JP2017222183A - Label printer, label editing device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily confirm whether a character has been suitably input for the size of a printing area during label editing carried out by inputting printing items by using a label format.SOLUTION: When an operation for selecting a label format is executed in a state where a character input screen is displayed in a printing area corresponding to a printing item to be edited, a label format to be checked is selected from a plurality of label formats, a relationship between a character input by a character input operation and a size set in a printing area corresponding to the printing item to be edited in the label format to be checked is displayed on the character input screen, and a frame indicating the printing area is arranged and displayed with respect to the input character so as to reflect the result of printing on a label in an area where the input character of the character input screen is displayed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

  The present invention relates to a label printer, a label editing apparatus, and a program for printing on a label to be attached to a product, for example.

In a store such as a supermarket, a label on which a predetermined item such as a product name and a price is printed is attached to a product packed with fresh food and prepared dishes. An apparatus called a label printer that performs printing on such a label and issues the printed label is known.
As such a label printer, the position and size of the print unit frame can be set on the image of the read label by a scanner, and characters can be entered into the set print unit frame so that the print information on the label can be edited. Such a configuration is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-118258 A

Some label printers store a label format as a template in which the size of a print area for each print item is set in advance, and can input a print item by calling a label format suitable for a product.
In the label format, for example, a size such as a width and a height is set for each print area for inputting a print item. However, in order to create and edit labels, when entering characters in the print area, the environment is such that characters can be entered regardless of the size of the print area.
For this reason, depending on the number of characters input to the print area, the size of the characters, and the like, the printed content may not be within the range that can be displayed within the size of the print area. If printing is performed in such a state, there is a problem that a printing result that is not intended by the user is obtained, for example, a character that protrudes from the printing area is not printed.

  In the label printer of Patent Document 1, for example, an operation for setting the size and position of a print area on a label image read by a scanner and an operation for inputting characters of a print item are performed in parallel. Yes. In other words, the label printer of Patent Document 1 corresponds to a procedure for creating a label by inputting characters while determining the format of a print item. For this reason, depending on Patent Document 1, it is difficult to solve the problem that the input print item character string protrudes the size of the print area set under the label format created in advance.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. When editing a label by inputting a print item using a label format, characters are appropriately input with respect to the size of the print area. The purpose is to make it easy to check whether or not

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a label printer as one aspect of the present invention is a label printer that prints the contents of print data including one or more print items on a label and issues the printed label. A storage unit that stores a label format that indicates the print area that is set for each item, and a character that is used to input characters to be printed in the print area that corresponds to the print item to be edited A selection unit that selects a label format to be confirmed from among a plurality of label formats stored in the storage unit in response to an operation for selecting a label format being performed while the input screen is displayed In the character input screen, the character input by the character input operation and the label format to be checked are displayed. A display control unit that displays the relationship with the size set in the print area corresponding to the print item to be edited, and the display control unit displays characters input on the character input screen. In the input character display area, the print area corresponding to the print item to be edited in the label format to be checked is shown for the input character so that the result of printing on the label is reflected. The print area instruction frame is configured to be displayed.

  According to the label printer having the above configuration, the relationship between the characters input as the contents of the print item to be edited and the size of the print area corresponding to the print item to be edited set in the label format selected by the operation Is displayed on the character input screen.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when a label is edited by inputting a print item using a label format, it is easy to check whether characters are appropriately input with respect to the size of the print area. The effect of being able to confirm is obtained.

It is a figure which shows the apparatus structure of the label printer in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display mode of the label information screen in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display mode of the label image screen in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display mode of the character input screen in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display mode of the label format list screen in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display mode of a character input screen on which a print area instruction frame is arranged in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the label printer in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the goods file in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the label format file in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a process sequence performed in order that the label printer in 1st Embodiment may display a printing area instruction | indication frame. It is a figure which shows the example of a display mode of the label format list screen in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a process sequence which the label printer in 2nd Embodiment performs for the display of a label format list screen.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 shows an apparatus configuration of a label printer 100 according to the first embodiment. The label printer 100 shown in this figure includes a main body unit 200 and a scale unit 300. The main body unit 200 and the scale unit 300 are communicably connected by a cable 101.

