JP5861351B2 - Variable print job processing program and variable print job processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a variable print job processing program and a variable print job processing apparatus, and more particularly to a variable print job processing program and a variable print job processing apparatus for editing a variable print job.

  Variable data printing (VDP) is a form of on-demand printing, in which desired data is extracted from a database file, and various contents can be printed in different combinations for each page. It is also possible to edit a database used for such variable printing.

  The variable print job data is data that is changed page by page description language (PDL) such as PPML / VIPP / VPS / FreeForm. Such variable data (variable print job data) is composed of variable data that is changed according to the page, and reusable fixed data for printing the same image on each page. Printing using is called variable printing. In variable printing, fixed data and variable data are collected as one variable print job (Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-218306 A

  When editing the contents of such a variable print job, it is necessary to open the database file. For example, when adding contents, the contents to be added are written in the opened database.

  For this reason, if the data file of the original variable print job is large, it takes time to open the data file, and it takes much time and labor to add and edit the data itself.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a variable print job processing program that can add another print job to a variable print job with a simple operation, and a variable print job processing apparatus therefor.

  The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.

  (1) A variable print job that has a plurality of groups with different print contents in one print job and can be printed for each group is separated from a normal print job in which the contents to be printed are not changed. Separately displaying on the screen, extracting the contents of the variable print job or the normal print job selected as the addition source job from the jobs displayed on the screen, and the job displayed on the screen Creating a new group in the variable print job selected as an addition destination job from among the steps, and adding the extracted contents of the variable print job or the normal print job to the new group A variable print job processing program that causes a computer to execute a procedure comprising:

  (2) The variable print job processing program according to (1), wherein the new group is created in a group designated in advance among a plurality of groups in the variable print job.

(3) when the contain multiple same external reference link to the variable printing the job after the additional stages, and once access to the external reference link destination, and stores the data of the external reference link, before Symbol The variable print job according to (1) or (2), wherein when the data of the external reference link destination is printed in the variable print job, the stored data of the external reference link is used for printing. Processing program.

  (4) A computer-executable storage medium that records the variable print job processing program according to any one of (1) to (3).

(5) A single print job has a plurality of groups with different print contents, and a variable print job that can be printed for each group and a normal print job that does not change the print contents are displayed separately. Selectable display selection means, and extract the contents of the variable print job or the normal print job selected as the addition source job from the jobs displayed by the display selection means , and the display selection means A new group is created in the variable print job selected as an addition destination job from among the jobs displayed in, and the contents of the extracted variable print job or the normal print job are stored in the new group. A variable print job processing apparatus.

  (6) The variable print job processing apparatus according to (5), wherein the new group is created in a group designated in advance among a plurality of groups in the variable print job.

(7) said processing means further, to contain multiple same external reference links in the variable print job, and once access to the external reference link destination, and stores the data of the external reference link, before The variable printing according to (5) or (6), wherein when the data of the external reference link destination is printed in the variable print job, the stored data of the external reference link is used for printing. Job processing unit.

  According to the present invention, an empty group is created in the group designated in the variable print job, and the contents of the normal print job to be added are put therein, so that the original variable print job is not opened. However, the contents of the normal print job can be easily incorporated.

1 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of an image forming apparatus which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating an image forming apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating a variable print job. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an instruction procedure in variable print job additional editing processing (referred to as merge processing). It is a figure which shows an example of a job list. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a merge process instruction | indication screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a confirmation screen displayed after the instruction | indication to merge. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the procedure of a merge process. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a structure example of a normal print job to be merged. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a variable print job after merge processing. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation procedure of a variable print job by the image forming apparatus. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation procedure of a variable print job by the image forming apparatus, following FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an external configuration of an image forming apparatus as an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is called an MFP (Multi-functional peripheral) and has functions such as a scanner and a copy in addition to functions as a printer. The image forming apparatus 1 is roughly divided into a control unit 2, a printing unit 3, a paper feeding unit 4, a scanner 5, an operation unit 7, a post-processing unit 8, and the like.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is connected via a network 50 to a computer 51 (PC) for creating and editing variable print jobs. Note that a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like are connected to the computer 51 as in the case of a normal computer 51.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 2 includes a CPU 21, a RIP unit 22 (Raster Image Processor), a development memory 23, a transfer memory 24, a hard disk 25 (HDD), a communication interface 26 (NIC: Network Interface Card), A memory 28 is included. The control unit 2 is connected to the operation unit 7 via an internal bus.

