JP2012198641A - Data processing device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a print result which is desired by a user as much as possible, even when performing printing by using an application which has a function to perform a print instruction to a print control program by automatically changing print settings.SOLUTION: A print control program checks whether or not there is a change in print settings by an application. If setting contents of the print settings received from the application do not match setting contents of print settings which were stored before being transmitted to the application (S202), the setting contents of setting items which do not match among the print settings received from the application are altered to the stored setting contents (S203-S207).

Description

  The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus that generates print data based on print settings, and a program for causing a computer to function as such a data processing apparatus.

  A user of a data processing apparatus such as a computer prints application data using an image device such as a printer. At this time, the user may operate an application to call a print control program that controls processing of data related to printing, and may make various print settings on the screen. For example, double-sided / single-sided and the number of copies to be printed. For example, when the image device is a printer, the print control program is generally called a printer driver.

  At this time, there is a problem that printing may be performed with a print setting different from the print setting performed by the user calling the print control program. This is because the application is provided with a function to change the print setting and issue a print instruction to the print control program when an appropriate print result cannot be obtained unless the user print setting received from the print control program is changed. This is because it is often performed.

  For example, consider a case where a user prints a document with a printer using a document creation application on a computer. Even if the user tries to print the document data recognized as “size A4 (210 × 297 mm)” in the document creation application by setting “original size B5 (182 × 257 mm), no scaling” with the printer driver, the printer Printing is performed as “original size A4, no scaling”. This is because the document creation application changes the print setting to “original size A4” and instructs the printer driver to print. Otherwise, the printer prints the document data of “original size A4” on B5 paper without scaling, resulting in a printing result that is generally not appropriate, such as the document being cut off. is there.

  However, even though it is generally not appropriate, the user may want to print as set by himself. In this example, the user may desire to print the document data of “size A4” on the B5 paper with “no paper size scaling”. In this case, if the print setting is changed by the application, the print result desired by the user cannot be obtained.

  With respect to such a problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a case where the user desires printing without scaling, and the printer does not prepare a sheet having a size equal to the sheet size included in the print instruction from the application. In this case, a technique is disclosed in which printing is performed without scaling on a sheet having a size close to a print instruction from an application without performing automatic scaling. However, the above problem that the application changes the print settings made by the user cannot be solved.

  Therefore, the present invention solves the above problems, and even when printing is performed using an application having a function of automatically changing print settings and instructing a print control program to print, An object is to obtain a desired printing result.

  In order to achieve the above object, a data processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a data processing apparatus including a generation unit that generates print data based on print settings including a plurality of setting items received from an application; Generating means for generating, first storage means for storing the print settings generated by the generating means, means for transmitting the print settings generated by the generating means to the application, and rejecting changes by the application of the print settings When there is a mismatch setting item whose setting contents do not match between the second storage unit that stores the change rejection condition that is a condition to be performed, and the print setting received from the application and the print setting stored in the first storage unit, Determination means for determining whether or not the change rejection condition stored in the second storage means is satisfied; and the determination means Correction for correcting the setting contents of the mismatch setting item among the print settings received from the application to the setting contents of the mismatch setting item stored in the first storage means when it is determined that the change rejection condition is satisfied Means for generating print data based on the print settings corrected by the correction means.

In such a data processing apparatus, it is preferable that the change rejection condition includes at least a condition that the mismatch setting item is a predetermined setting item.
Alternatively, an authentication unit for authenticating the user may be further provided, and the change refusal condition may include a condition that at least the user authenticated by the authentication unit is a predetermined user.

Further, the second storage means may store the change rejection condition for each user.
Furthermore, it is preferable that only a specific user can edit the change rejection condition stored in the second storage unit.

Furthermore, when there is a mismatch setting item, it is preferable to further provide a notification means for notifying the user of the fact and the mismatched setting contents in the item.
At this time, it is preferable to further provide means for accepting an instruction from the user as to whether or not to correct the setting of the mismatch setting item by the correcting means.

