JP3698955B2 - Printing control apparatus, printing system, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for improving the efficiency of rasterization processing based on digital data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is a printed matter in which only a specific page has different contents for each booklet in a printed matter of a plurality of booklets (number of copies), and in this particular page, a variable part (more precisely, There are parts that can have different contents) and fixed parts that have the same contents across multiple booklets. As such printed matter, for example, a booklet having an address part on the cover corresponds to the printed part. In this case, the address part of the cover corresponds to a variable part, and the periphery of the address part corresponds to a fixed part.
[0003]
When printing such a printed matter, rasterization processing for generating rasterized data based on document data (digital data) described in a page description language or the like is performed for each page. In particular, even in the specific page (variable page) described above, rasterized data for each booklet is generated based on each document data having a different address for each booklet.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case where such rasterizing processing relating to variable pages is performed, in the above description, there is a portion (fixed portion) having the same contents over a plurality of booklets in surrounding portions other than the addressed portion (variable portion). First, it is necessary to create rasterized data for each booklet based on each document data for the entire variable page, which is a heavy burden in the rasterizing process and the rasterizing process is inefficient. There's a problem.
[0005]
In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a technology relating to a printing control apparatus and a printing system capable of improving the efficiency of rasterization processing.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 includes a plurality of print objects including a fixed page having the same contents over a plurality of booklets and a variable page having variable parts that can be different for each booklet. A printing control apparatus in a printing system for booklet printing, comprising: rasterized data storage means for storing fixed data that is rasterized data for the fixed part; variable data that is rasterized data for the variable part; and the printing object The fixed data and variable data corresponding to each of the fixed part and variable part of the variable page of the print object are extracted from the rasterized data storage unit based on the page structure information representing the page structure of the print object, and the extracted By combining fixed data and variable data, the duplicate of the print object is obtained. And a rasterized data generating means for generating a rasterized data of the variable pages in each booklet The page configuration information includes a file list in which parts of a plurality of rasterized data including the fixed data and the variable data for the variable page are listed, and each part for each part included in the variable page. A page list having a variable flag indicating whether it is variable data and a reference position in the file list of each part, and the rasterized data generation means includes each page included in the variable page. When the variable flag of the part is off, the part recognizes that the part is fixed data, and extracts rasterized data existing at the corresponding reference position in the file list as fixed data corresponding to the part. When the variable flag for the part is on, the part is a variable part. Therefore, by extracting the rasterized data present at a position obtained by adding a value in consideration of the booklet number with respect to the corresponding reference position in the file list, the variable page is extracted as variable data corresponding to the page. Identifying and extracting the fixed data and the variable data for It is characterized by that.
[0007]
A second aspect of the present invention is the print control apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising data output means for outputting rasterized data of each page to the print output apparatus, wherein the data output means is the variable Rasterized data for each page of the print object including pages is output for each booklet according to a desired order.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the print control apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the page configuration information about the variable page included in the print object is stored in the plurality of booklets in the fixed portion. One common rasterized data is associated with each other, and the variable portion is associated with different rasterized data for each booklet, thereby being constructed as common information across the plurality of booklets.
[0010]
Claim 4 The invention described in claim 1 to 3 In the print control apparatus described in the above, the file list is used to determine whether a necessary number of variable data corresponding to the number of printed booklets for the variable portion exists in the rasterized data storage unit, and the required number Warning means for displaying a warning when it is determined that variable data does not exist in the rasterized data storage means is further provided.
[0011]
Claim 5 The invention described in (1) is a printing system, and (1) to (1). 4 And a print output device that prints out the print object based on a print control output from the print control device.
[0012]
Claim 6 The invention described in claim 1 is a computer. 4 A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for causing it to function as the printing control apparatus according to any one of the above.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
<A. Configuration>
<Overall configuration>
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration relating to a printing system 1 according to the present invention. The printing system 1 is a printing system that performs printing based on document data (digital data) of a target print, and includes a print control device 20 and a print output device 30.