  The CPU 21 controls the entire image forming apparatus 1. In particular, in the present embodiment, a program created based on a print job additional editing procedure for a variable print job to be described later is executed. Therefore, it can be said that the control unit 2 including such a CPU 21 is a computer that executes such a program.

  The RIP unit 22 analyzes a page description language (PDL: Page Description Language) such as a command or tag from the print job data according to an instruction from the CPU 21, rasterizes data such as characters and images, and prints the print unit. Bitmap data to be output to 3 is created. The bitmap data is expanded and stored in the expansion memory 23.

  The expansion memory 23 stores data expanded into bitmap data in the RIP unit 22. The transfer memory 24 temporarily stores the bitmap data expanded in the expansion memory 23 when it is sent to the printing unit 3. Note that the expansion memory 23 and the transfer memory 24 may be physically different memory chips, or are physically the same memory, and the storage areas in the memory are divided and used correspondingly. It may be a form to do. In addition, for example, a RAM is used.

  The hard disk 25 is used for storing print data (before rasterization) sent from the computer 51 or the like. The print data is stored together with job list information. The job list is stored as, for example, a management information base (MIB).

  In addition, the hard disk 25 stores a program for performing additional editing processing of a variable print job to be described later, for example. This program is not limited to the hard disk 25 but may be provided together with the firmware of the image forming apparatus 1 and stored in a firmware storage unit (not shown) such as an EPROM.

  The communication interface 26 connects the image forming apparatus 1 to the network 50. For this purpose, the communication interface 26 transmits and receives data according to the standard of the connected network 50. Here, the network 50 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) in which the computer 51 and network devices are connected according to standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), token ring, and FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface), or dedicated LANs. Various networks 50 such as a WAN (Wide Area Network) connected by a line. In the figure, one computer 51 and one image forming apparatus 1 are connected to the network 50, but a plurality of them may be connected.

  The memory 28 is a storage device that the CPU 21 uses for various processes.

  The printing unit 3 is referred to as a so-called print engine, and the bitmap data sent from the control unit 2 is printed from the paper feeding unit 4 in accordance with a command from the control unit 2. Print on recording media (printing paper, etc.). Here, the printing unit 3 is based on, for example, an inkjet method or an electrophotographic method, and is not particularly limited.

  The scanner 5 reads an image from a document.

  The operation unit 7 serves as an input unit and a display unit, and includes an operation panel for a user to input various operations to the image forming apparatus 1 and the state of the image forming apparatus 1 (variable printing printing described later). A display screen for displaying the predicted time is also provided. These include, for example, a liquid crystal screen and a touch panel. The operation of the image forming apparatus 1 can also be performed from the computer 51 via the network 50.

  The post-processing unit 8 performs processing such as stapling on the printed paper, and dividing into each copy when printing a plurality of copies. Such a post-processing unit 8 is an optional function and may not be provided.

  Here, the variable print job will be described. A variable print job can adopt a data structure defined by PDF / VT (ISO 16612-2: 2010), for example. Here, a variable print job is described in which a link referring to external data is described in the data, and the contents of the link destination are extracted and printed. A variable print job that makes it possible to use such a link is known as PDF / X-5, for example. By referring to the external data by such a link, it is possible to print by referring to the data from outside without having relatively large capacity data such as an image in the PDF. On the other hand, variable printing by PDF / VT maintains a database that contains a lot of information such as category classification and job settings in a hierarchical structure in one PDF file, including form data, logo data, etc. Fixed data is also included.

  In such a variable print job, printing is performed by selecting a category to be printed or a lower group in the category according to an instruction from the user when printing is performed. For this reason, the variable print job has a plurality of groups with different print contents, and the contents of groups selected by the user in advance from these groups are printed.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a variable print job.

