JP2010067106A - Printer driver device, printing system, and printer driver program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To create a printed matter whose quality is high, and whose utility value is high for a user without making a user be conscious of it whether or not a print setting value to be designated in creating and editing an original such as a document and an image can be appropriately accepted by a printer being the output destination of print data related with the original. <P>SOLUTION: A printer driver 7 capable of responding to a plurality of types of printers is configured to acquire print setting value information owned by a printer from the printer, and to compare a print setting value described in original data with a print setting value shown by the print setting value information acquired from the printer, and to, when both the print setting value information and the print setting value are not matched as the result, perform prescribed working processing for changing the print setting value described in the original data to the print setting value shown by the print setting value information acquired from the printer to the original data, and to convert the original data into print data suitable for printing processing in the printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes a printer driver device, a printer driver device, and a printing device that convert document data output from an external device such as a word processor, an image creation device, and a photo editing device into print data that is suitable for printing processing in the printing device. The present invention relates to a printing system and a printer driver program.

  In general, when a printing apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction machine is connected to a computer and used, a printer driver dedicated to the printing apparatus is incorporated in the operating system of the computer. The printer driver plays a role of converting document data, which is data such as a document and an image generated by a document processor, into print data suitable for the printing apparatus (see Patent Document 1). The document processor is a device that can create and edit documents, images, and the like, such as a word processor, an image creation device, and a photo editing device, and is realized by executing an application software program on a computer. It is.

  A printer driver that is widely spread in general is a printer driver dedicated to one model that supports only one model of printing apparatus. Therefore, the printer driver varies with the type of printing apparatus. For this reason, when a new type of printing apparatus is connected to the computer, it is usual to incorporate a printer driver dedicated to the changed model into the operating system.

  Further, the printer driver dedicated to one model is created so as to match the print processing capability of one model supported by the printer driver. For this reason, when document data in which a print setting value that cannot be properly accepted by the model is input from the document processor to the printer driver, the printer driver issues a warning or the like. The document processor recognizes this warning and displays a message or the like on the computer display informing that there is a possibility that the printing process requested by the user may not be executed properly.

For example, it is assumed that document data in which a paper size of A3 is designated is input from a document processor to a printer driver corresponding to a printer whose maximum printable paper size is A4. In this case, since A3 is not a paper size that can be properly accepted by the printer, the printer driver issues a warning. The document processor recognizes this warning and displays a message on the computer display informing that there is a possibility that the document cannot be printed properly.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-219265

  Currently, development of printer drivers corresponding to a plurality of different models (hereinafter referred to as “multi-model compatible printer drivers”) is in progress. According to this multi-model compatible printer driver, if a single multi-model compatible printer driver is incorporated into the operating system of a computer, it is possible to use a plurality of printing apparatuses of different models connected to the computer. become.

  For example, when a plurality of printing apparatuses of different models are connected to a computer network built in a corporate office, one multi-model printer driver is installed in each personal computer connected to the computer network. As a result, a plurality of printing apparatuses of different models can be used by each personal computer. Further, when a new type of printing apparatus is added to the computer network, it is not necessary to separately install a printer driver in each personal computer. As described above, according to the multi-model compatible printer driver, management, maintenance, and the like of the computer network system are facilitated.

  Such a multi-model compatible printer driver needs to support a plurality of models having different processing capabilities. For this reason, it is necessary for the multi-model compatible printer driver to handle all print setting values that each model can properly accept.

  However, when designing a multi-model compatible printer driver that satisfies these requirements, the print setting values that can be handled by the multi-model compatible printer driver may vary depending on the model. There are cases where it cannot be accepted, which may lead to the following inconvenient situation.

  For example, there are a model A in which the printable paper sizes are A3, B4, A4 and B5, and a model B in which the printable paper sizes are A4 and B5. Suppose you have a multi-model printer driver designed in Paper sizes that can be handled by this multi-model printer driver are A3, B4, A4, and B5. When the user gives an instruction to the document processor to print a document with the A3 paper size specified by model B, the document data of this document is input from the document processor to the multi-model compatible printer driver. At this time, the paper size A3 is a paper size that can be handled by a multi-model printer driver. Therefore, the multi-model compatible printer driver performs conversion processing on the document data input from the document processor without issuing a warning, and print data (the size of the image to be printed is also specified) with the A3 paper size specified. A3 size). This print data is output to model B. As described above, since the paper sizes that can be printed by the model B are A4 and B5, the paper sizes that can be properly accepted by the model B are only A4 and B5. For this reason, when print data in which the paper size of A3 is designated is input to the model B, a situation where only a part of the document is printed or a situation where printing is not executed at all can occur.