[0014]
The print control device 20 generates rasterized data by performing RIP processing (rasterization processing) on document data (electronic page data) such as data in page description language, PDF (Portable Document Format) data, etc. This is a device that outputs rasterized data to the device 30. The document data can be obtained by receiving the print control apparatus 20 from another client computer (hereinafter also referred to as “client”) C connected to the communication line CL via the communication line CL.
[0015]
Further, the print output device 30 actually performs print output on each print sheet using toner or various inks based on the data output from the print control device 20.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a page configuration of a print object to be printed in the printing system 1. The print target PT has three pages PG1, PG2, and PG3. Here, it is assumed that three print objects PT having these three pages PG1, PG2, and PG3 are printed. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the page structure of each of the booklets PT1, PT2, PT3 of the print target PT.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, page PG1 is a portion (hereinafter referred to as a “fixed portion”) FP1 (FIG. 2) having the same contents over a plurality (three in this case) of booklets PT1, PT2, PT3. And a portion (hereinafter referred to as “variable portion”) VP1 (FIG. 2) that can have different contents for each booklet PT1, PT2, PT3. As described above, the page PG1 is a page composed of the “fixed portion FP (FP1)” having the same contents over a plurality of booklets and the “variable portion VP (VP1)” which can be different for each booklet. ing. Similarly, the page PG2 is a page having a fixed part FP2 and a variable part VP2. On the other hand, the page PG3 has a fixed portion FP3 but does not have a variable portion.
[0018]
In this specification, a page composed of “fixed portion FP” and “variable portion VP” is referred to as “variable page”. The pages PG1 and PG2 correspond to the variable pages, respectively. On the other hand, a page composed only of the “fixed portion” is referred to as a “fixed page”, and the page PG3 corresponds to this fixed page.
[0019]
Thus, the print object PT is a print including variable pages (here, PG1 and PG2) including the fixed portion FP and the variable portion VP. In the print system 1, such a similar configuration is used. A plurality of printed objects are printed.
[0020]
Next, the print control device 20 will be described in more detail. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the print control apparatus 20.
[0021]
The CPU 2 is connected to the storage unit 3, the media drive 4, the display unit 5, the input unit 6, the communication unit 7, the output buffer memory 8, and the like via the bus line BL and the input / output interface IF.
[0022]
The storage unit 3 includes a semiconductor memory such as a ROM and a RAM, a large-capacity storage medium such as a hard disk (magnetic storage device), and the like. The storage unit 3 stores an OS (operating system) which is basic software, and an application software program (hereinafter also simply referred to as “program”) for causing the computer system to function as a print control apparatus. Can also be stored. Further, the storage unit 3 stores various data used in the above program, document data transmitted from the client C, and the like.
[0023]
The media drive 4 reads information recorded therein from a portable recording medium 9 such as a CD-ROM, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or flexible disk. The read information can be used as it is, or once stored in the storage unit 3. For example, in addition to being able to read and execute the above program from the recording medium 9 on which the program is recorded, it is also possible to temporarily store the program in the hard disk of the storage unit 3 and execute it.
[0024]
The display unit 5 includes a color display and the input unit 6 includes a keyboard and a mouse. The operator can select data to be printed, specify the printing order, set the number of copies, and the like via the display unit 5 and the input unit 6.
[0025]
The communication unit 7 exchanges data with the outside. For example, the communication unit 7 can receive various data (such as document data) sent from the external client C via the communication line CL.
[0026]
The output buffer memory 8 is composed of a semiconductor memory or the like, and stores rasterized data that is data for print output. Rasterized data generated by a rasterized data generating unit 22 (FIG. 5), which will be described later, is transferred to the output buffer memory 8 and then output to the print output device 30.
[0027]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the print control apparatus 20. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the print control apparatus 20 includes a rasterized data storage unit 21, a rasterized data generation unit 22, and a data output unit 23 as functional configurations.
