JP5641097B2 - Printer control apparatus, computer program, and printer control method. - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer control apparatus and method for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printer and controlling the printer based on the set various information, and for printing in the predetermined printer. The present invention relates to a recording medium recording a computer program for setting various information.

  Generally, when a printer is connected to a computer and print data created by the computer is to be printed on the printer, it is necessary to incorporate software called a printer driver in the computer. The printer driver is a computer program that controls various printer information such as printer functions, interfaces, font information, and control codes in the computer and controls the printer, and is prepared for each printer model to be printed.

  FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a “property” dialog box 900 displayed by a conventional printer driver. The operator can operate the computer to activate a printer driver incorporated in the computer and set various information. In order to perform such setting, a property dialog box 900 shown in FIG. 22 is opened. Here, the various types of information can be divided into a plurality of sets for each function to be set, such as those relating to paper settings such as paper size and paper orientation, and those relating to graphics such as print resolution and color correction. As described above, in the property dialog box 900, individual setting cards 901 to 905 are prepared for each of these groups, and the pointing device (for example, a mouse) is set by the operator from the plurality of setting cards 901 to 905. The single card selected in is displayed.

  The operator can set information classified into the card in the printer driver by inputting data into the card displayed in this way.

  However, in the conventional technique, the operator can know only information classified into the one card when inputting data for the selected and displayed card. When inputting data for a given card, there are many requests to know information classified as other cards. In the conventional technology, the card having the information to be selected is selected and displayed on the screen. Had to be switched. Further, when data input for a predetermined card is in progress, it is necessary to return the screen to the predetermined card from the switched screen display. For this reason, the operator is repeatedly requested to operate the pointing device for switching the screen, which causes a problem of imposing a great work effort on the operator.

  Further, in the conventional technique, when the print quality is changed, the operator needs to input data of many items on a specific card, and similarly, it imposes a great work effort on the operator. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems in the prior art, and an object thereof is to reduce the labor of an operator when inputting data into a printer driver.

  In order to solve such a problem, the first invention is a printer control device that sets various information for printing in a predetermined printer and controls the printer based on the set various information. Image data of individual setting cards is prepared for each set obtained by dividing the various information into a plurality of sets, and one setting card is obtained from the image data of the plurality of setting cards in response to an external command. Card image selection means for selecting the image data of the card, display control means for displaying the image data of the setting card selected by the card image selection means on the display screen of the display device as display image data, and the card image selection At least one piece of information set on the display screen using the image data of the setting card other than the setting card image data selected by the means, It is characterized in that it comprises an information display additional means for displaying a predetermined region of the shown image data.

  According to this configuration, on the display screen of the display device, a setting card other than the image data of the selected setting card is placed in a predetermined area of the image data of the setting card selected by the card selection unit. An image of image data representing at least one piece of information set on the display screen using the image data is displayed.

  Therefore, the operator can know information set from other cards from the display screen of the display device when inputting data by selecting a predetermined card. As a result, this printer control apparatus can extremely reduce the number of times of switching the cards displayed on the display screen, thereby reducing the operator's work effort.

  In the first aspect of the invention, the setting card image data selected by the card selection means is setting card image data that defines information about basic settings relating to print quality, and the other setting card image data. The image data can be configured to be image data of a setting card that determines information about paper settings related to paper.

  According to this configuration, when the “basic setting” card is selected and data is input, information set from the “paper setting” card can be known from the display screen of the display device.

  In the first invention, the image data of the setting card selected by the card selecting means is a setting card provided with a switch that opens a detailed input screen for inputting a plurality of pieces of information among the various information. The image data of the other setting card may be image data of the setting card constituting the detail input screen.

  According to this configuration, when data is input using a predetermined card, a plurality of pieces of information input from the detailed input screen opened from the card can be displayed on the display device without opening the detailed input screen. You can know from the screen.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer control apparatus for setting various quality information for determining print quality by a printer as control quality information, and controlling the printer based on the control quality information. A first storage means for storing a plurality of parameter values shown in stages, and a level of printing quality set in association with each parameter value stored in the first storage means and indicated by each parameter value; Second storage means for storing a plurality of quality information values to be determined, and an operation by an operator using the printer, the degree of print quality desired by the operator is stored in the first storage means. Quality designation means for designating by selecting one parameter value from a plurality of parameter values, and the parameter value selected by the quality designation means The quality information corresponding to the parameter value is obtained by comparing with the contents of the storage means, and the quality information setting means using the quality information as the control quality information, and a plurality of parameters selectable by the quality designation means Quality designation range limiting means for limiting the value to a predetermined plurality of parameter values stored in the first storage means; paper type setting means for setting the type of paper used in the printer; And a limited range changing means for changing the plurality of parameter values limited by the quality designation range limiting means in accordance with the type of paper set by the paper type setting means.

  According to this configuration, in response to an operation by the operator, the parameter value indicating the degree of print quality is selectively specified from the plurality of parameter values by the quality specifying unit, and the quality is determined according to the specified parameter value. The quality information is obtained by the information setting means. When the paper type is further set by the paper type setting means, a plurality of parameter values that can be selected by the quality specifying means are changed according to the paper type. The For this reason, even if the operator does not have detailed knowledge about the print quality information, the operator can simply input the parameter value indicating the degree of the print quality step by step, and the print quality suitable for the paper type can be determined. The degree can be selected.

  Therefore, this printer control apparatus can make it possible for anyone to input the print quality information. Further, since it is not necessary to input many items of data as in the prior art, it is possible to reduce the work of inputting data.