  The print data 100 has a hierarchical structure as one variable print job. There is a document hierarchy 101 as a root of the hierarchical structure, and metadata is classified and defined in a hierarchical structure. There is also a link for extracting external reference data in this metadata.

  In the example shown in the figure, a hierarchical structure has a category 111 (higher level group) below the document hierarchy 101 that is the root, and variable data 112 (lower level group) and fixed data 113 below it. The variable data 112 is attached with a job ticket 115 for designating what kind of printing form each prints. Such a category 111 is a group and includes at least one variable data.

  In this category, an external reference link 114 for taking in data from the outside is also written.

  Further, fixed data 116 not included in the category is also included immediately below the document hierarchy 101. Although not shown, there may be a link not included in the category. These are all metadata.

  The category 111 is metadata classified under predetermined conditions in the variable print job. For example, the data is defined by the creator of the print data, such as classification by customer zip code, classification by product, classification by customer age, and the like. An example of usage of this category 111 is direct mail. As an example of the scenario, for example, this month, when direct mail is sent to a specific area, it is classified according to the category classified by zip code. Next month, to promote sales of specific products, it will be classified into categories for each product.

  For example, when dividing the zip code, the category A shown in the figure is a zip code including “1xxx-xxx”, the category B is a zip code including “2xxx-xxx”, etc. is there. Similarly, when dividing by product, category A is a popular model, category 2 is a high-functional model, and so on. Moreover, it is good also as a category which combined such a zip code (namely, specific area) and merchandise classification. For example, category A is a zip code including “1xxx-xxxxxx” and a popular model, category B is a zipcode containing “2xxx-xxxxxx” and a high-functional model, etc. is there. Of course, various other classifications and compound classifications are possible.

  Under one category 111, variable data 112 and fixed data 113 are included. These are also metadata.

  The variable data 112 is printed by being changed according to a print page, a print position, or the like. Specifically, for example, the customer's address name, product number, product photo, headwords that differ for each page and print position, and the like. In the figure, “name 1”, “name 2”, etc. are used. In addition to the name, it may be a product number, photo, headword, etc. as described above. In addition, a job ticket 115 indicating how to print the data is attached to the variable data 112. Since this job ticket can be changed together with variable data, it becomes one of the variable data (details will be described later).

  The variable data such as “name 1” and “name 2” shown in the figure indicate each group of the variable data 112. For example, when category A is zip code classification, variable data such as “name 1” and “name 2” are data including customer information such as the address and name of a customer having a zip code classified in category A. is there. Here, the variable data is divided into “name 1”, “name 2”, etc., but the postal code may be further subdivided into groups, and the same customer information may be printed in different formats such as resolution. You may divide by. Although only two names “name 1” and “name 2” are shown in the figure, further grouping is possible (of course, there may be one group).

  Each variable data 112 is accompanied by a job ticket 115 that specifies in what printing form the data is to be printed. As a specific printing mode, for example, when printing variable data of “name 1”, the paper size, resolution, color printing, number of pages to be printed, staple binding of printed matter, printing position in the page, and use are made. For example, specification of fixed data and specification of external reference link. The same applies to the variable data of “name 2”.

  Note that the print form included in the job ticket 115 may be other than those exemplified here, and is a command to be executed at the time of printing. Therefore, the contents of the job ticket 115 can be added or omitted as appropriate according to the printing form (layout in the paper). For example, in the job ticket 115 attached to the variable data 112, when there is no designation of a print position, a paper size, or the like, a paper size that matches the layout of the fixed data to be used is selected. If no page to be printed is specified in the job ticket 115 of the variable data 112, the variable data 112 is printed for all pages. A form without such designation may be registered in advance in the image forming apparatus 1 as a default, or a form in which unspecified data is printed regardless of the category 111 when a job is transmitted. May be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1.

  The fixed data 113 is so-called form data, and is data for printing the same content for each of a plurality of pages and a plurality of printing positions. In the figure, “form 1” and “form 2” are shown. Such fixed data 113 is, for example, the same headword on a plurality of pages, the image of the same design on a plurality of pages, a product photo, a logo, a barcode, a form line, etc. Here, a plurality of pages and a plurality of printing positions are, for example, catalog printing, etc., a large headword indicating that the first to tenth pages are household items, and the first to fifth pages of them are Living articles, pages 6 to 10 are small headwords indicating kitchen utensils. Further, in one page, it may be different for each printing position, such as a headword indicating a high-function product at the top of the page and a headword indicating a popular product below. There may be a plurality of such fixed data 113 in one category 111.

