JP5137510B2 - Information processing apparatus, program, and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that controls printing of document data, a printing apparatus control method, a program, and a recording medium.

  When printing of document data is requested by a printing application, the document data is not only output as print data in a PDL format that can be interpreted by the printer, but also in an intermediate file in a data format that can be handled by a predetermined application. Techniques for conversion have been proposed. With such a technique, this application can form a GUI (Graphical User Interface) and provide a UI (User Interface) for displaying a print preview or setting print settings for an intermediate file.

  Therefore, if such an application is used, a plurality of intermediate data can be stored and a print preview and print settings can be made. Therefore, the user performs a new print setting for a plurality of intermediate files (print jobs) and prints. A plurality of print jobs can be handled simultaneously (for example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing apparatus that converts an accumulated intermediate file into an intermediate file different from print data generated by a printing application, enables previewing, and combines a plurality of intermediate files into one intermediate file. Have been described.

Patent Document 2 describes a print control apparatus that displays a print preview or print settings in common or individually on a plurality of accumulated intermediate files.
JP 2002-63000 A JP 2006-260245 A

  However, since the information processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 combines a plurality of intermediate files into one intermediate file, it can only perform the same print settings for all the intermediate files. Further, if the print control apparatus described in Patent Document 2 handles a plurality of intermediate files individually, individual print settings can be made for each document, but the output order of each print job is also independent. There's a problem.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a print control apparatus, a print control method, a program, and a storage medium that can perform print settings for each of a plurality of print jobs and that can sort the output order by a plurality of print jobs. It is characterized by that.

In view of the above problems, the present invention outputs the output data based on output data to be output and output setting information that is a setting for outputting the output data and includes at least the setting of the number of outputs. An information processing apparatus for controlling, comprising: output order control means for controlling an output order when outputting a plurality of the output data based on each of the output setting information, wherein the output order control means has an output number continuous when one said output data one output job of the plurality of said output data when outputting only the output number of which are set respectively, said output job of the output number of every output data or the first output order for to output, continue to output a plurality of said output data to one by each of the output job unit, each output number of the output of the plurality of the output data Controls whether the second output order for outputting the job, if the number of outputs of the plurality of the output data are not identical, the output number of which is based on a plurality of said output data each of said output setting information The output data of the output job is output.

  According to the present invention, for example, when printing materials to be distributed in a presentation or the like, a plurality of documents are automatically sorted, so that convenience for the user can be improved. Further, for example, whether or not to sort between documents can be selected depending on the use of the document data, so that the convenience for the user can be improved.

  It is possible to provide a printing apparatus, a print control method, a program, and a storage medium that can perform print settings for each of a plurality of print jobs and that can sort the output order by the plurality of print jobs.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows an example of an overall configuration diagram of the printing system 100. The printing system 100 is configured to include a host computer 110 and printers 120A, 120B, and 120C (hereinafter, the printers 120A to 120C are simply referred to as the printer 120).

  The printer 120 only needs to have an image forming function such as a laser printer, a gel jet printer, or an ink jet printer, and may be a scanner device, a facsimile machine, an MFP (Multi Function Printer), or the like having the image forming function. The printer 120 executes a print job in response to a print request from the host computer 110.

  In the figure, the printers 120B and 120C are connected to the host computer 110 via a network 130 (whether wired or wireless, for example) such as a LAN (Local Area Network), for example. USB cable, IEEE 1394 cable or RS-232C cable, or wireless connection such as Bluetooth.

  The host computer 110 is a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer) that executes an application 11 operated by a user and controls a print job of document data by the user's operation. The host computer 110 may be a computer, and may be a PDA (Personal Digital (Data) Assistants), a mobile phone, or the like. The host computer 110 executes various kinds of software on an OS (Operating System) such as Windows (registered trademark).

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the host computer 110. The host computer 110 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) 101, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 102, an input device 103, a NIC (Network Interface Card) 104, a drive device 105, and a display control unit that are connected to each other via a bus B. 106, a storage device 107, and a CPU 108.

  The RAM 101 serves as a working memory for executing the OS and programs, and the ROM 102 stores programs and setting files for starting the OS such as BIOS. The input device 103 is a device for inputting various operations from the user, such as a keyboard and a mouse. The NIC 104 is an interface for connecting to a network such as the Internet or a LAN, and executes protocol processing such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol). The drive device 105 is configured such that a storage medium 90 such as a CD-RW or a memory card is detachable. The drive apparatus 105 is used when a program or data is written to the storage medium 90, and the program recorded on the storage medium 90 Data is read and sent to the storage device 107.

  The display control unit 106 forms a GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen with a predetermined resolution, the number of colors, and the like based on screen information instructed by the application 11 and displays various windows and data necessary for operation on the display 109. .

  The storage device 107 is a non-volatile memory such as an HDD (hard disk drive) or a flash memory, and stores an OS, an application 11, and a program. The CPU 108 provides various functions by loading and executing the OS and the program 91 from the storage device 107 and comprehensively controls processing performed by the host computer 110.

