JP3530708B2 - Print setting apparatus, control method thereof, and medium storing control program - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control method for an output control device, and more particularly to a control method and a control program for an output control device for controlling output settings of an output control device having a plurality of output control programs (applications). Regarding recorded medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an information processing system for connecting a host computer (output control device) and a printer (output device) through an interface such as a Centronics interface to perform information processing has been actively researched and developed.
It has been put to practical use.

In this type of information processing system, when a laser beam printer is used as a printer, for example, the laser beam printer analyzes print information input from the host computer to the laser beam printer, and then the input print is performed. Information is developed as bitmap data into output data, and a laser beam modulated based on the bitmap data is scanned and exposed on the photosensitive drum to record an image.

[0006] Usually, one or more programs (applications) having a printing function for a printer are installed in the host computer, and at the same time, mediating printing from these applications to a specific printer, a more detailed A program for controlling printing (printer driver) is also incorporated.

Further, in the above-described information processing system, a host computer connected to the printer has a control language in which various print effects such as paper selection and print quality selection can be arbitrarily specified. Therefore, by outputting the print information together with the print information from the host computer, it is possible to arbitrarily switch the paper feed unit, the paper feed size, the print quality, and the like.

In such a printing environment, the user explicitly selects print settings according to the contents of each application or document to be used.

[0007]

However, when the above-mentioned conventional information processing system is composed of a multifunction printer and a printer driver corresponding thereto,
From various print settings that can be combined from a plurality of print setting items, the user needs to select an appropriate setting according to the application to be used.

When the user properly uses a plurality of applications and uses the print function from each application, the user must reselect an appropriate setting each time the application is switched.

In order to simplify the trouble of the user, a plurality of general-purpose basic settings such as those for documents or DTP are prepared in advance, or a combination arbitrarily set by the user is used as the basic setting. There is an information processing system that enables additional registration and provides a means (printing purpose setting function) that allows you to call the appropriate settings by simply selecting from these, but selecting such appropriate settings for each application. Is a difficult task for users who are not familiar with print processing and printers. For this reason,
The user may not be able to effectively use the print purpose setting function and may be using the information processing system without being able to obtain high quality printing.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is a medium in which a control method of an output control device and an output control program capable of easily performing printing suitable for an application used by a user are recorded. , And an information processing system.

[0011]

The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above problems, and an output control apparatus according to the present invention is an output setting apparatus in which a plurality of applications are installed. Detecting means for detecting the installed plurality of applications, registration means for registering the application name of the application detected by the detecting means in a setting list for managing a plurality of output settings, and setting by the registration means Item display means for displaying a plurality of items for designating one from output settings corresponding to a plurality of applications registered in the list, and one item selected from the plurality of items displayed by the item display means Setting means for setting the output settings of the application corresponding to the selected item, and the setting means. And an output means for outputting the output information created in the application in accordance with the output setting was.

The output setting method of the present invention is a method for controlling an output setting device in which a plurality of applications are installed, which comprises a detection step of detecting the plurality of installed applications and the detection step. The registration process of registering the application name of the application detected by the process in the setting list for managing a plurality of output settings, and one of the output settings corresponding to the plurality of applications registered in the setting list in the registration process are designated. To display a plurality of items, and one of the plurality of items displayed in the item display step.
After one item is selected, a setting step of setting the output setting of the application corresponding to the selected item and an output step of outputting the output information created by the application according to the set output setting are provided.

The storage medium of the present invention is a machine-readable storage medium in which a program for controlling an output setting device in which a plurality of applications are installed is recorded, and the plurality of installed applications are stored. A detection step of detecting, a registration step of registering the application name of the application detected in the detection step in a setting list for managing a plurality of output settings, and a plurality of applications registered in the setting list in the registration step. An item display step for displaying a plurality of items in order to specify one from the output settings corresponding to
After one item is selected from the plurality of items displayed in the item display step, a setting step of setting the output setting of the application corresponding to the selected item, and creating by the application according to the set output setting And a program for realizing an output step of outputting the output information.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an internal structural diagram of a laser beam printer (output device) which constitutes an information processing system according to the present invention.

The laser beam printer 1 includes an apparatus body 2
Operation panel 3 having a switch section, an LED display section, and the like provided on the upper surface of the printer, and a printing body section 4 for performing a predetermined printing operation
And a print control unit 5 that analyzes the input character data, control data, and the like to control the printing operation of the print body unit 4.

