JP5874385B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program.

  There are various display modes of application data that is the basis of an image formed by the image forming apparatus, and one of them is table data including a plurality of cells in the display mode. Table data is data having a plurality of cells separated by grid-like lines, and a device for generating table data is known (for example, Patent Document 1). The user can input a value for each cell included in the table data, and can perform various edits such as the presence / absence of filling or forming a frame line of each cell. When the original application data is table data, the image forming apparatus forms a display mode based on edited values such as values input into each cell, painting, and frame lines as an image.

JP-A-5-233617

  When printing table data, the printer driver installed on the terminal that stores the table data generally converts the table data into a printer language (Page Description Language (PDL)), and then the printer language. In this case, the image forming apparatus is simply input without distinguishing whether or not the content of the data before being converted into the printer language is table data. By generating bitmap data corresponding to the printer language, an image corresponding to the display mode of the table data is formed.

  On the other hand, there is a method called direct printing that performs image formation using data transmitted from an external device without being converted into a printer language or the like by a printer driver. In this method, the image forming apparatus uses a printer language or the like. A process of generating bitmap data based on the transmitted data without undergoing conversion into the data is performed.

  When generating bitmap data of table data in direct printing, a conventional image forming apparatus sequentially analyzes the edited contents of cells included in the table data in units of one cell. Here, as shown in the example of FIG. 11A, the cell adjacent to the cell processed earlier in the image formation of the table data in which the frame of one cell also serves as the frame of the adjacent cell is filled. When applied, as shown in FIG. 11B, the border line of the previously processed cell is overwritten by the adjacent cell filling process. In order to avoid overwriting of the cell border due to such filling, the conventional image forming apparatus calculates the area of the filling of the cell adjacent to the cell having the border, or fills the border by a transparent process. It was necessary to process to draw as the upper side. However, since the calculation process and the transparent process of the fill area are expensive processes, the processing capability of the image forming apparatus is divided by the amount of these processes, which reduces the efficiency of image formation. It was.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program that can perform image formation of table data more efficiently in direct printing.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides an acquisition unit that acquires the application data in an image forming apparatus having a direct print function that acquires application data from an external device and performs image formation. An analysis unit that generates a plurality of intermediate language data corresponding to each of a plurality of objects related to image formation included, a rasterization unit that generates print data from the plurality of intermediate language data generated by the analysis unit, and the application When an image formed according to data includes a plurality of cells separated by a grid-like line, a detection unit that detects an object corresponding to designation of cell filling in a predetermined region including the plurality of cells; The rasterizing unit includes a plurality of objects in the predetermined area. If the transfected overlap, characterized in that the drawing content corresponding to the specified fill cells of the predetermined area by overwriting in another drawing contents within the predetermined area to generate the print data.

  Further, in the present invention, the analysis unit is configured so that the intermediate language data corresponding to designation of cell filling in the predetermined area is prior to the intermediate language data corresponding to other drawing contents in the predetermined area. It is desirable to generate a set of intermediate language data arranged to be processed by the rasterizing unit.

  Further, in the present invention, when the detection unit detects an object corresponding to the cell fill designation, the analysis unit outputs intermediate language data corresponding to the cell fill in the predetermined area to another cell related to the cell. Generated before intermediate language data corresponding to drawing, the rasterizing unit generates the print data by superimposing the drawing contents corresponding to each intermediate language data in the predetermined area in accordance with the generation order of the intermediate language data It is desirable to do.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the predetermined area is an area corresponding to one page of a recording medium on which an image is formed or an area corresponding to one continuous sheet in a display device.

  In the present invention, the predetermined area may be an area composed of one cell and a cell adjacent to the one cell around the one cell.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that a display unit that performs display for confirming an aspect of an image formed on the recording medium in accordance with the print data generated by the rasterization unit is provided.

  Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides a step of acquiring the application data in an image forming method by an image forming apparatus having a direct print function for acquiring application data from an external device and performing image formation; A step of generating a plurality of intermediate language data corresponding to each of a plurality of objects related to image formation included in the application data, and a cell in which an image formed according to the data is partitioned by a grid line If included, the step of detecting an object corresponding to the cell fill designation in the predetermined area including the plurality of cells and the plurality of objects in the predetermined area corresponding to the plurality of intermediate language data overlap, Rendering content corresponding to the specified fill of cells in the specified area And having the steps of: generating a further print data is overwritten by the drawing content of the predetermined area.

  In order to solve the above problem, the program according to the present invention includes a computer, a means for acquiring the application data, and a plurality of intermediate language data corresponding to each of a plurality of objects related to image formation included in the application data. Generating an image corresponding to the cell fill designation in a predetermined area including the plurality of cells when the image formed in accordance with the data includes cells separated by a grid line. Means, when a plurality of objects in the predetermined area corresponding to the plurality of intermediate language data overlap, the drawing content corresponding to the cell fill specification in the predetermined area is overwritten with the other drawing contents in the predetermined area It is made to function as a means to generate the printed data.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform image formation of table data more efficiently in direct printing.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the data produced | generated by the various image processes by an image process part, and the said various image processes. It is a figure which shows an example of the filling and frame line which were given to the cell contained in SpreadsheetML data. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the order of each DL contained in DL group. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating the order of DLs generated from the SpreadsheetML data illustrated in FIG. 4 in the first embodiment. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating the DL order when the rendering content of each cell in the SpreadsheetML data illustrated in FIG. 4 is simply generated as a sequential DL. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of image forming processing. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the analysis process in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a rasterization process. It is a figure which shows the order of DL contained in DL group produced | generated from the SpreadsheetML data shown in FIG. 4 in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the analysis process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the overwrite of the frame line by the filling of an adjacent cell. FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating a display example of table data including a cell in which a frame line is set and a cell adjacent to the cell and designated to be filled. In FIG. 11B, when the data of the display example shown in FIG. 11A is sequentially analyzed in units of one cell, the frame line of the previously processed cell is overwritten by the cell filling process. It is a figure which shows an example.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image forming system 100 including the image forming apparatus 1.
The image forming system 100 includes an image forming apparatus 1 and a terminal 2 that are communicably connected via a network 3.

  The image forming apparatus 1 forms an image according to a print job transmitted from the terminal 2 via the network 3. Here, the terminal 2 includes data such as application data as it is in the print job and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 1. Application data is data used in an application such as a personal computer (PC), and is not converted into a printer language by a printer driver or the like. Specific examples of applications include office suites such as Microsoft Word (registered trademark) and Microsoft Excel (registered trademark). That is, data transmitted from the terminal 2 to the image forming apparatus 1 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 without undergoing conversion processing into a printer language. The image forming apparatus 1 performs analysis processing and rasterization processing on data included in the print job to generate print data, and forms an image corresponding to the generated print data. That is, the image forming apparatus 1 is an image forming apparatus having a direct print function.

Note that the terminal 2 is not limited to a stationary terminal device as illustrated in FIG. 1, and may be a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal.
The network 3 is a communication network constructed using, for example, an existing communication line, such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), Bluetooth (registered trademark), Various line forms such as NFC (Near Field Communication) can be applied. Moreover, the form of the communication line of the network 3 may be wired, wireless, or a mixture of wired and wireless. The network 3 is, for example, a telephone line network, an ISDN line network, an optical fiber, a mobile communication network, a communication satellite line, a CATV line network, and other communication line networks such as a dedicated line, and an Internet service provider that connects them. Etc. may be included.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a communication unit 11, a control unit 12, a recording unit 13, an image processing unit 14, an image forming unit 15, an operation display unit 16, and the like, which are connected via a bus 17.

The communication unit 11 performs communication via the network 3. Specifically, the communication unit 11 includes, for example, a network interface card (NIC).
The communication unit 11 receives a print job including data such as application data transmitted from the terminal 2 via the network 3. Here, the communication unit 11 functions as an acquisition unit that acquires data before analysis processing included in the print job received by the communication unit 11.

