JP3897539B2 - Print data generation method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present inventionPrint data generation method and apparatus, ie,For information transmissiondocumentsFor data and function displaypatternPrint data to create print data including dataGenerationMethod and itsapparatusIn particular, print data with a function to print one page of print data such as a document output by an application to divide it onto multiple recording media to form an imageGenerationMethod and itsapparatusIt is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an example of creating print data including print data for information transmission and print data for function display, there is a case where a print result larger than the size of print paper that can be handled by the printer is obtained. In general, when obtaining a print result larger than the size of the printing paper that can be handled by the printer, the print data is partially divided and divided into multiple times to perform divided printing. It is possible to obtain a printing result having a size larger than the printing result printed so as to fit on the original printing paper by appropriately arranging the sheets and sticking them together, which is called poster printing.
[0003]
In order to realize this poster printing, for example, when a document page handled by an application is enlarged and divided into a plurality of sheets to be printed, a paste substitute is provided on at least one side of each sheet in order to facilitate the pasting operation. Printing was performed with a margin. Also, depending on the printer, the printable area is smaller than the paper size, so margins remain on the printed paper, which becomes an unnecessary area when pasting, and in extreme cases the print information is covered by pasting. In order to cut off the margin part, a margin for cutting was previously provided and printing was performed.
[0004]
Furthermore, in order to facilitate the cutting and pasting operations, a broken line is drawn on the print data side of the margin margin and the margin for cutting, “paste” for the margin margin, “cut” for the margin for cutting, etc. A character string is drawn, or a graphic such as an icon representing a margin and a cut is drawn in the margin instead of a character string. Hereinafter, in this specification, these character strings, icons, and other graphics are collectively referred to as patterns.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the conventional techniques as described above have the following problems to be solved.
[0006]
Conventionally, when printing a document with a pattern, pattern bitmap data is generated by a printer driver, and the data after being superimposed on the bitmap data of each page of the document is sent to the printer. Therefore, there is a drawback that a large amount of storage area is used by the printer driver to synthesize bitmap data.
[0007]
In addition, in a network environment, when an application creates print data on the client side and the printer driver operates on the server side, the character string font or icon image specified by the user on the client side is stored on the server. If it does not exist, there is a drawback that printing with a pattern cannot be performed.
[0008]
  The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks and provides information transmission.documentsFor data and function displaypatternWhen printing print data including data (such as glue margins and cutouts), the required storage area can be reduced, the load on the network can be reduced, and even if the necessary fonts do not exist on the server Print data that can be printedGenerationMethod and itsapparatusI will provide a.
[0009]
[Means for solving problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, the print data of the present invention is used.GenerationMethod and itsapparatusDraws a pattern page on behalf of the application using the print event notification by the system, inserts it between the application's document pages, saves it in the system's standard spool file, and overlays it by the print processor in despooling Then, the printer graphics driver converts the print data subjected to the overlay processing into a bitmap image and supplies it to the printer.
[0010]
  That is, the print data of the present inventionGenerationThe method isBitmap supplied to the printer based on the read document page data by reading the document page data from the spool file that stores the document page data created by the applicationDataGenerationPrint dataGenerationA method,When there is a pattern setting instructing to add a pattern on a document page in response to a print start event from the application, the pattern page generation unit stores the pattern page stored in the spool file.DataGenerate pattern page generation step and,The composite page creation means reads the document page data from the spool file and enlarges and draws it, reads the pattern page data from the spool file, and draws it on the enlarged and drawn document page data. A composite page creation step for creating composite page data; and a bitmap data generation means that generates a bitmap from the composite page data created in the composite page creation step.DataGenerationDoA bitmap data generation step.It is characterized by that. here,In the composite page creation step, the document page data and the pattern page data are read from the spool file, the composite page data is created and supplied to the graphic device interface, and the bitmap data generation step is created. Bitmap data is generated from the synthesized page data based on the drawing command generated by the graphic device interface.Also, the abovePattern pageIsShow marginIncludes a pattern. Also, the abovePattern pageIsShow cutIncludes a pattern.In the pattern page generation step, pattern page data is further generated in response to a print setting change event.