  As another example, there are model C capable of both color printing and monochrome printing, and model D capable of monochrome printing only, and was designed to support both model C and model D. Suppose you have a multi-model printer driver. This multi-model printer driver can handle a print setting value for designating color printing and a print setting value for designating monochrome printing. When the user gives an instruction to print an image for which color printing is designated by the model D to the document processor, the original data of this image is input from the word processor to the multi-model compatible printer driver. At this time, since the multi-model compatible printer driver can handle the print setting value for designating color printing, it performs conversion processing on the document data input from the document processor without issuing a warning, Print data for color printing is generated. This print data is output toward the model D that can only perform monochrome printing. As a result, a situation may occur in which an image whose color tone (for example, the balance of light and shade) is broken is printed by the model D.

  Certainly, the print setting value specified when creating or editing a document, image, or other document in the document processor, or when instructing the printing of the document, is appropriate for the model to which the print data related to the document is output. If the user confirms whether or not it is acceptable, it is possible to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantageous situation. However, it is not preferable to force the user to perform such complicated confirmation work.

  The present invention has been made in view of, for example, the problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to specify printing when creating or editing a document such as a document or an image, or instructing printing of the document. Create a high-quality print product with high use value for the user without making the user aware of whether the set value can be properly received by the printing apparatus that is the output destination of the print data for the document. To provide a printer driver device, a printing system, and a printer driver program.

  In order to solve the above problems, a printer driver device according to the present invention is a printer driver device that converts document data output from an external device into print data suitable for print processing in the printing device, and has designated print settings. Document data receiving means for receiving document data including values from the external device, setting value information receiving means for receiving print setting value information indicating print setting values that can be properly accepted by the printing apparatus, and Determining means for determining whether or not a print setting value included in the original data received by the original data receiving means matches a print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received by the setting value information receiving means; Based on the determination result by the determination unit, the document data received by the document data receiving unit is stored in the printing apparatus. Conversion means for converting into print data suitable for print processing, and the conversion means, as a result of the determination by the determination means, the print setting value included in the original data received by the original data receiving means and the setting When the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received by the value information receiving means does not match, the print setting value included in the original data received by the original data receiving means is received by the setting value information receiving means. A predetermined processing for changing to the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information is performed on the document data or the print data.

  In the above-described printer driver device of the present invention, the predetermined processing is a print process performed by setting a print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received by the setting value information receiving unit in the printing apparatus. It is desirable that the process is a process for processing an image corresponding to the document data or the print data so as to be suitable.

  In the above-described printer driver device of the present invention, the print setting value is a paper size of the print paper, and the predetermined processing reduces or enlarges the original data or the image corresponding to the print data. It is desirable to be a process.

  In the above-described printer driver device according to the present invention, the print setting value is a value that specifies that one of color printing and monochrome printing should be performed on the document data, and the predetermined processing is performed on the document data. It is desirable that the data or the image corresponding to the print data be converted from a color image to a monochrome image.

  In the above-described printer driver device of the present invention, the print setting value is a print resolution, and the predetermined processing is a process of changing the resolution of the image corresponding to the document data or the print data. Is desirable.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a printing system according to the present invention includes a printing apparatus, and a printer driver apparatus that converts document data output from an external apparatus into print data suitable for printing processing in the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus receives a request command transmitted from the printer driver apparatus, storage means for storing print setting value information indicating print setting values that can be properly accepted by the printing apparatus, In response to this request command, communication means for transmitting print setting value information stored in the storage means to the printer driver device, and printing for printing an image corresponding to the print data converted by the printer driver device on paper Printing means for performing processing, and the printer driver device transmits document data including designated print setting values to the external Document data receiving means for receiving from the printer and setting value information for transmitting the request command for requesting transmission of the print setting value information to the printing apparatus and receiving the print setting value information transmitted from the printing apparatus in response thereto It is determined whether the print setting value included in the document data received by the receiving unit and the document data receiving unit matches the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received by the setting value information receiving unit. And a conversion means for converting the document data received by the document data receiving means into print data suitable for the printing process in the printing apparatus, based on a determination result by the determination means. As a result of the determination by the determination unit, the print setting value included in the document data received by the document data receiving unit and the setting When the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received by the value information receiving means does not match, the print setting value included in the original data received by the original data receiving means is received by the setting value information receiving means. A predetermined processing for changing to the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information is performed on the document data or the print data.

  In order to solve the above problems, a printer driver program according to the present invention includes a document data receiving process for receiving document data including a designated print setting value from an external device, and a print setting value that can be properly received by the printing device. Print setting value information received from the printing apparatus, print setting values included in the document data received in the document data receiving step, and print setting value information received in the setting value information receiving step A determination step for determining whether or not the print setting values indicated by the print data match, and based on the determination result in the determination step, the original data received in the original data receiving step is adapted to print processing in the printing apparatus A printer driver program for causing a computer to execute a conversion process for converting data In the conversion step, as a result of the determination in the determination step, the print setting value included in the document data received in the document data receiving step and the print setting value information received in the setting value information receiving step are indicated. When the print setting value does not match, the print setting value included in the document data received in the document data receiving step is changed to the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received in the setting value information receiving step. Predetermined processing required for the document data or the print data is performed.

