JP6011113B2 - Print control apparatus and print control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus and a print control program for causing a printing apparatus to execute image printing.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a device that allows a user to edit characters (letters, numbers, symbols, decorative images, etc.) printed by a printing device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a user edits the layout of a character to be printed on a label by a printing apparatus on a PC editor. Also, in such editors, for example, a spreadsheet software file in which data is input into grid cells (cells) is read, and cell data is continuously printed on a plurality of labels by a printing device. It has been known.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-284831

  In the spreadsheet software, the user can easily set the character color, background color, display size, etc. of the data input to the cell. However, for example, in a printing apparatus used at the time of printing a label, a tape color, a tape width, a printing color, and the like used for printing are determined so that a printing result suitable for the label can be obtained. Therefore, when a label is printed based on a file created by spreadsheet software, the label print result (tape color, tape width, print color, etc.) obtained by the printing device is the information (characters) set in the cell. Color, background color, display size, etc.).

  That is, conventionally, when a file created by spreadsheet software is directly printed by a printing apparatus, the display mode of the printing source data (specifically, the appearance of the cell) does not match the actual printing result. To match the appearance of the cell with the actual print result, the user outputs the file created by the spreadsheet software to a text file, and the actual print result matches the appearance of the cell based on the output text file. Label data to be generated must be generated, and the operation burden on the user is heavy.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printing control apparatus and a printing control program that can easily match the display mode of printing source data with an actual printing result.

A printing control apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a printing control apparatus that can be connected to a printing apparatus capable of printing an image on a printing medium and causes the printing apparatus to print grid-like cells in which characters are input. A file storage unit for storing a file including the cell, a main body information acquisition unit for acquiring main body information indicating a printing mode to be executed by the printing apparatus, and the main body information acquisition unit. A display mode changing unit that changes a display mode of the cell included in the file stored in the file storage unit according to the printing mode indicated by the main body information when the information is acquired ; The main body information indicates a medium size that is a size of a print medium printed by the printing apparatus, and the display mode changing unit sets the medium size indicated by the main body information. Zui and changes the display size of the cell, and based on the change of the display size of the cell, to change the display size of the character entered in the cell.

The print control program according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a file storage unit that is connected to a printing apparatus capable of printing an image on a print medium and that stores a file including grid-like cells in which characters are input. A main body information acquisition step of acquiring, from the printing apparatus, main body information indicating a printing mode to be executed by the printing apparatus in a computer of a printing control apparatus that causes the printing apparatus to print the cells. When the main body information is acquired, a display mode changing step for changing the display mode of the cells included in the file stored in the file storage unit is executed according to the printing mode indicated by the main body information. look including instructions, said body information indicates the size of the medium size of the print medium to be printed by the printing device, wherein the display mode In the further step, the display size of the cell is changed based on the medium size indicated by the main body information, and the display size of the character input to the cell is changed based on the change rate of the display size of the cell. To change .

  According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, in the print control device, the display mode of the cells included in the file stored in the print control device is in accordance with the print mode indicated by the main body information acquired from the printing device. Be changed. Therefore, it is possible to easily match the display mode of the cell that is the printing source data with the actual printing result.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a printing system 1. FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the file 100 of spreadsheet software. It is a flowchart of the driver process of PC3. It is a flowchart of an aspect ratio reflection process. It is a figure which illustrates the file 100 in which the aspect ratio was reflected. It is a flowchart of a color reflection process. It is a flowchart of a scale reflection process. It is a figure which illustrates the file 100 in which the reduced scale was reflected. It is a flowchart of arrangement reflection processing. It is a figure which illustrates the file 100 in which arrangement | positioning was reflected.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings to be referred to are used for explaining technical features that can be adopted by the present invention. The configuration of the apparatus, the flowcharts of various processes, and the like described in the drawings are not intended to be limited to these, but are merely illustrative examples.

  A printing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the printing system 1, a printer 2 and a personal computer (PC) 3 can be connected via a communication cable 8. The printer 2 is a small-sized label printer that prints characters (characters, symbols, figures, etc.) on a tape that is a long print medium and creates a label that can be pasted.