[0011]
  or,The pattern page generation step is executed by a user interface driver, the composite page generation step is executed by a print process, and the bitmap data generation step is executed by a printer graphic driver.
[0012]
  The printing of the present inventionData generatorIsBitmap supplied to the printer based on the read document page data by reading the document page data from the spool file that stores the document page data created by the applicationDataGenerationPrintingData generatorBecauseWhen there is a pattern setting for instructing to add a pattern on a document page in response to a print start event from the application, the pattern page stored in the spool fileDataGenerate pattern pageMeans,Document page data is read from the spool file and enlarged and drawn, and pattern page data is read from the spool file and drawn over the enlarged and drawn document page data. From the composite page creation means to be created and the composite page data created by the composite page creation means, a bitmap is created.DataGenerationDoBitmap data generation meansIt is characterized by that. here,The composite page creation means reads out document page data and pattern page data from the spool file, creates composite page data, and supplies the composite page data to the graphic device interface. The bitmap data generation means Bitmap data is generated from the synthesized page data based on the drawing command generated by the graphic device interface.Also, the abovePattern pageIsShow marginIncludes a pattern. Also, the abovePattern pageIsShow cutIncludes a pattern.The pattern page generation unit further generates pattern page data in response to a print setting change event.
[0013]
  or,The pattern page generation means is realized by a user interface driver, the composite page generation means is realized by a print process, and the bitmap data generation means is realized by a printer graphic driver.
[0016]
  In addition, the present inventionComputer programIsImplementation of a print data generation method that reads document page data from a spool file in which document page data created by an application is stored, and generates bitmap data to be supplied to the printer based on the read document page data A computer program for generating pattern page data to be stored in the spool file when there is a pattern setting instructing to add a pattern on a document page in response to a print start event from the application A pattern page generation step to be performed, and the document page data is read from the spool file and enlarged and drawn, and the pattern page data is read from the spool file and drawn on the enlarged and drawn document page data. To A synthesis page creation step of creating a data, from the data of the composite page created by the combining page creation step, the bit map data generating step of generating bit map data, causes the computer to execute.
[0017]
With this configuration,
(1) The print data of the pattern page and the print data of the document page are superimposed and synthesized, then converted to bitmap data and sent to the printer, so the amount of storage space used can be reduced, the load on the computer is reduced, and the printing speed is improved. To do.
[0018]
(2) Since the number of pattern pages inserted in the spool file does not depend on the number of print pages issued by the application, the spooled data size can be small.
[0019]
(3) In printing in a network environment, it is not necessary to use a special method for transferring a pattern page from the client to the server, and the data transfer time is shortened and the addition to the network is reduced.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described using specific examples.
[0021]
<Embodiment 1>
(Configuration example of printing system of this embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a printing system according to the present invention. In the figure, the modules particularly related to the implementation of the present invention are a user interface driver 3 having both a pattern setting processing unit and a pattern page generation processing unit, and a print processor 5 functioning as a pattern page composition processing unit. In this embodiment, the case where Windows is used as an operating system is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this.
[0022]
The printing system shown in FIG. 1 temporarily stores printing data such as documents created by the application 1 on the host computer, which is a host device, for information transmission in the EMF spool file 4 through GDI2, and converts it into bitmap data. The image data is converted, supplied to the printer 7, and printed. Here, GDI is a graphics device interface and is a Windows graphics engine. EMF is an abbreviation for Enhanced Meta File, and is a logical storage format of drawing data in Windows. Print data is stored in the EMF spool file 4 in the EMF format.
[0023]
The user interface driver 3 provides a function for setting a paper size, a printing direction, and other attributes generally used for printing. At the same time, the user interface driver 3 according to the present embodiment has a pattern setting processing unit that provides a function of setting a pattern attribute of a poster printing cut margin and a margin margin portion in addition to an attribute such as a paper size. If the attribute is set, if the icon is used, the setting value such as the file name in which the icon image is stored is returned to the application 1. In addition, when using a registration mark line or a broken line indicating a margin part for facilitating alignment when performing a margin cutting or pasting operation, the setting values are returned to the application 1.
