JP2012221150A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer for displaying a warning on a screen, and for correcting the pagination of printing without creating any print preview image when there is possibility that the predetermined number of pages intended by a user is not large enough.SOLUTION: An information processor includes: print data creation means for converting print data to be transmitted from application software into data which can be processed by a printer; print data storage means for storing the print data created by the print data creation means; print data management means for making the print data storage means store the print data created by the print data creation means; print area determination means for determining the occupancy rate of the print data occupying the space of a print sheet for printing; and display means for displaying information relating to the result of determination from the print area determination means. When it is determined that the occupancy rate is smaller than a predetermined value by the print area determination means, the display means displays a warning.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of correcting the protrusion of a print page without creating a print preview image.

  When printing is performed by a printing apparatus, a technique for displaying a print preview image in advance and confirming whether printing can be performed as intended by the user is already known. In addition, it grasps non-renderable area information (information such as punch hole part and envelope destination window part) on the printing paper to be printed, and performs print control so that print data does not overlap with the non-renderable area. The technology is already known (Patent Document 1).

  Confirmation of a print image in the above-described prior art requires generation of a print preview image before executing printing, and the user must visually confirm the generated image. For this reason, it takes a long time to execute printing, and the work burden on the user is large.

  Techniques for solving such problems include the following.

  In Patent Document 2, in order to shorten the consistency determination time of print data, check image data is simultaneously transmitted to the printing apparatus together with the print data, and the difference between the data developed on the printing apparatus side and the check image data is checked. A method is disclosed. According to this technique, it is not necessary for the user to visually confirm the preview image, and the work load is reduced.

  However, the following problems exist in the above-described prior art.

  The technique described in Patent Document 2 has a certain effect in terms of reducing the work burden on the user and shortening the time because the user does not need to visually confirm a print preview image. However, there is a problem that it is necessary to generate image data for checking, and a time loss in generating image data for printing check occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when there is a possibility that the user does not fit the predetermined number of pages, a warning is displayed on the screen without creating a print preview image. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of correcting printing page allocation.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a print data creation unit that converts print data sent from application software into data that can be processed by the printing apparatus, and a print data storage that stores the print data created by the print data creation unit A print data management unit that stores the print data created by the print data creation unit in the print data storage unit; and a print area determination that determines an occupancy ratio of the print data in a sheet of printing paper to be printed And display means for displaying information related to the determination result by the print area determination means, wherein the print area determination means displays a warning on the display means when the occupation ratio is smaller than a predetermined value. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, when there is a possibility that the user may not fit the predetermined number of pages, a warning can be displayed on the screen without creating a print preview image, and printing can be corrected. An apparatus can be provided.

It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a module configuration of a print driver according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control operation of the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the correction confirmation of the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The information processing apparatuses 1 and 2 are connected to printing apparatuses 5 and 6 via a network. The printing devices 5 and 6 print the print data received from the information processing device 1.

  The information processing apparatus 1 includes the following 11-17. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 is a calculation unit that controls each device, calculates data, and processes in a computer.

  The CPU 11 executes a program stored in a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12, receives data from the input device or storage device, calculates and processes the data, and outputs the data to the output device or storage device.

  The RAM 12 is a storage device that stores or temporarily stores programs and data such as an OS (Operating System) and application software that are basic software executed by the CPU 11.

  An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 13 is a storage device that stores data related to application software and the like. The network interface unit 14 is a communication connected via a network (for example, Ethernet (registered trademark)) such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) constructed by a data transmission path such as a wired or wireless line. This is an interface between the printing apparatuses 5 and 6 having functions and the information processing apparatus 1.

  The input unit 15 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, numeric input, various function keys, and the like, a mouse for selecting keys on the display screen of the display unit 16, a slice pad, and the like. The input unit 15 is a user interface for a user to give an operation instruction to the CPU 11 or input data.

  The display unit 16 is configured by a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), or the like, and performs display according to display data input from the CPU 11. The external recording device interface unit 17 is an interface between the information processing device 1 and a recording medium 18 (for example, a flash memory) connected via a data transmission path such as USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  Further, a predetermined program is stored in the recording medium 18, the program stored in the recording medium 18 is installed in the information processing apparatus 1 via the external recording apparatus interface unit 17, and the installed predetermined program is the information processing apparatus 1 can be executed. The computer terminal and the printing device are connected via a network or a cable such as USB.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a module configuration of the print driver according to the present embodiment. A Windows (registered trademark) OS 22, an application 21, and a printer driver 23 are operating. The printer driver 23 includes a graphic driver module 25 and a UI (User Interface) driver module 24.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the function of information processing apparatus. The functions of the information processing apparatus 1 will be described.

