JP6064676B2 - Printing system, cover setting method for printing system, cover setting program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system that generates and outputs a cover ticket for cover setting in print settings based on information in a job definition format (hereinafter referred to as JDF: Job Definition Format), a cover setting method for a printing system, a cover setting program, And a recording medium.

  Traditionally, it is generally known to create JDF information that defines the print processing required to execute a specific print job in many print environments, including print shops of any size, print factories, and small workgroup environments. It has been.

  JDF is a standard that is widely used to provide information (print parameters) related to print job processing. The JDF information is usually included in an object file called “job ticket”. JDF information is associated with print data for a print job by a description of a job ticket. The job ticket includes any number of JDF elements. The JDF element is required to indicate print parameters for a specific job to be printed. Examples of print parameters include the location of one or more resources that identify the content of the material to be printed, rendering parameters indicating options for rendering various types of objects related to the print job, layout options, eg n-up, duplex, other available print options, media parameters for printing (paper size, weight, color, etc.).

  The JDF standard is published by CIP4 (industry association), and is well-known to industry personnel, and can be obtained immediately from the industry association site. The JDF element generally has a hierarchical tree structure. Various parameters are classified into logical branches of a tree structure (tree), and available parameters and options are associated with each other. The tree structure has a common root and the branches are associated with a plurality of grouped parameters. The parameter may be specified by a user or an application when creating a job ticket. A recent printing system has a print server function and other control elements, can receive a job ticket based on JDF, process the contents specified by the JDF element, and directly control the print job.

  JDF is mainly used in the production printing industry. In this production printing industry, the print output itself is often a product, so a production printer is as simple as conventional office printing. It is desired to output high-value-added printed materials that have different print media types and print settings for each page instead of printed materials. There is a function called “exception page” or “special page” as a technique capable of realizing the print setting for each page from a viewpoint different from JDF.

  An exception page is a function that can apply print settings different from those for a job to a specified page range. The specified page range can be applied by specifying a start page and an end page. For exceptional pages, for example, settings such as paper setting, duplex setting, stapling, punching, folding, printing position adjustment setting, color monochrome setting, and rotation setting can be applied with setting values different from the job. In addition, it is already known that there are cover pages (front cover and back cover) called special pages, slip sheets, inserted pages, and index printing, which are added in addition to jobs but not as jobs.

  Incidentally, as a well-known technique related to generation of a job ticket based on JDF, for example, using a printer definition file (Postscript printer definition PPD or general printer definition GPD) corresponding to a selected printing system, a JDF job ticket is generated. “Method, system and program for generating JDF using printer definition file” (see Patent Document 1) for generation.

  The general printer drivers that are widely used in the existing production printing industry, including the JDF generation printer driver of the printing subsystem disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, have a function for setting a cover. For the purpose of generating and outputting a cover page, there is also a type that has a function for setting a cover page with a special page setting user interface. In either case, a job ticket is generated and output in a format compliant with JDF. However, since the cover page is generated and output in a vendor-specific format, there is a problem in that it cannot support generation and output of a job ticket compliant with JDF. The reason is that the JDF standard specification does not have a cover parameter, and the existing printer driver cannot handle the job ticket generation output conforming to the JDF standard specification.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and its technical problem is that a cover sheet is simply set in consideration of user convenience, and a job ticket in a form compliant with the JDF specification. Printing system, printing system cover setting method, cover setting program, and recording medium.

