JP4881415B2 - Document processing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a document processing apparatus and a document processing method for collecting output data generated by various programs such as a document processing program and an image editing program as one document and providing an editing function for the document, and more particularly to a personal computer. The present invention relates to a document processing apparatus and a document processing method in a system having information processing such as the above and a printer.

  Different types of data such as characters, tables, and images have different structures for defining the data and editing operations on the data. Therefore, various application programs corresponding to the types of data are provided. The user uses different applications depending on the type of data, such as a character processing program for editing characters, a spreadsheet program for editing tables, and an image editing program for editing images.

  As described above, the user generally uses different application programs for each type of data. However, as a document to be created by the user, for example, a plurality of types of data such as characters and tables, characters and images, rather than a document composed of only one type of data such as characters only, tables only, and images only. Documents consisting of are more common. Therefore, in order to create a target document including a plurality of types of data, a user needs to print data for each application by using a printing function included in various applications, and to combine printed materials in a desired order.

  Alternatively, there are programs called so-called office suites that form a single integrated application by various applications, and provide a function that combines data generated by each application to form a single document. When using this integrated application, the user can collect the data created by each application into one target document by a specific application included in the integrated application.

  In addition, there is a document processing system that holds data in units of pages and lays out and prints on paper according to various setting values. In such a system, even if data is held in a hierarchical structure, setting values are held only for the entire document, and partial settings cannot be made. For example, for a document created by an application program or the like, a layout setting (N page printing or N for N pages (N, for example, 2, 4, 9, 16 pages) is provided on one side of one sheet. There is a printing system that can perform in-one printing or N-page layout. As an example of N-page printing, 2-page printing can be set for the entire document, but a part of a document for which 2-page printing is designated cannot be changed to 4-page printing. That is, for one setting item, a setting value different from that of the entire document cannot be set for a part of the document. Also, in a system in which settings such as layout can be made for each part of a document, the attributes (setting values such as layout settings) are held only in each part, so the whole can be unified and changed all at once. could not.

  Therefore, document data is stored hierarchically in units such as pages, group of pages, and the entire document, and various setting item values are also stored for each layer of the document data, so that uniform settings can be made for the entire document. Document processing systems have emerged that allow users to make partial settings for some of them (see Patent Document 1, etc.).

  In such a system, as an editing operation, not only the setting value of each setting item can be changed, but also any unit such as a page unit or a unit in which pages are grouped can be moved within the document or outside the document, or copied and pasted. It is possible to do. Also, it has a function of displaying a preview of the state of the document data at the end of the printing process and showing the preview display to the operator to perform an editing operation. In the document processing system, each page in the document is output in a format corresponding to the setting for the entire document or the setting for each page when the document is output (for example, displayed or printed). The setting contents include a setting for printing a plurality of different pages on one sheet, such as N-page printing, and a multiple printing function for displaying and printing a plurality of the same pages on one sheet. . A layout realized by this multiple printing function is called a multiple layout.

JP 2003-162404 A

  Multiple printing (multiple layout) is a function that prints the same page side by side on a sheet for the purpose of outputting a plurality of copies of the printed result on one sheet on the premise of cutting after printing. . Many of the multiple printing functions output a printed matter that can be obtained by simply dividing the paper into equal parts, instead of cutting the paper to an arbitrary page size with a register mark. For this reason, particularly in the case of document data in which N-page printing and multiple layouts are set at the same time, there is a problem that the cutting line is misleading when editing or printing cutting.

  In addition, when the print result of the document data set with the multiple layout is displayed as a preview, unlike the normal N-page print layout, all the images on the same page arranged on the surface of one sheet are displayed on the page. A problem arises when selection and editing can be performed. This is because a plurality of identical pages arranged on one sheet in the multiple layout does not exist as an entity in the document data, but is merely duplicated for printing. Therefore, it is necessary to edit the document after canceling the multiple layout setting, or to display it as a document in which the multiple layout is set but the multiple layout is not set on the preview display. .

  As described above, in a document processing system that allows multiple layout settings, there is a problem in that productivity decreases when a document with multiple layouts is output. In addition, there is a problem in that the operability of the editing operation is poor for a document having a multiple layout. Furthermore, for documents with multiple layout settings, it is difficult to accurately represent the actual output format in the preview display. From this point of view, the operability of the editing operation is deteriorated and the productivity is reduced. A bug was invited.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to create an original of a page when creating a multiple printed matter that outputs a plurality of copies of printing results on one sheet of paper. It is an object of the present invention to provide a document processing apparatus and method capable of displaying a preview of a print layout of a multiple printed matter reflecting the contents of the page.

In order to achieve the above object, the document processing apparatus of the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is, a document processing apparatus capable of editing the output format of document data composed of manuscript pages,
A setting unit for accepting the setting of the array type layout to obtain a printed matter of a plurality portions by cutting a plurality of sheets arranged the same document page,
If the setting of the multiple-layout is received by the setting unit, in accordance with the setting of the accepted multiple-layout, a print page when the array type layout is not set as the base page, a plurality A display image for displaying on the display screen a preview image indicating that the basic page is arranged on a sheet surface, and information indicating that the basic page is cut between the plurality of basic pages in the preview image ;
Editing means for accepting a user editing operation on the display screen displayed by the display control means,
Wherein the display control unit, when the processing corresponding to the editing operation on one base page of the plurality of base page is performed, among the plurality of basic pages, processing by the editing operation is performed A document processing apparatus characterized in that the processing according to the editing operation is reflected on a basic page that does not exist.

  According to the present invention, when creating a multiple printed matter for outputting a plurality of copies of printing results on a single sheet of paper, if a page document is prepared, the print layout of the multiple printed matter reflecting the contents of the page is prepared. Can be previewed.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the stand-alone type document processing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the host computer which implement | achieves the document processing system which concerns on this Embodiment. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of a book file according to the present embodiment, FIG. 3A is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the format of a book file, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of document data. is there. It is a figure which shows an example of the book attribute which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the chapter attribute which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the page attribute which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the procedure which opens the book file in the document processing system which concerns on this Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for importing an electronic document file into a book file in the document processing system according to the present embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which converts the application data by the document processing system which concerns on this Embodiment into an electronic manuscript file. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface screen at the time of opening the existing book file. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface screen at the time of opening a new book file. 1 is a block diagram of a client server type document processing system according to a document processing system according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a staple control system. It is a figure which shows an example of the page arrangement | positioning of the multiple printing in the document processing system concerning this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a correlation example between a document page size for multiple printing and an output paper size in the document processing system according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows the difference in the layout in On / Off of the multiple printing in the document processing system concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface screen at the time of performing the multiple printing setting in the document processing system concerning this embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for selecting a screen preview display form when multiple print settings are performed in the document processing system according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen of the multiple printing in the document processing system which concerns on this embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a layout detail setting screen by specifying a cutting direction when multiple printing is set in the document processing system according to the present embodiment. FIG. It is a table | surface figure which shows the example of the layout preview display at the time of the multiple printing setting in the document processing system which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where print designation paper is added and output when performing multiple printing in the document processing system according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the layout setting screen which performs N page setting in the document processing system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the layout image at the time of performing the multiple-print setting of N pages in the document processing system concerning this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the multiple printing setting in the document processing system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a multiple layout designation procedure in a multiple print setting flow by the document processing system according to the present embodiment. It is a flowchart of the cutting designation | designated procedure in the flow of the multiple printing setting by the document processing system which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a preview display procedure in a flow of multiple print setting by the document processing system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of multiple and multiple layout processing by the document processing system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for performing mixed loading setting for multiple printing and N-page printing in the document processing system according to the embodiment. It is a flowchart of the edit process based on operation of the preview window in the document processing system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the printing process of the multiple layout document in the document processing system concerning this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<System overview>
First, an outline of a document processing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The document processing system includes an electronic manuscript writer that converts a data file created by a general application into an electronic manuscript file, and a bookbinding application that provides a function for editing the electronic manuscript file. It is possible to create and edit a document in which the above are integrated, improve the operability thereof, and efficiently edit the document.

