JP3728619B2 - Document processing apparatus and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a document processing apparatus that creates a document by editing various data such as a document and a table, and a storage medium that stores the control program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, various application programs such as spreadsheets and databases have been used in office computers, general-purpose computers, and the like mainly for office processing. Various application programs such as spreadsheets and databases are also used to create documents that are prepared for distribution or presentation at conferences, documents including presentation materials and drawings.
[0003]
When printing such a document, for example, if it is a document, an application program such as a word processor is started to open the document data to be printed, and the page number to be printed is specified on the print dialog screen. When a print instruction is input, the document data of the page to be printed is transferred from the application program to the designated printer driver program in the system, converted into command data for the designated printer, and output to the designated printer for printing.
[0004]
Therefore, if a single document contains multiple types of data such as documents, presentation materials, drawings, etc., it is necessary to individually start an application program corresponding to each data and repeat the printing process as described above. It was.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional document printing process, when a single document includes a plurality of types of data such as documents, presentation materials, drawings, etc., an application program corresponding to each data is individually provided. It is necessary to start up, repeatedly instruct a predetermined printing process to print, and since printed page output by each application is not given a continuous page number, it is necessary to manually rearrange the page order, There is a problem that even if only one document is printed, the work is complicated and time-consuming. In particular, when a plurality of documents have to be prepared, it takes a very long time to print and rearrange the pages, and the work efficiency is lowered.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to create a virtual document that can be collectively controlled when printing a document including a plurality of types of data such as a document, a presentation material, and a drawing, thereby improving work efficiency during document printing. That is.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention described in claim 1
Conversion means for converting a document created by each of a plurality of applications into print data in a unified data format;
Storage means for spool storing the print data converted by the conversion means as a print object corresponding to the original document;
Creating means for creating a virtual document having a print object arbitrarily selected by the selecting means from among a plurality of print objects spooled in the storage means;
A printing unit that reads out the print object specified by the virtual document from the storage unit and prints it in accordance with the print output designation of the virtual document created by the creating unit;
It is characterized by having.
[0008]
According to the invention of claim 1,
When the conversion means converts the document created by each of the plurality of applications into print data in a unified data format, the converted print data is spool-stored in the storage means as a print object corresponding to the original document, and the creation means Creating a virtual document having the print content arbitrarily selected by the selection means from among the plurality of print objects spooled in the storage means, and specifying the print output of the virtual document created by the creation means In response, the printing unit reads out the print object specified by the virtual document from the storage unit and prints it out.
[0009]
Therefore, it is possible to omit the trouble of starting the application program for each document page, performing print settings, and printing, simplifying the work procedure when outputting the document print, and improving work efficiency.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 15 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a computer system to which the present invention is applied.
[0011]
First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a computer system 1 according to the present embodiment.
[0012]
In FIG. 1, the computer system 1 includes a CPU 2, an input device 3, a RAM 4, a display device 5, a printing device 6, a storage device 7, and a storage medium 8, and each unit except for the storage medium 8 is connected to a bus 9. Has been.
[0013]
A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2 expands a system program stored in the storage device 7 and application programs designated from various application programs corresponding to the system to a program storage area (not shown) in the RAM 4, Various instructions or data input from the input device 3 are temporarily stored in the RAM 4, various processes are executed in accordance with the application program developed in the RAM 4 according to the input instructions and input data, and the processing results are stored in the RAM 4. And displayed on the display device 5. Then, the processing result stored in the RAM 4 is stored in the storage destination in the storage device 7 instructed to be input from the input device 3.
[0014]
Further, when printing a document including a plurality of types of data such as documents, presentation materials, drawings, etc., the CPU 2 performs document printing processing (see FIG. 3) described later based on the document printing control conceptual diagram shown in FIG. Execute.
[0015]
That is, when a virtual printer for creating a virtual spool file C, which will be described later, is specified in the document printing process, the CPU 2 calls a virtual printer driver from the storage device 7 and executes the application programs AP-1 to AP shown in FIG. -3 (hereinafter referred to as applications AP-1 to AP-3), when a print target page is specified from another document file (document, presentation material, drawing, etc.), each application AP-1 to AP-3 The page data is expanded into drawing records in units of pages to create virtual spool page records, and each virtual spool page record is associated with the corresponding document file name in the application-specific spool file folder B shown in FIG. Are stored as virtual spool files C for each of the applications AP-1 to AP-3.