In addition, a third storage unit that stores a correction rule that is a rule for correcting the setting content of setting items other than the mismatch setting item is further provided, and the correction unit corrects the setting content of the mismatch setting item. The setting contents of setting items other than the mismatch setting item may be corrected based on the correction rule stored in the third storage means.
Further, the third storage means may store the correction rule for each user.
Furthermore, it is preferable that only a specific user can edit the correction rule stored in the third storage unit.

  The program of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as any of the data processing devices described above.

  According to the data processing apparatus and program according to the present invention as described above, even when printing is performed using an application having a function of automatically changing print settings and instructing a print control program to print, The print result desired by the user can be obtained as much as possible.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the function structure of the data processor which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the data processor shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process which the data processor shown in FIG. 1 performs. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI provided by a print control program. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of print settings. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the confirmation process shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the change permission condition which consists only of a setting item. It is a figure which shows the example of the change permission condition which set the change permission for every setting item. It is a figure which shows the example of the change permission condition which set the change permission for every user about the setting item. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of notification to a user performed when print settings do not match. It is a figure which shows the example of the correction rule used in a modification.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of a data processing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the data processing apparatus 10 can generate print data using a print control program 30 based on data generated by the application 20. The generated print data is transmitted to an image device (not shown) and printed. In FIG. 1, an application 20 and a print control program 30 indicate functions realized when the CPU executes these programs stored in the storage unit.

  The application 20 is an arbitrary program that can handle data that is the basis of print data. For example, a document creation application that handles document data, an image processing application that handles image data, and a form application that handles forms.

The print control program 30 is a program that controls data processing related to printing in the data processing apparatus 10. The print control program 30 in the present embodiment includes a confirmation module 31, a generation module 32, and a UI module 33.
Among these, the confirmation module 31 is a module that confirms whether or not the print setting has been changed by the application 20 and corrects the print setting if necessary. Details of the confirmation module 31 will be described later.

The generation module 32 is a module that generates print data based on data and print settings.
The UI module 33 is a module that provides a user with a UI (User Interface) as illustrated in FIG. The user performs print settings via this UI. Details of the print setting process will be described later.

  The above module separation can be any separation that can be performed by those skilled in the art. For example, the confirmation module 31 can be divided into a module for confirming whether or not the print setting has been changed and a module for correcting the print setting. Further, for example, the confirmation module 31 and the UI module 33 can be combined into one module.

  Although not shown, the data processing apparatus 10 can be provided with an authentication module. The authentication module is a module that authenticates the user of the data processing apparatus 10. If this module is an authentication module that authenticates a user for processing related to printing, it can be considered to be provided in the print control program 30. Further, if this module is an authentication module that authenticates the user not only for printing but also for the entire processing of the data processing apparatus 10, it can be considered to be provided outside the printing control program.

  Similarly, although not shown, the data processing apparatus 10 can be provided with a notification module. The notification module is a module that performs various notifications to the user. Details of the notification process will be described later. As with the authentication module, the notification module can be provided both inside and outside the print control program.

  The print setting 40 and the change rejection condition 50 are data stored in the storage unit of the data processing apparatus 10. More specifically, the print setting 40 is a setting made by the user when the data generated by the data processing apparatus 10 is printed on the image device. For example, double-sided / single-sided and the number of copies to be printed. The change rejection condition 50 defines a condition for rejecting a setting change by the application 20. The change rejection condition 50 may be stored in the data processing apparatus 10 in advance, or may be arbitrarily set by the user. Processing using the change rejection condition 50 will be described later.

