JP2021036385A - Program and information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a program which can automatically change the setting of an information processing device so as to be the same as the printing mode on a printer side.SOLUTION: An image generation program 29 causes a computer to execute processing (S12) of acquiring object data being the printing object and processing (S13) of acquiring mode information transmitted from the specified printer. An object printer 200 can execute printing in any of the first mode and the second mode that are different from each other. The mode information indicates whether or not the printing mode that can be executed by the object printer 200 is only the second mode. The image generation program 29 causes the computer to execute processing (S19) of converting the object data to data on the basis of the second mode when the mode information indicates the second mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present disclosure relates to a program for generating image data used for printing executed in any of a plurality of different modes in a printing device, and an information processing device.

Generally, the printer driver instructs the printer to print by one of a plurality of printing methods according to the setting of the printer driver (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The plurality of types of printing include color printing, monochrome printing, draft printing and the like.

JP-A-2010-61691

The printer may be set to a print mode such as a temporary single color mode or a draft print mode for the convenience of the printer. Therefore, the print setting by the printer driver may be different from the print mode set by the printer.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a program and an information processing apparatus capable of automatically changing its own settings so as to be the same as the print mode on the printer side.

Various disclosures are made herein. The program which is an example of the disclosure example is a program executed by the computer of the information processing apparatus. The program performs a data acquisition process for acquiring target data to be printed and a mode acquisition process for specifying a printing device that executes printing and acquiring mode information transmitted from the specified printing device. To execute. The printing device can execute printing in either a different first mode or a second mode, and the mode information indicates whether or not the specified printing device can execute the printing mode only in the second mode. Is shown. The program has a mode determination process for determining whether or not the mode information indicates the second mode, and when the mode information indicates the second mode, the target data is converted into data based on the second mode. The computer is made to execute the conversion process for conversion and the output process for outputting the converted data for printing on the printing apparatus.

According to the present disclosure example, the print setting in the program or the information processing apparatus can be automatically changed so as to be the same as the print mode on the printer side.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information processing apparatus 100 and each printer 200. (A) is a flowchart showing the mode storage process of each printer 200, (B) is a schematic diagram showing the first screen 41, and (C) is a schematic diagram showing the preview screen 42A. It is a flowchart which shows the first half part of the image generation processing in the information processing apparatus 100. (A) is a flowchart showing the latter half of the image generation processing in the information processing apparatus 100, and (B) is a flowchart showing the detailed processing procedure of S26 of FIG. 4 (A). It is a schematic diagram showing various screens, (A) and (B) show edit screens 43A and 43B, respectively, and (C) and (D) show preview screens 42B and 42C, respectively.

Among the printing devices, there are printing devices capable of performing "temporary single color printing" and "draft printing". This type of printing device may, for example, only print in "temporary single color printing" when the user wants the printing device to perform "color printing". However, in the conventional printer driver processing, the user cannot recognize that the printing device cannot perform "color printing". As a result, for example, the printing device may execute "temporary single color printing" even though the user wants the printing device to execute "color printing". It is also possible that when the user wants to print in the "normal mode", the printing device can only print in the "draft mode" because the ink is low. In this case as well, the user cannot recognize that the printing device cannot perform "color printing" in the processing of the conventional printer driver.

In view of the above points, a program capable of recognizing that the printing method of the printing device is restricted and an information processing device are disclosed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. The embodiments described below are merely examples of the present disclosure, and the embodiments of the present disclosure may be appropriately modified without changing the gist of the present disclosure. For example, the execution order of each process described later can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present disclosure. Alternatively, a part of the processing described later can be omitted as appropriate without changing the gist of the present disclosure.

In FIG. 1, each of the information processing apparatus 100 and the plurality of printers 200 is connected to the communication network 300. The communication network 300 is a wired LAN, but may be a wired network other than the wired LAN. Further, the communication network 300 may be a wireless network or a combination of a wired network and a wireless network. The information processing device 100 creates data (hereinafter, referred to as print data) indicating an image to be printed on a sheet by each printer 200. The print data is transmitted from the information processing device 100 to the printer 200 through the communication network 300. The printer 200 is an example of a printing device, and prints an image based on the received print data on a sheet. The sheet is an example of a printed material. Coloring materials such as ink are transferred and fixed on the sheet by printing. Hereinafter, the configurations of the information processing apparatus 100 and each printer 200 will be described.

The information processing device 100 is a personal computer. The information processing device 100 may be a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or the like. The information processing device 100 includes a CPU 11, a memory 12, a communication I / F 13, a user I / F (abbreviation of interface) 14, and a display 15 connected to each other via a communication bus 16. The CPU 11 is an example of a computer.

The CPU 11 reads and executes various programs stored in the memory 12.

The memory 12 is a storage medium such as a ROM, RAM, or EEPROM, and a buffer included in the CPU 11. The memory 12 is a computer-readable storage medium. Specifically, the storage medium is also a non-transitory and tangible medium. An electric signal propagated on a transmission line such as the Internet is a kind of storage medium that can be read by a computer, but it is not a non-temporary and tangible storage medium.

The memory 12 has a program storage area 12A and a data storage area 12B. The program storage area 12A stores various programs, and the data storage area 12B stores various information or various data used by various programs. The various programs include at least an OS 28 and an image generation program 29. The various programs may include other application programs and printer drivers.

OS28 is a basic program of the information processing apparatus 100. The image generation program 29 inputs / outputs various information and various data to / from the OS 28. The image generation program 29 is an example of a program, and may be a single program or a collection of a plurality of program modules.