  With reference to FIG. 2, the electrical configuration of the printer 2 and the PC 3 will be described. The printer 2 includes a CPU 21 that controls the printer 2. The CPU 21 is connected to a ROM 22, a flash memory 23, a RAM 24, a CGROM 25, an external connection interface (I / F) 26, an input unit 27, a display unit 28, and drive circuits 41 to 43. Various programs executed by the CPU 21 are stored in the ROM 22. The flash memory 23 stores various setting data. Various temporary data are stored in the RAM 24. The CGROM 25 stores dot pattern data for printing for printing various characters (characters, numbers, figures, etc.) on a tape. The external connection I / F 26 is an interface for connecting to an external device (for example, the PC 3).

  The drive circuit 41 drives a thermal head 44 that prints on a tape. The drive circuit 42 drives a tape feed motor 45 that operates a platen roller (not shown) that transports the tape. The drive circuit 43 drives a cutter motor 46 that operates a cutter (not shown) that cuts the printed tape. The CPU 21 controls these drive circuits 41 to 43 to print on the transported tape, and then cuts the printed tape to create a label.

  In the present embodiment, information (main body information) regarding the printing mode of the printer 2 is stored in the flash memory 23. The main body information includes tape color, print color, tape size, tape type, and the like. The tape color is the color of the tape mounted on the printer 2. The print color is a color that the tape mounted on the printer 2 develops when the thermal head 44 is heated. The tape type indicates the type of tape mounted on the printer 2 (normal tape, die cut tape, etc.). The tape size indicates the tape width (length in the cutting direction of the tape) of the tape mounted on the printer 2. However, when a die-cut tape is attached, the tape size indicates both the tape width and the pitch length (the length in the direction in which the tape extends). The tape color is the color of the tape mounted on the printer 2.

  The PC 3 includes a CPU 31 that controls the PC 3. The CPU 31 is connected to a hard disk drive (HDD) 32, a RAM 33, an external connection interface (I / F) 34, an input circuit 35, and an output circuit 36. The HDD 32 stores various programs executed by the CPU 31 and various data. Specifically, the HDD 32 stores an OS (Operating System), spreadsheet software, a printer driver, and the like. The spreadsheet software can create a table file by putting data in grid cells (cells). A file created by spreadsheet software is also stored in the HDD 32.

  The RAM 33 stores various temporary data. The external connection I / F 34 is an interface for connecting to an external device (for example, the printer 2). The input circuit 35 performs control to send an instruction from the input unit 37 (for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, etc.) to the CPU 31. The output circuit 36 performs control to display an image on the display 38 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 31.

  In this embodiment, a user uses a spreadsheet software on the PC 3 to input characters (characters, numbers, symbols, decoration images, etc.) into a plurality of cells, and creates a file for label printing. In the example shown in FIG. 3, a file 100 including four cells (all 10 pixels in the vertical direction and 50 pixels in the horizontal direction) in which the text “1 year ○ set ABC” is input is created and stored in the HDD 32.

  When a print instruction for the file 100 is input on the PC 3, the printer driver is activated. The printer driver transmits to the printer 2 a print command for printing the text “1 year ○ set ABC” input in the four cells. In the printer 2, based on the received print command, the text “1 year ○ set ABC” input in the four cells is printed on the tape to create one label.

  Processing executed in the printing system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  With reference to FIG. 4, the driver process executed by the PC 3 will be described. The driver process is executed by the CPU 31 based on the printer driver activated when the print instruction is input. In the following description, a case where a file 100 (see FIG. 3) created by a user with spreadsheet software is printed is illustrated. Specifically, among the processes executed when the file 100 is printed, a process of reflecting the print mode of the printer 2 on the display mode of the file 100 (specifically, cells) will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the driver process, it is determined whether or not the main body information of the printer 2 is reflected in the cell (S1). For example, in step S1, a screen for selecting whether or not the main body information of the printer 2 is reflected in the cell is displayed on the display 38. When the user inputs an instruction to reflect the main body information in the cell on this screen (S1: YES), it is determined whether the main body information can be acquired from the printer 2 (S3). For example, when the printer 2 is not connected to the PC 3 or when the main body information is not stored in the printer 2, it is determined that the main body information cannot be acquired (S3: NO). In this case, the driver process is terminated without changing the display mode of the cells included in the file 100. Even when the main body information is not reflected in the cell (S1: NO), the driver process is terminated.