  In the second aspect of the invention, the quality designating unit displays image data of an image prompting an operator to perform an input operation for designating the degree of printing quality on the display screen of the display device as quality designating image data. Display control means, and data input means capable of performing data input according to an image on the display screen in accordance with an operation of the operator, wherein the quality designation range limiting means includes the quality designation image data as the predetermined image data. A display image data setting unit that sets only a plurality of parameter values to image data representing an image that is selected by the quality specifying unit can be provided.

  According to this configuration, the operator looks at the quality designation image data displayed on the display screen of the display device and inputs data from the data input means. The quality designation image data corresponds to the type of paper. Since only a plurality of parameter values determined in this way are represented, it is possible to select a print quality level suitable for the paper type.

  Furthermore, in the second invention, the paper type setting means displays image data of an image prompting an operator to perform an input operation for setting the paper type on the display screen of the display device. It is also possible to employ a configuration including display control means for paper type setting to be displayed together.

  According to this configuration, the input field for setting the paper type and the input field for specifying the degree of quality can be represented on the same display screen, so that the operability of data input by the operator can be improved. it can.

  A third invention is a printer control method for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printer and controlling the printer based on the set various information, and (a) a plurality of sets of the various information Image data of individual setting cards is prepared for each set obtained by dividing the image data into two sets, and image data of one setting card is selected from the image data of the plurality of setting cards in response to an external command. A step, (b) displaying the image data of the setting card selected in the step (a) on the display screen of the display device as display image data, and (c) the setting selected in the step (a). And displaying at least one piece of information set on the display screen using the image data of the setting card other than the image data of the display card in a predetermined area of the display image data. And wherein the door.

  According to the third invention, similarly to the first invention, when the operator selects a predetermined card and inputs data, information set from other cards is displayed on the display screen of the display device. I can know. Therefore, this printer control method can extremely reduce the number of times of switching the cards displayed on the display screen, thereby reducing the operator's work effort.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer control method in which various quality information that determines the quality of printing by a printer is set as control quality information, and the printer is controlled based on the control quality information. A step of storing a plurality of parameter values indicating the degree of printing step by step; and (b) determining the degree of printing quality set in association with each stored parameter value and indicated by each parameter value. A step of storing a plurality of values of the quality information; and (c) receiving an operation by an operator using the printer, and determining the degree of the print quality desired by the operator from the stored plurality of parameter values. A step of designating by selecting a parameter value, and (d) the parameter value selected by the step (c) stored in the step (b) The quality information corresponding to the parameter value is obtained, and the quality information is used as the quality information for control, and (e) a plurality of parameter values that can be selected in the step (c), A step of limiting to a predetermined plurality of parameter values stored in the step (a), a step of (f) setting the type of paper used in the printer, and a step (e) And a step of changing the plurality of parameter values limited by the method according to the type of paper set in the step (f).

  In the fourth aspect, similar to the second aspect, it is possible to allow anyone to input printing quality information, and it is possible to reduce the work of inputting data.

  A fifth invention is a recording medium on which a computer program for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printer is recorded, and (a) for each set obtained by dividing the various information into a plurality of sets. Preparing image data of individual setting cards, and selecting image data of one setting card from the image data of the plurality of setting cards in response to an external command; and (b) the step ( a step of displaying the image data of the setting card selected in a) on the display screen of the display device as display image data; and (c) other than the image data of the setting card selected in step (a). Causing a computer to execute a step of displaying at least one piece of information set on a display screen using image data of a setting card in a predetermined area of the display image data And characterized by recording a computer program.

  According to the fifth invention, similarly to the first and third inventions, when the operator selects a predetermined card and inputs data, information set from other cards is displayed on the display device. You can know from the display screen. Therefore, according to this recording medium, the number of times of switching the cards displayed on the display screen can be extremely reduced, and the work effort of the operator can be reduced.

  A sixth invention is a recording medium on which a computer program for setting various information for printing in a predetermined printer is recorded, and (a) a plurality of parameter values indicating the degree of printing quality stepwise And (b) storing a plurality of quality information values that are set in association with each stored parameter value and determine the degree of printing quality indicated by each parameter value. And (c) designating the degree of print quality desired by the operator by selecting one parameter value from the plurality of stored parameter values in response to an operation by an operator using the printer. (D) By comparing the parameter value selected in step (c) with the content stored in step (b), the parameter And (e) a plurality of parameter values that can be selected in step (c) are stored in step (a). A step of limiting to a predetermined plurality of parameter values among the plurality of parameter values; (f) a step of setting a type of paper used in the printer; and (g) the plurality of parameter values limited by step (e). Is recorded with a computer program for causing a computer to execute the step of changing according to the type of paper set in the step (f).

  According to this recording medium, as in the second and fourth inventions, it is possible to allow anyone to perform printing quality information input work, and to reduce data input work labor. it can.

1 is an external view of a computer system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the hardware of a computer system. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a state of processing from image information handled by the computer main body 16 until printing is performed. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a “property” dialog box DB1 for setting various types of information about a printer. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates dialog box DB1 with which the card of "basic setting" was opened. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates dialog box DB2 with which the card | curd of "manual setting" was opened. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a dialog box DB1 in which a “paper setting” card is opened; FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing printable areas when “normal” is set and when “centering” is set. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the other state of dialog box DB1 with which the card | curd of "paper setting" was opened. It is a flowchart which shows the processing routine of the information setting module 57 performed with CPU30. It is a flowchart which shows the processing routine of the basic setting mode performed with CPU30. It is a flowchart which shows the processing routine of the card display performed with CPU30. It is explanatory drawing which shows the image represented by the base image data DT. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of reference table TBL. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the update of reference table TBL. It is a flowchart which shows a part of step S330 of the processing routine of a card display in detail. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display around a slide lever type button E13 when “plain paper” is selected as the paper type. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of print quality table TBL2. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display around a slide lever type button E13 when “super fine paper” is selected as the paper type. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display around a slide lever type button E13 when “exclusive glossy paper” is selected as the paper type. It is a flowchart which shows a part of step S210 of the process routine of basic setting mode in detail. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a “property” dialog box 900 displayed by a conventional printer driver.