  A liquid crystal display unit 204 is provided on the upper panel of the main body unit 200. In the liquid crystal display unit 204, various images relating to label creation, editing, and issuance are displayed according to the operation of the label printer 100. A touch panel 205 is disposed on the front surface of the liquid crystal display unit 204. In addition, although the liquid crystal display part 204 is a display part by a liquid crystal display, the display part by display devices other than a liquid crystal display, such as an organic EL (ElectroLuminescence) display, may be provided instead.

The touch panel 205 detects a position where an operating body such as a human finger contacts, and outputs it as an operation signal. By combining the liquid crystal display unit 204 and the touch panel 205 in this manner, the store clerk can perform a touch operation such as touching an image such as a button displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 204.
Further, in the main body 200 of FIG. 1, the label discharge unit 206a is a part from which the issued label is discharged.

  The scale unit 300 is a device that measures the weight of a placed object, and is provided for measuring the weight of a packed product, for example. For example, the store clerk designates a unit price per 100 g by an operation on the touch panel 205 on the main body unit 200 side, and then places the packed product on the weighing unit 300 and measures its weight. The main body unit 200 inputs the weight of the packed prize measured by the scale unit 300, and calculates the price of the packed product. That is, the label printer 100 operates so as to automatically calculate the price of the packed product by measuring the weight of the packed product by the scale unit 300 as long as the unit price per unit weight is specified.

FIG. 2 shows a display mode example of the label information screen displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 204 of the label printer 100.
Label information is displayed on the label information screen. Label information shows the predetermined information regarding the content of the label produced corresponding to one goods. FIG. 2 shows label information created corresponding to the product “Wagyu beef loin”.
In addition, the button for every item is arrange | positioned on the label information screen of FIG. The user can perform a touch operation on an arbitrary item on the label information screen. The label information screen displays a detailed screen showing the detailed contents of the touched item in response to a touch operation performed on the item.

  In addition, in a state where the label information screen is displayed, in response to the user performing a predetermined operation for issuing a label, the label printer 100 displays print items for the products displayed on the label information screen. Print on label paper. Then, the label printer 100 issues the printed paper as a label from the label discharge unit 206a.

  Further, the label printer 100 can display a label image screen showing an image of a label printed with label information indicated by the label information screen. The label image screen is displayed in response to, for example, an operation on the label print image button BT1 on the label information screen of FIG.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a display mode of the label image screen. As shown in FIG. 3, the label image screen shows the result of printing the print items on the label as an image.
In the present embodiment, each print item printed on a label is printed on a print area set for each print item in the corresponding label format. For the print area, the size and position on the label are set according to the label format. The label image screen of FIG. 3 shows an example of a label image in which the content of a predetermined print item is printed for each of the nine print areas PAR1 to PAR9.
The broken lines for the print areas PAR1 to PAR9 in the label image screen of FIG. 3 are virtual and are not displayed on the actual label image screen.

In the label image screen illustrated in FIG. 3, the print area PAR <b> 1 is an area where the name of the target product (product name) is printed. The print area PAR2 is an area where a product number, which is an identifier attached to a product, is printed.
The printing area PAR3 is an area where the additive is printed. The printing area PAR4 is an area where the expiration date is printed.
The printing area PAR5 is an area where the unit price per 100 g of the target product is printed. The print area PAR6 is an area where the content (gram) is printed. The printing area PAR7 is an area where the price is printed.
The print area PAR8 is an area where a barcode is printed. The print area PAR9 is an area where store information (store name, address, etc.) is printed.
In the following, the print areas PAR1 to PAR9 are referred to as print areas PAR when it is not necessary to distinguish them.

In this embodiment, when creating a label format, whether or not printing is performed on a label is set for each type of print item prepared in advance. The type of print item to be printed on the label varies depending on, for example, the type of product. For example, information on additives and the like is not necessary for products such as fresh foods in which no additive is added. The user selects the type of print item to be printed on the label in accordance with the characteristics of each product, and sets printing.
In creating and editing the label format, the size of the print area PAR corresponding to each set print item and the position on the label are set.