  According to the present invention described above, the print setting value designated when creating or editing a document, image, or other document, or instructing printing of the document, is the output destination of the print data relating to the document. Without making the user aware of whether or not the printing apparatus can accept the printing properly, it is possible to produce a printed matter with high quality and high utility value for the user.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a printing system of the present invention. A printing system 1 in FIG. 1 includes a computer 2 and two printing apparatuses 3 and 4 having different models. The computer 2 and the printing apparatuses 3 and 4 are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other via a computer network 5 such as a local area network.

  The printing system 1 may be provided with a plurality of computers 2 or may be provided with three or more printing apparatuses having different models. In addition, the printing apparatuses 3 and 4 may be connected to the computer 2 via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable or the like.

  The computer 2 is, for example, a personal computer or a server computer. The computer 2 functions as a document processor 6, a printer driver 7, and a spooler 8 by executing a document processor program, a printer driver program, and a spooler program.

  The document processor 6 is a device that creates and edits documents, images, and the like, and includes a word processing function, an image creation function, a photo editing function, and the like. A user operates the computer 2 to create or edit a document, an image, or the like by the document processor 6. Then, the user inputs an instruction to the document processor 6 to print the data such as the document and the image by the printing device 3 or 4. Then, the document processor 6 calls the printer driver 7 and outputs data such as a document and an image created or edited by the user to the printer driver 7. Hereinafter, data such as documents and images output from the document processor 6 to the printer driver 7 is referred to as “original data”.

  When the user creates or edits a document or image by the document processor 6 or inputs a print instruction for the document or image, the user performs printing, the paper size of the printing paper, and the feeding of the printing paper. It is possible to specify the original (paper feed cassette, manual feed), the discharge destination of the printing paper on which printing has been completed, the printing resolution, color / monochrome (whether to perform color printing or monochrome printing), and the like. These designations by the user are described in the document data as print setting values. The document processor 6 is a specific example of an external device.

  The printer driver 7 is a device having a function of converting document data output from the document processor 6 or the like into print data suitable for the printing devices 3 and 4. The printer driver 7 is a multi-model compatible printer driver corresponding to a plurality of different models. The printer driver 7 corresponds to at least the printing apparatuses 3 and 4, respectively. The printer driver 7 is a specific example of a printer driver device.

  When the printing device 3 or 4 performs printing, the spooler 8 temporarily stores the print data output from the printer driver 7 in an external storage device or the like included in the computer 2 and prints the stored print data. This is an apparatus that outputs to the printing apparatus 3 or 4 according to the progress of the printing process of the apparatus 3 or 4.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the printer driver 7. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer driver 7 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, an external storage device 14, and a communication interface 15. Note that the CPU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, external storage device 14, and communication interface 15 are hardware resources of the computer 2. When the printer driver program is executed in the computer 2, these hardware resources are transferred to the printer driver 7. It functions as a component of

  The ROM 12 stores a printer driver program. The CPU 11 reads out the printer driver program from the ROM 12 and executes the printer driver program, thereby executing the document data receiving unit 21, the setting value information receiving unit 22, the determining unit 23, the processing process determining unit 24, the print data generating unit 25, and the general control unit 26. Function as. Then, the CPU 11 causes the computer 2 to function as the printer driver 7 by cooperating these components 21 to 26. The document data receiving unit 21, the set value information receiving unit 22, and the determining unit 23 are specific examples of the document data receiving unit, the set value information receiving unit, and the determining unit, respectively. The processing determination unit 24 and the print data generation unit 25 constitute a conversion unit 27. The conversion unit 27 is a specific example of conversion means. Details of these components 21 to 26 will be described later.

  The RAM 13 is used as a working memory when the CPU 11 executes the printer driver program. The external storage device 14 is, for example, a hard disk drive. The communication interface 15 includes a communication circuit for performing bidirectional information communication between the printer driver 7 and the printing apparatuses 3 and 4.

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the printing apparatus 3. The printing apparatus 3 is, for example, a printer or a multifunction machine. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the printing apparatus 3 includes a communication control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a printing unit 33, and a communication interface 34.