<System configuration and operation>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a software configuration of the document processing system according to the present embodiment. The document processing system is realized by a digital computer 101 (hereinafter also referred to as a host computer) which is a preferred embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention. A general application 101 shown in FIG. 1 is an application program that provides functions such as word processing, spreadsheet, photo retouching, drawing, painting, presentation, and text editing, and has a printing function for the OS. These applications use a predetermined interface (generally called GDI) provided by an operating system (OS) when printing application data such as created document data and image data. That is, the application 101 transmits an OS-dependent output command (referred to as a GDI function) to the OS output module that provides the above-described interface in order to print the created data. . On the other hand, the output module that has received the output command converts the output command into a format that can be processed by an output device such as a printer, and outputs the converted command (referred to as a DDI function). Since the format that can be processed by the output device varies depending on the device type, manufacturer, model, etc., a device driver is provided for each device, and the OS uses that device driver to convert commands and generate print data. A print job is generated by enclosing with JL (Job Language). When using Microsoft Windows (registered trademark) as an OS, a module called GDI (Graphic Device Interface) corresponds to the output module described above.

  The electronic manuscript writer 102 is an improvement of the above-described device driver and is a software module provided for realizing the document processing system. However, the electronic document writer 102 is not intended for a specific output device, and converts the output command into a format that can be processed by the bookbinding application 104 and the printer driver 106 described later in detail. The format after conversion by the electronic document writer 102 (hereinafter referred to as an electronic document format) is not particularly limited as long as a document in units of pages can be expressed in a detailed format. Of substantial standard formats, for example, PDF format or SVG format by Adobe Systems can be adopted as the electronic document format.

  When using the electronic document writer 102 from the general application 101, the electronic document writer 102 is designated as a device driver used for output, and printing is executed. However, the electronic document file as created by the electronic document writer 102 does not have a complete format as an electronic document file. Therefore, the bookbinding application 104 designates the electronic document writer 102 as a device driver, and conversion of application data into an electronic document file is executed under the management of the bookbinding application 104. Then, the bookbinding application 104 completes the new incomplete electronic document file generated by the electronic document writer 102 as an electronic document file having a format described later. Hereinafter, when it is necessary to clearly identify this point, a file created by the electronic manuscript writer 102 is called an “electronic manuscript file”, and an electronic manuscript file given a structure by the bookbinding application 104 is called a “book file”. Call. If there is no need to distinguish between them, a document file, an electronic manuscript file, and a book file generated by an application are all referred to as a document file (or document data).

  In this way, by specifying the electronic document writer 102 as a device driver and printing data by the general application 101, the application data is electronic in units of pages (hereinafter referred to as logical pages or document pages) defined by the application 101. It is converted into a document format and stored as an electronic document file 103 in a storage medium such as a hard disk. The hard disk may be a local drive included in a computer that implements the document processing system of the present embodiment, or may be a drive provided on the network when connected to the network.

  The bookbinding application 104 reads an electronic original file (or book file) 103 and provides a user with a function for editing the electronic original file (or book file) 103. However, the bookbinding application 104 does not provide a function for editing the contents of each page, but provides a function for editing the structure of a chapter or book, which will be described later, configured with a page as a minimum unit.

  When the book file 103 edited by the bookbinding application 104 is printed, the bookbinding application 104 activates the electronic document despooler 105. The electronic document despooler 105 is a program module installed in the computer together with the bookbinding application, and is a module used to output drawing data to the printer driver when printing a document (book file) used in the bookbinding application. It is. The electronic manuscript despooler 105 reads out a designated book file from the hard disk and generates an output command suitable for the OS output module described above to print each page in the format described in the book file. Output to the output module. At that time, the printer driver 106 for the printer 107 used as the output device is designated as the device driver. The above-described output module converts the received output command into a device command and outputs the device command to the designated printer driver 106 for the printer 107, and the printer driver 106 converts the command into a command such as a page description language that the printer 107 can execute. Convert. The converted command is transmitted from the printer driver 106 to the printer 107 via a system spooler (not shown), and the printer 107 prints an image corresponding to the command.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of the computer 100. 2, a CPU 201 executes programs such as an OS, a general application, and a bookbinding application that are stored in a program ROM of the ROM 203 or loaded from the hard disk 211 to the RAM 202, and the software configuration in FIG. Realize the procedure. The RAM 202 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201. A keyboard controller (KBC) 205 controls key input from a keyboard 209 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 206 controls display on the CRT display 210. A disk controller (DKC) 207 controls access to a hard disk (HD) 211, a flexible disk (FD), or the like that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files (to be described later), and the like. The PRTC 208 controls the exchange of signals with the connected printer 107. The NC 212 is connected to the network and executes communication control processing with other devices connected to the network.

<Electronic manuscript data format>
Before referring to details of the editing application 104, the data format of the book file will be described. The book file has a three-layer structure that mimics a paper medium book. First, the upper layer is called a “book”, imitating one book, and attributes related to the book in general are defined. The middle layer below it corresponds to the chapter in the book and is also called “chapter”. For each chapter, attributes for each chapter can be defined. The lower layer is “page”, which corresponds to each page defined by the application program. For each page, attributes for each page can be defined. Further, one book may include a plurality of chapters, and one chapter may include a plurality of pages.

  FIG. 3A is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a book file format. As shown in the figure, in this example, the book, chapter, and page in the book file are indicated by corresponding nodes. One book file contains one book. Since the book and chapter are concepts for defining the structure of the book, they include defined attribute values and links to lower layers as entities. The page has data for each page output by the application program as an entity. Therefore, a page includes a document page entity (document page data) and a link to each document page data in addition to the attribute value.

  Note that a print page when outputting to a paper medium or the like may include a plurality of document pages. This structure is not displayed by a link, but is displayed as an attribute in each hierarchy of a book, chapter, and page.

  In FIG. 3, a book 301 has a book attribute defined therein and two chapters 302A and 302B are linked. By this link, it is displayed that chapters 302A and 302B are included in book 301. The chapter 302A is linked to pages 303A and 303B, indicating that these pages are included. Each page 303A, 303B has an attribute value defined, and includes links to the original document page data (1), (2). These links indicate the data (1) and (2) of the original page data 304 as shown in (B) of FIG. 3, and the entities of the pages 303A and 303B are the original page data (1) and (2). Is displayed.

  FIG. 4 is a list of book attributes. For items that can be defined overlapping with the lower layer, the attribute value of the lower layer is preferentially adopted. Therefore, for items included only in the book attribute, the value defined in the book attribute becomes a valid value throughout the book. However, items that overlap the lower layer have meanings as default values when they are not defined in the lower layer. Each illustrated item does not specifically correspond to one item, but may include a plurality of related items.

  5 is a list of chapter attributes, and FIG. 6 is a list of page attributes. The relationship between chapter attributes and page attributes is the same as the relationship between book attributes and lower layer attributes.