  When the main body information can be acquired (S3: YES), the main body information stored in the flash memory 23 is acquired via the communication cable 8 (S5). Cell information is acquired from the file 100 stored in the HDD 32 (S7). The cell information is cell information (number of vertical pixels, number of horizontal pixels, character color, background color, etc.) included in the file 100. Based on the acquired main body information, it is determined whether or not it is a die-cut tape (S9).

  If it is a die-cut tape (S9: YES), an aspect ratio reflection process, a color reflection process, a scale reflection process, and an arrangement reflection process, which will be described later, are executed in order (S11 to S17). In the aspect ratio reflection process, the aspect ratio of the cells included in the file 100 is changed in accordance with the aspect ratio of the tape used in the printer 2. In the color reflection process, the character color and background color of the character input to the cell are changed in accordance with the print color and tape color used in the printer 2. In the scale reflection process, the size of the cell included in the file 100 is enlarged or reduced in accordance with the tape size used in the printer 2. In the arrangement reflection process, the arrangement and size of the character input to the cell are changed in accordance with the position and size of the character printed by the printer 2. After execution of step S17, the driver process is terminated.

  If it is not a die-cut tape (S9: NO), a normal tape is attached to the printer 2. In this case, the color reflection process is executed as in step S13 (S19). Next, it is determined whether or not the scale printed by the printer 2 is reflected in the cell (S21). For example, when the user inputs an instruction to reflect the scale (S21: YES), the scale reflection process is executed as in step S15 (S23). After execution of step S23, it is determined whether or not the layout printed by the printer 2 is reflected in the cell (S25). For example, when the user inputs an instruction to reflect the arrangement (S25: YES), the arrangement reflection process is executed as in step S17 (S27). After execution of step S27, the driver process is terminated. When the scale is not reflected (S21: NO) or when the arrangement is not reflected (S25: NO), the driver process is terminated.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the aspect ratio reflection process, the aspect ratio of the label is calculated based on the main body information (tape width and pitch length) acquired in step S5 (S41). Based on the cell information (the number of vertical pixels and the number of horizontal pixels) acquired in step S7, the aspect ratio of the cells is calculated (S43). Based on the number of pixels of the cell corresponding to the longer side (long side) of the label as a reference, a change value of the number of pixels of the cell corresponding to the shorter side (short side) of the label is calculated (S45). The short side length of the cell is updated to the calculated change value (S47). Thereafter, the process returns to the driver process (FIG. 4).

  For example, it is assumed that the main body information including the tape color “yellow”, the printing color “black”, the tape size “20 mm (tape width) × 50 mm (pitch)”, and the tape type “die cut tape” is acquired from the printer 2. (S5). In this case, since the tape is determined to be a die-cut tape (S9: YES), the label aspect ratio “20:50” and the cell aspect ratio “10:50” are acquired (S41, S43). Since the aspect ratio of the label indicates that the label is horizontally long, the number of horizontal pixels “50” corresponding to the pitch (long side) of the label is a criterion for calculating the change value. That is, “20” is calculated as the change value of the short side length (vertical pixel number) of the cell so that the cell having the fixed horizontal pixel number “50” has the aspect ratio “20:50”. Finally, the number of vertical pixels in the cell is updated to the change value “20” (S47). As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the cells included in the file 100 are displayed with the same aspect ratio “20:50” as the label printed by the printer 2.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the color reflection process, it is determined based on the main body information acquired in step S5 whether the print color is a color that can be used in the cell (S61). If the print color is a usable color (S61: YES), the character color of the cell is updated to the print color indicated by the main body information (S63). As a result, the character input in the cell included in the file 100 is displayed in the print color (for example, “black”) used by the printer 2.