[0024]
The application 1 creates an arbitrary document and notifies the printing system to start printing for printing. Here, the GDI 2 notifies the user interface driver 3 of a print event of printing start by the application 1. When the user interface driver 3 receives a print event for starting printing, the user interface driver 3 generates a page in which only the pattern is drawn instead of the application 1.
[0025]
Subsequently, the application 1 supplies page data of an arbitrary document to the GDI 2 and continues the printing process. Here, the print data via GDI2 is stored in the EMF spool file 4. Therefore, the EMF spool file 4 stores pattern page drawing data generated by the user interface driver 3 and document page drawing data generated by the application 1.
[0026]
The print processor 5 is a module that reads print output information and print data from the EMF spool file 4 at the time of printing and supplies the print data to the printer graphics driver 6 via GDI2 in Windows for printing. The print processor 5 in the present embodiment simultaneously has the function of a pattern page composition processing unit, reads out the page of document data to be printed from the EMF spool file 4, and the pattern page created by the user interface driver 3, Overlay and create a new composite page and supply it to GDI2. Here, the print processor 5 divides one page of the document data of the application 1 into a plurality of pages and prints it. Therefore, in the pattern page composition process, the drawing data obtained by enlarging the document page and the pattern page are overlapped to create a composite page. Repeat the creation process multiple times.
[0027]
The printer graphic driver 6 having the function of the image generation processing unit is a module that generates bitmap data from the graphic drawing command generated by GDI2 based on the print data of the composite page supplied by the print processor 5, and the generated bit The map data is supplied to the printer 7 via a data transmission unit (not shown).
[0028]
The printer 7 as an output device, for example, has a function of printing on the paper 8 bitmap data that is passed from the printer graphic driver 6 and in which the image 12 on which the print data page 12 is enlarged and the pattern page 9 are superimposed. have.
[0029]
When a character string is set as a pattern attribute in this embodiment, a pattern page in which a character string is drawn in advance by the user interface driver 3 is created and stored in the EMF spool file 4, and the print processor 5 A composite page print data obtained by superimposing the print data and the print data of the document page from the application 1 is supplied to the printer graphics driver 6 so that the document page to be printed and the pattern page are overlaid on the bitmap. And the bitmap is supplied to the printer 7.
[0030]
The example in FIG. 1 shows a case where the document page of application 1 is divided into two (that is, the print data is doubled), and the user interface driver 3 draws only a “cut” character string as a pattern page. Prior to printing by application 1, the print processor 5 creates the pattern data 9 and the pattern page 9 in which the document page of application 1 is enlarged. Create a superimposed composite page. Similarly, a composite page is created by superimposing the drawing data obtained by enlarging the document page of application 1 and the pattern page 10, and supplied to the printer graphic driver 6 via GDI2. In this way, two sheets of paper 8 and 9 are printed from the printer 7 which is the output device. Although FIG. 1 shows an example of poster printing with two divisions, the same printing method is used for any number of divisions. As will be described below, the arrangement of “cut” and “margin” is set in accordance with the number of divisions.
[0031]
(Example of operation procedure of printing system of this embodiment)
FIG. 2 shows an operation flowchart of the user interface driver 3 of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart of the print processor 5 of the first embodiment. The overall operation of the printing system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to these drawings.
[0032]
First, the operation of the pattern page generation process will be described with reference to FIG. The pattern page generation process by the user interface driver 3 is performed when a print event is received from the GDI2.
[0033]
First, in step S1, it is determined whether the print event notified by the GDI2 is a print event by the print processor 5 or a print event by the application 1. If the print event is by the print processor 5, the process ends without performing any processing. If it is a print event of application 1, the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, the type of print event is determined. If the print event indicates the start of printing, the process proceeds to step S3. In the case of other print events, the process is terminated without performing the process. Next, in step S3, it is determined whether or not there is a pattern setting in the print settings. If the pattern is set, the process proceeds to step S4. If the pattern is not set, the process ends.
[0034]
In step S4, the printing system is notified of the start of printing one page in order to draw and create a pattern page instead of the application 1. Since the printing system treats this notification as a notification from the application 1, the pattern page drawn by the user interface driver 3 is handled in the same manner as the document page drawn by the application 1. Next, in step S5, it is determined whether or not the set value of the pattern attribute set by the user is justified. For example, when an icon is used for the pattern, it is determined whether or not an image file exists. If the set value is valid, the process proceeds to step S6. If the setting value is invalid, the pattern drawing is not performed and the process proceeds to step S7 to create a page on which no pattern is drawn.
