JP2968782B1 - Print result automatic evaluation method - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and system for automatically evaluating a print result that enables a print result of a printer device to be automatically evaluated. An input key input for a print test is stored in an input log file in advance, and a standard result file storing a result of a print test performed in a predetermined operating environment for normal printing is provided. At the time of the test,
Reads the input key from the input log file, executes the print test, and compares the print result when the comparison check code is read from the input log file with the corresponding standard result stored in the standard result file. The comparison is performed, and the comparison result is output to the comparison result storage file 50.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a technique for evaluating a printing result of a printer device, and more particularly, to a method and a system for automating the printing result evaluation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a printing operation environment or the like changes from before,
For example, when the system environment is changed such as the introduction of a new printer device or a new personal computer, an operation check is performed to determine whether or not printing is correctly performed by the printer device.

Conventionally, as a method of checking the printing result of a printer device, a printing result of a correct printing result printed on a sheet is prepared in advance, and a printing program of a new version, a newly installed personal computer, a printer, This has been done by visually inspecting the result of actual printing using a printer driver (printer control software) or the like.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is a problem that a large amount of work time is required for the confirmation work, and the burden on the operator increases.

Another problem is that 100% accurate error detection cannot be performed due to visual confirmation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print result automatic evaluation method and system capable of automatically evaluating a print result of a printer device. It is in.

[0007] As a conventional inspection method for automating the inspection of the print result, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-58008 discloses that the validity of the print result can be confirmed by calculating the number of dots of the print data. Create a dot-by-character recording medium for calculating the number of dots from character data,
The number of dots in the character data can be calculated, and the number of dots is calculated according to the type of print data (character, graphic, image) sent from the verification program, and the number of dots in each page is set to black in the file dot memory in the inspection target device. A method of comparing the total number of dots and outputting the result has been proposed. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
Japanese Patent No. 6508 discloses an apparatus which does not require visual confirmation of a print result by comparing video data requiring evaluation and correct video data corresponding to a print result visually determined to be correct by a video data comparing means. Proposed. As described below, the present invention provides an evaluation method different from these methods.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an automatic print result evaluation method according to the present invention comprises a printer.
Input key operation by the operator for the printing test,
Necessary information such as print file designation and print parameters is stored in an input log file in advance as necessary, and the input key is used to pre- store the information in a predetermined operating environment for normal printing.
The result of the print test of the printer is stored in a standard result file in advance, and at the time of the test, the information from the input log file is read out , the print test conditions are set to the test target printer, and the print test is executed. And comparing a printing result in a predetermined printing step with a standard result stored in the standard result file and corresponding to the printing step, and outputting a comparison result.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described. The present invention, in its preferred embodiments,
(A) An input key, a print file name, and print parameter information for a print test in a printer (20 in FIG. 1) are input from input means (60 in FIG. 1), and a processing result to be compared is printed on the printer. (B) a storage area for storing a print image to the printer when the print comparison code is input (1 in FIG. 1).
The contents of 1) are output to a standard result file (30 in FIG. 1), and the key codes input from the input means are stored in an input log file (40 in FIG. 1). (C) , When in test mode with new operating environment, etc.
When the designated information and the input key from the input log file (40 in FIG. 1) are read, the print test condition is set and the print test is executed, and when the print comparison code is read, the standard result file (40 in FIG. 1) is read. 30), the corresponding standard result is read out to the I / O buffer area (12 in FIG. 1), and this is compared with the contents of the storage area (11 in FIG. 1) for storing the print image to the printer. Output to the comparison result storage file (50 in FIG. 1).

The automatic print result evaluation method of the present invention reduces the number of work steps, prevents erroneous operations, and automatically performs all steps from input of print parameters to comparison and evaluation of print results. It is possible to prevent the printing result confirmation / error from being visually checked by hand and to automatically execute the edition of the printer driver, the change / modification of the printer, the appropriateness of the operation when the printing program is changed, and the evaluation of the printing result compatibility.

The automatic print result evaluation system of the present invention includes a printing device (printer) (20 in FIG. 1), an input means such as a keyboard (60 in FIG. 1), and a data processing device (computer) (FIG. 1). 10), an input log file (40 in FIG. 1) in which a print file name, print parameter information, and an input key input from the input unit for a print test are stored in advance; And a standard result file (30 in FIG. 1) that stores the results of a print test in a predetermined operating environment in which printing is performed normally. Executing a print test condition setting and test based on the information read from the input log file, and storing a result at a predetermined printing stage in the standard result file; A comparator means for outputting a comparison with standard results corresponding to the printing phase comparison result to the comparison result storage file (13 in FIG. 1).

In the embodiment of the present invention, the comparing means can be realized by a program executed on a computer.

[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present invention includes a printer 20, a computer 10, a keyboard 60 as an input unit, an input log file 40 in which input keys to be input for a print test are stored in advance. And a standard result file 30 which is a result of performing a print test in a predetermined operating environment for normal printing.
A comparing unit that executes a print test based on the input key in another new operating environment and compares a result in a predetermined printing stage with a standard result corresponding to the printing stage stored in the standard result file 30 13, an IO buffer memory 11 serving as a file input / output buffer, and a print image data storage buffer 12 for storing a print image to the printer 20, and stores a comparison result of the comparison unit 13 of the computer 10. It comprises a comparison result storage file 50.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the processing flow of one embodiment of the present invention. The operation of one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the input log file 40 includes a history of input key operations from a keyboard for a print test, selection of a print file, and print parameters (designation of the number of copies, designation of a printer, margins). (Information on designation, designation of page number, designation of header / footer) is also input in advance, and this information is used for setup during a print test.