  Note that the change rejection condition 50 can also be stored in a storage area accessible only by the print control program 30. Alternatively, it can be stored in a storage area accessible from other programs. In the former case, the change rejection condition 50 can be edited using an editing program provided in the print control program 30. In the latter case, the change rejection condition 50 can be edited by an editing program other than the print control program 30. In any case, the user can edit the change rejection condition 50 at an arbitrary timing.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the data processing apparatus 10.
As shown in this figure, as the hardware of the data processing device 10, a known computer including a CPU 11, a storage device 12, a display device 13, an input device 14, a communication I / F 15, and the like can be employed.

The CPU 11 implements the functions of the data processing apparatus 10 by executing the application 20 and the print control program 30 stored in the storage device.
The storage device 12 is a device that can store data necessary for the functions of the data processing device 10 such as the application 20, the print control program 30, the print setting 40, and the change rejection condition 50. As the storage device, for example, a semiconductor storage device such as a RAM, an HDD (hard disk drive), an optical disk, or the like can be used.

  The display device 13 is a device that can display a screen necessary for the function of the data processing device 10 such as a screen of the application 20 or the print control program 30. When a notification module is provided in the data processing apparatus 10, the notification can be displayed. As the display device 13, for example, a liquid crystal display can be used.

The input device 14 is a device that can input data necessary for the functions of the data processing device 10 such as user operations and authentication information. For example, the user operates the input device 14 to input print settings. When the data processing apparatus 10 is provided with an authentication module, authentication information is input to the input device 14.
As the input device 14, a keyboard, a touch panel, a mouse, or the like can be used for user operations. On the other hand, for the authentication information, when the authentication information is an ID, a password, or other character string, the same device as that used for user operation can be used. When the authentication information is not a character string such as an ID or password, a card reader such as an IC card or a magnetic card, a biometric information reader such as a fingerprint or a vein, or the like can be used.

The communication I / F 15 is a device for communicating with other devices necessary for processing of the data processing device 10. When performing data processing relating to printing, the data processing apparatus 10 can generate print data and transmit it to the image equipment via the communication I / F device and an appropriate communication path to perform printing.
Further, when the data processing apparatus 10 is provided with a notification module and the data processing apparatus 10 is notified to another apparatus, the data processing apparatus 10 communicates with the other apparatus via the communication I / F 15 and communication. Notification via the road.

As the communication I / F 15, for example, a LAN (local area network) interface, a USB (universal serial bus) interface, or the like can be used. The communication path may be wired or wireless.
Further, the data processing device 10 may be configured by connecting the storage device 12, the display device 13, and the input device 14 described above via the communication I / F 15 and a communication path.

Each of these devices may be integrated as hardware or plural. For example, the storage device is generally composed of a plurality of semiconductor storage devices including a RAM and an HDD.
Also, these devices do not have to be in the same housing. For example, the CPU 11 and the storage device 12 are in the same housing, and the data processing device 10 can be configured by connecting to a CPU, storage device, display device, input device, etc. in a separate housing via a communication path. . In this case, a communication I / F is provided in both cases.

  In addition to these devices, devices that can be added by those skilled in the art may be added to the data processing device 10. For example, an image device such as a printer can be added to the data processing apparatus 10. The added device does not have to be in the same casing, and can be provided in the same casing.

A characteristic point of the data processing apparatus 10 as described above is that the application 20 changes the print settings generated by the print control program 30 and passed to the application 20, and the print control program 30 is changed based on the changed print settings. This is processing when an instruction to execute printing is given. Therefore, this point will be described below.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by the data processing apparatus when printing is performed. This flowchart collectively shows processing related to a plurality of programs such as the application 20 and the print control program 30 in one flowchart.

In the data processing apparatus 10, when the user operates the application 20 to perform printing, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is started.
In this process, first, the application 20 calls the UI module 33 of the print control program 30 in response to a user operation (S101). At this time, by performing user authentication, only authorized users can call the UI module 33.

  As a user authentication method, for example, a method for displaying and inputting an ID and password input screen, a method for using the ID and password input by the user when logging in to the data processing apparatus 10, and data processing Any authentication method that can be performed by those skilled in the art, such as a method performed by providing an IC card reader in the device 10 and reading information in the IC card, can be used. User authentication may be performed at an arbitrary timing that can be performed by those skilled in the art, such as when a print instruction to be described later is given.