  Next, an example of label creation and editing in the present embodiment will be described. A user (store clerk) can perform an operation to instruct label editing on a predetermined operation screen displayed on the label printer 100. At this time, the user designates the product for label editing. By specifying the product, the label format associated with the specified product is read, and for example, a label editing screen corresponding to the read label format is displayed. When the label format is not associated with the product, an operation for designating the label format may be performed together with the designation of the product to be edited.

In the label editing screen, for example, a list of print items in which printing is set in the corresponding label format is shown. The user can perform an operation of selecting an arbitrary print item as an input target from a list of print items displayed on the label editing screen. When a print item to be input is selected as a print item to be input, the label printer 100 displays a character input screen.
In the case of the label format corresponding to the label image screen illustrated in FIG. 3, the print items that can be input with characters are the print areas PAR1 to PAR7 and the print area PAR9, excluding the print area PAR8 on which the barcode is printed. is there.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a character input screen displayed when the item name print item is selected. In the character input screen of FIG. 4, an input character display area AR1 and an operation image area AR2 are arranged.
The input character display area AR1 is a screen area on which a character string input by a character input operation performed on the operation image area AR2 is displayed. The character string displayed in the input character display area AR1 indicates the content printed in the product name print area PAR.
The operation image area AR2 is a screen area on which keys and buttons for operations mainly for inputting characters are displayed. In response to the user performing a character input operation on the operation image area AR2, the input character string is displayed in the input character display area AR1.

  Here, in the character input screen shown in FIG. 4, the size of the corresponding print area PAR and the like are not reflected. For this reason, for example, the user may input a character string having a font size or number of characters exceeding the size of the print area PAR without noticing that the user cannot fit in the size of the corresponding print area PAR.

In this way, when a character string having a font size or number of characters exceeding the size of the print area PAR is input, characters that do not fit within the print area PAR size are not printed in the print area PAR.
Such a mistake can be grasped, for example, at the stage where the label is actually printed or at the stage where the contents of the label after the print item input is confirmed on the label image screen of FIG. However, at the stage of printing the label or the confirmation stage on the label image screen, the character input result that has already exceeded the size of the print area PAR is already confirmed. For this reason, if a mistake is noticed at the stage of printing the label or the confirmation stage on the label image screen, the label must be edited again.

In consideration of such a situation, if it is possible to grasp at a stage of the character input operation for the print item whether or not the character input result for the print item is appropriate for the size of the print area PAR, it will be later. This is preferable because it eliminates the trouble of returning to the correction work.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the relationship between the size of the print area PAR and the character string input by the character input operation can be grasped at the stage of the character input operation for the print item as follows.

For example, when the user wants to confirm the relationship between the input character string and the size of the print area PAR under the state where the character input screen in the state shown in FIG. 4 is displayed, the character input screen An operation is performed on the label format selection button BT11 in the operation image area AR2.
In response to an operation on the label format selection button BT11, for example, a label format list screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 204. The label format list is a list image of selection candidates for the label format to be confirmed. For example, the user selects a label format to be confirmed (a label format including a print area PAR whose relationship with the input character string is to be confirmed) from the label format list screen as follows.

On the label format list screen of FIG. 5, for example, a label format list area AR11, a confirm button BT21, and a stop button BT22 are arranged.
In the label format list area AR11, label formats stored in the label printer 100 are displayed in a list format. As an example, in FIG. 5, for each list (row) of label formats, the items of label format number, label format size, and label format name are displayed from left to right.

  In the label format list area AR11 of FIG. 5, a list of eight label formats can be displayed at a time. When there are nine or more label format lists, the label format list area AR11 can be scrolled, and the user can confirm all label formats by performing a scroll operation.

The confirmation button BT21 is a button for performing an operation of confirming the selection of the label format to be confirmed performed on the label format list area AR11.
The cancel button BT22 is a button operated when deleting the label format list screen of FIG. 5 and returning to the character input screen of FIG. 4, for example.

