JP3098636B2 - Tape printing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape printing apparatus and a tape printing method, and more particularly to a method for easily specifying an attribute such as a character size when a plurality of lines are specified.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A tape printing apparatus prints one or more input lines of characters (concepts including symbols) (hereinafter referred to as sentences) on a continuous tape as necessary.
The printed tape is cut and discharged. Recently, cut tapes (hereinafter referred to as labels)
In consideration of the fact that is used for various purposes, there has been proposed a printer that can print not only one line but also two or more lines of text on a label.

In such a tape printer, a user can arbitrarily specify the number of lines, and can also arbitrarily specify a character size and a line pitch. In the past, the specification of the character size and the line pitch was performed individually for each line.

[0004]

However, in the conventional tape printing apparatus, the character size and the line pitch of each line are individually specified. Therefore, especially when the number of lines is large, it takes a long time to specify them. And was inconvenient. In fact, even if the width of the tape loaded in the device is changed, the user often desires a layout similar to the entire label, but in this case, the character size of each line and the pitch between lines must be specified individually. However, it was not easy to use from this point.

[0005] Further, if the length is about one line, the user can easily determine whether or not the tape width can be accommodated, and can appropriately specify the character size and the like. Depending on the width of the tape, the designation is often erroneous, and a desired print result may not be obtained.

Incidentally, as a tape printing apparatus that prints only one line, an apparatus that detects the width of the tape loaded in the apparatus and automatically determines the character size without specifying the character size by the user has been proposed. (3-7)
2461). That is, there has been proposed a tape printing apparatus which eliminates the trouble of specifying the character size and does not perform printing exceeding the tape width.

However, this method cannot be applied to a tape printer capable of printing two or more lines. what if,
Even if it is applied, it can be applied only under the constraint that the character sizes of a plurality of lines are equal, and labels of various layouts in which the character size is changed for each line cannot be realized. The tape width and the character size are one-to-one.
Therefore, there is no degree of freedom for the character size, and from this point, it can be said that the usability of the user is impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is a tape printing apparatus and method capable of printing one or more lines of text in various layouts and easily specifying attributes such as character size. It is intended to provide.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a text consisting of one or more input character strings is printed on a tape, and the printed tape is cut. In the discharging tape printer, a print line number setting means for setting the number of print lines, a size relationship between the character sizes when the number of print lines is one, and a size relationship between the character sizes for each line when the number of print lines is two or more. Select the relationship and line spacing size combination.
Has been stored as-option menu, set the selection menu
A character size attribute setting means for displaying a titration, a selection screen to set the character size attribute of each line, characterized by comprising a printing means for performing printing according to the character size attribute of each line that has been set.

Here, a tape width information fetching means for fetching width information of a tape to be printed is provided, and a character size attribute setting means selects a character size attribute of each line based on a relative size, not an absolute size. stores a selection menu use, the selection screen table for setting the selection menu
Shown to set the character size attribute of each line by the printing means it is preferably used to convert the relative size based on the tape width information on the absolute magnitude.

In this case, it is preferable that the set relative size of the character size attribute of each line is converted into an absolute size by using a conversion table. It is also preferable to do so.

Furthermore, the character size attribute setting means, displays the choices in the character size attribute selection menu for selection of each row defined in relative size, the graphic display in which the thickness of each line in stages piled it is good or <br/> arbitrariness.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape printing apparatus capable of printing a text including one or a plurality of text sections, a tape width information fetching means for fetching width information of a tape to be printed, and a text section. And a text section attribute setting means capable of setting the number of lines and the character size of each line for each text section. The text section attribute setting means sets the number of lines and the character size of each line for each text section. or automatically determined based on the tape width information, it is set arbitrarily
Can choose that allowed der is, in the case where the set arbitrarily, the line
Select the combination of the number and the character size of each line from the menu screen
And display the selected menu screen.
The number of lines for each sentence section and the font size of each line.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape printing method for printing a sentence comprising one or more input character strings on a tape, cutting the printed tape, and discharging the tape. The number of lines is set. If the number of printed lines is one, the size relation of the character size is stored. If the number of lines is two or more, the size relationship of the character size of each line and the combination of the line spacing are stored as a selection menu. This selection menu
A menu is displayed as a selection screen for setting, a character size attribute of each line is set, and printing is executed according to the set character size attribute of each line .

