JP3733290B2 - Print control apparatus, print control method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a storage medium that execute conflict processing between a plurality of different setting values delivered from an application to a print processing related program for controlling the printing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when an application program running on a computer executes printing, it is a common method to deliver various settings necessary for printing together with a print start command to a printing-related processing program such as a printer driver. It is. As described above, by passing various settings necessary for printing as parameters to the printer driver from the program, the program can obtain the intended print output.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the range of types of setting values that can be specified to obtain the intended print output is very limited, such as the paper feed port and double-sided / single-sided printing that can be supported by any printer. For other useful functions that cannot be specified directly from the application program even if they are provided by the printer or printer driver, the user interface of the printer driver must be opened and specified there. .
[0004]
For this reason, when the user does not want to display the user interface of the printer driver at the time of printing output from various company system software, there is a problem that the functions of the printer or the printer driver cannot be fully utilized.
[0005]
Therefore, in order to make full use of the printer or printer driver in recent years, a special interface that can be used from the application is provided for the settings depending on the model of the printer and printer driver, and when this interface is used, Printer drivers have emerged that make it possible to set functions equivalent to those set in the printer driver user interface.
[0006]
In this case, the settings from the application program via this interface are also the same as the printer driver user interface conflict processing (resolving the setting conflict between multiple setting values and adjusting any setting value) Process to ensure consistency between set values), conflict processing that is efficient, less leaky, and equivalent to the conflict processing used in the user interface can be used in situations other than the user interface. There is a need to realize it.
[0007]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to execute a conflict process on a printer driver side such as a conflict manager and notify the application of the result of the conflict process. A control device, a printing control method, and a storage medium are provided.
[0008]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus for performing conflict processing between a plurality of different set values, which is delivered from an application to a printer driver that controls the print apparatus, and includes two or more of the printer drivers. A storage means for storing a conflict processing rule indicating a dependency relationship established between the set values, and a conflict processing rule stored in the storage means is read, and is complementarily established based on the read conflict processing rule. A generation unit that generates a conflict processing rule and a conflict manager program included in the printer driver are executed, and a setting value necessary for executing printing on the printing apparatus is determined using the conflict processing rule generated by the generation unit. Apply conflict processing to avoid alignment Conflict processing means for changing the value, the result of the conflict processing by the conflict processing means, characterized in that it comprises a notifying means for notifying the application from the conflict manager program.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus including a printer driver having a conflict manager program for performing conflict processing of an application and a setting value necessary for execution of printing input from the application. Input means for inputting setting values necessary for print execution to the program; conflict processing means for applying conflict processing rules for avoiding inconsistencies in the setting values input by the input means to the conflict manager program; And a notifying unit for notifying the application of a conflict processing rule application result by the conflict processing unit from a conflict manager program.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, after the notification means notifies the application of a result of the conflict processing means applying the conflict processing rule, the setting value necessary for the printing based on an instruction from the application is acquired. The apparatus further comprises means.
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the application acquires the result of applying the conflict processing rule by the conflict processing means notified from the notification means, and determines whether or not to continue the setting based on the processing content. It further comprises confirmation means for confirming.
[0012]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the conflict processing means is configured such that a conflict between a setting value indicating collate printing and a setting value indicating group printing, or a conflict between a setting value indicating stapling and a setting value indicating bookbinding. A conflict processing rule that avoids any one of them is applied.
[0013]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the notifying unit notifies the application result of the conflict processing rule by writing the application result of the conflict processing rule to a storage unit readable by the application. Features.
[0014]
The seventh invention according to the present invention is characterized by further comprising generation means for generating a rule that complements the conflict processing rule.
[0015]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conflict processing rule that complements a conflict processing rule having a reverse relationship in a state variable that can take a binary value held by the conflict processing rule read from the storage means. The generation means generates as follows.