The user selects a label format associated with the product to be edited from the label formats displayed in the label format list area AR11, and performs a touch operation on the list portion of the selected label format. FIG. 5 shows an example in which a touch operation is performed on the label format on the top row in the label format list area AR11. In response to the touch operation, the label format portion in the top row of the label format list area AR11 changes to a highlighted state as shown in the figure, for example.
When the user confirms that the highlighted label format line is the label format he / she has selected as a check target and that there is no mistake in operation, the user performs a touch operation on the confirmation button BT21.

In response to the touch operation on the confirm button BT21, the label format to be confirmed is confirmed, the label format list screen in FIG. 5 is deleted, and a character input screen in the form shown in FIG. 6 is newly displayed. The
In the character input screen of FIG. 6, the print area instruction frame FLM is newly displayed in the input character display area AR1, and the character string input by the character input operation is arranged in the print area instruction frame FLM.
The size of the print area instruction frame FLM displayed in the input character display area AR1 is in accordance with the setting contents in the label format. In addition, as a relationship between the size of the print area instruction frame FLM and the input character string (for example, the occupation state of the character string with respect to the print area instruction frame FLM), the result of printing on the label is reflected as it is.
In the example of FIG. 6, a state is shown in which the character string “Wagyu beef loin” is located in the upper left of the print area instruction frame FLM according to the font size shown. When the contents of the input character display area AR1 in FIG. 6 are confirmed, the character string “Wagyu Loin” is printed on the label in the same manner as the character string state for the print area instruction frame FLM shown in FIG. Is displayed with respect to the print area PAR in the upper left position in the same occupation state as in FIG.

In the example of FIG. 6, the character string “Wagyu beef loin” is contained in the print area instruction frame FLM. For example, a large number of character strings are input or the font size is increased beyond the size of the print area. In this case, the characters are displayed outside the print area instruction frame FLM.
By viewing such a display, the user can test whether or not the character string that he / she entered fits in the print area PAR when it is printed, for example, by performing a test print of a label, or on the label image screen of FIG. It can be confirmed in advance at the editing stage without any transition.

If the input character string protrudes from the print area instruction frame FLM, the user changes the content so that the number of characters does not protrude from the print area instruction frame FLM, or reduces the font size, for example. Can be dealt with.
Further, for example, in the example of FIG. 6, the character “Wagyu beef loin” is biased in the upper left of the print area instruction frame FLM, but if the user wants to place this in the center of the print area instruction frame FLM, the user, for example, Edits such as inserting a space or centering.
Thus, by displaying the print area instruction frame FLM together with the input character string, not only whether or not the character string fits in the size of the print area PAR but also the arrangement of the character strings in the print area PAR. Can also be confirmed.

  FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of the label printer 100. The main body 200 in the label printer 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203, a liquid crystal display unit 204, a touch panel 205, a label issuing unit 206, and a communication unit 207. Prepare.

The CPU 201 forms a computer together with the ROM 202 and the RAM 203.
The CPU 201 implements various operations as the label printer 100 by executing a program stored in the ROM 202.

  The ROM 202 stores various data used by the CPU 201 in addition to programs executed by the CPU 201. The RAM 203 is used as a work area for the CPU 201.

  The liquid crystal display unit 204 is provided in the main body unit 200 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and displays a predetermined operation image in accordance with the control of the CPU 201. As described with reference to FIG. 1, the touch panel 205 is provided on the front surface of the liquid crystal display unit 204 and outputs position information indicating a touched position in response to a touch operation. The CPU 201 processes position information output from the touch panel 205 as operation information. Thereby, in the label printer 100, an operation in response to the touch operation on the image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 204 is performed.

  The label issuing unit 206 prints the contents of the print item according to the label editing result on the label sheet, and issues the printed sheet as a label. For example, in the main body unit 200, the label issuing unit 206 includes a storage mechanism unit that stores label sheets, a printing mechanism unit that prints on label sheets, and a label discharge mechanism unit that discharges printed labels from the label discharge unit 206a. Is provided.

The communication unit 207 is a part having a connector and a communication function corresponding to a predetermined communication method.
As described above, by connecting the scale unit 300 to the communication unit 207, the scale unit 300 can communicate with the CPU 201 of the main body unit 200. In the example of FIG. 1, the communication unit 207 and the scale unit 300 are connected by the cable 101, but may be connected by wireless communication, for example.