The image generation program 29 creates print data in response to an operation by the user through the user I / F14. The image generation program 29 outputs the created print data to the OS 28. The OS 28 outputs the input print data to the communication network 300 through the communication I / F 13. In addition, the image generation program 29 creates or acquires display data indicating the screen to be displayed on the display 15, and outputs the created or acquired display data to the OS 28. The OS 28 causes the display 15 to display the screen indicated by the input display data. More detailed processing of the image generation program 29 will be described later.

The communication I / F 13 is a communication I / F for a wired LAN. The communication I / F 13 sends various information or various data output by the OS 28 to the communication network 300. Further, the communication I / F 13 receives various information or various data transmitted by the printer 200 through the communication network 300, and outputs the received various information or various data to the OS 28.

The user I / F 14 is an input device operated by the user. User I / F14 includes a mouse and the like. The mouse outputs information indicating the position on the display surface of the display 15 designated by the user to the CPU 11. The user I / F14 may include a known input device (for example, a pen-type input device) in addition to the mouse.

The display 15 is a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays various screens indicated by display data received through the OS 28 on the display surface. Various screens include objects such as character strings, images, icons, and text boxes. User operations include operations that specify these objects with the mouse. The CPU 11 identifies an object specified by a user operation on various screens based on the received information from the user I / F 14, and executes a process related to the object.

Each printer 200 is a color printer and includes a CPU 21 connected to each other by a communication bus 26, a memory 22, a communication I / F 23, and a printing engine 24. Since the CPU 21, the memory 22, and the communication I / F 23 are functionally the same as or similar to the CPU 11, the memory 12, and the communication I / F 13, their respective description will be omitted.

The memory 22 has a program storage area 22A and a data storage area 22B. The program storage area 22A stores various programs. The various programs include an OS 221 and a control program 222. OS221 is a basic program of the printer 200. The control program 222 is a program for controlling the print engine 24.

The data storage area 22B stores various information or various data used by various programs. Various types of information include identification information. The identification information is information for identifying the printer 200 in the communication network 300, and is a MAC address or a private IP address. The data storage area 22B of each printer 200 does not have to store the identification information of the other printer 200.

The printing engine 24 includes an ink tank or an ink cartridge (hereinafter, referred to as “ink tank or the like”). Ink tanks and the like store inks of a plurality of colors. The plurality of colors includes chromatic colors and achromatic colors. The chromatic color is, for example, Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C (cyan), and the achromatic color is K (black). The printing engine 24 conveys the sheet and receives the supply of ink stored in the ink tank or the like. The printing engine 24 ejects ink onto the sheet being conveyed based on the printing data, thereby printing an image based on the printing data on the sheet by an inkjet method. The print engine 24 discharges the printed sheet to the outside of the printer 200.

The printing engine 24 may print an image on the object to be printed by an electrophotographic method, a thermal transfer method, or a laser marker method instead of the inkjet method. In the case of the electrophotographic method, the coloring material is toner. In the case of the thermal transfer method, the coloring material is a coloring material applied to the sheet, an ink ribbon, or the like. In the laser marker method, a laser is applied to a specific portion of the surface of the object to be printed to print an image. Specifically, due to light scattering, the user recognizes that a particular part and the other part are different colors. In the laser marker method, the surface of the object to be printed may contain a coloring material that changes color due to laser irradiation.

The printing engine 24 may print an image on the object to be printed by processing the color-developing structure of the object to be printed. Further, the printer 200 may be an embroidery sewing machine or a full-color 3D printer. The embroidery machine forms an image on a cloth or the like with embroidery threads of a plurality of colors. In this case, the embroidery thread is an example of a coloring material, and cloth or the like is an example of an object to be printed. A full-color 3D printer forms a printed object having a three-dimensional shape, and forms an image on the surface of the printed object with a coloring material such as ink.

The printing engine 24 can print by various printing methods. Each printing method is also referred to as a printing mode. In this embodiment, the printing engine 24 can perform printing in different first and second modes. In the first mode and the second mode, the printing engine 24 can print an image on a sheet by n kinds and m kinds of printing methods. n is a natural number of 2 or more, and m is a natural number of less than n. In the second mode, the types of printing methods are limited as compared with the first mode. Specifically, when the printing methods supported by the printer 200 are all p types, m <p can be set with n = p. Alternatively, 2 <n ≦ p and n = 1.

In this embodiment, the printing method includes a plurality of color modes and a single color mode. Multi-color modes include full-color print modes. In the full-color printing mode, full-color printing using all four colors of ink is executed. The monochromatic mode includes a monochrome printing mode. Further, the monochrome printing mode includes a so-called black-only printing mode. In the monochrome printing mode, monochrome printing using only black ink is executed. In the black-only printing mode, monochrome printing (hereinafter, also referred to as "temporary black-only printing") is executed only for a predetermined period (30 days or 60 days) when the black ink ink tank is empty or close to empty. In this case, the n types of printing methods are monochrome printing and full-color printing. The m-type printing method is monochrome printing.

The multi-color mode may include a two-color print mode in addition to the full-color print mode. In the two-color printing mode, color printing using two colors of ink is executed. Further, the monochromatic mode may include a monocolor printing mode. Even in monocolor printing, color printing using one color ink other than black ink is executed. In addition, the printing method may include a draft printing mode and a normal printing mode. The draft print mode is also referred to as a high-speed print mode. In the draft print mode, printing is performed in which the amount of ink is smaller than in the normal print mode.