[0016]
Then, the CPU 2 activates the virtual document editor program D in FIG. 2, executes a virtual document editing process (see FIG. 6) described later, displays a virtual document editor screen (see FIG. 7) on the display device 5, and On this virtual document editor screen, a virtual document creation / editing process (see FIGS. 8 and 9) for creating a virtual document management file E from each virtual spool page record in the virtual spool file C is executed. E is created and saved in the virtual document management file folder stored in the storage device 7. In this virtual document management file E, the editing contents corresponding to each virtual spool page record with the name of the document file to be edited are stored as management information.
[0017]
Further, when “print preview” is instructed on the virtual document editor screen during the virtual document creation process, the virtual document management file E print preview process (see FIG. 12) is executed, and the designated virtual document page record is stored. It is displayed as a print preview screen on the virtual document editor screen, and the mask range (output suppression region) can be set / released and the information (page) additional range (information additional region) can be set for each page.
[0018]
Further, in the virtual document editing process, when a real printer related to the actual print process is designated, the CPU 2 starts the virtual print control program F in FIG. 2 and executes a print process (see FIG. 13) described later. The virtual document page record is read from the virtual document management file E in units of pages, the corresponding virtual spool page record is read out from the virtual spool file C in units of pages, and the virtual spool page is based on the management information set in the virtual document page record. The record is converted into a printer compatible spool record corresponding to the designated actual printer, and the printer compatible spool file G of FIG. 2 is created. Then, the printer-compatible spool file G is transferred to the printing apparatus 6 to execute print processing. When printing is completed, the printer-compatible spool file G is deleted, and the virtual spool file C and the virtual document management file E are saved.
[0019]
The input device 3 includes a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse having a cursor key, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like, and outputs a key pressing signal and a mouse position signal pressed on the keyboard to the CPU 2.
[0020]
A RAM (Random Access Memory) 4 forms a program storage area for developing various programs when the CPU 2 executes the various application programs, and data and table data processed when the CPU 2 executes the various processes. And so on to form a memory area.
[0021]
The display device 5 is configured by a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or the like, and displays a virtual document editor screen, a print preview screen, and the like input from the CPU 2. The printing device 6 prints print data (such as a printer-compatible spool file) input from the CPU 2 on a predetermined recording paper and outputs it.
[0022]
The storage device 7 has a storage medium 8 in which programs, data, and the like are stored in advance, and the storage medium 8 is configured by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 8 is fixedly attached to the storage device 7 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 8 includes the system program, various application programs corresponding to the system, a document print processing program, A virtual document editing process program, a virtual document creation process program, a print preview process program, a print process program, a virtual printer driver program, an actual printer driver program, and data processed by each process program are stored.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, the storage device 7 stores an application-specific spool file folder B storing a virtual spool file C and a virtual document file E, and temporarily stores a printer-compatible spool file G.
[0024]
Further, the program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 8 may be configured to be received and stored from other devices connected via a communication line or the like, and further connected via a communication line or the like. Another apparatus may be provided with a storage device including the storage medium, and the program and data stored in the storage medium 8 may be used via a communication line.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
First, the document printing process executed by the CPU 2 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0026]
In FIG. 3, the CPU 2 first starts the document printing process when a printing process is instructed from the processing menu of the activated applications AP-1 to AP-3, and determines whether or not a virtual printer is designated. (Step S1). When the virtual printer is designated, the virtual printer driver program is called from the storage device 7 (step S2), and each page data from the document file designated by the activated applications AP-1 to AP-3 is shown in FIG. In this way, it is expanded into drawing records (data attributes, coordinates, size (format), data) in units of pages (step S3), and a virtual spool page record is created (step S4).
[0027]
Then, the CPU 2 creates a virtual spool file C by using the file name of the document file designated by the application AP-1 to AP-3 for each created virtual spool page record (step S5), and stores it in the storage device 7. The application AP-1 to AP-3 are stored in the application-specific spool file folder B (step S6), and the process is terminated.