  On the other hand, if the print color is not a usable color (S61: NO), it is determined whether or not to obtain a sample of the print color (S65). For example, when the user inputs an instruction to acquire a print color sample (S65: YES), print color sample data is acquired from the printer 2 via the communication cable 8, and the acquired data is used as a print color sample. It is displayed (S67). The user can recognize the color on which the character is actually printed by the printer 2 by referring to the print color sample 140 (see FIG. 11).

  After step S63 or step S67 is executed, or when a print color sample is not acquired (S65: NO), whether or not the tape color is a color that can be used in the cell based on the main body information acquired in step S5. Is determined (S69). When the tape color is a usable color (S69: YES), the background color of the cell is updated to the tape color indicated by the main body information (S71). Thereby, the background color of the cell included in the file 100 is displayed in the tape color (for example, “yellow”) used in the printer 2.

  On the other hand, if the tape color is not a usable color (S69: NO), it is determined whether or not to obtain a tape color sample (S73). For example, when the user inputs an instruction to acquire a tape color sample (S73: YES), the tape color sample data is acquired from the printer 2 via the communication cable 8, and the acquired data is used as the tape color sample. It is displayed (S75). The user can recognize the tape color actually used in the printer 2 by referring to the tape color sample 150 (see FIG. 11). After execution of step S71 or step S75, or when a tape color sample is not acquired (S73: NO), the process returns to the driver process (FIG. 4).

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the scale reflection process, it is determined whether or not the number of pixels per mm is defined for the cells included in the file 100 (S81). If the number of pixels per mm is defined (S81: YES), the defined number of pixels is acquired (S83). Next, according to the tape width acquired in step S5, the number of vertical pixels of the cell acquired in step S7 is converted into millimeter units (S85). In step S85, the horizontal size of the cell is enlarged at the enlargement ratio obtained by expanding the vertical size of the cell (S87). Thereafter, the process returns to the driver process (FIG. 4).

  For example, it is assumed that the main body information including the tape color “yellow”, the printing color “red”, the tape size “10 mm (tape width)”, and the tape type “normal tape” is acquired from the printer 2 (S5). In this case, when “4” is acquired as the number of pixels per mm in the cell (S81: YES, S83), the number of pixels obtained by multiplying the acquired number of pixels “4” by the tape width “10” is “40”. The vertical size of the cell is enlarged (S85). Since the number of vertical pixels of the cell before the size change is “10” (see FIG. 3), the enlargement ratio of the vertical size of the cell in step S85 is “4 times”. The number of horizontal pixels of the cell (50 pixels in the example of FIG. 3) is also multiplied by “4”, and the horizontal size of the cell is increased to 200 pixels (S87). As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the cells included in the file 100 are displayed at the same scale “4 ×” as the labels printed by the printer 2.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the arrangement reflection process, the cell enlargement ratio calculated in the scale reflection process (FIG. 8) is acquired (S101). The character input to the cell is enlarged in accordance with the obtained enlargement ratio (S103). Position correction is performed so that the enlarged character is placed at the center of the cell (S105). Thereafter, the process returns to the driver process (FIG. 4).

  For example, it is assumed that an arrangement reflection process (FIG. 10) is further executed for the file 100 shown in FIG. In this case, since the enlargement ratio of the cell is “4 times”, the text “1 year ○ set ABC” input to the cell is also the same scale “4” as the label printed by the printer 2 as shown in FIG. Doubled to enlarge. At this time, the position of the character is automatically adjusted so that the enlarged text is arranged at the center of the cell.

  As described above, according to the printing system 1 of the present embodiment, the PC 3 displays the cells included in the file 100 stored in the PC 3 according to the printing mode indicated by the main body information acquired from the printer 2. Is changed. Therefore, it is possible to easily match the display mode of the cell that is the printing source data with the actual printing result.

  In the PC 3, the character color of the character input to the cell is changed based on the print color indicated by the main body information. Therefore, the user can recognize the print color of the character actually used in the printer 2 by referring to the character color of the character input in the cell. Further, the background color of the cell is changed based on the tape color indicated by the main body information. Therefore, the user can recognize the tape color actually used in the printer 2 by referring to the background color of the cell.