  The communication control unit 31 controls communication between the printing apparatus 3 and the printer driver 7. The storage unit 32 is, for example, a nonvolatile semiconductor storage element. The printing unit 33 performs a printing process for printing an image corresponding to the print data generated by the printer driver 7 on a sheet. The printing unit 33 includes a printing mechanism, a cassette for storing paper for printing an image, a paper transport mechanism, a paper discharge tray on which paper discharged after printing is completed, and the like. The communication interface 34 includes a communication circuit for performing communication between the printing apparatus 3 and the printer driver 7, and operates according to the control of the communication control unit 31. The communication control unit 31, the storage unit 32, and the printing unit 33 are specific examples of the communication unit, the storage unit, and the printing unit, respectively.

The storage unit 32 of the printing apparatus 3 stores print setting value information 41 as shown in FIG. The print setting value information 41 indicates a print setting value that can be properly accepted by the printing apparatus 3. The print setting value that can be properly accepted by the printing apparatus 3 is determined based on the processing capability of the printing apparatus 3, that is, the specifications of the printing apparatus 3. Specifically, the print setting values are defined as follows for print setting items such as paper size, paper source, paper discharge destination, resolution, and color / monochrome.
Paper size: A4, A5, A6, B5, B6, postcard Paper source: Cassette 1 (A4), Cassette 2 (B5), Manual paper discharge destination: Tray 1
Resolution: 600 x 600 dpi
Color / Monochrome: Monochrome Note that the cassette 1 (A4) means a cassette in which paper having a paper size of A4 is stored. Further, the cassette 2 (B5) means a cassette in which a sheet having a sheet size B5 is stored. Monochrome, which is a print setting value for a color / monochrome print setting item, means that only monochrome printing is possible.

On the other hand, the printing apparatus 4 in FIG. 1 is also a printer or a multifunction machine, for example. The printing apparatus 4 includes components as shown in FIG. 3 in substantially the same manner as the printing apparatus 3. However, the printing device 4 is different in model from the printing device 3 and is different in processing capability (specification) from the printing device 3. The print setting value information is also stored in the storage unit of the printing apparatus 4. This print setting value information indicates a print setting value that can be properly accepted by the printing apparatus 4. Since the printing device 4 is different in model (processing capability) from the printing device 3, the print setting value indicated by the print setting information stored in the storage unit of the printing device 4 is the print setting information stored in the storage unit of the printing device 3. 41 is different from the print setting value indicated by 41. The print setting values indicated by the print setting value information stored in the storage unit of the printing apparatus 4 are as follows, for example.
Paper size: A3, A4, A5, A6, B4, B5, B6, Postcard Paper source: Cassette 1 (A4), Cassette 2 (B5), Cassette 3 (B4), Cassette 4 (A3), Manual paper discharge destination : Tray 1, Tray 2 (for large size paper)
Resolution: 720 x 720 dpi
Color / Monochrome: Color, Monochrome The printing apparatus 4 is superior in processing capability (specification) to the printing apparatus 3. That is, the maximum paper size of the printing apparatus 4 is A3, which exceeds A4 that is the maximum paper size of the printing apparatus 3. The printing apparatus 4 includes cassettes 3 and 4 in which B4 and A3 sheets are stored, in addition to cassettes 1 and 2 in which A4 and B5 sheets are stored. In addition to the tray 1, the printing apparatus 4 includes a tray 2 for discharging large-sized paper sheets such as B4 and A3. Further, the resolution of the printing apparatus 4 exceeds the resolution of the printing apparatus 3. Furthermore, the printing apparatus 4 can perform not only monochrome printing but also color printing.

As described above, the printer driver 7 is a multi-model printer driver that supports at least both the printing apparatus 3 and the printing apparatus 4. The printer driver 7 can handle at least all print setting values of the printing apparatuses 3 and 4. Examples of print setting values that can be handled by the printer driver 7 are as follows.
Paper size: A3, A4, A5, A6, B4, B5, B6, Postcard Paper source: Cassette 1 (A4), Cassette 2 (B5), Cassette 3 (B4), Cassette 4 (A3), Manual paper discharge destination : Tray 1, Tray 2 (for large size paper)
Resolution: 720 x 720 dpi
Color / monochrome: color, monochrome In this embodiment, since the processing capability of the printing apparatus 4 includes the processing capability of the printing apparatus 3, the print setting values that can be handled by the printer driver 7 are the printing apparatus 4 Is the same as the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information. However, when the printing apparatus 3 has a processing capability that the printing apparatus 4 does not have, the printer driver 7 can handle print setting values corresponding to the processing capability of only the printing apparatus 3.