  A program 91 that realizes processing in the host computer 110 is stored and distributed in the recording medium 90 or distributed from a predetermined server via the network 130. When the recording medium 90 on which the program 91 is recorded is set in the drive device 105, the program 91 is installed in the storage device 107 from the recording medium 90 via the drive device 105. When the program is transmitted from the server, it is installed in the storage device 107 via the NIC 104.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example regarding the print control function of the host computer 110. The host computer 110 includes an application 11, a graphic engine 12, a printer driver 13, a spooler 14, and a print job management module 15 as functions related to operations on document data and control of print jobs, and print intermediate data of print data. A print intermediate file 16 is stored.

  The application 11 is general application software such as word processing software or spreadsheet software used for generating information to be printed by the printer 120 such as document data. The graphic engine 12 is a module that absorbs differences due to the types of devices such as the printer 120 and the display 109 and provides the application 11 with a function interface for drawing.

  In response to the function call from the application 11, the graphic engine 12 converts the document data into data in an application-independent format (for example, data in the EMF format, hereinafter referred to as drawing data), and generates the generated drawing data. This module outputs to the printer driver 13 and is provided by the OS. In the Windows (registered trademark) environment, the graphic engine 12 corresponds to, for example, GDI (Graphics Device Interface).

  The printer driver 13 converts the drawing data output from the graphic engine 12 into print data in a format (for example, PDL (Page Description Language)) that can be interpreted or processed by the printer (printer 120) to which the printer driver 13 corresponds. Convert.

  The printer driver 13 according to the present embodiment generates a print intermediate file 16 called print intermediate data at a previous stage in which the drawing data is converted into print data in the process of converting the drawing data into print data.

  Further, the print job management module 15 to be described later adds a print setting command to the plurality of accumulated print intermediate files 16 and sends it to the printer driver 13 again. Thus, it is possible to output from the printer 120 under the set printing conditions.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of the data format of the print intermediate file 16. In FIG. 4, one print intermediate file 16 mainly includes header information 161, print setting information 162, and drawing information 163. The header information is various information such as a file name (identification information) and a generation date of the file, as in a file in various data formats. The print setting information 162 is a print setting command described in, for example, PJL (Printer Job Language). The drawing information 163 is information for causing the printer to draw document data. When the original document data consists of a plurality of pages, drawing information for a plurality of pages is included.

  The print intermediate file 16 is not limited to the format shown in FIG. 4, and any format may be used as long as it can identify the print setting information 162 and the drawing information of the document data to be printed. . For example, the print intermediate file 16 may be generated for each page of document data including a plurality of pages.

  In general, a file means data stored in a file system provided by the OS, but is stored in a memory (RAM 101) in this embodiment in order to avoid complicated explanation. Regardless of whether the file is stored in the file system (storage device 107), it is assumed to be expressed as the intermediate print file 16 in a unified manner.

  In the present embodiment, a print job refers to a processing unit for causing the printer 120 to execute print processing as one piece of document data. Therefore, basically, the print instruction from the user and the print job correspond one-to-one. The print job and the print intermediate file 16 correspond one-to-one when one print intermediate file 16 is generated based on one document data, and the print intermediate file 16 is generated for each page. Corresponds to one-to-one (in the case of one page) or one-to-many.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the spooler 14 accumulates print data described in PDL or the like, and transmits the print data to the printer 120 while monitoring the operation status of the printer 120. As a result, the printer 120 prints the print data. This spooler 14 is also provided by the OS.

  The print job management module 15 will be described. The print job management module 15 reads a print intermediate file 16 generated by the printer driver 13 and displays a print image of each print job and various print settings (hereinafter referred to as a “print job management screen”). And a print setting module 151, a job list management unit 152, a UI (User Interface) unit 153, a print intermediate file management module 154, and an image data generation module 155.

  The UI unit 153 has a function of performing input control from the user to the print job management screen 150 as well as display control of the print job management screen 150.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example in which the print job management screen is displayed on the display 109. The print job management screen 150 includes a preview display area 1501, a basic setting area 1502, a job list display area 1503, and the like. The print setting information 162 and the drawing information included in the print intermediate file 16 in each of these areas. 163 and the like are displayed, and the user is made to perform print settings for the print job.

  The preview display area 1501 is image data (hereinafter simply referred to as “image data”) indicating a print image of an arbitrary page of a print job (hereinafter referred to as a current job) that is currently operated on the print job management screen 150. ) Is displayed. In the page display area 1501a of the preview display area 1501, the total page number of the current job and the currently displayed page number are displayed in the format of “<current page number> / <total page number>”. In the example of FIG. 5, “1/6” is displayed, and it can be seen that the first page of 6 pages is displayed. Further, page turning can be performed by a page turning button 1501b. The image data can be enlarged / reduced by an enlargement / reduction button 1501c.

  In addition, the rotation button 1501d sets the paper rotation of the selected job. The image data can be printed by being rotated by a specified angle (for example, 90, 180, 270 degrees), and the display of the preview display area 1501 can also be rotated by a specified angle. For example, every time the notification of the rotation button 1501d is received by the rotation button 1501d, the rotation angle is set to a value obtained by adding 90 degrees to the original value. When the rotation angle is 360 degrees, it returns to 0 degrees.

  The basic setting area 1502 is an area for setting basic information of the print setting information 162. In the example of FIG. 5, the document size 1502a, document orientation 1502b, printing paper size 1502c, number of copies 1502d, color or monochrome printing 1502e, discharge destination 1502f, and the like can be set.

