JP2014071634A - Printing control apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cause, when a copy image of a document file is edited, the resultant edited contents to be readily reflected in a printed copy image with comments and a printed copy image without comments.SOLUTION: When comments 20g supplementing a copy image are inputted at the time of printing of the copy image by a printer driver 110, a data file of the inputted comments 20g is associated with coordinates indicating the position of its supplementation to the copy image by the use of an identifier, and the associated data file is stored into an external memory device 21 separately from the data file of the copy image. When the data file of the comments 20g is read out of the external memory device 21, read-out comments are supplemented on the screen of a preview image of the copy image associated by the identifier in the position of supplementation to the copy image. A printing job of the copy image supplemented with the comments is outputted to an ink jet recording apparatus 1.

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus that outputs a print job based on an original image to a printing apparatus.

  When a document file document created using application software is printed and distributed, there are cases in which a comment for explanation is to be entered in the printed matter used by the presenter. Therefore, when printing a document file created with application software, a proposal has been made to allow a comment to be entered at a specified position on the print preview screen of the printer driver started on the computer. ing. In this proposal, by instructing a print output after inputting a comment, the input comment can be superimposed and printed at a specified position of the document in the document file (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-206597 A

  In the invention of Patent Document 1 described above, when the printer driver is terminated after printing, the input comment information is not saved and is erased. Therefore, it is convenient to save the comment information so that the document can be printed again by inserting the same comment at the same position later. Therefore, it is conceivable to store a comment-added document file for the presenter and a non-commented document file for distribution.

  However, when you start the application software and edit the document image of the document in the document file, you need to open and edit each document file to reflect the contents in both the commented and uncommented document files. There is a problem that it takes time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to edit an original image of a document file with a comment and a printed image of an original image without a comment when the original image of a document file is edited. An object of the present invention is to provide a print control apparatus that can be easily reflected.

In order to achieve the above object, a printing control apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention provides:
A print control apparatus that outputs a print job generated based on a document image to a printing apparatus,
Preview means for displaying a preview image of the original image on a screen;
Comment input means for inputting a comment to be added to the document image on the preview image screen;
Storage means for storing only the inputted comment data in association with the original image data separately from the original image data;
Comment adding means for reading the comment data and adding the comment to the document image when generating the print job of the document image;
It is characterized by providing.

  As a result, even when the document image is edited and the document image data is updated, when generating a print job, the comment associated with the document image data is read, and the read comment is the edited document. A print job added to the correct position of the image is generated. Also, even if a page is inserted or deleted from the original image data, the edited contents of the original image can be changed to a printed original image with a comment without losing the relationship between the original image and the comment. This can be easily reflected in the printed document image without comment.

  According to the present invention, even when a document image such as a document in a document file is edited, the edited contents of the document image are commented out without losing the relationship between the document image and the comment data. Can be easily reflected in the printed material and the printed image of the original image without comments.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the print setting screen displayed on the output part of the client terminal of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the comment input detailed setting screen displayed on the output part of the client terminal of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which input the comment in the comment input detailed setting screen of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the content of the data file of the comment memorize | stored in the external storage device of the client terminal of FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing relating to addition of a comment to an original image executed by a printer driver virtually constructed on the CPU of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic content of attribute data in a document image data file stored in the external storage device of FIG. 1.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(Overall configuration of printer network system)
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer network system of this embodiment includes an inkjet recording apparatus 1 (corresponding to a printing apparatus in claims) and a client terminal 14 (corresponding to a printing control apparatus in claims). Yes.

  The inkjet recording apparatus 1 is a printing apparatus that prints a print job in accordance with a print instruction based on a user operation. The ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is assumed to be an ink jet line color printer. The ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes a plurality of ink heads having a large number of nozzles, discharges black or color ink from each of the ink heads, performs printing in line units, and prints a plurality of images on a print sheet on a conveyance belt. Are formed so as to overlap each other.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes a scanner unit 101 that reads image information on a document as a document image and outputs an image signal, and a document image on a print sheet (one side or both sides) based on the image signal output from the scanner unit 101. Is provided with a printer unit 102 for printing (recording) and a control unit 10 for overall control. Printing paper used for printing an original image in the printer unit 102 is conveyed from a paper supply unit (not shown) to a paper discharge unit (not shown) via the printer unit 102.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the external interface unit 11 of the control unit 10 is connected to the external interface units 15 of a plurality of client terminals 14 (typically one client terminal 14 in FIG. 1) via a local area network LAN. Are only connected). From each client terminal 14, the control unit 10 receives a print job of a document image. The control unit 10 generates raster data of the original image by the received print job. The ink jet recording apparatus 1 causes the printer unit 102 to print a document image on a print sheet under the conditions specified in the print job.

