JP2015153404A - Program, information processor, information processing method, and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program, an information processor, an information processing method, and an information processing system which are capable of displaying a print setting screen by acquiring information on print setting after receiving a print instruction for print object data.SOLUTION: The above problem is solved by causing an information processor having an application allowing print setting for print object data to execute, when a print start instruction for printing the print object data is received: a first storage step of acquiring information on print setting of the application from a prescribed first storage area, and storing the acquired information on the print setting in a prescribed second storage area; a display step of acquiring the information on the print setting, which has been stored in the first storage step, from the prescribed second storage area, and displaying a print setting screen for executing a print setting on the basis of the information on the acquired print setting; and a conversion step of converting the print object data to print data on the basis of the print setting set on the print setting screen.

Description

  The present invention relates to a program, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing system.

  There is already known a technique that allows a user to change a print setting by displaying a pop-up screen after printing data to be printed in an application (see, for example, Patent Document 1). That is, for example, immediately after the user presses the print execution button of the application, a technique for displaying a pop-up screen 1000 as shown in FIG. 1 and performing user authentication is already known.

  However, in the above prior art, only some setting items can be displayed on the pop-up screen. That is, on the pop-up screen after execution of printing, for example, only a part of setting items stored in a file such as a user ID or a password or the registry can be changed. Therefore, for example, setting items stored in a print setting storage area such as a Devode structure defined by the OS (Operating System) such as double-sided / single-sided, paper size, layout printing, and color / monochrome cannot be changed. .

  An embodiment of the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a program and information that can acquire information about print settings and display a print setting screen after receiving a print instruction for print target data An object is to provide a processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing system.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to an embodiment of the present invention, an instruction to start printing for printing the print target data is sent to an information processing apparatus equipped with an application capable of performing print settings for the print target data. When received, the first storage procedure for acquiring information relating to the print settings of the application from a predetermined first storage area, and storing the acquired information relating to the print settings in the predetermined second storage area, the first storage procedure A display procedure for acquiring information relating to the print settings stored in step S2 from the predetermined second storage area and displaying a print setting screen for performing print settings based on the acquired information relating to the print settings; setting on the print setting screen A conversion procedure for converting the print target data into print data based on the set print settings is executed.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, after receiving a print instruction for print target data, it is possible to acquire information about print settings and display a print setting screen.

It is an image figure of an example of the conventional pop-up screen. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of a printing system according to a first embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram of an example of the information processing apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of an example of the information processing apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart of an example for demonstrating the outline of the pop-up screen display process which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of an example for demonstrating a DrvDocumentEvent () function. It is explanatory drawing of an example for demonstrating the timing of acquisition of Devmode and a pop-up screen display. It is explanatory drawing of an example for demonstrating the file preserve | saved at the print setting temporary storage part which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is a sequence diagram of an example of the pop-up screen display process according to the first embodiment. It is an image figure of an example of the pop-up screen concerning a first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of print setting information storage processing according to the first embodiment. It is an image figure of an example of the print setting screen of an application. It is a functional block diagram of an example of the information processing apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is an image figure of an example of the pop-up screen which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is an example flowchart for demonstrating the outline of the pop-up screen display process which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of an example for demonstrating the file preserve | saved at the print setting temporary storage part which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a sequence diagram of an example of the pop-up screen display process according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of print setting information storage processing according to the second embodiment. It is an image figure of an example of the pop-up screen which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of an example for demonstrating the file preserve | saved at the print setting temporary storage part which concerns on 3rd embodiment.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
[First embodiment]
<System configuration>
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an example of a printing system according to the first embodiment. In the printing system 1 of FIG. 2, an information processing apparatus 10 and one or more printing apparatuses 20 are connected to a network N1 by wire or wirelessly.

  The information processing apparatus 10 is a PC (personal computer) in which an application that can issue a print request to the printing apparatus 20 by issuing a print instruction to print target data. The information processing apparatus 10 may be a tablet terminal, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a portable information terminal such as a PDA, a display device such as an electronic whiteboard, a projection device such as a projector. The information processing apparatus 10 only needs to install an application that can issue a print instruction to print target data.

  Note that the print target data is electronic data such as document data and image data for which a print instruction can be issued from an application, for example.

  The printing apparatus 20 is an image forming apparatus such as a printer that acquires a print request and print data from the information processing apparatus 10 and performs printing. The printing apparatus 20 may be a multifunction peripheral such as an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, and a FAX function in addition to the print function. The print data is electronic data obtained by converting print target data into a format that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus 20. A format that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus 20 is, for example, PDL (Page Description Language).

  In FIG. 2, there may be two or more information processing apparatuses 10. In FIG. 2, only one printing apparatus 20 may be provided.

<Hardware configuration>
The information processing apparatus 10 is realized by a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. 3, for example. FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. The information processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an external I / F 14, a communication device 15, an input device 16, a display control unit 17, and a storage device 18 that are mutually connected by a bus. The CPU 11 reads the OS 30, the printer driver 40, and the application 50 from the storage device 18 and executes them using the RAM 13 as a working memory.

  The application 50 only needs to be able to make a print request to the printing apparatus 20, and is, for example, document creation software, browser software, presentation material creation software, or the like. Any application that can print by creating, editing, displaying, and managing print target data may be used.