[0028]
The virtual spool file creation process will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
In FIG. 4, the CPU 2 first determines whether or not the virtual spool file C having the same file name as the file name to be created is present in the storage device 7 (step E1). If there is no virtual spool file C with the same file name, the process proceeds to step E6 to create a virtual spool file C with the document file names of the designated applications AP-1 to AP-3, and the process of step S6 in FIG. Migrate to
[0029]
If there is a virtual spool file C having the same file name, the CPU 2 displays a file name confirmation sub-window 200 shown in FIG. 5 on the display device 5 (step E2). In this file name confirmation sub-window 200, a list display frame 201 for displaying a list of file contents of the same file name already stored together with “document No.”, “owner name” and “update date / time”, and an overwrite instruction are input. An “overwrite” button 202 for performing a new instruction and a “new” button 203 for inputting a new instruction are arranged.
[0030]
Then, the CPU 2 confirms whether or not the “overwrite” button 202 is operated in the file name confirmation sub-window 200 (step E3). If the “overwrite” button 202 is operated, the original file name is changed to the current file name. The document file name is overwritten (step E4), and the process proceeds to step S6 in FIG.
[0031]
If the “overwrite” button 202 is not operated, the “new” button 203 is operated in the file name confirmation sub-window 200, so that the document file names of the designated application AP-1 to AP-3 are assigned document numbers. Is created (step E5), and the process proceeds to step S6 in FIG.
[0032]
Accordingly, in the document printing process, when a virtual printer is designated, the printed matter is not output, and only the virtual spool file C is created and stored in the storage device 7. Also, when creating the virtual spool file C, select whether to create by overwriting the current document file name or creating a new document file name, depending on whether there is a virtual spool file C with the same file name It was possible.
[0033]
If a virtual printer is not specified in step S1 and an actual printer is specified, the CPU 2 moves to step S7, calls the specified actual printer driver program from the storage device 7, and activates the application AP- Each page data from the document file specified by 1 to AP-3 is expanded into drawing records (data attributes, coordinates, size (format), data) in units of pages as shown in FIG. 6 (step S8). A printer-compatible spool file G corresponding to the designated printer is created (step S9).
[0034]
Then, the CPU 2 transfers the created printer-compatible spool file to the printing device 6 that is the corresponding printer (step S10), outputs the printed matter, and confirms the end of printing. It deletes (step S11), and this process is complete | finished.
[0035]
As described in the above document printing process, when a virtual printer is designated, as shown in FIG. 7, a virtual spool file C corresponding to applications AP-1 to AP-3 is created in units of document file names. It is stored in the storage device 7. Subsequently, the CPU 2 executes a virtual document editing process using the virtual spool file C.
[0036]
The virtual document editing process executed by the CPU 2 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
In FIG. 8, when the activation of the virtual document editor is instructed from the processing menu of the activated applications AP-1 to AP-3, the CPU 2 starts the virtual document editing process, and the virtual document as shown in FIG. The editor screen 100 is displayed on the display device 5 (step A1).
[0037]
In this virtual document editor screen 100, a bar-shaped splitter 101 that divides the virtual document editor screen 100 left and right, and the contents of the virtual spool file C for each application (word processor, presentation, etc.) are displayed as a virtual document folder in a tree display. A tree view display unit 102, an overview display unit 103 that displays an overview of the contents of a virtual document folder moved from the tree view display unit 102, and an overview display frame 104 that identifies and displays a target page in the overview display unit 103. Is set.
[0038]
Next, the CPU 2 determines whether or not “new creation” is instructed from the edit pull-down menu (not shown) on the virtual document editor screen 100 (step A2). If “new creation” is instructed, the process proceeds to the virtual document creation and editing process in step A7. If “new creation” is not instructed, as shown in the tree view display unit 102 of FIG. A list indicating the page contents of (virtual spool file C) is displayed in a tree format in a folder format (step A3).
[0039]
When a desired virtual document folder is selected by the drag and drop operation from the tree view display unit 102 to the overview display unit 103 (step A4) and is moved to the overview display unit 103, the CPU 2 as shown in FIG. In step A5, the contents of the virtual document folder selected in the overview display unit 103 are set and displayed in the overview display frame 104.