In the present specification, the processing of the CPU according to the instruction described in the program will be described. That is, the processes such as "judgment", "extraction", "selection", "calculation", "decision", "specification", "acquisition", "acceptance", "control", and "setting" in the following description are It represents the processing of the CPU. The processing by the CPU also includes hardware control via a controller such as an OS. Note that "acquisition" is used in a concept that does not require a request. That is, the process of receiving data without the CPU requesting is also included in the concept of "the CPU acquires the data". Further, the "data" in the present specification is represented by a bit string that can be read by a computer. Then, data having the same substantial meaning and contents but different formats are treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in the present specification. Processing of "command", "response", "request" and the like is performed by communicating information indicating "command", "response", "request" and the like. In addition, words such as "command", "response", and "request" may be used to mean the information itself indicating "command", "response", "request", and the like.

In addition, the processing of the CPU according to the instruction described in the program may be described in abbreviated wording. For example, it may be described as "performed by the CPU 11", "performed by the image generation program 29", or "performed by the information processing apparatus 100". The same applies to the CPU 21 and the like. Further, it may be described in abbreviated terms that the program inputs / outputs information through the communication I / F and the user I / F. For example, it may be described as "received by the CPU 11", "transmitted by the image generation program 29", or "acquired by the information processing apparatus 100".

Further, the process of determining whether or not the information A indicates that the information A is the matter B by the CPU is conceptually described as "determining whether or not the information A is the matter B from the information A". There is. The process of determining whether the information A indicates that the information A is the matter B or the matter C by the CPU is "determining from the information A whether the information A is the matter B or the matter C". It may be described conceptually as.

Further, "data" and "information" in the present specification are common in that they are bits or bit strings that can be handled by a computer. "Data" refers to data that can be handled without the computer considering the meaning and content of each bit. On the other hand, "information" refers to information in which the operation of a computer branches depending on the meaning of each bit. Further, the "instruction" is a control signal for prompting the destination device to perform the next operation, may include information, and has the property of information itself. There is also.

Further, "data" and "information" are the same data and information as long as they are recognized as having the same meaning even if the format (for example, text format, binary format, flag format, etc.) is changed for each computer. Treated as. For example, information indicating "two" is retained as text format information "0x32" in ASCII code on one computer, and as binary format information "10" in binary notation on another computer. May be done.

However, the above distinction between "data" and "information" is not strict, and exceptional handling is permitted. For example, the data may be temporarily treated as information, or the information may be temporarily treated as data. Further, what is treated as data in one device may be treated as information in another device. Furthermore, information may be extracted from the data, or data may be extracted from the information.

In addition, "according to" in the present specification indicates that the processing described after the character string is executed when the conditions described before the character string are satisfied. The timing at which the processing is executed may be after the condition is satisfied, and does not necessarily have to be immediately after the condition is satisfied.

Next, the mode storage process will be described with reference to FIG. 2 (A). The mode storage process is periodically executed by the control program 222 after the printer 200 is started.

In FIG. 2A, the control program 222 detects the ink remaining amount of each color (S1). Next, the control program 222 determines whether or not the remaining amount of ink of any of the chromatic colors is equal to or less than the first reference amount (S2). The first reference amount is an amount of ink indicating that the chromatic ink tank is empty or close to empty. The control program 222 executes S3 when it is not less than or equal to the first reference amount (No in S2), and executes S5 when it is not less than or equal to the first reference amount (No in S2).

In S3, the control program 222 determines whether or not the remaining amount of achromatic (black) ink is equal to or less than the second reference amount. The second reference amount is an amount of ink indicating that the achromatic ink tank is empty or close to empty. The control program 222 executes S4 when it is not less than or equal to the second reference amount (No in S3), and executes S7 when it is not less than or equal to the second reference amount (Yes in S3).

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the data storage area 22B stores the mode information. The mode information is at least one of the first mode information and the third mode information. The first mode information and the second mode information indicate that the printing engine 24 can print by n types and m types of printing methods, respectively. Specifically, the first mode information indicates that printing can be performed in both full-color printing and monochrome printing. The second mode information indicates that printing can be executed only in monochrome printing. The third mode information indicates that the print engine 24 cannot print. When the mode information indicates the second mode information, it indicates that the print mode that can be executed by the print engine 24 is only the second mode.

In S4 of FIG. 2A, the control program 222 updates the mode information in the data storage area 12B to the first mode information.

In S5, the control program 222 executes the same process as in S3, and if it is not equal to or less than the second reference amount (No in S5), the mode information is updated to the second mode information (S6). On the other hand, when it is equal to or less than the second reference amount (Yes in S5), the control program 222 updates the mode information to the third mode information (S7).

Next, the image generation process by the image generation program 29 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. The processes of FIGS. 3 and 4 are started by invoking the image generation program 29. There are two ways to start the image generation program 29. The first is a method in which the OS 28 starts the image generation program 29 in response to the user designating a start icon (not shown) included in the desktop screen (not shown) displayed on the display 15. The second is a method of using the shared function of the OS 28. Specifically, the program storage area 12A stores another program different from the image generation program 29 in addition to the image generation program 29. The OS 28 can start the image generation program 29 specified by the user operation by the sharing function, and output the data generated by another program and specified by the user operation to the image generation program 29 as shared data.

