JP2012111216A - Printer and graphics data registration method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose a graphics data registration method allowing graphics data to be printed, when changing printing resolution of a printer, in a proper state similar to that before the change without modifying a host apparatus for supplying printing data.SOLUTION: The graphics data registration method for a printer includes: a receiving step (ST1) of receiving a registration command of graphics data; a determination step (ST3) of determining whether image resolution of the graphics data included in the received registration command is different from printing resolution of a mounted printing head; a resolution conversion step (ST4) of applying an image resolution conversion process to the graphics data on the basis of the determination results so that the image resolution and the printing resolution are the same; and a registration step (ST5) of storing and holding the graphics data after the application of the image resolution conversion process in a graphics data memory unit 66.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer used as a receipt printer of a POS system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a graphics data registration method in a printer having a graphics data registration function such as a logo mark.

  As a POS system installed in a store or the like, there is known a system that prints and issues a receipt by a receipt printer connected to the POS terminal. On the surface of the receipt, text data such as a store name and transaction contents are printed, and graphics such as a store logo, a barcode, and a coupon are printed. Such a printer has a memory for registering graphics data including a nonvolatile memory such as NVRAM, and has a function of registering graphics data such as a logo mark indicating a store name and coupon information in the memory. There is something.

  For printers with a graphics data registration function, there is no need to send graphics data from the host computer to the printer each time printing is performed, and data for simply specifying the graphics data registered in the printer from the host computer. Just send. Therefore, the amount of data sent from the host computer to the printer can be reduced, and even when the data transmission rate between them is low, graphics data such as frequently printed store logos can be printed efficiently. be able to. A printer having such a graphics data registration function has been proposed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 by the applicant of the present application.

JP 2006-301738 A JP 2007-54986 A

  Here, in a POS system or the like, the printer connected to the POS terminal or the like may be replaced, and the print resolution of the installed print head may be different from the model before the replacement. For example, a printer having a print head having a print resolution of 180 dpi (dot per inch) may be changed to a printer having a 203 dpi print head. In this case, since the resolution of the print head after the replacement is high, if graphics data with an image resolution corresponding to 180 dpi before the replacement is printed, the graphics printed on a recording medium such as a receipt will be slightly smaller. , The way it looks will change. For this reason, when changing the printing resolution of the printer, it is necessary to change the graphics data creation and registration application installed on the host computer side.

  Therefore, conventionally, when the printing resolution of a printer having a graphics data registration function is changed, graphics data having a corresponding image resolution is generated, transmitted to the printer, and registered. In order to be able to do so, it is necessary to also change the application on the host computer side, and it is not possible to respond by changing only the printer.

  In view of this point, the problem of the present invention is that when the print resolution of the printer is changed, the graphics data is kept in the same size as before the change without changing the upper device on the print data supply side. The object is to propose a printable graphics data registration method. Another object of the present invention is to propose a printer capable of registering graphics data by such a new graphics data registration method.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a graphics data registration method for a printer according to the present invention includes:
A reception process for receiving a graphics data registration command;
A determination step of determining whether the image resolution of the graphics data included in the received registration command is different from the print resolution of the mounted print head;
Based on the determination result, resolution conversion is performed on the graphics data so that the image resolution is the same as the print resolution or the image resolution is closer to the print resolution. Process,
And a registration step of storing and holding the graphics data after the image resolution changing process in a graphics data storage unit.

  In the present invention, when a graphics data registration command is received from the host computer side, it is determined whether or not the image resolution of the graphics data is different from the print resolution of the print head of the printer. If they are different, image resolution conversion processing is performed on the received graphics data so that the image resolution matches or is closer to the printing resolution, and the processed graphics data is stored in the graphics data. Registered in the department. In this case, it is preferable to insert or delete part of the graphics data at a predetermined interval based on the image resolution and the printing resolution.

  According to the method of the present invention, graphics data having the same resolution as the print resolution of the mounted print head or a resolution closer to the print resolution is registered in the graphics data storage unit of the printer. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the adverse effect that the size of the graphics printed on the printing paper changes significantly due to the difference between the image resolution of the graphics data and the print resolution of the print head. . In addition, since data processing is performed on the printer side so that the image resolution of the graphics data matches the print resolution of the print head, the graphic of the image resolution that matches the print resolution on the printer side on the host computer side. There is no need to change the application program that generates the data and sends it to the printer for registration.