  The RAM 13 serves as a work memory (main storage memory) for temporarily storing necessary data, and the ROM 12 stores a basic input / output system (BIOS), data that is initially set, a start program, and the like.

  The external I / F 14 is an interface for mounting a cable such as a USB cable or a portable storage medium 141. The communication device 15 is a LAN card or an Ethernet (registered trademark) card, and transmits packet data such as a print request and print data to the printing device 20 according to an instruction from the CPU 11.

  The input device 16 is a user interface that accepts various user operation instructions such as a keyboard and a mouse. It may be a touch panel or a voice input device. The display control unit 17 controls the drawing on the display 171 with a predetermined resolution, number of colors, and the like based on screen information instructed by the application 50. The display 171 is a display device such as a liquid crystal or an organic EL.

  The storage device 18 is a nonvolatile memory such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory, and stores an OS 30, a printer driver 40, and an application 50.

  The storage medium 141 is a non-volatile memory such as an SD card or a USB memory. The OS 30, the printer driver 40, and the application 50 are distributed in a state stored in the storage medium 141 or downloaded from a server (not shown).

  The information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can implement various processes as described later by executing a program with the above hardware configuration, for example.

<Software configuration>
The information processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment is realized by, for example, functional blocks illustrated in FIG. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of an example of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  The information processing apparatus 10 includes an OS 30, a printer driver 40, an application 50, a print setting temporary storage unit 60, and a communication unit 70.

  The OS 30 is basic software that controls the entire information processing apparatus 10. The OS 30 includes Windows (registered trademark), UNIX (registered trademark), MacOS (registered trademark), and the like.

  In the present embodiment, the OS 30 of the information processing apparatus 10 will be described as a Windows OS as an example. The Windows OS includes Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2003 Server, Windows 2008 Server, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and later versions of the OS.

  As described above, the application 50 is document creation software, browser software, presentation material creation software, or the like that can make a print request to the printing apparatus 20.

  The print setting temporary storage unit 60 is a storage unit that temporarily stores print setting information. The print setting temporary storage unit 60 is, for example, a file or a registry stored in the storage device 18. As will be described later, the print setting information is information relating to print settings stored in the print setting storage unit 46, and is information relating to printing such as duplex / single-sided, paper size, layout printing, color / monochrome.

  The communication unit 70 is realized using the communication device 15 and performs communication with the printing device 20. The information processing apparatus 10 transmits a print request and print data to the printing apparatus 20 through the communication unit 70.

  The printer driver 40 includes a drawing unit 41, a screen display unit 42, a pop-up screen display unit 43, an item setting unit 44, a print setting management unit 45, and a print setting storage unit 46.

  The drawing unit 41 converts the print target data into print data according to the designated print setting. The screen display unit 42 displays a print setting screen of the printer driver 40 according to an instruction from the user. The pop-up screen display unit 43 displays a pop-up screen for performing print settings after a print execution instruction from the application. The item setting unit 44 acquires print setting information and generates a pop-up screen.

  The print setting management unit 45 acquires print setting information from the print setting temporary storage unit 60 and the print setting storage unit 46. The print setting management unit 45 stores the print setting information in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 and the print setting storage unit 46.

  The print setting storage unit 46 stores default (standard) print setting information. That is, the application 50 uses the print setting information stored in the print setting storage unit 46 as a default value for print settings. The print setting information is information relating to printing such as double-sided / single-sided, paper size, layout printing, color / monochrome. The print setting storage unit 46 is, for example, a Devmode structure (data table) or a PrintTicket.

  In the present embodiment, as an example, the print setting storage unit 46 is described as a Devmode structure (hereinafter referred to as Devmode). Devmode is a data structure in which member variables for commonly setting print settings for the printer driver 40 operating on the OS 30 (Windows OS) are defined. Note that print settings saved in Devmode (specifically, Public Devmode in Devmode) can be linked with any application. For example, color and paper size are set on the application and printed. In this case, information on color and paper size is automatically reflected in Devmode, and printing is performed according to the print settings set by the application without opening the print setting screen of the printer driver.

  Devmode also has an area called Private Devmode, and the structure of this area can be freely determined by each manufacturer of the printer driver. Therefore, for example, the original functions of each vendor such as stapling and punching are stored in Private Devmode.

<Details of processing>
First, an outline of the pop-up screen display process in the information processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example for explaining an outline of the pop-up screen display processing according to the first embodiment.

  The user prints print target data such as document data from the application 50 installed in the information processing apparatus 10 (step S101). Then, at a predetermined timing, the printer driver 40 acquires the print setting information stored in the print setting storage unit 46 (Devmode), and stores the acquired print setting information as a file or the like in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 ( Step S102).

  Next, the printer driver 40 acquires the print setting information stored in step S102 from the print setting temporary storage unit 60 (step S103), and performs print settings at a predetermined timing using the acquired print setting information. Is displayed (step S104). At this time, each print setting item on the pop-up screen displays a default (standard) print setting value.

  When the user changes the print setting on the pop-up screen (step S105), the printer driver 40 saves the print setting information regarding the changed print setting in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 (step S106), and print data with the changed print setting. Is created (step S107).