  The job list display area 1503 is an area for performing various settings on the print setting tab 1503a, job edit tab 1503b, and basic setting tab 1503c. In the print setting tab 1503a, settings relating mainly to post-processing such as duplex / binding, aggregation, sorting, punching, and stapling can be performed.

  FIG. 5 shows a state in which the job edit tab 1503b is displayed. A job list display area 1503 is an area in which print job list information is displayed. The print job selected (inverted) with the mouse or the like in the job list display area 1503 is the current job. In the job list display area 1503, it is possible to change the order (processing order) of print jobs, delete print jobs, combine print jobs, and the like.

  The job sort button 1503d is a UI for selecting whether or not to sort a plurality of jobs displayed in the job list display area 1503 for each job. For example, when job 1 and job 2 are displayed in the job list, and job 1 and job 2 are set to print a plurality of copies, job 1 → job 2 → job 1 → job 2 → job 1 → job 2. The printing is executed in the order. When the number of output copies of Job1 and Job2 is different, only the other print job (for example, Job2) is printed after the end of one print job (for example, Job1).

  When the job sort button 1503d is not checked, Job1 is printed continuously for the number of output copies, and then Job2 is printed for the number of output copies.

  The setting of the job sort button 1503d is stored in the print setting module 151. The print setting module 151 uses this value at the time of printing execution to change the control of the printing order and the like, and when displaying a preview image (paper graphic or image data), the image data generation module 155 determines the output order of the print job. Express visually. The preview image will be described in detail later.

  The common setting designation button 1503e is a check button for selecting whether or not to perform common print settings (common settings) for all print jobs displayed in the job list display area 1503. That is, when the common setting designation button 1503e is checked, it is possible to perform print settings for all print jobs at once.

  The job integration designation button 1503f is a check button for selecting whether or not to handle all print jobs displayed in the job list display area 1503 as one print job. That is, when the job integration designation button 1503f is checked, all print jobs are printed as one print job.

  In the following, the state in which the job sort button 1503d is checked is referred to as “sort mode”, the state in which the common setting designation button 1503e is checked is referred to as “common setting mode”, and the job integration designation button 1503f is checked. The state is called “job integration mode”. The state in which none of the buttons is checked is called “normal mode”. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the concept indicating the sort mode, common setting mode, job integration mode, or normal mode is referred to as a print mode.

  Each print setting item, options that can be selected after the user selects a certain setting, and the like can be realized by data exchange between the print setting module 151 described later and the printer driver 13. For example, the print setting module 151 acquires the print setting information 162 from the printer driver 13 and sets a print setting command in the printer driver 13.

  When the print button 1504 is finally selected, a print command is transmitted to the printer driver 13 for each print job, and printing is executed by the printer 120.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the print intermediate file management module 154 has a function of acquiring and managing the print intermediate file 16. The print setting module 151 has a function of taking out and managing the print setting information 162 from the print intermediate file 16.

The job list management unit 152 is a function for managing print job list information (hereinafter referred to as “job list”) on a memory. Based on the job list, a job list display area 1503 is displayed.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a job list. The job list 1521 includes “No.”, “job name”, “number of pages”, “original information”, “print intermediate file”, “print setting”, and “image data list for each page” for each print job. ”, Information for managing information on the item.

  No. Is the order of the print jobs. The job name is the name of the print job, and usually the file name of the document data that is the target of the print job is adopted. The number of pages is the number of pages of document data. The document information is information such as the document size and direction of the document data. The print intermediate file is information associated with the print intermediate file 16 (for example, a file name). The print setting is information relating to the print settings 1 and 2 in FIG. 7 (for example, a file name or a pointer). The image data list for each page is information associated with image data (for example, a file name or a pointer).

  The print settings for the two jobs Job1 and Job2 in FIG. FIG. 7A shows an example of the print setting 1, and FIG. 7B shows an example of the print setting 2. The print setting in FIG. 7 includes double-sided printing indicating whether double-sided printing is performed, aggregation indicating whether centralized printing is performed, stapling indicating whether each part is bound in a booklet, punch indicating whether punching is performed, There are items of the number of copies indicating the number of output copies, the paper discharge destination, and the paper rotation indicating whether or not to rotate the paper.

  Since the print settings 1 and 2 are obtained by selecting Job 1 and Job 2 in the job list display area 1503 and setting the print settings for each, the print settings 1 and 2 are different in setting contents.

  The image data generation module 155 has a function of generating image data based on the drawing information 163 of the print intermediate file 16. A preview display is performed using the image data generated by the image data generation module 155. In the present embodiment, the image data generation module 155 generates image data for each page and stores it as a file (image file). An image file may be generated for each document data.

<Paper image when job is sorted>
Several examples of preview images will be described. In this embodiment, a paper image and image data are used as the preview image.

  First, a paper image when job sorting is described. FIG. 8A shows an example of image data displayed when the job sort button 1503d is checked, and FIG. 8B shows an example of image data displayed when the job sort button 1503d is not checked. , Respectively.

  In FIG. 8, it is assumed that document 1 has three pages and document 2 has one page, and the number of output copies of document 1 and the number of output copies of document 2 are three.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, when job sorting is not performed, the rectangle 1601 corresponding to each job is displayed in the preview display area 1501 in order for the number of copies. In FIG. 8B, the copies are arranged with an arrow symbol in between.