The control unit 12 performs various processes related to the operation of the image forming apparatus 1.
Specifically, the control unit 12 includes, for example, a CPU 12a, a RAM 12b, a ROM 13, and the like. The CPU 12a reads and processes various programs, data, and the like recorded in the ROM 12c, the recording unit 13, and the like, and controls the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the processing content.

The recording unit 13 records various data handled by the image forming apparatus 1.
The recording unit 13 includes, for example, at least one of a RAM, a hard disk drive, a flash memory, and other recording devices, and records various data handled by the image forming apparatus 1 in the recording device. Specifically, the recording unit 13 records various programs and data read by the CPU 12 a of the control unit 12.

The image processing unit 14 performs various types of image processing for generating print data, for example, bitmap data, from data such as application data included in the print job received by the communication unit 11.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of various image processes performed by the image processing unit 14 and data generated by the various image processes.
Specifically, the image processing unit 14 includes, for example, an analysis unit 14a and a rasterization unit 14b.
The analysis unit 14a performs an analysis process for generating a plurality of intermediate language data corresponding to each of a plurality of objects related to image formation included in the application data. Specifically, the analysis unit 14a creates, for example, a display list (Display List, DL) as intermediate language data. The DL is individually generated according to each object (for example, designation of filling of one cell).
The rasterizing unit 14b performs a rasterizing process for generating print data from a plurality of intermediate language data generated by the analyzing unit 14a. Specifically, for example, the rasterizing unit 14b generates bitmap data from one DL or a DL group including a plurality of DLs corresponding to one or a plurality of objects included when forming an image for one page. The DL group is a set of intermediate language data including a plurality of DLs arranged in the order processed by the rasterizing unit 14b.

The image forming unit 15 forms an image based on the print data generated by the image processing unit 14.
Specifically, the image forming unit 15 develops a toner image corresponding to bitmap data on a primary transfer member such as a transfer roller, for example, a conveyance unit that pulls out and conveys paper stocked as a recording medium from a paper tray. A developing unit, a primary transfer unit that transfers the toner image developed on the primary transfer member to a secondary transfer member such as a transfer belt, and a toner image that is transferred to the secondary transfer member is transferred to a sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit. The image forming apparatus includes a next transfer unit, a fixing unit that fixes the transferred toner image on the sheet, a discharge unit that discharges the sheet after the fixing process by the fixing unit, and the like.

The operation display unit 16 receives various display outputs related to the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 and various input operations related to the operation of the image forming apparatus 1.
Specifically, the operation display unit 16 includes, for example, a touch panel type liquid crystal display, a switch provided according to the content of the operation, and the like.

  The operation display unit 16 displays various setting items related to image formation and a screen showing the current setting contents on the liquid crystal display, and performs various input operations related to determination and change of the setting contents performed by the user. Accept by touch panel or switch. The control unit 12 determines and changes the setting content related to image formation by the image forming apparatus 1 in accordance with the determination and change of the setting content performed via the operation display unit 16.

Next, processing related to cell filling and frame drawing in analysis processing will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of filling and a frame line applied to cells included in SpreadsheetML data.
SpreadsheetML data is data in a format used in spreadsheet software in the OOXML (Office Open XML) format. As shown in the example of FIG. 4, the Spreadsheet ML data includes cells separated by grid-like lines. In SpreadsheetML data, the user can input a character string such as a numerical value in each cell. In addition, the user can perform various types of editing such as specifying fills and setting borders for each cell.
Various elements corresponding to the character string of each cell, the specification of the filling of each cell, the setting of the border of each cell, and other editing contents of each cell, which are included in the SpreadsheetML data, are handled as individual objects.

When the application data is SpreadsheetML data as shown in the example of FIG. 4, the analysis unit 14a functions as a detection unit that detects designation of cell filling in a predetermined area including cells.
Specifically, the analysis unit 14a detects, for example, designation of cell filling in an area including one cell to be processed and a cell adjacent to the one cell around the one cell. When the cell B2 of SpreadsheetML data shown in FIG. 4 is a processing target, the analysis unit 14a detects the designation of the fill applied to the cells B2 and C2.