[0028]
The rasterized data storage unit 21 stores fixed data FD that is rasterized data for the fixed portion FP and variable data VD that is rasterized data for the variable portion VP (see FIG. 6).
[0029]
The rasterized data generation unit 22 generates each fixed data FD and variable data VD to be stored in the rasterized data storage unit 21. The generated data FD and VD are stored in the rasterized data storage unit 21 described above.
[0030]
The rasterized data generation unit 22 also includes page configuration information (page list LP and file list) representing the page configuration of the print object from among the plurality of fixed data FD and variable data VD stored in the rasterized data storage unit 21. The fixed data FD and the variable data VD corresponding to the fixed portion FP and the variable portion VP of the variable page of the print target PT are extracted from the rasterized data storage unit 21 based on the LF), and the extracted fixed data By combining (in other words, synthesizing) the FD and the variable data VD, rasterized data R of variable pages in each of a plurality of booklets of the print target is generated.
[0031]
Further, the data output unit 23 outputs the rasterized data R of each page to the print output device 30.
[0032]
<B. Operation>
Next, the operation of generating rasterized data for each page will be described with reference to the conceptual diagram of FIG.
[0033]
The rasterized data storage unit 21 stores rasterized data (that is, fixed data) FD1 corresponding to the fixed portion FP1 of the page PG1 (see FIG. 3) and fixed portion FP2 of the page PG2 as fixed data for the print target PT. Corresponding rasterized data (ie, fixed data) FD2 and rasterized data (ie, fixed data) FD3 corresponding to fixed portion FP3 of page PG3 are stored. The rasterized data storage unit 21 stores rasterized data (that is, variable data) VD1, VD2, and VD3 for each booklet of the variable portion VP1 (FIG. 2) of the page PG1 as variable data for the print target PT. In addition, rasterized data (that is, variable data) VD4, VD5, and VD6 for each booklet for the variable portion VP2 of the page PG2 (FIG. 2) is further stored. As the data FD and VD, data generated in the rasterized data generation unit 22 is stored, or data generated outside the print control device 20 is the communication line CL (FIG. 1) and print control. The data may be stored in the rasterized data storage unit 21 via the communication unit 7 (FIG. 4) of the apparatus 20.
[0034]
Further, what rasterized data is stored in the rasterized data storage unit 21 is managed by the file list LF. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of such a file list LF. As shown in FIG. 7, in the file list LF, the fixed data FD1 to FD3 and the variable data VD1 to VD6 are numbered in this order, and the file names of the data corresponding to the numbers, etc. Each data is managed by associating. That is, the file list LF lists a plurality of rasterized data including fixed data FD and variable data VD for variable pages. Here, as described below, the rasterized data of each page is generated by combining these rasterized data, so that each of the plurality of rasterized data listed in the file list LF is generated as rasterized data of each page. It can be said that it is a “part” for use.
[0035]
The rasterized data generation unit 22 generates page configuration information (page list LP and file list LF) representing the page configuration of the print target from the plurality of fixed data FD and variable data VD stored in the rasterized data storage unit 21. Based on this, the fixed data FD and the variable data VD corresponding to the fixed part FP and the variable part VP of the variable page of the printing object PT are extracted from the rasterized data storage unit 21.
[0036]
FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the page list LP. As shown in FIG. 8, in this page list LP, information related to the page configuration of the print target PT is shown.
[0037]
More specifically, the page list LP includes information regarding the number of pages included in the print target PT (here, three pages PG1, PG2, and PG3 are included), and information about each page PG1, PG2, and PG3. Each page includes configuration information (part placement information) in each page. The configuration information in each page includes the “number of parts” included in each page and information regarding each part. Among these, as information on each part, “position in list” shown as a number indicating the reference position of the arrangement order in the file list LF (FIG. 7) of that part, “composition method” with the previous part (overwriting and Information such as “transparency distinction”, an “offset” amount from a predetermined position in the print sheet, and a “variable flag (variable flag)” indicating whether or not the part is variable data VD are included.