  In order to solve the above technical problem, a first means of the present invention is configured such that a client computer having a printer driver function for a user is connected to a printer control unit via a network, and the client computer A print system for generating and outputting a job ticket based on JDF for executing a print job and performing cover setting on the user interface, wherein the client computer includes print designation means for designating whether or not to print in the cover setting; A first job ticket generation unit that generates and outputs a job ticket by mapping to an insertion page parameter that conforms to JDF when a print cover is designated by the print designation unit in the cover setting, and a print designation unit that generates and outputs a job ticket When there is a cover print designation with print by JD Mapped to exceptional page setting parameters that conform to characterized by comprising a second job ticket generation means for generating and outputting a job ticket, the by.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a client computer having a printer driver function for a user is connected to a printer control unit via a network, and a print job is executed by the client computer. Is a cover setting method for a printing system that generates and outputs a job ticket based on JDF and performs cover setting on a user interface, in which print designation means included in a client computer designates whether or not printing is performed by cover setting Generates a job ticket by mapping to the insert page parameter compliant with JDF when the cover is specified by the print specifying means in the cover setting by the specifying step and the first job ticket generating means included in the client computer. The first job to output When there is a cover print designation with printing by the print designation means in the cover setting by the ticket generation step and the second job ticket generation means provided in the client computer, the job is mapped to an exception page setting parameter compliant with JDF And a second job ticket generation step for generating and outputting a ticket.

  Further, the third means of the present invention is configured so that a client computer having a printer driver function for a user is connected to a printer control unit via a network, and a print job is executed by the client computer. A cover setting program for causing a computer to execute a cover setting in a printing system that generates and outputs a job ticket based on JDF and performs cover setting of a user interface, and the cover setting is performed by a print designation unit included in the client computer In accordance with JDF, when the print designation step for designating the presence or absence of printing in step 1 and the first job ticket generation means provided in the client computer specify a cover without printing by the print designation means in the cover setting. Insert page By the procedure of the first job ticket generation step of generating and outputting the job ticket by mapping to the parameter and the second job ticket generation means provided in the client computer, the cover print designation with printing by the print designation means in the cover setting is possible. And a second job ticket generation step for generating and outputting a job ticket by mapping to an exception page setting parameter conforming to JDF.

  According to the present invention, a client computer having a printer driver function has a function to set a cover on the user interface, and as a logic at the time of generating a job ticket based on JDF, a cover designation with no printing is performed when setting a cover. The cover page at a certain time is mapped to the insertion page setting parameter, and the print on the cover page when there is a cover print designation with printing is mapped to the exception page setting parameter. At the same time, it is possible to generate and output a job ticket conforming to the JDF specification.

1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a cover when performing cover setting on a client computer of the printing system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a case where printing is designated on one side (front side) of a cover when performing cover setting on the client computer of the printing system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a case where printing is designated on one side (back side) of a cover when setting a cover on the client computer of the printing system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a case where printing is specified on both sides of a cover when performing cover setting on a client computer of the printing system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying cover setting on a user interface displayed on a display screen of a display unit when cover print setting is performed on a client computer of the printing system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying a list display of cover setting contents on a user interface displayed on a display screen of a display unit when a cover print setting is performed by a client computer of the printing system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a client computer of the printing system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a control unit of the printing system illustrated in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart showing cover setting operation processing related to the client computer of the printing system shown in FIG. 1. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation process leading to job transfer to a printer of a control unit according to a detailed process related to cover setting of a client computer in the printing system shown in FIG. 1. 12 is a flowchart showing details of processing for generating a job ticket by a job ticket generation unit of a client computer included in the operation processing of the flowchart in FIG. 11.

  Embodiments of a printing system, a printing system cover setting method, a cover setting program, and a recording medium according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the basic configuration of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the invention. In this printing system, a plurality of (three in this case) client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C having a printer driver function for a user are connected to a control unit (DFE controller) 3 for a printer 4 via a network 2. It has a basic function of generating and outputting a job ticket based on JDF for executing a print job by any one of the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C and setting a cover on the user interface UI. . The client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C here use a general-purpose personal computer PC equipped with a display function (display means), an operation input function, etc., and all have a printer driver function. Thus, the print settings including the cover setting can be performed and transferred to the control unit 3.