When the cell fill is detected, the analysis unit 14a generates intermediate language data corresponding to the cell fill in the predetermined area before the intermediate language data corresponding to other drawing related to the cell.
Specifically, for example, in the analysis processing for the cell B2 shown in FIG. 4, the analysis unit 14a specifies the filling of the cells B2 and C2 and therefore specifies the filling of the cells B2 and C2. DL corresponding to is generated individually. Thereafter, the analysis unit 14a individually generates DLs corresponding to other drawing of the cell B2, such as setting of the frame line of the cell B2 and a character string input to the cell B2. In addition, not only in the cell C2, but also in the cell B2 surrounding the cell B2, when the fill is designated, the analysis unit 14a prior to generating the DL corresponding to another drawing of the cell B2, A DL corresponding to the specified fill of the cell is generated.

Further, the analysis unit 14a does not duplicately generate the DL corresponding to the fill designation for the cells for which the DL corresponding to the fill designation has already been generated.
For example, the analysis unit 14a detects the designation of the fill of the cell B2 adjacent to the cell C2 around the cell C2 and the cell C2 during the analysis processing of the cell C2 illustrated in FIG. Since the corresponding DL has already been generated by the analysis process of the cell B2, the DL corresponding to the designation of the fill is omitted during the analysis process of the cell C2. Therefore, at the time of analysis processing of the cell C2, the analysis unit 14a generates only DL corresponding to other drawing of the cell C2, such as setting of the frame line of the cell C2 and a character string input to the cell C2.

On the other hand, when the generation of the DL corresponding to the specification of the fill of the processing target cell itself has already been performed, the DL of the DL corresponding to the specification of the filling of the cell adjacent to the cell around the processing target cell. If the generation has not yet been performed, the analysis unit 14a individually generates a DL corresponding to the designation of the fill of the cell adjacent to the processing target cell during the analysis processing of the processing target cell, and then the processing target cell. DL corresponding to other drawing is generated individually.
For example, at the time of the analysis process for the cell B2 shown in FIG. 4, the DL corresponding to the designation of the fill of the cell C2 has already been generated. Here, if any one or a plurality of cells (for example, cells D1 to D3) that are adjacent to the cell C2 and are not adjacent to the cell B2 around the cell C2 are specified to be filled, the analysis unit 14a , After generating DL corresponding to the designation of the fill of the cell that is adjacent to cell C2 but not adjacent to cell B2 around cell C2, the frame line setting of cell C2 or the character input to cell C2 A DL corresponding to another drawing of the cell C2, such as a column, is generated.
That is, the analysis unit 14a selects a DL corresponding to a fill designation for which a DL has not yet been generated, among the cell fill designations in an area composed of a cell to be processed and a cell adjacent to the cell around the cell. Then, a DL corresponding to another drawing of the cell to be processed is generated.

The analysis unit 14a treats cells one by one in a predetermined order, and performs analysis processing on all the cells included in the application data. In the first embodiment, the analysis unit 14a sets the upper left cell of one or more cells included in one sheet of Spreadsheet ML data as the first analysis target, and then adjoins the right side of the cell for which analysis processing has been completed immediately before Repeat the process of making the cell to be analyzed a new analysis target. When the analysis process for one horizontal row of cells is completed, the analysis unit 14a sets the cell located on the leftmost side of the cell in the horizontal row immediately below as a processing target, and performs the analysis processing for the lower right cell of one sheet. The same processing is repeated until is finished.
For example, the analysis unit 14a generates a DL corresponding to the designation of the filling of the cell E2, since the filling of the cell E2 shown in FIG. 4 is designated after the analysis processing of the cell B2, the cell C2, and the cell D2. Thereafter, the analysis unit 14a generates a DL corresponding to another drawing of the cell E2, such as setting of a frame line of the cell E2 and a character string input to the cell E2.
In addition, the analysis processing for a cell that is not designated for filling is the same as the analysis processing described above, except that the DL corresponding to the designation for filling is not generated. The same applies to the setting of the frame line of the cell E2 and the case where there is no character string or the like input to the cell E2, except that the corresponding DL is not generated.