[0016]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the value of the state variable held by the conflict processing rule read from the storage means, and the value of the state variable held by the conflict processing rule established complementarily generated by the generation means, Is logically exclusive.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in a print control apparatus equipped with an application and a printer driver, an input means for inputting a setting value necessary for print execution from the application to the printer driver; A conflict processing unit that applies a conflict processing rule that avoids inconsistencies in setting values input by the unit, and a notification unit that notifies the application of the result of the conflict processing rule by the conflict processing unit. Features.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method in a print control apparatus for executing a printer driver having a conflict manager program for performing a conflict process of an application and a setting value necessary for execution of printing input from the application. An input step for inputting setting values necessary for execution of printing to the conflict manager program, and a conflict processing for applying a conflict processing rule for avoiding inconsistencies between the setting values input to the conflict manager program by the input step. And a notification step of notifying the application from the conflict manager program of the application result of the conflict processing rule in the conflict processing step. And wherein the Rukoto.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, after the notification step notifies the application of a result of applying the conflict processing rule in the conflict processing step, the setting value necessary for the printing based on an instruction from the application is acquired. The method further includes a step.
In a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the application obtains an application result of the conflict processing rule by the conflict processing means notified from the notification step, and determines whether to continue the setting based on the processing content. A confirmation step for confirming is further provided.
In a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the conflict processing step includes a conflict between a setting value indicating collate printing and a setting value indicating group printing, or a conflict between a setting value indicating stapling and a setting value indicating bookbinding. A conflict processing rule that avoids any one of them is applied.
In a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the notifying step notifies the application result of the conflict processing rule by writing the application result of the conflict processing rule to a storage means readable by the application. Features.
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the method further includes a generation step of generating a rule that complements the conflict processing rule.
According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conflict processing rule that complements a conflict processing rule having a reverse relationship in a state variable that can take a binary value held by the conflict processing rule read from the storage means. The generation step generates as follows.
According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the value of the state variable held by the conflict processing rule read from the storage unit, and the value of the state variable held by the conflict processing rule established complementarily generated by the generation step, Is logically exclusive.
According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the print control method in the print control apparatus equipped with an application and a printer driver, an input step for inputting a setting value necessary for printing execution from the application to the printer driver A conflict processing step for applying a conflict processing rule for avoiding inconsistencies in the setting values input in the input step, and a notification step for notifying the application result of the conflict processing rule in the conflict processing step to the application. It is characterized by providing.
A twentieth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a program for causing a computer to execute the printing control method of the eleventh or nineteenth aspect is stored in a computer-readable storage medium.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a print processing system to which the print control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.
[0018]
Unless otherwise specified, if the function of the present invention is executed, a single device or a system composed of a plurality of devices can be connected via a network such as a LAN or WAN. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a system in which processing is performed.
[0019]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer, which is a document processing in which figures, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets), etc. are mixed based on a document processing program stored in the ROM 3 program ROM or the external memory 11. The CPU 1 generally controls each device connected to the system bus 4.
[0020]
The ROM 3 program ROM or external memory 11 stores an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) which is a control program of the CPU 1, and the ROM 3 font ROM or external memory 11 stores the above-mentioned document processing. Font data to be used is stored, and various data to be used when the document processing is performed is stored in the data ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11.
[0021]
Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM which functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 1. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key input from a keyboard (KB) 9 or a pointing device (not shown).
[0022]
Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC) which controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10. A disk controller (DKC) 7 is a hard disk (HD), floppy disk (FD), etc. for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, a printer control command generation program (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver), etc. The access to the external memory 11 is controlled.
[0023]
A printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 1500 via a predetermined bidirectional interface (interface) 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 1500. The CPU 1 executes, for example, an outline font rasterization process on the display information RAM set on the RAM 2 to enable WYSIWYG on the CRT 10. The CPU 1 opens various windows registered based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing. When executing printing, the user opens a window relating to print settings, and can set the print processing method for the printer driver including printer settings and print mode selection.
[0024]
In the printer 1500, reference numeral 12 denotes a printer CPU (CPU), which is a printing unit (printer) connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13 or a control program stored in the external memory 14. The engine) outputs an image signal as output information.
[0025]
Further, a control program of the CPU 12 is stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13. The font ROM of the ROM 13 stores font data used when generating the output information, and the ROM 13 data ROM is used on the host computer in the case of a printer without the external memory 14 such as a hard disk. Information to be stored is stored.
[0026]
The CPU 12 can communicate with the host computer via the input unit 18 and is configured to notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer.
[0027]
Reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM that functions as the main memory, work area, and the like of the CPU 12, and is configured such that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown).