[0040]
Then, the CPU 2 determines whether or not “edit” is instructed from the edit pull-down menu (step A6). If "edit" is not instructed, the process proceeds to step A9. If "edit" is instructed, virtual document creation and editing processing is executed (step A). This virtual document creation and editing process will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0041]
In FIG. 10, the CPU 2 first confirms whether or not there is an instruction input from the input device 3 by the operator (step C <b> 1). Discriminate (step C2). If it is not a new virtual document folder drop instruction, the process proceeds to step C12. If it is a new virtual document folder drop instruction, a new extraction target virtual document folder (from the tree view display unit 102 in FIG. (Including page contents) is selected and moved to the overview display unit 103 by a drag and drop operation (step C3).
[0042]
Next, the CPU 2 determines whether or not the newly dropped virtual document folder is a document (document) (step C4), and if it is a document, selects all virtual document page records in the virtual document folder (step C5). ), The corresponding virtual spool page record is read out from the virtual spool file C based on the management information of the first virtual document page record, and the page image is dropped together with its page number and paper size as shown in FIG. The overview display frame 104 is set and displayed (step C6).
[0043]
Then, the CPU 2 confirms whether or not the image display of all virtual document pages (all virtual spool page records) in the virtual document folder has been completed (step C7). The corresponding virtual spool page record is read out from the virtual spool file C based on the record management information, and the overview display frame 104 is set at the next space position of the drop position together with the page number and paper size of the page image. Are displayed (step C8). The processes in steps C7 and C8 are repeatedly executed until the display of all virtual document pages in the virtual document folder is completed.
[0044]
If the newly dropped virtual document folder in step C4 is not a document, it is an image, so that the CPU 2 obtains a corresponding virtual spool page record from the virtual spool file C based on the management information of the selected virtual document page. As shown in FIG. 7, the page image is read and the overview display frame 104 is set at the drop position together with the page number and paper size and displayed (step C9).
[0045]
When the CPU 2 finishes displaying all virtual document pages (all virtual spool page records) of the selected document or displaying a virtual document page (virtual spool page record) of the selected image, the CPU 2 displays the overview display unit 103 in step C10. The display position of the image of the other virtual document page (virtual spool page record) being displayed is corrected.
[0046]
In the overview display unit 103 of FIG. 9, the “description material” virtual document folder is selected from the application “presentation” in the tree view display unit 102 and the overview display frame 104 set at the drop position in the overview display unit 103. The image of the “001” virtual document page (virtual spool page record) is displayed in an overview together with the page number “0001” and the paper size “A4”. Further, on the right side of the overview display frame 104, an image of the “004” virtual document page (virtual spool page record) in the “Techno 98.doc” virtual document folder previously selected from the application “word processor” is displayed as the page number. An overview display state is shown together with “0004” and paper size “A3”.
[0047]
Then, the CPU 2 manages the contents (virtual spool file ID, start page, end page) of each virtual spool page record in each virtual document folder displayed in the overview display unit 103, as shown in FIG. In the virtual document management file E shown in FIG. 5B stored in the document management file folder, the page management information of the virtual document page is inserted and stored in the storage position corresponding to the display position on the overview display unit 103. (Step C11), the process returns to Step C1. That is, the storage position of management information for managing each virtual spool page record included in the virtual document management file E is updated according to the display position of each page image on the overview display unit 103.
[0048]
In step C2, if the instruction is not a new document folder drop instruction, the CPU 2 proceeds to step C12 and determines whether or not the page is moved on the overview display unit 103. If the page is not moved, the process proceeds to step C16. If the page is moved, the page image display position in the virtual document folder being displayed is dragged and dropped in the overview display unit 13. Is rearranged (step C13), the display positions of other page images are corrected (step C14). Then, the CPU 2 manages each page management information in the virtual document management file E stored in the virtual document management file folder shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B based on the correction contents of each display position of each page image. Is moved (step C15), and the process returns to step C1.
[0049]
If the instruction content is not page movement on the overview display unit 103 in step C12, the CPU 2 proceeds to step C16 and determines whether or not to delete the page image. If the page image is not deleted, the process proceeds to step C19. If the page image is deleted, the display of the page image instructed to delete is deleted from the overview display unit 103 (step C17). Then, the CPU 2 deletes the page management information of the deleted page from the virtual document management file E stored in the virtual document management file folder shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B based on the deletion of the page image. (Step C18), the process returns to Step C1.