  FIG. 5 shows print processing by the printer driver 7 and the printing apparatuses 3 and 4. It is assumed that the user edits a colorful advertisement image, for example, by the document processor 6 and wants to print the advertisement image, and inputs a print instruction to the document processor 6. When inputting the print instruction, the user designates the printing apparatus 3 as a printing apparatus for performing printing, designates A3 as the paper size, designates the cassette 4 (A3) as the paper feed cassette, and discharges paper. It is assumed that tray 2 (for large size paper) is specified as the destination, 720 × 720 dpi is specified as the resolution, and color is specified for the color / monochrome print setting item (the user's specification is that of the printing device 3) Is out of specification). In response to this, the document processor 6 calls the printer driver 7 and outputs document data describing these print setting values designated by the user to the printer driver 7.

  The document data receiving unit 21 of the printer driver 7 receives document data including print setting values designated by the user from the document processor 6 (step S1 in FIG. 5).

  Subsequently, the set value information receiving unit 22 transmits a request command for requesting transmission of the print set value information 41 to the printing apparatus 3 (step S2).

  Subsequently, the communication control unit 31 of the printing apparatus 3 receives the request command transmitted from the printer driver 7 (step S3), and print settings stored in the storage unit 32 of the printing apparatus 3 according to the request command. The value information 41 is transmitted to the printer driver 7 (step S4).

  Subsequently, the setting value information receiving unit 22 of the printer driver 7 receives the printing setting value information 41 transmitted from the printing apparatus 3 (step S5).

  Subsequently, the determination unit 23 of the printer driver 7 sets the print setting value described in the document data received in step S1 and the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information 41 received in step S5 for each print setting item. A comparison is made (step S6), and it is determined for each print setting item whether or not they match (step S7).

  In step S1, as can be seen from a comparison between the print setting value (see FIG. 4) indicated by the print setting value information 41 of the printing apparatus 3 described above and the above-described print setting value designated when the user inputs a print instruction. The print setting value described in the received document data and the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information 41 received in step S5 are the paper size, paper source, paper discharge destination, resolution, and color / monochrome print settings. The items do not match each other (step S7: NO). In this case, the processing process determination unit 24 changes a print setting value described in the document data received in step S1 to a print setting value indicated by the print setting value information 41 received in step S5. A processing process is determined, and a command for performing the determined predetermined processing process is passed to the print data generation unit 25 (step S8).

  Subsequently, the print data generation unit 25 performs a processing process on the document data received in step S <b> 1 in accordance with a command passed from the processing process determination unit 24, and prints the document data suitable for the printing process in the printing apparatus 3. Data is converted (step S9).

  The predetermined processing determined in step S8 and executed in step S9 is the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information 41 received in step S5 as the print setting value described in the document data received in step S1. This is a predetermined processing for changing to a value. Specifically, the predetermined processing is performed on the original data so as to be adapted to the printing process performed by setting the printing setting value indicated by the printing setting value information 41 received in step S5 in the printing apparatus 3. This is a process for processing a corresponding image.

  That is, when the paper size described in the original data does not match the paper size indicated by the print setting value information 41, the predetermined processing is a process for reducing or enlarging the image corresponding to the original data. Specifically, when the paper size described in the original data exceeds the maximum paper size indicated by the print setting value information 41, the predetermined processing is a process of reducing an image corresponding to the original data. is there. The image reduction ratio is determined by the degree of difference between the paper size described in the document data and the maximum paper size indicated by the print setting value information 41. On the other hand, when the paper size described in the original data is smaller than the minimum paper size indicated by the print setting value information 41, the predetermined processing is a process for enlarging the image corresponding to the original data. The image enlargement ratio is determined by the degree of difference between the paper size described in the document data and the minimum paper size indicated by the print setting value information 41. The size of the image corresponding to the document data reduced or enlarged by the predetermined processing is performed by setting the paper size (maximum paper size or minimum paper size) indicated by the print setting value information 41 in the printing apparatus 3. The size is suitable for the printing process. In step S9, the processing is performed, and the print setting value related to the paper size described in the document data is the print setting related to the paper size (maximum paper size or minimum paper size) indicated by the setting value information 41. Changed to a value. Further, along with this, the print setting value relating to the paper supply source and the print setting value relating to the paper discharge destination described in the document data are also changed as necessary so as to match the changed paper size.

  For example, when the paper size described in the original data is A3 and the maximum paper size indicated by the print setting value information 41 is A4, a process for reducing the image corresponding to the original data is performed as the predetermined processing. Done. In this reduction process, the reduction ratio of the image is reduced from A3 to A4, so is set to 70%. With this processing, the print setting value related to the paper size described in the original data is changed from A3 to A4, and the print setting value related to the paper source described in the original data is changed from cassette 4 to cassette 1. Thus, the print setting value relating to the paper discharge destination described in the document data is changed from tray 2 to tray 1.