[0028]
The RAM 19 is used as an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like. Access to the external memory 14 such as the hard disk (HD), IC card or floppy disk (FD) is controlled by a memory controller (DKC) 20. The external memory 14 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like.
[0029]
Reference numeral 1501 denotes an operation panel on which operation switches, an LED display, and the like are arranged. Further, the number of external memories is not limited to one, and at least one external memory is provided so that an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages with different language systems can be connected in addition to built-in fonts. It may be configured. Furthermore, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1501.
[0030]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of the RAM 3 shown in FIG. 1, and shows a memory map in a state in which the print processing related program in this embodiment is loaded into the RAM 2 on the host computer 3000 and can be executed. ing.
[0031]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes an application, which is loaded from the external memory 11, and one or a plurality of applications are loaded.
[0032]
A free memory 202 functions as a work of the CPU 1. Reference numeral 203 denotes related data, and various related data associated with the execution of the application 201 is loaded.
[0033]
A print processing related program 204 is loaded from the external memory 11. Reference numeral 205 denotes an OS which controls the execution of the application 201 and the like. A BIOS 206 defines input / output processing of various devices.
[0034]
FIG. 3 is a system outline diagram for explaining the contents of the internal processing of the conflict processing control unit in the print processing related program shown in FIG.
[0035]
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a conflict processing rule which is read by the conflict manager 303 onto the RAM 2 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 302 denotes an inference engine, which reads the conflict processing rule 301 expressed as illustrated in FIG. 3 into the RAM 2 via the conflict manager 303 and generates a complement rule.
[0036]
Reference numeral 304 denotes a state variable list, and the printer function names A, B, and C (see FIG. 4) are initialized by the inference engine 302. There is a status variable with the same name for each of the printer function names A, B, and C appearing in the conflict processing rule 403.
[0037]
An internal structure 305 manages members of the printer driver internal structure 401 corresponding to the printer function names A, B, and C as cA, cB, and cC, respectively. A printer driver management unit 306 calls the conflict manager 303 to update the layout state variable in the state variable list 304. Reference numeral 307 denotes an application.
[0038]
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the relevance of data handled by each module in the conflict processing in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
[0039]
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes an internal structure of the printer driver, which can be read or written by the conflict manager 303 or the printer driver management unit 306 shown in FIG. A state variable list 402 is equivalent to the state variable list shown in FIG. 3 and is configured to be readable or writable by the conflict manager 303. In the figure, R represents reading, W represents writing, and R / W represents reading or writing.
[0040]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conflict processing rule before complement processing in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
[0041]
In FIG. 5, (1) to (3) show an example of the conflict processing rule 301 before the interpolation processing, the rule (1) is a Group existing as a member of the printer driver internal structure 401, and the rule (2) is a printer. Rule (3) corresponds to a Layout that exists as a member of the driver internal structure 401, and Rule (3) corresponds to a Layout that exists as a member of the printer internal structure 401.
[0042]
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conflict processing rule after complement processing in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
[0043]
In FIG. 6, (1) to (9) are conflict processing rules (rules) after complement processing, and in particular, _A in rules (6) to (9) indicates a variable used in the inference engine 302.
[0044]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a setting change processing function in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, which is an example of an interface (I / F) of a function used when a setting change processing request is made from an application to the printer driver. is there.
[0045]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the conflict processing procedure in the present embodiment. In addition, (501)-(508) shows each step.
[0046]
First, the process of the print processing related program (so-called printer driver) shown in the present embodiment is stored in the RAM 2 under the management of the OS 205 when the initialization process provided in the printer driver is called from the application 201 operating under the management of the OS 205. The print processing related program 204 shown in FIG. 2 is loaded.
[0047]
When the print processing related program 204 is loaded into the RAM 2, the printer driver initialization processing unit provided in the printer driver management unit 306 is called and initialization processing is performed.
[0048]
First, the inference engine 302 shown in FIG. 3 reads the conflict processing rule 301 expressed as illustrated in FIG. 5 into the RAM 2 via the conflict manager 303 (501).
[0049]
Subsequently, based on the conflict processing rule 301 read in step (501), a complementary rule is generated for a rule having two state values (“ON” and “OFF”) as values (502).