  A display 80 is connected to the control unit 10. The display 80 is disposed on the upper part of the inkjet recording apparatus 1. The display 80 can be used as an input operation unit or the like for a user to input copy conditions such as the number of copies and a copy magnification when a document image set on the scanner unit 101 is copied and printed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 10 of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 that causes the printer unit 102 to perform a printing operation includes a CPU 90. The CPU 90 controls the operation of the scanner unit 101 and the printer unit 102 according to the contents input and set from the display 80 based on the program and setting information stored in the ROM 91.

  The control unit 10 is provided with a RAM 92. In the RAM 92, a print job input from the client terminal 14 to the control unit 10, the number of printed copies input from the display 80, various setting contents, and the like. Is stored from time to time.

  The RAM 92 is provided with a frame memory area. In this frame memory area, raster data of a document image generated by the CPU 90 by a print job input from the client terminal 14 to the control unit 10 is temporarily stored until it is output to the printer unit 102.

  Further, the control unit 10 is provided with an external storage device 93, and this external storage device 93 is connected to the CPU 90. The external storage device 93 is provided with a plurality of areas for storing print jobs transferred from the RAM 92 described above.

  On the other hand, each client terminal 14 is configured by a PC (personal computer) or the like. The client terminal 14 has a CPU 16 that executes various processes based on a control program stored in the ROM 17. The CPU 16 includes a RAM 18 that functions as a working area, an input unit 19 that includes a keyboard and a mouse, an output unit 20 that includes a liquid crystal display, an external storage device 21, and a disk drive 22. It is connected.

  The external storage device 21 (corresponding to the storage means in the claims) stores an application program storage area for generating document data of a document image including documents, images, and the like, and a printer driver program for the inkjet recording device 1. An area and a storage area for various other application programs are secured. The external storage device 21 also has a database area for storing document data generated by using an application program (corresponding to document image data in claims).

  In this embodiment, the printer driver program stored in the external storage device 21 includes a program for adding a comment to a document image based on document data generated using an application program.

  The CPU 16 is an arithmetic device configured by a processor, a memory, and other peripheral devices, and activates an application program in the external storage device 21 in accordance with an activation request input from the input unit 19. Further, the CPU 16 generates document data of a document image instructed by parameter input from the input unit 19 on the started application program. The generated document image of the document data is displayed and output by the output unit 20, and when a save request is input from the input unit 19, the document data is stored in the database area of the external storage device 21.

  The document data stored in the database area of the external storage device 21 is read from the external storage device 21 when a read request is input from the input unit 19 while the application program is activated. An original image (form image, etc.) of the read original data can be displayed and output on the output unit 20, or can be processed on an application program and regenerated as new original data.

  The CPU 16 causes the CPU 16 to execute a printer driver program on the CPU 16 when a document image print request using document data generated by a document application program or a form creation application program is input. The driver 110 is virtually constructed. Then, the printer driver 110 causes the inkjet recording apparatus 1 to output a print job.

  The printer driver 110 is a data conversion program executed on the client terminal 14 in order to control the ink jet recording apparatus 1 connected to the client terminal 14. The printer driver 110 acquires document data of a document image generated by a document application or the like, and generates print data (PRN data) according to predetermined print setting information. Then, the generated print job is output from the external interface unit 15 to the external interface unit 11 of the control unit 10.

  When generating a print job of original data and outputting it to the control unit 10 of the inkjet recording apparatus 1, the printer driver 110 displays a comment on the original image on the print setting screen of the original image displayed on the output unit 20. Accept additions. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, in the comment input selection field of the print setting screen 20a, a check box is clicked with a mouse to determine whether the surface to which a comment is added is the front surface or the back surface of the printed image of the original image Specify with the operation, and then click the "Advanced Settings" button.

  When the comment addition surface is designated as the back surface on the print setting screen 20a, a preview image 20c on the back surface of the document image is displayed on the comment input detail setting screen 20b displayed on the output unit 20, as shown in FIG. . The page of the document image displayed as the preview image 20c on the comment input detail setting screen 20b can be changed by clicking the page move button 20d on the comment input detail setting screen 20b.