  In the external reference link 114, a URL indicating a location where data to be captured exists is written. The linked data is, for example, image data as with other form data, but is not limited to image data.

  On the other hand, the fixed data 116 that is not classified into the category 111 is also metadata. The fixed data 116 that is not classified into the category 111 is, for example, data (images, phrases, etc.) that are printed in common across a plurality of categories 111. Here, the plurality of categories 111 means at least two or more categories 111.

  Then, after such a variable print job is transferred to the image forming apparatus 1, a plurality of categories 111 can be printed together by an instruction from the computer 51 or an instruction from the operation unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 1. Among them, variable data can be individually designated and printed. The print instruction (selection of the group to be printed) may be performed when the variable print job is transferred to the image forming apparatus 1 or may be performed separately later.

  Next, a procedure for additional editing processing of a variable print job will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an instruction procedure in additional editing processing (referred to as merge processing) of a variable print job.

  Here, a processing procedure for adding other print job data stored in the image forming apparatus 1 to the variable print job stored in the image forming apparatus 1 by the computer 51 will be described. Such additional editing of print data is called merging. Here, the subject that performs the merge processing to be described is the computer 51. Therefore, here, the computer 51 is a variable print job processing apparatus.

  First, the computer 51 receives a job merge processing start instruction from the operation screen on the computer 51, and then acquires a job list held on the hard disk 25 from the computer 51 via the communication interface 26 of the image forming apparatus 1. (S1).

  Note that the job list information acquisition timing is not automatically at this time (the timing at which this merge processing program is started) but automatically when the job list is updated in the image forming apparatus 1 at the end of other print processing. Alternatively, the latest job list may always be on the computer 51 side as well. If so, the process of S1 is skipped.

  The job list acquisition method includes a method of acquiring information held in the MIB table by SNMP and a method of acquiring XML data by HTTP or HTTPs. Any method can be used as long as it can acquire information via a network. Good. The acquired job list data is temporarily stored in the computer 51 (where the job list data is temporarily stored in a memory (not shown) in the computer 51 as in the case of the normal computer 51). Etc.)

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the job list. As shown in the figure, the job list includes a job ID (Job ID), a job name, a category, a user name (variable data), a job ticket, form data (fixed data), an external reference link, and the like for each job. Has been. The form data (fixed data) and external reference link displayed here are the form data (fixed data) and external reference link specified in the job ticket.

  Since this job list corresponds to variable printing, each item also corresponds to it. Variable print jobs and normal print jobs are displayed, and are described in the job names so that they can be distinguished from each other. Note that in a normal print job, it is blank if there is no categorization or form data. The link is also blank if it does not exist. Further, the job ticket in the normal print job is a setting of a printing form (layout in the paper) when performing the printing as in the variable printing.

  When the information is acquired from the image forming apparatus 1, the computer 51 displays a merge processing instruction screen (S2). FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of the merge processing instruction screen. The merge processing instruction is, for example, a method of performing a merge instruction by drag and drop as shown in FIG. 6A, and exemplifies the case of merging JobID = 004 to JobID = 001. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the method is such that an instruction is determined on the menu screen after selecting a job. When JobID = 002 to 004 is put together, they are selected and indicated from the submenu. ("Variable creation in the figure") is selected. In addition, information necessary for creating the database, such as external reference links and user information, may be displayed and displayed in a form that suggests that merging is effective. In this way, when displaying the effect after merging before merging, it is determined in advance from the contents of all job lists whether, for example, there is the same external reference link between print jobs in the displayed job list. Need to search.

  When an instruction to execute merge processing is issued (S3: YES), the computer 51 acquires information on the designated job (S4). This process is information used at the time of a merge process to be described later.