[0038]
Here, an operation of extracting the fixed data FD and the variable data VD corresponding to the fixed portion FP and the variable portion VP of each page of the plurality of booklets will be described. This operation is performed based on the page list LP as described above.
[0039]
For example, according to the page list LP, (1) two parts correspond to the page PG1, and (2) the first part of the page PG1 has a position in the file list LF = 1 as a reference position. It can be seen that the file corresponds, and (3) the second part of the page PG1 corresponds to the file having the position = 4 in the file list LF as the reference position.
[0040]
And since the variable flag (variable flag) regarding a 1st part is OFF (off), it turns out that this 1st part is fixed data.
[0041]
As described above, when the variable flag is OFF, the part is recognized as the fixed data FD, and the rasterized data existing at the corresponding reference position (here, 1) in the file list LF is extracted as the fixed data. Specifically, the position (= 1) in the list of the first part is used as it is, and the file (here, page1.tif) associated with the position (= 1) in the list is extracted. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, in any of the three booklets PT1, PT2, PT3, FD1 is extracted as a file corresponding to the first part in each first page PG1.
[0042]
On the other hand, since the variable flag (variable flag) relating to the second part is ON, it can be seen that the second part is variable data.
[0043]
Thus, when the variable flag is ON, the part is recognized as the variable data VD, and a value in consideration of the booklet number is set with respect to the corresponding reference position (here, 4) in the file list LF. The rasterized data existing at the added position is extracted as variable data. Specifically, the position (= 4) in the list of the second part is not used as it is, but a different value (here, (booklet number-1) with respect to the position (reference position) in the list. )) Can be used to extract a file (here variable1.tif) associated with the position having the value after the addition. As a result, for the first booklet PT1, the file (variable1.tif) associated with the 4+ (1-1) = fourth position in the file list LF is extracted, and the second booklet PT1 is extracted. For PT2, the file (variable2.tif) associated with the 4+ (2-1) = 5th position is extracted, and for the third booklet PT3, 4+ (3-1) = 6th position. The file (variable3.tif) associated with is extracted (see FIG. 3).
[0044]
Here, the page configuration information about the variable pages included in the print object includes, for example, one rasterized data (fixed data FD) common to a plurality of booklets in the fixed portion, as shown in the above page list LP. ) And the variable portion is associated with different rasterized data (variable data VD) for each booklet, and is constructed as common information across a plurality of booklets. Therefore, as compared to the case where a plurality of page configuration information is constructed separately for each of a plurality of booklets, there is no need to hold information on fixed portions of a plurality of booklets redundantly. It is possible to build well.
[0045]
As described above, it is possible to extract the fixed data FD and the variable data VD for the page PG1, and similarly, for the pages PG2 and PG3, the fixed data FD and the variable data VD for each page of each booklet. Can be extracted.
[0046]
Then, the rasterized data generating unit 22 combines the fixed data FD and the variable data VD, which are rasterized data extracted in this way, so that each page in each of the plurality of booklets PT1, PT2, PT3 of the print target PT is obtained. Rasterized data R for each is generated.
[0047]
In this combination processing (in other words, combining processing), rasterized data for each page is generated by combining fixed data FD and variable data VD using information in “offset” and “combining method”.
[0048]
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are flowcharts showing operations in the printing system 1. The operation in the printing system 1 will be further described with reference to these drawings. Here, a case will be described in which processing is performed for a print job in which three booklets PT1, PT2, and PT3 of the same type as shown in FIG.
[0049]
As shown in FIG. 9, after starting the processing, in step SP10, a file list LF and a page list LP used in this print job are acquired.
[0050]
In step SP20, rasterized data relating to each page of each booklet of the print target PT in the print job is generated and output to the print output device 30.
[0051]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, first, in step SP21, a page number (here, 1) on the page list LP is acquired, and in step SP22, it is included in the page PG1 of that number (= 1). Get information about each part (file information). The specific operation is as described above. Here, first, information about the first part is acquired.