  On the other hand, when job sorting is performed, as shown in FIG. 8A, a rectangle 1601 of all jobs (here, Job1 and Job2) is displayed as a group, and a rectangle 1601 is sequentially displayed for every job. Is done. The group is preferably a state in which a part of the rectangle 160 of all jobs is overlapped as shown in FIG. 8A, but it is only necessary to know the division of all jobs. For example, all jobs may be arranged close to each other. Good.

  The generation of the rectangle 1601 in FIG. 8A or 8B will be described. When the image data generation module 155 detects the job sort setting information from the UI unit 153, the image data generation module 155 acquires the number of jobs, the number of pages per job, the print setting, the paper size, and the direction from the job list management unit 152.

  When the number of output pages per job is one page, an image of a quadrilateral (preferably a rectangle similar to the paper size) 1601 is created by reducing the paper size of the job according to the paper size and the number of output copies. Since it is possible to acquire information as to whether or not the job sort button 1503d is checked from the UI unit 153, the position of the rectangle 1601 of each print job is determined according to whether or not the sort mode is set.

  When the number of output pages per job is a plurality of pages, the rectangle 1601 is superimposed by the number of pages. In this case, the quadrilateral 1601 is superimposed while being shifted little by little in the horizontal and vertical directions so that the number of pages can be understood. Also, for different print jobs, a rectangle 1601 is displayed with a larger distance in the horizontal and vertical directions. As the number of pages increases, the area of the quadrilateral 1601 of one print job increases. Therefore, the number of pages may be indicated by a numerical value on the side of the quadrilateral 1601 or the like.

  Further, when the print setting includes staples, this is indicated by displaying, for example, a graphic 1602 such as a diagonal line or a straight line at the staple position with respect to the rectangle 1601. The punch can be displayed as a figure 1602 such as a circle.

  If document images 1603 for all jobs are created, a preview image based on a paper image can be displayed if document images 1603 for all jobs are displayed alternately with arrows for the number of output copies.

  In FIG. 8A, since Job1 is three pages, three rectangles 1601 are superimposed while being shifted little by little, and one rectangle 1601 of Job2 shifted larger than that is displayed as a group (document image 1603 of all jobs). Has been. In addition, since Job1 includes print settings for staples, a straight graphic 1602 is displayed on the upper left of the quadrilateral 1601 of Job1. Since the number of output copies is 3, three document images 1603 of all jobs are displayed.

  When the setting of the job sort button 1503d is changed, the UI unit 153 detects the change, and the image data generation module 155 switches the screens of FIGS. 8A and 8B.

  With such a preview image that visually represents the output order of the document, it is possible to expect an effect of improving the operability of the printing system 100 and preventing an operation error.

<Other example 1 of preview image>
Since the document images 1603 of all jobs are the same even if the number of output copies is changed, it is not necessary to display all of the number of output copies. Therefore, a part of the square 1601 can be omitted from the paper image. This is particularly effective when the number of output copies is large.

FIG. 9A shows an example of a prepared image displayed when the job sort button 1503d is checked, and FIG. 9B shows an example of a paper image displayed when the job sort button 1503d is not checked. Are shown respectively. In FIG. 9, the same parts as those in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
In FIG. 9B, two squares 1601 for Job 1 and 1601 for Job 2 are displayed, but a symbol (“...”) Omitting the square 1601 is displayed after the third one. Similarly, in FIG. 9A, two document images 1603 of all jobs are displayed, but a symbol (“...”) Omitting the rectangle 1601 is displayed after the third.

  An arbitrary number (two in the figure) for displaying the rectangle 1601 without being omitted is set in the UI unit 153 in advance.

  If the number of output copies is displayed on the symbol “...” Omitting the rectangle 1601 (all three in the figure), the number of output copies can be grasped without displaying all the rectangles 1601.

  If displayed as shown in FIG. 8, it may be difficult to see when the number of copies is large, but omitting a part of the square 1601 makes it easy to grasp the output form of the job sort.

<Other example 2 of preview image>
The image data may be reduced and displayed in the preview display area 1501 instead of the simple rectangle 1601.

FIG. 10A shows an example of image data displayed when the job sort button 1503d is checked, and FIG. 10B shows an example of image data displayed when the job sort button 1503d is not checked. , Respectively. In FIG. 10, the same parts as those in FIG.
8, when the image data generation module 155 detects job sort setting information from the UI unit 153, the image data generation module 155 detects the job number, the number of pages per job, the print setting, the paper size, and the like from the job list management unit 152. Get direction.

  When the number of output pages per job is one page, the size of image data of one job is determined by scaling down according to the paper size and the number of output copies of the job. Further, since it is possible to acquire information as to whether or not the job sort button 1503d is checked from the UI unit 153, the position of the image data of each print job is determined according to whether or not the sort mode is set.

  When the number of output pages per job is a plurality of pages, the image data is superimposed by the number of pages. However, since it is difficult to determine the second and subsequent pages, a square 1601 similar to that shown in FIG. In this case, the images are superimposed while being shifted little by little in the horizontal and vertical directions so that the number of pages can be understood.

  In the job sort mode, the image data of the first page is displayed for different jobs with the amount of shift in the horizontal and vertical directions increased. Note that since the area of image data for one job increases as the number of pages increases, the number of pages may be indicated by a numerical value beside the rectangle 1601 or the like.