  The print data creation unit 101 converts print data sent from the application software into print data (printer description language) that can be processed by the printing apparatuses 5 and 6. The print data creation unit 101 can process print data page by page.

  The print data management unit 102 stores the print data created by the print data creation unit 101 in the print data storage unit 103. The print data stored in the print data storage unit 103 is transmitted to the printing apparatuses 5 and 6 via the communication unit 106.

  The print data storage unit 103 stores print data. The print area determination unit 104 checks the occupation ratio of the area occupied by the print data on the page (paper surface) in percent units. Then, it is determined whether or not the occupation ratio is smaller than a predetermined ratio.

  The predetermined ratio may be a fixed value or a value that can be arbitrarily set by the user. The correction confirmation screen display means 105 displays a correction confirmation screen when the occupation ratio is smaller than a predetermined ratio, and allows the user to select a correction method. The communication unit 106 transmits print data to the printing apparatuses 5 and 6.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
First, the print driver 23 creates print data for one page (step S301).

  The created print data is stored in the print data storage means 103 (step S302), and print data for the next page is created (step S303). Next, an occupied area to be printed on the next page is calculated (step S304), and it is determined whether the occupied area is smaller than a predetermined ratio (step S305).

  If the occupied area is smaller than the predetermined ratio (step S305 / YES), a warning screen is displayed (step S306), and whether or not correction is necessary is displayed (step S307). When the user selects correction (step S307 / YES), the correction method is selected (step S308).

  When the user selects “reduction” as the correction method (step S308 / YES), the print data of the previous page and the current page is reduced and collected into the print data of the previous page (step S311).

  If the user does not select “reduction” for the correction method (step S308 / NO), the line spacing of the character strings in the print data of the previous page and the current page is reduced and collected in the print data of the previous page (step S312). .

  If the occupied area is larger than the predetermined ratio (step S305 / NO), or if the user selects not to correct in step S307 (step S307 / NO), the data of the previous page is transmitted to the printing devices 5 and 6 ( In step S309, the print data of the current page is stored in the print data storage unit (step S310).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether data from the application remains (step S313). If data from the application remains (step S313 / YES), print data for the next page is created (step S303).

  If no data from the application remains (NO in step S313), the current page data is transmitted to the printing devices 5 and 6.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of correction confirmation of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. When the print occupancy is smaller than the predetermined ratio, the print driver 23 displays this user interface and allows the user to select a correction method.

  When the “Reduce and Fit to Previous Page” radio button is selected, the print data of the previous page and the current page is reduced and collected into the previous page data.

  When the radio button of “Fit line spacing and fit on previous page” is selected, the print data of the previous page and the current page is consolidated into the previous page data by reducing the line width of the character string.

  When the “do not modify” radio button is selected, the print data of the previous page is transmitted to the printing apparatus without modification, and the print data of the next page is created.

  The embodiment described above can also be configured as follows.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the printing area determination unit displays the correction method on the display unit when the occupation ratio is smaller than a predetermined value.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the correction method is reduction of print data.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the correction method is line spacing of print data.

  The print driver according to the present embodiment temporarily stores print data for one page, calculates the occupation ratio of the print occupation area per page, determines whether it is smaller than the predetermined occupation ratio, and allows the user to select a correction method. The print data that does not fit on one page is collected on one page.

  The print driver according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the line spacing is reduced and consolidated as a correction method.

  The print driver according to the present embodiment is characterized in that print data is reduced and collected as a correction method.

  The present invention has been described above by the preferred embodiments of the present invention. While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made specifically without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. is there.

1, 2 Information processing device 5, 6 Printing device 11 CPU
12 RAM
13 HDD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Network interface part 15 Input part 16 Display part 17 External storage apparatus interface part 18 Recording medium 21 Application 23 Print driver 24 UI driver module 25 Graphic driver module 101 Print data creation means 102 Print data management means 103 Print data storage means 104 Print area Determination means 105 Correction confirmation screen display means 106 Communication means

JP 2009-031921 A JP 2003-091402 A

Claims (4)

Print data creation means for converting print data sent from the application software into data that can be processed by the printing apparatus;
Print data storage means for storing the print data created by the print data creation means;
Print data management means for storing the print data created by the print data creation means in the print data storage means;
A print area determination means for determining an occupation ratio of the print data in a sheet of printing paper to be printed;
Display means for displaying information related to the determination result by the print region determination means,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing area determination unit displays a warning on the display unit when the occupation ratio is smaller than a predetermined value.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print area determination unit displays a correction method on the display unit when the occupation ratio is smaller than a predetermined value.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the correction method is reduction of print data.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the correction method is line spacing of print data.

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