  Here, when it is known in advance that the image resolution of the graphics data supplied from the host computer side is the same as the print resolution of the print head, the image resolution of the graphics data received on the printer side There is no need to perform conversion processing, and the received graphics data may be registered in the graphics data storage unit as it is.

  In order to be able to cope with such a case, whether or not the image resolution conversion process is necessary is set in advance by setting means such as a dip switch and a soft switch, and the image resolution conversion process is performed prior to the determination step. What is necessary is just to perform the necessity determination process which determines the necessity of an image resolution conversion process based on the state of the setting means to which necessity is set. When the setting means indicates that the image resolution conversion process is not required, the received graphics data is directly used as the graphics in the registration step without executing the resolution conversion step. What is necessary is just to register into a data storage part.

  Further, the difference between the image data resolution of the graphics data and the print resolution of the print head is generally within twice. Therefore, as the image resolution conversion process in the resolution conversion step, a method of increasing or decreasing the number of constituent pixels of graphics data at equal intervals can be employed. That is, M, N, and P are positive integers, the image data resolution of the graphics data is M (dpi), the print resolution of the print head is N (dpi), and the value of P is | M / (N−M). | Or the integer value closest to the absolute value of the division value can be performed as follows.

  First, when the printing resolution is higher than the image resolution, that is, when M <N, the P-th pixel data is copied for each P-th pixel with respect to the graphics data, and the P-th pixel is copied. The number of data (number of pixels) of the graphics data may be increased by inserting the data between the data and the (P + 1) th pixel data. On the contrary, when the print resolution is lower than the image resolution, that is, when M> N, by deleting the P-th pixel data for each P-th pixel with respect to the graphics data, What is necessary is just to reduce the number of graphics data. When M = N, data processing for graphics data is not performed, and the received graphics data may be used as processed graphics data as it is.

  When similar processing is performed in units of rows and columns of graphics data, M, N, and P are positive integers, the image resolution of the graphics data is M (dpi), and the print resolution of the print head Is N (dpi), and the value of P is | M / (N−M) | or an integer value closest to the absolute value of the division value, when M <N, the line of the graphics data In the direction, for each P row, the row data of the P row is copied and inserted between the P row and the P + 1 row. In the column direction of the graphics data, every P row. , The column data of the P column is copied and inserted between the P column and the P + 1 column. When M> N, in the row direction of the graphics data, for each P row, Delete the row data for the Pth row, In, for each P th column, it may be deleted column data of the P-th column.

Next, the present invention is a printer for registering graphics data received by the above-described graphics data registration method,
A data receiver;
A graphics data storage unit for registering the graphics data received by the receiving unit;
A print head for printing print data including registered graphics data registered in the graphics data storage unit;
A data analysis unit for analyzing data received by the reception unit;
When the data is a graphics data registration command, a resolution determination unit that determines whether the image resolution of the graphics data included in the registration command is different from the print resolution of the print head;
Based on the determination result of the resolution determination unit, an image resolution conversion process is performed on the graphics data so that the image resolution is the same as the print resolution or the image resolution is closer to the print resolution. A resolution conversion unit for applying
And a registration control unit that registers the graphics data after the image resolution conversion processing in the graphics data storage unit.

  Here, when setting means for setting whether or not the image resolution conversion process is necessary is arranged, and it is set by the setting means that the image resolution conversion process is unnecessary, the registration control unit receives the received Graphics data may be registered in the graphics data storage unit as it is.

  In the present invention, on the printer side, data increase / decrease processing is performed in the direction in which the image resolution of graphics data matches the print resolution of the print head. Therefore, when the printer is changed to a printer with a different print resolution, the image data resolution of the graphics data is changed on the host computer side by changing the application program for generating and sending the graphics data to the printer side for registration. Need not match the print resolution. Therefore, it is easy to replace the printer with a printer having a different print resolution.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a POS system to which the present invention is applied. It is a functional block diagram of the control part of a receipt printer. It is a flowchart of the graphics data registration operation | movement of a receipt printer. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of an image resolution conversion process.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a receipt printer connected to a POS terminal of a POS system used in a store such as a convenience store will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a POS system 1 according to the present embodiment is connected to a POS server 2 that controls the entire system, each POS terminal device 3 that is communicatively connected thereto, and each POS terminal device 3. The receipt printer 4 is provided. In the figure, only one set of the POS terminal device 3 and the receipt printer 4 are shown.