[0050]
If the instruction content is not deletion of the page image in step C19, the CPU 2 proceeds to step C19 and determines whether or not a print preview is instructed. If it is not a print preview instruction, other processes according to the other instructions are executed (step C21), and the process returns to step C1. If it is a print preview instruction, print preview processing of the designated page image is executed. The print preview process will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0051]
In FIG. 14, the CPU 2 first creates a print preview screen for the designated page (step D1), and displays the print preview screen on the display device 5 (step D). Next, it is confirmed whether or not there is an instruction input from the input device 3 by the operator (step D3). If there is an instruction input, it is determined whether or not the instruction content is a mask instruction (step D4). If it is not a mask instruction, the CPU 2 proceeds to the process of step D8. If it is a mask instruction, the mask range is displayed on the print preview screen as shown in FIG. 13A (step D5). The display position and size are corrected by the operator's operation (step D6).
[0052]
When the position and size of the mask range display are corrected by the operation of the operator, the CPU 2 adds the specified mask range information to the management information of the specified page in the virtual document management file E as shown in FIG. (Step D7), the process returns to Step D3. As shown in FIG. 13B, “mask ranges (X1, Y1) to (X2, Y2)” are added to the management information of the specified page in the virtual document management file E as the specified mask range information. .
[0053]
If it is not a mask instruction in step D4, the CPU 2 proceeds to the process of step D8 and determines whether or not a non-mask instruction is input. If it is not a non-mask instruction, the CPU 2 proceeds to the process of step D12. If it is a non-mask instruction, a mask area preset on the print preview screen is selected (step D9), and the mask range display is deleted. (Step D10). Then, the CPU 2 deletes the corresponding mask range information from the management information of the designated page in the virtual document management file E (step D11), and returns to the processing of step D3.
[0054]
On the other hand, if the instruction is not a non-mask instruction in step D8, the CPU 2 determines whether or not a page addition instruction has been input by proceeding to the process in step D12. If it is a page addition instruction, the CPU 2 displays the page addition range on the print preview screen as shown in FIG. 13A (step D13), and corrects the position and size of the page addition range display by the operation of the operator. (Step D14). When the position and size of the page addition range display are corrected by the operator's operation, the CPU 2 adds the designated page addition range information to the management information of the designated page in the virtual document management file E (step D15), and the step The process returns to D3.
[0055]
If it is not a page addition instruction in step D12, the CPU 2 proceeds to step D16 and determines whether or not an end instruction is input. If it is an end instruction, the print preview process is ended. If it is not an end instruction, other processes according to other instructions are executed (step D17), and the process returns to step D3. When the print preview process is completed, the process returns to the process of step C1 in FIG.
[0056]
As described above, in the virtual document creation and editing process, it is possible to edit the page structure of the virtual document page and set the mask range and page addition range in the page image. When the virtual document creation / editing process ends, the process returns to step A8 in FIG. 8 again, and the virtual document management file E created by the virtual document creation / editing process is stored in the virtual document management file folder.
[0057]
Then, the CPU 2 determines whether or not an end instruction is input (step A9). If the end instruction is input, the virtual document editing process is ended. If the end instruction is not input, a print designation is input. It is determined whether or not (step A10). If the print designation is not input, the process returns to the virtual document creation and editing process in step A7. If the print designation is input, the printing apparatus 6 that is a real printer is designated (step A11), and the print process is executed.
[0058]
This printing process will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
In FIG. 15, the CPU 2 first sets “Page” in the RAM 4 as a parameter for managing the number of printed pages, and sets “1” to the parameter “Page” (step B1). Next, the CPU 2 determines whether or not there is an unread virtual document page record in the virtual document management file E designated for printing (step B2). If there is no unread virtual document page record, the CPU 2 proceeds to the process of step B14. If there is an unread virtual document page record, the CPU 2 determines the virtual document page record based on the number of virtual document pages in the virtual document management file E. “N ← start page” and “E ← end page” are set in the RAM 4 as parameters for managing the start page and end page (step B4).
[0059]
Next, the CPU 2 determines whether or not the page number N of the read virtual document page record is equal to or less than the end page E (step B5). If the page number N of the read virtual document page record is less than or equal to the end page E, the CPU 2 returns to the process of step B2 if the page number N of the read virtual document page record is not less than or equal to the end page E. If the number N is equal to or less than the end page E, the corresponding N pages of virtual spool page records are read from the virtual spool file C specified by the virtual spool file ID set in the virtual document page record (step B6). .