  Further, an input screen for inputting information for designating the merge position and other additional information is displayed by the user, and information on input and selection instructions from the user is acquired (S5: merge information acquisition).

  In S5, the information to be input is, for example, information that is basically not included in a normal print job, such as a group that is a merge position when merging JobID = 004 into JobID = 001, such as a category or form data. Or enter other required information. In the case of new creation, a new variable job is created (S6: YES and S10). If a new variable print job is not created in S6 (S6: NO), the process proceeds to the next step S7.

  Next, the computer 51 displays a merge instruction confirmation screen (S7). FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation screen displayed after an instruction to merge. This figure shows an example of a confirmation screen displayed after an instruction to merge JobID = 004 with JobID = 001 as shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, “OK” and “Cancel” buttons are displayed together with the contents of JobID = 001 of the merge destination and the contents of JobID = 004 to be merged.

  When the merge processing execution instruction is not issued, that is, when cancel is pressed (S8: NO), the computer 51 erases the displayed pop-up screen, merge operation button display, or the like. If a new variable job is created in S10, it is not used and is deleted. Thereafter, the process ends. At this time, since merge processing or the like is not performed, transmission of a job to the image forming apparatus 1 is not performed, and the job list is not updated.

  On the other hand, when execution of the merge process is instructed, that is, when OK is pressed (S8: YES), the merge process is executed.

  This completes the instruction for the merge processing into the variable print job. The computer 51 executes processing for adding (merging) another print job to the variable print job in accordance with the contents of the instructed merge processing. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of the merge process. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a normal print job to be merged.

  First, an example of the structure of a normal print job will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the normal print job has a tag indicating the contents to be executed at the time of various printings starting with the job name “Title”. FIG. 9A shows the job name “bbbb”, and FIG. 9B shows “aaaa”.

  With reference to FIG. 8, the computer 51 first extracts the contents to be printed from the normal print job which is the merge source (print job to be merged) for the merge process.

  First, the computer 51 searches for a command ExtLink link tag and extracts the URL of the external reference link destination (S21). At this time, the computer 51 temporarily stores the extracted URL. The temporary storage is stored in a memory or the like in the computer 51 (the same applies hereinafter).

  Subsequently, the computer 51 extracts the contents of the job using the BeginFeature tab (S22). At this stage, the contents of the job are extracted from all BeginFeature tabs in the normal print job. The computer 51 temporarily stores the extracted job contents.

  Subsequently, if there is other information such as user information in the normal print job, the computer 51 extracts it from those tags (S23). The computer 51 temporarily stores other extracted information.

  The process so far is performed by the process of S4 in the merge instruction process.

  Subsequently, the computer 51 inspects the merge destination variable print job and checks whether each merge source information extracted and temporarily stored can be added to the variable print job (S24). This is, for example, whether the variable print job at the merge destination can use the external reference link, or can the job setting extracted from the BeginFeature tab be used.

  If merging is not possible here (S25: NO), that effect (and the reason) is displayed (S30), and the process is terminated. In the case where the merge is impossible, not only the fact that the merge is impossible is displayed on the computer 51 screen executing this procedure, but also the screen of the operation unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 1 is displayed. May also indicate that merging is not possible.

  On the other hand, if merging is possible (S25: YES), the computer 51 creates an empty database (new group) in the variable print job to be merged (S26). When a new variable print job has been created (S10 described above), an empty group is created therein.

  The position where the empty database is created is within the group (here, category A) designated in S5 during the merge processing instruction processing described above. The new empty group to be created is not limited to the category, but may be directly under the route outside the category, or one variable data may be formed as one group and further groups may be created therein.

  Subsequently, the computer 51 adds the contents of the normal print job of the merge source extracted and temporarily stored in S21 to 23 to the empty database created in S26 (S27). As a result, a variable print job in which a normal print job is added to the original variable print job is completed.