  The POS server 2 includes a CPU 21 and memories such as a ROM 22 and a RAM 23. The RAM 23 includes storage areas such as product data (product code, product name, price, inventory) and advertisement data. The CPU 21 extracts information on the product code, the product name, and the amount of money based on the input information from the POS terminal device 3 side, displays the information on the POS terminal device 3 side, and the settlement information on the receipt printer 4. Product data used for printing is generated.

  The POS terminal device 3 on which the POS application 31 and the printer driver 32 are installed acquires information on the product and the like based on information input from the keyboard 33 by the operator and information on the product barcode read by the barcode reader 34. Further, the customer's credit card or membership card is read by the card reader 35, and these are transmitted as input information to the POS server 2 to obtain product data for display and printing from the POS server 2. Further, product information generated based on the product data acquired from the POS server 2 is displayed on the display 36.

  Next, the receipt printer 4 is a thermal head type receipt printer, which receives various control commands and print data from the POS terminal device 3, a data receiving unit 41, a conveying unit 42, a printing unit 43, a cutting unit 44, and each of these units. The drive part 45 which drives 42-44, the control part 46 etc. which control the receipt printer 4 whole are provided. The receipt printer 4 prints merchandise settlement information and the like on a printing paper 47 a that is a continuous paper fed out of, for example, the roll paper 47 and issues it as a receipt 48 of a certain length. Of course, the receipt printer 4 may be provided with a print head other than the thermal head method, for example, an ink jet head.

  The receipt printer 4 is a printer having a graphics data registration function. The registered graphics data is assigned an identifier called a key code, and is stored and held in a form in which the key code is associated with each graphics data. When a print command representing a predetermined print instruction including a key code is received from a host device such as the POS terminal device 3, graphics data corresponding to the received key code is printed on the print paper 47a.

  The registration of graphics data to the receipt printer 4 can be performed by the image registration device 5. The image registration device 5 is a host computer for the receipt printer 4 such as a personal computer. In FIG. 1, the image registration device 5 is displayed as a device separate from the POS terminal device 3, but the POS terminal device 3 can also function as the image registration device 5.

  The image registration apparatus 5 includes two applications: an image registration application 51 that registers graphics data in the receipt printer 4 and a setting value registration application 52 that performs various print settings related to the graphics data registered in the receipt printer 4. Installed. These two applications 51 and 52 perform settings for registering graphics data in the receipt printer 4 in accordance with user operations.

  The image registration application 51 creates graphics data to be registered in the receipt printer 4 based on a graphics file as a base, generates a key code, and registers the graphics data in the receipt printer 4 together with the key code. Thereby, in the receipt printer 4, the graphics data is registered in association with the corresponding key code.

  On the other hand, the setting value registration application 52 sets additional setting values related to printing such as a top logo, a bottom logo, and a keyword logo in the graphics data registered in the receipt printer 4. For example, when certain graphics data is set as a top logo by the setting value registration application 52, the POS terminal device 3 (host computer) satisfies the condition for printing the top logo without directly specifying the key code. The receipt printer 4 can print the graphics data assigned to the top logo on the continuous paper 47a. As a result, another application on the POS terminal device 3 (host computer) side can cause the receipt printer 4 to print graphics data without directly being aware of the key code. Since such an image registration apparatus 5 is known as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing main functions realized mainly by the control unit 46 of the receipt printer 4. Data transmitted from the host computer side of the POS terminal device 3 is temporarily stored in the reception buffer 61 via the data reception unit 41. Data stored in the reception buffer 61 is analyzed by the command analysis unit 62.

  If the received data is the print data D1 supplied from the POS terminal device 3 side, the print data D1 is processed by the print data development unit 63 in the form of graphics such as a character generator 64, a barcode generator 65, and a logo. Data is expanded based on the data storage unit 66 and the bitmap decoder 67, and bitmap expanded data is generated. The generated bitmap development data is developed in the print buffer 68. The data developed in the print buffer 68 is printed on the printing paper 47 a by the print head 69 of the printing unit 43 to create a receipt 48.