[0052]
In the next step SP23, the file (file name = page1.tif) (that is, fixed data FD1) for the first part is extracted from the rasterized data storage unit 21 and transferred to the output buffer memory 8 (FIG. 4). .
[0053]
Then, in the next step SP24, it is determined whether there are other parts on the page.
[0054]
If it is determined that another part still exists, a process for proceeding to the next part (for example, a process such as counting up a part number) is performed in step SP25, and the next part (here, Information on the second part) is acquired. In step SP23, the file (file name = variable1.tif) (that is, variable data VD1) for the second part is extracted from the rasterized data storage unit 21 and transferred to the output buffer memory 8. Then, the file for the first part (file name = page1.tif) and the file for the second part (files) according to the synthesis method (here “transparent”) specified in the second part. Name = variable1.tif).
[0055]
If it is determined in step SP24 that the processing of each part included in the page has been completed, the process proceeds to step SP26. In step SP26, a process of outputting rasterized data relating to the page (here, page PG1) generated in the output buffer memory 8 to the print output device 30 is performed. Thereby, the process for the first page is completed.
[0056]
Next, the process proceeds to step SP30 (FIG. 9), and it is determined whether or not the next page exists in the booklet. Here, since the next page PG2 exists in the booklet PT1, the process proceeds to step SP35, and processing for proceeding to the next page (for example, processing such as counting up the page number) is performed. Thereafter, in step SP20, the process for page PG2 is performed.
[0057]
When the process for page PG2 in step SP20 is completed, the process for page PG3 is performed in step SP20 after the processes in steps SP30 and SP35. Then, the process proceeds again to the determination process of step SP30, and it is confirmed that the next page in the booklet ST1 does not exist (the page PG3 is the last page), whereby the print output process for the booklet PT1 is completed. .
[0058]
In the next step SP40, it is determined whether or not the processing for all booklets has been completed. Here, since the booklets PT2 and PT3 still remain, a booklet counter count-up process and a page counter reset process are performed in step SP50, and the process proceeds to the next booklet PT2.
[0059]
Thereafter, similarly, the print output process in the booklet PT2 can be performed by repeating the process in step 20 for each page. Then, after the booklet PT2, the print output process for the booklet PT3 is performed in the same manner, and when it is determined in step SP40 that all the processes included in this job have been completed, the process for this job is completed. .
[0060]
By such processing, as shown in FIG. 3, first, the first page PG1 of the first booklet PT1 is printed out by using the fixed data FD1 and the variable data VD1, and the first booklet PT1 is printed. The second page PG2 of the booklet PT1 is printed out using the fixed data FD2 and the variable data VD4, and the third page PG3 of the first booklet PT1 is printed out using the fixed data FD3. Subsequently, the first page PG1 of the second booklet PT2 is printed out by using the fixed data FD1 and the variable data VD2, and the second page PG2 of the second booklet PT2 is fixed to the fixed data FD2 and variable. Print output processing is performed by using the data VD5, and print output processing is performed by using the fixed data FD3 for the third page PG3 of the second booklet PT2. Further, the first page PG1 of the third booklet PT3 is printed out by using the fixed data FD1 and the variable data VD3, and the second page PG2 of the third booklet PT3 is fixed data FD2 and the variable data. The print output process is performed by using VD6, and the third page PG3 of the third booklet PT3 is printed by using fixed data FD3.
[0061]
As described above, according to the print control apparatus 20, the fixed data and the variable data corresponding to the variable page of the print object are extracted from the rasterized data storage unit 21 based on the page configuration information of the print object, By combining the extracted fixed data and variable data, variable page rasterized data in each of a plurality of booklets of the print target is generated. Therefore, by sharing the fixed data related to the fixed part, the fixed data once created and stored in the rasterized data storage unit 21 can be reused to generate rasterized data for each booklet only for the variable part. Therefore, there is no need to re-create rasterized data for variable pages for each booklet based on the document data for each booklet (in other words, re-create rasterized data for fixed parts that have the same contents across multiple booklets) The rasterization process can be made more efficient.