  If the user does not change the print setting in step S105, the process in step S106 may not be performed. Alternatively, if the user does not change the print setting in step S105, the print setting information that has not been changed may be stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60.

  As described above, after the user executes printing of the print target data from the application 50, the pop-up screen for performing the print setting is displayed. When the print setting is changed on the pop-up screen, the print target data can be printed with the changed print setting.

  Here, in step S102 of FIG. 5, the printer driver 40 acquires the print setting information stored in the print setting storage unit 46 (Devmode), and stores the acquired print setting information in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 as a file or the like. The timing to perform will be described. The timing at which the printer driver 40 displays a pop-up screen for performing print settings in step S104 in FIG. 5 will be described.

  After execution of printing by the application 50, acquisition of print setting information stored in the print setting storage unit 46 (Devmode) and display of a pop-up screen can be realized using, for example, the DrvDocumentEvent () function. The DrvDocumentEvent () function is a DDI (Device Driver Interface) called from the OS 30 (specifically, GDI (Graphics Device Interface) that is a part of the OS) after printing by the application 50, and is related to printing of print target data. It is a DLL (Dynamic Link Library) that processes specific events. Note that only the I / F is defined in the DDI, and the mounting method in the DDI can be freely performed by each manufacturer of the printer driver.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example for explaining the DrvDocumentEvent () function. In FIG. 6, the meaning of each argument of the DrvDocumentEvent () function is as follows.
HPrinter is the handle of the printer.
Hdc is a device context handle.
IEsc is an escape code provided by the calling module for identifying the event to be processed.
CbIn is the size of data transmitted with pvIn.
PvIn is a pointer to the data to be transmitted. Note that the value of this pointer varies depending on the value of iEsc.
CbOut stores the value specified by the function as the cbOutput parameter of ExtEscape () when iEsc is DOCUMENTEVENT_ESCAPE. When iEsc is DOCUMENT_QUERYFILTER, the size of the structure pvOut received by the receiving side is stored.
PvOut is a pointer to the structure pvOut received by the receiving side. Note that the value of this pointer varies depending on the value of iEsc.

  After printing by the application 50, the DrvDocumentEvent () function is called from the OS 30 at various timings. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example for explaining the timing of acquiring the Devmode and displaying the pop-up screen.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the DrvDocumentEvent () function is called from the OS 30 at the timings (a) to (h) after printing by the application 50 (Note that the DrvDocumentEvent () function is (a) to (h) Called in order.) Of these timings, the pop-up screen may be displayed when the DrvDocumentEvent () function is called at the timing (c) or (d). This is because the drawing process has already started at the timing after (e). Further, for example, when server-side rendering is performed in the Point & Print environment, the drawing process is performed on the server side. Therefore, the pop-up screen for the printer driver 40 to perform print settings in step S104 in FIG. 5 is displayed at the timing (c) or (d) in FIG. Note that the timing for displaying the above-described pop-up screen is the same as in the prior art.

Next, in order to display information on printing such as duplex / single-sided, paper size, layout printing, color / monochrome on the pop-up screen displayed at the timing of (c) or (d), the following (1) to (3 ) Note that at the timings (c) and (d), the DrvDocumentEvent () function cannot acquire Devmode.
(1) When the DrvDocumentEvent () function is called at the timing (a), since the Devmode pointer is set in pvIn, the value of this pointer is set in pvOut. More specifically, a pointer of a DOCEVENT_CREATEDCPRE structure is set in pvIn, and a Devmode pointer is set in a member variable pdm of this structure.
(2) When the DrvDocumentEvent () function is called at the timing of (b), the pvOut value of (1), that is, the Devmode pointer value is set in pvIn, so this Devmode information (print setting information) Are stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 as a file or the like.
(3) At the timing of (c) or (d), the Devmode information (print setting information) saved in (2) is acquired from the file stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60, and the acquired print setting information is acquired. Is displayed on the pop-up screen.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, since the device context handle is created at the timing of (b), in the above (2), for example, this device is used as the file name of the file for storing Devmode information (print setting information). Use the value of the context handle. This is because the value of the device context handle is different for each job, and the file saved in (2) can be searched in (3) above using the value of the device context handle as a key.

  Here, the file stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 in the above (2) will be described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a file stored in the print setting temporary storage unit according to the first embodiment. In the example of FIG. 8, print setting information such as “A5” as the paper size setting, “long-edge binding” as the double-sided print setting, “2in1” as the assignment setting, and “color” as the color mode setting are stored. The file name is “Devmode14526341.txt”, where “14526341” is the value of the device context handle.

  The file storing Devmode information may be in a binary format in addition to the text format as in the example of FIG.

  Next, details of the pop-up screen display process will be described. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a pop-up screen display process according to the first embodiment.

  When the user issues a print instruction for print target data from the application 50 installed in the information processing apparatus 10 (step S201), the application 50 issues a print start request to the print setting management unit 45 (step S202). Specifically, the application 50 issues a print request to the GDI that is a part of the OS 30 according to the print instruction of the user, and the GDI calls (calls) the DDI of the printer driver 40, so that the process is performed by the printer driver 40. Transition to the print setting management unit 45.