[0050]
If only “ON” or “OFF” is written on the left side of the same printer function name as shown in the example below,
A (ON) <-B (ON), C (OFF) (1)
A (ON) <-D (V1). (2)
B (OFF) <-E (OFF). ...... (3)
In this case, the inference engine 302 automatically generates an ON / OFF reverse rule as follows.
[0051]
For rules (1) and (2) above,
A (OFF) <-not A (ON). ...... (4)
Is generated, and for (3) above,
B (ON) <-not B (OFF). ...... (5)
Is generated. The automatically generated rules (4) and (5) are optimized in terms of processing efficiency and transformed into the following rules (4) ′ and (5) ′, but the meanings are exactly the same.
A (OFF) <-true. ...... (4) '
B (ON) <-true. ...... (5) '
When the reverse side is automatically generated as in the above example, it means that A (ON) and A (OFF) are in a completely exclusive relationship when considered as logic.
[0052]
That is, A (ON) and A (OFF) means that the collective space for A is completely filled. The same applies to B (ON) and B (OFF).
[0053]
When the user describes A (ON) and A (OFF) together, the rules (4) and (4) ′ are not automatically generated. Accordingly, in this case, it is necessary to exhaustively describe all cases so that the collective space for A is completely filled.
[0054]
Subsequently, the conflict processing rule relating to the initialization of the value of the printer function name used in the state variable list 402 and the conflict processing rule 403 shown in FIG. 4 is automatically generated as a complement rule (step 503).
[0055]
All the printer function names in the conflict processing rule 403 have their state variables as a state variable list 402 as shown in FIG.
[0056]
The value of this state variable is linked to the value of the corresponding member of the internal structure used by the printer driver. The initial values of the status variables of all printer function names are the initial values of the members of the internal structure 305.
For example, if the following conflict processing rule is described, “A (ON) <-B (ON), C (OFF). ", There is a status variable with the same name for each of the printer function names A, B, and C appearing in the conflict processing rule 403 as shown in the status variable list 402 shown in FIG.
[0057]
Assume that the members of the printer driver internal structure 401 corresponding to the printer function names A, B, and C are cA, cB, and cC, respectively.
[0058]
Since the initial value of int cA is “0”, the value of state variable A corresponding to it is “OFF”.
[0059]
Accordingly, the initial value of the status value of the printer function name A in the inference engine 302 is also OFF.
[0060]
Now, the inference engine 302 infers the conflict check, and the following rule “A (ON)” <-B (ON), C (OFF). Is established, the inference engine 302 changes the state variable value of the printer function name A on the left side to “ON”.
[0061]
After the conflict check inference is completed, the conflict manager 303 reflects the changed value of the state variable in the corresponding member int cA of the printer driver internal structure 401.
[0062]
That is, int cA is changed from “0” to “1” when the above rule is satisfied.
[0063]
The inference engine 302 can receive the state variable value of the printer function name A in the variable _X used in the inference engine 302 by the built-in function status (a, _X) incorporated in the inference engine. After loading the conflict processing rule, the inference engine 302 automatically generates the next rule for all rule names that appear in the conflict processing rule.
A (_X) <-status (A, _X).
B (_X) <-status (B, _X).
C (_X) <-status (C, _X).
This means that if there is no other rule to be applied, the value of the corresponding member of the printer driver internal structure 401 becomes the status value of the printer function name.
[0064]
For the printer function name A, the rule “A (ON) <-B (ON), C (OFF). Therefore, the status value of the printer function name A is [ON] in response to this. If the printer function name B has no rule other than the automatically generated rule, the rule “B (_X)” <-status (B, _X). Applies. Since this automatic generation rule always holds, the value “ON” of the status variable of the printer model name B is unified to “_X”, which becomes the status value of the printer model name B.
[0065]
That is, for a printer function that does not have a user-defined rule or does not hold even if it exists, the value stored in the corresponding member of the printer driver internal structure 401 is the status value of the printer function. become.
[0066]
Subsequently, other initialization processing is performed, the processing processing is terminated, and control is returned to the application (step 504).
[0067]
After completion of the initialization process, the setting change process from the application by calling the setting change process function shown in FIG. 7 provided in the printer driver management unit 306 is repeated (steps 505 to 507).