  In order to further clarify the configuration and operation of the present invention described above, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples. FIG. 1 is an external view of a computer system to which one embodiment of the present invention is applied. This computer system includes a computer 10 and a CRT display 12 and a printer 14 as peripheral devices. The computer 10 includes a computer main body 16, a keyboard 18, and a mouse 20. The computer main body 16 is provided with a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive 24 for reading the contents of the floppy (registered trademark) disk 22.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of hardware of the computer system. As shown in the figure, the computer main body 16 includes a ROM 31, a RAM 32, a display image memory 33, a mouse interface 34, a keyboard interface 35, an FDC 36, an HDC 37, and a CRTC 38, which are mutually connected by a bus with a central processing unit CPU 30. A printer interface 39 and an I / O port 40.

  The ROM 31 is a read-only memory that stores various built-in programs and the like. The RAM 32 is a readable / writable memory that stores various data. The display image memory 33 is a memory for storing image data of an image to be displayed on the CRT display 12. The mouse interface 34 is an interface that manages data exchange with the mouse 20. The keyboard interface 35 is an interface that manages key input from the keyboard 18. The FDC 36 is a floppy (registered trademark) disk controller that controls the floppy (registered trademark) disk drive (FDD) 24. The HDC 37 is a hard disk controller that controls a hard disk drive (HDD) 41. The CRTC 38 is a CRT controller that controls display of an image on the CRT display 12 based on display image data stored in the display image memory 33. The printer interface 39 is an interface that controls the output of data to the printer 14. The I / O port 40 includes a serial output port, and is connected to a modem 44, and is connected to a public telephone line 46 via the modem 44. The computer 10 is connected to an external network via a modem 44 and can be connected to a specific server 48.

  In this computer system, the operating system is stored in the HDD 41, and when the computer main body 16 is turned on according to the loader written in the boot block of the HDD 41, it is loaded into a predetermined area of the RAM 32. The printer driver prepared for each model of the printer 14 is stored in advance on the floppy (registered trademark) disk 22, and the computer main body is loaded from the floppy (registered trademark) disk drive 24 by starting a predetermined installation program. 16 is installed. The installed printer driver is stored in the HDD 41. When the computer main body 16 is turned on, the installed printer driver is incorporated into the operating system and loaded into a predetermined area of the RAM 32.

  Various constituent requirements of the present invention are realized by the CPU 30 executing the printer driver. As described above, the software program for the printer driver is stored on the floppy (registered trademark) disk 22, but instead of this, other programs such as a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, and an IC card are used. It is good also as a structure stored in the portable recording medium (portable recording medium). The software program described above can also be obtained by downloading program data provided via a network from a specific server 48 connected to an external network and transferring it to the RAM 32 or HDD 41. .

  Next, how printing is performed by the computer system having the hardware configuration described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a state of processing from image information handled by the computer main body 16 until printing is performed. As shown in the figure, an image is displayed on the CRT display 12 via the video driver 52 while processing the image by the application program 51 operating inside the computer main body 16. When the application program 51 issues a print instruction, the printer driver 53 in the computer main body 16 receives the image information from the application program 51 and converts it into a signal that can be printed by the printer 14.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, the printer driver 53 includes a rasterizer 54 that converts image information handled by the application program 51 into color information in dot units, and image information (floor level) converted into color information in dot units. A color correction module 55 that performs color correction on the tone data) according to the color development characteristics of the printer 14, so-called expressing density in a certain area depending on the presence or absence of ink in dot units from image information after color correction. A halftone module 56 for generating halftone image information is provided. In addition, an information setting module 57 for setting various information for printing by the printer 14 is provided inside the printer driver 53. Various information for printing includes information related to basic printing settings such as print quality, color correction, and halftone type, and information related to paper settings such as paper size and printing direction.

  The color correction information set by the information setting module 57 is sent to the color correction module 55, and the halftone type information is sent to the halftone module 56. The information setting module 57 displays an image indicating the setting contents on the CRT display 12 via the video driver 52. Since the operation of each module except the information setting module 57 is well known, the description thereof will be omitted in principle, and the information setting module 57 will be described below.

  The printer driver 53 can control various printing by the printer 14 by changing the setting, but the operator needs to perform such setting in advance. The information setting module 57 executes such an operation for setting various information for printing. Here, what kind of screen is displayed on the CRT display 12 by the operation of the information setting module 57 will be described first. In this description, Windows (registered trademark) 95 (trademark of Microsoft (registered trademark)) will be described as an example of an operating system on which the printer driver operates.