  In accordance with the setting of the job sort button 1503d, the image data generation module 155 switches the preview image shown in FIG.

  In addition to visually expressing the output order, a more accurate output result can be confirmed by using an actually output image, and the operability can be further improved.

<Other example 3 of preview image>
Since the document images 1603 of all jobs are the same even if the number of output copies is changed, it is not necessary to display all of the number of output copies. Therefore, a part of the image data can be omitted. This is particularly effective when the number of output copies is large.

FIG. 11A shows an example of image data displayed when the job sort button 1503d is checked. FIG. 11B shows an example of image data displayed when the job sort button 1503d is not checked. , Respectively. In FIG. 11, the same parts as those in FIGS. 9 and 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
In FIG. 11B, two pieces of image data of Job1 and two pieces of image data of Job2 are displayed, but a symbol (“...”) That omits the image data is displayed after the third piece. Similarly, in FIG. 11A, two document images 1603 of all jobs are displayed, but a symbol (“...”) That omits image data is displayed for the third and subsequent images.

  An arbitrary number of image data (2 in the figure) for displaying image data without being omitted is set in the image data generation module 155 in advance.

  If the number of output copies is displayed on the symbol “...” That omits the image data (3 copies in the figure), the number of output copies can be grasped without displaying all the image data.

  When displayed as shown in FIG. 10, it may be difficult to view the image when the number of copies is large. However, by omitting part of the image data, it is possible to easily grasp the output form of the job sort.

  A processing procedure of the host computer 110 when job sorting is not performed using the above configuration will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the activation process of the print job management module 15.

  For example, when the user instructs printing of document data from an arbitrary application 11, the printer driver 13 activates the print job management module 15 after generating the print intermediate file 16. Further, the user may directly activate the print job management module 15 asynchronously with the print instruction from the application 11.

  Steps S101 to S105 are loop processing for each print job. First, the print intermediate file management module 154 acquires the print intermediate file 16 (hereinafter referred to as “current print intermediate file”) related to one print job (S101). The print setting module 151 extracts the print setting information 162 from the current print intermediate file (S102), and associates the print setting information 162 with the job list 1521 (S103).

  The image data generation module 155 extracts the drawing information 163 from the current print intermediate file, and generates image data based on the drawing information 163 (S104). The image data generation module 155 associates the generated image data with the job list 1521. Note that, since the image data is generated for each page, strictly speaking, the list information of the image data is associated with the job list 1521.

  When the above processing is performed for all the accumulated print jobs, the first print job in the job list 1521 is set as the current job (S106).

  The print setting module 151 stores the print setting information 162 of the current job on the memory as common setting information. Here, the common setting information refers to print setting information 162 that is commonly applied to all print jobs in the common setting mode. The print setting module 151 manages a memory area (for example, a variable) for storing common setting information.

  Subsequently, the UI unit 153 displays the print job management screen 150 and executes display processing of the preview display area 1501 (S108), display processing of the basic setting area 1502, the detailed setting area 1503, and the like (S109).

  Next, the processing procedure of the host computer 110 in the sort mode will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  The flowchart of FIG. 13 starts when the print button 1504 is selected in a state where the print settings 1 and 2 of Job1 and Job2 have already been generated by the print job management screen 150 of FIG.

  First, the job list management unit 152 generates a print setting command 1 from the print setting 1 of Job1 (S201). Similarly, a print setting command 2 is generated from the print setting 2 of Job 2 (S202). Note that the job list management unit 152 generates print setting commands for the number of print jobs.

  Next, the print job management module 15 repeats the processes in steps S203 to S206 for the number of output copies. Since the number of copies of print setting 1 and the number of copies of print setting 2 are both 5, it is repeated five times.

  First, the job list management unit 152 transmits the print setting command 1 to the printer driver 13 (S203). Next, the print intermediate file management module 154 transmits the print intermediate file 16 of Job1 to the printer driver 13 (S204). As a result, the printer driver 13 requests the printer 120 to output part of Job1 based on the print setting command 1.

  Next, the job list management unit 152 transmits the print setting command 2 to the printer driver 13 (S205). Next, the print intermediate file management module 154 transmits the print intermediate file 16 of Job2 to the printer driver 13 (S206). Thus, the printer driver 13 requests the printer 120 to output a part of Job2 based on the print setting command 2.

  With the processing in FIG. 13, five sheets of paper on which Job1 is printed are discharged to the discharge tray 1, and five sheets of paper on which Job2 is printed are discharged to the main tray.

  For example, if the same destination tray is used, Job 1 paper 1 and Job 2 paper 2 are alternately discharged, so that the print jobs can be sorted and printed among a plurality of print jobs having different print settings.

  For example, there may be a case where it is desired to prepare an explanatory material in which a plurality of copies are stapled and a questionnaire sheet as materials distributed in a presentation. In this way, if the print settings differ between the two documents, if there is no sort mode, the required number of explanatory materials will be output, then the required number of questionnaires will be output, and the materials to be distributed manually per person will be arranged. It was necessary to change. In the printing system 100 of this embodiment, the labor of rearranging manually can be saved, and work efficiency can be improved.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, even when the job sort button 1503d is selected, the user has to input print settings for each print job, and the print settings can be individually set for each print job. If it can be set for each print job, detailed settings can be made for each print job, which increases usability. However, if all print jobs need to have common print settings, the print settings must be entered for each print job. It is inconvenient.