The print main body 4 includes a paper feed means 7 including a paper feed tray in which a predetermined recording paper (cut paper) as a recording medium is stored and an appropriate number of paper feed cassettes, and an appropriate number of conveyance rollers. The electrostatic drum 9 to which the recording paper is supplied via 8, an optical system 10 for irradiating the electrostatic drum 9 with laser light, and a toner of a predetermined color as a color material
A developing device 11 arranged around the device, a fixing device 12 for fixing the toner image developed by the developing device 11, document data printed on recording paper, and the like to the outside of the apparatus via a discharge roller 13. And a paper discharge unit 14 for discharging.

The optical system 10 includes a semiconductor laser 15 for emitting a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength, and the semiconductor laser 1.
Laser driver 17 for driving 5 and rotary polygon mirror 18
And a reflecting mirror 1 for reflecting the laser light entering through the rotary polygon mirror 18 and supplying the laser light onto the electrostatic drum 9.
9 and 9.

The laser beam printer 1 configured as described above stores print data such as character codes supplied from a host computer as an output control device, form data, macro commands, and the like, and based on these various data. A corresponding character pattern or form pattern is created, and an image is formed on a recording sheet. That is, the video signal from the print controller 5 is input to the laser driver 17, and the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 15 is switched on / off according to the video signal. The laser light is oscillated in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 18, and the electrostatic drum 9
By scanning above, an electrostatic latent image such as a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 9, and the electrostatic latent image is developed via the developing device 11. Then, the toner image attached on the electrostatic drum 9 is transferred onto the recording paper fed from the paper feeding means 7, and then the toner image is fixed on the recording paper by the fixing device 12, and the recording paper is ejected. It is discharged to the discharge unit 14 via the roller 13.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the information processing system according to the present invention. The laser beam printer 1 can be connected to an external storage device 20 for the printer, and the laser beam printer 1 has a predetermined configuration. Interface cable 2 which controls the bidirectional interface operation of
1 to a host computer (output control device) 22. Although the laser beam printer 1 and the host computer 22 are connected to each other via the interface cable 21 in the present embodiment, the laser beam printer 1 and the host computer 22 are connected to each other via a predetermined communication network such as a LAN (local area network). The same can be applied to the connected information processing system.

The host computer 22 includes a keyboard 23 to which arbitrary predetermined data is input by an operator (user), a display unit (CRT) 24 for displaying the predetermined data, a boot program and various kinds of applications. External storage device 2 such as a flexible disk or a hard disk or a CD-ROM in which programs, font data, user files, edit files, etc. are stored
5 and an information control device 26 for controlling data and programs, as well as devices and communications.

The information control device 26 also includes a keyboard controller (KBC) 27 that controls key input data from the keyboard 23 and input data designated by a pointing device (not shown), and a CRT controller (CRTC) that controls the CRT 24. ) 28, a disk controller (DKC) 29 that controls access to the external storage device 25, and a printer controller (PRT) that executes communication control processing with the laser beam printer 1.
C) 30 and RA having a function as a work area
M31 and R in which a predetermined print control program and the like are stored
A CPU that is connected to the OM 32 and the above components through the system bus 33 and controls the entire information processing apparatus 26.
And 34.

The ROM 32 is a font ROM in which font data and the like used during document processing are stored.
35, a program ROM 36 in which a predetermined document processing program, a print control program for implementing the present embodiment, and the like are stored, and a data ROM 37 in which various data used when performing the document processing are stored. Prepare, C
PU34 is figure, image, character, table (including spreadsheet)
The above-mentioned document processing program is executed by using the RAM 31 as a work area for the document processing in which the above are mixed. That is,
The CPU 34 executes the expansion (rasterization) process of the outline font to the display data area provided in the RAM 31, and the WIZWIG (WYSIW) on the CRT 24 is executed.
YG: What You See Is What You Get)
The data displayed on the RT 24 is printed out as it is.
In addition, the CPU 34 opens various kinds of windows registered based on command data designated by a pointing device or the like, and executes various data processing.