  The scale unit 300 includes a load cell 301 that converts a load into an electrical signal, thereby measuring the weight of an object placed on the load cell 301. Then, the scale unit 300 outputs information indicating the measured weight to the CPU 201 via the communication unit 207. Using the weight information thus input, the CPU 201 can calculate the price of the product as described above and reflect it in the product data. Note that the scale unit 300 may be configured to measure the weight by means other than the load cell 301.

FIG. 8 shows a product file which is one piece of information stored in the RAM 203. The product file is information indicating the input contents of the print items for each product for which a label is to be issued.
The product file shown in FIG. 8 has a structure in which information corresponding to each print item such as a product number, product name, unit price, expiration date, additive, and the like is associated with format number information for each product.

  Each item of print item information in the product file stores contents corresponding to the print item input operation described with reference to FIGS. Of the print item information, a predetermined value indicating invalidity may be stored for a print item for which no printing is set in the corresponding label format.

  The format number information in the product file stores the format number of the label format applied to the corresponding product among the format numbers assigned to the label formats stored in the label format file of FIG.

A RAM (storage unit) 203 stores a label format. The RAM 203 stores the label format in the form of a label format file, for example.
FIG. 9 shows an example of the structure of a label format file stored in the RAM 203.
The label format file shown in FIG. 9 has a structure in which format number, setting print item, upper right fulcrum coordinate, lower left fulcrum coordinate, orientation, and font information are associated with each label format.
The format number indicates a format number that is an identifier of the corresponding label format. By associating the format number of the label format file with the format number associated with each product in the product file of FIG. 8, the information for each product in the product file is associated with the label format.

The setting print item stores a print item set to have printing in the corresponding label format.
The upper right fulcrum coordinate indicates the coordinate of the upper right fulcrum of the print area PAR of the corresponding print item in the set print item. The lower left fulcrum coordinate indicates the coordinate of the lower left fulcrum of the print area PAR of the corresponding print item in the set print item.
In the present embodiment, a case where the print area PAR is a square (square or rectangular) is taken as an example. When the printing area PAR is a square, the upper right fulcrum is the upper right vertex of the square, and the lower left fulcrum is the lower left vertex of the square. Therefore, the size and position of the print area PAR can be expressed by the upper right fulcrum coordinates and the lower left fulcrum coordinates.
For example, when the upper right fulcrum coordinate is represented by (x1, y1) and the lower left fulcrum coordinate is represented by (x2, y2), the position of the print area PAR is the upper right fulcrum coordinate (x1, y1) and the lower left fulcrum coordinate (x2, y2). ) Is determined as a rectangular area on the label. The size of the print area PAR is also determined by the absolute value of (x1-x2) in the horizontal direction and the absolute value of (y1-y2) in the vertical direction.

The direction indicates whether the direction of the character string in the print area PAR of the corresponding print item is vertical or horizontal.
The font is information about the font printed in the print area PAR of the corresponding print item, and indicates, for example, the type and size of the font.

For example, by designating a product number, the CPU 201 reads out information on a print item associated with the designated product number from the product file. Further, the CPU 201 reads from the label format file the label format indicated by the format number associated with the designated product number in the product file.
The CPU 201 generates print data by laying out the print item information read from the product file according to the read label format. The CPU 201 performs printing on the label paper using the generated print data, and issues the printed paper as a label.

The flowchart of FIG. 10 shows an example of a processing procedure executed by the label printer 100 to display the print area instruction frame FLM as described with reference to FIGS.
In displaying the print area instruction frame FLM, the CPU 201 executes functions as a selection unit and a display control unit.
The selection unit confirms from among a plurality of label format files stored in the RAM (storage unit) 203 in response to an operation for selecting a label format while the character input screen is displayed. Select the target label format. For this purpose, the selection unit displays a label format list screen as shown in FIG. 5, and selects a label format to be checked in accordance with an operation performed on the label format list screen.

  In addition, the display control unit may show the relationship between the character input by the character input operation and the size set in the print area corresponding to the print item to be edited in the label format to be checked on the character input screen. To display. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the display control unit displays the input character string in the print area instruction frame FLM in the input character display area AR1 of the character input screen.

