JP2021117805A - Program and information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technique for improving convenience in using a paper size defined by a user in a program for receiving print setting.SOLUTION: A CPU 11 of a PC 1 accepts print setting which is used for printing by a printer 2 and includes setting of a paper size, setting of two-sided printing and setting of a tray by executing a printer driver 43. The CPU 11 determines whether a user definition size is within the range of a threshold in the case where a paper size to be transferred to the printer 2 is the user definition size. The threshold is a range included in both the range of a printable paper size corresponding to a designated tray and the range of a paper size for enabling two-sided printing by the printer 2. Further, the CPU 11 accepts print setting in the case of determining to be within the range of the threshold, and does not accept the print setting in the case of determining to be outside the range of the threshold.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The technical fields disclosed herein relate to programs and information processing devices that accept print settings.

In an information processing device such as a personal computer, there is known a technique of accepting print settings used for printing on a printer and instructing the printer to print based on the print settings. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a printer driver that accepts print settings and that determines a paper size and a document orientation for each page of document data.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-58817

Some programs that accept print settings can accept a user-defined paper size as the paper size to be passed to the printer. Since the user can determine an arbitrary paper width and paper height, the user-defined paper size may be specified so that printing is restricted due to the transport mechanism of the printer or the tray.

The present specification is a program that accepts print settings, and discloses a technique for improving convenience when using a user-defined paper size.

A program made for the purpose of solving this problem is a program that can be executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus and accepts print settings used for printing on a printer, and the printer prints on a plurality of trays and double-sided printing. It has a transport mechanism for execution, and there is a range of printable paper sizes for each tray, and the print settings include setting the paper size, whether or not double-sided printing is executed, and setting the tray. When the paper size to be passed to the printer is a user-defined paper size, the computer is made to execute a determination process for determining whether or not the user-defined paper size is within a specific range, and the specific range is designated. It is a range included in both the printable paper size range corresponding to the tray and the paper size range capable of double-sided printing determined by the transport mechanism, and further, the computer is subjected to the determination process. When it is determined that the user-defined paper size is within the specific range, the print setting of the combination of the user-defined paper size and the execution of double-sided printing and the designated tray is accepted, and the print setting is accepted. When the determination process determines that the user-defined paper size is not within the specified range, the print setting of the combination of the user-defined paper size, double-sided printing execution, and the specified tray is set. It is characterized by executing exclusive processing that is not accepted.

By executing the program disclosed in the present specification, the information processing apparatus can print on the specified tray even if the paper size passed to the printer is a user-defined paper size. If it is included in both the size range and the paper size range in which double-sided printing is possible, the print setting of the combination of the paper size and tray specification and double-sided printing is accepted. As a result, compared to the case where double-sided printing cannot be performed uniformly with a user-defined paper size, there are more opportunities to perform double-sided printing even with a user-defined paper size, and the user-defined paper size can be reduced. Convenience when using it increases.

An information processing device that realizes the function of the program, a control method for realizing the function of the program, and a storage medium that can be read by a computer that stores the program are also new and useful.

According to the technique disclosed in the present specification, a program that accepts print settings and improves convenience when using a user-defined paper size is realized.

It is a schematic block diagram of the PC which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of print setting processing. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the print setting screen. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the threshold value determination process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the permissible size and the threshold value. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a paper size change process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the extended tab screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the registration screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a warning message. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a print process.

Hereinafter, embodiments in which the program is embodied will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. This embodiment discloses a program executed by a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as "PC") that can be connected to a printer that is a device having a printing function.

As shown in FIG. 1, for example, the PC 1 of this embodiment is connected to the printer 2 so as to be able to communicate with each other. The PC 1 is a device capable of executing various application programs (hereinafter referred to as "applications") for causing the printer 2 to perform various functions. PC1 is an example of an information processing device. Instead of PC1, for example, a smartphone or a tablet computer may be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the PC 1 includes a control unit 10 including a CPU 11 and a memory 14. Further, the PC 1 includes a communication interface (hereinafter referred to as "communication IF") 16 and a user interface (hereinafter referred to as "user IF") 18, which are electrically connected to the control unit 10. There is. Note that the control unit 10 in FIG. 1 is a general term for the hardware and software used for controlling the PC 1, and does not necessarily represent a single hardware that actually exists in the PC 1.

The CPU 11 executes various processes according to the program read from the memory 14 and based on the user's operation. The CPU 11 is an example of a computer. The memory 14 is, for example, an HDD or a flash memory, and is used as an area for storing various programs, data such as image data and document data, and various settings. The buffer included in the CPU 11 is also an example of the memory.

An example of memory may be a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium. In addition to the above examples, the non-transitory medium also includes a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM. The non-transitory medium is also a tangible medium. On the other hand, an electric signal that carries a program downloaded from a server on the Internet is a computer-readable signal medium, which is a kind of computer-readable medium, but is a storage that can be read by a non-transitory computer. Not included in the medium.

The communication IF 16 includes hardware for communicating with an external device such as a printer 2. The communication method of the communication IF16 may be wireless or wired, and may be any standard method such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), USB, and LAN.

The user IF 18 includes hardware for displaying information on a screen and hardware for accepting input operations by the user. The user IF18 may be a combination of a display for display, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, or may be a touch panel having a display function and an input reception function. The user IF18 is an example of a display device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the memory 14 of the PC 1 of this embodiment incorporates an operating system (hereinafter referred to as “OS”) 41, a print application 42, and a printer driver 43. OS41 is, for example, Windows (registered trademark), macOS (registered trademark), iOS (registered trademark), Android (registered trademark), Linux (registered trademark). The printer driver 43 is an example of a program.

The print application 42 is a program that accepts various instructions related to printing. The print application 42 receives, for example, designation of a device for printing, designation of an image to be printed, an instruction for editing print settings, and an instruction for printing execution. The print application 42 may further accept designation of the type and size of the paper to be printed, designation of the number of copies, instructions for double-sided printing, and the like.