In FIG. 3, the image generation program 29 determines whether or not the shared data has been received after the start (S11). When the image generation program 29 receives the shared data (Yes in S11), S12 is executed, and when the shared data is not received (No in S11), S11A is executed.

In S12, the image generation program 29 stores the received shared data in the data storage area 12B as data to be image generation processed (hereinafter, also referred to as “target data”). S12 is an example of data acquisition processing. The target data is an example of an electronic file.

In S11A, the image generation program 29 causes the file selection screen (not shown) to be displayed on the display 15. The file selection screen contains multiple file icons. Each file icon corresponds to an electronic file stored in the data storage area 12B and includes information (that is, a path name) indicating a storage area of the corresponding electronic file. Further, in S11A, the image generation program 29 accepts a user operation. After that, the image generation program 29 stores the electronic file corresponding to the file icon specified by the user operation as the target data in S12.

Next to S12, the image generation program 29 executes the mode acquisition process (S13). The image generation program 29 displays a printer selection screen (not shown) including identification information of a plurality of printers 200 on the display 15 at a timing (not shown), accepts a user operation, and displays the printer 200 selected by the user operation. , The target printer 200 is specified. In the mode acquisition process, the image generation program 29 transmits a transmission instruction including the identification information of the target printer 200 as a destination to the communication network 300 through the OS 28. The transmission instruction is a command instructing the target printer 200 to transmit mode information. The image generation program 29 acquires the mode information transmitted by the target printer 200 in response to the transmission instruction through the OS 28.

In the mode acquisition process, in addition to the above, mode information may be acquired as follows. That is, the image generation program 29 transmits a transmission instruction to each printer 200 through the OS 28 before the execution of S13, that is, immediately after the startup or periodically. As a result, the image generation program 29 acquires the mode information of each printer 200, associates the acquired mode information with the identification information of the printer 200, and stores the acquired mode information in the data storage area 12B. The image generation program 29 reads the mode information of the target printer 200 selected on the printer selection screen in S13 from the data storage area 12B through the OS 28.

Next to S13, the image generation program 29 determines which of the first mode information and the third mode information is the mode information acquired in S13 (S14). In the case of the third mode information, the image generation program 29 causes the display 15 to display the same printer selection screen (not shown) as described above. As a result, the user can select another printer 200 as the target printer 200 by user operation. In response to this user operation, the image generation program 29 executes S13. In S14, S15 is executed when it is the first mode information, and S18 is executed when it is the second mode information. Note that S14 is an example of the mode determination process.

By the way, the image generation program 29 causes the display 15 to display the print condition setting screen for each printer 200 at a timing (not shown) in response to a user operation. The print condition setting screen includes an object for specifying a color setting (UI) and a sheet size. The color setting (UI) is one of "color printing", "monochrome printing", and "automatic discrimination". The "automatic determination" means that the image generation program 29 automatically determines whether to set the full-color print mode or the monochrome print mode. The sheet size includes A4, B4, A3 and the like. When the image indicated by the target data is printed by the target printer 200, the user specifies the color setting (UI) and the sheet size by the user I / F 14 on the print condition setting screen. The image generation program 29 stores the color setting (UI), the sheet size, and the like according to the user operation in the data storage area 12B.

Further, the image generation program 29 stores the color setting (internal) in the data storage area 12B. The color setting (internal) differs from the color setting (UI) in that it is not specified by the print condition setting screen. The color setting (internal) is information set by the image generation program 29 according to the determination result in each determination step included in the image generation process. In detail, the color setting (internal) indicates one of "color printing mode", "monochrome printing mode", "automatic discrimination mode", and "temporary black only printing mode". The color setting (internal) is an example of mode setting information.

In S15, in the image generation program 29, the color setting (internal) in the data storage area 12B is any of "color print mode", "monochrome print mode", "automatic discrimination mode", and "temporary black only print mode". To judge. In FIG. 3, for convenience, the "color printing mode", "monochrome printing mode", "automatic discrimination mode", and "temporary black only printing mode" of the color setting (internal) are "color printing" and "monochrome printing". , "Automatic discrimination" and "Print only temporary black", respectively. At the time of executing S15, the color setting (internal) set in the previous image generation process is stored in the data storage area 12B. S16 is executed when the "temporary black only print mode" is executed, S17 is executed when the "color print mode" or the "automatic discrimination mode" is set, and S19 is executed when the "monochrome print mode" is set. Is executed.

In S16, the image generation program 29 updates the color setting (internal) to the "color print mode" and executes S17.

In S17, the image generation program 29 converts the target data into color printing data. The color printing data is data in which the image indicated by the target data is represented by a plurality of colors and is used for printing by the target printer 200. The color printing data is an example of a plurality of color data for printing, and S17 is an example of a plurality of color conversion processing. Further, in S17, the image generation program 29 updates the execution flag information stored in the data storage area 12B to the first status value indicating that S17 has been executed, and executes S26 in FIG. 4A.

In S18, the image generation program 29 determines whether the data type is text data or photographic data. Specifically, the image generation program 29 can determine that the target data is text data when the body of the target data includes a character code. In addition, the image generation program 29 can determine that the target data is text data when the attribute information (metadata) added to the target data indicates "text". The attribute information is, for example, an extension indicating the type of target data. In this case, since the image generation program 29 only needs to confirm the extension, the processing load of S18 is reduced. When the attribute information does not indicate "text" or when the body does not include the character code, it can be determined that the target data is photographic data. If it is determined in S18 that it is text data, S19 is executed, and if it is determined that it is photographic data, S20 is executed.