Step S101: The CPU 201 displays a character input screen.
Step S102: While the character input screen is displayed, the selection unit of the CPU 201 waits for an operation to select a label format.

Step S103: The selection unit displays a label format list screen in response to determining that an operation for selecting a label format has been performed in step S102. For this purpose, the selection unit reads the label format file stored in the RAM 203 and generates an image of the label format list screen in which the label format stored in the label format file is arranged in the label format list area AR11. Then, the selection unit causes the liquid crystal display unit 204 to display the generated label format list screen image.
The selection unit may display the label format list screen image in such a manner that the character input screen is hidden by overlapping the image on the character input screen.

Step S104: After the label format list screen is displayed in step S103, the selection unit waits for an operation to confirm the selection of the label format on the label format list screen.
The operation of confirming the selection of the label format is a state in which one label format is selected from the list of label formats shown in the label format list area AR11 and highlighted as described with reference to FIG. Is an operation of touching the confirmation button BT21.

  Step S105: In response to the determination in step S104 that the operation for confirming the selection of the label format has been performed, the display control unit of the CPU 201 executes the following processing. That is, the display control unit sets the size of the print area PAR corresponding to the print item to be edited in the label format selected in step S104 to the upper right fulcrum coordinate associated with the print item to be edited in the label format. And based on the lower left fulcrum coordinates.

Step S106: The display control unit erases the label format list screen displayed in step S103. Thereby, the character input screen is displayed in the foreground.
Step S107: The display control unit displays the input character string in the print area instruction frame FLM in the input character display area AR1 of the character input screen. Thereby, the character input screen of the aspect shown in FIG. 6 is displayed.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the display mode of the label format list screen is different from that of the first embodiment.
FIG. 11 shows a display mode example of the label format list screen in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, in the label format list area AR11 of the label format list screen of the second embodiment, the maximum instruction image igc1 is displayed in a superimposed manner in a certain label format row. Further, in the label format list area AR11, the minimum instruction image igc2 is superimposed and displayed in the other row of the label format.

The maximum instruction image igc1 is an image displayed in the label format row having the largest size of the print area PAR corresponding to the print item to be edited among the label formats included in the label format list.
In the example of FIG. 11, the maximum instruction image igc1 is superimposed on the uppermost line indicating the label format whose format number is “000001”. That is, FIG. 11 shows that the label format having the largest print area PAR size corresponding to the print item to be edited is the label format having the format number “000001”.

Further, the minimum instruction image igc2 is an image displayed in the label format line in which the size of the print area PAR corresponding to the print item to be edited is the smallest among the label formats included in the label format list.
In the example of FIG. 11, the minimum instruction image igc2 is superimposed on the fourth line indicating the label format whose format number is “000005”. That is, FIG. 11 shows that the label format having the smallest size of the print area PAR corresponding to the print item to be edited is the label format having the format number “000005”.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the label format having the maximum size and the minimum label format of the print area PAR corresponding to the print item to be edited is clearly shown on the label format list screen.
For example, the store clerk may want to check how the character string input as the print item is displayed when the print area PAR is the maximum label format and when the character string is minimum. .
In the label format list screen of the second embodiment, the user can easily find the label format with the largest print area PAR size and the label format with the smallest print area PAR size from the label format list screen. . Then, the user can display the print area instruction frame FLM as shown in FIG. 6 by performing an operation of confirming selection of the label format having the maximum or minimum size of the print area PAR. As a result, it is possible to easily check how the character string input as the print item is displayed when the size of the print area PAR is the maximum label format or the minimum size.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of a processing procedure executed by the label printer 100 for displaying the label format list screen in the second embodiment. Note that the processing shown in this figure is processing executed by the selection unit of the CPU 201 in displaying the label format list screen as step S103 in FIG.

Step S201: When displaying the label format list screen, the selection unit of the CPU 201 selects a label format to be displayed in the label format list area AR11 from the label format file.
There is an upper limit to the number of label formats that can be displayed at one time in the label format list area AR11. When the number of label formats in the label format file exceeds the displayable number of label formats that can be displayed in the label format list area AR11, the maximum number of label formats that can be displayed in the label format list area AR11 from the label format file. It is necessary to select. Step S201 is a process for this.

