JP3357018B2 - Form printing method and system device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a form printing method and a system apparatus, and more particularly, to efficiently print a required number of forms by applying a network technology while using a single overlay expressing a form format. And a form printing system device directly used for carrying out the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a form management system for centrally managing various forms in a corporate network has been put into practical use.

According to this type of form management system, a form file as an overlay composed of form format data defining a form of a form and a data file composed of form input data forming optional input information in the form are stored in a server. Each file is downloaded from the machine to each terminal, and these files are merged on a browser (browsing software) of the terminal and displayed on a screen. Further, a form (form image) as the merged data is connected to the terminal. Printing using a local printer.

[0004]

When printing a form in the form management system described above, the following problems arise.

[0005] That is, the display image on the browser is generally
Since it is expressed in a page description language such as HTML, even if the form image displayed on the browser is printed, the intended layout of the form cannot be completely restored.
In other words, there is a problem that only a hardcopy form output can be obtained, and the print result greatly differs depending on the type of browser used.

Further, printing of a form image by HTML is
In the case where continuous printing is to be performed for a plurality of forms, there is a problem that the printing speed becomes extremely slow due to the necessity of merging each time.

Further, when printing an actual form image by HTML, it is necessary to synchronize the print settings on the browser with the settings of the printer main body and the printer driver, and the printer settings are naturally different for each vendor. However, there is a problem that the user operation for that is very complicated.

On the other hand, there is a method of using PDF as a page description language so as not to cause the above problems. However, PDF generally has a large amount of data and is not suitable for a large amount of print processing. However, there is a problem that a dedicated application for printing (such as Acrobat Reader) must be prepared in each terminal.

The main objects to be solved by the present invention are as follows.

That is, a first object of the present invention is to provide a form printing method and a system device capable of printing a form according to an original layout.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a form printing method and a system device capable of printing a large amount of forms at high speed.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a form printing method and a system device which are not affected by the existing client environment.

[0013] Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the specification, the drawings, and particularly from the claims.

[0014]

According to the method of the present invention,
A form file as an overlay in which form format data that defines the form format is described in a predetermined file format, and a data file in which form input data forming optional input information in the form is described in text format, The form file and the data file are downloaded from the server machine to the terminal in advance and set in the server machine, and the file format applied to the description of the form file is later merged on the terminal. From the form file in the form file once converted to an intermediate language that allows direct conversion from
The form input data in the downloaded data file is merged with the form input data at the terminal, the merged data is directly converted into the printer language corresponding to a predetermined printer to be used, and the printer driver is passed through. Then, by transferring the data from the terminal to the printer, a large amount of forms can be printed at a high speed by the printer based on the directly converted data.

On the other hand, in the system apparatus of the present invention, a form file as an overlay in which form data defining a form of a form is described in a predetermined file format, and form input data forming optional input information in the form are included. A system device having a server machine that stores a data file described in a text format in advance, a terminal connected to the server machine via a network, and a printer connected to the terminal, A client represented by browsing software used by the terminal to download a Java applet from the server machine and to download the form file and the data file stored in the server machine on the Java applet. With application function Download means, and an intermediate language conversion means for temporarily converting the file format applied to the description of the form file into an intermediate language that allows direct conversion from the merged data merged by the data merge means to the printer language, The data merge unit for merging the form format data in the form file once converted into the intermediate language by the intermediate language conversion unit and the form input data in the data file; Printer language conversion and transfer means for directly converting the merged data into a printer language corresponding to the printer, passing through a printer driver and transferring the merged data to the printer, thereby causing the printer to print a large amount of forms at high speed; Take characteristic configuration means.

More specifically, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention achieves the above object by adopting the following novel characteristic configuration methods and means.