  In the present embodiment, a printing system 100 that can input print settings common to all print jobs when the job sort button 1503d is checked will be described. Although common print settings can also be input using the common setting designation button 1503e, the print setting 1 and print setting 2 also have the same contents in the common designation button 1503e, whereas the job sort button 1503d of the present embodiment. Then, a new common print setting can be input with the contents of print setting 1 and print setting 2 set independently (hereinafter referred to as print setting A).

  At the time of printing, the job list management unit 152 generates print setting 1 and print setting 2 from the print setting A, and generates print setting commands 1 and 2 based on the values.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of the print setting A. The print setting A is generated by setting the basic setting area 1502 or the job list display area 1503 with the job sort button 1503d checked. The print setting A is managed by the job list management unit 152.

  In FIG. 14, as the settings managed by the print setting A, the number of output copies, the paper discharge destination, and the paper rotation (for each print job) are defined. In addition, double-sided, aggregation, stapling, punching, and the like may be set.

  If the number of output copies shown in FIG. 5 is set while the job sort button 1503d is checked, a common output number can be set for Job1 and Job2 in print setting A.

  Further, if the discharge destination shown in FIG. 5 is set while the job sort button 1503d is checked, it is possible to set a common discharge destination for Job1 and Job2 in the print setting A.

  If the rotation button 1501d in FIG. 5 is set while the job sort button 1503d is checked, a common sheet rotation can be set in the print setting A for Job1 and Job2.

  Next, the processing procedure of the host computer 110 in the sort mode when the print setting A is used will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The flowchart of FIG. 15 starts when the print button 1504 is selected in a state where the print setting A has already been generated by the print job management screen 150 of FIG.

  First, the job list management unit 152 refers to the print setting A and changes the paper discharge destination and paper rotation of the print setting 1 of Job1. Also, the number of output copies is changed to 1. A print setting command 1 is generated based on the changed print setting 1 (S301).

  Similarly, the job list management unit 152 refers to the print setting A and changes the paper discharge destination and paper rotation of the print setting 2 of Job2. Also, the number of output copies is changed to 1. A print setting command 2 is generated based on the changed print setting 2 (S302).

  Next, the print job management module 15 repeats the processes in steps S303 to S306 for the number of output copies managed by the print setting A. Since the number of output copies of print setting A is 3, it is repeated three times.

  First, the job list management unit 152 transmits the print setting command 1 to the printer driver 13 (S303). Next, the print intermediate file management module 154 transmits the print intermediate file 16 of Job1 to the printer driver 13 (S304). As a result, the printer driver 13 requests the printer 120 to output part of Job1 based on the print setting command 1.

  Next, the job list management unit 152 transmits the print setting command 2 to the printer driver 13 (S305). Next, the print intermediate file management module 154 transmits the print intermediate file 16 of Job2 to the printer driver 13 (S306). Thus, the printer driver 13 requests the printer 120 to output a part of Job2 based on the print setting command 2.

  With the processing in FIG. 15, the paper 1 on which Job 1 is printed and the paper 2 on which Job 2 is printed are both printed on the paper discharge tray 1. Further, as apparent from the flowchart of FIG. 15, the paper 1 and the paper 2 are printed alternately.

  Therefore, the paper 1 for Job 1 and the paper 2 for Job 2 are alternately discharged, and a plurality of print jobs can be sorted and printed.

  In the printing system 100 of the present embodiment, the same number of copies can be set for all jobs without setting the number of copies for each print job. Also, if the paper discharge destinations are set individually when sorting jobs, the effect of sorting all job units will be reduced, but by setting the same paper discharge destination using print setting A, multiple output destinations can be obtained. The print jobs can be sorted and printed. Further, the same paper rotation can be performed for all jobs without setting the paper rotation for each print job.

[Third Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, a common paper discharge destination is set by the print setting A. However, if there is a print job that cannot be output to the designated paper discharge destination, the intended output result may not be obtained. For example, since staples and punches are installed only in a predetermined paper discharge destination, if a print job that includes staples or punches in the print settings is set to a paper discharge destination that does not include staples or punches, the intended output result is I can't get it. That is, if priority is given to the paper discharge destination, the staple or punch is not performed, and if priority is given to staple or punch, the paper discharge destination changes for each print job.

  In order to avoid such a problem, in the present embodiment, on the print job management screen 150 in FIG. 5, the discharge destinations that can be selected according to the print setting 1 and the print setting 2 are controlled.

When the job sort button 1503d is checked on the print job management screen 150, the print setting module 151 lists output destinations for each print job from the print settings 1 and 2. For the list-up, settings for restricting the paper discharge destination such as stapling, punching, and printing paper size may be picked up for each print setting 1 and 2. For example, it is listed as follows.
-Output destination where Job1 can be discharged: Paper discharge tray 1
-Job2 paper discharge destination: main body tray, paper discharge tray 1, paper discharge tray 2
The UI unit 153 displays only the discharge destinations that can be discharged in all print jobs in the discharge destination selection list. In this example, only the paper discharge tray 1 is displayed in the discharge destination selection list.

