JP3848414B2 - How to install the printer driver - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer driver installation method for installing, for example, one of a plurality of printer drivers stored in a floppy disk in a personal computer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Before a printer driver using a virtual device is used, in order to enable bidirectional communication and high-speed communication, a dedicated printer output board is generally used or a bidirectional output port is incorporated. There was a need to use an expensive personal computer.
[0003]
However, by directly controlling the printer port of a personal computer using a virtual device of the operation system, it is possible to perform high-speed communication and bidirectional communication not only with a dedicated printer output board or an expensive personal computer but also with a normal personal computer. became.
[0004]
Since the virtual device directly controls the printer port, when installing the printer driver software using this virtual device, use the dedicated installation FD prepared for each model or install the installation program from the screen to the user. Was selected.
[0005]
Since the printer driver using the virtual device directly controls the printer port using the virtual device, the printer port control method differs depending on the model of the personal computer. Some personal computers have a small number of control pins on the printer port, and a dedicated virtual device is required for each model. Further, since the virtual device of the operation system is used, the bit processing differs depending on the version of the operation system, so a virtual device is required for each version.
[0006]
For example, there are two types of personal computer types, one for company A and the other for company B, which have different printer port address controls. For company B devices, the printer usually has a pin A that conforms to the parallel port. If there is a device with a small number of pins to be used (pin B), three types of virtual devices for company A, company B pin A, and company B pin B are required.
[0007]
Also, depending on the version of the operation system, only 16-bit processing and 32-bit processing are available, and considering high-speed processing, it is desirable to perform processing at 32 bits when 32-bit processing is possible. For this reason, in this example, six types of printer drivers that are optimal for each personal computer and operation system are required.
[0008]
If installation is prepared by FD (floppy disk) for each model, as many as 6 FDs are required. Although there is a method that allows the user to select the installation model with a single FD, it is difficult for beginners to understand what is included in the enclosed manual, such as the number of pins used on the printer port, as the PC has become popular. When the user selects a model, the number of FDs is small, but if the selection is wrong, the virtual device address will collide with another address, and in the worst case, an accident that requires re-installation of the PC operation system may occur. appear.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As mentioned above, there is a need for a computer that can automatically determine the type of computer to be installed, the type and version of the operation system, and automatically install the optimal program. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer driver installation method capable of automatically determining the type and version and version of an operation system and automatically installing an optimum program.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The printer driver installation method of the present invention is a method for installing one of a plurality of printer drivers stored in a storage medium in a terminal. The version of the operation system of the terminal, the system file used in the operation system, and the printer Based on the address information of the port and the response of the printer port, the type of the terminal is determined, the printer driver corresponding to the determined type of terminal is read from the storage medium, and the read printer driver is installed in the terminal. To do.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a hardware configuration of a personal computer (personal computer; terminal) 1 according to the present invention.
[0019]
That is, the personal computer 1 includes a control unit 2 composed of a CPU for controlling the whole, a memory unit 3 storing a control program, a keyboard unit 4 as an input unit, a display unit 5 as a display unit, and a printer (not shown). It comprises a printer interface unit 6 having a printer port 6a,... Connected, and a floppy disk device 7 for reading / writing the floppy disk FD.
[0020]
There are two types of personal computers 1, that is, a device for company A and a device for company B, and the address control of each printer port is different.
As shown in FIG. 2, the floppy disk FD includes an installer as an installation program for automatically installing an optimum program and a driver program.
[0021]
Driver programs include a 16-bit driver for company A, a 32-bit driver for company A, a 16-bit driver for printer port pin A from company B, a 32-bit driver for printer port pin B from company B, and a printer from company B Software of a 16-bit driver for port pin A and a 32-bit driver for printer port pin B of company B is recorded. Here, the printer port pin B has a smaller number of pins than the printer port pin A.
[0022]
Using the installer, the address information of the printer port 6a is obtained from the operation system of the personal computer 1, the printer port 6a is instructed based on the address information of the printer port 6a, and an error is instructed from the operation system. For example, if the type of the personal computer 1 is determined to be a device for company A and an error is instructed, the type of the personal computer 1 is determined to be a device for company B (when the default setting is a device for company A).
[0023]
In addition, the version of the operation system, the number of processing bits based on installed file information, and the type of port are determined using an installer.
[0024]
Also, different driver programs are selected and installed as virtual devices according to the type of personal computer 1, the version of the operating system, the number of processing bits based on installed file information, and the type of port, as determined by the installer. It has come to be.
[0025]
For example, when the type of personal computer 1 is for company A and 16-bit processing is determined, a driver for company A 16-bit is installed, and when the type of personal computer 1 is for company A and 32-bit processing is determined, A When a 32-bit driver for the company is installed, the type of the personal computer 1 is for the B company, and 16-bit processing is determined for the printer port pin A, a 16-bit driver for the B printer port pin A is installed. When the printer type is for B company and printer port pin A determines 32-bit processing, the 32-bit driver for printer port pin A of company B is installed, and the type of personal computer 1 is for company B and printer port pin B When 16-bit processing is judged, a 16-bit driver for B printer port pin B is installed and a personal computer Type of at Company B, the printer port pin B, when it is determined the 32-bit processing, B Company printer port pins 32 bits for driver B is installed.