  In addition, the comment addition surface displayed as the preview image 20c can be switched to the surface by clicking the button 20e for viewing the surface of the comment input detail setting screen 20b. Also, by clicking the button 20f that uses the front image, a reduced image of the front document image can be pasted on the back surface together with a comment.

  The comment 20g is displayed on the preview image 20c as shown in FIG. 4 by designating the comment addition position with the mouse or the like in the preview image 20c and inputting the comment by operating the keyboard or the like. In this state, an OK button 20h on the comment input detail setting screen 20b is clicked with a mouse to confirm the input, and a document image with the comment 20g added can be printed.

  Further, by clicking a comment writing button 20i in the comment input detail setting screen 20b, a comment file saving screen (not shown) is displayed on the output unit 20, and by specifying a saving destination directory, the external storage device 21 is displayed. The data file of the comment 20g can be saved.

  The data file of the comment 20g stored in the external storage device 21 as described above is CSV data in document data units, and the page number to which the comment 20g is added to the document image and each comment 20g are added. The coordinates of the position on the document image and the content of the comment 20g to be added are defined for each comment 20g.

  In the data file of the comment 20g, the coordinates of each comment 20g on the document image are, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper left coordinate value of the region to which the comment 20g is added in the coordinate system with the upper left of the document image as the base point. The position of this coordinate value is used as a reference, and is defined by the width of the comment 20g in the right direction and the height in the downward direction from this coordinate position (upper left X coordinate, upper left Y coordinate, width W, height H). Is done. Note that the coordinates of the region to which the comment 20g is added may be defined by a dimension (unit: mm) based on an arbitrary position on the document image, or may be defined as a numerical value indicating the pixel position.

  The data file of the comment 20g stored in the external storage device 21 as described above can be used when the original image to which the comment 20g is added is printed again. At that time, a comment reading button 20j in the comment input detail setting screen 20b shown in FIG. 3 is clicked, and a data file is designated on a comment file call screen (not shown) displayed on the output unit 20. As a result, a preview image 20c of the document image in which the comment 20g is arranged at the position defined in the designated data file is displayed on the comment input detail setting screen 20b as shown in FIG.

  Next, a processing procedure for adding a comment to a document image based on document data generated using an application program, which is executed by the printer driver 110 by causing the CPU 16 to execute a program included in the printer driver program. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, when document data of a document image to be printed is specified (step S1) and the printer driver 110 is activated (step S3), it is confirmed whether or not a comment addition surface is specified on the print setting screen 20a (step S5). ). If not specified (NO in step S5), the process proceeds to step S19 described later. If specified (YES in step S5), a preview image 20c of the document image to be printed is displayed on the comment input detail setting screen 20b (step S7).

  Then, an edit operation of the comment 20g is performed in response to a request to read the comment 20g of the data file stored in the external storage device 21 by inputting the comment 20g by operating the mouse and keyboard or clicking the comment reading button 20j. Accept (step S9), and confirm whether or not the data file of the comment 20g is requested to be saved by operating the comment write button 20i (step S11).

  If not requested (NO in step S11), the process proceeds to step S19 to be described later. If requested (YES in step S11), each comment 20g input and edited on the preview image 20c and each comment 20g are added. An identifier for associating with each other is added to the position of the original image (including page information) (step S13).

  Here, the identifiers assigned to the comment 20g and the additional position thereof may be the same content for some or all of the digits, and the identifier added with a code may be the other identifier. That is, the identifiers may have the same contents, or different contents as long as they can be recognized as being associated.

  Then, after storing the data file of the comment 20g in the external storage device 21 (step S15), the process proceeds to step S17. At this time, the data file of the document image is also updated and stored in the external storage device 21 with the above-described identifier added as attribute data.

  The attribute data of the data file of the document image has a data structure similar to the page information of the intermediate file described in FIG. 4 of JP-A-2005-108107, for example. As shown in FIG. 7, the page information includes a page ID and link information to actual data at a position where the comment 20g of the document image is added. The page ID corresponds to the page of the document image, and when the number of pages is changed by editing, the page ID is updated to the content corresponding to the page number. The link information of the actual data can be the address of the external storage device 21 where the document image at the position to which the comment 20g is added is stored.