Next, the UI module 33 provides a UI for performing print settings, and accepts a print setting operation from the user (S102).
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI provided by the UI module 33.
This figure shows a print setting screen 100 that is an example of a UI. By operating the print setting screen 100, the user can perform print settings such as document size, print paper size, zooming presence / absence, scaling factor, number of copies, document orientation, double-sided, and bookbinding. Further, it is possible to instruct the execution of printing by pressing the OK button 101 after performing the print settings.

Further, by pressing the cancel button 102, it is possible to cancel the data processing relating to printing and return to the screen of the application 20 operated before step S101.
Also, four tabs 103 of “basic”, “editing”, “finishing”, and “others” are provided. By selecting these, the user performs print settings other than the print settings belonging to “basic” described above. You can move to the screen.

Returning to the description of FIG. When the user confirms the print setting using the UI provided in step S102, the UI module 33 generates the received print setting data, passes it to the application 20, and stores it in the storage device 12 (S103).
The print setting storage destination may be any area as long as it can be accessed by the confirmation module 31 in the confirmation processing described later. It may be a data area that is not changed by the application 20. Further, the timing for storing the print settings is not limited to when the OK button 101 is pressed, but may be any timing such as storing the settings whenever the user changes the setting contents in the UI.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of print settings stored. The print setting includes a plurality of setting items and setting contents for each setting item. Some of the setting items are common depending on the function of the image device for printing the print data, but some are different. In the example of FIG. 5, the setting items are “original size”, “magnification”, “double-sided setting”, and the like. In this example, the setting item “original size” is set to “B5”. Since the setting items “paper size” and “magnification” are not set by the user, the setting is “none”.

Further, the print setting is associated with a data ID for specifying the print setting. The correspondence between the print settings received and stored by the UI module 33 and the print settings transferred from the application 20 together with the print target data after being transferred to the application 20 can be grasped by this data ID.
However, even if such a data ID is not used, for example, the print control program 30 is called from the application 20 a plurality of times, receives and stores a plurality of print settings, receives a plurality of print instructions, and receives a plurality of print target data. Is received, the first accepted print setting is associated with the first received print setting, and the second accepted print setting is associated with the second received print setting data. It is possible to associate them in the order of acceptance.

  Returning to the description of FIG. The application 20 that has received the print settings from the print control program 30 changes the print settings as necessary (S104), and then sends the print settings and print target data to the print control program 30 to give a print instruction (S105). . The print control program 30 that has received the print target data and the print settings performs confirmation processing by the confirmation module 31 (S106). Details of the confirmation process will be described later.

Next, the generation module 32 generates print data based on the print target data and the print settings confirmed by the confirmation module 31 (S107).
In the conventional data processing apparatus, since the generation module generates print data based on the print setting received from the application, there is a problem in that a print result not desired by the user may be generated. In the data processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when the confirmation module 31 performs a confirmation process and confirms that the print setting does not cause a print result not desired by the user, the print setting causes a print result not desired by the user. Correct it. Thereby, even if the application changes the print setting made by the user, the user can obtain a desired print result.

Next, FIG. 6 shows the details of the confirmation process (S106 in FIG. 3) performed by the confirmation module 31, which is a process for this correction.
In this process, the confirmation module 31 first sets one setting item in the print setting as a processing target (S201), and sets the processing target based on the print setting received from the application 20 and the print setting stored in S103 of FIG. It is determined whether the setting contents of the items match (S202).

  Here, the received print setting is a print setting that the print control program 30 has passed from the application 20 together with a print instruction. As described above, when the print setting is copied and stored in the data area that is not changed from the application 20, the confirmation module 31 copies and stores the print setting passed along with the print instruction and the data area that is not changed. The print setting 40 is compared and determined.