The above-mentioned predetermined order is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. All cells can be processed, and the DL corresponding to the designation of the filling in the predetermined area can be set to other cells to be processed. The order may be any order that can be generated before the DL corresponding to the drawing. In other words, the analysis unit 14a has a DL group arranged so that the DL corresponding to the cell fill designation in the predetermined area is processed by the rasterizing unit before the DL corresponding to other drawing contents in the predetermined area. Is generated.
In the above description with reference to FIG. 4, processing of each cell of SpreadsheetML data including a plurality of cells has been described. However, in the case where there is only one cell, it corresponds to the specification of the filling of the cell. The DL to be generated is generated before the DL corresponding to the other drawing of the cell.

Next, processing related to cell filling and frame drawing in rasterization processing will be described.
The rasterizing unit 14b reads a DL group corresponding to one page of the recording medium in the rasterizing process. The rasterizing unit 14b generates bitmap data in band units obtained by equally dividing one page into a plurality of equal parts in the sub-operation direction of the image forming unit 15. The rasterizing unit 14b sequentially generates band-size bitmap data and records it in the recording unit 13. When the rasterizing unit 14b completes the generation of the bitmap data for one page, the rasterizing unit 14b deletes the DL group corresponding to the one page from the recording unit 13.

In addition, when the rendering contents corresponding to the plurality of intermediate language data overlap, the rasterizing unit 14b changes the rendering contents corresponding to the intermediate language data generated earlier to the rendering contents corresponding to the intermediate language data generated later. Overwrite with to generate print data.
Specifically, for example, the rasterizing unit 14b reads DLs from the DL group in the order generated by the analyzing unit 14a, and superimposes the drawing contents of objects corresponding to the DLs according to the read order.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the order of each DL included in the DL group. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating the order of DLs generated from the SpreadsheetML data illustrated in FIG. 4 in the first embodiment. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating the DL order when the rendering content of each cell in the SpreadsheetML data illustrated in FIG. 4 is simply generated as a sequential DL.
The rasterizing unit 14b performs rasterizing processing according to the order in which each DL is generated by the analyzing unit 14a. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the rasterizing unit 14b according to the first embodiment performs cell rendering after rendering the bitmap data corresponding to the designation of the filling of the cell B2 and the cell C2 adjacent to the cell B2. Drawing processing of bitmap data corresponding to the frame line of B2 is performed.

  If the bitmap data rendering process corresponding to the designation of the fill applied to each cell, the setting of the frame line, etc. is sequentially performed in units of cells, as shown in FIG. 5B, the frame of the cell B2 Since the cell C2 is filled after the line, as shown in FIG. 11B, the border of the previously processed cell is overwritten by the neighboring cell filling performed after the frame drawing process. It will be. On the other hand, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, the adjacent cells are filled first, so that the drawing can be performed without filling the border lines.

Next, a flow of a series of processing from acquisition of a print job by the image forming apparatus 1 to completion of image formation is defined as image forming processing, and the image forming processing will be described with reference to flowcharts of FIGS.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of image forming processing.
First, when a print job is transmitted from the terminal 2 via the network 3, the communication unit 11 receives the print job (step S1).
Next, the analysis unit 14a of the image processing unit 14 performs analysis processing according to the print job and application data included in the print job (step S2), and individually generates a DL corresponding to each object.

Here, the analysis process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, the analysis unit 14a determines whether or not an image formed according to application data includes cells separated by grid-like lines (step S11). Here, when it is determined that the application data includes a cell (step S11: YES), the analysis unit 14a sets the cell as a processing target one by one in a predetermined order, Designation of cell fill in a region composed of cells adjacent to the one cell around one cell is detected (step S12). Next, the analysis unit 14a corresponds to the designation of the fill in which the DL is not yet generated among the designation of the fill of the cell in the area including the cell to be processed and the cells adjacent to the cell around the cell. DL is generated (step S13).

After the process of step S13, the analysis unit 14a generates a DL corresponding to another drawing of the processing target cell, that is, a drawing related to the processing target cell other than the designation of the fill (step S14).
If it is determined in step S11 that the application data does not include a cell (step S11: NO), the analysis unit 14a generates a DL by normal analysis processing for the object included in the application data. (Step S15). Since the specific contents of the normal analysis process are the same as those of the well-known analysis process, the details thereof are omitted.