[0014]

[Action] In the first aspect of the present invention, when the number of print lines set by the print line number setting means is one line, the selection of the character size attribute setting means for the magnitude relationship of the character size menu
A new screen is displayed to allow the user to set the character size attribute of the line, and in the case of two or more lines, the character size attribute setting means selects a size menu of the character size of each line and a combination of line spacing sizes. Is displayed to allow the user to set the character size attribute of each line . The printing unit executes printing in accordance with the set character size attribute of each line . Thus, according to the setting of the character size information of each line by displaying the selection menu screen , the setting time can be shortened and the setting operation of the user can be simplified.

Here, if the selection menu is defined by a relative size instead of an absolute size, it is not necessary to prepare a large number of options in the selection menu in consideration of the width of the tape. The effect is even greater. When the selection menu has a relative size as described above, the printing unit is used by converting it into an absolute value according to the width of the loaded tape. The tape width information capturing means may be a sensor for detecting the tape width information, or may be an input key or a dip switch for setting the tape width information.

As a method of converting the relative size of the character size attribute of each set line into an absolute size, either a method using a conversion table or a method using an arithmetic expression can be applied. The former method has an effect that the absolute size can be easily obtained, and the latter method has an effect that the memory capacity required for conversion can be reduced.

Further, if each option of the selection menu is displayed to the user by a graphic display in which the thickness of each line is superimposed, the user can visually recognize the character size attribute of the desired line, and can set time and time. The setting operation can be further improved.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the width information of the tape to be printed is fetched by the tape width information fetching means, and the number of lines constituting the text section and the character size of each line are determined by the text section attribute setting means. It can be set for each text section. The sentence section attribute setting means automatically determines the number of lines and the character size of each line based on the tape width information, or arbitrarily sets the character size of each line.
Select whether to allow. This increases the degree of freedom in determining the number of lines for each sentence section and the character size of each line.

Here, the text segment attribute setting means is arbitrarily set.
The number of lines and the character size of each line.
And displays as a selection menu screen, the display has been selected
When the-option menu screen to select a character size of the line number and each row of each sentence compartment, preferably becomes easier selecting operation.

The third invention is a method invention corresponding to the above-described tape printing apparatus of the first invention.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a tape printing apparatus and method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(A) Overall Electrical Configuration of Embodiment First, the overall electrical configuration of the tape printer of this embodiment will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2, the tape printing apparatus of this embodiment, like other information processing apparatuses, is roughly
0, a control unit 20, and an output unit 30. The control unit 20 executes processing according to the information from the input unit 10, the processing stage at that time, and the like, and outputs the processing result and the like to the output unit 3.
0 indicates display output or print output.

The input unit 10 includes a key input unit 11 having a press key, a dial key, and the like, although not described in detail, and a tape width detection sensor 12. The key input unit 11 generates character code data and various control data to be given to the control unit 20. The tape width detection sensor 12 detects the width of the loaded tape and supplies tape width information to the control unit 20. In practice, the tape is housed in a tape cartridge, and the tape cartridge is provided with a physical identification element such as a hole for defining the tape width, and the tape width detection sensor 12 reads this physical identification element. To output tape width information.

The output unit 30 has a printing configuration and a display configuration. For example, the tape / ribbon feed motor 31 which is a stepping motor feeds a loaded tape or ink ribbon (not shown) to a predetermined printing position or outside the apparatus. The thermal head 32 is fixed and prints on a running tape by thermal transfer. For example, a maximum of 96 dots can be simultaneously printed. The tape / ribbon feed motor 31 and the thermal head 32 are driven by a motor drive circuit 33 and a head drive circuit 34 under the control of the control unit 20, respectively. Cutting of the printed tape is performed by, for example, an external force from a user or a cutter (not shown) driven by a motor (not shown).

In the case of the tape printing apparatus according to this embodiment,
A liquid crystal display 35 is provided as a display unit,
The liquid crystal display 35 is driven by a display drive circuit 36 under the control of the control unit 20.

The control unit 20 is constituted by, for example, a microcomputer, and includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22,
RAM 23, character generator ROM (CG-R
OM) 24, an input interface unit 25, and an output interface unit 26 are connected via a system bus 27.