Step S202: The selection unit displays a list of label formats selected in step S201 in the label format list area AR11.
Step S203: The selection unit selects a label format having the largest print area PAR corresponding to the print item to be edited from the label format file.
At this time, the selection unit compares the sizes of the label formats obtained by using the upper right fulcrum coordinates and the lower left fulcrum coordinates corresponding to the print item to be edited in the label format file. And the selection part should just select the label format with the largest size among the compared.
Step S204: The selection unit selects a label format having the smallest print area PAR corresponding to the print item to be edited from the label format file.

Step S205: The selection unit determines whether or not the label format having the maximum size of the print area PAR selected in step S203 is displayed in the label format list area AR11.
Step S206: If it is determined that the label format having the maximum size of the print area PAR is displayed in the label format list area AR11, the selection unit executes the following processing. That is, the selection unit causes the maximum instruction image igc1 to be superimposed and displayed on the line indicating the label format having the maximum size of the print area PAR in the label format list area AR11.

Step S207: Further, when it is determined in Step S205 that the label format having the maximum size of the print area PAR is not displayed in the label format list area AR11, or after the process of Step S206 is completed, the selection unit Performs the following determination.
That is, the selection unit determines whether or not the label format with the smallest size of the print area PAR selected in step S204 is displayed in the label format list area AR11.

  Step S208: If it is determined in step S207 that the label format with the smallest size of the print area PAR is displayed in the label format list area AR11, the selection unit executes the following processing. That is, the selection unit displays the minimum instruction image igc2 superimposed on the line indicating the label format with the minimum size of the print area PAR in the label format list area AR11.

  According to the processing of steps S202 to S208, the label format list screen is displayed first, and then the maximum instruction image igc1 and the minimum instruction image igc2 are displayed in a superimposed manner. The processes in steps S202 to S208 are a series of processes corresponding to the start of display of the label format list screen or the scrolling of the label format list area AR11. Therefore, it seems to the user that the maximum instruction image igc1 and the minimum instruction image igc2 are displayed and the displayed lines are changed simultaneously with the start of display of the label format list screen and scrolling of the label format list area AR11.

Step S209: After executing the processing up to step S208, the selection unit determines whether or not a scroll operation has been performed on the label format list area AR11.
When the scroll operation is performed, the selection unit returns to step S201 to select a label format to be in the label format list area AR11 according to the scroll amount.

Step S210: When it is determined in step S209 that the scroll operation is not performed, the selection unit determines whether or not the display of the label format list screen should be terminated.
The case where the display of the label format list screen should be terminated is, for example, a case where the confirmation button BT21 or the cancel button BT22 on the label format list screen is operated.
If it is determined that the display of the label format list screen should not be terminated, the selection unit returns the process to step S209.
Step S211: When it is determined in step S210 that the display of the label format list screen should be terminated, the selection unit deletes the label format list screen.

  11 and 12, the maximum instruction image igc1 and the minimum instruction image igc2 are displayed. For example, only one of the maximum instruction image igc1 and the minimum instruction image igc2 is displayed. Also good.

  Further, by recording a program for realizing the function of the label printer 100 shown in FIG. 7 on a computer-readable recording medium, and causing the computer system to read and execute the program recorded on the recording medium, The print area instruction frame FLM may be displayed. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.

Further, the “computer system” includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment) if a WWW system is used.
The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included. The program may be a program for realizing a part of the functions described above, and may be a program capable of realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail with reference to drawings, the concrete structure is not restricted to this embodiment, The design etc. of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are included. The following notes are disclosed regarding the label printer shown in the above embodiment.

(Additional item 1)
A label printer that prints the contents of print data including one or more print items on a label and issues a printed label, and stores a label format indicating a print area set corresponding to each print item When the character input screen for inputting characters to be printed in the print area corresponding to the print item to be edited is displayed, an operation for selecting the label format is performed. A selection unit that selects a label format to be confirmed from a plurality of label formats stored in the storage unit, a character input by a character input operation on the character input screen, and the confirmation There is a relationship with the size set in the print area corresponding to the print item to be edited in the target label format. Label printer and a display control unit that displays to be.