  Further, the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C each have a print designation unit that designates whether or not printing is performed at the time of cover setting, and an insert page parameter that conforms to JDF when a cover is designated without printing by the print designation unit at the time of cover setting. A first job ticket generation unit that generates and outputs a job ticket by mapping to (InsertSheet), and a cover print designation with printing by the print designation unit at the time of cover setting, an exception page setting parameter that conforms to JDF (Layout PreparationParams) And a second job ticket generation means for generating and outputting a job ticket. In addition, the display means can display the contents of the cover settings as a list, and when the cover designation with printing is specified by the print designation means, the page number is displayed if there is printing on the front cover. Can do.

  Further, the first job ticket generation means in the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C maps the cover page to the insertion page parameter (Insert Sheet) when the cover designation without printing is performed by the print designation means in the cover setting. When the front cover is specified at the time of generating and outputting, the attribute name indicating the head of the parameter (SheetUsage) that determines the insertion position of the insertion page, which is an option of the insertion page parameter (InsertSheet), is used. When a certain “Header” is specified and a job ticket is generated and output, and a back cover is specified, a parameter (SheetUsage) that determines the insertion position of the insertion page that is an option of the insertion page parameter (InsertSheet) Last Specify which is the attribute name "Trailer" to refer to generate and output the job ticket.

  In addition, the second job ticket generation unit in the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C maps the job ticket to the exception page setting parameter (Layout PreparationParams) when the cover setting with print is specified by the print specifying unit in the cover setting. If the print side is one side when generating and outputting the page, specify “0” on the front cover for the page range specification parameter (RunIndex), which is an option of the exception page setting parameter (LayoutProvisionParams). First, set the cover page to the first page, specify "-1" for the back cover, set the back cover as the exception page of the last page, and generate and output a job ticket. If this is the case, the exception page setting parameters Specify “0-1” for the front cover for the page range specification parameter (RunIndex), which is an option of the layout (LayoutProvisionParams) option, and set the front cover to the first and second pages. In this case, “−2 to −1” is specified, and the back cover is set to the page one page before the last page and the exception page of the last page, and the job ticket is generated and output.

  In addition, the second job ticket generation unit in the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C maps a job ticket by mapping it to an exception page setting parameter (Layout PreparationParams) when a cover page with printing is designated by the print designation unit in the cover setting. When only one side of the cover page is specified when generating and outputting, the parameter “SideFront”, which is an option of the exception page setting parameter (LayoutOut Params), points to the print side parameter (Sides), If “OneSideBackFlipY” is specified on the back side, a job ticket is generated and output. If both sides of the cover are specified, an exception page setting parameter (LayoutProductionP For a parameter that points to the printing surface is an optional rams) (Sides), the short-edge binding "TwoSideFlipY", the long-edge binding generates and outputs a job ticket specifying the "TwoSideFlipX".

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the cover when the cover setting is performed by the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C. Referring to FIG. 2, the cover is a paper attached in front of or behind the document. The cover inserted before the document is called the front cover, and the cover inserted behind the document is called the back cover. For the cover, it is possible to specify thick paper as a paper type separately from the document, or specify a paper size that is slightly larger than the document. In addition to printing on the cover itself, it can also be specified after setting a pre-printed cover on the paper feed tray of the printer.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a case where one side (front side) of a cover page is designated for printing when the cover setting is performed by the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C. Referring to FIG. 3, the front cover has a front surface and a back surface, and when only the front surface is designated as single-sided printing, it can be printed in the form shown in the figure, for example.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a case where print designation is performed on one side (back side) of the cover when the cover is set by the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C. Referring to FIG. 4, when only the back side is designated as single-sided printing, it can be printed in the form as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a case where both sides of the cover are designated for printing when the cover is set by the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C. Referring to FIG. 5, when double-sided printing of the cover is designated, it can be printed in the form as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, for example.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the front cover setting on the user interface UI displayed on the display screen of the display unit when the cover print setting is performed by the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C. Referring to FIG. 6, on the display screen of the display unit, when the front cover is inserted with the front cover setting, the front cover check box is set to ON. There are two types of selection methods “user setting” and “paper list” for setting the front cover paper. “User setting” can individually set the paper feed tray, paper size, basis weight, and paper type. The “paper list” is set by selecting from a paper list prepared in advance. The back cover can be set for the back cover by selecting “Back cover” on the tab. The front display and the back cover can be set for the front display and the back cover by selecting “slip sheet” on the tab.