  In this way, only the paper discharge destination from which all print jobs can be discharged can be set in the print setting A.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the orientation of the paper 1 and the orientation of the paper 2 can be set for each print job. In the second and third embodiments, a common orientation can be set.

  However, in the first embodiment, when the sheets 1 and 2 are discharged to the same discharge destination after job sorting, it can be said that the direction of the sheet 1 and the direction of the sheet 2 are preferably the same.

  Therefore, it is preferable to align the orientations of the sheets 1 and 2 even when the print setting A that can set the orientation in common is not used as in the second and third embodiments.

  When the job sort button 1503d is checked in a state where different paper rotations are set in the print setting 1 and the print setting 2, the job list management unit 152 obtains document information (paper size, paper direction) from the job list 1521. The sheet rotation is detected from the print setting 1 and the print setting 2.

  The job list management unit 152 generates a new print setting A when the print setting 1 and the job 2 have different paper directions, and sets the paper rotation for each job.

  FIG. 16A shows an example of a preview image (paper image) that is not actually displayed before the job list management unit 152 rotates the paper. FIG. 16B shows a case where the job list management unit 152 rotates the paper. An example of a later preview image is shown. In FIG. 16, the same components as those in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 16A, the rectangle 1601 of the document 2 is inclined 90 degrees to the left with respect to the rectangle 1601 of the document 1. Image data may be used instead of the paper image.

  FIG. 17 shows an example of print setting A in the present embodiment. In FIG. 17, the same parts as those in FIG. The job list management unit 152 sets the sheet rotation of each job in the print setting A so that the sheet rotation is the same as the sheet direction of the first print job. In FIG. 17, Job2 is set to rotate 90 degrees to the right with respect to Job1.

  When the job sort button 1503d is checked, a preview image shown in FIG. 16B is displayed. As a result of Job2 being rotated 90 degrees to the right, the printing directions of Job1 and Job2 can be aligned, and the orientations of sheets 1 and 2 can be aligned during printing.

  For items other than paper rotation, the contents of print setting 1 and print setting 2 are extracted as they are and set to print setting A. At this time, according to the third embodiment, it is preferable that a paper discharge destination that can be designated in common for print setting 1 and print setting 2 is automatically set as the paper discharge destination.

  Next, the processing procedure of the host computer 110 in the sort mode of this embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  The flowchart in FIG. 18 starts when the print button 1504 is selected in a state where the print settings 1 and 2 have already been generated by the print job management screen 150. In FIG. 18, the same components as those in FIG. 15 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  First, the job list management unit 152 generates a print setting A as shown in FIG. 17 from the document information (paper size, paper direction), print setting 1 and print setting 2 (S300). The processing after the print setting A in FIG. 17 is generated is the same as that in FIG.

  The job list management unit 152 refers to the print setting A in FIG. 17 and changes the paper discharge destination and paper rotation of the print setting 1 of Job1. Also, the number of output copies is changed to 1. A print setting command 1 is generated based on the changed print setting 1 (S301).

  Similarly, the job list management unit 152 refers to the print setting A in FIG. 17 and changes the paper discharge destination and paper rotation in the print setting 2 of Job2. Also, the number of output copies is changed to 1. A print setting command 2 is generated based on the changed print setting 2 (S302).

  Next, the print job management module 15 repeats the processes of steps S303 to S306 for the number of output copies managed by the print setting A in FIG. Since the number of copies of print setting A is 5, it is repeated 5 times.

  First, the job list management unit 152 transmits the print setting command 1 to the printer driver 13 (S303). Next, the print intermediate file management module 154 transmits the print intermediate file 16 of Job1 to the printer driver 13 (S304). As a result, the printer driver 13 requests the printer 120 to output part of Job1 based on the print setting command 1.

  Next, the job list management unit 152 transmits the print setting command 2 to the printer driver 13 (S305). Next, the print intermediate file management module 154 transmits the print intermediate file 16 of Job2 to the printer driver 13 (S306). Thus, the printer driver 13 requests the printer 120 to output a part of Job2 based on the print setting command 2.

  With the processing in FIG. 18, the paper 1 on which Job1 is printed and the paper 2 on which Job2 is printed are printed in the same direction.

  In the printing system 100 of the present embodiment, even if the paper directions set in the respective print jobs are different, the paper 1 and the paper 2 can be discharged by unifying the directions by performing job sorting.

  As described above, according to the printing system 100 of the first to fourth embodiments, a plurality of print jobs can be sorted in units of jobs, so that the user's work when printing a plurality of document data having different print settings. Efficiency can be improved. With print setting A, print settings common to a plurality of print jobs can be made while storing print settings for each document data. In addition, since the print result when sorting by job can be visually grasped by the preview image, it is possible to prevent printing mistakes when sorting by job and prevent printing.