  As apparent from FIGS. 4 to 6, items unique to the book attributes are 6 for printing method, bookbinding details, front / back cover, index sheet, slip sheet, chapter break, and multiple print (multiple layout) setting. It is an item. These are items defined throughout the book. As printing method attributes, three values of single-sided printing, double-sided printing, and bookbinding printing can be designated. Here, bookbinding printing is a method of printing in a format that allows bookbinding by bundling a separately designated number of sheets into two and folding the bundle. As the bookbinding details attribute, when bookbinding printing is designated, the spread direction, the number of sheets to be bundled, and the like can be designated.

  The front cover / back cover attribute includes designation of adding sheets as a front cover and a back cover when printing an electronic document file to be collected as a book, and designation of print contents on the added sheet. The index sheet attribute includes insertion specifications of index sheets with ears separately prepared in the printing apparatus as chapter breaks and designation of print contents in the index (ear) portions. This attribute can be used when a printing device used by an inserter having an insert function for inserting a sheet prepared separately from the printing sheet into a desired position, or a plurality of paper cassettes can be used. Effective in some cases. The same applies to the slip sheet attribute.

  The slip sheet attribute includes designation of insertion of a sheet supplied from an inserter or a sheet feed cassette as a chapter break, and designation of a sheet feed source when a slip sheet is inserted.

  The chapter break attribute includes designation of whether to use a new sheet, use a new print page, or do nothing in particular at the chapter break. During single-sided printing, the use of a new paper and the use of a new print page have the same meaning. In double-sided printing, if “use new paper” is specified, consecutive chapters will not be printed on one sheet, but if “use new print page” is specified, consecutive chapters will be 1 It may be printed on the front and back of a sheet of paper.

  The multiple layout setting includes two settings of “multiple method” and “section selection”. The multiple method includes at least one of “2 stations”, “4 stations”, and “no multiple layout setting” as a setting value. The double is a layout in which two original pages are arranged on one side (that is, a print page) of one sheet. By cutting along the center line in the longitudinal direction of the sheet, an output product of two pages can be obtained from one sheet. This is more advantageous than printing one original page at a time in terms of printing time. In addition, a maintenance system that charges for each page can reduce the maintenance fee. The quadruple is a layout in which four original pages are arranged on one print page. By cutting the sheet along the center line of each side, an output product of 4 pages can be obtained from one sheet. The difference from the N-up (N-page) layout is that, in N-up, different manuscript pages are reduced and arranged on one sheet, whereas in a multiple layout, one manuscript page is not scaled. This is a point arranged on one print page. Therefore, in the double layout, the sheet size is twice the original page size, and in the quadruple layout, it is four times.

  Furthermore, when “double” is set in the multiple layout setting, the orientation of the document page arranged on one print page can be designated by “cut edge selection”. This designation includes the content of which side is the cutting line of the document page. For example, if “up”, the manuscript page is arranged so that the upper side of the erect manuscript page is a cutting line. If it is “bottom”, the manuscript page is arranged so that the bottom side of the erect manuscript page is a cutting line. If it is “right”, the document page is arranged so that the right side of the upright document page is a cutting line. If it is “left”, the manuscript page is arranged so that the left side of the upright manuscript page is a cutting line. However, since the vertical relationship and the horizontal relationship are determined by the direction of the sheet, it is sufficient to specify either “up or right” or “down or left” for the edge of the cutting line. It is sufficient if either "up or left" or "down or right" can be specified.

  As described above, the multiple layout setting includes multiple method information for setting a multiple layout and cut edge selection information for specifying the direction of an original page on which one sheet is arranged. In addition, the original page is a sheet having a side length that is an integral multiple such as a power of 2 of the length of the side or 9 series, such as 8 series and 16 series as well as 2 series and 4 series. It is also possible to arrange them. However, in this embodiment, the multiple layout is either two or four.

  As for chapter attributes, there are no items unique to chapters, and all items overlap with book attributes. Therefore, if the definition in the chapter attribute is different from the definition in the book attribute, the value defined in the chapter attribute has priority. Items common only to the book attribute and chapter attribute are five items: paper size, paper orientation, N-up printing designation, enlargement / reduction, and paper discharge method. Among these, the N-up print designation attribute is an item for designating the number of document pages included in one print page. Examples of arrangements that can be specified include 1 × 1, 1 × 2, 2 × 2, 3 × 3, and 4 × 4. The paper discharge method attribute is an item for designating whether or not stapling is performed on the discharged paper, and the validity of this attribute depends on whether the printing apparatus to be used has a stapling function.

  Items unique to the page attribute include a page rotation attribute, zoom, layout designation, annotation, and page division. The page rotation attribute is an item for designating a rotation angle when placing an original page on a print page. The zoom attribute is an item for designating the scaling factor of the original page. The scaling factor is specified with the size of the virtual logical page area as 100%. The virtual logical page area is an area occupied by one original page when the original page is arranged in accordance with designation of Nup or the like. For example, if it is 1 × 1, the virtual logical page area is an area corresponding to one print page, and if it is 1 × 2, each side of one print page is an area reduced to about 70%.

  Attributes common to the book, chapter, and page include a watermark attribute and a header / footer attribute. Here, the watermark is a separately designated image or character string that is printed over data created by an application. The header / footer is a watermark printed on the upper margin and the lower margin of each page. However, items that can be specified by variables such as page numbers and date / time are prepared in the header / footer. The contents that can be specified in the watermark attribute and the header / footer attribute are common to the chapter and the page, but the book is different from them. In the book, the contents of the watermark and header / footer can be set, and how the watermark, header and footer are printed throughout the book can be specified. On the other hand, for a chapter or page, whether or not to print a watermark or header / footer set in the book can be specified for the chapter or page.

<Book file generation procedure>
The book file has the structure and contents as described above. Next, a book file creation procedure by the bookbinding application 104 and the electronic document writer 102 will be described. The book file creation procedure is realized as part of the book file editing operation by the bookbinding application 104.

  FIG. 7 shows a procedure when the bookbinding application 104 opens a book file. First, it is determined whether the book file to be opened is to be newly created or is an existing one (step S701). In the case of new creation, a new book file not including a chapter is created (step S702). In the example of FIG. 3, the newly created book file is a book node that has only the book node 301 and does not have a link to the chapter node. As the book attribute, a set of attributes prepared in advance for new creation is applied. Then, a user interface (UI) screen for editing the new book file is displayed (step S703). FIG. 11 shows an example of a UI screen when a book file is newly created. In this case, since the book file has no substantial content, nothing is displayed on the UI screen 1100.

  On the other hand, if there is an existing book file, the designated book file is opened (step S703), and a user interface (UI) screen is displayed according to the structure, attributes, and contents of the book file. FIG. 10 is an example of a UI screen that displays a book file designated from an existing book file. The UI screen 1100 includes a tree portion 1101 that shows a book structure, and a preview portion 1102 that displays a printed state. The tree portion 1101 displays chapters included in the book and pages included in each chapter in a tree structure as shown in FIG. A page displayed in the tree portion 1101 is a manuscript page. In the preview area 1102, the contents of the print page are reduced and displayed. The display order reflects the book structure.

  In the opened book file, application data converted into an electronic manuscript file by the electronic manuscript writer 102 can be added as a new chapter. This function is called an electronic document import function. By importing an electronic document into a newly created book file by the procedure shown in FIG. 7, an entity is given to the book file. This function is activated by dragging and dropping application data on the screen of FIG.

  FIG. 8 shows an electronic document import procedure. First, the application program that generated the specified application data is activated, the electronic document writer 102 is specified as a device driver, and the application data is printed out to be converted into electronic document data (step S801). When the conversion is completed, it is determined whether or not the converted data is image data (step S802). This determination is made based on the file extension of the application data under the Windows (registered trademark) OS. For example, if the extension is “bmp”, it is Windows (registered trademark) bitmap data. it can. In the case of such image data, since it is possible to generate an electronic document file directly from the image data without starting an application as in S8010, the processing in S8010 can be omitted.