  For example, when the setting content in the print setting received from the application 20 for the setting item “original size” is “A4” and the setting content related to the print setting stored in S103 of FIG. 3 is “B5”, the confirmation module 31 matches. Judge not to. If it is determined that they do not match (N in S202), the confirmation module 31 determines whether a change rejection condition is satisfied for the setting item to be processed (S203).

On the other hand, if it is determined that they match (Y in S202), the confirmation module 31 sets a next setting item as a processing target (S207) if a setting item that is not yet a processing target remains (N in S207), step S202. Return to and repeat the process. If all the setting items are to be processed (Y in S207), the confirmation process is terminated, the process returns to the process in FIG. 3, and the process proceeds to the generation of print data by the generation module 33 (S107 in FIG. 3).
Here, all setting items may be sequentially processed, but only setting items set as change rejection conditions may be compared. As a result, the number of setting items to be compared can be reduced, and the processing can be made efficient and quick.

7 to 9 are diagrams showing examples of different change rejection conditions.
First, FIG. 7 shows an example of a change rejection condition consisting only of setting item information for rejecting a change. In FIG. 7, three setting items of “paper type”, “double-sided setting”, and “resolution” are set, and these setting items (hereinafter sometimes referred to as mismatch setting items) are set by the application 20. It stipulates that the change will be rejected. In this case, when the three setting items of “paper type”, “double-sided setting”, and “resolution” are processing targets, it is determined in step S203 that the condition is satisfied.

As described above, in the confirmation process, when only the setting items set as the change rejection condition are to be compared, in the example of FIG. 7, only “paper type”, “double-sided setting”, and “resolution” are set in step S202. A comparison may be made. As a result, the number of setting items to be compared can be reduced, and the processing can be made efficient and quick.
This is because even if the confirmation module 31 compares the setting items that are not set as the change rejection condition 50 and determines that they do not match, the setting item is not set as the change rejection condition 50. For the item, it means that the setting change by the application 20 is allowed, so it is not necessary to compare from the beginning.

  The change rejection condition may be stored for each application 20. This is because the presence or absence of a function for changing the print setting and which print setting the application 20 changes may vary depending on the type of the application 20. When the above-described user authentication is performed, the change rejection condition 50 may be stored for each user. Thereby, it is possible to apply different change rejection conditions for each application 20 or for each user.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a change rejection condition in which change permission / inhibition is set for all setting items. FIG. 8 also shows an example in which the setting change by the application 20 is rejected for the setting items “paper type”, “double-side setting”, and “resolution”, as in FIG. When there are only these three setting items for which “prohibition setting” is “no”, the change rejection conditions in FIGS. 8 and 7 are substantially the same. In the example of FIG. 8, it is the same that only the setting items whose availability setting is “NO” should be compared.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the change rejection condition 50 in which whether or not to change the setting item is set for each user. This example assumes that the data processing apparatus 10 performs the above-described user authentication.
For example, as a result of user authentication, it is determined that the user operating the data processing apparatus 10 is “AAA”, and the print setting made by the user “AAA” stored in the storage device is performed. When the print setting setting item “paper size” received from the application 20 does not match the “40”, “changeable” is “permitted”. Therefore, the change rejection condition is not satisfied. Therefore, the data processing apparatus 10 allows the setting change by the application 20.

  Also, for example, when the user operating the data processing apparatus 10 is determined to be “CCC” (when the print instruction is determined to be “CCC”), the setting item “paper size” is used. When “CCC” does not match, “changeability” of “paper size” is not set for “CCC”, and “failure” of “Default” is applied. Therefore, the change rejection condition is satisfied.

For the setting item “paper type”, since “no change” of any user is not set, “No” of “Default” is applied to all users. Therefore, the change rejection condition is satisfied. The same applies to the setting items “duplex setting”, “direction”, and “resolution”.
In addition, when storing the change rejection conditions of FIG. 8 for each user, the conditions are substantially the same as the change rejection conditions of FIG.