The ROM 22 stores various processing programs and fixed data such as kana-kanji conversion dictionary data. The RAM 23 is used as a working memory, and stores fixed data relating to user input. The RAM 23 is backed up even when the power is turned off. The processing programs and fixed data stored in the ROM 22, the data stored in the RAM 23, and the like will be clarified in the description of various processes described later.

The CG-ROM 24 stores dot patterns of characters and symbols prepared in the tape printing apparatus, and corresponds to a dot pattern corresponding to code data specifying characters and symbols. Is output. Note that separate CG-Rs are used for display and printing.
An OM may be provided. The dot patterns of characters and symbols stored in the CG-ROM 24 have various sizes as described later.

The input interface unit 25 includes the input unit 10
And an interface between the control unit 20 and the output interface unit 26. The output interface unit 26 performs an interface between the output unit 30 and the control unit 20.

The CPU 21 uses a processing program in the ROM 22 determined according to an input signal from the input unit 10 and a processing stage at that time, while using the RAM 23 as a working area.
The processing is performed by appropriately using the fixed data stored in the storage unit 3, and the processing status, the processing result, and the like are displayed on the liquid crystal display 35 or printed on a tape (not shown).

(B) Setting of Style (Attribute of Sentence Section) FIG. 3 shows an example of label printing. This label is composed of a sentence (the entire print character string as described above) from three parts having different attributes, and the first constituent part is a one-line character string of an oversized character size in vertical writing. Become
This is an example in which the second component is a one-line character string of a large character size in vertical writing and the third component is a three-line character string of a small character size in horizontal writing. Hereinafter, in this specification, each component in a sentence having such a different attribute will be referred to as a “sentence section”. As described above, since text sections having different attributes are allowed in the same text, in this embodiment, text input is performed for each text section, and the input text sections are desirably arranged and printed in the longitudinal direction of the tape. To achieve the label.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the attributes of the text section (hereinafter, referred to as a style) and also an explanatory diagram of the contents presented to the user when setting the style. As shown in Fig. 4, the style of the text section is "vertical / horizontal", "size",
It consists of "surrounding rule". “Vertical / horizontal” is an attribute that defines whether characters in a text section are written vertically or horizontally, and prevents horizontal and vertical portions from being mixed in the same text section. "Size" indicates whether or not the device automatically determines the number of lines in the text section and the character size of each line, and if it is determined by the user, the relative combination of the number of lines and the character size of each line. This is a specified attribute, and prevents the printing from being disabled due to the designation of the text section size. The “surrounding rule” is an attribute that defines whether there is no decoration for the text section, and in some cases, whether the decoration is only the surrounding ruled line or a combination of the surrounding ruled line and shading.

Therefore, when a character string for a certain text section is input, the style for that text section must be determined. Therefore, in the tape printing apparatus of this embodiment, when the input advances to a new text section, a style setting operation is performed. In addition, it is also possible to set a text segment style for the entire apparatus irrespective of the character input for a specific text segment. Such a sentence section style for the entire apparatus is automatically applied, for example, as the style of the first sentence section of a sentence. Furthermore, it is possible to correct the style of the text section being input during the input.

In any case, the setting operation (including correction) of the sentence section style is almost the same, so that only the setting operation performed when the input proceeds to a new sentence section will be described below. FIGS. 1, 5 to 8 are flowcharts showing the setting operation of the sentence section style.

When the CPU 21 starts the program for setting a text section style shown in FIG. 5 stored in the ROM 22, first, "vertical / horizontal" is given a cursor as a display title (attribute type: setting item) and displayed. At the same time, the default value of the character direction is displayed as a priority option (step 100).

In the case of a tape printer, a large area cannot be practically used for the liquid crystal display 35 on the operation surface, and the amount of information that can be displayed is reduced. Therefore, it is not possible to simultaneously display all of the style information prepared as a menu as shown in FIG. 4, but to display a part of each information and sequentially set the values of the style elements.

When the initial setting image as described above is displayed, the CPU 21 next determines an operation key for the key input unit 11 (step 101). When the cursor key is operated, the display title (and the associated option) is switched and displayed, and the process returns to the operation key determination step 101 (step 102). On the other hand, when the selection key is operated, FIGS. 1, 6 to 8 correspond to the title at that time.
The processing shown in any of the above is executed.