  By defining the attribute data in such a data structure and defining an identifier on the document image side in association with the page ID, even if the number of pages of the document image changes due to editing, the relevance of the comment data corresponding to the identifier is increased. There is no loss. Further, the position of the document image corresponding to the identifier can be always maintained at the position to which the comment 20g is added by the link information of the actual data paired with the page ID corresponding to the identifier.

  In step S17, it is confirmed whether or not the end of editing the comment 20g is instructed by clicking the OK button 20h on the print setting screen 20a. If not instructed (NO in step S17), the process returns to step S11. If instructed (YES in step S17), the process proceeds to step S19.

  In step S19, it is confirmed whether or not an operation for canceling the printing of the document image has been performed on the print setting screen 20a. If the cancel operation has been performed (YES in step S19), the process returns to step S5. If the cancel operation has not been performed (NO in step S19), it is determined whether or not a document image print start operation has been performed on the print setting screen 20a. Is confirmed (step S21).

  If the printing start operation has not been performed (NO in step S21), the process returns to step S5. If the printing start operation has been performed (YES in step S21), a document image print job is generated and output (step S23). , To end the series of procedures. At this time, if the comment 20g is input on the preview image 20c on the comment input detail setting screen 20b, the print job of the original image to which the comment 20g is added is output to the inkjet recording apparatus 1.

  As described above, the client terminal 14 according to the present embodiment can input the comment 20g to be added to the document image when the printer driver 110 prints the document image. The input comment 20g data file is stored in the external storage device 21 separately from the original image data file by associating it with the position where the original image is added and the identifier.

  Therefore, when the data file of the comment 20g is read from the external storage device 21, the read comment is added to the position where the original image is added on the screen of the preview image of the original image associated with the identifier. Then, the print job of the original image with the comment added is output to the inkjet recording apparatus 1.

  Therefore, both generation of a print job based on document image data and generation of a print job based on document image data to which the comment 20g is added can be performed. Further, when the document image is edited and the document image data is updated, the editing is also reflected in the document image print job to which the comment 20g is added. Therefore, when the document image is edited, the edited content can be easily reflected in the printed material of the document image including the comment 20g and the printed material of the document image without the comment 20g.

  In the client terminal 14 of the present embodiment, the identifier associated with the page ID paired with the link information for the actual data of each page of the document image in the attribute data of the document image shown in FIG. Added to comment data to be added to. For this reason, even if the number of pages of the document image changes due to editing, the relevance of the comment data corresponding to the identifier is not lost. In other words, the position of the original image corresponding to the identifier can always be maintained at the position where the comment 20g is added by the link information of the actual data paired with the page ID corresponding to the identifier.

  If the position where the comment 20g is added does not change even when the original image is edited, the data file of the comment 20g is associated with the original image, and the position of the original image to which each comment 20g is added in the data file. By defining, it may be omitted to give an identifier to the comment 20g and the position of the original image to which the comment 20g is added.

  Further, when the original image data file has the editing history data and the preview image 20c of the original image is displayed on the comment input detail setting screen 20b, the edited portion is highlighted by shading or the like. You may do it. Further, when the printer driver 110 can recognize that a page having a document image has been deleted based on the editing history data, the comment 20g added to the deleted page may be deleted from the data file.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where an ink jet recording apparatus is used as the printing apparatus has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to the ink jet method, and can be widely applied to a case where a printer using a method other than the ink jet method such as an electrophotographic method or a stencil printing method is used as a printing apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device 10 Control unit 11 External interface part 14 Client terminal 15 External interface part 16 CPU
17 ROM
18 RAM
19 Input unit 20 Output unit 20a Print setting screen 20b Comment input detailed setting screen 20c Preview image 20d Page move button 20e View front button 20f Use front image 20g Comment 20h OK button 20i Comment export button 20j Read comment Button 21 External storage device 22 Disk drive 50 Disk-shaped recording medium 80 Display 90 CPU
91 ROM
92 RAM
93 External storage device 101 Scanner unit 102 Printer unit 110 Printer driver LAN Local area network

Claims (1)

A print control apparatus that outputs a print job generated based on a document image to a printing apparatus,
Preview means for displaying a preview image of the original image on a screen;
Comment input means for inputting a comment to be added to the document image on the preview image screen;
Storage means for storing only the inputted comment data in association with the original image data separately from the original image data;
Comment adding means for reading the comment data and adding the comment to the document image when generating the print job of the document image;
A printing control apparatus comprising:

Images