  First, the operator operates the computer 10 as follows to display a dialog box for setting various information for printing on the CRT display 12. That is, a “printer” window is opened by performing an operation of [start] → [setting] → [printer]. Then double-click on the icon of the desired printer on that window to open the window for that printer. Thereafter, the [Printer] → [Property] operation is performed from the window to display a property dialog box for setting various information about the printer.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the dialog box DB1 when it is opened. As shown in the figure, in the dialog box DB1, five types of cards CD1, CD2, CD3, CD4, and CD5 of “information”, “detail”, “basic setting”, “paper setting”, and “utility” are prepared. Yes. The “information” card CD1 is for setting information about the printer such as a comment of the printer. The “detail” card CD2 is used for setting detailed information about the printer such as a port to which the printer is connected. The “basic setting” card CD3 is used to set basic information related to print quality. The “paper setting” card CD4 is used to set various information about paper. The “utility” card CD5 is used to set other useful information.

  Any one of these cards CD1 to CD5 is selected by operating the mouse 20 by the operator and displayed in the dialog box DB1.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram exemplifying the dialog box DB1 in which the “basic setting” card CD3 is opened. As shown in the figure, the “basic setting” card CD3 has three data input fields E1, E2 of “mode setting”, “paper type”, and “ink” as data input fields for receiving data input from the operator. , E3. Further, the card CD3 is provided with a data display field E4 for displaying some information of the current setting contents of the printer driver.

  The “mode setting” data input field E1 is used to select a basic setting mode. A “recommended setting” mode in which a predetermined setting is automatically performed, and a “detailed” mode in which manual setting is performed in detail. The “setting” mode can be selected by the buttons E11 and E12.

  First, the operation when the button E12 is clicked and the “detailed setting” mode is selected will be described. When the “detailed setting” mode is selected, the data input field E14 and the data input field E15 are activated. As a result, it is possible to input a print purpose from the data input field E14 and to open a dialog box for manual setting from the data input field E15.

  The data input field E14 is used to set the type of data to be printed, and options such as a word processor, a graph, and a photograph are prepared.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a manual setting dialog box DB2 opened from the data input field E15. As shown in the drawing, data input fields E21, E22, E23 for “print quality”, “paper type”, “ink”, “halftone”, “microweave”, “bidirectional printing”, “color adjustment”, and the like. , E24, E25, E26, E27 are provided.

  The “print quality” data entry field E21 is used to set the resolution to be printed, and three types of “draft”, “fine”, and “super fine” are prepared as options. Here, “draft”, “fine”, and “superfine” indicate resolutions of 360 × 360 (dot), 720 × 360 (dot), and 720 × 720 (dot) in this order.

  The “paper type” data entry field E22 is used to set the paper type, and “plain paper”, “super fine paper”, and “exclusive glossy paper” are prepared as options. The “ink” data input field E23 is used to set the type of ink used in the printer 14, and “color” and “black” are prepared as options. On the “basic setting” card CD3, data input fields E2 and E3 identical to the data input fields E22 and E23 of “paper type” and “ink” are provided. The display of the data entry field that is prioritized and that has been entered earlier is changed according to the data entered later.

  The “halftone” data input field E24 is used to set the type of halftone, and “high speed halftone” and “high quality halftone” are prepared as options. This halftone type information is used in the halftone module 56 (FIG. 3). The “microweave” data entry field E25 is used to turn on / off the microweave function. Here, the microweave is a function provided in the printer 14, and it is possible to improve the quality of printing by overprinting one dot by different heads scanning the same line. The “bidirectional printing” data input field E26 is for turning on / off the bidirectional printing function. Here, bi-directional printing is a function provided in the printer 14, and the printing speed can be increased by moving different heads from left and right bi-directional.

  A data input field E27 for “color adjustment” is used to set various information related to color correction. “Color correction by driver”, “Video / digital TV camera mode”, and “ICM” are prepared as options. Above, the brightness, contrast, and saturation can be set.

  Next, an operation when the “recommended setting” mode is selected by clicking the button E12 in the data input column E1 of “mode setting” will be described. When the “recommended setting” mode is selected, the slide lever-shaped button E13 is activated, whereby it is possible to specify the quality of printing by the printer.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the characters “clean” and “fast” are clearly shown on both ends of the slide lever displayed as the button E <b> 13, and the slide lever portion is dragged by the mouse 20. Thus, either “clean” or “fast” can be selected. The options by the button E13 are parameter values such as “clean” and “fast” as described above. This is the case when “plain paper” is set in the input field E2 of “paper type”. Is. On the other hand, when other paper types are set in the “paper type” input field E2, other multiple parameter values, specifically, “more beautiful”, “beautiful”, “standard”. , Any two parameter values selected from “fast” are displayed. Here, “fast” means that the printing speed is fast but the printing quality is slightly inferior. This “fast” is also a kind of parameter value that determines the degree of printing quality.

  The parameter values such as “Better”, “Beautiful”, “Standard”, and “Fast” set the level of print quality step by step. In this “recommended setting” mode, the slide lever type button When one parameter value is selected by E13, the computer 10 executes processing for obtaining various quality information for determining the printing quality from the selected parameter value. Here, the various types of quality information correspond to printing resolution, halftone type, and microweave function classification. These various types of quality information are the same as those included in the information input from the manual setting dialog box DB2. The process for obtaining the various quality information will be described in detail later.

  Next, the data display field E4 will be described. The data display field E4 is a display area E41, E42, E43, which displays information about “paper size”, “printing direction”, “printing quality”, “microweave”, “bidirectional printing”, “color adjustment”. E44, E45, E46 are provided. The contents of “paper size” and “printing direction” displayed in the display areas E41 and E42 are data input and set using the “paper setting” card CD4. Details of the “paper setting” card CD4 will be described later.