As an initial stage, when nothing is stored in the input log file 40, the operator performs print file selection and print parameter setting input, and then performs a print test in accordance with the key input from the keyboard 60. Will be

The comparison unit 13 of the computer 10 executes a processing operation according to a key input from the keyboard 60.

The operator inputs a print comparison code by pressing a predetermined special key from the keyboard 60 when the print result to be compared with the processing result in the previous operating environment is printed on the printer 20. .

The comparison unit 13 outputs the contents of the print image data storage buffer 11 to the standard result file 30 when the print comparison code is input from the keyboard 60.

All of these keys input in the print test are sent to and stored in the input log file 40 together with the print file information and the parameter setting information described above.

Next, when a print test is performed with input keys stored in the input log file 40, first, when the computer 10 is switched to the test mode by an operation from the keyboard 60 or the like (step 201), a comparison is made. The unit 13 reads necessary information from the input log file 40 (step 202), performs a setup for the print test, and executes a specific process for the print test (step 203).

If a print comparison code is detected from the input keys (YES in step 204), the corresponding standard result is read from the standard result file 30 and stored in the IO buffer memory 12 (step 205).

The contents of the print image data storage buffer 11 are compared with the contents of the IO buffer memory 12, and the comparison result is stored in the comparison result storage file 50 (step 2).
06).

The above operation is performed until the print test is completed (step 207).

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Specially reduces the number of man-hours required for evaluation by automatically performing the evaluation using a computer instead of relying on manual work for setting the test conditions, executing the print test, and outputting the evaluation results when executing a printer print test. It has the effect of reducing.

According to the present invention, since the standard result file and the print image data are automatically compared by the computer, an error can be reliably detected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 computer 11 print image data storage buffer 12 I / O buffer memory 13 comparison unit 20 printer 30 standard result file 40 input log file 50 comparison result storage file 60 keyboard (input means)

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-9-11587 (JP, A) JP-A-60-217186 (JP, A) JP-A-8-287217 (JP, A) JP-A-10-44566 (JP, A) JP-A-6-274374 (JP, A) JP-A-8-137743 (JP, A) JP-A-7-89149 (JP, A) JP-A-7-175679 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 29/46 G06F 3/12

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A predetermined operation for storing necessary information such as an input key operation by an operator for a print test on a printer, a print file designation and a print parameter as needed in an input log file, and performing normal printing. Using the input key in the environment
The result of the print test of the printer is stored in a standard result file in advance, and at the time of the test, the information from the input log file is read , the print test conditions are set for the printer to be tested, and the print test is executed. And comparing the printing result at a predetermined printing stage with the standard result corresponding to the printing stage stored in the standard result file, and outputting the comparison result. . Wherein (a) the input key for the printing test at the printer input from the input means, printing binding from the input means at the time when the processing results to be compared is printed on said printer
Type a predetermined printing comparison code for comparing the results, the (b) at the time when the printing comparison code has been entered, the contents of the storage area for storing the print image to the printer,
In addition to outputting to a standard result file, a key code input from the input means is stored in an input log file. (C) In a test mode in another operating environment, information from the input log file is stored. When the readout is performed, the print test conditions are set and the print test is executed, and when the print comparison code is read out from the input log file, the corresponding standard result is read out from the standard result file, and this is printed on the printer. And comparing the result with a content of a storage area for storing the comparison result, and outputting a comparison result to a comparison result storage file. 3. The input log file includes print file selection information and / or print parameter designation information input from the input means, in addition to a key input operation from an operator. Item 6. The automatic print result evaluation method according to Item 2. 4. An input key operation for a print test in a printer, designation of a print file, and necessary information such as print parameters are inputted from an input means, and a processing result to be compared at that time is printed on the printer. The operator inputs a predetermined print comparison code from the input means, and (a) outputs the contents of a storage area for storing a print image to the printer when the print comparison code is input to a standard result file. And (b) storing a key code input from the input means in the input log file in the print test in an input log file, and (b) reading information from the input log file and setting print test conditions when the test mode is set. continue to perform configuration and print tests, when reading the print comparison code from the input log file, said standard results off Reading the corresponding standard result from the file, comparing the read result with the contents of the storage area for storing the print image to the printer, and outputting the comparison result to a comparison result storage file. (A) and (b) Recording medium for recording a program for executing the program on a computer. 5. A printing apparatus, input means such as a keyboard, a data processing apparatus, input key operations input from the input means for inputting a print test on the printing apparatus, print file designation, print range An input log file in which necessary information such as print parameters are stored in advance, and a standard result file storing a result of a print test in a predetermined operating environment in which printing is normally performed in the print test. In the print test mode, the apparatus sets print test conditions and executes a test based on the information read from the input log file, and stores a result of a predetermined printing step in the standard result file. Yes,
A print result automatic evaluation system, comprising: a comparison unit that compares the standard result corresponding to the printing step and outputs the comparison result to a comparison result storage file. 6. An input key for a print test in said printing apparatus is inputted from said input means, and when a processing result to be compared is printed on said printing apparatus, a predetermined print comparison code is inputted from said input means. When the print comparison code is input, the contents of the storage area for storing the print image to the printer are output to the standard result file, and the key code input from the input means is input to the input unit. 6. The automatic print result evaluation system according to claim 5, wherein the system is stored in a log file. 7. When the test mode is set, the comparison means reads an input key from the input log file and executes a print test. When the print comparison code is read, the standard result file is read. 6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising reading a corresponding standard result from the storage device, comparing the read standard result with the contents of a storage area for storing a print image to be output to the printer, and outputting the comparison result to the comparison result storage file. Print result automatic evaluation system.