  Although FIG. 9 shows the change rejection condition 50 in which the setting item and the user are combined, it is needless to say that the change rejection condition 50 including only the user may be used. For example, when “change possible” is “not” for the user “AAA”, the change rejection condition 50 is satisfied for all setting items of the print instruction determined to be based on “AAA”.

  The change rejection condition as described above is not essential for the data processing apparatus 10 of the present invention. When there is no change rejection condition, a configuration change rejected by the application 20 may be rejected for all mismatch setting items. Thereby, a print result based on the print setting made by the user is obtained. In addition, by accepting a rejection instruction for rejecting a setting change by the application 20 from a user, which will be described later, it is possible to replace the change rejection condition.

Returning to the description of FIG. When the confirmation module 31 determines that the change refusal condition is not satisfied by the above processing (N in S203), the confirmation module 31 notifies the user of the mismatch in the setting item to be processed and the mismatched setting content. (S204). This notification is performed by instructing the notification module.
For example, when the setting item “original size” received from the application 20 is “B5” and the user setting stored in S103 of FIG. 3 is “A4”, the application 20 changes the setting from “A4” to “A4”. B5 "is notified to the user. Thereby, the user can recognize the change of the setting by the application 20.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of notification to the user. The notification screen configuration, notification text, buttons, and the like may be arbitrarily designed by those skilled in the art, but in this example, the setting item “double-side setting” is set to “not” when the setting received from the application 20 is “No”. The user setting stored in step S103 is “Yes”. Although omitted in the example of FIG. 10, it is a matter of course that the notification that the user setting is “Yes” may be included in the notification. On the contrary, it is not necessary to notify the setting content itself only by notifying that the setting has been changed by the application 20.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, on this notification screen, an instruction as to whether or not to reject the setting change by the application 20 is received from the user.
Answers to the question “Do you want to apply settings?” Shown in FIG. 10 are “Yes” and “No” are buttons, and when the user selects “Yes”, the user does not refuse to change the settings ( That is, according to the setting made by the application 20), the determination in step S205 is NO. In this case, the process proceeds to step S207 without changing the print setting received from the application 20 for the current processing target item.

  On the other hand, when the user selects “No”, the user has instructed to reject the change of the setting (that is, to correct the setting made by the application 20 to the setting made by the print control program 30), and step S205. The determination is YES.

  Here, when the data processing apparatus 10 performs user authentication, it may be configured to accept an instruction as to whether or not to reject the change only when the authenticated user is a predetermined user. For example, it is conceivable that a change rejection instruction can be issued only when the authenticated user is a system administrator, a system maintenance person, or the like. Thereby, only a user with a certain authority can be instructed to reject the change. Further, the notification itself in FIG. 10 may be performed only when the authenticated user is a predetermined user.

  In addition, when the change rejection instruction is accepted (Y in S205), it is handled in the same way as when the change rejection condition is satisfied (Y in S203), so that the setting change by the application 20 is rejected only by the change rejection condition. In addition, the print instruction can be processed flexibly, and the print result desired by the user can be obtained.

  For example, the setting change by the application 20 is permitted by appropriately setting the change rejection condition so that the change rejection condition is not satisfied for the setting item “double-side setting”. As a result, if the “double-sided setting” setting is not “single-sided” and an appropriate print result cannot be obtained, the application 20 changes the “double-sided setting” to “single-sided” and obtains an appropriate print result. Can do.

  In normal printing, since it is desirable to obtain such an appropriate printing result, it is considered that the user does not issue a change rejection instruction. On the other hand, in special printing such as a print test, even if the change rejection condition is not satisfied, the user gives a change rejection instruction, thereby rejecting the setting change by the application 20 and setting the “double-side setting” to “ Can be printed as “both sides”. As a result, it is possible to save paper in a printing test in which proper printing results are not necessarily important.