  The contents of “print quality”, “microweave”, “bidirectional printing”, and “color adjustment” displayed in the display areas E43, E44, E45, E46 are as follows. When the “detailed setting” mode is selected in the “mode setting” data input field E1, the data in the contents set in the “manual setting” dialog box DB2 is displayed in the display areas E43 to E46. Is done. That is, the data for “print quality” input in the data input field E21, the data for “microweave” input in the data input field E25, and the data for “bidirectional printing” input in the data input field E26. , And data about “color adjustment” input in the data input field E27 are displayed in the display areas E43, E44, E45, E46, respectively.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the “recommended setting” mode is selected in the “mode setting” data input field E1, the “print quality” display area E43 and the “microweave” display area E44 are displayed. The data automatically obtained from the parameter value indicating the degree of quality selected by the slide lever type button E13 is displayed. Also, data such as “OFF” is displayed in the “bidirectional printing” display area E45, and data such as “color correction by the driver” is displayed in the “color adjustment” display area E36.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a dialog box DB1 in which the “paper setting” card CD4 is opened. As shown in the figure, the “paper setting” card CD4 has data input fields F1, F2, F3, and F4 for setting “paper size”, “number of copies”, “printing direction”, and “printable area”, respectively. And a display field F5 showing a three-dimensional stereoscopic image of the printer 14 as a planar image.

  The “paper size” data entry field F1 is used to set the paper size to be used together with the type of paper. For example, “A4 210 × 297 mm”, “A4 width 210 × 297 mm”, “Western envelope 120 × 235”, “Postcard 100 × 147 mm” or the like is prepared as an option.

  The “number of copies” data input field F2 is used to set the number of copies to be printed. In addition to the number of copies, whether the printing order is to be printed or not is printed in the normal or reverse order. Can also be specified by clicking the checkbox.

  The “printing direction” data input field F3 indicates the printing direction on the paper, and “vertical” and “horizontal” can be selected. The “printable area” data input field F4 is used to set a printable area on the paper, and “normal” and “centering” can be selected. “Normal”, as shown in FIG. 8A, defines the printable area AR1 so that a large margin is left between the lower end and the right end of the paper P, and “centering” refers to FIG. ), The printable area AR2 is determined so that the margins are equally spaced in the four directions of the top, bottom, left, and right of the paper P. The margins at the lower end and the right end of the paper P in FIG. 8A are blanks generated mechanically by the printer 14, and the lower end is not covered by the paper feed roller of the printer 14, so the right end is a carriage return. Arise.

As described above, the display field F5 shows a three-dimensional stereoscopic image of the printer 14 as a planar image, and is a planar image that shows the state of printing by the printer 14. Specifically, it is a flat image that can be understood as follows.
(1) Paper type and size (2) Paper orientation (3) Paper transport path during printing (4) Printing direction on paper (5) Printable area on paper

  The above-described planar images showing (1) to (5) are changed whenever the setting contents of the data input fields F1 to F4 are changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the “paper size” data input field F1 is set to “A4 210 × 297 mm”, the planar image in the display field F5 has a size corresponding to A4 and the printer size. Is set in the vertical direction. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, when the “paper size” data input field F1 is set to “A4 horizontal 210 × 297 mm”, the planar image in the display field F5 has a paper size corresponding to A4. The printer is set in the horizontal direction with respect to the printer. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, “paper transport path during printing” is an arrow, “printing direction on paper” is the direction of the letter “A”, and “printable area” is on the paper portion. This is indicated by the position of the drawn broken line.

  The data regarding the “paper size” input in the data input field F1 and the data regarding the “printing direction” input in the data input field F3 are the data when the above-described “basic setting” card CD3 is opened. They are displayed in the display areas E41 and E42 of the display field E4.

  The above-described screen display on the CRT display 12 is performed by the CPU 30 processing the processing routine of the information setting module 57 of the printer driver 53. Next, the processing routine of the information setting module 57 will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing routine of the information setting module 57. This processing routine is repeatedly executed every predetermined time. As shown in the figure, when the processing is started, the CPU 30 is active in five types of cards CD1 to CD5 of “information”, “detail”, “basic setting”, “paper setting”, and “utility”. It is determined whether there is a command to change the card in the state (step S100). Here, the card in the active state refers to a card displayed on the CRT display 12 in a data input state. The command to change the card is a command generated by an operation of clicking the card index using the mouse 20.

  If it is determined in step S100 that there is no command to change an active card, the process returns to “RETURN” and the process is temporarily terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S100 that there is a command to change the active card, then the changed card is “information”, “details”, “basic settings”, “paper”. It is determined which of the five types of cards “CD1” to “CD5” of “setting” and “utility” corresponds (step S110). Subsequently, a processing routine of a mode corresponding to the corresponding card, that is, a processing routine of information mode, detailed mode, basic mode, paper mode or utility mode is executed (steps S120 to S160). Thereafter, the process returns to “Return” to end the process.

  Next, the basic setting mode processing routine executed in step S140 will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing routine in the basic setting mode. As shown in the figure, when the processing is started, the CPU 30 executes a card display processing routine for displaying image data indicating the “basic setting” card CD3 on the CRT display 12 (step S200). Thereafter, in response to the data input operation using the keyboard 18 and mouse 20 by the operator looking at the display screen of the CRT display 12, various data are input (step S210). The inputted various data is stored in a predetermined position on the RAM 32 (step S220).