  The merged variable print job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 (S28). In the image forming apparatus 1, the received job is stored in the hard disk 25, and job list information is also updated and saved. In addition, the updated job list is transmitted to the computer 51. As a result, the computer 51 receives the updated job list and rewrites and displays the currently displayed job list (S29). Thus, the merge process ends.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a variable print job after the merge process. With the above processing, as shown in FIG. 10, the data 1120 of “name 5” and its job ticket 1150 are added as one group of variable data. FIG. 10 shows a case where the job to be added is selected to be placed in category A in S5 during the above-described merge processing instruction processing. In the figure, it is shown that a job ticket exists after “name 5”, but this is only for the purpose of explaining this embodiment in an easy-to-understand manner, and actual job data (especially job data after merge processing). ) Is not relevant in this order. This is because when a print job is executed, the commands and tags included therein are interpreted and executed, so that the order of description is not relevant for printing.

  As described above, the process of adding and editing another print job to the variable print job can also be performed on the computer 51 without opening the variable print job to be added.

  The additional editing process (merge process) described above can also be executed from the operation unit 7 on the image forming apparatus 1. That is, a program for performing the above-described additional editing instruction procedure and processing procedure is introduced into the image forming apparatus 1, and the program is executed by the control unit 2 of the image forming apparatus 1. Similar to the processing procedure, another job can be additionally edited to the variable print job by giving an instruction through the screen of the operation unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 1. In this case, when receiving the variable print job, the image forming apparatus 1 stores the data in the hard disk 15. Data to be added is also transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 and stored in the hard disk 15. In addition, a program for performing an additional editing instruction procedure and processing procedure may be executed. In this case, the control unit 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 serves as a display selection unit and a processing unit.

  Of course, as long as the image forming apparatus 1 can execute the program of the general-purpose computer 51, the computer 51 may be the same as the program for executing the additional editing instruction procedure and the processing procedure. If the image forming apparatus 1 requires a dedicated program, a program for executing an additional editing instruction procedure and processing procedure is prepared and executed accordingly.

  Next, a variable print job printing operation by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  The basic printing operation was printing in the designated paper feeding unit 4 to print out an image of the print job received by the control unit 2 when a print job is received from the computer 51 via the network 50. Feed paper from the paper tray that contains the paper. Here, the print job includes print job information (also referred to as job ticket setting) and image data including, for example, four colors of CYMK. The print job is held in the hard disk 25, rasterized in the control unit 2, and image data to be printed is stored in the hard disk 25. After the print job data is once stored in the hard disk 25, after printing is executed, the print job data is not erased until the number of jobs (or capacity) is reached by inputting a command for erasing the print job or in advance. For this reason, in the case of a variable print job in particular, it can be reused even after printing is finished.

  The operation procedure of variable printing will be described below. FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are flowcharts illustrating a printing operation procedure of a variable print job by the image forming apparatus. This procedure is mainly executed by the control unit 2 in the image forming apparatus 1.

  The control unit 2 waits until a print job is received. When the print job is received, the control unit 2 determines whether the job is variable printing (S41). If the print job is not a variable print job (S41: NO), the print job information and print page information included in the print job received on the memory 28 are analyzed as they are, and rasterization is performed for each page data (S71). Then, an image created by rasterization is printed, post-processing is performed by the post-processing unit 6 as necessary, and the printed material is discharged to the output tray (S72). Then, the job list information stored in the hard disk 25 is updated and stored (S73). At this time, if there is a job list display instruction from the operation unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 1, it is displayed. Thereafter, the process ends.

  In the case of a variable print job (S41: YES), the print job information and print page information included in the print job are analyzed on the memory 28, and the data of the variable print job is stored in the hard disk 25 together with the analysis result (S42: Analysis and storage of variable print jobs). A variable print job can include a plurality of data and job tickets, and analyzes information for each variable data (for each group).

  Here, in the variable print job created after performing the merge process described above, the external reference link in the merge destination variable print job may be the same as the external reference link in the normal print job added later. For example, when creating one variable print job from the beginning, if there is an external reference link that is shared by multiple variable data in the variable print job, the external reference link is called from the variable data. In many cases, only one is listed as being used. However, when a normal print job is added later, it is added without considering whether or not there is the same external reference link in the merged variable print job. In particular, in this embodiment, when adding a normal print job, it is not necessary to open a merge destination variable print job. Therefore, it is not known whether or not the same external reference link exists in the merge destination variable print job.

