print target job is displayed as a preview in the preview display step. A computer that has a communication unit that communicates with a printing apparatus, and that controls a printing control apparatus that has a function of controlling printing by the printing apparatus based on print data of a job from an application.
A first print instruction reception function for receiving a print instruction for each job from the application;
Each time a print instruction is received by the first print instruction reception function, each print corresponding to each print instruction received so far by the first print instruction reception function based on a preset job order format A job rearrangement function for rearranging the order of each print target job in a job list indicating information on the target job;
A preview display function for previewing information related to each print target job according to the job list in which the order of each print target job is rearranged by the job rearrangement function;
A program for realizing a second print instruction receiving function for receiving a print instruction for each print target job when information related to each print target job is displayed as a preview by the preview display function.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program of Claim 11.

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