[0068]
Among the arguments used in this function, parameters relating to the setting change process are pDevModeInOutput, pItemParam, and dwItemID. The following information is set in each parameter.
[0069]
The parameter dwItemID specifies which member of the printer driver internal structure 401 is desired to be changed. The parameter pItemParam specifies the parameter of the member indicated by the parameter dwItemID. In addition, a pointer to the printer driver internal structure 401 is specified in the parameter pDevModeInOutput.
[0070]
For example, taking the case where the setting change request from the application is to change the Print Style from 1-sided Printing to Booklet Printing, the above parameters are as follows:
“DM_ITEM_LAYOUT” is set in the parameter dwItemID, “DM_PARAM_BOOKLET” is set in the parameter pItemParam, “pDevMode” is set in the parameter pDevModeInOutput, and then DocumentPropertiesEx () is called.
[0071]
Then, the printer driver setting change process shown in steps (505) to (507) in FIG. 5 is started.
[0072]
First, the application of the conflict processing rule executed in step (505) will be described.
[0073]
To explain using the above example, the application of the conflict processing rule is a rule read as a part of the conflict processing rule 301 shown in FIG. 5 and a part of the complement rule generated in step (502). This is performed for (6) to (9) shown in FIG. 6 which is a part of the rules generated in (4), (5) and step (503) shown in FIG.
[0074]
The values of Collate, Group, Staple, and Layout members existing as members of the printer driver internal structure 401 before applying the conflict processing rule are “OFF” for Collate, “ON” for Group, and “OFF” for Staple. Thus, Layout becomes “1-Side”.
[0075]
Since the change request from the application is to change Layout from Layout to Booklet, the contents of the members of Layout are “OFF” for Collate, “ON” for Group, “OFF” for Staple, and Layout. Becomes “Booklet”.
[0076]
Next, the printer driver management unit 306 calls the conflict manager 303, updates the state variable of Layout in the state variable list 304, subsequently calls the inference engine 302, and application of the conflict processing rule 301 starts.
[0077]
First, the rules (6) to (9) shown in FIG. 6 are applied, and the printer function names in the inference engine 302 are initialized with the values of the members of the state variable list 302. Subsequently, the rule (3) shown in FIG. 6 is applied, and the value of Group changes from “ON” to “OFF”.
[0078]
As a result, the contents of the members of Layout are “OFF” for Collate, “OFF” for Group, “OFF” for Staple, and “Booklet” for Layout.
[0079]
Furthermore, rule (4) shown in FIG. 6 is applied, and Collate changes from “OFF” to “ON”.
[0080]
As a result, the contents of the members of Layout are “ON” for Collate, “OFF” for Group, “OFF” for Staple, and “Booklet” for Layout.
[0081]
In addition, since there is no rule to be applied, the application of the conflict processing rule in the inference engine 302 is finished.
[0082]
In the next step, the conflict manager 303 updates the state variable list 304 based on the final state (step 506) and the printer driver internal structure (step 507).
[0083]
Normally, it is necessary to adjust the values of Group and Collate members, which are members related to the setting of Layout, by the hand of the application itself. However, in this example, by using DocumentPropertiesEx, the application can execute Layout. The printer driver is updated from “ON” to “OFF” and “Collate” is updated from “OFF” to “ON” by requesting the printer driver to change “1-Side” to “Booklet”. A structure 301 can be received.
[0084]
After that, if actual printing is started using the acquired printer driver internal structure 301 as a parameter, the printing result desired by the application can be easily obtained.
[0085]
The above processing is repeatedly executed until the end processing provided in the printer driver management unit 306 is called by the application. When the termination process of the printer driver is called from the application, the conflict processing rule information generated in the free memory 202 is deleted and other termination processes are performed (step 508).
[0086]
As a result, all the processing is completed, the processing of the print processing related program 204 in this embodiment is also completed, and the RAM 2 is erased by the function of the OS 205.
[0087]
In this embodiment, the medium for recording the print processing related program 204 is an external memory, but the external memory may be an FD, HD drive, CD-ROM, IC memory card, or the like. Further, it is possible to record the print program alone or together with the OS and other programs that run on the host computer in the ROM 3 so as to be a part of the memory map and to be directly executed by the CPU 1. .