  For example, in step S200, the image data of the “basic setting” card CD3 illustrated in FIG. 5 is displayed on the CRT display 12. The operator looks at the image data displayed on the CRT display 12 and operates, for example, the button E13 to input “clean” data. In step S210, the CPU 30 takes in the “clean” data. To do. In step S220, the “clean” data is stored in a predetermined position on the RAM 32. The “clean” data is simple data when the “recommended setting” mode is selected, and actually, “720 × 720” is used as data for “output resolution” as data representing print quality information. (Corresponding to super fine) "is stored in a predetermined position on the RAM 32 as" micro wave "data" on "and" high tone halftone "as" halftone "data. . The processing for storing the quality information will be described in detail later.

  When the data storage operation is thus completed, the process waits for the operator to click “OK” on the display screen of FIG.

  Next, the card display processing routine executed in step S200 will be described in detail. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the card display processing routine. When the process proceeds to step S200, the CPU 30 first reads the base image data DT as the base of the “basic setting” card CD3 from the ROM 31 as shown in FIG. 12 (step S300), and the base image data DT is read. The image is transferred to the display image memory 33 (step S310). Here, the base image data DT represents an image obtained by removing a portion determined by input data from the image of the card CD3 shown in FIG. 5, and this image is as shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the buttons E11, E12, E13 in the “mode setting” input field E1, the “paper type” input field E2, the buttons E31, E32 in the “ink” input field E3, the data display field. The image data of the image in which the display areas E41 to E46 of E4 are blank are transferred to the display image memory 33 as display image data.

  Subsequently, various data d1 to dn (where n is an arbitrary positive number) related to the “basic setting” input from the “basic setting” card CD3 until the previous processing is read from the RAM 32 (step S320). The various data d1 to dn are added to a predetermined area of the display image data stored in the display image memory 33 (step S330). As a result, the display image data stored in the display image memory 33 is stored in the buttons E11, E12, E13 in the “mode setting” input field E1, the “paper type” input field E2, and the “ink” in FIG. The buttons E31 and E32 in the input field E3 indicate images on which characters or designs based on various data d1 to dn are drawn. Further, various data d1 to d4 in the display areas E43, E44, E45, and E46 indicating information on “print quality”, “microweave”, “bidirectional printing”, and “color adjustment” in the data display column E4. It shows an image in which characters based on dn are drawn. This is because data related to the display areas E43 to E46 is input as any of the various data d1 to dn from the “manual setting” dialog box DB2 opened from the “basic setting” card CD. Display areas E43, E44, E45, E46 can be filled.

  Next, the CPU 30 performs a process of reading the reference data DS1 and DS2 from the reference table stored in the RAM 32 (step S340). FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the reference table TBL. As shown in the drawing, the reference table TBL is composed of first reference data DS1 indicating the paper size and second reference data DS2 indicating the printing direction. The value of this reference table TBL is updated as follows.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing how the reference table TBL is updated. As shown in the figure, in the paper setting mode executed when the “paper setting” card CD4 is selected, the process S400 for inputting the paper size from the data input field F1 and the process S410 for inputting the printing direction from the data input field F3. The input paper size data df1 is stored in the area starting from the address a1 in the RAM 32, and the printing direction data df2 is stored in the area starting from the address a2 in the RAM 32. At the same time, the paper size data df1 is stored in the first reference data DS1 of the reference table TBL, and the printing direction data df2 is stored in the second reference data DS2 of the reference table TBL. Thus, each time “paper size” and “printing direction” are input in the paper setting mode, the reference data DS1 and DS2 of the reference table TBL are updated.

  Returning to FIG. 12, in step S340, a process of reading the reference data DS1 and DS2 from the reference table TBL is performed. Subsequently, the reference data DS1 and DS2 are added to a predetermined area of the display image data stored in the display image memory 33 (step S350). As a result, the display image data stored in the display image memory 33 is displayed in the reference data Ds1 and ds2 in the display areas E41 and E42 indicating information on “paper size” and “printing direction” in the data display field E4. It shows an image in which the character based is drawn.

  Thereafter, the display of the image on the CRT display 12 is controlled by the CRTC 38 based on the display image data stored in the display image memory 33 (step S360). As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, an image of the “basic setting” card CD3 in which characters or designs are embedded in parts E11 to E13, E2, E31, E32, E41 to E46 such as buttons and display areas is displayed on the CRT. It will be displayed on the display 12. After the execution of step S360, the process returns to “RETURN” to end the process once.

  Using the “basic setting” card CD3 displayed on the CRT display 12 in this manner, the data input operation is performed as described above (step S210 in FIG. 11).

  According to the card display processing routine having the above-described configuration, the image data indicating the “basic setting” card CD3 (the composite of the base image data DT and the image data based on the various data d1 to dn) is provided in a predetermined area. Then, an image of the image data added with the “paper size” and “printing direction” data input from the “paper setting” card CD4 other than the card CD3 is displayed on the CRT display 12.