In S18, in addition to the above, it is possible to determine whether the data type is text data or photographic data by any of the following methods (a) to (c).

The method (a) will be described. For example, the user may be aware of the data type of the target data. Therefore, the image generation program 29 executes the object display process before executing S18. In the object display process, the image generation program 29 causes the display 15 to display a designated object that can specify either the first data including the character code or the second data including a non-character code. In S18, when the image generation program 29 receives the user operation for designating the designated object of the first data through the user I / F14, the image generation program 29 may determine that the target data is text data including the character code.

The method (b) will be described. For example, the image generation program 29 executes character recognition processing (OCR: Optical Character Recognition) on the target data, and when the target data includes text as a result, it can be determined that the data type is text data. The character recognition process is an example of an analysis process. The character recognition process improves the accuracy of data type judgment.

The method (c) will be described. In S11A, the image generation program 29 first displays on the display 15 a data format selection screen (not shown) in which it is possible to specify by user operation whether to print the document data or the photographic data. When the document data is specified by the user operation, the image generation program 29 stores in the data storage area 12B a data format flag indicating that the document data has been specified by the third status value. After that, the image generation program 29 causes the display 15 to display a document file selection screen (not shown) on which various document files that are candidates for the target data can be specified by user operation. The document file is a Word file, a PDF file, a text file, mail data, Web page data, or the like. Further, the image generation program 29 sets a data format flag in the data storage area 12B indicating that the photo data has been specified by the fourth status value when the photo data is specified by the user operation after the data format selection screen is displayed. Remember. After that, the image generation program 29 causes the display 15 to display a photo file selection screen (not shown) on which various photo files that are candidates for the target data can be specified by user operation. Photo files are JPG files, GIF files, PNG files, BMP files, and the like. In S12, the image generation program 29 stores the document file specified on the document file selection screen or the photo data specified on the photo file selection screen as target data. Further, in S18, when the image generation program 29 determines that the data format flag stored in S11A indicates the third status value and the fourth status value, it determines that the data types are text data and photo data, respectively. ..

In S19, the image generation program 29 converts the target data into monochrome printing data. The monochrome printing data is data in which the image indicated by the target data is represented by a single color and is used for printing by the target printer 200. The monochrome print data is an example of the data that has been converted or the single color data for printing, and S19 is an example of the single color conversion process. In S19, the image generation program 29 further updates the execution flag information stored in the data storage area 12B to a second status value indicating that S19 has been executed, and executes S26 in FIG. 4A. ..

In S20, the image generation program 29 determines whether the color setting (internal) stored in the data storage area 12B is the "color print mode", the "monochrome print mode", or the "automatic discrimination mode". .. In the case of the "color print mode", S21 is executed, and in the case of the "monochrome print mode" or the "automatic determination mode", S19 is executed. Note that S20 is an example of the setting determination process.

In S21, the image generation program 29 causes the display 15 to display the first screen 41 including the first object 411 to the fifth object 415, as shown in FIG. 2 (B). The first object 411 indicates in characters that the target printer 200 cannot currently perform color printing, and indicates in characters whether the target printer 200 may execute "print only black". In the example of FIG. 2B, the first object 411 is "Currently, color printing is not possible. Is it okay to print only black?". The second object 412 to the fifth object 415 are objects that can be specified by the user I / F14. The second object 412 and the third object 413 allow the execution of "print only temporary black" ("yes" in FIG. 2B) and do not allow it ("no" in FIG. 2B). Each is indicated by a letter. The fourth object 414 indicates in characters that the execution of automatic discrimination is permitted in the future (“this time automatic discrimination” in FIG. 2 (B)). The fifth object 415 indicates in characters that the execution of monochrome printing is always allowed in the future (“this time, always monochrome printing” in FIG. 2 (B)). Further, in S21, the image generation program 29 accepts a user operation.

Next, the image generation program 29 determines which of the second object 412 to the fifth object 415 is designated by the user operation in S22A and S22B of FIG. When the second object 412, the third object 413, the fourth object 414, and the fifth object 415 are specified, S23, S24, S25A, and S25B are executed, respectively. The designation of the second object 412 to the fifth object 415 by the user operation is an example of the setting operation.

In S23, S25A, and S25B, the image generation program 29 updates the color setting (internal) to "temporary black only print mode", "automatic discrimination mode", and "monochrome print mode", respectively. After S23, S25A, S25B, S19 is executed.

In S24, the image generation program 29 updates the color setting (internal) to "color printing" and stores invalid information in the data storage area 12B. The invalid information is information indicating that the print button 423 included in the preview screen 42A (see FIG. 2C) displayed in S26 (see FIG. 4A) is invalidated. S24 is executed when the target printer 200 can print only in black, but the user does not allow the execution of printing in black only. In this case, invalid information is stored so that printing by the target printer 200 is not executed. After the end of S24, S17 is executed.

In S26 of FIG. 4A, the image generation program 29 accepts a user operation after generating the preview screen. Hereinafter, the process of S26 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 (B).

In S51 of FIG. 4B, the image generation program 29 determines whether or not the color setting (internal) is "print only temporary black". If it is "temporary black only", S52 is executed, and if it is not "temporary black only", S57 is executed.

In S52, the image generation program 29 converts the monochrome printing data generated in S19 into color display data and monochrome display data. Both the color display data and the monochrome display data are data having a format that can be displayed on the display 15. The color display data represents the image indicated by the monochrome print data in four colors of YMCK, and the monochrome display data represents the image indicated by the monochrome print data in a single black color. S52 is an example of a plurality of image generation processes.