  The print setting management unit 45 acquires the print setting information from the print setting storage unit 46 (step S203), and stores the acquired print setting information in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 (step S204). These processes are performed when the DrvDocumentEvent () function is called at a predetermined timing. That is, the process of step S203 is performed at the timing of FIG. 7A, and the process of step S203 is performed at the timing of FIG.

  Next, the pop-up screen display unit 43 requests the item setting unit 44 to generate a pop-up screen (step S205). The item setting unit 44 acquires print setting information from the print setting temporary storage unit 60 (step S206), and generates a pop-up screen using the acquired print setting information as a default (standard) print setting (step S207). Then, the item setting unit 44 requests the pop-up screen display unit 43 to display a pop-up screen (step S208), and the pop-up screen display unit 43 displays the pop-up screen (step S209).

  The processes in steps S205 to S209 are performed when the DrvDocumentEvent () function is called at a predetermined timing. That is, the processing of S205 to S209 is performed at the timing of (c) or (d) in FIG.

  Here, the pop-up screen will be described. FIG. 10 is an image diagram of an example of a pop-up screen according to the first embodiment.

  The pop-up screen 2000 has various GUI components 2001 for changing print settings, and the user can change the print settings using these GUI components 2001. If the user presses the OK button 2002 after changing the print settings using the GUI component 2001, printing is performed with the changed print settings. When the cancel button 2003 is pressed, printing is performed with default (standard) print settings.

  Returning to the description of FIG. The pop-up screen display unit 43 stores the print setting information in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 (step S210). At this time, when the user changes the print setting on the pop-up screen displayed in the process of step S209, the changed print setting information is stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60. If the user does not change the print setting on the pop-up screen, the print setting information does not have to be stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60.

  Then, the pop-up screen display unit 43 transmits a drawing request including print setting information to the drawing unit 41 (step S211), and the drawing unit 41 performs drawing processing based on the print setting information (step S212). Here, the drawing process performed by the drawing unit 41 is a process of converting print target data into print data such as PDL.

  After the above process, the information processing apparatus 10 transmits print data to the printing apparatus 20 via the communication unit 70, whereby the printing process is performed in the printing apparatus 20.

  As described above, the information processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment displays, for example, print setting information such as duplex / single-sided, paper size, layout printing, and color / monochrome stored in the print setting storage unit 46 on the pop-up screen. be able to. In addition, when the print setting displayed on the pop-up screen is changed by the user, the information processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment can perform printing with the changed print setting. Thus, the user can change the print setting even after pressing the print button, for example, in the application 50, and can perform printing with the changed print setting. Therefore, for example, even when the user forgets to make print settings and presses the print execution button, the print settings can be made.

  Next, a process for saving the print setting information stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 in the print setting storage unit 46 will be described. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of print setting information storage processing according to the first embodiment.

  The user performs an operation for displaying the print setting screen of the application 50 (step S301). For example, an operation for opening the print setting screen 3000 of the application as shown in FIG. 12 is performed. Note that the user may open the print setting screen of the printer driver 40.

  The application 50 makes a print setting screen display request to the screen display unit 42 of the printer driver 40 (step S302). Then, the screen display unit 42 requests the print setting management unit 45 to acquire print setting information (step S303). When receiving the print setting information acquisition request, the print setting management unit 45 acquires the print setting information from the print setting temporary storage unit 60 (step S304), and transmits the acquired print setting information to the screen display unit 42 (step S304). S305).

  Upon acquiring the print setting information from the print setting management unit 45, the screen display unit 42 displays the print setting screen with the acquired print setting information as a default (standard) print setting (step S306). When the user changes the print setting information from the print setting screen and terminates the operation (step S307), the application 50 transmits the print setting information to the screen display unit 42 (step S308).

  The screen display unit 42 transmits the acquired print setting information to the print setting management unit 45 (step S309), and the print setting management unit 45 stores the print setting information received from the screen display unit 42 in the print setting storage unit 46. (Step S310). Note that the print setting information stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 may be deleted after the process of step S310.

As described above, the print setting information stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 (or print setting information obtained by further changing the print setting information on the print setting screen by the user) can be stored in the print setting storage unit 46. it can. Accordingly, the print setting information stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 in the pop-up screen display process of FIG. 9 (or the print setting information that the user has further changed on the print setting screen) is set in the print setting storage unit. 46 can be stored. Therefore, the print setting information stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 in the pop-up screen display process of FIG. 9 (or print setting information that the user has further changed on the print setting screen) is the default (standard). Print settings can be made.
[Second Embodiment]
Next, the printing system 1 according to the second embodiment will be described. The information processing apparatus 10 constituting the printing system 1 according to the second embodiment includes three print setting storage units that are common to all users for each application, for each user.

  Since the printing system 1 according to the second embodiment has the same system configuration and hardware configuration as the printing system 1 according to the first embodiment, description of the system configuration and hardware configuration is omitted.