[0088]
[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the setting content of the printer driver internal structure 401 is automatically updated to an optimum value by performing the conflict processing. Further, as shown in FIGS. When the conflict processing result list 901 is added to the conflict manager 303 and the state variable list 402 is updated, the state variable change history is written into the conflict information, thereby executing the conflict processing. The application can now know which member of the structure has been updated.
[0089]
FIG. 9 is a system outline diagram for explaining the contents of the internal processing of the conflict processing control unit in the print control apparatus showing the second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. is there.
[0090]
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the relevance of data handled by each module in the conflict processing in the print control apparatus according to the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0091]
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of another setting change processing function in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
[0092]
In the example of the conflict processing result list shown in FIG. 9, the fact that only one member of the printer driver internal structure 401 has been updated according to the conflict processing rule is stored in the ResultNum and updated. The list of members is stored in the subsequent Modified [], and in this case, ResultNum is 1, so that there is only one member in the list, and ID_ca, that is, cA of the printer driver internal structure 401 is updated. expressing.
[0093]
The application 307 can access the information by receiving the pointer to the conflict processing result list as a return value of the DocumentPropertiesEx function shown in FIG.
[0094]
Taking the above embodiment as an example, the content of the conflict processing result list 901 includes ID_Group and ID_Collate. The application 307 confirms the content of the conflict processing result list 901, confirms the content of the corresponding member, Group, and Collate of the printer driver internal structure 401 in which the value is actually stored, and the setting content is If the application 307 matches an undesired setting change, the setting change from “1-Side” to “Booklet” can be canceled.
[0095]
According to each of the above-described embodiments, the conflict condition that complements the conflict condition prepared by the program developer or the like is automatically generated, so that a conflict process with higher quality can be realized.
[0096]
Furthermore, by executing the conflict processing, it is possible to obtain information about whether or not the setting has been changed for each setting value. Therefore, the processing based on this information, for example, the setting that has influenced other setting items You can easily implement cancellation of changes and message output to the user.
[0097]
The configuration of a data processing program that can be read out by a printing system to which the printing control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.
[0098]
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read out by a printing system to which the printing control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.
[0099]
Although not particularly illustrated, information for managing a program group stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons may also be stored.
[0100]
Further, data depending on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs in the computer, and a program for decompressing when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.
[0101]
The functions shown in FIG. 8 in the present embodiment may be performed by the host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Is.
[0102]
As described above, a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the programmed program code.
[0103]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0104]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, an EEPROM, or the like is used. it can.
[0105]
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.
[0106]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0107]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the conflict processing can be executed on the printer driver side such as the conflict manager and the result of the conflict processing can be notified to the application.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print processing system to which a print control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention can be applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of a RAM shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a system outline diagram illustrating the contents of internal processing of a conflict processing control unit in the print processing related program shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the relevance of data handled by each module in the conflict processing in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conflict processing rule before complement processing in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conflict processing rule after complement processing in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting change processing function in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a system outline diagram illustrating the contents of internal processing of a conflict processing control unit in a print control apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the relevance of data handled by each module in the conflict processing in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of another setting change processing function in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the printing control apparatus according to the invention can be applied.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 CPU
2 RAM
3 ROM
4 System bus
12 CPU
13 ROM
19 RAM
3000 Host computer

Claims (20)

A print control apparatus that performs conflict processing between a plurality of different setting values that is delivered from an application to a printer driver that controls the printing apparatus.