  If it is not image data, the electronic document file generated in step S801 is added as a new chapter to the book of the book file that is currently open (step S803). As the chapter attribute, the value of the book attribute is copied for those that are common to the book attribute, and for those that are not, the preset value is set in advance.

  In the case of image data in step S802, a new chapter is not added in principle, and each original page included in the electronic original file generated in step S801 is added to the designated chapter ( Step S804). However, if the book file is a newly created file, a new chapter is created, and each page of the electronic document file is added as a page belonging to the chapter. As for the page attribute, an attribute value is given to an attribute common to the upper layer attribute, and a value is given to an attribute that inherits the attribute defined in the application data in the electronic document file. For example, when Nup designation or the like is designated in the application data, the attribute value is inherited. In this way, a new book file is created or a new chapter is added.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a procedure for generating an electronic document file by the electronic document writer 102 in step S801 shown in FIG. First, a new electronic document file is created and opened (step S901). An application corresponding to the designated application data is started, and an output command is transmitted to the output module of the OS using the electronic document writer as a device driver. The output module converts the received output command into electronic document format data by the electronic document writer 102 and outputs the converted data (step S902). The output destination is the electronic document file opened in step S901. It is determined whether the conversion has been completed for all the designated data (step S903). If the conversion has been completed, the electronic document file is closed (step S904). The electronic manuscript file generated by the electronic manuscript writer 102 is a file including the manuscript page data entity shown in FIG.

<Edit book file>
As described above, a book file can be created from application data. With respect to the generated book file, the following editing operations are possible for chapters and pages.
(1) New addition (2) Delete (3) Copy (4) Cut (5) Paste (6) Move (7) Rename chapter (8) Rename page number (9) Insert cover (10) Insert paper Insert (11) Insert index paper (12) Page layout for each document page.

  In addition, an operation for canceling an editing operation once performed, and an operation for redoing the canceled operation are possible. With these editing functions, for example, integration of multiple book files, rearrangement of chapters and pages in the book file, deletion of chapters and pages in the book file, layout change of manuscript pages, insertion of slip sheets and index sheets Operation becomes possible. When these operations are performed, the operation results are reflected in the attributes shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, or in the book file structure. For example, if a blank page new addition operation is performed, a blank page is inserted at a designated location. This blank page is treated as a manuscript page. If the layout of the original page is changed, the changed content is reflected in attributes such as a printing method, N-up printing, front / back cover, index paper, slip sheet, and chapter break. Reflected means that the changed attribute or the like is saved as a book file.

<Output book file>
The book file created and edited as described above has a final purpose of print output. Here, when the user selects a file menu from the UI screen 1100 of the bookbinding application shown in FIG. 10 and selects print from there, the output is printed by the designated output device. At this time, the bookbinding application 104 first creates a job ticket from the currently opened book file, and passes the job ticket to the electronic document despooler 105. On the other hand, the electronic document despooler 105 converts the job ticket into an OS output command, for example, a Windows (registered trademark) GDI function, and transmits it to an output module, for example, GDI. The output module generates a command suitable for the device by the designated printer driver 106 and transmits the command to the device.

  Here, the job ticket is data having a structure in which the original page is a minimum unit. The structure in the job ticket defines the layout of the manuscript page on the paper. One job ticket is issued per job. For this reason, there is a document node at the top, and attributes of the entire document, such as double-sided printing / single-sided printing, are defined. Below that, a paper node belongs, and includes attributes such as an identifier of a paper to be used and designation of a paper feeding port in the printer. Each paper node includes a node of a sheet printed on the paper. One sheet corresponds to one sheet. A print page (physical page) belongs to each sheet. For single-sided printing, one physical page belongs to one sheet, and for double-sided printing, two physical pages belong to one sheet. Each physical page has an original page arranged thereon. The physical page attribute includes the layout of the original page.

  The electronic document despooler 105 converts the above-described job ticket into an output command to the output module.

<Other system configurations>
The outline of the document processing system of this embodiment is as described above. Although this is a stand-alone system, a book file can be created and edited with almost the same configuration and procedure even on a server client system that is an expanded system. However, book files and print processing are managed by the server.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server client type document processing system. The client document processing system has a configuration in which a DOMS (Document Output Management Service) driver 109, a DOMS print service module 110, and a DS (Document Service) client module 108, which are client modules, are added to a stand-alone system. . A document management server 1201, a print central management server 1202, and a print server 1203 are connected to the client document processing system 1200. These servers are normally connected to the client document processing system via a network, but are connected by inter-process communication that simulates communication between networks when the server also functions as a client at the same time.

  In the example shown in FIG. 12, both the document management server 1201 and the print central management server 1202 are connected to the client, but only one of them may exist on the network. For example, if the connected server is a document management server, the document management server client system 1201SC including the client module 108 is used. If the connected server is the print central management server 1202, the print management server client system 1202SC including the client module is used. Will be added to the stand-alone document management system.

  The document management server 1201 is a server that stores book files created and edited by the bookbinding application 104. When a book file is managed by the document management server 1201, the book file is stored in the database 1211 of the document management server 1201 instead of or in addition to the local HD of the client PC. Saving and reading of book files between the bookbinding application 104 and the document management server 1201 are performed via the DS client 108 and the DS core 1212.

  The print central management server 1202 is a server that manages printing of book files stored in the client document management system 1200 or stored in the document management server 1201. The print request in the client is transmitted to the DOMSWG server module 1221 of the print central management server 1202 via the DOMS driver 109 and the DOMS print service module 110. The centralized print management server 1202 passes the electronic document data to the electronic document despooler 105 via the client's DOMS print service module 110 when printing with the client printer, and when printing with the print server 1203, the print server 1203. To the DOMS print service module 1203. For example, the centralized print management server performs a security check on the qualification of the user who issued the print request to the saved book file, and saves a print processing log. As described above, the document processing system can be realized as a stand-alone or a client-server system.

<Contents of preview display>
As described above, when the book file 103 is opened by the bookbinding application 104, the user interface screen 1100 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. The tree portion 1101 displays a tree showing the structure of an open book (hereinafter referred to as “target book”). In the preview section, three display methods are prepared according to the user's designation. First, a mode called a document view that displays a document page as it is. In this document view mode, the content of the document page belonging to the book of interest is reduced and displayed. Note that the layout is not reflected in the display of the preview unit 1102. Next, the second is a print view mode. In the print view mode, the document page is displayed on the preview unit 1102 in a form that reflects the layout of the document page on the sheet. The third is a simple print view mode. In this simple print view mode, the contents of each original page are not reflected in the display of the preview portion, but only the layout on the sheet is reflected.

<Stapling control>
Next, stapling control performed by the bookbinding application 104 of the computer 100 connected to a printer having a stapling function will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the staple control system. As shown in the figure, the staple control system includes the host computer 100 shown in FIG. 2 and a printer 107 having a staple function.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the printer 107 will be described. If the function of the present invention is realized, a single device or a system composed of a plurality of devices can be connected and processed via a network such as a LAN or WAN. The present invention can be applied even to a system.

  As shown in the figure, in the printer 107, reference numeral 1301 denotes a printer CPU, which is connected to a system bus 1304 based on a control program stored in a program ROM in a ROM 1302 or a control program stored in an external memory 1303. An image signal as output information is output to the printing unit (printer engine) 1306 via the printing unit I / F 1305. A finisher unit 1310 is connected to the printing unit 1306. The finisher unit 1310 is provided with a stapler for realizing a staple function. The finisher unit 1310 is implemented by a commercially available digital multi-function peripheral.