The printer driver 43 is a program corresponding to the model of the printer 2, and is a program that communicates with the printer 2 and controls the operation of the printer 2. The printer driver 43 is activated, for example, when a print execution instruction or a print setting edit instruction is received in a state where the printer 2 is specified by a print application 42 or the like, or when a printer 2 property setting instruction is received. Will be done.

The printer driver 43 gives instructions for editing detailed print settings related to printing on the printer 2, for example, selection of a paper feed tray and an output tray, selection of a paper type and a paper size, registration of a user-defined size as a paper size, and double-sided printing. Select, accept. When the printer driver 43 receives a print job from the OS 41, the printer driver 43 generates print data based on the image data specified in the print job.

The printer 2 is a device having at least a printing function and a communication function for communicating with the PC 1. The range of paper sizes that can be printed by the printing function of the printer 2 has a predetermined limit for each model of the printer 2. In the following, among the paper sizes, the size in the paper transport direction in the printer 2 is referred to as “paper height”, and the size in the direction orthogonal to the paper height is referred to as “paper width”. Further, the range of the paper size includes the range of the paper height and the range of the paper width, and the printer 2 can print on the paper in which both the paper height and the paper width are within the range.

The printer 2 of this embodiment has a transport mechanism for performing double-sided printing. When performing double-sided printing, the printer 2 uses the transport mechanism to reverse the transport direction of the paper after printing on one side of the paper and before ejecting the printed paper on one side, for double-sided printing. Transport via a route. Further, the printer 2 prints on the other side of the paper using the same printing function as the first side, and discharges the paper printed on both sides to the outside of the machine. The paper size range in which the paper transport direction can be appropriately reversed by the transport mechanism of the printer 2, that is, the paper size range in which double-sided printing can be performed by the printer 2, is preset for each model of the printer 2. There is. The range of paper sizes that can be used for double-sided printing is often narrower than that for single-sided printing.

Further, the printer 2 of this embodiment is provided with a plurality of paper feed trays, and a removable paper feed tray can be attached as a part thereof. In the following, the mountable paper tray will be referred to as a "custom tray". Each paper tray of the printer 2 has a range of paper sizes that can be fed for each type of paper tray. The range of paper sizes that can be fed from the custom tray may differ from the range of paper sizes that can be fed from the permanent tray, which is the paper feed tray fixed to the printer 2. Depending on the type of custom tray, the range of paper sizes that can be fed may be narrower than that of the permanent tray. The printer 2 may include a plurality of output trays.

In the printer 2 of this embodiment, a range of paper sizes that can be appropriately printed according to the combination of the model of the printer 2, whether or not double-sided printing is executed, and the designation of the paper feed tray that is the paper feed source of the paper. Is different. When the specified print setting is a print setting that cannot be printed by the printer 2, the printer driver 43 of the present embodiment does not accept the print setting.

Subsequently, the processing by the printer driver 43 of this embodiment will be described. The following processing and each processing step in the flowchart basically indicate the processing of the CPU 11 according to the instructions described in each program. That is, the processing of "judgment", "extraction", "selection", "calculation", "decision", "specification", "acquisition", "acceptance", "control", etc. in the following description is the processing of the CPU 11. Represents. The processing by the CPU 11 also includes hardware control using the API of the OS 41 of the PC1. In this specification, the operation of each program will be described by omitting the description of OS 41. That is, in the following description, the description to the effect that "program B controls hardware C" may refer to "program B controls hardware C using the API of OS41". In addition, the processing of the CPU 11 according to the instructions described in the program may be described in abbreviated terms. For example, it may be described as "performed by the CPU 11" or "performed by the program".

Note that "acquisition" is used in a concept that does not require a request. That is, the process of receiving data without the CPU 11 requesting is also included in the concept of "the CPU 11 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. Further, "requesting" and "instructing" are concepts indicating that information indicating that a request is being made or information indicating that an instruction is being given is output to the other party. In addition, the information indicating that the request is made or the information indicating that the instruction is given is simply described as "request" or "instruction".

Further, the process of determining whether or not the information A indicates that the information A is the matter B by the CPU 11 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 11 is "determined from the information A whether the information A is the matter B or the matter C." It may be described conceptually as.

Hereinafter, the procedure of the print setting process by the printer driver 43 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The print setting process is executed by the CPU 11 of the PC 1 when the printer driver 43 is started by receiving the edit instruction of the print setting while the printer 2 is selected by the application such as the print application 42. Will be done. If the printer driver 43 has been started in advance, the application that has received the print setting edit instruction instructs the printer driver 43 to start executing the print setting process.

The CPU 11 first acquires the selected print setting (S101). When the printer driver 43 is started, the CPU 11 reads out the print settings stored in the storage area for the printer driver 43 of the memory 14 and stores them in a predetermined data structure. This data structure is an area shared by an application such as the print application 42 and the printer driver 43, and may be edited by either the application and the printer driver 43. The data structure is an area that is temporarily used only during the execution of an application such as the print application 42, and is destroyed when the application is terminated. In S101, the CPU 11 reads out the print settings stored in this data structure. In the subsequent processing, the CPU 11 refers to the read print setting and edits it.

On the other hand, the storage area for the printer driver 43 is an area provided when the printer driver 43 is installed on the PC 1, and is, for example, a registry or a setting file. The storage area for the printer driver 43 is an area that is retained regardless of the execution status of applications such as the printer driver 43 and the print application 42, and is permanently used. When the printer driver 43 is installed, the installer of the printer driver 43, the OS 41, the printer driver 43 immediately after the installation, and the like store various information in the storage area. The information stored in the storage area for the printer driver 43 includes, for example, print settings and model information, and also includes information that is edited after installation.