When the selection key is operated while "vertical / horizontal" is displayed as the title, the CPU 21 starts the processing routine shown in FIG. 6, moves the cursor to the priority option, and selects the selection key and the cursor key. Is determined (steps 110 and 111). When the cursor key is operated, the displayed option (vertical or horizontal) is switched to another candidate and displayed, and then the process returns to the operation key determination step 111 (step 112). When the selection key is operated, the option displayed at that time is set as the attribute “vertical / horizontal”, then the cursor is displayed with “size” as the title, and the subtitle of the text section size is displayed as the default. The value (automatic) is displayed as a priority option, and step 1 in FIG.
01 (steps 113 and 114).

When the selection key is operated when "size" is displayed as the title, the CPU 21 starts the processing routine shown in FIG. 1, moves the cursor to the priority option, and then selects the selection key and the cursor key. Is determined (steps 120 and 121). When the cursor key is operated, the option is switched to another subtitle and displayed, and then the process returns to the operation key determination step 121 (step 122).

When the selection key is operated while a subtitle is displayed, the subtitle displayed at that time is taken in as a set value, and it is determined whether or not the subtitle is "automatic" (step 123, 124). In the case other than "automatic", the combination of the character size of each line in the indicated number of lines (this also defines the line pitch as described later) is changed to the position where the subtitle has been displayed so far. After the graphic display, it is determined which of the selection key and the cursor key has been operated (step 1).
25, 126). When the cursor key is operated,
After switching the option to another combination of character sizes and displaying the graphic, the process returns to the operation key determination step 126 (step 127). When the selection key is operated, the combination of the character sizes displayed at that time is taken in as a set value (step 128). When the set value of the character size is acquired as described above, or when “automatic” is selected, a cursor is provided with “enclosing rule” as a title and displayed, and the default value (none) is prioritized. It is displayed as an option and returns to step 101 of FIG. 5 (step 129).

In the case of this embodiment, the number of lines in "auto" is determined according to the input by the user, and is set to one or two lines so that printing is possible even when a tape of any tape width is loaded. It is. By providing the automatic text section, the user can use the automatic text section as needed, and it is not necessary to specify each combination of the number of lines and the character size.

In the case of this embodiment, the combination of the character size of each line in the designated number of lines is a relative value designation. For example, when three lines are specified as the number of sentence section lines, as shown in FIG. 4, “same × 3”, “small and large”, “small and large”, “large and small”, “large and small” It is possible to select from the following five combinations. This enables simple designation without considering the width of the loaded tape. Also, as mentioned above,
Even in the case of three rows, various layouts are possible.

As described above, the relative value is specified as follows.
A line having a thickness corresponding to the relative character size is displayed as a stacked graphic and is selected. This allows the user to specify a combination of character sizes with the print image.

FIG. 9 is an example in which the combination of the character sizes of each line is graphically displayed. The combination of two lines of “large and small”, the combination of two lines of “small and large”, and the size of 4
Shows a combination of rows. In practice, identification marks (a, b, and c in FIG. 9) are also displayed on each graphic display so that users and service personnel can conveniently talk about combinations of character sizes. .

When the selection key is operated while "enclosing rule" is displayed as the title, the CPU 21 starts the processing routine shown in FIG. 7, moves the cursor to the priority option, and sets the selection key and the cursor key. It is determined which one has been operated (steps 130 and 131). When the cursor key is operated, the option (none, boxed rule or boxed + shaded) is switched to another option and displayed, and then the process returns to the operation key determination step 131 (step 13).
2). When the selection key is operated, the option displayed at that time is fetched as a set value, and a cursor is provided and displayed with "End of designation" as the title, and the process returns to step 101 in FIG. ).

When the selection key is operated while "End of designation" is displayed as the title, the CPU 21 starts the processing routine shown in FIG. 8 and newly starts the processing routine shown in FIG. After storing the set text segment style in the style area of the RAM 23 associated with the text of the text segment for which the setting is requested (step 140), a text input image for the text segment is displayed (step 141). The processing for setting the text section style is completed, and text input is enabled.

The style of the text section can be set by the above operation.

(C) Printing Process FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process at the time of printing.
With the text stored in the text area of the RAM 23, the user can print the text at any time.