On the other hand, the print control unit 5 is a print main body interface (print main body) that controls the interface between the input unit 38 to which print data is input from the output control device 22 which is a host computer and the print main body 4. Part I /
F) 39, a disk controller (DKC) 40 that controls access to the printer external storage device 20, an output data expansion area, an environment data storage area, and NVRAM
And the like, a printer ROM 42 in which predetermined data is stored in advance, and a printer CPU 44 which is connected to the above-mentioned respective components via a system bus 43 and controls these respective components.

The printer ROM 42 includes a font ROM 45 in which font data and the like used when generating output data to the printing body unit 4 is stored, and a program ROM 46 in which a predetermined control program is stored.
And a data ROM 47 in which various data used in the host computer 22 are stored.
The PU 44 outputs an image signal as output data to the print main body unit 4 connected via the print main body unit interface 39. The CPU 34 is also capable of bidirectional communication with the host computer 22 via the input unit 38, and is capable of notifying the host computer 22 of print data of the laser beam printer 1 and the like. Further, the printer RAM 41 can be expanded through an expansion port (not shown), and the memory capacity can be expanded.

The external storage device 20 stores font data and form data such as an emulation program for interpreting printer control languages of different language systems. In addition to the built-in font, an optional font card or a plurality of external storage devices 20 for printers storing a plurality of emulation programs may be configured to be connectable, and these external storage devices 20 for printers may be NVRAM. The printer setting data from the operation panel 3 may be stored.

FIG. 3 shows a memory map in a state where the predetermined print control program is loaded into the RAM 31 and becomes executable as described above. The memory map is a basic I / O
An area 301 in which a program is stored, an area 302 in which an OS is stored, an area 303 in which a print control program including a print setting control program and a setting list update control program is stored, and related data is stored. It has an area 304 and a work area 305.

In this embodiment, the print control program and related data stored in the ROM 32 are loaded into the RAM 31 and executed. However, in addition to this, the print control program and related data are recorded in a storage medium such as a flexible disk which is the external storage device 25. The generated print control program and related data may be temporarily stored (installed) in the hard disk and the CPU 34 may be controlled to load the RAM 31 from the hard disk at the stage of operating the print control program.

Further, the medium for recording the print control program may be a CD-ROM, an IC memory card or the like other than the flexible disk.

FIG. 4 is a memory map when a flexible disk is used as an example of the external storage device 25 connected to the host computer 22, and the memory map includes a volume information storage area 50 and directory information. A storage area 51, a program storage area 52 in which a predetermined print control program (print setting control program, setting list update control program, etc.) is stored, and related data (default print setting information, application) used in the print control program. Data storage area 53 in which information, display resources, etc.) are stored.

FIG. 5 shows a case where a flexible disk is used as an example of the external storage device 25 connected to the host computer 22, and the flexible disk having the memory map shown in FIG. 4 is connected to the host computer. The print control program is supplied by making the flexible disk drive read.

6 and 7 show a CRT 24 connected to the host computer 22 in the print setting program.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen displayed on the screen, in which the user operates a button or a scroll bar selected on the screen with the keyboard 23 or a pointing device (not shown) to set print settings and print purposes Make a selection.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when "document / table" is selected for printing, "graphic mode" is the font data and graphic data in the print settings of FIG. Select the LIP mode to be sent to the printer as composite data of page description language and image data, "Resolution" selects the high resolution Fine mode, and "Color mode" selects the color of the display and printer. Select Auto (J) to perform the correction automatically, and for "Monochrome halftone (G)", select a gradation with priority to gradation,
In the "color image mode", the host deployment in which the color image, which requires a long time for the deployment process, is developed by the host is selected. A list of these print settings can be seen in the print setting list of FIG. In addition, when “quick document” is selected for printing, “quick” whose resolution is low in the print settings in FIG. 7 is selected, or when “DTP” is selected for printing, the print settings are changed. A resolution in which “monochrome halftone” has priority in resolution is selected. Furthermore,
It is also possible to make "user settings", and print settings can be freely set.

By pressing the print setting button shown in FIG. 6, detailed settings can be made on the print setting screen shown in FIG. 7, and any item can be selected from the print purpose list shown in FIG. By selecting, similarly, each item shown in FIG. 7 is set with a predetermined value.