The print setting is a parameter used to instruct the printer to print. The model information is information indicating the model of the printer to which the printer driver 43 instructs printing. The printer driver 43 is, for example, a program corresponding to a plurality of models in the same product series, and model information of the printer (printer 2 in this embodiment) to be used is stored when the printer driver 43 is installed. Based on the information stored in the storage area for the printer driver 43, the printer driver 43 can recognize the model of the printer to be controlled.

Then, the CPU 11 causes the user IF 18 to display the print setting screen (S102), and displays the print setting acquired in S101 on the print setting screen. An example of the print setting screen is shown in FIG. On the print setting screen 51 shown in the example of FIG. 3, a paper size selection field 511, a double-sided print selection field 512, a paper feed method selection field 513, an OK button 514, and a cancel button 515 are displayed. Will be done. The CPU 11 accepts operations for each selection field and each button displayed on the print setting screen 51.

The printer driver 43 can accept editing of a large number of items as print settings. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the print setting screen 51 is provided with a plurality of tabs, and the CPU 11 displays the setting screen of the designated tab. In S102, the CPU 11 displays the basic tab screen 51A that accepts editing of the basic print settings as the initial screen of the print setting screens 51.

Then, the CPU 11 executes the threshold value determination process (S103). The threshold value determination process is a process for determining a threshold value that is within the printable paper size range in the selected print setting. The procedure of the threshold value determination process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the threshold value determination process, the CPU 11 first acquires the model information and the tray information of the printer 2 (S201). As described above, the CPU 11 can acquire the model information of the printer 2 which is the printer to be controlled based on the information stored in the storage area for the printer driver 43. The CPU 11 acquires the model allowable size and the double-sided allowable size corresponding to the model of the printer 2 based on the model information acquired in S201 (S202).

In the storage area for the printer driver 43, tray information, model allowable size information, double-sided allowable size information, and tray allowable size information are stored for each of the plurality of models supported by the printer driver 43. The tray information is information on the paper feed tray included in the printer and the custom tray that can be mounted, which is indicated by the model information. When the printer 2 has an insertion slot into which only one sheet of paper can be inserted, the insertion slot is also a kind of paper feed tray.

The model allowable size information is information indicating the range of paper sizes that the printer of each model can perform single-sided printing. The paper size information includes a standard size paper name provided in advance by the printer driver 43 as a printable paper size, and user-defined size paper information defined and registered by the user. The standard size paper names are, for example, A4, 10 × 15 cm, A5, A6, Letter, Legal, A3, and Ledger. The user-defined size paper information is a set of user-defined paper name information and paper size information.

The double-sided allowable size information is information indicating the range of paper sizes that the printer of each model can perform double-sided printing. Further, the tray allowable size information is information indicating a range of paper sizes that the printer of each model can print using the custom tray. The magnitude relationship between the range of paper sizes that can be printed on both sides and the range of paper sizes that can be printed using a custom tray may differ depending on the printer model. By acquiring each size based on the model information, one program can support a plurality of models.

An example of the model allowable size, the double-sided allowable size, and the tray allowable size is shown in FIG. The model permissible size has the widest range, and both the double-sided permissible size and the tray permissible size are within the model permissible size range.

The tray information, the model allowable size information, the double-sided allowable size information, and the tray allowable size information are not limited to the storage area for the printer driver 43, but may be included in the execution code of the printer driver 43, or may be included in the execution code of the printer driver 43. It may be stored in an area other than the storage area for 43. For example, the CPU 11 may download each information from an external server. It is possible to acquire print settings and model information from other than the storage area for the printer driver 43, but it is safe to use the storage area for the printer driver 43 in consideration of the mechanism of the OS 41 and the like.

The CPU 11 determines whether or not the printer 2 is equipped with the custom tray based on the information acquired in S201 of FIG. 4 (S203). When it is determined that the custom tray is installed (S203: YES), the CPU 11 acquires the tray allowable size, which is the paper size that can be fed from the installed custom tray, and sets it as a temporary allowable size (S204). ). When it is determined that the custom tray is not installed (S203: NO), the CPU 11 sets the model allowable size as a temporary allowable size (S205).

After S204 or S205, the CPU 11 determines whether or not double-sided printing is selected in the selected print setting (S206). When it is determined that double-sided printing is not selected (S206: NO), the CPU 11 determines the provisional allowable size determined in S204 or S205 as a threshold value (S209).

On the other hand, when it is determined that double-sided printing is selected (S206: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the custom tray is selected (S210). When it is determined that the custom tray is not selected (S210: NO), the CPU 11 determines the double-sided allowable size as a threshold value (S211). When it is determined that the custom tray is selected (S210: YES), the CPU 11 determines a range included in both the double-sided allowable size and the tray allowable size as a threshold value (S212).

In S212, the CPU 11 sets the lower limit of the threshold value to be the larger of the lower limit of the double-sided allowable size and the lower limit of the tray allowable size, and sets the upper limit of the threshold value to be the smaller of the upper limit of the double-sided allowable size and the upper limit of the tray allowable size. .. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the threshold value determined in S212 is in the range shown in the lower part of the figure. Specifically, the allowable paper names are "A4" and "Letter", and the allowable user-defined size is that the paper width is within the range of 128.9-215.9 mm and the paper height is high. Is a size within the range of 209.5-297.4 mm.

After determining the threshold value in any of S209, S211 and S212, the CPU 11 ends the threshold value determination process and returns to the print setting process. The threshold value determined by any of S209, S211 and S212 is an example of a specific range.

Returning to the description of the print setting process of FIG. In the print setting process, after the threshold value determination process of S103, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the selected paper size is included in the threshold value range determined by the threshold value determination process (S104). S104 is an example of the determination process. For example, on the print setting screen 51 shown in FIG. 3, even if the standard size “A4” is selected as the paper size and the threshold value is determined by any of the above-mentioned threshold value determination processes S209, S211 and S212. , "A4" is included in the permissible paper names.