  Returning to the description of FIG. When it is determined that the change rejection condition is satisfied (Y in S203) or when a rejection instruction is received (Y in S205), the confirmation module 31 corrects the setting content of the setting item to be processed. That is, the setting contents in the print settings received from the application 20 are changed to the print contents in the print settings stored in S103 (S206). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S207. When it is determined that the change refusal condition is satisfied, or when a refusal instruction is accepted, the setting change by the application 20 is rejected, so the setting content is changed to that of the print setting made by the user. . As a result, even if the application 20 automatically changes the print settings made by the user, the user can obtain a desired print result.

If YES in step S207 in the process of FIG. 6, the process returns to the process of FIG. 3 as described above, and proceeds to generation of print data by the generation module 33.
At this time, the print setting used to generate the print data is confirmed by the confirmation process of the confirmation module 31 to confirm whether or not the print setting causes a print result not desired by the user, and the print setting causes a print result not desired by the user. If it is determined that the print setting is corrected, the print setting is corrected. The data processing apparatus 10 can transmit the print data generated using the print setting that brings about such an appropriate print result to the image device and print it. Therefore, even if the application 20 changes the print setting made by the user using the function of the print control program 30, the user can obtain a desired print result.

This is the end of the description of the embodiment. In the present invention, the specific configuration and processing contents of each unit, the format of data to be used, the contents of change rejection conditions, the types of setting items, and the like have been described in the embodiment. It is not limited to things.
First, in the processing shown in FIG. 6, the setting change permission / inhibition instruction from the user is performed when the change rejection condition is satisfied, but may be performed regardless of whether the change rejection condition is satisfied. . In this case, the setting content may be corrected when the change refusal condition is satisfied, the user is instructed to refrain from changing the setting, or any of them is satisfied. Further, the change rejection condition itself may be “a setting change rejection instruction from the user”.
Separately from this, as a change rejection condition, “print request from a specific application” may be set.

Further, it is conceivable that the confirmation module 31 corrects the setting contents of the setting items other than the mismatch setting item in addition to the correction of the setting contents of the mismatch setting item in step S206 of FIG.
FIG. 11 shows an example of the correction rule used in that case.
In this example, the correction rule includes mismatch setting item name, correction setting item name requiring correction, and post-correction setting information. The setting item name requiring correction is the name of the setting item to be corrected when the setting content of the setting item related to the mismatch setting item name is corrected.
The correction based on the correction rule is performed by correcting the setting content of the setting item related to the setting item name requiring correction to the setting content defined as the post-correction setting.

  In the example of FIG. 11, since the mismatch setting item name is “paper size”, when the setting content of “paper size” is corrected in step S206 of FIG. The setting content of the setting item “magnification” defined as “” is modified to “paper designated magnification” defined as the post-correction setting.

  Thereby, for example, even if the print control program 30 changes the setting of “paper size” by the application 20, the print control program 30 performs “paper specified scaling” on the print target data. Set as follows. Therefore, even if the “paper size” corrected by the print control program 30 is not appropriate for the print target data of the application 20, the generation module 32 performs scaling to match the “paper size” after correction. Generated print data. Therefore, by correcting such additional print settings, even if the change of the print settings by the application 20 is rejected, it is possible to mitigate the adverse effects caused by the change.

  The additional correction as described above is effective when the user forgets to set the setting item. In the above example, the user has forgotten the setting of “magnification”. In the example of the UI shown in FIG. 4, if the user forgets the setting and does not select the “scaling” check box, the setting item “scaling” is set to “no scaling”. The case where the user forgets the setting is, in other words, the case where the user does not desire “no scaling”.

  On the other hand, when the user desires “no scaling”, in other words, there is a case where “no scaling” is intentionally set. In the above-described example, the user desires to print the document data recognized as A4 in the application 20 on the B5 paper without “magnification”. Since such a case may occur, it is preferable to notify the user and confirm whether or not to correct the print settings based on the correction rule. The notification at that time can be performed in the same manner as the notification described with reference to FIG.