  For this reason, when there is the same external reference link (denoted as an external link in the figure) in the variable print job after merging, in order to improve the memory usage, the external reference links are combined as one external reference link. It is effective.

  Therefore, following S42, the control unit 2 performs print job alignment processing for efficiently using the memory usage when there is the same external reference data in one variable print job.

  If the control unit 2 confirms the setting and the instruction for alignment is not set (S43: NO), the control unit 2 does nothing and ends the alignment process. The process proceeds to S45.

  On the other hand, if the instruction for alignment is set (S43: YES), the following is repeated while there is a variable data job being processed (S61).

  If there is a link of external reference data in the variable data job being processed (S62: YES), the link destination of the external reference data of the variable data being processed is extracted (S63). Then, the link destination of the same external reference data is searched from other variable data jobs, and if there is a variable data job having a matching link destination (S64: YES), the variable data job having the same link is searched. The data is rearranged so as to come next to the variable data currently being processed (S65). Thus, variable data jobs having the same external reference link are arranged before other jobs.

  When the link destinations match in a plurality of jobs, the priority order is given according to the time when the job is submitted, or the priority order is given to each link destination having a large number of matching jobs. The rearrangement condition may be determined by internal processing, or the priority order may be set by user selection.

  After the sorting so far, or when there is no link of external reference data in the variable data job being processed in S62 (S62: NO), or there is no variable data job having a matching link destination in S64 (S64) : NO), the process proceeds to the first variable data job whose input time has been extracted among the variable data jobs that have not been extracted so far (S66), and the rearrangement process from S61 to S66 is eliminated. Repeat until. This repetition is similarly performed for other categories (S67).

  When the rearrangement process is completed (or when this process is not performed), the control unit 2 determines that the variable data job currently being processed is converted to the external reference data from the analysis result of the variable print job stored in the hard disk 25. It is determined whether or not a link is included. If external reference data is included (S45: YES), it is checked whether or not the corresponding external reference data exists on the memory 28 (S46). Here, when the data of the external reference link is currently held in the memory 28 (S46: YES), the data of the external reference link held in the memory 28 is read, and the print job information and print page included in the print job are read. Rasterization is performed together with information and the like (S47).

  At this time, when the same external reference link is used in a plurality of variable data (a plurality of groups), the variable using the same external reference link immediately after printing one variable data by the alignment process described above. Data will be printed. Then, since the data of the external reference link on the memory 28 is not erased at that time, it is not necessary to acquire the data of the external reference link, and the time required for this can be saved.

  If the external reference data is not included in S45 (S45: NO), the variable data is rasterized according to the variable print job information as it is (S50), and the process proceeds to S55.

  On the other hand, when the external reference data is not retained on the memory 28 (S46: NO), the external reference link is accessed via the network 50 according to the external reference link and accessed via the network 50. The previous data is acquired (S48). The acquired data is stored on the memory 28 (S49). At this time, the data of the external reference link destination stored in the memory 28 until then is erased (overwritten).

  Thereafter, using the stored data on the memory (that is, data acquired from the external reference link destination), rasterization is performed together with print job information and print page information included in the print job in S47 (S47).

  Thereafter, the control unit 2 prints the rasterized image, performs post-processing by the post-processing unit 8 as necessary, and discharges the printed matter to the output tray (S55). Then, it is determined whether or not all the variable data (group) to be designated for output has been printed (S56). If all the output has not been completed (S56: NO), the process returns to S45 and the next variable data designated for output. (Group) processing is performed in the same manner.

  On the other hand, if all the output is completed in S56 (S56: YES), the information of the job list held in the hard disk 25 is updated (S57), and the process is terminated. The updated job list is displayed on the operation unit 7 on the image forming apparatus 1 according to an instruction from the user.

  Thus, the printing operation ends.

  The alignment process described above may be performed in the computer 51 instead of the image forming apparatus. For example, after the merge process, variable data (groups) having the same external reference link are arranged in the variable print job created after the merge process, and then the variable print job is input to the image forming apparatus. May be.

  Conversely, as already described, the merge processing is also performed by the image forming apparatus 1 so that the subsequent alignment processing and printing operation may be performed continuously by the image forming apparatus 1.