When it is determined that the paper size is within the threshold range (S104: YES), the CPU 11 accepts an input operation on the print setting screen 51 being displayed. The CPU 11 determines whether or not the operation to the OK button 514 has been accepted on the print setting screen 51 (S105). When it is determined that the operation to the OK button 514 is not accepted (S105: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the operation to the cancel button 515 is accepted (S106). When it is determined that the operation to the cancel button 515 is not accepted (S106: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the operation for changing the print setting is accepted (S107). If it is determined that the print setting change operation is not accepted (S107: NO), the CPU 11 accepts either the OK button 514 operation, the cancel button 515 operation, or the print setting change operation. Wait until.

When it is determined that the print setting change operation has been accepted (S107: YES), the CPU 11 has received the paper size change operation, the double-sided / single-sided change operation, or the tray selection operation, or any other operation. It is determined whether it is an operation (S108). As an operation for changing the print setting, the CPU 11 accepts, for example, a user's operation on the selection fields 511, 512, and 513 in the print setting screen 51 (see FIG. 3). The CPU 11 displays a list of selectable options in the column for accepting the operation, and accepts the selection from the displayed options.

When the operation to the paper size selection field 511 is accepted, the CPU 11 selects, for example, a standard size paper name such as "A4", a registered user-defined size paper name, and a user-defined size registration. Display a plurality of options including the user IF18. When the operation of selecting one of the displayed options is accepted, the CPU 11 determines in S108 that the operation of changing the paper size has been accepted.

The user-defined size registration instruction may be accepted as a separate item from the paper size selection field 511, instead of being included in the options of the paper size selection field 511. For example, the print setting screen 51 may include a single acceptance button that accepts a user-defined size registration instruction. In this case, even when the user-defined size registration instruction is received by a single button, the CPU 11 determines that the paper size change operation has been accepted in S108.

Further, when the operation to the selection field 512 for double-sided printing is accepted on the print setting screen 51, for example, the CPU 11 determines that the double-sided / single-sided change operation is accepted in S108. When the operation to the selection field 512 for double-sided printing is accepted, the CPU 11 displays, for example, options for single-sided printing, double-sided printing, and booklet printing on the user IF18, and accepts any selection. Booklet printing is a type of double-sided printing in which the page order is changed for binding.

Further, when the operation to the paper feed method selection field 513 is accepted on the print setting screen 51, for example, the CPU 11 determines that the tray selection operation is accepted in S108. When the operation to the paper feed method selection field 513 is accepted, the CPU 11 displays the information of each paper feed tray mounted on the printer 2 on the user IF18 as an option, and accepts one of the selections. For example, if the printer 2 is equipped with a custom tray, the custom tray is also displayed as an option. The print setting screen 51 in which each option is displayed in the paper feed method selection field 513 is an example of the tray selection screen. S107 when the operation for changing the print setting is the operation for the selection field 513 of the paper feed method is an example of the tray selection process.

Further, even when the operation on the print setting screen 51 is accepted, the operation on the paper size selection field 511, the operation on the side print selection field 512, or the operation on the paper feed method selection field 513 is performed. If the operation is not the same, the CPU 11 determines that the other operation has been accepted in S108.

When it is determined that the paper size change operation has been accepted (S108: change of paper size), the CPU 11 executes the paper size change process (S109). The paper size change process is a process of changing the paper size to be passed to the printer 2 based on the user's operation.

The procedure of the paper size change process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the paper size change process, the CPU 11 first causes the user IF 18 to display a list of paper size options (S301), and receives a selection instruction for each of the displayed options. The paper size options include, for example, various standard sizes such as "A4", a registered user-defined size, and registration of a user-defined size. The print setting screen 51 in which each option is displayed in the paper size selection fields 511 and 519 is an example of the paper size selection screen. S301 is an example of the paper size option display process.

The CPU 11 determines whether or not the user-defined size registration instruction has been accepted from the displayed options (S302). When it is determined that the user-defined size registration instruction has not been accepted (S302: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the registered user-defined size selection instruction has been accepted (S303). When it is determined that the registration instruction for selecting the registered user-defined size is not accepted (S303: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the selection of other paper sizes is accepted (S304). If it is determined that the selection of other paper sizes is not accepted (S304: NO), the CPU 11 waits until any selection is accepted.

When it is determined that the user-defined size registration instruction has been accepted (S302: YES), the CPU 11 causes the user IF 18 to display the registration screen (S305). An example of the registration screen is shown in FIG. On the registration screen 52 shown in FIG. 8, for example, a paper size name input field 521, a size unit selection field 522, a paper width input field 523, a paper height input field 524, an OK button 525, and a cancel button 526 are displayed. , Is displayed. The default setting of the size unit is determined by OS41. The registration screen 52 is an example of the size registration screen, and S305 is an example of the paper size reception process.

In the paper width input field 523 and the paper height input field 524, the numerical range that can be accepted by the unit selected in the size unit selection field 522 is displayed, and the numerical values outside the range are displayed in any of the fields. I will not accept it. The acceptable numerical range in the paper width input field 523 and the paper height input field 524 is the model allowable size, which is the maximum range that can be printed by the printer 2, that is, single-sided printing using a permanent tray. Is the range of paper sizes that can be executed.

Then, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the registration instruction has been accepted on the displayed registration screen (S306). The registration instruction is received by operating the OK button 525 after receiving the input of the paper width input field 523 and the paper height input field 524. When it is determined that the registration instruction is not accepted (S306: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the cancel instruction has been accepted by operating the cancel button 526 (S307).