FIG. 8 shows the RAM of the host computer 22.
An application ID storage area for storing application IDs for identifying individual application information, and an application for storing a unique name of the application, which are provided on the reference numeral 31 and indicate the configuration of the application information used by the print control program. A name storage area, a search information storage area for storing information for detecting an application installed in the information processing apparatus, and a default print setting information storage area for storing print setting information most suitable for the application. is doing.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the configuration of the setting list used in the print control program. The number of records in which a print target title and the corresponding print setting information ID are paired is registered. It is continuous for minutes. The print target title is a predetermined title or application name prepared in advance, and the print setting information ID is the ID of the default print setting information or the application information ID.
Are stored respectively.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the control of the CPU 34 of the setting list update control processing routine for updating the setting list.

The setting list is a storage area for holding the items listed in the well-known printing purpose setting as shown in FIG. 6, and general-purpose printing purposes such as "document / table" and "DTP" are registered. The obtained data is prepared in advance as initial data in the ROM 32, and the CPU 34 loads the data into the RAM 31 for use.

Further, in this embodiment, the setting list update control process is executed only once when it is loaded into the RAM 31 and becomes executable.

First, in step S1, the CPU 34
Acquires the number of pieces of application information recorded in the ROM 32 or the hard disk. Next, in step S2, the CPU 34 acquires one piece of application information from the application information recorded in the ROM 32. The application information recorded as illustrated in FIG. 4 has IDs such as application information # 1 and application information # 2, which are acquired in this order.

In step S3, the detection information for detecting the application installed in the host computer 22 from the application information acquired by the CPU 34 in step S2 is stored in the ROM3.
It is acquired from the information for detection recorded in 2. Step S4
Then, based on the detection information detected in step S3,
The CPU 34 detects an application. Here, the detection information has an execution file name of an application and a related file name that constitutes the application, and a file matching these names is a host computer 2
The application is detected by searching whether the application is recorded in the second external storage device.

In step S5, the CPU 34 determines whether a corresponding application has been detected. If an application corresponding to the application information is detected, the process proceeds to step S6, and an application information ID for identifying the application information.
Is obtained from the application information. Further, in step S7, the setting list is stored in the RAM 31 by the CPU 34.
Obtained from.

As described above, based on the application information ID obtained in step S6 and the setting list read in step S7, in step S8, the CPU 34 determines whether or not the application is registered in the setting list. If the CPU 34 determines that the application is registered, the following steps S9 to S1 are performed.
The process of 1 is skipped, and the process proceeds to step S12.

If the CPU 34 determines in step S8 that the application information ID is not registered in the setting list, the process proceeds to step S9. Step S9
Then, the CPU 34 acquires the application name from the application information. Next, in step S10, the acquired application name and application information ID are additionally registered in the setting list. In step S11, the addition list is stored in the RAM 31.

When the application detection for the number of the acquired application information is not completed in step S12, the processing of steps S2 to S11 is repeated. If no application is detected in step S5, and step S
When the application is registered in the setting list in 8, the process of step S12 is similarly performed.

When the detection of all the application information is completed, this setting list update control process is terminated and the ROM
In the application information recorded in 32, all installed applications are registered in the setting list and stored in the RAM 31.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a print setting control processing routine for making print settings.

First, in step S101, read processing of print setting information is performed. The print setting information is
Information such as paper size and print quality is included, and step S
At 101, each information of the print setting information is read. That is, when the print setting information set before the current print setting is stored in the external storage device 25, the print setting information is read from the external storage device 25,
When not stored in the external storage device 25, predetermined default data included in the print control program is read. Then, it is displayed on the display screen of the CRT 24 based on the read print setting information (step S10).
2).

Further, in step S103, as shown in FIG.
The setting list (FIG. 9) created by the setting list update control program of 0 is acquired from the RAM 31, and all the items registered in the setting list are displayed on the display screen of the CRT 24. In the print setting screen illustrated in FIG. 6, the items of the setting list are listed as icons in the “printing purpose” list box so that the user can make selections.

After the print setting screen is displayed in this manner, in steps S104 and S109, the user's setting operation by the KB 23 or a pointing device (not shown) is monitored. User is KB
When instructed by 23 or the like, the OS notifies the control program to allow monitoring.

When the CPU 34 detects in step S104 that the user has selected an item listed in the setting list, the processes in steps S105 to S108 are performed, and thereafter, the user's setting operation is monitored again.

First, in step S105, the application information I corresponding to the item selected from the setting list.
Get D. Then, in step S106, based on the application information ID acquired in the previous step,
The application information shown in is acquired from the ROM 32.