[0060]
Then, the CPU 2 converts the read N-page virtual spool page record into a printer-compatible spool record corresponding to the printing apparatus 6 that is a real printer, and creates a printer-compatible spool file G (step B7). Further, the CPU 2 checks whether or not the mask range information is set in the read virtual document page record of N pages (step B8). If the mask range information is not set, the process proceeds to step B10. If the mask range information is set, for example, a mask is set so as to mask the specified range of the page corresponding to the mask range information. A printer-compatible command is created so that the range is overwritten with white (step B9).
[0061]
When the mask range information is not set in step B8, and after the process of step B9, it is confirmed whether or not page additional information is set in the virtual document page record of page N read in step B10. If page addition information has not been set, the process returns to step B5. If page addition information has been set, a printer corresponding command is created so as to add a page to the designated range (step B11).
[0062]
Then, the CPU 2 adds “1” to the parameter “Page” set in the RAM 4 in the process of step B1 (step B12), and also adds “1” to the start page N (step B13). Return to the process. When returning to step B5, the CPU 2 determines again whether or not the page number N is equal to or less than the end page E. If the page number N is equal to or less than the end page E, the CPU 2 determines the virtual spool page record of the next N pages as the virtual spool file. The data is read from C, and the processes in steps B7 to B13 are repeatedly executed. Therefore, the CPU 2 repeatedly executes the processing of step B6 to step B13 until the page number N exceeds the end page E, and stores the printer-corresponding spool file G created based on the designated virtual document management file in the storage device 7. When the page number N exceeds the end page E, the process returns to step B2.
[0063]
If there is no unread virtual document page record in step B2, the CPU 2 transfers the current printer-corresponding spool file G stored in the storage device 7 to the printing device 6 for printing (step B14). When the printing end in the printing device 6 is confirmed, the printer-corresponding spool file G saved this time is deleted from the storage device 7 (step B15), this printing processing is ended, and the processing returns to the processing in step A7 in FIG.
[0064]
As described above, in the computer system 1 according to the present embodiment, when printing as one document file including a plurality of types of data (documents and images) created in advance by the plurality of applications AP-1 to AP-3. A virtual spool that can be collectively managed by selecting a desired document page by drag-and-drop operation for each of the applications AP-1 to AP-3 on the virtual document editor screen 100 by designating a virtual printer mode by the operator. Virtual document editing function for creating and saving file C, and virtual document management for managing the change of page order of each virtual spool page, mask setting for each page, and setting of page additional information based on this virtual spool file C Virtual document management file creation and editing functions for creating and saving file E I was painting.
[0065]
In actual printing, a printer-compatible spool file G corresponding to the actual printer is created from the stored virtual spool file C and virtual document management file E and transferred to the printing device 6 to execute actual printing. A print processing function for deleting the printer-compatible spool file G after printing is also provided.
[0066]
Therefore, the operator can save the trouble of starting the application program for each document page, performing print settings and printing, simplifying the work procedure when printing the document, and improving work efficiency. Further, by adding the new page information by masking the original page number for each virtual spool page, the continuous page number can be easily assigned, and the trouble of rearranging the page order of the printed matter can be omitted. .
[0067]
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when a virtual printer is specified when printing a document created by the applications AP-1 to AP-3, a virtual spool file C, which is a print object, is created and spooled. As a result, printed matter can be output simply by reading the corresponding virtual spool file C without creating a print object during actual printing, and the processing time during actual printing can be reduced.
[0068]
In the above embodiment, when the virtual spool file C is created, it is created by overwriting the current document file name according to the presence or absence of the virtual spool file C having the same file name, or a new document file name. Therefore, it can be easily determined by the operator's judgment as to whether or not the contents of changes in the original document are integrated and reflected in the managed document.
[0069]
In the above embodiment, the virtual document management file E is created by dragging and dropping the virtual document page from the tree view display unit 102 to the overview display unit 103 on the virtual document editor screen 100. A virtual document management file may be created by an icon moving / deleting operation on the view display unit 102.