If it is determined that the cancellation instruction is not accepted (S307: NO), the CPU 11 waits until the registration instruction or the cancellation instruction is accepted. When it is determined that the cancellation instruction has been accepted (S307: YES), the CPU 11 stops the display of the registration screen 52, returns to S302, and accepts the selection instruction while displaying the list of paper size options.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the registration instruction has been accepted (S306: YES), the CPU 11 registers the paper size displayed on the registration screen 52 as the user-defined size (S308). When the registration instruction is received, the CPU 11 stores the information of the displayed paper name and the paper size in the storage area for the printer driver 43 as the paper information of the user-defined size. The storage area for the printer driver 43 is a permanent area, unlike the data structure that temporarily stores the print settings to be edited. The registered user-defined size information can be referred to when the application such as the print application 42 or the printer driver 43 is executed next time or later, and is displayed as one of the paper size options in S301 or the like.

After S308, or when it is determined that the registered user-defined size is selected from the paper size options (S303: YES), the CPU 11 selects or registers the paper size in the print setting being edited. The size is set to (S309). The paper size in the print setting during editing is the paper size selected in the paper size selection field 511 on the print setting screen 51 (see FIG. 3), and when it is determined as the print setting, it is determined. , The paper size in the print setting stored in the above-mentioned data structure.

Further, the CPU 11 determines whether or not single-sided printing is selected in the print settings (S310). When it is determined that single-sided printing is selected (S310: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the paper size determined in S309 is included in the double-sided allowable size acquired in S202 of the threshold value determination process. (S311). Then, when it is determined that the paper size is out of the range of the double-sided allowable size (S311: NO), the CPU 11 grays out the double-sided printing option and the booklet printing option in the print setting screen 51 (S312). In S312, the options for double-sided printing and the selection for booklet printing may not be accepted. For example, those options may not be displayed, or the double-sided printing selection field 512 itself may be grayed out.

If the print setting is single-sided printing and the selected paper size is a size that makes double-sided printing infeasible, the infeasible setting is selected by displaying the double-sided printing options in advance so that they cannot be selected. You can prevent that.

If it is determined from the paper size options that the selection of another paper size has been accepted (S304: YES), the CPU 11 sets the paper size in the print setting being edited to the selected size (S313). After S312 or S313, when it is determined that the printing is not single-sided printing (S310: NO), or when it is determined that the paper size is included in the double-sided allowable size (S311: YES), the CPU 11 performs the paper size change processing. Exits and returns to the print setting process.

The operation of changing the paper size is not limited to the operation of the paper size selection field 511 on the print setting screen 51 (see FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 3, the print setting screen 51 includes a plurality of tabs such as "basic" and "extended", and the CPU 11 also accepts operations on the tabs. When the extended tab is selected in the print setting screen 51, the CPU 11 causes the user IF 18 to display an extended tab screen that accepts editing of print settings not included in the basic tab screen 51A.

An example of the extended tab screen is shown in FIG. The extended tab screen 51B shown in the example of FIG. 6 includes a button that accepts a scaling setting that is a setting for printing an image by enlarging or reducing it. On the extended tab screen 51B, for example, "off" 516, "fit to paper" 517, and "free" 518 are displayed as selection buttons for accepting scaling settings. The extended tab screen 51B is an example of a scaling setting screen, and the scaling setting accepted in the extended tab screen 51B is an example of setting whether or not to execute scaling. S107 when the operation for changing the print setting is an operation for each button in the extended tab screen 51B is an example of the scaling setting process.

“Off” 516 is a button that accepts a setting that does not perform scaling. When "Off" 516 is selected, the CPU 11 does not zoom in or out on the image. When "Off" 516 is selected on the extended tab screen 51B, the CPU 11 determines in S108 that the paper size change operation is not accepted.

"Fit to paper" 517 is a button that accepts a setting for enlarging or reducing the size of the image data according to the size of the paper. When "Fit to Paper" 517 is selected as the scaling setting, the CPU 11 further accepts the selection of the paper size to be used for printing by the printer 2 in the paper size selection field 519 as shown in FIG. ..

When the operation to the paper size selection field 519 is accepted, the CPU 11 causes the user IF 18 to display a plurality of options similar to the paper size selection field 511 of the basic tab screen 51A, and accepts the selection. The paper size options displayed in the paper size selection field 519 include each option of a standard size paper name and a registered user-defined size paper name. The paper size accepted in the paper size selection field 519 is an example of the paper size for scaling. The paper size selection field 519 may also accept a user-defined size registration instruction.

When the selection of the paper size is accepted in the paper size selection field 519, the CPU 11 selects the paper size in the paper size selection field 519 regardless of the selection contents in the paper size selection field 511 of the basic tab screen 51A. Is passed to the printer 2 as the paper size of the paper used for printing. Hereinafter, the paper size for scaling will be referred to as "scaling paper size". The scaling paper size is a numerical value written as, for example, "scaling paper size" in the print settings stored in the data structure described above.

For example, if the size of the image data is A4 and the scaling paper size selected in the paper size selection field 519 is A5, the printer driver 43 uses the print application 42 or the like to print an A4 size image as an image to be printed. Receives the image data of the above, and passes a command including print data obtained by reducing the image and instructions for printing on A5 size paper to the printer 2. When the operation to the paper size selection field 519 is accepted, the CPU 11 determines in S108 that the operation to change the paper size has been accepted.

The "free" 518 is a button that accepts the setting of the enlargement or reduction ratio depending on the numerical value within the acceptable range. When "free" 518 is selected, the paper size to be passed to the printer 2 remains the selected content in the paper size selection field 511 of the basic tab screen 51A. When "free" 518 is selected on the extended tab screen 51B, the CPU 11 determines in S108 that the paper size change operation is not accepted.

Returning to the description of the print setting process of FIG. In the print setting process, after the paper size is changed by the paper size change process of S109, the CPU 11 returns to S104 and is the changed paper size included in the threshold range determined by the threshold value determination process? Judge whether or not.

If it is determined that the received change operation is a double-sided / single-sided change or tray selection operation (S108: double-sided / single-sided, tray selection), the CPU 11 returns to S103 and executes the threshold value determination process. If the double-sided / single-sided setting or tray is changed, the threshold may change. Therefore, the threshold value in the changed setting is determined, and the paper size range is determined by the new threshold value. In the second and subsequent threshold determination processes, if the mounted tray has not been changed, S201 to S205 may be skipped and the execution may be performed from the judgment of S206.