  In addition, the program ROM in the ROM 1302 stores a control program of the CPU 1301, and the font ROM in the ROM 1302 stores font data used for generating output information. The ROM stores information used on the host computer 100 in the case of a printer that does not have an external memory 1303 such as a hard disk.

  The CPU 1301 can perform communication processing with the host computer 100 via the input unit 1307 and can notify the host computer 100 of information in the printer 107 and the like. The RAM 1308 is a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, or the like of the CPU 1301 and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown).

  The RAM 1308 is used as an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like. Access to the above-described external memory 1303 such as a hard disk (HD) or IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 1309. The external memory 1303 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. In addition, the operation panel 1311 includes switches for operation, LED indicators, and the like.

  The external memory 1303 described above is not limited to one, and a plurality of external memories 1303 are provided. In addition to the built-in font, a plurality of external memories storing option cards and programs for interpreting printer control languages with different language systems can be connected. May be. Furthermore, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided, and printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1311 may be stored.

<Multiple layout>
Next, the multiple layout according to the present invention will be described in detail. As described above, the bookbinding application 104 according to the present embodiment can set attributes for books, chapters, and pages in a book file. The book file has a hierarchical structure as described above with reference to FIG. 3. If the book attribute is set to a certain value, the chapter attribute located below the book attribute also has the same set value. Changed to Similarly, if the chapter attribute is changed, the page attribute located below the chapter attribute is also changed. For example, when the output paper size A4 is set in the book attribute 301 having two chapters and four pages as shown in FIG. 3A, the attributes of all pages included in the book are A4 size. Become. Further, when the output paper size A3 is set in the chapter attribute 302B of FIG. 3A included in the book attribute, the output paper of the page attributes 303C and 303D that are similarly positioned below the chapter attribute. The size is also A3. Further, even if the book attribute 301 is changed here, the chapter attribute 302B and the page under the chapter attribute 302B can be prevented from being affected by the change of the book attribute 301. In this way, all the lower-level pages are linked in the attribute setting such as the paper size in the chapter.

  Multiple printing is a function that prints the same data side by side on a sheet for the purpose of outputting a printing result in which a plurality of original pages are arranged on one sheet on the premise of cutting after printing. . FIG. 25 shows a flow chart of multiple print setting.

  FIG. 25 shows a part of the procedure by the bookbinding application 104, which is executed by the computer of FIG. The same applies to other flowcharts. In FIG. 25, the detailed setting of the document is designated in step S2501. This setting is performed, for example, by selecting “document print setting” from the pull-down menu displayed when the operator selects “print format” from the menu on the user interface screen of the bookbinding application 104 as shown in FIG. . In step S2502, the operator selects the “Finishing” tab from the document print settings, so that multiple layouts can be set. An example of the user interface displayed at this time is shown in FIG.

  Here, the unit to be duplicated in the multiple layout is one print page in a state where the multiple layout setting is not performed. That is, if the N-page layout is not performed, this is a unit for copying one original page. However, when the N page layout is set, a set of N manuscript pages arranged on one print page becomes a unit of the multiple layout. For example, when a two-page layout (2-in-1 layout) is set, the first document page and the second document page are reduced and arranged on one print page. When a multiple layout setting, for example, a two-line setting is performed, the original one print page in which the first document page and the second document page are reduced and arranged is a unit of the multiple layout. A print page in which a plurality of duplicates (two in a duplex) are arranged (this will be referred to as a “multiple print page”) is formed. As described above, in the multiple layout, the unit of duplication is the contents arranged on one print page if the multiple layout is not set. For the sake of convenience, the duplication unit in this multiple layout is called a basic manuscript page (or simply a basic page). When the N-in-1 layout is not performed, the manuscript page matches the basic page. However, when the N-in-1 layout is set, one basic page is composed of N document pages.

  On the other hand, when the multiple layout (multiple print) setting is not performed, the bookbinding setting can be performed. Since the multiple layout is a function premised on cutting after printing, finishing specification such as stapling and punching of the bookbinding function cannot be specified at the same time when the multiple layout is set. This can be realized by not displaying the limited finishing setting on the user interface screen if the multiple layout has been set. Even if they are set, these finishing settings are ignored in the case of a multiple layout.

The following settings are examples of setting items that cannot coexist with the multiple layout.
(1) Staple (partial staple)
(2) Punch
(3) Z-fold
(4) Cover using inserter
(5) Index paper
(6) Bookbinding printing
(7) Mixed paper
(8) Unit / group.

  When multiple layout (multiple printing) is specified, the settings (1) to (5) are cleared or ignored when printing is executed. In addition, when (6) and (7) are specified, the GUI is controlled so that multiple sets cannot be set. Specifically, for example, the multiple layout column 1901 in FIG. 19 is not displayed on the finishing tab. (8) cannot be selected for multiple printing. In the case of multiples, it is always fixed in units.

  If the operator selects and operates the multiple layout in step S2503, the process proceeds to step S2504. Note that step S2503 is a branch based on the operator's intention, not the bookbinding application 104 itself.

  In step S2504, the layout (two series, four series, etc.) to be developed on the paper is set according to the operation of the operator. FIG. 19 shows an example of the user interface of the setting dialog. The operator can select a desired value from options such as “2 stations” and “4 stations” in the multiple layout setting field 1901. Then, a value corresponding to the setting is stored as a multiple method of the multiple layout setting information of the book attribute (however, after OK or the apply button is pressed).

  Next, in step S2505, in the case of double, the cut surface after paper cutting is also set according to the operation of the operator. FIG. 20 shows a dialog image for designating the cut surface. The operator can select a cut surface (cut) by selecting the detailed setting 1902. By specifying the cut surface for multiple printing, it is possible to specify which side the cutting line is to be used for. In FIG. 20, when the “Align cutting line to document” check box is checked, it is possible to select which side of the document is the cut edge. The selected value is stored as “Cut Selection” in the multiple layout setting information. In addition, as an icon 2002 in FIG. 20, an image showing an outline of the layout is displayed in conjunction with the items for which the multiple layout is set in “multiple method selection” and “section selection”. An example is shown in FIG. The upper and lower columns in FIG. 21 are divided into cases where the paper direction is vertical and horizontal, respectively. When the paper direction is vertical, a double layout is set. If the cut edge is not specified, the icon 2101 is displayed. If the cut edge is up or down, the icons 2102 and 2103 are displayed. If there are four stations, an icon 2104 is displayed. When the paper direction is horizontal, a double layout is set. If the cut edge is not specified, the icon 2101 is displayed. If the cut edge is up or down, the icons 2102 and 2103 are displayed. If there are four stations, an icon 2104 is displayed.

  In step S2506, one side or both sides of the output paper is set according to the operation of the operator. When double-sided is set, the front and back sides specified when the double-sided setting is applied to the cut-out product after multi-printing when multi-layout is not set ("No multi-layout") To be identical. Further, in step S2504 to step S2506, the setting order may be the same.

  In step S2507, the output paper size is determined based on the multiple print setting. For example, if the document page is A4 and the double layout is set, two pages of A4 document pages are arranged on one print page, so the paper size is A3. Similarly, if there are 4 stations, A2. However, since the output paper size is limited by the ability of the output device to print, multiple layouts (two, four, etc.) are automatically limited based on the paper size of the original document page. For example, if the original document page is A4 and the maximum print size is A3, the quadruple layout cannot be set. This is limited by the user interface.