  On the other hand, when the received data is a graphics data registration command D 2, for example, when a graphics data registration command is received from the image registration device 5, the graphics data is registered in the graphics data storage unit 66. Prior to registration, the determination unit 71 determines whether the image resolution of the graphics data included in the received registration command is different from the print resolution of the print head 69. The print resolution of the print head 69 is stored in the memory of the receipt printer 4 at the time of manufacture. Based on the determination result, the image resolution conversion processing unit 72 performs an image resolution conversion process on the graphics data so that the image resolution matches the print resolution. The registration control unit 73 performs a registration process of storing and holding the graphics data after the image resolution conversion processing in the graphics data storage unit 66 in a form associated with the key code included in the registration command.

  Here, the receipt printer 4 of this example includes a dip switch 74 that functions as a setting switch for setting whether or not conversion processing is required for matching the image resolution to the printing resolution in the graphics data registration processing. ing. Setting means other than the dip switch, for example, a soft switch set in the memory of the receipt printer 4 may be provided.

  When it is set that the conversion process is required by the dip switch 74, the registration control unit 73 performs a process of increasing / decreasing the amount of received graphics data so that the image resolution matches the print resolution. After that, a process of registering in the graphics data storage unit 66 is performed. If it is set by the dip switch 74 that conversion processing is not required, the registration control unit 73 switches the determination unit 71 and the image resolution conversion processing unit 72 to the disabled state, and the received graphics data is displayed as graphics. A process of registering in the data storage unit 66 is performed. In other words, the received graphics data is directly registered in the graphics data storage unit 66 without performing the image resolution conversion process.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart showing an example of a graphics data registration process in the receipt printer 4. The process flow will be described with reference to this figure. When the receipt printer 4 receives a graphics data registration command from the host side, for example, the image registration device 5 side (step ST1: reception process), the DIP switch. Whether or not the image resolution conversion processing is necessary is confirmed based on the state 74 (step ST2: necessity determination step). When the dip switch 74 has been switched to a state indicating that the image resolution conversion process is unnecessary, the received graphics data is registered in the graphics data storage unit 66 in a form associated with the key code as it is. (Step ST5: Registration process).

  If the dip switch 74 has been switched to a state indicating that image resolution conversion processing is necessary, whether or not the image resolution of the received registration command is different from the print resolution of the installed print head 69. Is discriminated (step ST3: discrimination step). Image resolution conversion processing is performed on the received graphics data based on the determination result (step ST4: resolution conversion processing step).

  In the image resolution conversion process, when the image resolution is lower than the print resolution, the graphics data is subjected to data processing for increasing the data amount so that the image resolution becomes the data amount corresponding to the print resolution (step ST4-1). On the contrary, when the image resolution is higher than the print resolution, data processing for reducing the data amount is performed on the graphics data so that the image resolution becomes a data amount corresponding to the print resolution (step ST4-2). ). If both the resolutions are the same, the data amount increase / decrease process for the graphics data is not performed (step ST4-3). Thereafter, the graphics data having the image resolution matched to the printing resolution is registered in the graphics data storage unit 66 in a form associated with the key code (step ST5: registration step).

  Here, in the image resolution conversion processing of this example, the received graphics data is increased or decreased in the row direction and the column direction as follows. First, M, N, and P are positive integers, the image resolution of the graphics data G1 is M (dpi), the print resolution of the print head 69 is N (dpi), and the value of P is | M / (N−M). | Or an integer value closest to the absolute value of the division value. When the image resolution is lower, that is, when M <N (step ST4-1 in FIG. 3), in the row direction of the graphics data G1, for each P row, the row data of the P row. Is inserted between the Pth row and the (P + 1) th row, and in the column direction of the graphics data G1, the column data of the Pth column is copied for each Pth column, The data amount is increased by inserting it between the P + 1th column.

  On the contrary, when the image resolution is higher, that is, when M> N (step ST4-2 in FIG. 3), in the row direction of the graphics data G1, the P-th row In the column direction of the graphics data G1, the P-th column data is deleted for each P-th column to reduce the data amount.