When it is determined that the selected paper size is out of the threshold range by changing any of the settings (S104: NO), the CPU 11 displays a warning message on the user IF 18 (S110). The warning message is a message that warns the user that the selected paper size is inappropriate for the print settings. S110 is an example of notification processing.

For example, when the double-sided and custom tray is selected in the example shown in FIG. 5, the threshold value is that the allowable paper names are "A4" and "Letter", and the allowable paper size is the paper width. The size is within the range of 128.9-215.9 mm and the paper height is within the range of 209.5-297.4 mm. When a user-defined size paper is selected by the paper size change operation, the paper name of the user-defined size paper is included in the allowable paper name, not the standard size paper name such as "A4". There is no. In this case, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the numerical value of the paper size of the selected user-defined size is included in the range of the threshold value determined by the above-mentioned threshold value determination process. For example, when a paper having a paper width of 88.9 mm or a paper having a paper height of 430.6 mm is selected, these sizes are out of the threshold range, and the CPU 11 determines NO in S104. On the other hand, the paper having a paper width of 128.9 mm and a paper height of 209.5 mm is within the threshold range, and the CPU 11 determines YES in S104.

An example of a warning message is shown in FIG. The warning message 53 in the example of FIG. 9 includes "Tray 1" 531 which is information on the selected paper tray, "Double-sided printing" 532 indicating that double-sided printing is selected, and an allowable numerical range 533. The unit 534 used for notation of numerical values and the OK button 535 are included. The unit 534 is, for example, the unit selected in the size unit selection field 522 in the registration screen 52 shown in FIG. 8, or the default unit. The numerical range 533 is a numerical value in which the upper limit and the lower limit of the threshold value in the selected print setting are expressed in the unit of 534. As the warning message 53, the range of the printable paper size is notified by the combination of the tray selection and the double-sided printing setting, so that the user can select the printable paper size.

Returning to the description of the print setting process of FIG. In S110, after displaying the warning message, the CPU 11 waits until the operation to the OK button 535 shown in FIG. 9 is accepted. After that, the CPU 11 cancels the last received setting change and returns to the state before the change (S111). S111 is an example of exclusive processing. For example, when the paper size is out of the permissible range due to the acceptance of the tray change operation, the CPU 11 returns the print setting to the tray before the change. By restoring the settings that are out of the permissible range due to the change, the print settings being displayed are within the permissible range.

After S111, or when it is determined that the accepted change operation is not any of paper size change, double-sided / single-sided change, and tray selection (S108: other), the CPU 11 returns to the determination of S105 to S107. Wait until one of the instructions is accepted.

Then, when it is determined that the operation to the OK button 514 is accepted (S105: YES), the CPU 11 determines each setting of the print setting screen 51 being displayed as a print setting (S112), and determines the determined print setting as a data structure. Write to the body and finish the print setting process. If scaling is set, the CPU 11 also writes the scaling paper size to the data structure. The CPU 11 may store the print setting determined in S112 in the storage area for the printer driver 43.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the operation to the cancel button 515 has been accepted (S106: YES), the CPU 11 cancels each setting accepted on the print setting screen 51 being displayed, and returns the print setting to the setting at the time of startup. (S113), the print setting process is terminated. That is, the CPU 11 does not write the edited print settings to the data structure or the storage area for the printer driver 43, and discards the edited result.

Note that the printer driver 43 is not limited to instructions from an application such as the print application 42, but also print settings even when an edit instruction for print settings is received from, for example, OS 41 or a related tool provided by the manufacturer of the printer driver 43. Execute the process. In this case, the CPU 11 stores the print setting determined in S112 in the storage area for the printer driver 43. That is, the print settings after editing are permanent. Note that the OS 41 or various related tools or applications may store the edited print settings in the storage area for the printer driver 43.

Up to this point, the operation of the printer driver 43 when an editing instruction for printing settings is received by the printing application 42 or the like has been described. When the printer driver 43 is started from an application such as the print application 42, when the CPU 11 executes the print setting process, even after the print setting process is completed after S112 or S113, until the print application 42 or the like is terminated. , The data structure is retained. After receiving the notification of the end of the print setting process by the printer driver 43, the print application 42 or the like receives various instructions that can be accepted by the application.

Depending on the print application 42 or the like, as print settings, a user-defined size paper size specification, double-sided printing setting, and tray selection may be accepted. When the printer 2 is selected as the device to be printed, the print application 42 or the like acquires the capability of the printer 2 from the printer driver 43 and accepts print settings within that range. The range of paper sizes that can be accepted by the print application 42 or the like is often the range of single-sided printing using the permanent tray of the printer 2. Then, the print application 42 or the like may accept the print execution instruction without accepting the edit instruction of the print setting. The printer driver 43 is also activated when the print application 42 or the like receives an instruction to execute printing on the printer 2.

Next, the procedure of the printing process by the printer driver 43 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The print process is executed by the CPU 11 of the PC 1 when a print application or the like receives an instruction to execute printing on the printer 2 and a print job is input from the OS 41 to the printer driver 43.

In the print process, the CPU 11 first acquires print settings from a data structure shared by an application such as the print application 42 and the printer driver 43 (S401). An application such as the print application 42 may accept a print execution instruction without receiving an edit instruction of the print setting, that is, without executing the print setting process described above. Even in that case, the CPU 11 reads out the print settings stored in the storage area for the printer driver 43 and stores them in the data structure in the same manner as at the start of the print setting process, and in S401, prints from the data structure. Get the settings.

Then, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a user-defined size is specified as the paper size in the print settings (S402). When the scaling setting is enabled, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the scaling paper size is a user-defined size.