Next, in S53, the image generation program 29 determines whether or not invalid information is stored in the data storage area 12B. If the invalid information is not stored, S54 is executed, and if the invalid information is stored, S56 is executed.

In S54, the image generation program 29 causes the preview screen 42A shown in FIG. 2C to be displayed on the display 15. S54 is an example of the preview display process. The preview screen 42A includes objects 421A and 421B, an edit button 422, a print button 423, and a printer change button 424. The objects 421A and 421B are images indicated by the monochrome display data and the color display data generated in S52. Since the preview screen 42A includes the objects 421A and 421B, the user can easily compare the two. The edit button 422, the print button 423, and the printer change button 424 are objects that can be specified by the user I / F14. The edit button 422 is designated when the user wants to edit the image indicated by the object 421A. The print button 423 is designated when the target printer 200 wants to print the image indicated by the object 421A. Further, the print button 423 has a first color. The first color is a color that the user can understand that the print button 423 can be specified. When the color (that is, the second color) of the print button 423A described later is gray, the first color has a color different from gray. The printer change button 424 is specified when it is desired to change the target printer 200 to another printer 200.

Next, in S55 of FIG. 4B, the image generation program 29 accepts user operations of the edit button 422, the print button 423, 423A, and the printer change button 424. After the execution of S55, S27 of FIG. 4A is executed.

Further, in S56, the image generation program 29 causes the preview screen 42C shown in FIG. 5D to be displayed on the display 15. S56 is another example of the preview display process. The preview screen 42C is different from the preview screen 42A (see FIG. 2C) in that the print button 423 replaces the print button 423A, and is the same as the preview screen 42A in the remaining portion. The print button 423A is an object indicating that the function of the print button 423 is disabled, and has a second color. The second color is a color that the user can understand that the print button 423 is not in a state where it can be specified, and is, for example, gray. When the print button 423A is gray, the user can recall that the third object 413 was specified when the first screen 41 (see FIG. 2B) was displayed. Further, since the image generation program 29 ignores the user-operated designation of the print button 423A (see S36 in FIG. 4A), it prevents printing that the user does not want (that is, printing of the image indicated by the object 421A). it can. After S56, S55 is executed.

In S57, the image generation program 29 converts the color printing data generated in S17 into color display data. In S57, the image generation program 29 causes the preview screen 42B shown in FIG. 5C to be displayed on the display 15. The preview screen 42B is different from the preview screen 42A in that the object 421A is not included, and is the same as the preview screen 42A in the remaining portion. After S57, S55 is executed.

In S27 of FIG. 4A, the image generation program 29 determines whether or not the edit button 422 is specified by the user operation. If the edit button 422 is not specified, S35 is executed, and if the edit button 422 is specified, S28 is executed.

In S28, the image generation program 29 determines whether or not the execution flag information has the second status value. In the case of the second status value, S29 is executed, and if it is not the second status value, that is, if it is the first status value, S32 is executed.

In S29, the image generation program 29 displays the edit screen 43A on the display 15 as shown in FIG. 5A, and then accepts the user operation. The edit screen 43A is the same as the preview screen 42A in that it includes the object 421A, and is different from the preview screen 42A in the remaining portion. Specifically, the edit screen 43A further includes icons 431A to 434A that can be specified by the user I / F14, and an edit end button 435A. The icons 431A and 432A are designated when the user wants to lay out an object showing text and a figure on the object 421A, respectively. The icons 433A and 434A are designated when the user wants to add a favorite color to the object showing the text and the figure on the object 421A. The edit end button 435A is designated by the user I / F 14 when the image editing is completed. S29 is an example of screen display processing. By using the object 421A as monochrome display data, the user can recognize that the target printer 200 is limited to the monochrome print mode only. In other words, the user can recognize that the target printer 200 cannot perform color printing.

After displaying the edit screen 43A, the image generation program 29 accepts the designation of the icons 431A to 434A by the user operation and lays out the object showing the text or the figure on the object 421A. In particular, the image generation program 29 causes the display 15 to display color palettes 436A and 437A for changing the colors of characters and figures, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5A, in response to the designation of the icons 433A and 434A. .. Each of the color palettes 436A and 437A is an image object capable of selecting a hue that can be expressed in black (that is, white, black, or an intermediate color thereof), and includes a plurality of hue objects corresponding to each hue. The image generation program 29 changes the colors of characters and figures according to the designation of the hue objects included in the color palettes 436A and 437A by the user operation. With the color palettes 436A and 437A, the user can recognize that only hues that can be expressed in black can be selected.

Next to S29 in FIG. 4A, the image generation program 29 determines whether or not the user operation is the designation of the edit end button 435A (S30). When the edit end button 435A is not specified (No in S30), the image generation program 29 user-operates the monochrome print data generated in S19 and the object 421A included in the edit screen 43A displayed on the display 15. It is updated according to (S31). After that, S30 is executed again. On the other hand, when the edit end button 435A is specified (Yes in S30), S26 is re-executed. As a result, in S26, the preview screen 42A is generated based on the monochrome printing data updated in S31. Note that S31 is an example of the change process. Further, S26 is an example of the preview display process.