  "Print side" is a setting for whether or not to print on the cover page, and "None", "One side (front side or back side)", "Double side (long side or short side)" Can be set. Also, the print side can be set in any of the user settings / paper list described above.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram exemplifying a list display about the setting contents of the cover on the user interface UI displayed on the display screen of the display unit when the cover print setting is performed by the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C. . Referring to FIG. 7, after the cover is set on the display screen of the display unit, a list of special page lists is displayed as shown in the figure. Here, double-sided printing is set on the front cover, and This shows the case where single-sided printing is set on the cover. Since the front cover designates double-sided printing, “1-2” is displayed as the page range. Incidentally, the page range may be left blank when double-sided printing is not set, and only “1” is displayed when single-sided printing is designated.

  The back cover specifies single-sided printing, but the last page is left blank because the state is unknown unless it is actually printed. Alternatively, for example, the last page may be defined as “N” and “N” may be displayed. If double-sided printing is specified, “(N−1) −N” is displayed. May be.

  FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C. The client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C have a function of generating a job ticket based on JDF by specifying a cover, and a graphical user interface GUI 12 in the printer driver 10 according to an application program AP (denoted as an application in FIG. 8). Is set up and print settings are made on the user interface UI. The printer driver 10 uses the graphical user interface GUI 12 to set the cover page. A specific display screen when setting the cover page is as shown in FIG. For each part of the printer driver 10, the preview display unit 11 performs a simple preview display of print settings and is displayed by the graphical user interface GUI 12. The data storage unit 13 stores print settings, and a job ticket is generated based on the print settings stored here. The job ticket generation unit 15 creates a job ticket based on JDF reflecting the print settings of the data storage unit 13 (details will be described later). The drawing unit 14 creates printer language data (hereinafter referred to as PDL data). The created job ticket and PDL data based on JDF are transferred to the control unit 3 connected to the printer 4 via the network 2 through the data transfer unit 17 of the port monitor 16. Incidentally, the first job ticket generation unit and the second job ticket generation unit described above are functions of the job ticket generation unit 15 here. Further, the print designation unit has a function of a selective operation input instruction by the user operation input unit with respect to the cover print setting on the user interface UI displayed on the display screen of the display unit displayed by the graphical user interface GUI 12. It is shown.

  In the following, an outline of generation and output of a cover job ticket in accordance with JDF by the printer driver 10 having the job ticket generation function will be described. First, job ticket generation output of “insert page” and “exception page” in a format compliant with JDF related to general JDF technology will be described.

  “Insert page” has a function of newly inserting a sheet into a job, and JDF uses a parameter called (InsertSheet). For example, a job ticket expressed as <RunList Page = “3”>, <InsertSheet SheetType = “InsertSheet” SheetUsage = “Header” />, </ RunList> is generated. Here, <RunList Page = “3”> means that one sheet is added before the third page. SheetType in <InsertSheet SheetType = “InsertSheet” SheetUsage = “Header” /> indicates the type of paper, and here, it is expressed as InsertSheet because it is paper to be inserted. “SheetUsage” indicates how the paper is used. In this case, “Header” means “before the third page”. Thus, there are various parameters in JDF.

  As described above, “exception page” is applied with a setting value different from that of the job. For example, in a case where one-sided printing is set, only the second and third pages are set as an exception and set for double-sided printing. Uses layout setting parameter called LayoutPreparationParams, and <LayoutPreparationParams NumberUp = “1 1” PartIDKeys = “RunIndex” Rotate = “Rotate0” Sids = “OneSideFront”, “LaidePront = P” “/>, </ LayoutPreparationParams>, etc. To generate a Tsu door.