When the print key of the key input section 11 is operated, the CPU 21 retrieves information on the tape width loaded in the apparatus (step 200). After that, while using the relative value / absolute value conversion table in the ROM 22 to convert various relative values in the set text section style into absolute values, printing is performed on the tape of the loaded tape width. It is determined whether or not it is possible (step 20).
1). If the printing is not possible, a warning that printing is impossible is issued, and then the state is returned to the state at the time of the printing instruction, and the printing process is terminated (steps 202 and 203). If printing is possible, the text in the text area is stored in the RAM 23 according to the set text segment style and other attributes while converting various relative values in the set text segment style into absolute values. The text is expanded in the print buffer and the text is printed (steps 204 and 205). Then, a return process to the state immediately before the print key is operated is executed, and a series of print processes is ended (step 206). At the time of the above-described development, the plurality of text sections are developed in order in the tape longitudinal direction.

Note that, in addition to the attribute (style) for the text section, the attribute for the entire text (label) such as the label length and the margin length, and the attribute for a single character such as italic characters and white characters Therefore, pixel development is performed in consideration of all such attributes.

The tape width information may be taken in from the tape width detection sensor 12 at the time of printing.
Alternatively, what is read from the tape width detection sensor 12 and stored in the RAM 23 when the tape cartridge is loaded may be taken out and used.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a conversion table stored in the ROM 22 for obtaining the absolute value of the character size of each line from the relative combination of the character sizes of the lines in each sentence section. Is for a three-line text section.

For example, printing cannot be executed when 6 mm and 9 mm tapes are loaded. Also, 12mm
If “small and large” without a surrounding ruled line is set when a tape is loaded, the first line and the second line
It is stipulated that a line is printed with a character size of 16 × 16 dots (P) and a third line is printed with a character size of 32 × 32 dots (S).

Although not shown in FIG. 11, this conversion table also defines information between lines. For example,
In the case of three lines, there are upper and lower margins and two lines,
Line pitch information and margin information are also incorporated in the relative value / absolute value conversion table in advance. Even in such a case, the line pitch is not presented to the user at the time of style setting. The operation of allocating the remaining number of dots obtained by subtracting the number of dots required for the character area from the total number of dots in the tape width direction determined by the tape width between the upper and lower margins and two lines according to a predetermined rule is a relative value / absolute value. It may be performed at the time of conversion.

For a text section having a size of “automatic”, any one of the conversion methods (fixed) of the size “one line” is applied if the number of lines is one, and if the number of lines is two, One of the conversion methods (fixed) of the size “2 rows” is applied.

(D) Effects of the Embodiment According to the above embodiment, the character size is set for a text section of one line, and the combination of the character size of each line and the line size is set for a text section of two or more lines. Since the character size attribute of the line in the text section is selected by the presentation of this menu, it is possible to easily specify the character size of each line.

In this case, it is assumed that the menu is defined not by an absolute size but by a relative size,
Since the data is converted into an absolute size based on the width of the tape loaded at the time of printing and used, the selection becomes easier. Further, even when the tape is changed to one having a different tape width, it is not necessary to reset the setting.

Further, since the menu presented to the user is a graphic display in which the thickness of each line is superimposed, the user can visually recognize the layout and make a selection designation, making selection easier. It will be.

Furthermore, since a plurality of menu item contents (combinations of character sizes) are prepared, various layouts can be selected by the user even when the same number of lines is specified.

In the above embodiment, the character size attribute of the line is designated by a relative value and converted into an absolute value in consideration of the tape width at the time of printing. Can always be prevented.

Conventionally, printing exceeding the tape width is sometimes performed in accordance with a specification that protrudes from the tape width. In this case, ink adheres to the platen, causing unnecessary stains on the label or reducing the diameter of the platen. There has been a risk that the label length may change and a predetermined label length may not be realized.

(E) Other Embodiments In the above embodiment, the character size attribute of a line is presented by a menu of relative values, but may be presented by a menu of absolute values. In this case, the number of combinations of character sizes to be prepared is larger than the menu of the relative value, but the printing process can be simplified.

In the above embodiment, the conversion of the character size attribute of the line from the relative value to the absolute value is performed using the conversion table. However, the conversion may be performed according to an arithmetic expression. .