[0035]
In step S6, instead of the application 1 via GDI2, various patterns are appropriately rendered in accordance with the setting values of the pattern attributes in the cutting margin and the paste margin. For example, when a character string is specified for the pattern, the character string is drawn according to the setting value of the font. When an image is used for the pattern, it is drawn by performing enlargement / reduction processing, density conversion, or the like. In step S7, the end of printing one page is notified to the printing system on behalf of the application. As a result, the pattern page drawn and created by the user interface driver 3 is stored in the EMF spool file 4.
[0036]
Next, the operation of the pattern page composition process will be described with reference to FIG. The pattern page composition processing by the print processor 5 is performed for each print job.
[0037]
First, it is determined in step S21 whether a pattern is set. If there is a pattern setting, the print data of the page stored in the EMF spool file 4; if there is no pattern setting, the process proceeds to step S26 and normal printing is started.
[0038]
Steps S22 to S25 show a loop for recording the document page number of the application 1 corresponding to the page number in the spool file from the difference in setting between the pages stored in the EMF spool file 4. In step S23, the print settings of two continuous page data are compared to determine whether the print settings have been changed during the process. If there is no change, the process proceeds to step S25. If there is a change, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, the page number in the EMF spool file 4 is saved in the list of the application 1, and the spool page number to be checked next is skipped by the number of pattern pages inserted by the user interface driver 3. In step S25, if all the page data in the spool file 4 has been investigated, the process proceeds to step S26, and if there are unexamined pages, the process returns to step S22 to check whether the print setting of the next page has been changed, and loops. repeat.
[0039]
In step S26, the printing system is notified of the start of printing in order to actually print the page created by the print processor 5.
[0040]
Steps S27 to S33 are a loop for printing each document page up to the final physical page to be printed. The printing process for each physical page continues to step S28. After printing all physical pages, the process proceeds to step S34 to notify the printing system of the end of the printing process.
[0041]
The printing process for each physical page starts from step S28, and first notifies the printing system of the start of printing one page. Subsequently, in step S29, the document page number of the application 1 corresponding to the physical page number to be printed is calculated, the page number in the EMF spool file 4 corresponding to the document page number of the application is acquired from the page correspondence list, The document page is read from the EMF spool file 4 and enlarged and drawn.
[0042]
In step S30, it is determined whether a pattern is set on the document page to be printed. If no pattern is set, the process proceeds to step S32 and printing of the physical page is terminated. If the pattern is set, the process proceeds to step S31. In step S31, the pattern page number in the EMF spool file 4 corresponding to the document page number to be printed by the application 1 is acquired from the page correspondence list, and the pattern page is read from the EMF spool file 4 and drawn. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S32 in order to end the printing of the physical page. In step S32, the printing system is notified of the end of printing one page, and printing of the physical page is finished.
[0043]
Thus, the pattern page composition process shown in FIG. 3 is completed. Each time the print processor 5 creates a composite page and notifies the end of the physical page in step S32, the printer graphics driver 6 converts the composite page into bitmap data, and the bitmap data is a predetermined data transmission not shown in the figure. The combined page supplied to the printer 7 through the process is printed.
[0044]
(Print example of this embodiment)
Next, FIG. 4 shows a conceptual diagram of the relationship between the state of the pattern page and the document page stored in the EMF spool file 4 and the physical page printed on the paper. Here, application 1 prints 3 pages of document pages without changing the print settings in the middle of printing, and a character string pattern is specified for the cut area and glue area on the 2-split poster as the print settings As a condition.
[0045]
FIG. 4A shows the order of pages stored in the EMF spool file 4. The first two pages stored in the EMF spool file 4 are pattern pages created by the user interface driver 3, and the document page created by the application 1 is stored in the third to fifth pages in the EMF spool file 4. The print processor 5 employs spool page 1 and spool page 2 as the optimum pattern pages for each document page, and when each document page is enlarged and printed, the spool page 1 is superimposed on the pattern page corresponding to the upper half of the document page, By drawing the spool page 2 on the pattern page corresponding to the lower half of the document page, physical pages 1 to 6 as print results are obtained as shown in FIG.