  When the multiple layout is set, the process advances to step S2508 to generate intermediate data for monitor display, that is, output document data, and display preview of the document data of interest. As the preview function, a preview function for each original page and a function for previewing an output image of multiple printing are provided. An example of this preview display switching is shown in FIG. As a preview mode, a “paper-based preview” mode can be selected from the menu column 1801 in addition to “original preview”, “finished preview”, and “simple print preview”. By selecting either one, the display can be switched according to the mode. In the paper-based preview, the paper to be printed and the layout of the manuscript page placed thereon are displayed as a preview image.

Further, FIG. 17 shows a display example of preview for multiple printing in the paper base preview mode. In the multiple printing, a preview is displayed in a format in which a plurality of basic pages (original pages if N-in-1 layout is not printed) are printed on the same sheet. Therefore, for the purpose of clarifying the editing target and distinguishing it from N-page (N-in-1 layout) printing, one basic page to be edited and other basic pages to be copied that are not to be edited. It is displayed so as to be distinguishable by shading. In the example of the double layout in FIG. 17, in order to indicate that there is one original page to be edited and the rest are not to be edited, the right side original page is displayed in a normal display, and the others are displayed in a light color tone. Let However, there is no specific specification for how to make it identifiable. The target line of the drag-and-drop operation is not displayed inside the print page displayed in the N-in-1 layout, but is limited to be displayed only between the print pages as in the case of 1-in-1. The target line is a bar (boundary line) that is displayed in order to clearly distinguish a dropped area when handling a page by a drag and drop operation. When multiple printing is set, the cutting position is displayed so that it can be understood that cutting after printing is intended. As a display example of the cutting position, it is desirable to indicate not only a mere dotted line but also an image reflecting “scissors” to indicate that the line is to be cut.

  FIG. 14 shows a difference in layout when the multiple layout setting is made (setting on) and when it is not (setting off). The left side 1401 of FIG. 14 is an example of the layout in a state where the multiple setting is off. A rectangle having a width of w and a height of h (corresponding to the contents of the basic page) is drawn at the position (x, y) from the upper left of the sheet. The right side 1402 of FIG. 14 is a layout example when multiple layout setting (four stations) is performed. If the width and height of the paper are W and H, respectively, (0, 0), (W / 2, 0), (0, H / 2), (W / 2, H / 2) from the upper left of the paper Draw a rectangle with (w, h) (w, h) at each (x, y) position as a reference. In other words, from the upper left of the paper, the width is at the position (x, y), (x + W / 2, y), (x, y + H / 2), (x + W / 2, y + H / 2) A figure of height (w, h) is drawn. In this way, the same basic page is duplicated and arranged.

  FIG. 15 shows an example of the reference sheet size of the multiple layout. That is, in step S2507 in FIG. 25, the paper size is determined according to the table in FIG. Therefore, the table in FIG. 15 may be stored in the hard disk or the like as the data by the bookbinding application 104. In FIG. 15, the maximum sheet size is determined as A3. If the original size (ie, the original manuscript page) 1501 is determined, the double or double horizontal layout becomes the new paper size, and the “quadruple” layout. Then, a size that is twice that in both the vertical and horizontal directions becomes a new paper size.

  In the double layout, it is possible not only to print with the top aligned but also to change the direction of either one of the data. An example of the layout in this case is shown in FIG. The paper direction is horizontal, and the width and height of the paper are W and H, respectively. For example, if the left side is reversed, a rectangle with (w, h) of (w, h) is drawn at the position (x, y) with (W / 2, 0) as the reference from the upper left of the paper. Also, draw a rectangle with (w, h) (width, height) rotated 180 degrees at the position (-x, -y) with (W / 2, H) as the reference from the upper left of the paper . For example, when the right side is inverted, a rectangle with (w, h) of (w, h) is drawn at the position (x, y) from (0, 0) as the reference from the upper left of the paper. In addition, a rectangle with (w, h) (w, h) rotated by 180 degrees is drawn at the position (-x, -y) with respect to (W, H) from the upper left of the sheet. Inverting the left side here corresponds to “Left” or “Up” of the “Cut Selection” setting in the multiple layout setting, and “Right Selection” in the Multiple Layout setting is when the right side is inverted. Corresponds to “right” or “down” of the set value. Of course, this is just an arrangement and may be reversed. As described above, the left (or upper) or right (or lower) basic page is rotated 180 degrees and arranged on the print page according to the designation of the cut edge.

  Next, the flowchart of FIG. 25 will be described in a little more detail. FIG. 26 shows details of step S2504 of FIG. In step S2504, before allowing the operator to specify a multiple layout, first, the ratio of the maximum paper size that can be supplied by the printer to be used to the size (basic page) that is the basis of the multiple layout is calculated (S2601). Then, it is determined whether or not the ratio is 4 times or more, and if it is 4 times or more, either 2 or 4 stations are displayed as options (S2603), and if it is less than 4 times, 2 stations are displayed as options. (S2604). The multiple layout method selected by the operator from the options is stored as a part of the multiple layout setting information of the book attribute (S2605).

  Details of step S2505 are as shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether the other layout method selected in step S2504 is a dual layout (S2701). If it is double, move to the selection of the cut end. In the present embodiment, the cut edge is set only in the case of a double layout, but can also be set in a quadruple layout. In step S2702, the paper direction is determined. The paper direction can be set in all three layers, book, chapter, and page, but in this embodiment, the paper direction of the book attribute is referred to. This is because in this example, the multiple layout is set for each book, and in principle, the size is common to all pages. This is because the original purpose of the multiple layout is to create two or four copies by cutting the printed materials together.

  When the paper direction is vertical, either “up”, “down”, or “undesignated” is set as the cut edge selection according to the operation of the operator (S2703), and is recorded as a part of the multiple layout information (S2705). When the paper direction is horizontal, one of right, left, and no designation is set as the cut according to the operator's operation (S2704), and is recorded as part of the multiple layout information (S2705).

  FIG. 28 shows details of the preview display process in step S2509 of FIG. However, FIG. 28 shows only in the “paper base” mode. This is because, when the mode is not the paper base mode, the setting of the multiple layout is not reflected in the displayed preview image, and the multiple display layout cannot be recognized from the preview display.

  In step S2801, it is determined whether the preview mode is “paper base”. If it is not paper-based, preview display is performed according to the other set preview mode. For example, in the manuscript page mode, the layout on the sheet is not shown and the contents are displayed for each manuscript page.

  On the other hand, in the “paper-based” preview mode, first, the document page of interest is read from the edited document data (S2802). The document page of interest is not limited to a single page, and all document pages constituting a basic page including the page of interest (referred to as a “basic page of interest”) are read. For example, in the case of N-in-1 layout, N pages of original pages are read out as target original pages. Next, intermediate data in which the read original page is laid out on the print page according to the multiple layout setting information and N-up (synonymous with N-in 1) setting information is created (S2803). At this time, first, for example, the N-in-1 layout attribute of the book attribute is referred to, and if it is set, intermediate data constituting the target basic page is first generated. Then, intermediate data of a print page in which the target basic page is arranged on one print page is generated according to the multiple method specified by the multiple layout setting information and the cut end selection. The intermediate data is in a format that is input to the electronic document despooler 105 in FIG. 1, and can be converted into a PDL format for a printer if input to the printer driver. In addition, a preview display program module (not shown) included in the bookbinding application 104 can convert the print format into preview image data. Of course, different intermediate data may be generated for display and for printing. The intermediate data is, for example, data describing the definition of the object that is a part constituting the image, the position and size of the object constituting the image, the overlapping order, and the like. For example, if the document page is image data, the generated intermediate data is data describing the position and overlapping order of the document page as an object. Further, for example, when the document page of interest is page data having a plurality of objects, the data obtained by converting the position and size of the object included as the page data of the document page into the position and size of the object on the print page It becomes.