  When the resolution described in the document data does not match the resolution indicated by the print setting value information 41, the predetermined processing changes the resolution of the image corresponding to the document data to the resolution indicated by the print setting value information 41. It is processing to do. The resolution of the image corresponding to the document data whose resolution has been changed by a predetermined processing process is a resolution that is compatible with the printing process performed by setting the resolution indicated by the print setting value information 41 in the printing apparatus 3. In step S 9, this processing is performed, and the print setting value related to the resolution described in the document data is changed to the print setting value related to the resolution indicated by the setting value information 41.

  For example, when the resolution described in the document data is 720 × 720 dpi and the resolution indicated by the print setting value information 41 is 600 × 600 dpi, the resolution of the image corresponding to the document data is set to 600 as the predetermined processing. The process of x600 dpi is performed. With this processing, the print setting value relating to the resolution described in the document data is changed from 720 × 720 dpi to 600 × 600 dpi.

  When the print setting value related to the color / monochrome print setting item described in the document data does not match the print setting value related to the color / monochrome print setting item indicated by the print setting value information 41, a predetermined processing process is performed. Is a process of converting an image corresponding to document data from a color image to a monochrome image. The image corresponding to the document data, which has been converted from color to monochrome by a predetermined processing process, is an image suitable for the printing process performed by setting the printing setting value indicated by the printing setting value information 41 in the printing apparatus 3. . In step S9, the processing is performed, and the print setting value related to the color / monochrome print setting item described in the document data is printed according to the color / monochrome print setting item indicated by the setting value information 41. It is changed to the set value.

  For example, when the print setting value related to the color / monochrome print setting item described in the document data is color, and the print setting value related to the color / monochrome print setting item indicated by the print setting value information 41 is monochrome. As a predetermined processing, a process for converting an image corresponding to document data from a color image to a monochrome image is performed. With this processing, the print setting value related to the color / monochrome print setting item described in the document data is changed from color to monochrome.

  The print setting value described in the original data and the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information 41 match for one of the paper size, paper source, paper discharge destination, resolution, and color / monochrome print setting items. If not, one process corresponding to one print setting item related to the mismatched print setting value is performed. On the other hand, the print setting value described in the document data and the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information 41 are some of the paper size, paper source, paper discharge destination, resolution, and color / monochrome print setting items. If all of them do not match, a plurality of processing processes corresponding to a plurality of print setting items related to the mismatched print setting values are performed simultaneously or sequentially. Then, after the processing is performed, the document data subjected to the processing is converted into print data. In the converted print data, a print setting value described in the document data and changed as necessary in accordance with the processing process is described.

  Subsequently, the print data generation unit 25 outputs the print data converted in step S9 to the spooler 8 (step S10). Then, the spooler 8 appropriately outputs the print data output from the print data generation unit 25 to the printing apparatus 3 according to the progress status of the printing process in the printing apparatus 3. The output print data is transmitted from the computer 2 to the printing apparatus 3.

  Subsequently, the communication control unit 31 of the printing apparatus 3 receives the print data transmitted from the computer 2 (step S12), and the printing unit 33 of the printing apparatus 3 performs a printing process on the received print data. That is, the printing unit 33 prints an image corresponding to the print data on paper according to the print setting value described in the print data (step S13). Accordingly, the colorful advertisement image edited by the user using the document processor 6 is reduced by 70%, and is printed on A4 paper as a monochrome image having a resolution of 600 × 600 dpi.

  On the other hand, when the user inputs a print instruction for the advertisement image, the printing apparatus 4 is designated as the printing apparatus for performing printing, A3 is designated as the paper size, and the cassette 4 (A3) is designated as the paper feed cassette. Suppose that tray 2 (for large size paper) is designated as the paper discharge destination, 720 × 720 dpi is designated as the resolution, and color is designated for the color / monochrome print setting items (the user's designation is printing) All the specifications of the device 4 are satisfied).

  In this case, after the document data receiving unit 21 of the printer driver 7 receives the document data from the document processor 6 (step S1), the setting value information receiving unit 22 issues a request command for requesting transmission of print setting value information. The information is transmitted to the printing apparatus 4 (step S2), and the print setting value information transmitted from the printing apparatus 4 in response to the request command is received (steps S3, S4, S5). Subsequently, the determination unit 23 of the printer driver 7 displays, for each print setting item, the print setting value described in the document data received in step S1 and the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received in step S5. (Step S6). As a result, since the print setting values of both of the print setting items match (step S7: YES), the print data generation unit 25 does not perform the predetermined processing and receives the document data received in step S1. Is converted into print data suitable for the printing process in the printing apparatus 4 and output to the spooler 8 (steps S11 and S10). The printing device 4 receives the print data from the computer 2 and prints an image corresponding to the print data on a sheet (steps S12 and S13). Thus, the colorful advertisement image edited by the user using the document processor 6 is printed on the A3 sheet as a color image having a resolution of 720 × 720 dpi without being reduced or enlarged.