Further, in step S107, step S
When the application information is acquired at 106, the default print setting information recorded here is acquired. Subsequently, in step S108, the print setting displayed on the CRT 24 is changed based on the acquired default print setting information.

Then, according to the determination in step S109,
When the print setting is continuing, the process waits until the print setting is completed. When the print setting is completed, the print setting information is stored in the RAM 31 in step S110, and the print setting control process is completed. The newly set print setting information is also stored in the external storage device 25 at the same time and used as initialization data at the next initialization.

[Other Embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the application search timing may be other than the time of installation. In the above embodiment, the setting list update control process is executed only once when the control program is loaded into the RAM 31 and becomes executable, but it may be executed at a timing other than this timing. For example, by executing the application at the time of starting the application or in advance of the print setting control process, even if the application is installed in the host computer 22 after the timing shown in the above-described embodiment, the application can be reliably detected. It is valid.

By providing a button for executing the setting list update control process on the print setting screen displayed on the CRT 24 as illustrated in FIG. 6, the user can update the setting list at any timing. It can be carried out. In this case, the setting list update control process of FIG. 10 is performed in steps S104 to S109 of the print setting control process of FIG.
Placed in the loop.

In the above embodiment, only one piece of application information is prepared and stored in the ROM 32 for one type of application, but it is highly functional to handle a plurality of objects (characters, figures, images, etc.). In an application, it is often the case that only one print setting cannot properly perform all printing, and it is necessary to use different print settings depending on the content of the document to be printed.

Therefore, application information having different print setting information for the same application can be prepared in the ROM 32 as needed. In this case, the application name recorded in the application information needs to be given a name such as "AAA (for image)" that can identify each.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to make appropriate print settings by simply selecting the items prepared in the setting list for each application to be used.

However, instead of the print setting control process of FIG. 11, the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12 can be used.

First, in step S201, prior to the print output control process for outputting print data, the external storage device 2
The print setting information recorded in 5 is read. Next, in step S202, the CPU 34 detects the application for which printing has been instructed. In step S203, the setting list is read. Then, in step S204, the CPU 34 acquires the number of items registered in the setting list read in step S203.

Then, in step S205, the application information ID is acquired from the n-th item in the acquired setting list. In subsequent step S206, the application information corresponding to the acquired application information ID is acquired. Further, in step S207, detection information for comparison with the detected application is acquired from the acquired application information.

In step S208, the CPU 34
Determines whether the detected application matches the acquired detection information. If the CPU 34 determines that the application and the detection information match, the process proceeds to step S210, and the default print setting information is acquired from the application information. Subsequently, in step S211, the acquired print setting information is reinitialized based on the acquired default print setting information, and the process is ended.

In the comparison in step S208, C
If the PU 34 determines that the detected application does not match the acquired detection information, the process proceeds to step S209. In step S209, the process is returned to step S205. That is, steps S205 to S2 are performed for all items registered in the setting list.
The processing of 08 is repeated to check whether the detected application item is registered in the setting list. If no matching item is found in the setting list, the read print setting information is not changed and the print output control process is continued as it is.

In this case, as the application information, the detection information used to detect the application that has activated the print control process is necessary. However, the detection information shown in FIG. 8 may be used, or separately. You may add. This information is composed of information that can identify the application in the execution state, such as the execution file name of the application or the related file name.

By doing so, the user can be freed from most of the print setting work, and it can be said that this is more effective.

In the above embodiment, all items for the application additionally registered in the setting list by the setting list update control process are displayed on the CRT during the print setting control process.
It was displayed on the screen at 24.

However, when many applications are installed in the host computer 22, the number of items registered in the setting list increases due to the setting list update control processing, and therefore all these items are stored in the CRT 24 by the print setting control processing. If it is displayed on the screen, there will be too many selection items, and even items that are not relevant to the application currently being used (started) will be enumerated, resulting in confusion for the user.

In the print setting control process of FIG. 11, after the step of detecting the application currently in use and the step S22 of reading the items of the setting list,
Based on (the information of) the detected application and the application information of the items registered in the setting list, the item not for the detected application is deleted from the setting list and then displayed on the CRT 24 so that the user can Only the items that are appropriate for the application you are using can be listed in the setting screen, and can be applied more effectively.

In the above embodiment, once an application is registered in the setting list by the setting list update control process, it remains permanently registered thereafter, but the application is deleted from the host computer 22 (data Because there is a possibility that it will be installed), unnecessary items may remain registered in the setting list.