  With reference to FIG. 4, an example of graphics data image resolution conversion processing when the received graphics data has an image resolution of 180 dpi and a print resolution of 203 dpi will be described. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing graphics data G1 with an image resolution of 180 dpi, and FIG. 4B shows a state after the graphics data G1 is converted into graphics data G2 with an image resolution of 203 dpi. It is explanatory drawing shown.

  In this example, M = 180, N = 203, and M / (N−M) = 180 / (203−180) = 7.8, so P = 8. Therefore, as indicated by the shaded portion in FIG. 4B, in the row direction of the graphics data, the row data X8, X16, X24, and X32 are copied every eighth row, and 8, 16, 24 , Is inserted as the next line of the 32nd line. Similarly, in the column direction of the graphics data G1, the column data Y8, Y16, Y24, and Y32 are copied and inserted as the next row for every eighth column. As a result, graphics data having an image resolution of 180 dpi is registered in the graphics data storage unit 66 as graphics data G2 having a data amount corresponding to an image resolution of 203 dpi.

  In the above-described image resolution conversion processing, the graphics data is increased or decreased in units of rows and columns. However, pixel data may be inserted or deleted for every equal pixel from the top of the data. That is, in the image resolution conversion process of the resolution conversion process, M, N, and P are positive integers, the image resolution of graphics data is M (dpi), the print resolution of the print head is N (dpi), and the value of P is | M / (N−M) |, or an integer value closest to the absolute value of the division value, when M <N, for each P-th pixel in the graphics data, the P-th pixel Is copied and inserted between the P pixel data and the (P + 1) pixel data, thereby increasing the number of data of the graphics data. Thus, the number of graphics data may be reduced by deleting the P-th pixel data for each P-th pixel.

  In the above conversion method, when the image resolution M exceeds twice the print resolution N, or less than ½, the image resolution M cannot be completely matched with the print resolution N. However, since the resolutions of both are rarely different by a factor of two or more, if the method of this example is adopted, there is no need to perform complicated data decompression or compression processing, and the size of the printed graphics changes significantly. Thus, it is possible to substantially avoid the adverse effect that the appearance changes greatly. As a matter of course, various image resolution conversion processes other than the above-described method may be used as the image resolution conversion process.

  As described above, in the receipt printer 4, the graphics data storage unit 66 has the same print resolution as that of the received graphics data even when the image resolution of the print head 69 is different. Graphics data after image resolution conversion is registered so that Therefore, graphics data having an image resolution different from the print resolution of the print head 69 is not printed. Further, when the printing resolution of the receipt printer 4 is changed, there is no need to change the host computer side, that is, the image registration application. Therefore, the operation of replacing the receipt printer 4 connected to the POS terminal device 3 with a receipt printer having a different print resolution can be easily performed.

  In the above example, the present invention is applied to a receipt printer used for a POS terminal of a POS system. However, the present invention can be applied to any printer having a graphics data registration function. Of course.

  In the above example, the example of graphics data has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to font data composed of graphics data, font data composed of graphics data including font data, and the like. It can also be applied when registering external characters.

1 POS system, 2 POS server, 3 POS terminal device, 4 receipt printer, 5 image registration device, 21 CPU, 22 ROM, 23 RAM, 31 POS application, 32 printer driver, 33 keyboard, 34 barcode reader, 35 card reader , 36 display, 41 data receiving unit, 42 transport unit, 43 printing unit, 44 cutting unit, 45 drive unit, 46 control unit, 47 roll paper, 47a continuous paper, 48 receipt, 51 image registration application, 52 set value registration application , 61 Reception buffer, 62 Command analysis unit, 63 Print data development unit, 64 Character generator, 65 Bar code generator, 66 Graphics data storage unit, 67 Bitmap decoder , 68 Print buffer, 69 Print head, 71 Discrimination unit, 72 Image resolution conversion processing unit, 73 Registration control unit, 74 Dip switch, D1 print data, D2 registration command, G1, G2 graphics data

Claims (8)