Storage means for storing shown to co Nfurikuto processing rules dependency relationship established between two or more settings of the printer driver,
Load the co Nfurikuto processing rule stored in the storage means, based on the said read conflict processing rule, a generation unit for generating a conflict processing rule that complementarily established,
Run the conflict manager program the printer driver has, by using the I Ri production made the conflict resolution rule to the generation unit, the conflict processing to avoid inconsistencies required settings to the print execution for the printing device Conflict processing means for applying and changing the setting value ;
Notification means for notifying the application of the result of the conflict processing by the conflict processing means from the conflict manager program;
A printing control apparatus comprising: In a print control apparatus equipped with an application and a printer driver having a conflict manager program for performing conflict processing of setting values necessary for execution of printing input from the application,
An input means for inputting setting values necessary for printing execution from the application to the conflict manager program;
Conflict processing means for applying conflict processing rules for avoiding inconsistencies in the setting values input to the conflict manager program by the input means;
Notification means for notifying the application of the result of the conflict processing rule by the conflict processing means from the conflict manager program;
Print controller you comprising: a. The information processing apparatus further includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a setting value necessary for the printing based on an instruction from the application after the notification unit notifies the application of a result of the conflict processing rule being applied by the conflict processing unit. Item 3. The print control apparatus according to Item 2 . The application further includes confirmation means for acquiring a result of application of the conflict processing rule by the conflict processing means notified from the notification means and confirming whether or not to continue setting based on the processing content. The printing control apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 . The conflict processing means applies a conflict processing rule that avoids either a conflict between a setting value indicating collate printing and a setting value indicating group printing or a conflict between a setting value indicating staple and a setting value indicating bookbinding. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, or 2 to 4. 6. The notification unit according to claim 2, wherein the application unit notifies the application result of the conflict processing rule by writing the application result of the conflict processing rule in a storage unit that can be read by the application. A printing control apparatus according to claim 1. The print control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a generation unit configured to generate a rule that complements the conflict processing rule. In the state variable that can take a binary value stored in the conflict processing rule read from the storage unit, the generation unit generates a conflict processing rule having a reverse relationship as a conflict processing rule that is complementarily established. The printing control apparatus according to claim 2 or 7. The state variable value held by the conflict processing rule read from the storage unit and the complementary conflict processing rule generated by the generation unit are held. The print control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the state variable value is logically exclusive. In the print control device with application and printer driver installed,
Input means for inputting a setting value necessary for execution of printing from the application to the printer driver;
Conflict processing means for applying a conflict processing rule for avoiding inconsistencies in setting values input by the input means from the application;
Notification means for notifying the application of the result of application of the conflict processing rule by the conflict processing means;
A printing control apparatus comprising: In a method for a print control apparatus that executes an application and a printer driver having a conflict manager program for performing conflict processing of setting values necessary for execution of printing input from the application,
An input step for inputting a setting value necessary for printing execution from the application to the conflict manager program;
A conflict processing step for applying a conflict processing rule for avoiding inconsistencies in setting values input to the conflict manager program in the input step;
A notification step of notifying the application of a conflict processing rule application result in the conflict processing step from the conflict manager program;
A print control method that causes a print control apparatus to execute the above.   The acquisition step of acquiring a setting value necessary for the printing based on an instruction from the application after the notification step notifies the application of a result of applying the conflict processing rule in the conflict processing step. Item 10. The print control method according to Item 9.   The application further includes a confirmation step of acquiring a result of applying the conflict processing rule by the conflict processing means notified from the notification step and confirming whether or not to continue the setting based on the processing content. The printing control method according to claim 11 or 12.   The conflict processing step applies a conflict processing rule that avoids either a conflict between a setting value indicating collate printing and a setting value indicating group printing or a conflict between a setting value indicating stapling and a setting value indicating bookbinding. The print control method according to claim 10, wherein the print control method is performed.   15. The notification step according to claim 11, wherein the application result is notified to the application by writing the application result of the conflict processing rule to a storage means readable by the application. The printing control method according to claim 1.   16. The printing control method according to claim 11, further comprising a generation step of generating a rule that complements the conflict processing rule.   In the state variable that can take a binary value held by the conflict processing rule read from the storage means, the generation step generates a conflict processing rule having an opposite relationship as a conflict processing rule that is complementarily established. The printing control method according to claim 11 or 16.   The value of the state variable held by the conflict processing rule read from the storage means and the value of the state variable held by the complementary conflict processing rule generated by the generation step are logically exclusive. The printing control method according to claim 11 or 17, In a print control method in an application and a print control device equipped with a printer driver,
An input step for inputting a setting value necessary for printing execution from the application to the printer driver;
A conflict processing step for applying a conflict processing rule for avoiding inconsistencies in the setting values input in the input step from the application;
A notification step of notifying the application of the application result of the conflict processing rule in the conflict processing step;
A printing control method comprising:   A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the printing control method according to claim 11.

Images