In order to deal with this, it is desirable to perform the processing as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13 before or after the setting list update control processing of FIG.

For example, as shown in FIG. 13, after reading the setting list in step S301, step S301 is executed.
In 302, the number of items registered in the read setting list is acquired.

Then, in step S303, the application information I from the n-th item in the setting list.
D is acquired, then in step S304, the application information corresponding to the acquired application information ID is acquired from the ROM 32, and in step S305,
The detection information for searching the application is acquired from the acquired application information, and step S3
At 06, an application installed in the host computer 22 is searched based on the acquired search information.

In step S307, step S306
The CPU 34 evaluates the search result searched in (3), and if an application that matches the search information is detected in the search result, the setting list is held as it is. Then, when no matching application is detected, the process proceeds to step 309, and the CPU 3
4 is the application information ID from the setting list
Delete the recorded items in.

In step S309, the CPU 34 determines whether or not the search is completed for all the items of the acquired setting list based on the detection information acquired from the corresponding application information. If the CPU 34 determines that the search has not been completed for all items,
The process returns to step S303, and the processes of steps S303 to S307 are repeated until the search is completed. If the CPU 34 determines that the search has been completed for all items, the process proceeds to step S310 and step S31.
At 0, the setting list updated by the above processing is saved.

By doing so, only the items suitable for the application installed in the host computer 22 can be re-registered in the setting list, and the application can be more effectively applied.

In the above embodiment, the application information referred to when detecting the application installed in the host computer 22 is the ROM.
The application that can be detected is limited to the one in which the application information is recorded in the ROM 32, because the application is pre-recorded and provided in the ROM 32.

However, the applications installed in the host computer can be exchanged according to the usage status of the user, and since the types of applications increase in accordance with the needs of the user, all application information is stored in the ROM 32 in advance. Is difficult to prepare. Therefore, the effect of the present invention may not be obtained depending on the application used.

Therefore, by making it possible to obtain the application information of the print control processing shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 through an arbitrary storage medium, the application not recorded in the ROM 32 can be obtained. Information can be provided, and a wider range of user environments can be accommodated.

As the arbitrary storage medium, FIG.
A removable disk (flexible disk or the like) connected to the host computer 22 as shown in FIG. 4 or any medium of a network (Internet, LAN, BBS, etc.) to which the host computer 22 can be connected can be applied.

[0081]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, there is provided an output setting device in which a plurality of applications are installed, the detecting means detecting the installed plurality of applications, and the detecting means. The application name of the application detected by
A registration unit that registers a plurality of output settings in a setting list, and an item that displays a plurality of items for designating one output setting corresponding to a plurality of applications registered in the setting list by the registration unit. Display means,
After one item is selected from the plurality of items displayed by the item display unit, a setting unit that sets the output setting of the application corresponding to the selected item, and the application is created according to the set output setting By having an output unit that outputs the output information that has been output, it is possible to register output settings corresponding to a plurality of installed applications, and the user can easily select appropriate print settings by selecting the registered output settings. It becomes possible to select.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal structural diagram of a laser beam printer that constitutes an information processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a memory map of a state in which the print control program is loaded into RAM and can be executed.

FIG. 4 is a memory map of an external storage device

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a case where a flexible disk is used as an external storage device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of application information.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of a setting list.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the control of the CPU 34 of the setting list update control processing routine for updating the setting list.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a print setting control processing routine for performing print setting.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a print setting control processing routine.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a print control processing routine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Laser beam printer (output device) 2 device body 3 Operation panel 4 Print main body 5 Print control unit 7 Paper feeding means 8 Conveyor rollers 9 Electrostatic drum 10 Optical system 11 developing machine 12 Fixing device 13 Paper ejection roller 14 Paper output section 15 Semiconductor laser 17 Laser driver 18 rotating polygon mirror 19 Reflector 20 Printer external storage device (external storage device) 21 bidirectional interface cable 22 Host computer (output control device) 23 Keyboard (KB: input means) 24 CRT (display means) 25 external storage 26 Information control device 27 Keyboard controller (KBC) 28 CRT controller (CRTC) 29 Disk controller (DKC) 30 Printer controller (PRTC) 31 RAM 32 ROM 33 system bus 34 CPU ROM for 35 fonts 36 Program ROM 37 Data ROM 38 Input section 39 Printing Headquarters I / F 40 disk controller (DKC) 41 RAM for printer (registration means) 42 ROM 43 system bus 44 Printer CPU ROM for 45 fonts 46 Program ROM 47 data ROM