[0062]
Further, since the data output unit 23 outputs rasterized data for each page of the print target including variable pages in a desired order for each booklet, the print output apparatus that has received the output prints the variable pages. The object can be printed according to a desired order for each booklet. Therefore, for each print target of a plurality of booklets, a fixed page is printed for each booklet separately from the variable pages, and these fixed pages are compiled for each booklet for collation. Since there is no need to perform operations such as inserting separately printed variable pages into corresponding portions of each booklet, it is possible to efficiently print a print object including variable pages.
[0063]
<C. Other>
In the embodiment described above, it is necessary to prepare the same number of variable data as the number of print booklets in the print job for each variable portion VP of the variable page. On the other hand, using the file list LF, it is determined whether or not the variable data VP has the necessary number of variable data corresponding to the number of print booklets in the rasterized data storage unit 21, and the necessary number according to the number of print booklets. When it is determined that there is no number of variable data in the rasterized data storage unit 21, a warning can be displayed. This warning display can be displayed on the display unit 5 (FIG. 4) using characters (for example, a display such as “the number of variable parts is insufficient”) or graphics.
[0064]
According to such a warning display, it is possible to notify the operator that the necessary rasterized data does not exist (deficiency), so that the operation of generating the insufficient rasterized data by the operation of the operator is printed. It is possible to take necessary measures such as using the apparatus 20.
[0065]
In the above embodiment, the case where the same type of print object is printed out (when the print object having the common variable page and the common fixed page is printed out) has been described. The present invention can also be applied when printing out different types of print objects (for example, printing out print objects that have a common variable page but do not have a common fixed page). is there.
[0066]
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of printing out different types of print objects. In the book (BOOK) A that is the first type of printed matter and the book (BOOK) B that is the second type of printed matter, the first page PG has a common variable including a fixed portion FP and a variable portion VP. Although it is a page, the second and subsequent pages have different fixed pages. Specifically, the book A is composed of the fixed data FD2 on the second page PG2 and the fixed data FD3 on the third page PG3, whereas the book B has the (fixed data FD2 on the second page PG2). The fixed data FD4 and the third page PG3 are different from the fixed data FD5 (different from the fixed data FD3), and further include the fourth page PG4 (not present in the book A). Are different from each other.
[0067]
Even in such a case, the first page PG1 is a common variable page including the fixed portion FP and the variable portion VP, and the present invention can be applied.
[0068]
In the above-described embodiment, the “booklet” includes a plurality of pages. However, the “booklet” includes one page alone (specifically, only one variable page). There may be.
[0069]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the rasterized data corresponding to the variable portion VP (FIG. 2, etc.) has been described as the data VD1, VD2, VD3 different from each other for the plurality of booklets PT1, PT2, PT3 (see FIG. 3). The same data may be used in a plurality of booklets (for example, PT2 and PT3).
[0070]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, claims 1 to 6 According to the invention described in the above, page configuration information of the print object File list and page list The fixed data and variable data corresponding to the variable page of the print object are extracted from the rasterized data storage unit based on the print data, and a plurality of booklets of the print object are combined by combining the extracted fixed data and variable data. Rasterized data of variable pages in each of the above is generated. Therefore, it is only necessary to share fixed data for fixed portions having the same contents over a plurality of booklets and create rasterized data for each booklet only for variable portions, so that the efficiency of rasterizing processing can be improved.
[0071]
In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the data output means outputs the rasterized data for each page of the print object including the variable pages according to a desired order for each booklet. The print output apparatus can print a print object including variable pages in a desired order for each booklet. Therefore, for each print target of a plurality of booklets, a fixed page is printed for each booklet separately from the variable pages, and these fixed pages are compiled for each booklet for collation. Since there is no need to perform operations such as inserting separately printed variable pages into corresponding portions of each booklet, it is possible to efficiently print a print object including variable pages.