  As described above, according to the printing system 1 or the printer driver 7, the print setting value described in the original data does not match the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information included in the printing apparatus that performs printing for the original data. In other words, when the print setting value described in the document data is not properly acceptable by a printing apparatus that prints the document data, the print setting value described in the document data is A predetermined processing for changing the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information included in the printing apparatus that performs printing on the data is performed on the document data, and then the document data is converted into print data. The predetermined processing is performed on the original data so that the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information included in the printing apparatus that prints the original data is set in the printing apparatus. This is a process for processing a corresponding image. Specifically, the predetermined processing is an image reduction / enlargement process when the mismatch of the print setting values is about the paper size, and the image is processed when the mismatch of the print setting values is about the resolution. In the case where the print setting value mismatch is for color / monochrome, the color image is converted to a monochrome image. Therefore, even when the print setting value specified by the user is not properly acceptable by the printing apparatus that prints the document data, a printed matter having high quality and sufficiently high use value for the user is created. Can do.

  Certainly, according to the printing system 1, for example, when the user prints document data specifying the A3 paper size and color printing by the printing device 3, the image corresponding to the document data fits the A4 paper. The image is reduced, and the image is converted from color to monochrome and printed. As a result, an image printed in monochrome on A4 paper does not completely satisfy the user's request. However, the entire image corresponding to the document data is printed without protruding on the A4 sheet, and the color tone of the image corresponding to the document data is reproduced in the monochrome tone corresponding to the color tone. The user can fully grasp the printing result of the document. Compared with the prior art in which only a part of the image corresponding to the document data is printed or the image corresponding to the document data is printed out of color, the printed material of the document obtained by the printing system 1 has a higher quality. The value is sufficiently high for users. For example, when a colorful advertisement image is reduced by the printer driver 7 and printed in monochrome, the printed matter can be used for checking the composition or for in-house presentation even if it cannot be used for checking the color arrangement of the advertisement image. It can be used as a document.

  In the case where the predetermined processing is determined by the printer driver 7 that there is a mismatch between the print setting value described in the document data and the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information acquired from the printing apparatus. Automatically determined and automatically executed. Therefore, the user does not have to confirm whether or not the print setting value specified at the time of creating / editing a document or inputting a print instruction can be properly received by the printing apparatus that is the output destination of the print data. Also good. In addition, when the print setting value specified by the user is not properly acceptable by the printing device that is the output destination of the print data, a new instruction input request is issued to the user. There is no.

  As described above, according to the printing system 1 or the printer driver 7, the print setting value specified when creating or editing a document, image, or other document, or when instructing printing of the document is the output destination of the print data. Therefore, it is possible to produce a printed matter having high quality and sufficiently high utility value for the user without making the user aware of whether or not the printing apparatus can be properly received.

  Note that when there are a plurality of print setting values related to a certain print setting item in the print setting value information, the printer driver 7 described above prints one print setting item described in the document data for the one print setting item. The setting value is compared with each of the plurality of print setting values indicated by the print setting value information, and as a result, the one that matches the print setting value described in the document data is the one of the plurality of print setting values indicated by the print setting value information. If not, it is determined that the print setting value described in the document data does not match the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information. However, this determination method is only an example. In carrying out the present invention, other determination methods may be employed. For example, for one print setting item, it is checked whether one print setting value described in the document data exceeds the maximum one of a plurality of print setting values indicated by the print setting value information. If one print setting value described in the data exceeds the maximum one of the plurality of print setting values indicated by the print setting value information, it may be determined that the two print setting values do not match. As a specific example, when the paper size described in the original data is A3 and the paper size indicated by the print setting value information is A4, A5, A6, B5, B6, postcard, the paper size described in the original data. (A3) is compared with the maximum paper size (A4) indicated by the print setting value information, and as a result, the paper size (A3) described in the document data indicates the maximum paper size (A4) indicated by the print setting value information. Therefore, it may be determined that the paper size described in the document data does not match the paper size indicated by the print setting value information.

  In the above-described embodiment, examples of print setting items include paper size, paper source, paper discharge destination, resolution, color / monochrome, and examples of print setting values for these print setting items. The print setting items and print setting values in the present invention are not limited to these. Other print setting items or other print setting values may be added.

  Further, the printer driver 7 described above has exemplified the case of performing data conversion processing for converting document data into print data after performing predetermined processing on the document data. The order of the processing process and the data conversion process is not limited to this, and the predetermined processing process and the data conversion process may be performed simultaneously.

  Further, as described above, the three predetermined processings performed by the printer driver 7 are the image reduction / enlargement processing, the resolution changing processing, and the color-monochrome conversion processing. It is not restricted to these.