  Therefore, when the operator selects the “basic setting” card CD3 and inputs data, the “paper size” and “printing direction” set from the “paper setting” card CD4, which is the other card, are selected. Can be obtained from the CRT display 12. As a result, since the number of times of switching the display of the selected cards CD1 to CD5 can be extremely reduced, the number of times the operator operates the mouse 20 can be reduced. The printer driver 53 is also easy to use.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when the “basic setting” card CD3 is displayed on the CRT display 12, the data input on the “manual setting” detailed input screen that can be opened from the “basic setting” card CD3 is displayed. Can be displayed. For this reason, the operator opens the detailed input screen for a plurality of pieces of information input from the “manual setting” detailed input screen opened from the card while inputting data from the “basic setting” card CD3. You can know without having to. As a result, since the number of times of switching between the “basic setting” card CD3 and the detailed input screen can be extremely reduced, the number of operations of the mouse 20 of the operator for switching the display screen can also be reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the “paper size” and “printing direction” data set from the “paper setting” card CD4 are displayed on the “basic setting” card CD3. The data set from the “details” card CD2 or the “utility” card CD3 may be displayed. Furthermore, the data set by a plurality of cards such as the “paper setting” card CD4 and the “detailed” card CD2 may be displayed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the display areas E41 and E42 indicating “paper size” and “printing direction” simply display data values. Instead, the display areas E41 and E42 display “ A function of a switch for switching display to the card CD4 of “paper setting” may be provided. According to this configuration, when the data input from the “paper setting” card CD4 other than the “basic setting” card CD3 is displayed and the value of the input data is to be changed, the display area is displayed. By clicking, the “paper setting” card CD4 can be opened immediately. Therefore, this printer driver is more convenient to use.

  In the above embodiment, as described above, the “basic setting” card CD3 is displayed by adding various data d1 to dn to the display image memory in step S330 of the card display routine. In particular, the display around the slide lever button E13 is realized by executing the following processing.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a part of step S330 in detail. As shown in the figure, when the process moves to step S330, the CPU 30 first executes the process of step S400 during the process routine. In step S400, it is determined whether or not the mode setting data d10 indicating which mode of “recommended setting” or “detailed setting” is selected is a value 1 indicating that the mode of “recommended setting” is selected. Determine. If it is determined that the value is not 1, that is, it is not the “recommended setting” mode, the process proceeds to “return”, and the process of step S330 is ended.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S400 that the value is 1, that is, the “recommended setting” mode, as shown in FIG. 17, the display image memory 33 displays a black circle in the area of the button E11. A process of adding data indicating a black circle to a predetermined area of the stored display image data is performed (step S410). Next, the CPU 30 determines which value is the paper type data d11 indicating “paper type” (step S420). If it is determined that the paper type data d11 is “1” indicating “plain paper”, the process proceeds to step S430.

  In step S430, as shown in FIG. 17, the display image is displayed so that “clean” characters are displayed in the left display column E13L of the slide lever indicated by the button E13 and “fast” characters are displayed in the right display column E14L. Character data is added to a predetermined area of the display image data in the memory 33.

  The characters “clean” and “fast” are selected from a plurality of parameter values stored in the print quality table stored in advance in the ROM 31 (parameter values indicating the degree of print quality in steps). is there. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the print quality table TBL2 as the first storage means and the second storage means. As shown in FIG. 18, in the print quality table TBL, four parameter values “cleaner”, “clean”, “standard”, and “fast” are prepared as stepwise parameter values indicating the degree of print quality. For each value, the printing resolution, microweave state, and halftone state are recorded in a table format. As the character strings displayed in the left and right display fields E13L and E13R of the slide lever, when the paper type is “plain paper”, the above “more beautiful”, “clean”, “standard”, “fast” From these four parameter values, “clean” and “fast” are selected.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S420 that the paper type data d11 is a value 2 indicating “super fine dedicated paper” or a value 3 indicating “exclusive glossy paper”, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. The character data is displayed in the display image data of the display image memory 33 so that the character “more beautiful” is displayed in the left display column E13L of the slide lever indicated by the button E13 and the character “standard” is displayed in the right display column E14L. Is added (step S440).

  The characters “more beautiful” and “standard” are selected from a plurality of parameter values indicating the degree of print quality stored in the print quality table TBL2, and the paper type is “super fine dedicated paper” or In the case of “dedicated glossy paper”, “cleaner” and “standard” are selected from the above four parameter values of “cleaner”, “cleaner”, “standard”, and “fast”.

  When the process of step S430 or step S440 is completed, a predetermined character string of display image data stored in the display image memory 33 is then displayed so that a character string indicating the paper type is displayed in the “paper type” data input field E2. The paper type data d11 is added to the area (step S450). Subsequently, the image part data based on the quality degree data d12 (the image part representing the lever part) is displayed so that the lever part of the slide lever of the button E13 is displayed at a position based on the quality degree data d12 representing the degree of printing quality. Is added to a predetermined area of the display image data (step S460). Thereafter, the process proceeds to “return”, and the process of step S330 is terminated.

  In the above-described embodiment, as described above, various data are input in step S210 of the routine for performing the basic setting mode. Specifically, the data input of the slide lever type button E13 is particularly important. This is realized by executing the following processing.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a part of step S210 in detail. As shown in the figure, when the process moves to step S210, the CPU 30 first executes the process of step S500 during the process routine. In step S500, it is determined whether or not the operator has performed a drag operation using the mouse 20 on the slide lever of the button E13. If it is determined that the drag operation has not been performed, the process proceeds to “return”, and the process of step S210 is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S500 that the drag operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S510, and the position information of the slide lever determined by the drag operation is read (step S510). Next, the parameter value corresponding to the character display on the position side indicated by the read position information (character display such as “cleaner”, “clean”, “standard”, “fast”) is selected parameter value selected by the operator. (Step S520). After that, by using the selected parameter value as a search key and comparing with the print quality table TBL2, quality information corresponding to the selected parameter value is obtained (step S530). For example, when “clean” is selected as the selected parameter value, the parameter information of “clean” is checked against the leftmost column of the print quality table TBL2 shown in FIG. That is, an output resolution of “720 × 720”, “Microweave” is on, and “High quality halftone” can be obtained.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to “return”, and the process of step S210 is terminated. The quality information obtained in step S530 is then stored in a predetermined position on the RAM 32 in step S220 described above.