[0046]
Next, FIG. 5 shows a conceptual diagram of a pattern page composition process of the print processor 5 that draws a pattern page and a document page in an overlapping manner. Here, an example is given of printing the upper half of the document page of application 1 using two-part poster printing.
[0047]
First, the document page of application 1 is enlarged and drawn, and then the pattern page is overlaid to draw a composite page to be printed. In FIG. 5, the “cut” character string of the cut area and the cut line of the cut area are shown on the pattern page, but an image may be used. There is a margin area in the lower half of the document page (not shown), and a “paste” character string or the like is used. Further, in poster printing with a division number larger than two, both a cut area and a margin area may exist on one pattern page.
[0048]
(Hardware configuration example of printing system of this embodiment)
Next, a hardware block diagram of the printing system of the present invention will be described.
[0049]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printing system according to the present embodiment.
[0050]
In the figure, 61 is a CRT display device, which displays a property setting window provided by the user interface driver shown in FIG. Reference numeral 62 denotes a CRTC controller for a display device. 63 is a data input device such as a keyboard, and 64 is a keyboard controller. 65 is a coordinate input device such as a pointing device, and 66 is a pointing device controller.
[0051]
Reference numeral 67 denotes a CPU that controls the entire apparatus. Reference numeral 68 denotes a ROM that stores a boot program and the like. Reference numeral 69 denotes a RAM that stores an OS, application programs, a printer driver program related to the system configuration of FIG. 1 and the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3, and is also used as a work area.
[0052]
70 stores an OS, each application program, a printer driver program including a program related to the system configuration diagram of FIG. 1 and the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3, font data, and data files (images used for patterns). 71 is a hard disk controller. Reference numeral 72 denotes a floppy disk device which is a drive device for a portable storage medium, and reference numeral 73 denotes a floppy disk controller. Reference numeral 74 denotes an interface, which is connected to a printing apparatus 75 such as an inkjet printer via an interface cable. A bus 76 connects the devices. The portable storage medium is not limited to a floppy disk, but may be a CD, MO, DVD, magnetism, optical card, memory card, or the like.
[0053]
When the power of the apparatus is turned on, the CPU 67 starts up according to the boot program stored in the ROM 68, loads the OS from the hard disk device 70, and enters an operation waiting state for the operator. If the operator receives a print instruction or a print setting change instruction for the printer driver from the KB 63 or PD 65 via an application, or if it is set to start automatically, it is stored in the hard disk device 70. The printer driver program is loaded into the RAM 69, and the processing of this embodiment is executed.
[0054]
<Effect of Embodiment 1>
As described above, the document page created by the application 1 to be printed in the print processor 5 and the pattern page created by the user interface driver 3 are overlaid and then supplied to the printer graphics driver 6. The number of files does not depend on the number of document pages, and the capacity of the storage area required by the EMF spool file 4 can be reduced. Also, in a network environment, the number of pattern pages does not change even if the number of document pages increases, so the load on the network can be reduced. In addition, since the pattern page is created by the user interface driver 3 on the client, printing is possible even if there is no font or the like necessary for drawing the pattern when the printer graphics driver 6 is executed in the server.
[0055]
<Embodiment 2>
There are cases where the size of the paper on which the document is to be printed is not always constant, and a document in which different sizes of paper are included in part is printed. In such a case, when the processing described in the first embodiment is performed, the pattern page having the size created by the user interface driver 3 is always used first, so that the position of the pattern is shifted or a part of the pattern protrudes. This may result in an undesirable printing result. For example, when the paper orientation is changed during printing, there is a problem that a part of the pattern is not printed. In the present embodiment, an example in which a poster can be printed satisfactorily even when the paper sizes are various will be described.
[0056]
A system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, the user interface driver 3 replaces the application 1 and generates a pattern page when a print event for starting printing is notified and when a print event for changing print settings is notified. It is a difference. In addition, the print processor 5 superimposes an optimum pattern page on a document page created after the application 1 changes the print setting.