<Software configuration>
The information processing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment is realized by, for example, functional blocks illustrated in FIG. FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of an example of an information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

  The information processing apparatus 10 includes an OS 30, a printer driver 40, an application 50, a print setting temporary storage unit 60, and a communication unit 70. Since these parts are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  The printer driver 40 includes a drawing unit 41, a screen display unit 42, a pop-up screen display unit 43, an item setting unit 44, a print setting management unit 45, and a print setting storage unit 47. Among these units, the drawing unit 41, the screen display unit 42, the pop-up screen display unit 43, the item setting unit 44, and the print setting management unit 45 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

Print setting storage unit 47 has an application print setting storage unit 47 _1, the user print setting storage unit 47 _2, all users print setting storage unit 47 _3. Application print setting storage unit 47 ₁ stores the print setting information of default per application (standard). User print setting storage unit 47 ₂ stores the print setting information of default (standard) for each user. All users print setting storage unit 47 ₃ stores the print setting information common to all users default (standard).

  The print setting storage unit 46 is, for example, a Devmode structure (data table), a PrintTicket, or the like. In this embodiment, the print setting storage unit 46 is an example of a Devmode structure (hereinafter referred to as Devmode) as in the first embodiment. ).

Here, in Devmode, there are an application Devmode, a user Devmode, and a Default Devmode. The application Devmode is a Devmode held for each application, and is a default (standard) setting of the application 50. A user's Devmode is a Devmode in which a default (standard) setting of a user who logs in to the OS 30 (Windows OS) is stored, and is a default (standard) setting of the corresponding user. The Default Devmode is a Devmode in which default (standard) settings of the printer driver 40 are stored, and is a default (standard) setting common to all users. Therefore, in the present embodiment, described as an example, the application print setting storage unit 47 _1, the user print setting storage unit 47 _2, all users print setting storage unit 47 ₃ app each Devmode, user Devmode, as a Default Devmode To do.

  As described above, Devmode is managed in units of applications, users, and printer drivers. For example, even when the print settings are changed on the server in the Point & Print environment, the print settings can be taken over by the client.

<Details of processing>
The information processing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment determines whether the print setting changed on the pop-up screen is a default setting for each application, a default setting for each user, or a default setting common to all users. Can be selected.

  FIG. 14 is an image diagram of an example of a pop-up screen according to the second embodiment. The pop-up screen 4000 shown in FIG. 14 has various GUI components 4001 for changing print settings, and the user can change print settings using these GUI components 4001. Further, the pop-up screen 4000 shown in FIG. 14 displays “Register as default of application”, “Register as default of user”, and “Register as default of all users” for the print settings changed using the GUI component 4001. It has a check box 4002 for allowing the user to select.

  When the user selects "Register as application default", "Register as user default", or "Register as default for all users" and press the OK button 4003, the changed print setting is selected according to the selection. Default settings for each application, default settings for each user, and default settings common to all users. Note that the user can select two or more items with a check box 4002. In this case, the changed print setting is set as a default setting according to the selection. For example, when the user selects two items “register as application default” and “register as user default” with the check box 4002 and presses the OK button 4003, the changed print setting is the default for each application. Setting and default setting for each user.

  Further, for example, when the user presses the OK button 4003 without selecting any of the check boxes 4002, the print setting changed assuming that “register as application default” is selected is set as the default setting for each application. Also good. Further, for example, an error message for prompting the user to select may be displayed.

  Next, an outline of the pop-up screen display process in the information processing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart of an example for explaining an outline of the pop-up screen display processing according to the second embodiment.

The user prints print target data such as document data from the application 50 installed in the information processing apparatus 10 (step S401). Then, at a predetermined timing, the printer driver 40 stores the application print setting storage unit 47 ₁ (application Devmode), the user print setting storage unit 47 ₂ (user Devmode), and the all user print setting storage unit 47 ₃ (Default Devmode). Print setting information is acquired from either of them, and the acquired print setting information is stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 as a file (step S402).

  Next, the printer driver 40 acquires the print setting information saved in step S402 from the print setting temporary storage unit 60 (step S403), and performs print settings at a predetermined timing using the acquired print setting information. Is displayed (step S404). Note that the predetermined timing in the processing of steps S402 and S404 is the same as in the first embodiment.

  In the pop-up screen on which the user is displayed, the print setting is changed to select whether to set the application default setting, whether to set the user default setting, or whether to set the default setting common to all users (step). S405). The printer driver 40 performs the process of step S407 when the user selects the application default setting, and when the user does not select the application default setting, the process of step S408. Is performed (step S406).

  If the application default setting is selected, the printer driver 40 saves the print setting information regarding the changed print setting in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 for each application (step S407). As a file name stored in the unit 60, an application name (or an ID for identifying an application) may be included in addition to the value of the device context handle.

  If the application default setting is not selected, the printer driver 40 saves the print setting information regarding the changed print setting in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 (step S408). That is, the same processing as step S106 in FIG. 5 is performed.

  Then, print data is created with the changed print settings (step S409).

  As described above, after the user executes printing of the print target data from the application 50, the pop-up screen for performing the print setting is displayed. Then, it is possible to print the data to be printed with the changed print settings by selecting the default setting for the changed print settings and the changed settings on the pop-up screen.

  Here, the file saved in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 in the process of step S407 in FIG. 15 will be described. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a file stored in the print setting temporary storage unit according to the second embodiment. The file 5000 according to the second embodiment includes a saving information 5001 and a setting 5002. The contents of Setting 5002 are the same as in the example of FIG.