That is, a first feature of the method of the present invention is that a form file as an overlay in which form format data defining a form of a form is described in a predetermined file format,
A data file in which form input data forming optional input information in the form is described in text format, is set in the server machine in advance, and the form file and the data file are downloaded from the server machine to a terminal, At the terminal, the file format applied to the description of the form file is once converted to an intermediate language that allows direct conversion from the merged data to a printer language, and the once converted to the intermediate language. The form format data in the form file and the form input data in the downloaded data file are merged by the terminal, and the merged data is converted into the printer language corresponding to a predetermined printer to be used. Directly from the terminal, pass through the printer driver and By transferring the printer, comprising performing at a high speed a large number of forms printed in the printer based on the direct conversion data, in the configuration adopting form printing method.

According to a second feature of the method of the present invention, the downloading of the form file and the data file to the terminal according to the first feature of the method of the present invention causes the terminal to perform browsing upon operation of the terminal. By accessing a client application typified by software, Java is accessed from the server machine.
After the applet is downloaded and the startup process is completed, a temporary file is created or a memory is reserved for temporarily storing the form file and data file to be downloaded, and the printer setting constant is set based on the specification in the client application. In the form printing method, which is performed after the server machine creates the document.

A third feature of the method of the present invention is that the printing of the form in the first or second feature of the method of the present invention is performed over a plurality of pages for a plurality of sets of the form input data. After overlay elements in the printer language are once expanded on the memory of the printer, a plurality of data elements in the printer language are directed to the memory so as to be superimposed on the overlay elements expanded on the memory, respectively. The present invention resides in adopting a configuration of a form printing method that is performed by continuously transferring.

A fourth feature of the method of the present invention is that the terminal according to the first, second or third feature of the method of the present invention corresponds to a special PDL which is not generalized in printing the form. In this embodiment, the merged data is not directly converted into the printer language, but is converted into a printer language via a printer driver corresponding to the printer and transferred to the printer. It is in.

On the other hand, a first feature of the system apparatus of the present invention is that a form file as an overlay in which form format data defining a form of a form is described in a predetermined file format, and optional input information in the form. A system device having a server machine for storing in advance a data file in which form input data is described in text format, a terminal connected to the server machine via a network, and a printer connected to the terminal Wherein browsing software is used in which the terminal downloads a Java applet from the server machine and downloads the form file and the data file stored in the server machine on the Java applet. Representative client application functions Download means, and an intermediate language conversion means for temporarily converting the file format applied to the description of the form file into an intermediate language that allows direct conversion from the merged data merged by the data merge means to the printer language later. The data merge means for merging the form format data in the form file once converted into the intermediate language by the intermediate language conversion means and the form input data in the data file; Printer language conversion and transfer means for directly converting the merged data into a printer language corresponding to the printer, passing through a printer driver and transferring the merged data to the printer, thereby causing the printer to print a large amount of forms at high speed. For adopting the configuration of a form printing system That.

According to a second feature of the system apparatus of the present invention, the printer language conversion / transfer means in the first feature of the system apparatus of the present invention performs printing of the form on the printer for a plurality of sets of the form input data. When it is necessary to perform the operation over a plurality of pages, the overlay elements in the printer language are temporarily expanded on the memory of the printer, and then the sets of data elements in the printer language are expanded on the memory. And a function of continuously transferring the data to the memory so as to be superimposed on the overlay elements.

A third feature of the system device of the present invention is that the printer language conversion / transfer means in the first or second feature of the system device of the present invention is adapted to a special PDL which is not generalized. A function of converting the merged data merged by the data merging unit into the printer language without directly converting the merged data into the printer language, through a printer driver corresponding to the printer, and transferring the converted data to the printer. , Together with
The present invention resides in the configuration adoption of a form printing system device.

A fourth feature of the system device of the present invention is that the printer in the first, second or third feature of the above-described system device of the present invention is such that the printer is a local printer directly connected to the terminal, The present invention lies in the adoption of the configuration of a form printing system device, which is one of arbitrary network printers.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings with respect to an example of an apparatus and an example of a method corresponding thereto.