[0057]
Next, the operation of the user interface driver according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Step S1 is the same operation as in the first embodiment. In step S2, the type of the print event is determined, and in the case of a print event indicating the start of printing or a print event indicating a change in print settings, the process proceeds to step S3. In the case of other print events, the process is terminated without performing the process. In the print setting change event, the pattern page insertion process is performed immediately after the print setting is changed, so that the application 1 can draw using the changed print setting. Other steps are the same as those in the first embodiment.
[0058]
Next, FIG. 7 shows a conceptual diagram of the relationship between the state of the pattern page and document page stored in the EMF spool file 4 and the physical page printed on the paper when the print settings are changed during printing. . Here, application 1 changes the print settings between document page 2 and document page 3 during printing, changes the orientation of the paper, prints document page 3, and prints the character string in 2-split poster printing. The condition is that a pattern is specified.
[0059]
FIG. 7A shows the order of pages stored in the EMF spool file 4. The first two pages stored in the spool file are the pattern pages corresponding to the print start event created by the user interface driver 3, and the document pages 1 and 2 created by the application 1 are the spool pages 3 and 2 in the EMF spool file 4, respectively. 4, the pattern page corresponding to the print setting change event created by the user interface driver 3 is stored in the spool pages 5 and 6, and finally the document page 3 is stored in the spool page 7. Here, since the application 1 changes the print setting between the document page 2 and the document page 3 and changes the orientation of the paper, the pattern page corresponding to the document page 3 is stored in the spool pages 5 and 6. Here, since the user interface driver 3 is notified that the paper orientation has been changed by the print setting change event, it is possible to draw a character string in a balanced manner even if the paper size is changed. The print processor 5 employs spool pages 1 and 2 for document pages 1 and 2, and spool pages 5 and 6 for document page 1 and 2, respectively. By superimposing and drawing, physical pages 1 to 6 as printing results shown in FIG. 7B are obtained. In addition, even when the paper size or pattern layout setting is changed, the user interface driver 3 appropriately draws in response to the print setting change event, thereby creating a pattern page with a preferable layout. An output result is obtained.
[0060]
Although not shown in FIG. 7, for example, if the output sheet in FIG. 7B is twice the size of the document page stored in the EMF spool file 4 from the application 1, (b) in FIG. ) Can be output on a single sheet with neither “margin” nor “cut”. On the other hand, if the output paper is half the size of the document page, one document page is printed with four sheets even if the poster printing is doubled, and the arrangement of “margin” and “cut” is the same size. This is different from the case of paper. Further, when the document and paper that are not the same size, for example, the document page and the printing paper are different between the A plate and the B plate, the paper is arranged so that the poster print fits on a plurality of papers. Even with these various sizes, “margin” and “cut” are appropriately arranged according to the arrangement of the sheets. These are also included in the present invention.
[0061]
<Effect of Embodiment 2>
As described above, since the user interface driver 3 generates and processes a pattern page corresponding to the paper size and pattern layout setting, even if the paper size changes or changes in various situations, The pattern can be printed at an appropriate position.
[0062]
<Embodiment 3>
When the methods of the first and second embodiments are used, the total number of pattern pages created by the user interface driver 3 does not depend on the number of document pages created by the application 1, but is proportional to the number of poster printing divisions. For example, in the case of 16-division poster printing, the user interface driver 3 creates 16 pattern pages, so the size of the EMF spool file 4 increases. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the pattern page created by the user interface driver 3 is not dependent on the number of poster printing divisions.
[0063]
FIG. 8 shows a conceptual diagram of the relationship between the state of the pattern page and document page stored in the EMF spool file 4 and the physical page printed on the paper when the print setting is changed during printing. Here, it is a condition that the application 1 prints one document page, and a character string pattern is designated as a print setting by four-part poster printing.
[0064]
FIG. 8A shows the page order stored in the EMF spool file 4. The first page stored in the spool file 4 is a pattern page corresponding to the print start event created by the user interface driver 3, and then the document page created by the application 1 is stored. The print processor 5 adopts the spool page 1 created by the user interface driver 3 as the optimum pattern page for the document page 1, and when overlaying the pattern page on the enlarged document page, it is not necessary margin area and cut area Clips so that drawing data is not reflected. Here, the print processor 5 may draw a boundary line between the margin area and the cut area in the pattern page composition process. By performing the pattern page composition process as described above, physical pages 1 to 4 as print results shown in FIG. 8B are obtained.