  In the printing system 1 described above, when the print setting value described in the document data is not properly received by the printing apparatus that prints the document data, a predetermined processing process is performed on the document data. I do. When such processing is performed, a message or the like indicating that the processing has been performed may be displayed on the display of the computer 2 or the like. For example, by displaying a message such as “The document / image has been reduced to fit the paper size in the output destination printing device”, the user can fully understand the automatic behavior of the printing system 1. Usability of the printing system 1 can be improved.

  The present invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and a printer driver device, a printing system, and a printer driver program that involve such changes are also included. It is also included in the technical idea of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a printing system of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer driver that is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the specific example of print setting value information. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process performed by a printer driver and a printing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system 2 Computer 3, 4 Printing apparatus 6 Document processor 7 Printer driver 11 CPU
21 Document Data Receiving Unit 22 Setting Value Information Receiving Unit 23 Judging Unit 24 Processing Processing Determination Unit 25 Print Data Generation Unit 27 Conversion Unit 31 Communication Control Unit 32 Storage Unit 33 Printing Unit 41 Print Setting Value Information

Claims (7)

A printer driver device that converts document data output from an external device into print data suitable for print processing in the printing device,
Document data receiving means for receiving document data including designated print setting values from the external device;
Setting value information receiving means for receiving, from the printing apparatus, print setting value information indicating a print setting value that can be properly accepted by the printing apparatus;
Determining means for determining whether or not the print setting value included in the original data received by the original data receiving means and the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received by the setting value information receiving means match; ,
Conversion means for converting the original data received by the original data receiving means into print data suitable for the printing process in the printing apparatus based on the determination result by the determination means;
As a result of determination by the determination unit, the conversion unit includes a print setting value included in the document data received by the document data receiving unit and a print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received by the setting value information receiving unit. Does not match, a predetermined setting for changing the print setting value included in the document data received by the document data receiving means to the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received by the setting value information receiving means A printer driver device that performs processing on the original data or the print data.   The predetermined processing is performed so that the original data or the document data or the document data is adapted to a print process performed by setting the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received by the setting value information receiving unit in the printing apparatus. The printer driver apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver apparatus is a process for processing an image corresponding to print data.   2. The print setting value is a paper size of a print sheet, and the predetermined processing is a process of reducing or enlarging an image corresponding to the document data or the print data. The printer driver device described.   The print setting value is a value for designating that one of color printing and monochrome printing should be performed on the document data, and the predetermined processing is performed by converting an image corresponding to the document data or the print data into a color image. The printer driver device according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver device converts the image into a monochrome image.   2. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the print setting value is a print resolution, and the predetermined processing is a process of changing a resolution of an image corresponding to the document data or the print data. apparatus. A printing system comprising: a printing device; and a printer driver device that converts document data output from an external device into print data suitable for printing processing in the printing device,
The printing apparatus includes:
Storage means for storing print setting value information indicating print setting values that can be properly accepted by the printing apparatus;
A communication unit that receives a request command transmitted from the printer driver device and transmits print setting value information stored in the storage unit to the printer driver device in response to the request command;
Printing means for performing a printing process for printing an image corresponding to the print data converted by the printer driver device on paper;
The printer driver device includes:
Document data receiving means for receiving document data including designated print setting values from the external device;
Setting value information receiving means for transmitting the request command for requesting transmission of the print setting value information to the printing apparatus and receiving the print setting value information transmitted from the printing apparatus in response thereto;
Determining means for determining whether or not the print setting value included in the original data received by the original data receiving means and the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received by the setting value information receiving means match; ,
Conversion means for converting the original data received by the original data receiving means into print data suitable for the printing process in the printing apparatus based on the determination result by the determination means;
As a result of determination by the determination unit, the conversion unit includes a print setting value included in the document data received by the document data receiving unit and a print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received by the setting value information receiving unit. Does not match, a predetermined setting for changing the print setting value included in the document data received by the document data receiving means to the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received by the setting value information receiving means A printing system that performs a processing process on the document data or the print data. A document data receiving process for receiving document data including a designated print setting value from an external device;
A setting value information receiving step for receiving, from the printing apparatus, print setting value information indicating a print setting value that can be properly accepted by the printing apparatus;
A determination step for determining whether or not a print setting value included in the document data received in the document data receiving step matches a print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received in the setting value information receiving step; ,
A printer driver program for causing a computer to execute a conversion step of converting original data received in the original data receiving step into print data suitable for a printing process in the printing apparatus based on a determination result in the determination step. And
In the conversion step, as a result of the determination in the determination step, the print setting value included in the document data received in the document data receiving step and the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received in the setting value information receiving step Is not necessary to change the print setting value included in the document data received in the document data receiving process to the print setting value indicated by the print setting value information received in the setting value information receiving process. A printer driver program that performs predetermined processing on the original data or the print data.

Images