(Appendix 2)
The selection unit displays a list image of selection candidates for the label format to be checked in response to an operation for selecting a label format, and edits the label formats stored in the storage unit. The label printer according to claim 1, wherein the label format having the largest print area size corresponding to the target print item is displayed in a predetermined manner different from other label formats in the list image.

  According to the above configuration, the label format having the largest print area size corresponding to the print item to be edited is displayed so that it can be distinguished from other label formats in the list image of the selection candidates of the label format to be checked.

(Additional Item 3)
The selection unit displays a list image of selection candidates for the label format to be checked in response to an operation for selecting a label format, and edits the label formats stored in the storage unit. Item 3. The label printer according to item 1 or item 2, wherein the label format having the smallest print area size corresponding to the target print item is displayed in a predetermined manner different from other label formats in the list image.

  According to the above configuration, the label format having the smallest print area size corresponding to the print item to be edited is displayed so as to be distinguishable from other label formats in the list image of selection candidates for the label format to be checked.

100 Label Printer 200 Main Unit 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 Liquid crystal display unit 205 Touch panel 206 Label issuing unit 207 Communication unit

Claims (6)

A label printer that prints the contents of print data including one or more print items on a label and issues the printed label,
A storage unit for storing a label format indicating a print area set corresponding to each print item;
An operation for selecting a label format is performed in a state where a character input screen for inputting characters to be printed in the print area corresponding to the print item to be edited is displayed. And a selection unit that selects a label format to be confirmed from a plurality of label formats stored in the storage unit,
Display control for displaying on the character input screen such that the relationship between the character input by the character input operation and the size set in the print area corresponding to the print item to be edited in the label format to be checked is displayed. With
The display control unit is configured to check the input characters so that a result of printing on a label is reflected in an input character display area where characters input on the character input screen are displayed. A label printer that displays a print area indicating frame indicating the print area corresponding to the print item to be edited in the target label format. The display control unit
The label printer according to claim 1, wherein the input character display area and the operation image area where the character input operation is performed are displayed on the same character input screen. The selection unit displays a list image of selection candidates for the label format to be checked in response to an operation for selecting a label format, and edits the label formats stored in the storage unit. The label printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a label format having a smallest print area size corresponding to a target print item is displayed in a predetermined mode different from other label formats in the list image. The selection unit displays a list image of selection candidates for the label format to be checked in response to an operation for selecting a label format, and edits the label formats stored in the storage unit. The label printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a label format having a largest print area size corresponding to a target print item is displayed in a predetermined mode different from other label formats in the list image. . A label editing device for editing the contents of print data including one or more print items to be printed on a label,
A storage unit for storing a label format indicating a print area set corresponding to each print item;
An operation for selecting a label format is performed in a state where a character input screen for inputting characters to be printed in the print area corresponding to the print item to be edited is displayed. And a selection unit that selects a label format to be confirmed from a plurality of label formats stored in the storage unit,
Display control for displaying on the character input screen such that the relationship between the character input by the character input operation and the size set in the print area corresponding to the print item to be edited in the label format to be checked is displayed. With
The display control unit is configured to check the input characters so that a result of printing on a label is reflected in an input character display area where characters input on the character input screen are displayed. A label editing device that displays a print area indicating frame indicating a print area corresponding to a print item to be edited in the target label format. A computer as a label editing device for editing the contents of print data including one or more print items to be printed on a label.
The print area set for each print item in the state where the character input screen for performing the character input operation for inputting the character to be printed is displayed in the print area corresponding to the print item to be edited A selection unit that selects a label format to be confirmed from among a plurality of label formats stored in a storage unit that stores the label format in response to an operation for selecting a label format indicating
Display control for displaying on the character input screen such that the relationship between the character input by the character input operation and the size set in the print area corresponding to the print item to be edited in the label format to be checked is displayed. A program that functions as a part,
The display control unit is configured to check the input characters so that a result of printing on a label is reflected in an input character display area where characters input on the character input screen are displayed. A program that displays a print area indicating frame indicating the print area corresponding to the print item to be edited in the target label format.

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