  According to the processing routine shown in FIG. 16 having the above configuration, character strings as options are displayed on both sides of the slide lever type button E13 on the “basic setting” card CD3. The contents of this character string differ depending on the paper type. When the paper type is "plain paper", "clean" and "fast" are displayed, and the paper type is "super fine paper" or " In the case of “exclusive glossy paper”, “cleaner” and “standard” are displayed. Furthermore, according to the processing routine shown in FIG. 21 having the above-described configuration, the indicated position of the slide lever type button E13 dragged by the operator is read, and a parameter value is selected from that position, and the parameter value is selected according to the selected parameter value. Quality information is required.

  Therefore, even if the operator does not have detailed knowledge about the print quality information, the operator simply inputs parameter values such as “cleaner” and “clean” that indicate the degree of print quality step by step. It is possible to select the degree of printing quality suitable for the type of the printing.

  For this reason, this computer system can enable anyone to input printing quality information. Further, since it is not necessary to input many items of data as in the prior art, it is possible to reduce the work of inputting data.

  Further, in this embodiment, the data input field E2 for inputting the paper type and the button E13 for inputting the degree of printing quality are provided on one card CD3 of “basic setting”, and both are only input. Thus, various quality information can be set. For this reason, it is excellent in the operability of an operator's data input, and the work effort of data input can be reduced further.

  In this embodiment, the paper type setting means is configured to accept the key input by the operator and set the paper type, but instead of this, a signal sent from an external computer, here, the paper A signal indicating the type may be input.

  Furthermore, the above embodiment is applied to a computer system in which the printer 14 is directly connected to the local computer 10 with a cable. Instead, a printer connected to a server on the LAN is shared by a plurality of computers. It is good also as a structure applied to the computer system to do. Alternatively, a printer connected to a server connected via the Internet may be applied to a computer system controlled by a computer via the Internet.

  As mentioned above, although one Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited at all to such an Example, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can implement in various aspects. Of course.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Computer, 12 ... CRT display, 14 ... Printer, 16 ... Computer main body, 18 ... Keyboard, 20 ... Mouse, 22 ... Floppy (registered trademark) disk, 24 ... Floppy (registered trademark) disk drive, 30 ... CPU, 31 ... ROM, 32 ... RAM, 33 ... display image memory, 34 ... mouse interface, 35 ... keyboard interface, 36 ... FDC, 37 ... HDC, 38 ... CRTC, 39 ... printer interface, 40 ... I / O port, 41 ... HDD 44 ... modem, 46 ... public telephone line, 48 ... server, 51 ... application program, 52 ... video driver, 53 ... printer driver, 54 ... rasterizer, 55 ... color correction module, 56 ... halftone module, 57 ... information setting module.

Claims (3)

A printer control device capable of accepting settings for printing in a printer,
A first operation unit that switches between an active state and an inactive state according to the setting of the first setting item;
A second operation unit in which an active state and an inactive state are switched in reverse to the first operation unit according to the setting of the first setting item;
A data input field of a first setting item displayed on the same screen as the first operation unit;
A dialog box that is displayed when an operation is performed on the operation unit in an active state;
A display control unit for displaying
The dialog box has a data input field for the second setting item and a data input field for the third setting item,
The display control unit displays the content of the second setting item on the same screen as the data input column of the first operation unit and the first setting item,
When the first operation unit changes to an inactive state, the setting of the second setting item displayed on the same screen as the first operation unit is in an inactive state regardless of the contents set in the dialog box With the settings corresponding to
By operating the second operation unit in the active state, the third setting item is set without using the dialog box. A recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program that can accept settings for printing in a printer,
The computer program is
A first operation unit that switches between an active state and an inactive state according to the setting of the first setting item, and an active state and an inactive state that are opposite to the first operation unit according to the setting of the first setting item. A first step of displaying a second operation unit to be switched and a data input field of a first setting item displayed on the same screen as the first operation unit;
A second step of displaying a dialog box that is displayed when an operation is performed on the operation unit in an active state;
To the computer,
The dialog box has a data input field for the second setting item and a data input field for the third setting item,
The first step displays the contents of the second setting item on the same screen as the data input column of the first operation unit and the first setting item,
When the first operation unit changes to an inactive state, the setting of the second setting item displayed on the same screen as the first operation unit is in an inactive state regardless of the contents set in the dialog box A third step of displaying with settings corresponding to
A fourth step of setting a third setting item without using the dialog box by performing an operation on the second operation unit in an active state;
Is further executed by the computer. A printer control method capable of accepting settings for printing in a printer,
A first operation unit that switches between an active state and an inactive state according to the setting of the first setting item, and an active state and an inactive state that are opposite to the first operation unit according to the setting of the first setting item. A first step of displaying a second operation unit to be switched and a data input field of a first setting item displayed on the same screen as the first operation unit;
A second step of displaying a dialog box that is displayed when an operation is performed on the operation unit in an active state;
With
The dialog box has a data input field for the second setting item and a data input field for the third setting item,
The first step displays the contents of the second setting item on the same screen as the data input column of the first operation unit and the first setting item,
When the first operation unit changes to an inactive state, the setting of the second setting item displayed on the same screen as the first operation unit is in an inactive state regardless of the contents set in the dialog box A third step of displaying with settings corresponding to
A fourth step of setting a third setting item without using the dialog box by performing an operation on the second operation unit in an active state;
Is further provided.

Images