  After the process of step S14 or step S15, the analysis unit 14a determines whether or not the analysis process has been completed for all objects related to image formation using application data (step S16). Here, when the analysis process has not been completed for all objects (step S16: NO), the analysis unit 14a proceeds to the process of step S11. On the other hand, when the analysis process is completed for all objects (step S16: YES), the analysis unit 14a ends the analysis process.

  After the analysis processing, the rasterizing unit 14b performs rasterizing processing on the DL generated in step S2 (step S3), and generates bitmap data.

Here, the rasterizing process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The rasterizing unit 14b reads out the DLs that have not been rasterized yet among the DLs included in the DL group generated by the analyzing unit 14a, and are generated in the order of generation (step S21). Next, the rasterizing unit 14b generates bitmap data including drawing contents corresponding to the read DL (step S22). In step S22, when bitmap data of the same band already exists, the rasterizing unit 14b overwrites the drawing content of the already existing bitmap data with the drawing content corresponding to the read DL. The rasterizing unit 14b causes the recording unit 13 to record the generated bitmap data (step S23).

  Next, the rasterizing unit 14b determines whether or not the rasterizing process for all the bands corresponding to one page has been completed (step S24). Here, when the rasterizing process for all the bands corresponding to one page has not been completed (step S24: NO), the rasterizing unit 14b proceeds to the process of step S21. On the other hand, when the rasterizing process for all the bands corresponding to one page is completed (step S24: YES), the rasterizing unit 14b deletes the DL included in the DL group corresponding to the one page (step S25). The rasterizing process is terminated.

After the rasterizing process, the image forming unit 15 forms an image corresponding to the bitmap data generated and recorded in step S3 on the recording medium (step S4).
When image formation corresponding to application data is performed over a plurality of pages, the image forming apparatus 1 repeatedly performs the processes in steps S2 to S4 according to the number of pages.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, when the plurality of objects in the predetermined area overlap, the rasterizing unit 14b displays the drawing content corresponding to the designation of the filling of the cells in the predetermined area. Since the print data is generated by overwriting with other drawing contents in the drawing, the drawing corresponding to the fill specification including the adjacent cells of the cell is overwritten by the drawing corresponding to the border of the cell in which the border is set. Print data can be generated, and print data in which a frame line is not lost due to the filling of adjacent cells during image formation can be generated by simpler processing. That is, it is possible to correctly draw the border line of the cell in which the adjacent cell is filled without performing a heavy load calculation process such as a calculation process of the filled area and a transparent process. The image formation of the table data can be performed efficiently.

  In addition, when the analysis unit 14a detects an object corresponding to the cell fill designation, the intermediate language data corresponding to the cell fill in the predetermined area is set to be higher than the intermediate language data corresponding to the other drawing related to the cell. When the rasterizing unit 14b generates the rendering contents corresponding to the plurality of intermediate language data, the rendering contents corresponding to the intermediate language data in the predetermined area are overlapped in accordance with the generation order of the intermediate language data. Therefore, by performing rasterization processing according to the generation order of the intermediate language data, the drawing corresponding to the fill of the cell including the adjacent cell is overwritten by the drawing corresponding to the border of the cell for which the border is set. Print data can be generated, and border lines may be missing due to the filling of adjacent cells during image formation. There print data can be generated by a simpler processing.