  In step S2804, a reduced image for preview display is generated from the created intermediate data. This is a process of converting an object described in the intermediate data into bitmap image data of a size arranged at the described position and displayed as a preview.

  At this time, a cut line is added to the reduced image, and the basic page to be edited arranged on one print page and the other basic pages are processed so as to be distinguishable on display (S2805). In FIG. 28, a cutting line is added to the created preview image. Of course, a cutting line is added when creating intermediate data for preview display in step S2803, and the basic page to be edited and the non-editing target page are displayed. The basic page may be processed so that it can be identified on the display. In this case, the reduced image generated in step S2804 includes a cutting line. In addition, the fact that it can be identified on the display can be distinguished by, for example, lowering the saturation or luminance of the non-editing target page or adding a frame to the basic page to be edited. Also, the basic page to be edited and other basic pages are distinguished for convenience in order to simplify the editing operation. Depending on the setting value of the cut edge selection, there is a basic page (original page) with the top and bottom reversed on the print page displayed in the preview, so that the basic page with the top and bottom reversed cannot be edited as a duplicate. It is desirable to display as follows.

  In step S2806, the preview image of the print page including the generated basic page of interest is stored in a preview buffer secured in the RAM or the like. In step S2807, it is determined whether the generation of the preview image has been completed for the entire document. If not completed, the next basic page of interest is read in step S2809 and the process branches to step S2803. On the other hand, if completed, the created preview image is displayed in the preview window of the user interface of the bookbinding application 104. Of course, since the window size is limited, when the document is large, a part of the created preview image is scroll-displayed according to the operation. This scroll display or the like can be realized as a part of functions provided by the operating system.

  In this way, according to the preview image in the “paper-based” mode displayed in step S2808, the printed document can be presented to the operator as if it were spread on the screen.

  Next, the multiple layout process in step S2803 of FIG. 28 will be described with reference to FIG. Since the process of FIG. 29 is a process for generating intermediate data, actually, as described in the figure, “arrangement” does not perform the process of expanding the two-dimensional image data into the memory. The coordinate conversion of the vector data indicating the object is the entity of the “placement” process.

  In FIG. 29, it is first determined whether the multiple layout method is duplex (S2901). This determination is made with reference to the multiple layout setting information of the book attribute. If there are two, the current paper direction setting (book attribute paper direction) is determined (S2902). If the paper direction is vertical, the cut edge selection (cutting direction) setting is tested (S2903). If it is “upper”, a duplicate page obtained by duplicating the basic page is arranged by rotating 180 degrees above the original basic page so that the upper sides of the two pages are opposed to each other. This arrangement corresponds to the case where the layout 1602 of FIG. 16 is observed with its right side down (S2906). If it is “below”, a duplicate page obtained by duplicating the basic page is rotated 180 degrees and arranged below the original basic page so that the lower sides of the two pages are opposed to each other. This arrangement corresponds to the case where the layout 1603 in FIG. 16 is observed with its right side down (S2907). If there is no setting for the cut edge, a duplicate page obtained by duplicating the basic page is placed as it is at the top of the basic page that is the original (S2908).

  If the paper direction is horizontal, then the cut edge selection (cutting direction) setting is tested (S2904). If it is “right”, a duplicate page that duplicates the basic page is rotated 180 degrees and arranged on the left side of the original basic page so that the right sides of the two pages oppose each other. This arrangement corresponds to the layout 1603 in FIG. 16 (S2909). If it is “left”, a duplicate page obtained by duplicating the basic page is rotated 180 degrees on the left side of the original basic page so that the left sides of the two pages oppose each other. This arrangement corresponds to the layout 1602 in FIG. 16 (S2910). If there is no cut selection setting, a duplicate page obtained by duplicating the basic page is placed as it is on the right or left side of the original basic page (S2911).

  On the other hand, in the case of a quadruple layout, the paper direction is determined (S2905), and four basic pages are arranged in a square shape according to the paper direction (S22912, S2913).

  Finally, data of the print page in which the basic page is arranged according to the multiple layout setting information, and address information indicating the position of the editable basic page arranged in each print page are stored. This address information is used to display an editable basic page so that it can be distinguished from other basic pages. In step S2914, information about the cutting line and basic page identification display may be included in the generated intermediate data.

  Now, a document with multiple layout settings as described above is displayed as a preview. On the preview display screen of this multiple layout, editing operations are limited. The simple procedure is shown in FIG. FIG. 31 shows processing when any page is selected on the user interface screen as shown in FIG. 17 and some editing operation is performed by the operator. First, in step S3101, it is determined whether the selected document page is a basic page to be edited in a multiple layout. If a basic page that is not to be edited is selected, the operation is ignored. If it is a basic page to be edited, the book file of interest is changed and saved according to the operation (S3102). Thereafter, the edited content is displayed as a preview (S3103). This procedure is the process of FIG.

  As a result, only one of the basic pages arranged on one sheet is subject to editing operations on a user interface in which a document with a multiple layout setting is reviewed and displayed in the paper-based mode. It is possible to prevent the operator from being confused. The basic page referred to here includes a plurality of document pages obtained by reducing and laying out N document pages in the N-in-1 layout. Also, by specifying the cut edge selection, it is possible to align the cut edge direction of any document that is printed out, cut, and finally collected, and improve the quality of the document. Further, in the preview mode, if the document page mode is selected, the contents of the document can be displayed in advance before printing, and if the paper-based preview mode is selected, the actually printed format can be displayed.

  FIG. 32 shows a processing procedure when printing a document with a multiple layout set. First, the value is tested by referring to the multiple layout setting information from the book attribute (S3201), and if the multiple layout is set, the attention page is read (S3202). However, if the N-in-1 layout is set, all the N pages gathered together with the page of interest are read. Next, a multiple layout is performed in the same manner as in FIG. 729 (S3203). The created intermediate data is output to the graphic engine provided by the operating system via the electronic document despooler. In the operating system, the data is converted into PDL or the like in a format suitable for the printer to be used by a predetermined printer driver, output to the printer, and printed (S3204). This is repeated for the entire document (S3205, S3206). As described above, it is possible to print out in a multiple layout. When printing a document with multiple layouts, a cutting specification sheet can be added to the head of the document. The cutting specification paper is a paper on which only the cutting line is drawn. If the specified other continuous layout is double, if the line that divides the side in the longitudinal direction into four is four, the sheet is shaped into a tab. The line divided into four equals the cutting designation line. By printing the paper on which this cutting specification line is drawn, a plurality of documents can be easily created by stacking printed materials and cutting a bundle of paper along the cutting specification line. It should be noted that the presence / absence of printing of the cutting specification sheet can be included in the book attribute as a position setting value included in the multiple layout information. In that case, the cutting designated paper is printed with reference to the setting.

<Coexistence with N-in-1 layout>
Next, FIG. 26 shows a flowchart for performing mixed setting for multiple printing and N-page printing. FIG. 25 can also be applied to a case where a multiple layout is set for a document having an N-in-1 layout. In other words, the N document pages that are grouped together by the designation of the N-in-1 layout are combined into a multiple layout as if they were one document page, thereby allowing both layouts to coexist. FIG. 30 shows a processing procedure when N-in-1 layout is set for a document with multiple layout settings.