In S32, the image generation program 29 displays the edit screen 43B on the display 15 as shown in FIG. 5B, and then accepts the user operation. S32 is another example of the screen display process. The edit screen 43B is the same as the preview screen 42B in that it includes the object 421B, and is different from the preview screen 42B in the remaining portion. Specifically, the edit screen 43B further includes icons 431B to 434B that can be specified by the user I / F14 and an edit end button 435B. The icons 431B to 434B and the edit end button 435B are functionally the same as the icons 431A to 434A and the edit end button 435A.

The image generation program 29 causes the color palettes 436B and 437B to be displayed on the display 15 as shown in FIG. 5B, respectively, according to the designation of the icons 433B and 434B. Each of the color palettes 436B and 437B is an image object in which a hue that can be expressed by three colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) can be selected, and a plurality of hue objects corresponding to each hue can be selected. Including. The image generation program 29 changes the colors of characters and figures according to the designation of the hue objects included in the color palettes 436B and 437B by the user operation.

Next to S32 in FIG. 4A, the image generation program 29 determines whether or not the user operation is the designation of the edit end button 435B (S33). When the edit end button 435B is not specified (No in S33), the image generation program 29 user-operates the color print data generated in S17 and the object 421B included in the edit screen 43B displayed on the display 15. It is updated according to (S34). After that, S33 is executed. On the other hand, when the edit end button 435B is specified (Yes in S33), S26 is re-executed. As a result, in S26, the preview screen 42B is generated based on the color printing data updated in S34.

In S35, the image generation program 29 determines whether or not the print button 423 or the print button 423A (see FIG. 5D) has been designated by the user operation. If the print buttons 423 and 423A are not specified, S38 is executed, and if the print buttons 423 and 423A are specified, S36 is executed.

In S36, the image generation program 29 determines whether or not the preview screen 42C (see FIG. 5D) is displayed on the display 15. When the preview screen 42C is displayed, the image generation program 29 considers that the print button 423A has been designated, but ignores the designation of the print button 423A and ends the processes of FIGS. 3 and 4. On the other hand, when the preview screen 42C is displayed, the image generation program 29 assumes that the print button 423 of the preview screens 42A and 42B has been specified, and executes S37.

In S37, the image generation program 29 sends the identification information of the target printer 200 and the color printing data or monochrome printing stored in the data storage area 12B in order to transmit the print command from the information processing device 100 to the target printer 200. Data is output to OS28. S37 is an example of output processing. The OS 28 sends a print command including identification information and color print data or monochrome print data to the communication network 300 through the communication I / F 13. In the target printer 200, the OS 221 outputs the received print command to the control program 222 in response to receiving the print command through the communication I / F23. The print engine 24 prints an image on a sheet according to the color print data or the monochrome print data included in the print command.

The image generation program 29 does not have to execute S56 in FIG. 4 (B). That is, only the preview screens 42A and 42B are displayed on the display 15 in the process of FIG. 4B. In this case, in S36, the image generation program 29 determines whether or not invalid information is stored in the data storage area 12B. When the invalid information is stored, the image generation program 29 ignores the designation of the print button 423 by the user operation and ends the processes of FIGS. 3 and 4. On the other hand, when the invalid information is stored, the image generation program 29 executes S37.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the image generation program 29 transmits the print data to the target printer 200 through the OS 28. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image generation program 29 itself may send print data from the communication I / F 13 to the communication network 300.

Further, in the present embodiment, the image generation program 29 generates print data. However, not limited to this, the image generation program 29 generates display data based on the target data and outputs the generated display image data to another program such as a printer driver. Other programs convert the input display image data into print image data. In this case, another program may send the image data for printing from the communication I / F 13 to the communication network 300 by itself or via the OS 28. In addition, the image generation program 29 generates display data based on the target data, and transmits the generated display image data to a server device on the Internet (not shown). The server device may convert the input display image data into print image data, and then transmit the print image data to the target printer 200.

In S38, the image generation program 29 determines whether or not the printer change button 424 is specified by the user operation. If the printer change button 424 is not specified, S35 is executed, and if the printer change button 424 is specified, the image generation program 29 displays the same printer selection screen (not shown) on the display 15. As a result, the image generation program 29 executes S13 in response to a user operation of selecting another printer 200 as the target printer 200. When the new target printer 200 transmits the first mode information, the preview screen 42B (see FIG. 5C) is displayed on the display 15 in S26 of FIG. 4A, and as a result, the image is generated in S37. The program 29 can output the identification information of the new target printer 200 and the color printing data to the OS 28. The designation of the printer change button 424 is an example of a change operation.

The image generation program 29 does not have to execute the process from S13 according to the user operation of selecting the target printer 200 for another printer 200. That is, the image generation program 29 reacquires the data and information necessary for displaying the preview screens 42A to 42C in S26 according to the mode information acquired from the target printer 200, and displays the display screen of the display 15. The preview screen may be updated to any of 42A to 42C.

Although the detailed processing procedure of the image generation program 29 has been described above in FIGS. 3 and 4, some of the processing steps shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be omitted. Further, FIGS. 2 and 5 show various screens displayed on the display 15 in the process of the image generation program 29. However, some of the objects included in the various screens may be omitted.

Next, the action / effect of the image generation program 29 will be described. According to the processes of FIGS. 3 and 4, the print setting (that is, the mode setting (internal)) in the information processing apparatus 100 can be automatically changed so as to be the same as the print mode on the target printer 200 side.