  In addition, a predetermined area where the generation of intermediate language data corresponding to the detection of the filling of the cell and the specification of the filling is performed before other drawing is performed around the one cell to be processed and the surrounding of the one cell. Since this is an area consisting of cells adjacent to one cell, it is possible to reliably perform the drawing corresponding to the cell fill specification that may overlap the drawing of the border of the one cell to be processed first. it can.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
In the second embodiment, the analysis unit 14a sets a predetermined area for generating a DL corresponding to the fill designation prior to drawing other than the cell fill designation as an area corresponding to one page of the recording medium on which the image is formed. Or it is set as the area | region corresponding to one continuous sheet | seat in a display apparatus. Hereinafter, a case where the Spreadsheet ML data illustrated in FIG. 4 is included in an area corresponding to one page will be described.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the order of DLs included in the DL group generated from the Spreadsheet ML data illustrated in FIG. 4 in the second embodiment.
The analysis unit 14a according to the second embodiment first detects designation of filling of all cells included in one page. Then, the analysis unit 14a individually generates DLs corresponding to the fill designations of all cells in which the fill designation is detected. Thereafter, the analysis unit 14a sets the cells to be processed one by one in a predetermined order, and individually generates DLs corresponding to drawing other than the designation of the filling of the cells to be processed.

In the above description, cells included in an area corresponding to one page are described, but the same applies to cells included in an area corresponding to one sheet.
Note that the specific configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, except that the predetermined area is different from that of the first embodiment.

Next, the analysis process in 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated using the flowchart of FIG.
First, the analysis unit 14a detects the designation of filling of all the cells included in the area corresponding to one page or one sheet (step S31). Next, the analysis unit 14a individually generates DLs corresponding to the fill designations of all the cells for which the fill designation is detected (step S32).

Thereafter, the analysis unit 14a sets the cells as processing targets one by one in a predetermined order, and individually selects the DL corresponding to the other drawing of the processing target cell, that is, the drawing related to the processing target cell other than the designation of the fill. Generate (step S33).
After the process of step S33, the analysis unit 14a determines whether or not the analysis process has been completed for all objects related to image formation for one sheet or page (step S34). Here, when the analysis process has not been completed for all sheets or objects on all pages (step S34: NO), the analysis unit 14a proceeds to the process of step S33. On the other hand, when the analysis process is completed for all objects (step S34: YES), the analysis unit 14a ends the analysis process.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the predetermined area where the detection of the filling of the cell and the generation of the intermediate language data corresponding to the designation of the filling before the other drawing is performed is 1 of the recording medium on which the image is formed. Since it is an area corresponding to a page or an area corresponding to one continuous sheet in the display device, it is possible to collectively generate intermediate language data corresponding to the designation of filling, and processing of cells that have already been processed The first embodiment sometimes involves branching whether or not to generate intermediate language data corresponding to the fill designation depending on whether or not intermediate language data corresponding to the fill designation is generated as a cell adjacent to the cell. Since the frame lines can be drawn correctly by simpler analysis processing than the analysis processing in, direct printing is more efficient. It is possible to perform image formation over data.

In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, You may perform a various improvement and change of design in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.
For example, the image forming apparatus 1 may include a display unit that performs display for confirming the mode of an image formed on the recording medium in accordance with the print data generated by the rasterizing unit 14b. You may make it function as the said display part.
By displaying for confirming the form of the image formed on the recording medium in accordance with the print data generated by the rasterizing unit 14b, the user confirms the form of the image formed on the recording medium before image formation. In addition, it is possible to indicate that image formation of data including cells including the designation of filling, setting of frame lines, etc. in the display mode is performed faithfully in the display mode before the image formation.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the analysis unit 14a generates intermediate language data corresponding to designation of cell filling in a predetermined area before intermediate language data corresponding to other drawing contents of the cell, so that the cell The cell fill is overwritten by a frame line or the like, but this is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the analysis unit 14a sequentially generates a plurality of DLs regardless of whether the type of the object included in the table data is a cell fill designation or other drawing content, and then fills the cells in the predetermined area. The DL order may be changed so that the DL corresponding to the designation is processed by the rasterizing unit 14b before the DL corresponding to other drawing contents in the predetermined area.

  In the above embodiment, SpreadsheetML data in OOXML format is illustrated as application data including cells in the image mode. However, this is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus that performs image formation of application data including cells by direct printing.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 receives and acquires a print job via the communication unit 11. However, the image forming apparatus 1 is an example and is not limited thereto. For example, the image forming apparatus 1 may include an interface that is directly or indirectly connected to an external device such as the terminal 2. Similarly, each configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the example illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the specific configuration may be changed as appropriate without departing from the characteristics of the present invention. For example, you may provide the structure for exclusive use for performing each function which the control part 12 bears separately. The image forming unit 15 is not limited to the electrophotographic method as described above, but may be an ink jet or other recording method.