(Example of Apparatus) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a form printing system according to an example of the apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, this form printing system apparatus α includes, for example, a server machine 1 provided on an intranet in a company and a terminal (client machine) connected to the server machine 1 via a network. 2
And a printer 3 connected to the terminal 2. In the drawing, as one mode of the printer 3,
Although a local printer directly connected to the terminal 2 is shown, this may be any network printer existing on a network (the same applies in the following description).

Here, the server machine 1 forms a form file f1 as an overlay in which form data defining the form of the form to be printed is described in a predetermined file format, and forms optional input information in the form. A data file f2 in which form input data is described in a text format is stored in advance. The above-mentioned form format data includes mapping information, ruled line information, character information, and character modification information that constitute the form.

The terminal 2 has a client application (hereinafter, referred to as “client AP”) 4 such as a browser as a download unit for downloading the form file f1 and the data file f2 stored in the server machine 1. , The files f1 and f2 related to the download are displayed on a Java applet supplied from the server machine 1 (“J
"AVA" is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems. ).

Further, the terminal 2 has a print system 5 which is a main part of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the print system 5 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG.
Is mainly composed of a language conversion processing unit 6. The language processing conversion unit 6 includes an intermediate language conversion unit 7, a language conversion module 8, and a data processing module 9.

Here, first, the data processing module 9 merges the form format data in the form file f1 acquired by the client AP4 and the form input data in the data file f2 (the form format data is added to the form format data). The language conversion module 8 directly converts the merged data obtained by the data processing module 9 into a predetermined printer language 10 corresponding to the printer 3. A printer language conversion transfer unit that transfers the language 10 to the printer 3 is configured.

On the other hand, the intermediate language conversion unit 7 includes an intermediate language conversion unit for temporarily converting a file format applied to the description of the form file f1 into an intermediate language that enables direct conversion from merge data to the printer language 10. Constitute. That is, the intermediate language conversion unit 7 outputs the form file f1
In consideration of the fact that a plurality of types of file formats can be applied to the description (as a result, it functions so as to absorb differences between the printer languages 10 at the output destination).

The printer language 10 described above is:
PDL corresponding to the printer 3 (for example, PostScript)
Means “data” described in the printer language 1
0 passes through a printer driver 12 set in an operating system (hereinafter, referred to as “OS”) 11 installed in the terminal 2 to reach a printer port 13. Prints according to the original layout regardless of the client environment.

The language conversion module 8 converts the overlay element in the printer language 10 to the printer 3 when the form is to be printed on the printer 3 over a plurality of pages for a plurality of sets of form input data. Once expanded on the memory (not shown) of the printer language 1
0 are continuously transferred to the memory so as to be superimposed on the overlay elements developed on the memory, respectively, whereby a large amount of forms are printed in the printer 3 at high speed. .

As described above, the main structure of the present invention can be obtained.
L, the GDI data 14 defined by the type of the OS 11 is converted into the language conversion module 8 as necessary.
And converts the GDI data 14 into a required printer language via a corresponding printer driver 12 and prints a required form.

(Example of Method) Next, an example of a corresponding method implemented based on the configuration of the form printing system apparatus α configured as described above will be described.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are an operation sequence diagram and an operation flow diagram, respectively, for explaining an example of a method applied to the form printing system apparatus α (this will be described mainly with reference to FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 3, in this method example, first, the user operates the terminal 2 to instruct a print instruction of a required form, and the terminal 2 operates the client AP 4 such as a browser (browsing software). It is started by accessing (SQ1). Along with this, the client AP 4 makes a request to the server machine 1 to acquire a startup process (SQ2), downloads the Java applet (SQ3), and completes the required startup process acquisition (see above, “ST1” in FIG. 4). ").)

Next, the client AP4 initializes the set constants in the print system 5 (SQ4), and stores a temporary file or a memory (both not shown) for temporarily storing the form file f1 obtained from this.
Created or secured on the terminal 2 side (corresponding to the processing of “ST2” in FIG. 4).