  In the PC 3, since the display size of the cell is changed based on the tape size indicated by the main body information, the user can recognize the print size of the cell in the printer 2 by referring to the display size of the cell. Further, since the character display size is changed based on the tape size indicated by the main body information, the user can recognize the character print size in the printer 2 by referring to the character display size.

  In the above embodiment, the PC 3 corresponds to the “print control apparatus” of the present invention. The printer 2 corresponds to the “printing apparatus” of the present invention. The HDD 32 corresponds to the “file storage unit” of the present invention. The CPU 31 executing step S5 corresponds to the “main body information acquisition unit” of the present invention. The CPU 31 that executes at least one of steps S11 to S19, S23, and S27 corresponds to the “display mode changing unit” of the present invention. Step S5 corresponds to the “main body information acquisition step” of the present invention. At least one of steps S11 to S19, S23, and S27 corresponds to the “display mode changing step” of the present invention.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications can be made without changing the gist of the invention. In the printing system 1 of the above-described embodiment, the printer 2 and the PC 3 are connected. However, after the main body information is acquired from the printer 2, the connection between the printer 2 and the PC 3 may be released. In this case, the PC 3 only needs to execute the driver process (FIG. 4) in a non-connected state with the printer 2. If the main body information of the printer 2 is stored in the printer 2 in advance, the PC 3 may execute the driver process (FIG. 4) in a non-connected state with the printer 2.

  In the above embodiment, the CPU 31 executes the driver process (FIG. 4) based on the printer driver, but may execute it based on another program. Further, when executing based on the printer driver, the driver processing (FIG. 4) may be executed at a timing other than when printing is executed. The driver processing (FIG. 4) may be executed by an electronic component (for example, ASIC) other than the CPU. The driver process (FIG. 4) may be distributed by a plurality of electronic devices (that is, a plurality of CPUs). For example, a part of the driver process (FIG. 4) may be executed by the server or printer 2 connected to the PC 3.

1 Printing system 2 Printer 3 PC
31 CPU
32 HDD
100 File 140 Print color sample 150 Tape color sample

Claims (4)

A printing control device that can be connected to a printing device capable of printing an image on a printing medium, and causes the printing device to print grid-like cells in which characters are input,
File storage means for storing a file containing the cell;
Main body information acquisition means for acquiring main body information indicating a printing mode executed by the printing apparatus from the printing apparatus;
When the main body information is acquired by the main body information acquiring unit, a display for changing the display mode of the cells included in the file stored in the file storage unit according to the printing mode indicated by the main body information And a mode change means ,
The main body information indicates a medium size that is a size of a print medium printed by the printing apparatus,
The display mode changing means changes the display size of the cell based on the medium size indicated by the main body information, and the character input to the cell based on a change rate of the display size of the cell. A printing control apparatus that changes a display size of the print. The main body information indicates a print color that is a color printed on a print medium by the printing apparatus,
The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display mode changing unit changes a color of the character input to the cell based on the print color indicated by the main body information. The main body information indicates a medium color that is a color of a print medium printed by the printing apparatus,
The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display mode changing unit changes a background color of the cell based on the medium color indicated by the main body information. A printing control apparatus connected to a printing apparatus capable of printing an image on a printing medium, and having file storage means for storing a file including grid-like cells into which characters are input, and causing the printing apparatus to print the cells. On the computer,
A main body information acquisition step of acquiring main body information indicating a printing mode to be executed by the printing apparatus from the printing apparatus;
When the main body information is acquired by the main body information acquisition step, a display for changing the display mode of the cells included in the file stored in the file storage unit according to the printing mode indicated by the main body information instruction only contains to be executed by the mode changing step,
The main body information indicates a medium size that is a size of a print medium printed by the printing apparatus,
The display mode changing step changes the display size of the cell based on the medium size indicated by the main body information, and the character input to the cell based on a change rate of the display size of the cell. Change the display size of
A print control program characterized by that .

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