[0065]
Further, when the print processor 5 cannot perform clipping due to a limitation of the printing system, the position may be translated when the pattern pages are superimposed as shown in FIG. In the figure, 91 is a composite page created by the overlay processing by the print processor, and 92 is a pattern page created by the user interface driver 3. 94 is an enlarged document page, and 95 is a margin area. The print processor 5 superimposes the pattern page at the position 92 so that the pattern page overlaps only in the margin area during the pattern page composition process. Reference numeral 96 denotes a cut-out area. The pattern page is arranged at the position 93 so that the pattern page overlaps only in the cut-out area. By controlling in this way, good results can be obtained even when clipping cannot be performed, and physical pages 1 to 4 which are printing results shown in FIG. 8C are obtained. Here, the print processor may draw a boundary line between the margin area and the cut area in the pattern page composition process.
[0066]
In addition, since the system of this Embodiment 3 and the flow of another process are the same as the above-mentioned embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0067]
<Effect of Embodiment 3>
As described above, by creating a pattern page in which the user interface driver 3 draws a pattern in the cut-out area and the margin area on the four sides of the page, regardless of the number of poster printing divisions, the print settings can be changed at the start of printing. Sometimes there is only one pattern page to be created, and the size of the EMF spool file can be reduced. Further, even when the print processor 5 cannot perform clipping due to the limitation of the printing system, the number of pattern pages can be suppressed according to this method.
[0068]
Note that the present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.) or an apparatus constituted by a single device.
[0069]
Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for implementing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0070]
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, or the like can be used.
[0071]
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) operating 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.
[0072]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into 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 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.
[0073]
When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores a program including a program code corresponding to the flowchart described above.
[0074]
【The invention's effect】
  According to the present invention, for information transmissiondocumentsFor data and function displaypatternWhen printing print data including data (such as glue margin and cutout),Since the document page and the pattern page are spooled, and the document page read from the spool file and the pattern purge are combined and supplied to the bitmap data generation means, the number of pattern pages does not depend on the number of document pages. You can reduce the storage capacity,Print data that can reduce the load on the network and can be printed without the necessary fonts on the serverGenerationMethod and itsapparatusCan provide.
[0075]
That is, since the document page created by the application 1 to be printed in the print processor 5 and the pattern page created by the user interface driver 3 are overlapped and supplied to the printer graphics driver 6, the number of pattern pages is It is not dependent on the number of document pages, and the capacity of the storage area required by the EMF spool file 4 can be reduced. Also, in a network environment, the number of pattern pages does not change even if the number of document pages increases, so the load on the network can be reduced. In addition, since the pattern page is created by the user interface driver 3 on the client, printing is possible even if there is no font or the like necessary for drawing the pattern when the printer graphics driver 6 is executed in the server.
[0076]
In addition, since the user interface driver 3 generates and processes a pattern page corresponding to the paper size and pattern layout setting, even if the paper size changes or changes in various situations, an appropriate A pattern can be printed at the position. In addition, the user interface driver 3 creates a pattern page in which patterns are drawn in the cut-out area and the margin area on the four sides of the page, so that it is created at the start of printing and when the print settings are changed regardless of the number of poster printing divisions. There is only one pattern page, and the size of the EMF spool file can be reduced. Further, even when the print processor 5 cannot perform clipping due to the limitation of the printing system, the number of pattern pages can be suppressed according to this method.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a pattern page generation processing method of the user interface driver according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a pattern page composition processing method of the print processor according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a relationship between a state of a pattern page and a document page stored in an EMF spool file according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention and a physical page printed on paper.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a pattern page composition process of a print processor that draws a pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention on a document page.
FIG. 6 is a hardware block diagram of the printing system of the present invention, and is a configuration diagram of the printing system in the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a relationship between a pattern page and a document page stored in an EMF spool file according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention and a physical page printed on paper.
FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of a relationship between a pattern page and a document page stored in an EMF spool file according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention and a physical page printed on paper.
FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of a pattern page synthesis process of a print processor that draws a pattern related to Embodiment 3 of the present invention by superimposing it on a document page.

Claims (18)

A print data generation method that reads document page data from a spool file that stores document page data created by an application, and generates bitmap data to be supplied to a printer based on the read document page data. ,
Is a pattern page generation unit, in response to a print start event from the application, when there is a pattern set that instructs to add a pattern on a document page, and generates a data pattern pages to be stored in the spool file A pattern page generation step ;
The composite page creation means reads and enlarges the document page data from the spool file, draws it, reads the pattern page data from the spool file, and draws it on the enlarged and drawn document page data. A composite page creation step for creating composite page data;
A print data generation method , wherein the bitmap data generation means includes a bitmap data generation step for generating bitmap data from the composite page data generated in the composite page generation step . In the composite page creation step, the document page data and the pattern page data are read from the spool file, the composite page data is created, and supplied to the graphic device interface.
  2. The print data generation method according to claim 1, wherein, in the bitmap data generation step, bitmap data is generated from the generated composite page data based on a drawing command generated by the graphic device interface. The print data generation method according to claim 1, wherein the pattern page includes a pattern indicating a margin . The pattern page, the print data generating method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a pattern indicating cut. 2. The print data generation method according to claim 1, wherein in the pattern page generation step, pattern page data is further generated in response to a print setting change event. The pattern page generation step is executed by a user interface driver,
  The composite page creation step is executed by a print process,
  The print data generation method according to claim 1, wherein the bitmap data generation step is executed by a printer graphic driver. A print data generation device that reads document page data from a spool file that stores document page data created by an application, and generates bitmap data to be supplied to a printer based on the read document page data. ,
A pattern page generating unit configured to generate data of a pattern page stored in the spool file when there is a pattern setting instructing to add a pattern on a document page in response to a print start event from the application ;
Document page data is read from the spool file and enlarged and drawn, and pattern page data is read from the spool file and drawn over the enlarged and drawn document page data, thereby combining composite page data. A composite page creation means to create,
A print data generation apparatus comprising: bitmap data generation means for generating bitmap data from composite page data created by the composite page creation means . The composite page creation means reads document page data and pattern page data from the spool file, creates composite page data, and supplies it to the graphic device interface,
  8. The print data generation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the bitmap data generation unit generates bitmap data from the generated composite page data based on a drawing command generated by the graphic device interface. The print data generation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pattern page includes a pattern indicating a margin . The print data generation apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the pattern page includes a pattern indicating cutting . 8. The print data generation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pattern page generation unit further generates pattern page data in response to a print setting change event. The pattern page generation means is realized by a user interface driver,
  The composite page creation means is realized by a print process,
  8. The print data generation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the bitmap data generation means is realized by a printer graphic driver. Implementation of a print data generation method that reads document page data from a spool file in which document page data created by an application is stored, and generates bitmap data to be supplied to the printer based on the read document page data A computer program for
  A pattern page generation step of generating pattern page data stored in the spool file when there is a pattern setting instructing to add a pattern on a document page in response to a print start event from the application;
  Document page data is read from the spool file and enlarged and drawn, and pattern page data is read from the spool file and drawn over the enlarged and drawn document page data. A composite page creation step to create,
  A computer program for causing a computer to execute a bitmap data generation step of generating bitmap data from data of a synthesis page created in the synthesis page creation step. In the composite page creation step, the document page data and the pattern page data are read from the spool file, the composite page data is created, and supplied to the graphic device interface.
  14. The computer program according to claim 13, wherein, in the bitmap data generation step, bitmap data is generated from the generated composite page data based on a drawing command generated by the graphic device interface. The computer program according to claim 13, wherein the pattern page includes a pattern indicating a margin. The computer program according to claim 13, wherein the pattern page includes a pattern indicating cutting. 14. The computer program according to claim 13, wherein in the pattern page generation step, pattern page data is further generated in response to a print setting change event. The computer-readable storage medium which memorize | stored the computer program of any one of Claim 13 thru | or 17.

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