Next, the client AP 4 issues a preparation command to the printing system 5 (SQ5), and the printing system 5 determines the PDL of the printer 3 as the printing destination of the form, based on the start argument specified in the client AP 4.
The server machine 1 issues a command to cause the server machine 1 to create a setting constant consisting of the number of pages to be printed and the number of copies (SQ6), whereby the server machine 1 sets the printing form of the required form (see above, “ST3 ").)

Next, the client AP 4 instructs the server machine 1 to acquire the form file f1 and the data file f2 (SQ7), and the files f1 and f2 are read.
f2 is downloaded (SQ8), and the files f1 and f2 that are being acquired are concurrently downloaded with this download.
A process for adding to the temporary file or memory previously created or secured is performed (SQ9), and the form file f1 and the data file f2 are registered (see FIG. 4).
Corresponds to the processing of “ST4”).

Next, the client AP 4 instructs the print system 5 to print a required form (SQ10), and thereafter executes the print instruction in the print system 5, that is, the language conversion module 8 and the data processing module 9 The printer language conversion (including the intermediate language conversion unit 7 in some cases) is performed with reference to the temporary file or the form file f1 and the data file f2 registered in the memory. Then, with the start of the print system 5, the printer port 13 in the OS 11 is opened, and the printer 3 of the printer language 10 generated by the print system 5 (language conversion processing unit 6).
Are sequentially written on the memory (SQ11),
The required form is output from the printer 3 (SQ1).
2) When the output is completed, the printing system 5
Notifies the client AP4 of the print instruction result (SQ13) (the above is the process of "ST5" in FIG. 4).

When printing a required form over a plurality of pages, the print system 5 uses the printer language 1
0 is once developed on the memory of the printer 3 and then a plurality of sets of data elements in the printer language 10 are superimposed on the overlay elements developed on the memory, respectively. Execute the process of continuously transferring to

The client AP 4 notifies the terminal 2 of the print completion result in response to the print instruction result notification from the print system 5 (SQ14).
The printer port 13 in the OS 11 is closed, and the temporary file or the memory is deleted, and all the processes are completed as described above (the “S” in FIG.
T6 ").

The above is a series of flows of this method example.
The GDI data 14 defined by the type of S11 is generated by the language conversion module 8, and the GDI data 14 is
A method for converting the language into a required printer language via the corresponding printer driver 12 can also be used together, and the method in this case is the same as the previous example.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the example of the apparatus and the example of the method corresponding thereto. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described means and methods. The present invention achieves the object of the present invention and can be appropriately changed and implemented within a range having the effects described below.

[0049]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in a network environment such as an intranet in a company, an overlay set on a server machine can be prepared without preparing a dedicated application or overlay for each terminal. Only with this, a beautiful form according to the layout originally intended can be completely restored and printed. Needless to say, there is no conventional problem that the print result of the form differs greatly depending on the type of browser used.

Further, according to the present invention, the terminal is converted into the corresponding printer language in advance and passed to the printer by passing through the printer driver, and printing is performed by the printer. Can be continuously printed at a very high speed. In particular, the structure of the generated printer language is such that even when printing a form over a plurality of pages, only an overlay element for one page and a data element for a plurality of pages are sufficient. A relatively small data size is required, resulting in an effective reduction in OS processing, network traffic, and printer load.

Further, according to the present invention, required forms can be printed flexibly without being influenced by the existing client environment, network environment, or printer vendor at all. In addition, the form can be output to the printer not only on the local printer directly connected to the terminal but also on any network printer existing on the network.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a form printing system apparatus according to an example of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the print system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an operation sequence diagram for explaining an example of a method applied to a form printing system device.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart illustrating an example of a method applied to a form printing system device.