  According to the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

  Since an empty group (for example, a group of variable data) is created in the category (group) specified in the variable print job and the contents of the normal print job to be added are put in it, the original variable print Even without opening a job, the contents of a normal print job can be easily incorporated.

  Also, when printing variable data (group) having the same external reference link, the data of the external reference link destination is acquired once and stored in memory, and then the variable data (group) having the same external reference link is stored. In some cases, the data on the memory is used. For this reason, it is not necessary to retrieve the data of the same external reference link over and over, and the time required for the substitute bill processing can be shortened.

  Further, by arranging variable data (groups) having the same external reference link in the variable print job after the merge process (additional edit process), the same data can be used or the bad rate can be increased.

  Although the embodiment to which the present invention is applied has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment.

  For example, not only a normal print job but also a plurality of normal print jobs can be combined with a variable print job. In that case, each normal print job becomes each group in the variable print job.

  Also, another variable print job can be added to the variable print job. In this case, the contents of the variable print job to be added are included in the specified group in the merge destination variable print job. Therefore, each group of the added variable print job can be handled in the same manner as each group of the original variable print job.

  Further, although the variable print job has a two-layered grouping in which the upper group is a category and the lower group is a variable data group, these may be a plurality of hierarchical structures (three or more layers). When printing is performed, not only the highest group (the above category) is printed as one job unit, but also one job unit may be printed for each lower group. A group to be designated in the additional processing (a group for creating a group from) can be arbitrarily set such as a higher group such as a category or a lower group located in variable data below the group.

  Regarding the handling of external reference links, the specification of external reference elements added from PDF / X-5 is assumed, but this is not necessarily limited to this specification. This includes all cases where address information such as a URL to a server or the like is included, and an image or text data is stored at the link destination.

  In addition, the present invention can be variously modified based on the configurations described in the claims.

1 image forming apparatus,
2 control unit,
3 Printing department,
4 Paper feeder,
7 Operation part,
8 Post-processing section,
21 CPU,
22 RIP section,
23 Development memory,
24 memory for transfer,
25 Hard disk (HDD),
26 Communication interface (NIC),
50 network,
51 Computer 51,
101 Document hierarchy,
111 categories,
112 variable data,
113 fixed data,
114 external reference link,
115 job ticket,
116 Fixed data not included in category.
1120 Variable data added,
1150 Added job ticket.

Claims (7)

A single print job has multiple groups with different print contents, and variable print jobs that can be printed for each group are distinguished from normal print jobs that do not change the printed contents on the screen. And the stage to display
Extracting the contents of the variable print job or the normal print job selected as an addition source job from the jobs displayed on the screen;
Creating a new group in the variable print job selected as an addition destination job from the jobs displayed on the screen;
Adding the contents of the extracted variable print job or the normal print job to the new group;
A variable print job processing program that causes a computer to execute a procedure having:   The variable print job processing program according to claim 1, wherein the new group is created in a group designated in advance among a plurality of groups in the variable print job. If the same external reference link is included in the variable print job after the adding step,
Access the external reference link once, store the data of the external reference link,
Before Symbol the variable print job, variable print job according to claim 1 or 2 wherein when, characterized in that to print using data of the external reference link to the storage of print data of an external reference destination Processing program.   A computer-executable storage medium storing the variable print job processing program according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Display and select variable print jobs that have multiple groups with different print contents in one print job and normal print jobs that do not change the print contents that can be printed for each group. A display selection means for enabling;
Extract the contents of the variable print job or the normal print job selected as the addition source job from the jobs displayed by the display selection means,
Create a new group in the variable print job selected as the addition destination job from the jobs displayed on the display selection means ,
Processing means for adding the contents of the extracted variable print job or the normal print job to the new group;
A variable print job processing apparatus comprising:   6. The variable print job processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the new group is created in a group designated in advance among a plurality of groups in the variable print job. Said processing means further to contain multiple same external reference links in the variable print job, and once access to the external reference link destination, and stores the data of the external reference link, before Symbol variable printing 7. The variable print job processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the external reference link destination data is printed in a job, the stored external reference link data is used for printing.