Claims (18)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of applications are installed
The output setting device that is installed,
The detecting means for detecting and the application of the application detected by the detecting means.
Option name in the settings list that manages multiple output settings.
Registration means for registration, and a plurality of registration means registered in the setting list by the registration means
Specify one from the output settings corresponding to the application
For displaying a plurality of items, and one item from the plurality of items displayed by the item display means.
After the eye is selected, setting means for setting the output setting of the application corresponding to the selected item , and output means for outputting the output information created by the application according to the set output setting An output setting device comprising: 2. The application by the detection means
An instruction means for instructing the detection of an error, and the detection means is not instructed to detect by the instruction means.
The output setting device according to claim 1 , wherein the application is detected at a predetermined timing . 3. Further registered in the setting list
Search for installed applications
Search means and applications that are not installed by the search means.
Yes and deleting means for deleting from the set list the Shon
Output setting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the to. Wherein said setting list claim 1乃, characterized in that they are composed of the default output setting and carrying the proper output set in the application name information and the application that owns the name identifying the application
4. The output setting device according to any one of 3 to 3 . Wherein said setting means, the output setting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that to set a plurality of output settings for one application. Wherein said output settings, output setting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that including combined formatting or toner saving to the printing purpose. 7. A plurality of applications are installed
A method for controlling the output setting device, wherein the plurality of installed applications are
The detection process to detect and the application of the application detected in the detection process.
Option name in the settings list that manages multiple output settings.
A registration step of registering the item display step of displaying a plurality of items for specifying one of the output settings corresponding to a plurality of applications that are registered in the setting list in the registration process, the display in the item display step One item from multiple items
After the eyes are selected, the application corresponding to the selected item
Setting process to set the output setting of the application and the application to create according to the set output setting.
It is characterized by having an output process for outputting the generated output information.
Output setting method to collect. 8. The application according to the detecting step.
8. The output setting method according to claim 7, further comprising an instruction step for instructing detection of an application , wherein the detecting step detects an application at a timing at which the detection instruction is given by the instructing step. 9. Further, it is registered in the setting list.
Search for installed applications
Search process and applications not installed by the search process.
Yes and the deletion process to be removed from the set list the Shon
Output setting according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that
Method. 10. The setting list is an application.
Application name information that has a name that identifies
Default that has the proper output settings for the application
8. The output setting is configured as follows.
10. The output setting method according to any one of 9 to 9. 11. The setting step comprises one application.
It is characterized by setting multiple output settings for each
The output setting method according to claim 7. 12. The output setting is adapted to a printing purpose.
Characterized by including formatting or toner saving
The output setting method according to any one of claims 7 to 11. 13. A plurality of applications are installed.
Program for controlling the installed power setting device
Is a machine-readable storage medium in which the plurality of installed applications are stored.
The detection process to detect and the application of the application detected in the detection process.
Option name in the settings list that manages multiple output settings.
A registration step of registering, an item display step of displaying a plurality of items for designating one from output settings corresponding to a plurality of applications registered in the setting list in the registration step, and a display of the item display step After one item is selected from the plurality of items to be set, a setting step of setting the output setting of the application corresponding to the selected item, and the setting process of the application according to the set output setting
To realize the output process that outputs the output information
A machine-readable storage medium recording the program of. 14. The application according to the detecting step.
14. The storage medium according to claim 13, further comprising an instruction step for instructing detection of an application , wherein the detection step detects an application at a timing at which the detection instruction is given by the instruction step. 15. Further, it is registered in the setting list.
The installed application is installed
Search process and the applications not installed by the search process.
Yes and the deletion process to be removed from the set list the Shon
15. The memory according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that
Medium. 16. The setting list is an application.
Application name information and the with holding a name that identifies the
Default that has the proper output settings for the application
2. The output configuration comprises:
The storage medium according to any one of 3 to 15. 17. The setting step is a single application.
It is characterized by setting multiple output settings for each
The storage medium according to claim 13. 18. The output setting is adapted to a printing purpose.
Characterized by including formatting or toner saving
The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the storage medium is a storage medium.