When it is determined that the user-defined size is specified (S402: YES), the CPU 11 executes the threshold value determination process (see FIG. 4) described above (S403). The CPU 11 determines whether or not the paper size of the user-defined size specified in the print setting is within the permissible range in combination with the tray selection and the double-sided printing setting (S404).

If it is determined that the print setting is out of the permissible range (S404: NO), the CPU 11 changes the print setting to single-sided printing (S405). The CPU 11 performs S405 when, for example, the paper size is within the permissible range by changing to single-sided printing. If the paper size is within the permissible range by changing the tray, the CPU 11 may change the tray instead of S405. The print settings set for the input print job are not passed to the printer 2 as they are, but by changing the print settings in S405, the CPU 11 issues a print instruction that cannot be printed by the printer 2. Do not send to.

In S405, the CPU 11 may display a message indicating that the print setting has been changed, or may change the print setting when the user's approval is obtained. Further, in S405, instead of changing the print setting, the CPU 11 displays a message indicating that the print setting is inappropriate, for example, a warning message 53 shown in FIG. 9, ends the printing process, and prints. You don't have to. When user-defined size paper is selected, the user's range of paper sizes that can be printed on both sides is displayed instead of uniformly disabling double-sided printing to avoid paper transport errors. Convenience can be enhanced.

After S405, when it is determined that it is within the permissible range (S404: YES), or when it is determined that the user-defined size is not selected (S402: NO), the CPU 11 is specified in the print job. Print data is created based on the image data (S406). When the execution of scaling is specified in the print settings, the CPU 11 creates the printed data after scaling so that the printed matter of the specified size is created. Further, the CPU 11 transmits the created print data to the printer 2 (S407), and ends the print process.

As described in detail above, the PC1 equipped with the printer driver 43 of this embodiment executes the user-defined paper size and double-sided printing in the print settings for receiving the edit instruction and the print settings for the print job input from the OS 41. When the presence and the designation of the tray are included, it is determined whether or not to accept the print setting depending on whether or not printing in the combination is feasible. As a result, compared to the case where double-sided printing cannot be performed uniformly when using a user-defined paper size, there are more opportunities to perform double-sided printing even with a user-defined paper size, and the user-defined paper size can be reduced. Convenience when using it increases.

Further, the printer driver 43 of this embodiment has a paper size when the print setting screen 51 accepts the paper size setting and the tray selection, or when the registration screen 52 accepts the user-defined paper size registration. Since it is determined whether or not the combination of double-sided printing and tray selection is possible, inappropriate settings can be avoided at an early stage. Further, since the printer driver 43 of this embodiment determines whether or not the user-defined paper size, the presence / absence of double-sided printing, and the selection of the tray can be combined even when the print job is accepted, an inappropriate setting is set for the printer 2. You can avoid crossing over.

Further, in this embodiment, if the combination of the paper size, the execution of double-sided printing, and the selection of the tray is an infeasible combination, the user-defined paper size is returned to the paper size before being selected, or Since the setting with execution of double-sided printing is not accepted, inappropriate setting can be avoided.

Further, in this embodiment, when the combination of the paper size, the execution of double-sided printing, and the selection of the tray is an infeasible combination, the range of the paper size that can be executed is displayed in the warning message 53, which is appropriate. You can expect to enter the paper size.

Further, in this embodiment, since the scaling option is also supported, the convenience when using the user-defined paper size is further enhanced. If the presence / absence of scaling execution is changed, the paper size to be passed to the printer 2 may be changed. Therefore, by re-judging at the timing when the presence / absence of scaling execution is changed, inappropriate settings can be set earlier. Can be avoided.

It should be noted that this embodiment is merely an example and does not limit the present invention in any way. Therefore, as a matter of course, the present invention can be improved and modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the printer 2 is not limited to a device having a single printing function, and may be, for example, a device having a document reading function and a fax transmission / reception function. This embodiment can be applied to a PC 1 connected to a multifunction device, a copier, a fax machine, or the like instead of the printer 2. Further, two or more printers may be connected to the PC1.

Further, the screen configurations shown in each figure are merely examples, and are not limited to the illustrated examples. For example, the basic tab screen 51A of the print setting screen 51 accepts all selections of paper size, double-sided printing, and paper feed tray, but some selections may be accepted on different screens or separately. The screen may be.

Further, for example, the printer 2 may have a limitation on the paper size that can be ejected by the output tray. In that case, the printer driver 43 determines the threshold value in consideration of the limitation by the designated output tray. You may. The CPU 11 may not accept the setting of the paper size exceeding the paper size that can be ejected, for example.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the operation to the paper size selection fields 511 and 319 is accepted, it is determined whether or not the paper size is within the permissible range. The determination may be made only when either the registered user-defined size selection instruction or the user-defined size registration instruction is accepted by the operation. Alternatively, when an instruction to change some print settings is received, it may be determined whether or not the paper size is within the allowable range regardless of the change instruction.

Further, in the present embodiment, when it is determined that the combination of print settings is out of the permissible range, the previous change is undone, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the last change may be undone to the default, or all changes may be undone.

Further, in this embodiment, it is determined that the combination of print settings is determined when an edit instruction of print settings or an input of a print job is received. However, for example, a printable paper size is received in response to an inquiry from a print application 42 or the like. When responding to the range of, the range of the paper size to be responded to may be determined according to the combination with other print settings.

Further, in the present embodiment, the processing of the printer driver 43 has been described, but the program of the present invention is not limited to the printer driver. It can also be applied to a PC having a so-called driverless configuration in which an OS having a general-purpose printing program is installed instead of a printer driver. The present invention is also applicable to, for example, a program related to printing incorporated in a PC separately from a general-purpose print program, and a program that accepts print settings in cooperation with a general-purpose print program.

Further, in the arbitrary flowchart disclosed in each embodiment, the plurality of processes in the arbitrary plurality of steps can be arbitrarily changed in the execution order or executed in parallel as long as the processing contents do not conflict with each other. ..