[Explanation of symbols]

α: form printing system device f1: form file f2: data file 1: server machine 2: terminal (client machine) 3: printer 4: client AP (client application) 5: print system 6: language conversion processing unit 7: intermediate language Conversion unit 8 Language conversion module 9 Data processing module 10 Printer language 11 OS (operating system) 12 Printer driver 13 Printer port 14 GDI data

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yutaka Maebashi 1-9-1, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo NTT Communications Wear Inside (72) Inventor Shuji Matsui 1-chome, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 9-1 NTT Communication Wear Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tomomitsu Iwasaki 9-1-1 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo NTT Communications Wear Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenichi Higashi 1-21-8 Nishi Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Prism Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshiya Tanaka 1-21-8 Nishi-Gotanda Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Prism Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Ishiyama Tokyo 1-21-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku Prism Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-11-91189 ( P, A) JP flat 11-151846 (JP, A) JP flat 11-312066 (JP, A) JP 2000-284937 (JP, A) (58 ) investigated the field (Int.Cl. ^7, DB Name) B41J 21/00 G06F 3/12

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A form file as an overlay in which form data defining a form of a form is described in a predetermined file format, and form input data forming optional input information in the form are described in a text format. A data file is set in the server machine in advance, the form file and the data file are downloaded from the server machine to a terminal, and the file format applied to the description of the form file in the terminal is The form data in the form file once converted to an intermediate language that enables direct conversion from the merged data to the printer language later, and the form in the downloaded data file once converted to the intermediate language The input data and the merged data are merged at the terminal, and the merged data is merged. The data is directly converted into the printer language corresponding to the predetermined printer to be used, and the printer driver is passed through the printer driver and transferred from the terminal to the printer. A form printing method characterized by performing high-speed printing of a large number of forms. 2. Downloading the form file and the data file from the server machine to the terminal machine by accessing the client application represented by browsing software in response to operation of the terminal. J
After downloading the ava applet and completing the boot process, create a temporary file or secure a memory to temporarily store the form file and data file to be downloaded, and set up the printer based on the specification in the client application. The form printing method according to claim 1, wherein the method is performed after the server machine creates a constant. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the printing of the form is performed over a plurality of pages for a plurality of sets of the form input data. After overlay elements in the printer language are temporarily expanded on a memory of the printer, the printer language 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sets of data elements are continuously transferred to the memory so as to be superimposed on the overlay elements developed on the memory. Form printing method. 4. In the case where a special PDL which is not generalized in printing the form is supported, the terminal is adapted to support the printer without directly converting the merged data into the printer language at the terminal. The form printing method according to claim 1, wherein the form is converted into a printer language via a printer driver and transferred to the printer. 5. A form file as an overlay in which form data defining a form of a form is described in a predetermined file format, and form input data forming optional input information in the form are described in a text format. A system device comprising: a server machine that stores data files in advance; a terminal connected to the server machine via a network; and a printer connected to the terminal, wherein the terminal includes the server machine Download means having a client application function typified by browsing software, which is used to download a Java applet from Microsoft and download the form file and the data file stored in the server machine on the Java applet. And the form An intermediate language conversion unit for temporarily converting the file format applied to the description of the file into an intermediate language that enables direct conversion from the merged data merged by the data merge unit to the printer language later; and the intermediate language conversion unit. The form merging means for merging the form format data in the form file once converted into an intermediate language with the form input data in the data file; and Printer language conversion and transfer means for directly converting to a printer language corresponding to the printer, passing through a printer driver and transferring to the printer, thereby causing the printer to print a large amount of forms at high speed. Form printing system device. 6. The printer language conversion and transfer means, when it is necessary to print the form on the printer over a plurality of pages for a plurality of sets of the form input data, an overlay in the printer language. After the elements are once expanded on the memory of the printer, a plurality of sets of data elements in the printer language are successively transferred to the memory so as to be superimposed on the overlay elements expanded on the memory. The form printing system apparatus according to claim 5, comprising a function. 7. The printer language conversion / transfer means, in order to cope with a special PDL which is not generalized, merges the merged data by the data merge means.
6. A function of converting the data into the printer language and transferring the data to the printer language via a printer driver corresponding to the printer without directly converting the data into the printer language. Or the form printing system device according to 6. 8. The printer according to claim 5, wherein the printer is any one of a local printer directly connected to the terminal, and an arbitrary network printer existing on the network. Form printing system device.