Further, even when the mode setting (internal) is "automatic determination", the target printer 200 can execute the monochrome print mode (S20 to S19 in FIG. 3). By displaying the first screen 41, the target printer 200 can execute the monochrome printing mode (printing only temporary black) if desired by the user (S21, S22A, S23 in FIG. 3). This makes it possible to provide an image generation program 29 that is easy for the user to use.

Further, since the preview screens 42A and 42B include 424 in the printer change button, the user can reselect the printer 200 capable of printing other than printing only temporary black.

In addition, since the target data specified by another program can be processed by the sharing function, it is convenient for the user.

100 ... Information processing device 11 ... CPU
12 ... Memory 29 ... Image generation program 13 ... Communication interface 14 ... User interface 15 ... Display 200 ... Printer 21 ... CPU
22 ... Memory 222 ... Control program 23 ... Communication interface 24 ... Printing engine

Claims (14)

A program that is executed on the computer of an information processing device.
Data acquisition process to acquire the target data to be printed and
The computer is made to execute a mode acquisition process of specifying a printing device to execute the printing and acquiring mode information transmitted from the specified printing device, and the printing device has different first mode and second mode. Printing can be executed in any of the above, and the mode information indicates whether or not the specified printing device can execute only the second mode.
A mode determination process for determining whether or not the mode information indicates the second mode, and
When the mode information indicates the second mode, a conversion process for converting the target data into data based on the second mode, and
A program that causes the computer to execute an output process for outputting the converted data for printing on the specified printing device. The second mode is a monochromatic mode, and in the monochromatic mode, the printing apparatus executes printing using a monochromatic coloring material.
The program according to claim 1, wherein the conversion process is a monochromatic conversion process for converting an image indicated by the target data into monochromatic data represented by the monochromatic color when the mode information indicates only the monochromatic mode. The computer is made to execute a data determination process for determining whether or not the target data acquired in the data acquisition process includes a character code.
The program according to claim 2, wherein when the mode information indicates only the monochromatic mode and the data determination process determines that the target data includes the character code, the monochromatic conversion process is executed. The information processing device includes a display and a user interface.
The computer is made to execute an object display process for displaying a designated object that can specify either the first data including the character code or the second data including a character code other than the character code on the display.
The program according to claim 3, wherein in the data determination process, when an operation for designating the first data is accepted through the user interface, it is determined that the target data includes the character code. The program according to claim 3, wherein in the data determination process, the target data acquired in the data acquisition process is analyzed, and based on the analysis result, it is determined whether or not the target data includes the character code. The target data is included in an electronic file together with an extension indicating the type of the target data.
The program according to claim 3, wherein in the data determination process, it is determined whether or not the target data includes the character code based on the extension included in the electronic file. The information processing device includes a user interface and a storage unit.
The printing apparatus can operate in a color mode in which printing is performed using a plurality of colorants.
The storage unit is set in the program in response to a designated operation through the user interface, and stores mode setting information indicating automatic discrimination. In the automatic discrimination, the program discriminates between the monochromatic mode and the color mode. Is to do
When it is determined that the mode information indicates only the monochromatic mode and the target data does not include the character code, the computer performs a setting determination process for determining whether or not the mode setting information is the automatic determination. To run
The program according to any one of claims 3 to 6, which executes the single color conversion process when the mode setting information is the automatic determination. The seventh aspect of claim 7 is the execution of the monochromatic conversion process when the mode setting information is not the automatic determination and the setting operation for temporarily setting the mode setting information to the monochromatic mode is accepted through the user interface. Program. When the mode setting information is not the automatic determination and the setting operation for setting the mode setting information to the automatic determination is received through the user interface, the mode setting information set in the storage unit is used. Let the computer execute the setting change process to change to automatic discrimination.
The program according to claim 7, wherein the single color conversion process is executed after the setting change process. The information processing device includes a display and a user interface.
Screen display processing for displaying an edit screen including an image indicated by the target data on the display, and
The program according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein when the mode information indicates only the monochromatic mode, the computer is made to execute the monochromatic processing of converting the image included in the editing screen into the monochromatic color. The information processing device includes a user interface.
When a change operation for changing to a printing device different from the printing device is received through the user interface, the mode acquisition process is re-executed to transmit from the changed printing device. Get the mode information of
A claim that causes the computer to execute a multi-color conversion process for converting an image indicated by the target data into a plurality of colors and a plurality of color data for printing when the other mode information does not indicate only the monochromatic mode. The program according to any one of 2 to 10. The OS of the information processing device can start the program specified by another program different from the program, and has a sharing function of passing data specified by the other program to the program.
The program according to any one of claims 2 to 11, which acquires data received from the other program as target data in the data acquisition process. The information processing device includes a display.
When the mode information indicates only the monochromatic mode, the monochromatic data converted by the monochromatic conversion process is converted into the monochromatic display data represented by the monochromatic color and the multicolor display data represented by the plurality of colors. Processing and
The invention according to any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein the computer executes a preview display process for displaying an image represented by each of the monochromatic display data and the plurality of color display data converted by the display conversion process on the display. Program. Data acquisition process to acquire the target data to be printed and
The printing device that executes the printing is specified, and the mode acquisition process of acquiring the mode information transmitted from the specified printing device is executed, and the printing device is either in a different first mode or a second mode. The mode information indicates whether or not the specified printing device can execute printing only in the second mode.
A mode determination process for determining whether or not the mode information indicates the second mode, and
When the mode information indicates the second mode, a conversion process for converting the target data into data based on the second mode, and
An information processing device that executes an output process for outputting the converted data for printing on the specified printing device.