A reception process for receiving a graphics data registration command;
A determination step of determining whether the image resolution of the graphics data included in the received registration command is different from the print resolution of the mounted print head;
Based on the determination result of the determination step, an image resolution conversion process is performed on the graphics data so that the image resolution is the same as the print resolution or the image resolution is closer to the print resolution. A resolution conversion process,
A graphics data registration method for a printer, comprising: a registration step of storing and holding the graphics data after the image resolution conversion processing in a graphics data storage unit. In claim 1,
Prior to the determination step, based on the state of the setting means capable of setting whether or not the image resolution conversion processing is necessary, a necessity determination step for determining whether or not these steps are necessary,
When the setting means is in a state indicating that the image resolution conversion process is not necessary, the received graphics data is directly used in the registration step without executing the determination step and the resolution conversion step. A graphics data registration method for a printer, wherein the graphics data is registered in a graphics data storage unit. In claim 1 or 2,
The image resolution conversion process of the resolution conversion step is
M, N, and P are positive integers, the image resolution of the graphics data is M (dpi), the print resolution of the print head is N (dpi), and the value of P is | M / (N−M) | Or if it is the integer value closest to the absolute value of the division value,
When M <N, for each P pixel, the P pixel data is copied and inserted between the P pixel data and the (P + 1) pixel data for the graphics data. By increasing the number of graphics data,
In the case of M> N, the number of data of the graphics data is reduced by deleting the data of the P pixel for each P pixel of the graphics data. Graphics data registration method. In claim 1 or 2,
The image resolution conversion process of the resolution conversion step is
M, N, and P are positive integers, the image resolution of the graphics data is M (dpi), the print resolution of the print head is N (dpi), and the value of P is | M / (N−M) | Or if it is the integer value closest to the absolute value of the division value,
In the case of M <N, in the row direction of the graphics data, for each P row, the P row data is copied and inserted between the P row and the P + 1 row, In the column direction of the graphics data, for each P column, copy the column data of the P column and insert it between the P column and the P + 1 column,
In the case of M> N, the row data of the P row is deleted for every P row in the row direction of the graphics data, and every P row in the column direction of the graphics data. A method for registering graphics data of a printer, wherein the column data of the Pth column is deleted. A data receiver;
A graphics data storage unit for registering graphics data received via the receiving unit;
A print head for printing data including registered graphics data registered in the graphics data storage unit;
A data analysis unit for analyzing data received by the reception unit;
A resolution determining unit configured to determine whether or not an image resolution of the graphics data included in the registration command is different from a print resolution of the print head when the data is a graphics data registration command; ,
Based on the determination result of the resolution determination unit, image resolution conversion is performed on the graphics data so that the image resolution is the same as the print resolution or the image resolution is closer to the print resolution. A resolution conversion unit for processing,
A printer comprising: a registration control unit that registers the graphics data after the image resolution conversion processing in the graphics data storage unit. In claim 5,
Setting means for setting whether or not the image resolution conversion processing is necessary;
The registration control unit registers the received graphics data as it is in the graphics data storage unit when the setting by the setting unit indicates that the image resolution conversion process is unnecessary. printer. In claim 5 or 6,
The image resolution conversion processing of the resolution conversion unit is:
M, N, and P are positive integers, the image resolution of the graphics data is M (dpi), the print resolution of the print head is N (dpi), and the value of P is | M / (N−M) | Or if it is the integer value closest to the absolute value of the division value,
When M <N, for each P pixel, the P pixel data is copied and inserted between the P pixel data and the (P + 1) pixel data for the graphics data. By increasing the number of graphics data,
In the case of M> N, the number of data of the graphics data is reduced by deleting the data of the P pixel for each P pixel of the graphics data. . In claim 5 or 6,
The image resolution conversion processing of the resolution conversion unit is:
M, N, and P are positive integers, the image resolution of the graphics data is M (dpi), the print resolution of the print head is N (dpi), and the value of P is | M / (N−M) | Or if it is the integer value closest to the absolute value of the division value,
In the case of M <N, in the row direction of the graphics data, for each P row, the P row data is copied and inserted between the P row and the P + 1 row, In the column direction of the graphics data, for each P column, copy the column data of the P column and insert it between the P column and the P + 1 column,
In the case of M> N, the row data of the P row is deleted for every P row in the row direction of the graphics data, and every P row in the column direction of the graphics data. A printer characterized by deleting column data of the Pth column.