[0072]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the page configuration information for the variable page included in the print object is associated with one rasterized data common to a plurality of booklets in the fixed portion, and the variable portion. Is constructed as common information across a plurality of booklets by associating different rasterized data for each booklet. Therefore, it is not necessary to hold information about fixed parts of multiple booklets redundantly, as compared to the case of building multiple page configuration information for each of multiple booklets. Is possible.
[0073]
And claims 4 According to the invention described in the above, the file list is used to determine whether the necessary number of variable data corresponding to the number of printed booklets for the variable part exists in the rasterized data storage unit, and the number of printed booklets is determined according to the number of printed booklets. A warning is displayed when it is determined that the required number of variable data does not exist in the rasterized data storage means. Therefore, the operator can be notified that the necessary rasterized data does not exist, and the operator can take necessary measures.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration related to a printing system 1 according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a page configuration of a print target PT.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a page configuration of each booklet PT1, PT2, PT3.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the print control apparatus 20;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the print control apparatus 20;
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of generating rasterized data for each page.
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a file list LF.
FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a page list LP.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in the printing system.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a detailed operation in step SP20.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of another print target PT.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printing system
20 Print control device
30 Print output device
FD, FD1 to FD5 fixed data
FP, FP1-FP3 fixed part
LF file list
LP page list
PG1, PG2, PG3 page
PT, PT1 to PT3 Print target (booklet)
R rasterized data (for each page)
VD, VD1 to VD6 Variable data
VP, VP1-VP2 variable part

Claims (6)

A printing control apparatus in a printing system that prints a plurality of print objects including a variable page composed of a fixed part having the same contents over a plurality of booklets and a variable part that can be different contents for each booklet,
Rasterized data storage means for storing fixed data that is rasterized data for the fixed part and variable data that is rasterized data for the variable part;
Based on the page configuration information representing the page configuration of the print object, fixed data and variable data corresponding to the fixed part and variable part of the variable page of the print object are extracted from the rasterized data storage unit. Rasterized data generating means for generating rasterized data of the variable pages in each of the plurality of booklets of the print object by combining the extracted fixed data and variable data;
Equipped with a,
The page configuration information is
A file list in which parts of a plurality of rasterized data including the fixed data and the variable data for the variable page are listed;
For each part included in the variable page, a page list having a variable flag indicating whether or not each part is variable data and a reference position in the file list of each part;
Have
The rasterized data generation means for each part included in the variable page,
When the variable flag of the part is off, it recognizes that the part is fixed data, extracts rasterized data existing at the corresponding reference position in the file list as fixed data corresponding to the part,
When the variable flag of the part is on, the part is recognized as a variable part and exists at a position obtained by adding a value in consideration of the booklet number to the corresponding reference position in the file list. By extracting rasterized data as variable data corresponding to the page,
Identifying and extracting the fixed data and the variable data for the variable page;
A printing control apparatus characterized by that. The print control apparatus according to claim 1,
Data output means for outputting rasterized data of each page to a print output device;
Further comprising
The print control apparatus, wherein the data output means outputs rasterized data for each page of the print object including the variable page in a desired order for each booklet. In the printing control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
In the page configuration information for variable pages included in the print object, the fixed portion is associated with one rasterized data common to the plurality of booklets, and the variable portion has different rasterized data for each booklet. The print control apparatus is constructed as information common to the plurality of booklets by associating the plurality of booklets. The print control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Using the file list, it is determined whether or not a necessary number of variable data corresponding to the number of printed booklets for the variable portion exists in the rasterized data storage means, and the required number of variable data is stored in the rasterized data storage means. Warning means to display a warning when it is determined that the
The printing control apparatus further comprising: A printing system,
  A print control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
  A print output device for performing print output of the print object based on a print control output from the print control device;
A printing system comprising: A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to function as the print control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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