The saving information 5001 includes information about whether to set application default settings, whether to set user default settings, whether to set default settings common to all users, and print setting information to the application print setting storage unit 47 ₁ , user print setting storage unit 47 _2, all users print setting storage unit 47 ₃ is information indicating whether or not reflected. For example, in the example of FIG. 16, “SaveAsApplicationDefault?” Is “Yes,” indicating that the print setting information indicated by Setting 5002 is the default setting of the application. Further, in the example of FIG. 16 "SaveAsApplicationDefault?" Indicates that the unsaved still in it for, application print setting storage unit 47 ₁ print setting information indicated by Setting5002 a "notsaved". Similarly, "SaveAsUserDefault?" Indicates whether to save the print setting information indicating whether the default settings for each user, and the user print setting storage unit 47 ₂ in Setting5002. Further, "SaveAsAllUserDefault?" Indicates whether the stored whether the common to all users default settings, and the print setting information shown in Setting5002 to all users print setting storage unit 47 _3.

Incidentally, when stored (reflected) print setting information indicated by Setting5002 example the application print setting storage unit 47 _1, and rewrites the "notsaved" for example, "saved". For example, when all the information shown in the saving information 5001 is “Yes, saved” or “No”, the file may be deleted from the print setting temporary storage unit 60.

  Note that an application name for identifying an application is added to the file name in the example of FIG. As a result, the application 50 having the print setting information indicated by Setting 5002 as a default setting can be specified.

  Next, details of the pop-up screen display process will be described. FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram of an example of a pop-up screen display process according to the second embodiment.

  The processes in steps S501 and S502 are the same as the processes in steps S201 and S202 in FIG.

The print setting management 45 acquires print setting information from the print setting storage unit 46 (step S503). At this time, the print setting management 45 acquires the print setting information according to the following procedures (1) to (3).
(1) When the print setting information in the application print setting storage unit 47 ₁ (Devmode app) is stored, and acquires the print setting information from the application print setting storage unit 47 ₁ (Devmode app).
(2) If the print setting information is not stored in the application print setting storage unit 47 ₁ (application Devmode) and the print setting information is stored in the user print setting storage unit 47 ₂ (user Devmode), the user Print setting information is acquired from the print setting storage unit 47 ₂ (Devmode of the user).
(3) If no print setting information is stored in the application print setting storage unit 47 ₁ (application Devmode) and the user print setting storage unit 47 ₂ (user Devmode), the all user print setting storage unit 47 ₃ (Default Devmode) ) To obtain print setting information. It is assumed that the print setting information (default print settings) is stored in the all user print setting storage unit 47 ₃ (Default Devmode) by each manufacturer of the printer driver.

  Next, the processes in steps S504 to S509 are the same as the processes in steps S204 to S209, respectively, and thus description thereof is omitted. Note that the pop-up screen displayed by the pop-up screen display unit 43 in the process of step S509 includes a check box 4002 for allowing the user to select a range in which the changed print setting is the default setting, as illustrated in FIG.

  The pop-up screen display unit 43 stores the print setting information in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 (step S510). At this time, for example, when the user selects “Register as application default” on the pop-up screen 4000, information for identifying the application 50 is added to the value of the device context handle as the file name of the file for storing the print setting information. Append. As information for identifying the application 50, for example, there is information on a DOCINFO structure set in pvIn of the DrvDocumentEvent () function at the timing of FIG. Since the document name of the print target data is set in the member variable lpszDocName of the DOCINFO structure, this document name may be used as information for identifying the application 50. Thereby, the pop-up screen display unit 43 can store the print setting information in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 for each application (and for each job).

  The processes in steps S511 and S512 are the same as the processes in steps S211 and S212 in FIG.

  As described above, the information processing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment displays the print setting information such as double-sided / single-sided, paper size, layout printing, and color / monochrome stored in the print setting storage unit 46 on the pop-up screen. be able to. In addition, the information processing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment determines whether the print setting changed on the pop-up screen is the default setting of the application, whether the default setting of the user is the default setting common to all users, You can choose whether or not to do so.

Then, to save the print setting information stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60, the application print setting storage unit 47 1 of print setting storage unit _46, the user print setting storage unit 47 _2, all users print setting storage unit 47 ₃ Processing will be described. FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of print setting information storage processing according to the second embodiment.

  The processing of steps S601 to S609 is the same as the processing of steps S301 to S309 in FIG.

The print setting management unit 45 stores the print setting information received from the screen display unit 42 in the print setting storage unit 46 according to the range to be set as the default setting selected by the user (information of the SavingInformation 5001 in the example of FIG. 16) ( Step S310). That is, for example, when “Register as application default” is selected in the pop-up screen 4000, the print setting management unit 45 saves (reflects) the print setting information in the application print setting storage unit 47 ₁ (Devmode of the application). . Similarly, for example, when “register as user default” is selected on the pop-up screen 4000, the print setting management unit 45 saves (reflects) the print setting information in the user print setting storage unit 47 ₂ (the user's Devmode). To do. For example, when “Register as default for all users” is selected on the pop-up screen 4000, the print setting management unit 45 saves (reflects) the print setting information in the all user print setting storage unit 47 ₃ (Default Devmode).