[0026]
The software configuration of the personal computer 1 is as shown in FIG.
That is, there is usually a personal computer OS (operation system) 11 that controls the personal computer 1, and an application OS 12 that controls applications is executed on the personal computer OS 11. Normally, the BIOS (Bios: Basic Input / Output System) 13 controls the printer port 6a of the printer I / F 6. When performing high-speed bidirectional communication, the virtual device 14 is used instead of the BIOS 13, and the virtual device 14 directly controls the printer port 6 a of the printer I / F 6 without going through the BIOS 13.
[0027]
Next, processing for automatically installing printer driver software will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, the floppy disk FD is inserted into the personal computer 1, and the installer in the floppy disk FD is read and stored in the memory unit 3. Thereby, the control part 2 performs a process based on the installer.
[0028]
That is, the version information of the application OS is obtained from the personal computer OS 11 (ST1).
The version information of the application OS includes not only the version of the OS 12 but also the version of the personal computer OS 11 and the information of the PC type. Therefore, the determination can be made only with this information, but the virtual device 14 directly connects the printer port 6a. Due to the control, the address information of the printer port 6a is obtained from the personal computer OS11 (ST2). By obtaining the address information of the printer port 6a, the type of the personal computer 1 to be installed can be determined.
[0029]
As a result, when an error is not supplied from the personal computer OS11 by giving any instruction to the printer port 6a, it is determined for the company A, and when an error is supplied from the personal computer OS11, it is determined for the company B. (ST3) (When the default setting is for A company).
[0030]
As a result of this determination, when it is determined that the file is for company A, the file used is checked (ST4), and it is determined whether it is 16-bit processing or 32-bit processing (ST5).
That is, the system file is searched, and if there is a file characterizing 32 bits, it is determined as 32-bit processing, and if there is no file characterizing 32 bits, it is determined as 16-bit processing.
[0031]
In this example, if it is not for company B, the number of pins used in the printer port 6a is only one, so the used file is checked, and the presence and date of some system files of the application OS are checked. To do. Although it is possible to determine whether the processing is 16-bit processing or 32-bit processing based on the version of the application OS, if a 32-bit processing program is executed by the 16-bit processing application OS 12, the worst operation system may be locked. It is determined whether the personal computer 1 to be installed is a 16-bit process or a 32-bit process by checking several system files that are characteristic to perform the bit process or the 32-bit process.
[0032]
If the result of this determination is that 16-bit processing is determined, a 16-bit driver for Company A is installed (ST6), and if determination is 32-bit processing, a 32-bit driver for Company A is installed (ST7). .
[0033]
As a result of the determination in step 3 above, when it is determined that it is for B company, the printer port 6a is checked by actually controlling the port (ST8), and whether the pin type is pin A or pin B is checked. Judgment is made (ST10).
[0034]
In this case, when the printer port 6a is checked, the pin B that uses a smaller number of pins than the normal case is different from the normal pin A response, so it is determined to be the pin B, and is determined to be the pin B. If not, the pin A is determined.
[0035]
That is, if the A port is set to the high level and the B port changes from the high level to the low level within the specified time, the pin A is determined, the A port is set to the high level, and the B port is changed from the high level within the specified time. If it does not change to low level, it is determined as pin B.
[0036]
As a result of this determination, when the pin A is determined, the file used is checked in the same manner as in step 4 (ST10), and it is determined whether it is 16-bit processing or 32-bit processing (ST11).
[0037]
As a result of the determination, when it is determined that 16-bit processing is performed, a 16-bit driver for company B pin A is installed (ST12), and when 32-bit processing is determined, a 32-bit driver for company B pin A is determined. Is installed (ST13).
[0038]
As a result of the determination in step 9, when it is determined that the pin B, the file to be used is checked in the same manner as in step 4 (ST14), and it is determined whether it is 16-bit processing or 32-bit processing (ST15).
[0039]
As a result of the determination, when it is determined that 16-bit processing is performed, a 16-bit driver for company B pin B is installed (ST16), and when 32-bit processing is determined, a 32-bit driver for company B pin B is installed. Is installed (ST17).
[0040]
As described above, the optimum program file is automatically installed based on the type of personal computer to be installed, the OS, the operation system version, the installed file information and the port information.
[0041]
As a result, by using a floppy disk installer program, it is not necessary to prepare a floppy disk for each type of personal computer to be installed as in the prior art, and a single disk is sufficient, leading to cost reduction.
[0042]
In addition, since the type of personal computer is automatically determined and installed automatically, even a user who is not familiar with the personal computer can use it with peace of mind, and the number of accidents due to installation mistakes is reduced.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a printer driver installation method capable of automatically determining the type of personal computer to be installed, the type and version of an operation system, and automatically installing an optimum program. Can provide.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a personal computer according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a storage example of a floppy disk.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a software configuration of a personal computer.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing for automatically installing printer driver software;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Personal computer 2 ... Control part 3 ... Memory part 6 ... Printer interface part 6a ... Printer port 7 ... Floppy disk drive FD ... Floppy disk 11 ... Personal computer OS
12 ... Application OS
13 ... BIOS
14 ... Virtual device

Claims (1)

For installing one of a plurality of printer drivers stored in a storage medium in a terminal,
Based on the operation system version of the terminal, the system file used in the operation system, the printer port address information and the printer port response, the type of the terminal is determined,
A printer driver corresponding to the determined terminal type is read from the storage medium,
Install the read printer driver on the terminal
A printer driver installation method characterized by the above.

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