The correction rule may be stored in the data processing apparatus 10 in advance, or may be set by the user. When the above-described user authentication is performed, the correction rule may be stored in the storage device for each user. This makes it possible to apply different correction rules for each user.
Note that the modification rule can be stored in a storage area that can be accessed only by the print control program 30, similarly to the change rejection condition 50. Alternatively, it can be stored in a storage area accessible from other programs.

  Further, it is preferable that the user can set and edit the correction rule of FIG. 11 from the UI provided by the UI module 33 shown in FIG. At this time, it is preferable that the above-described user authentication is performed so that only a user having setting / editing authority can perform setting / editing. When the data processing apparatus 10 stores the correction rule in the storage device for each user, the configuration may be such that each user can set and edit his / her correction rule.

The program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to realize the function of the print control program 30 of the data processing apparatus 10 described above. By causing a computer to execute such a program, the above-described effects can be obtained. Such a program may be stored in a storage device in advance, or may be stored in a storage device connected via a communication I / F device and read and executed by a computer. Such a storage device is, for example, a computer for causing the data processing device 10 to download a program.
Further, it goes without saying that the configurations of the embodiments described above can be implemented in any combination as long as they do not contradict each other.

As described above, the data processing apparatus and program according to the present invention is a case where printing is performed using an application having a function of automatically changing print settings and instructing a print control program to print. However, the print result desired by the user can be obtained as much as possible.
Therefore, by applying the present invention, it is possible to provide a data processing apparatus capable of generating print data that more meets the needs of the user.

10: Data processing device, 20: Application, 30: Print control program, 31: Confirmation module, 32: Generation module, 33: UI module, 40: Print setting, 50: Change rejection condition

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-278374

Claims (11)

A data processing apparatus including a generation unit that generates print data based on print settings including a plurality of setting items received from an application,
Generating means for generating setting contents of print settings;
First storage means for storing the print settings generated by the generation means;
Means for transmitting the print settings generated by the generation means to the application;
Second storage means for storing a change rejection condition, which is a condition for rejecting a change by an application of the print setting;
Whether there is a change rejection condition stored in the second storage means when there is a mismatch setting item whose setting contents do not match between the print settings received from the application and the print settings stored in the first storage means A judgment means for judging whether or not
When the determination unit determines that the change rejection condition is satisfied, the setting content of the mismatch setting item stored in the first storage unit is stored as the setting content of the mismatch setting item among the print settings received from the application. Correction means for correcting
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates print data based on the print setting corrected by the correction unit. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The data processing apparatus, wherein the change rejection condition includes at least a condition that the mismatch setting item is a predetermined setting item. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
An authentication unit for authenticating the user;
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change refusal condition includes at least a condition that the user authenticated by the authentication unit is a predetermined user. A data processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The data processing apparatus, wherein the second storage unit stores the change rejection condition for each user. A data processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A data processing apparatus characterized in that only a specific user can edit a change rejection condition stored in the second storage means. A data processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A data processing apparatus, further comprising: a notification means for notifying the user of the mismatch setting item and the setting content of the mismatch in the item. The data processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein
A data processing apparatus, further comprising: means for receiving an instruction from a user as to whether or not the setting of the mismatch setting item is to be corrected by the correcting means. A data processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A third storage means for storing a correction rule that is a rule for correcting the setting content of the setting item other than the mismatch setting item;
The correction means corrects the setting contents of setting items other than the mismatch setting item based on the correction rule stored in the third storage means when correcting to the setting contents of the mismatch setting item. Data processing device. The data processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
The data processing apparatus, wherein the third storage means stores the correction rule for each user. The data processing apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein
A data processing apparatus characterized in that only a specific user can edit a correction rule stored in the third storage means.   A program for causing a computer to function as the data processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.