Further, the processes disclosed in each embodiment may be executed by a single CPU, a plurality of CPUs, hardware such as an ASIC, or a combination thereof. In addition, the process disclosed in the embodiment can be realized in various aspects such as a recording medium or a method in which a program for executing the process is recorded.

1 PC
2 Printer 11 CPU
16 Communication IF
18 User IF
41 OS
43 Printer driver

Claims (12)

A program that can be executed by a computer of an information processing device and accepts print settings used for printing on a printer. The printer has a plurality of trays and a transport mechanism for executing double-sided printing, and the trays. There is a range of paper sizes that can be printed for each, and the print settings include setting the paper size, whether to execute double-sided printing, and setting the tray.
On the computer
When the paper size to be passed to the printer is a user-defined paper size, a determination process for determining whether or not the user-defined paper size is within a specific range is executed, and the specific range is placed in a designated tray. It is a range included in both the corresponding printable paper size range and the double-sided printable paper size range determined by the transport mechanism.
Furthermore, to the computer
When the determination process determines that the user-defined paper size is within the specific range, the printing of the combination of the user-defined paper size, double-sided printing, and the designated tray. When the setting is accepted and the judgment process determines that the user-defined paper size is not within the specific range, the combination of the user-defined paper size, double-sided printing, and the specified tray. Executes exclusive processing that does not accept the print settings of
A program characterized by that. In the program according to claim 1,
On the computer
The paper size selection screen for selecting the paper size to be passed to the printer from a plurality of paper size options is displayed on the display device of the information processing apparatus, and the paper size selection display process is executed to select the plurality of paper sizes. Includes the user-defined paper size
On the computer
When the user-defined paper size is selected on the paper size selection screen, the determination process and the exclusive process are executed.
A program characterized by that. In the program described in claim 2,
In the exclusive processing,
When it is determined by the determination process that the user-defined paper size is not within the specific range, the print setting of the combination of the user-defined paper size, double-sided printing, and the specified tray. Is not accepted, and the paper size selected on the paper size selection screen is returned to before the user-defined paper size is input.
A program characterized by that. In the program described in claim 2,
In the exclusive processing,
When it is determined in the determination process that the user-defined paper size is within the specific range, it is possible to accept the setting of performing double-sided printing, and the user-defined paper size is determined in the determination process. If it is determined that the size is not within the specified range, the setting with execution of double-sided printing will not be accepted.
A program characterized by that. In the program according to any one of claims 2 to 4.
On the computer
A paper size acceptance process for displaying a size registration screen on the display device for inputting a paper width and a paper height and registering a combination of the input paper width and the paper height as the user-defined paper size. To execute,
On the computer
Even when the registration instruction is received on the size registration screen, the determination process and the exclusive process are executed.
A program characterized by that. In the program according to any one of claims 2 to 5.
On the computer
The tray selection process for displaying the tray selection screen on the display device is executed to select the tray.
Furthermore, to the computer
Even when the selection of another tray is accepted from the tray currently selected on the tray selection screen, the determination process and the exclusive process are executed.
A program characterized by that. In the program according to claim 1,
On the computer
When a print job is input from the operating system of the information processing device, the determination process and the exclusive process are executed.
In the exclusive process, when the user-defined paper size is determined to be within the specific range by the determination process, the user-defined paper size and the designated tray are used for double-sided printing. When the print setting of the combination is accepted, the print setting of the combination is passed to the printer, and the determination process determines that the user-defined paper size is not within the specific range, the user-defined paper size is determined. The print setting of the combination of the paper size and the execution of double-sided printing and the specified tray is not accepted, and the print setting of the combination is not passed to the printer.
A program characterized by that. In the program according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
On the computer
When the determination process determines that the user-defined paper size is not within the specific range, a notification process for notifying information indicating the specific range is executed.
A program characterized by that. In the program according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
For each printer model, a range of printable paper sizes corresponding to each tray and a range of paper sizes capable of double-sided printing determined by the double-sided printing transfer mechanism are provided.
In the judgment process,
The model of the printer is acquired, and the determination is made using the specific range corresponding to the acquired model.
A program characterized by that. In the program according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
The print settings further include whether or not scaling is executed and the setting of the paper size for scaling.
In the judgment process,
When the presence or absence of scaling execution is specified and the paper size for scaling is set, the paper size for scaling in the print settings becomes the paper size to be passed to the printer, and no execution of scaling is specified. If so, the paper size setting of the print setting becomes the paper size to be passed to the printer.
A program characterized by that. In the program according to claim 10.
On the computer
The scaling setting process for displaying the scaling setting screen that accepts the presence / absence of scaling execution and the setting of the paper size for scaling on the display device of the information processing apparatus is executed.
Furthermore, to the computer
Each time the scaling execution presence / absence is changed on the scaling setting screen, the determination process and the exclusive process are executed.
A program characterized by that. Communication interface and
With a computer
It is an information processing device equipped with
The printer can be connected to a printer via the communication interface, and the printer has a plurality of trays and a transport mechanism for performing double-sided printing, and each tray has a range of printable paper sizes. The print settings used for printing on the printer include the paper size setting, whether to perform double-sided printing, and the tray setting.
The computer
When the paper size to be passed to the printer is a user-defined paper size, a determination process for determining whether or not the user-defined paper size is within a specific range is executed, and the specific range is placed in a designated tray. It is a range included in both the corresponding printable paper size range and the double-sided printable paper size range determined by the transport mechanism.
Furthermore, the computer
When the determination process determines that the user-defined paper size is within the specific range, the printing of the combination of the user-defined paper size, double-sided printing, and the designated tray. When the setting is accepted and the judgment process determines that the user-defined paper size is not within the specific range, the combination of the user-defined paper size, double-sided printing, and the specified tray. Executes exclusive processing that does not accept the print settings of
An information processing device characterized by this.

Images