1 is an example of an overall configuration diagram of a printing system. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of a host computer. It is a figure which shows the function structural example regarding the print control function of a host computer. It is a figure which shows the outline of the data format of a printing intermediate file. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example in which a print job management screen is displayed on a display. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a job list. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of print settings. It is a figure which shows an example of the preview image displayed when the job sort button is checked. It is a figure which shows an example of the preview image displayed when the job sort button is checked. It is a figure which shows an example of the preview image displayed when the job sort button is checked. It is a figure which shows an example of the preview image displayed when the job sort button is checked. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a print job management module activation process. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process sequence of the host computer in sort mode. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of print setting A. FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a host computer in a sort mode when using print setting A. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of paper rotation in a preview image. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of print setting A. FIG. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process sequence of the host computer in sort mode.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Application 12 Graphic engine 13 Printer driver 14 Spooler 15 Print job management module 16 Print intermediate file 100 Printing system 110 Host computer 120A-120C Printer 150 Print job management screen 151 Print setting module 152 Job list management part 153 UI part 154 Print intermediate file Management module 155 Image data generation module

Claims (13)

An information processing apparatus that controls output of the output data based on output data to be output and output setting information that is a setting for outputting the output data and includes at least a setting of the number of outputs,
Output order control means for controlling the output order when outputting a plurality of the output data based on the respective output setting information;
The output order control means includes
If the number of output is a single output job the output data of 1, a plurality of said output data when outputting only the output number of which are set respectively, said output number of the output for each of the output data The first output order in which jobs are continuously output is output, or a plurality of the output data are output in units of the output job, and the output jobs corresponding to the number of outputs of the plurality of output data are output. Control whether to output the second output order,
When the output numbers of the plurality of output data are not the same, the output data of the output job for the output number based on the output setting information of each of the plurality of output data is output. Information processing apparatus. The output order control means includes
If the number of outputs of the plurality of output data is not the same, and the plurality of output data are controlled in the second output order, if the output data becomes one output data, the one output 2. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein the output jobs of the one output data for the remaining number of outputs whose output order is not controlled are continuously output based on the number of data outputs. apparatus. Display means for displaying a setting screen for the output setting information of a plurality of the output data;
First accepting means for accepting a setting request in which the output order of the plurality of output data is the first output order;
Second accepting means for accepting a setting request in which the output order of the plurality of output data is the second output order;
First display control means for displaying on the display means the setting screen in response to the setting request for the first or second output order by the first receiving means or the second receiving means;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The first display control means includes
According to the first or second output order, the setting screen including the first or second preview image representing the output order in which a plurality of the output data is output is displayed on the display means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3. Comprising output destination control means for controlling the output destination of the plurality of output data,
The output setting information further includes an output data output destination setting,
The plurality of output data are controlled to be output to the output destination controlled by the output destination control means in the output order controlled by the output order control means based on the output setting information of each of the output data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. The output data is print data to be printed out,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the setting of the output destination is a setting of a discharge tray that discharges the print data in an output destination printing apparatus. In the information processing device,
Receiving input of output data to be output, and output setting information including settings for outputting the output data and at least the number of outputs;
An output order control step for controlling an output order when outputting a plurality of the output data based on the output setting information, respectively,
In the output order control step,
If the number of output is a single output job the output data of 1, a plurality of said output data when outputting only the output number of which are set respectively, said output number of the output for each of the output data The first output order in which jobs are continuously output is output, or a plurality of the output data are output in units of the output job, and the output jobs corresponding to the number of outputs of the plurality of output data are output. Controlling whether to output the second output order,
When the output numbers of the plurality of output data are not the same, the output data of the output job for the output number based on the output setting information of each of the plurality of output data is output.
A program characterized by that. In the output order control step,
If the output numbers of the plurality of output data are not the same, and the plurality of output data are controlled in the second output order, and the output data becomes one output data, the one output data 8. The program according to claim 7, wherein the output job of the one output data corresponding to the remaining number of outputs whose output order is not controlled is continuously output based on the number of outputs. A display step of displaying on the display means a setting screen for the output setting information of a plurality of the output data;
A first accepting step for accepting a setting request in which the output order of a plurality of the output data is the first output order;
A second accepting step for accepting a setting request in which the output order of a plurality of the output data is the second output order;
A first display control step for displaying on the display means the setting screen in response to the setting request for the first or second output order received in the first receiving step or the second receiving step; The program according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the program is executed by a processing device. In the first display control step,
According to the first or second output order, the setting screen including a first or second preview image representing an output order in which a plurality of the output data is output is displayed on the display means. The program according to claim 9. Causing the information processing apparatus to execute an output destination control step of controlling an output destination of the plurality of output data;
The output setting information further includes an output data output destination setting,
The plurality of output data are controlled to be output to the output destination controlled by the output destination control step in the output order controlled by the output order control step based on the output setting information of each of the output data. The program according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein: The output data is print data to be printed out,
12. The program according to claim 11, wherein the setting of the output destination is a setting of a discharge tray for discharging the print data in the output destination printing apparatus. An input receiving means for receiving output data to be output and input of output setting information that is a setting for outputting the output data and includes at least a setting of the number of outputs;
An output order control step for controlling an output order when the output order control means outputs a plurality of the output data based on each of the output setting information, and an information processing method for an information processing apparatus,
The output order control means includes
If the number of output is a single output job the output data of 1, a plurality of said output data when outputting only the output number of which are set respectively, said output number of the output for each of the output data The first output order in which jobs are continuously output is output, or a plurality of the output data are output in units of the output job, and the output jobs corresponding to the number of outputs of the plurality of output data are output. Control whether to output the second output order,
When the output numbers of the plurality of output data are not the same, the output data of the output job for the number of outputs based on the output setting information of each of the plurality of output data is output. Processing method.

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