  In step S3001, multiple print settings (for example, two upper and lower stations) are set, a user interface as shown in FIG. 23 is opened, and the page layout is designated by the operator from the page layout field 2301 in FIG. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a dialog when the setting of N page display printing (2 page left → right printing) is performed on a sheet in the page layout. In that case, the bookbinding application 104 operates as follows.

  In step S3002, it is determined whether a multiple layout setting has been made. The multiple layout setting means that either “2 stations” or “4 stations” (in this embodiment) is set in the multiple layout information. If the multiple layout is set, the process advances to step S3003. In step S3003, it is determined whether N pages (same as N in 1) are selected. If N-page printing is set, the process advances to step S3004 to turn off the multiple layout setting. However, the setting value of the multiple layout immediately before turning off is saved in a predetermined memory. In this state, in step S3005, basic page intermediate data in which each original page is laid out in N-in-1 is generated. As described above, the intermediate data is data that defines the arrangement of each original page or the object that is its content. In step S3006, the value saved in step S3004 is restored to the multiple layout setting. In step S3007, multiple paper sizes are automatically set, and in step S3008, basic pages that have been N-in-1 layout are laid out according to the multiple layout setting information at each reference point of the paper. As a result, intermediate data for display is finally generated and previewed on the monitor.

  FIG. 24 shows a layout image when N-page multiple print setting is performed. For example, when 2-in-1 is set, a basic page 2401 in which document pages 2401a and 2401b are arranged in 2-in-1 is a unit of a multiple layout. In the case of the double layout, 2402 in which two basic pages are arranged is preview-displayed or printed out. The relationship with the page layout function is based on the assumption that “printed material not subjected to multiple printing and the printed material after multiple cutting are the same”.

  FIG. 22 is an image diagram of the cutting designated paper and the multiple print output. By outputting the cutting ruled line specification sheet 2201, it is possible to output a cutting specification sheet with a ruled line at the head as a slip sheet during multiple print output.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when creating a multiple printed matter that outputs a plurality of copies of printing results on a single sheet, both the manuscript page and the print layout are used as previews. Can be confirmed.

  Furthermore, it is possible to realize a preview display of a print result with high visibility even for a document for which a multiple print layout is set.

  Further, when creating a printed material with multiple layouts, it is possible to easily create a printed material for laying out a document simply by preparing a document for the page.

  In editing a document with multiple layouts, single-sided and double-sided print control, or N-page print layout imposition control and edit control in the preview display mode can be easily executed.

  Further, the present invention can be applied to a system (copier, printer, facsimile machine, etc.) consisting of a single device even if it is applied to a system consisting of a plurality of devices (eg, host computer, interface device, reader, printer). You may apply.

  Another object of the present invention is to read a program code stored in a storage medium by a computer (or CPU or MPU) of a system or apparatus, which stores a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments. It is also achieved by executing. 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.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible 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.

  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. A case where part or all of actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board is based on the instruction of the program code. Also included is a case where the CPU or the like provided in 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.

Claims (15)

A document processing apparatus capable of editing an output format of document data composed of manuscript pages,
A setting unit for accepting the setting of the array type layout to obtain a printed matter of a plurality portions by cutting a plurality of sheets arranged the same document page,
If the setting of the multiple-layout is received by the setting unit, in accordance with the setting of the accepted multiple-layout, a print page when the array type layout is not set as the base page, a plurality A display image for displaying on the display screen a preview image indicating that the basic page is arranged on a sheet surface, and information indicating that the basic page is cut between the plurality of basic pages in the preview image ;
Editing means for accepting a user editing operation on the display screen displayed by the display control means,
Wherein the display control unit, when the processing corresponding to the editing operation on one base page of the plurality of base page is performed, among the plurality of basic pages, processing by the editing operation is performed A document processing apparatus characterized in that the processing according to the editing operation is reflected on a basic page that does not exist. The display control means displays a preview image based on a mode selected from a print display mode for displaying the document data on a display screen in a print format and a document display mode for displaying the document data in units of document pages. the document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the. The setting means accepts a setting of N page layout to arrange a plurality of different pages on the face of one sheet, said generating means, when receiving a set of the N page layout, a plurality of different document pages the document processing apparatus according to disposed one print page are to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said base page. The display control means displays one basic page among the plurality of basic pages displayed as the preview image in an editable manner and displays other basic pages in an uneditable manner. 4. The document processing apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 3. The document processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display control unit displays the editable basic page and the non-editable basic page in an identifiable manner. A document processing method capable of editing an output format of document data composed of manuscript pages,
A setting step for accepting the setting of array type layout to obtain a printed matter of a plurality portions by cutting a plurality of sheets arranged the same document page,
If the setting of the multiple-layout is received by the setting unit, in accordance with the setting of the accepted multiple-layout, a print page when the array type layout is not set as the base page, a plurality A display image for displaying on the display screen a preview image indicating that the basic page is arranged on a sheet surface, and information indicating that the basic page is cut between the plurality of basic pages in the preview image ;
An editing step for accepting a user editing operation on the display screen displayed by the display control step,
In the display control step, when the processing corresponding to the editing operation on one base page of the plurality of base page is performed, among the plurality of basic pages, processing by the editing operation is performed A document processing method , wherein the processing according to the editing operation is reflected on a basic page that does not exist. In the display control step, a preview image based on a mode selected from a print display mode for displaying the document data on a display screen in a print format and a document display mode for displaying the document data in units of document pages is displayed. The document processing method according to claim 6.   In the setting step, setting of an N page layout for arranging a plurality of different pages on the surface of one sheet is received. In the generating step, when the setting of the N page layout is received, a plurality of different original pages are received. 8. The document processing method according to claim 6, wherein the one printed page is used as the basic page. The display control step displays one basic page among the plurality of basic pages displayed as the preview image in an editable manner and displays the other basic pages in an uneditable manner. 9. The document processing method according to any one of items 1 to 8. 10. The document processing method according to claim 9, wherein in the display control step, the editable basic page and the non-editable basic page are displayed so as to be distinguishable. A program for causing a computer to function as a document processing apparatus capable of editing an output format of document data composed of manuscript pages,
A setting means for receiving a setting of a multiple layout for obtaining a plurality of copies by cutting a sheet on which a plurality of original document pages are arranged;
When the setting of the multiple layout is received by the setting unit, a plurality of print pages when the multiple layout is not set are set as a basic page according to the received setting of the multiple layout. Display control means for displaying on a display screen a preview image indicating that the basic page is arranged on the surface of the paper, and information indicating that the basic page is cut between the plurality of basic pages;
Causing the computer to function as editing means for accepting user editing operations on the display screen displayed by the display control means;
The display control means performs processing by the editing operation among the plurality of basic pages when processing according to the editing operation is performed on one basic page of the plurality of basic pages. The program according to claim 1, wherein the modification according to the editing operation is reflected on a basic page that has not been present. The display control means displays a preview image based on a mode selected from a print display mode for displaying the document data on a display screen in a print format and a document display mode for displaying the document data in units of document pages. The program according to claim 11. The setting unit accepts an N page layout setting for arranging a plurality of different pages on a sheet of paper, and the generating unit accepts a plurality of different original pages when the N page layout setting is accepted. 13. The program according to claim 11 or 12, wherein one arranged print page is set as the basic page. 12. The display control means displays one basic page among the plurality of basic pages displayed as the preview image in an editable manner and displays the other basic pages in an uneditable manner. 14. The program according to any one of 1 to 13. 15. The program according to claim 14, wherein the display control means displays the editable basic page and the non-editable basic page so as to be distinguishable.

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