In the above embodiment, print data is generated from application data by the image processing unit 14 provided in the image forming apparatus 1, but this is an example and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the CPU of a computer provided in the image forming apparatus or an external device connected to the image forming apparatus reads out a program from a ROM or the like and executes the software, thereby performing the analysis unit 14a or rasterization of the image processing unit 14 described above. You may make it bear the function of the part 14b.
In addition, although an example in which a ROM is used as a computer-readable medium for the program according to the present invention is disclosed here, the present invention is not limited to this example. As other computer-readable media, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory and a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM can be applied. A carrier wave is also applied to the present invention as a medium for providing program data according to the present invention via a communication line.

1 Image forming apparatus 11 Communication unit (acquisition unit)
12 control unit 13 recording unit 14 image processing unit 14a analysis unit (detection unit)
14b Rasterize unit 15 Image forming unit 16 Operation display unit

Claims (8)

In an image forming apparatus having a direct print function for acquiring application data from an external device and forming an image,
An acquisition unit for acquiring the application data;
An analysis unit that generates a plurality of intermediate language data corresponding to each of a plurality of objects related to image formation included in the application data;
A rasterizing unit that generates print data from a plurality of intermediate language data generated by the analyzing unit;
When the image formed in accordance with the application data includes cells separated by grid-like lines, a detection unit that detects an object corresponding to designation of cell filling in a predetermined area including the plurality of cells; With
When a plurality of objects in the predetermined area overlap each other, the rasterizing unit overwrites the drawing content corresponding to the cell fill designation in the predetermined area with other drawing contents in the predetermined area, and prints the print data. An image forming apparatus.   In the analysis unit, the intermediate language data corresponding to the designation of cell filling in the predetermined region is processed by the rasterizing unit prior to the intermediate language data corresponding to other drawing contents in the predetermined region. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein set data of intermediate language data arranged in such a manner is generated. When the detection unit detects an object corresponding to the cell fill designation, the analysis unit converts the intermediate language data corresponding to the cell fill in the predetermined region to an intermediate language corresponding to another drawing related to the cell. Generated before the data,
3. The image formation according to claim 2, wherein the rasterizing unit generates the print data by superimposing drawing contents corresponding to the intermediate language data in the predetermined area in accordance with the generation order of the intermediate language data. apparatus.   4. The predetermined area is an area corresponding to one page of a recording medium on which an image is formed or an area corresponding to one continuous sheet in a display device. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined area is an area including one cell and a cell adjacent to the one cell around the one cell. .   6. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit that performs display for confirming an aspect of an image formed on the recording medium according to the print data generated by the rasterizing unit. The image forming apparatus described in 1. In an image forming method by an image forming apparatus having a direct print function for acquiring application data from an external device and forming an image,
Obtaining the application data;
Generating a plurality of intermediate language data corresponding to each of a plurality of objects related to image formation included in the application data;
When an image formed according to the data includes cells separated by grid-like lines, detecting an object corresponding to designation of cell filling in a predetermined area including the plurality of cells;
When a plurality of objects in the predetermined area corresponding to the plurality of intermediate language data overlap, the drawing content corresponding to the cell fill designation in the predetermined area is overwritten with the other drawing contents in the predetermined area Generating print data; and
An image forming method comprising: Computer
Means for obtaining the application data;
Means for generating a plurality of intermediate language data corresponding to each of a plurality of objects related to image formation included in the application data;
Means for detecting an object corresponding to designation of filling of a cell in a predetermined area including a plurality of cells, when an image formed according to the data includes cells partitioned by a grid-like line;
When a plurality of objects in the predetermined area corresponding to the plurality of intermediate language data overlap, the drawing content corresponding to the cell fill designation in the predetermined area is overwritten with the other drawing contents in the predetermined area Means for generating print data;
A program characterized by functioning as

Images