For example, in the process of step S601, only when the print setting screen is displayed from the application 50, the print setting information may be saved (reflected) in the application print setting storage unit 47 ₁ (the application Devmode). Further, for example, in the process of step S601, the print setting information may be saved (reflected) in the user print setting storage unit 47 ₂ (user Devmode) only when the print setting screen is displayed from the printer driver 40. Further, for example, in the process of step S601, only when the print setting screen is displayed from the standard setting of the OS 30 (Windows OS), the print setting information is stored (reflected) in the all user print setting storage unit 47 ₃ (Default Devmode). You may make it do.

As described above, the application print setting storage unit 47 _{1 of} the print setting storage unit 46, the user print setting storage, according to the range in which the print setting information stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 is the default setting selected by the user. part 47 _2, can be stored in all users print setting storage unit 47 _3. Accordingly, a range in which the print setting information stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 is set as a default (standard) print setting can be determined according to the user's selection.
[Third embodiment]
Next, the printing system 1 according to the third embodiment will be described. The information processing apparatus 10 constituting the printing system 1 according to the third embodiment can store print setting information in a plurality of print setting storage units for each print setting item.

  Since the printing system 1 according to the second embodiment has the same system configuration, hardware configuration, and software configuration as the printing system 1 according to the second embodiment, the system configuration, hardware configuration, and software A description of the configuration is omitted.

  The processing in the third embodiment is the same as the processing in the second embodiment, so the details of the processing are also omitted, and only the files saved in the pop-up screen and the print setting information temporary storage unit 60 will be described. .

  First, the pop-up display screen in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 19 is an image diagram of an example of a pop-up screen according to the third embodiment. The pop-up screen 6000 according to the third embodiment selects whether to set application default settings for each print setting item, user default settings, or all user default settings. Has a check box 6001. As a result, the user can select the default print setting range for each print setting item.

Next, files stored in the print setting temporary storage unit 60 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of an example for explaining a file stored in the print setting temporary storage unit according to the third embodiment. In the file 7000 according to the third embodiment, a saving information 7002 is set for each print setting item 7001. Or Thereby, the print setting item 7001 application print setting storage unit 47 1 print setting information of the item for each _user print setting storage unit 47 _2, stored in all users print setting storage unit 47 ₃ (reflected) has to be the It is possible to hold whether or not it has been saved (reflected). The meaning of each item specified in the file 7000 is the same as in the example of FIG.

  As described above, the user can select a range to be a default setting for each setting item on the pop-up screen.

<Summary>
The information processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment described above can display a pop-up screen for changing print settings after execution of printing by the application 50. In the information processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, the saved print settings can be set as default (standard) settings by saving the print settings changed on the pop-up screen in the print setting storage unit 46. .

In the pop-up screen of the information processing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment, regarding the changed print settings, the user determines whether to set application default settings, whether to set user default settings, It is possible to select whether or not to use default settings. In the information processing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment, the print setting changed on the pop-up screen is changed according to the user's selection, the application print setting storage unit 47 ₁ , the user print setting storage unit 47 ₂ , the all user print by storing the setting storage unit 47 _3, it can be saved print settings set for the default of the respective applications (standard), setting of the user's default (standard), setting common to all users default (standard) .

Further, on the pop-up screen of the information processing apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment, for each item of the changed print setting, the user determines whether to set the application default setting, whether to set the user default setting, It is possible to select whether or not to set the default setting for all users. Then, in the information processing apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment, the application print setting storage unit 47 ₁ , the user print setting storage unit displays the print setting related to each print setting item changed on the pop-up screen according to the user's selection. by storing 47 _2, all users print setting storage unit 47 _3, default saved print settings of each application (standard) set, the setting of the user's default (standard), the common to all users default (standard) It can be set.

  The print setting management unit 45 is an example of a first storage unit and a second storage unit. The pop-up screen display unit 43 and the item setting unit 44 are examples of display means. The drawing unit 41 is an example of a conversion unit. The print setting storage unit 46 is an example of a predetermined first storage area. The print setting temporary storage unit 60 is an example of a predetermined second storage area.

  The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system 10 Information processing apparatus 20 Printing apparatus 30 OS
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 40 Printer driver 41 Drawing part 42 Screen display part 43 Pop-up screen display part 44 Item setting part 45 Print setting management part 46 Print setting memory | storage part 50 Application 60 Print setting temporary storage part 70 Communication part

JP2013-088869A

Claims (16)