For example, if a tape having a width of 12 mm is loaded, the maximum number of dots in the width direction for this tape is 72 dots, and three lines “large and small” are designated, x + 0.5x + 0.5x = The value of x that satisfies <72 and determines the maximum value among the number of dots of the prepared character size. 16 x 16 for character size
Dot, 24 × 24 dot, 32 × 32 dot, 48 ×
When 48 dots or the like are prepared, x is 32, and “large” is a character size of 32 × 32 dots,
“Small” has a character size of 16 × 16 dots. Then, the remaining number of dots 72-64 = 8 dots other than the characters is allocated to the line spacing and the upper and lower margins.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified. Examples of a few modifications include those having a maximum number of lines of 5 or more, those having a loadable tape width of 6 or more,
As the liquid crystal display 35, a large screen display can be used, and a large number of menu options can be presented at one time.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a tape printing apparatus and method which can print a plurality of lines of texts of various layouts and can easily specify attributes such as character size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart (part 3: setting of character size attribute) of a text section style setting process according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a text section.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an attribute (style) of a text section.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (part 1) of a setting process of a text section style according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart (part 2) of a setting process of a text section style according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart (part 4) of a setting process of a text section style according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (part 5) of a setting process of a text section style according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a graphic display related to selection of a combination of character sizes in a line according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a conversion table for converting a combination of character sizes into a relative value / absolute value according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 input unit, 11 key input unit, 12 tape width detection sensor, 20 control unit, 21 CPU, 22 ROM
23 RAM, 30 output unit, 31 tape / ribbon feed motor, 32 thermal head, 35 liquid crystal display.

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-5-84975 (JP, A) JP-A-1-113258 (JP, A) JP-A-3-156668 (JP, A) JP-A-5-246078 (JP) JP-A-5-305749 (JP, A) JP-A-5-305731 (JP, A) JP-A-5-305730 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) B41J 2/485 B41J 3/36 B41J 21/00 G06F 3/12

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] And a printing line number setting means for setting a printing line number in a tape printing apparatus for printing a sentence comprising one or more input character strings on a tape, cutting the printed tape and discharging the tape. , the size relationship of the character size when the number of printing lines of one line, 2
A combination of the magnitude relationship and line spacing size of a character size of each line in the case of the above line is stored as a selection menu, to display the selection menu as setting selection screen
Character size attribute setting means for setting the character size attribute of each line, the tape printing apparatus is characterized in that a printing means for performing printing according to the character size attribute of each line that has been set. 2. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tape width information fetching means for fetching width information of a tape to be printed, and wherein the character size attribute setting means comprises a relative rather than an absolute size. the election of each line of the character size attribute for the selected in the magnitude
Stores a-option menu, for the setting of this selection menu
A tape printing apparatus, wherein a character size attribute of each line is set by displaying a selection screen , and the printing means converts the relative size to an absolute size based on the tape width information and uses the absolute size. 3. The tape printer according to claim 2, wherein the relative size of the character size attribute of each set line is converted into an absolute size using a conversion table. Printing device. 4. The tape printer according to claim 2, wherein the relative size of the character size attribute of each set line is converted into an absolute size by an arithmetic expression. 5. A tape printing apparatus according to claim 2, said character size attribute setting means, the selection Meni <br/>-menu for character size attribute selection of each row defined in relative size tape printing apparatus and displaying the choices, the graphical display in which the thickness of each line in stages superposed in. 6. A tape printing apparatus capable of printing a text composed of one or a plurality of text sections, a tape width information fetching means for fetching width information of a tape to be printed, a number of lines constituting the text section and each line. a character size and a settable sentences compartment attribute setting means for each of the text sections, this sentence compartment attribute setting means, the character size of the line number and each row of each sentence for each compartment, to the tape width information either automatically determining, optionally or make settings in the selectable <br/> Ah is, in case of setting arbitrarily the number of lines and each line character service based
When a combination of sizes is displayed as a selection menu screen,
Then, from the displayed selection menu screen,
A tape printing apparatus, wherein the number of lines and the character size of each line are set . 7. A tape printing method for printing a text consisting of one or more input character strings on a tape, cutting the printed tape, and discharging the tape, wherein the number of printing lines is set, and In the case of a line, the size relation of the character size is 2
If there are more than lines, the size of the character size of each line and the combination of line spacing are stored as a selection menu.
Display this selection menu as a selection screen for setting
To set the character size attribute of each line, the tape printing method, characterized in that for executing a printing in response to the character size attribute of each line that has been set.