[0070]
Further, in the above embodiment, in creating the virtual document management file E, only management information is managed and stored, and independent from the virtual spool file C that stores actual data. The necessary pages may be extracted from the file and managed and stored for each virtual document.
[0071]
【The invention's effect】
According to the document processing apparatus of the invention of claim 1 and the storage medium of the invention of claim 5, it is possible to save the trouble of starting an application program for each document page, performing print settings, and printing. The work procedure at the time can be simplified and work efficiency can be improved.
[0072]
According to the document processing apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to output a printed matter simply by reading a corresponding print object without creating a print object at the time of actual printing, and it is possible to shorten the processing time at the time of actual printing. .
[0073]
According to the document processing apparatus of the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to easily determine whether or not to reflect the change contents of the original document in the document to be managed in an integrated manner based on the operator's judgment.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a computer system 1 according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a control concept of a virtual document printing process executed by a CPU 2 in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing document printing processing executed by CPU 2 of FIG. 1;
4 is a flowchart showing virtual spool file creation processing executed by CPU 2 of FIG. 1; FIG.
5 is a diagram showing a file name confirmation sub-window displayed in the virtual spool file creation process of FIG. 4; FIG.
6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a drawing record developed in the virtual document printing process of FIG. 3;
7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a spool file folder created in the virtual document printing process of FIG. 3; FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a virtual document editing process executed by the CPU 2 of FIG.
9 is a diagram showing a virtual document editor screen displayed in the virtual document editing process of FIG. 8. FIG.
10 is a flowchart showing a part of virtual document creation processing executed by CPU 2 of FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a part of the virtual document creation process continued from FIG. 10;
12 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a virtual document management file E created in the virtual document creation processing of FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG.
13 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a virtual document management file E created in the virtual document creation processing of FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a print preview process executed by the CPU 2 of FIG.
15 is a flowchart showing a printing process executed by the CPU 2 of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Computer system 2 CPU
3 Input device 4 RAM
5 Display device 6 Printing device 7 Storage device 8 Storage medium 9 Bus 100 Virtual document editor screen 102 Tree view display portion 103 Overview display portion 200 File name confirmation sub-window 201 List display frame 202 “Overwrite” button 203 “New” button B Application-specific spool file folder C Virtual spool file D Virtual document editor program E Virtual document management file F Virtual print control program G Printer-compatible spool file

Claims (5)

Conversion means for converting a document created by each of a plurality of applications into print data in a unified data format;
Storage means for spool storing the print data converted by the conversion means as a print object corresponding to the original document;
Creating means for creating a virtual document having a print object arbitrarily selected by the selecting means from among a plurality of print objects spooled in the storage means;
A printing unit that reads out the print object specified by the virtual document from the storage unit and prints it in accordance with the print output designation of the virtual document created by the creating unit;
A document processing apparatus comprising: Virtual printing designation means for designating virtual printing by a virtual printer driver when printing a document created by the application;
When virtual printing is designated by the virtual printing designation means, storage control means for spool-storing the print data corresponding to the virtual print designation document converted by the conversion means as the print object in the storage means;
The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A determination unit that determines whether the print object corresponding to the document to be printed is already spooled in the storage unit when virtual printing is specified by the virtual print specifying unit;
If it is determined by the determination means that the print object is already spooled in the storage means, the print data of the corresponding print object is updated with the print data newly converted from the document to be printed by the conversion means. Updating means for performing
The document processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: A determination unit that determines whether the print object corresponding to the document to be printed is already spooled in the storage unit when virtual printing is specified by the virtual print specifying unit;
If it is determined by the determination means that the print object is already spooled in the storage means, the print data newly converted from the document to be printed by the conversion means is used as the print object corresponding to the original document. Storage control means for storing a spool in the storage means;
The document processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: A storage medium storing a computer-executable program for printing out a document,
Computer-executable program code for converting a document created by each of a plurality of applications into print data in a unified data format;
A computer-executable program code for spooling the converted print data in the storage means as a print object corresponding to the original document;
Program code executable by a computer for creating a virtual document having a print object arbitrarily selected by the selection means from among a plurality of print objects spooled in the storage means;
In accordance with the print output designation of the created virtual document, a program code executable by a computer for reading out the print object specified by the virtual document from the storage unit and printing it out,
A storage medium characterized by storing a program including:

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