An information processing device equipped with an application that can make print settings for print target data
When an instruction to start printing for printing the print target data is received, information related to the print settings of the application is acquired from a predetermined first storage area, and the information related to the acquired print settings is stored in a predetermined second storage. A first storage procedure to be stored in the area;
A display procedure for acquiring information related to the print settings stored in the first storage procedure from the predetermined second storage area and displaying a print setting screen for performing print settings based on the acquired information related to the print settings;
A conversion procedure for converting the print target data into print data based on the print settings set on the print setting screen;
A program for running In the information processing apparatus,
A second storage procedure for storing, in the predetermined second storage area, information related to the print settings set on the print setting screen;
A third storage procedure for acquiring information on the print settings stored by the second storage procedure from the second storage area, and storing the acquired information on the print settings in the predetermined first storage area;
The program according to claim 1 for executing. The predetermined first storage area has information regarding print settings for each application,
The print setting screen
A display component for allowing a user to select whether or not to set the print setting set in the print setting screen as a standard print setting of the application;
The second storage procedure includes:
When the user selects the print setting set on the print setting screen as the standard print setting of the application, the information about the print setting set on the print setting screen is used as the information about the print setting of the application. The program according to claim 2, which is stored in the second storage area. The predetermined first storage area further includes information on print settings for each user and information on print settings common to all users,
The print setting screen
Further, a display for allowing the user to select whether the print setting set on the print setting screen is the standard print setting of the user who has instructed to start printing or the standard print setting common to all users Have parts,
The second storage procedure includes:
Based on the user's selection, the print settings set on the print setting screen, the information about the print settings set on the print setting screen, the information about the print settings of the application, the information about the print settings of the user, 4. The program according to claim 3, wherein the program is stored in the predetermined second storage area as any of the information related to print settings common to all users. The print setting screen
For the print settings set on the print setting screen, the standard print settings of the application for each print setting item, the standard print settings of the user who has instructed printing start, or the standard common to all users A display component for allowing the user to select whether to set the print setting of
The second storage procedure includes:
Based on the user's selection, the print setting set on the print setting screen is the information about the print setting set on the print setting screen for each print setting item, the information about the print setting of the application, the user's The program according to claim 4, wherein the program is stored in the predetermined second storage area as information relating to print settings and information relating to print settings common to all users.   The program according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the predetermined first storage area is a Devmode structure storage area or a PrintTicket class storage area.   The program according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined second storage area is a file storage area or a registry storage area of the information processing apparatus. An information processing apparatus equipped with an application capable of performing print settings for print target data,
When an instruction to start printing for printing the print target data is received, information related to the print settings of the application is acquired from a predetermined first storage area, and the information related to the acquired print settings is stored in a predetermined second storage. First storage means for storing in the area;
Display means for acquiring information related to the print settings stored in the first storage means from the predetermined second storage area and displaying a print setting screen for performing print settings based on the acquired information related to print settings;
Conversion means for converting the print target data into print data based on the print settings set on the print setting screen;
An information processing apparatus. Second storage means for storing information relating to print settings set on the print setting screen in the predetermined second storage area;
Third storage means for acquiring information relating to the print settings stored by the second storage means from the second storage area, and storing the acquired information relating to the print settings in the predetermined first storage area;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 8. The predetermined first storage area has information regarding print settings for each application,
The print setting screen
A display component for allowing a user to select whether or not to set the print setting set in the print setting screen as a standard print setting of the application;
The second storage means
When the user selects the print setting set on the print setting screen as the standard print setting of the application, the information about the print setting set on the print setting screen is used as the information about the print setting of the application. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, which is stored in the second storage area. The predetermined first storage area further includes information on print settings for each user and information on print settings common to all users,
The print setting screen
Further, a display for allowing the user to select whether the print setting set on the print setting screen is the standard print setting of the user who has instructed to start printing or the standard print setting common to all users Have parts,
The second storage means
Based on the user's selection, the print settings set on the print setting screen, the information about the print settings set on the print setting screen, the information about the print settings of the application, the information about the print settings of the user, The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the information is stored in the predetermined second storage area as any of information related to print settings common to all users. The print setting screen
For the print settings set on the print setting screen, the standard print settings of the application for each print setting item, the standard print settings of the user who has instructed printing start, or the standard common to all users A display component for allowing the user to select whether to set the print setting of
The second storage means
Based on the user's selection, the print setting set on the print setting screen is the information about the print setting set on the print setting screen for each print setting item, the information about the print setting of the application, the user's The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the information is stored in the predetermined second storage area as information regarding print settings and information regarding print settings common to all users.   The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the predetermined first storage area is a Devmode structure storage area or a PrintTicket class storage area.   The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the predetermined second storage area is a file storage area or a registry storage area of the information processing apparatus. An information processing method used in an information processing apparatus equipped with an application capable of performing print setting of print target data,
When an instruction to start printing for printing the print target data is received, information related to the print settings of the application is acquired from a predetermined first storage area, and the information related to the acquired print settings is stored in a predetermined second storage. A first storage procedure to be stored in the area;
A display procedure for acquiring information relating to the print settings stored in the first storage procedure from the predetermined second storage area and displaying a print setting screen for performing print settings based on the acquired information relating to the print settings;
A conversion procedure for converting the print target data into print data based on the print settings set on the print setting screen;
An information processing method comprising: An information processing system having an information processing apparatus equipped with an application capable of performing print setting of print target data,
When an instruction to start printing for printing the print target data is received, information related to the print settings of the application is acquired from a predetermined first storage area, and the information related to the acquired print settings is stored in a predetermined second storage. First storage means for storing in the area;
Display means for acquiring information related to the print settings stored in the first storage means from the predetermined second storage area and displaying a print setting screen for performing print settings based on the acquired information related to print settings;
Conversion means for converting the print target data into print data based on the print settings set on the print setting screen;
An information processing system.

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