  More specifically, the layout parameters are arranged in a hierarchical structure, the layout parameters on the parent side (LayoutPreparationParams) correspond to the settings of the layout of the entire job, and the child layout parameters (LayoutPreparationParams) in the lower hierarchy are The page parameter RunIndex indicates that a specific page is to be laid out. Here, since the second and third pages are targets for double-sided printing, RunIndex = “1-2” is described. In JDF, the first page (first page) is represented as 0, the second page is represented as 1, the third page is represented as 2, the last page is represented as -1, and the page before the last page is represented as -2. This is because it is a rule. There is an option Sides for specifying a printing surface in JDF as an option for setting a layout parameter on the parent side. When OneSideFront is specified, one side is printed. Similarly, the option “NumberUp” indicates n-up, which means 1up here. Rotate indicates the rotation of the paper, and Rotate0 means that the rotation angle is 0 degree and the rotation is not performed. The side TwoSideFlipY of Sides, which is an option for setting the layout parameter on the child side, means that double-sided printing is performed, except for a job ticket in which printing is performed on only the second and third pages.

  On the other hand, in the generation and output of the cover job ticket in accordance with JDF by the printer driver 10 described in FIG. 8, with the first cover setting, the image of the printed material is the unprinted cover in the form shown in FIG. Set. If you insert the cover (no print) on the insertion page described above, insert the new cover before the first page of the job and the back cover after the last page of the job. It will be good.

  For example, <RunListPages = “0 to −1”, Run = “0”>, <LayoutElementRef rRef = “doc0” />, <InsertSheet SheetType = “InsertSheet” SheetUsage = “Header”, <Lay => A job ticket expressed as Media0 "/>, </ Layout>, </ InsertSheet>, </ RunList> is generated.

  The distinction between the front cover and the back cover is a parameter called SheetUsage, an option of InsertSheet defined in JDF. It is defined as Header when inserting at the beginning of the document, and Trailer when inserting at the end of the document. It ’s fine. Here, the parent tag of <InsertSheet> <RunListPage = "0 to -1"> represents that the setting is from the first page to the last page, and Header is specified in the InsertSheet option in this page range. For example, a page is inserted before the first page, that is, a front cover is inserted. If Trailer is designated, a page is inserted after the last page, that is, a back cover is inserted.

  Next, in the second cover setting, a cover for printing only one side of the printed material image shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is set. In this case, it can be realized by including the data of the cover page in the document data input as a job. For example, when printing only one side of the front cover, a cover page is added and edited before the body. When printing only one side of the back cover, add a cover page after the main text and edit it. When printing on one side of both the front cover and back cover, add pages before and after the main text and edit them. And, as shown in Fig. 3, the front cover is defined as 1st page, 2nd page to the main body, the last page is the back cover, and the exception page settings based on the above-mentioned JDF can be mapped to support the cover. It becomes.

  For example, <LayoutPreparationParamsClass = “Parameter” ID = “LPP0” NumberUp = “1 1” PartIDKeys = “RunIndex” Rotate = “OneSide” Rods0 ”Sides =“ OneSide ” Status = “Available”>, <FitPolicy RotatePolicy = “Rotate0rthogonal” SizePolicy = “FitToPage” />, <ImageShift PositionX = “Left” 000 + Both0000000 ” A job ticket expressed as .000000e + 000 0.000000e + 000 "/>, <LayoutPreparationParamsRunIndex =" 0 "Sides =" OneSideFront "/>, </ LayoutPreparationParams> is generated.

  Here, by defining <LayoutPreparationParamsRunIndex = “0” Sides = “OneSideFront” /> as a child tag of the LayoutPreparationPrams tag, it can be realized as an exception page. As in the previous section, from the JDF page concept, RunIndex = 0 means the first page, and Sides = “OneSideFront” means that the front side is printed. When printing on the reverse side, Sides = “OneSideBackFlipY” is designated. In addition, for reference, FitPolicy and ImageShift tags are also parts for specifying settings for the front cover, where FitPolicy indicates a print policy, and ImageShift indicates adjustment of the print position. Incidentally, in the case of a back cover, it can be realized by specifying <LayoutPreparationParamsRunIndex = “− 1” Sides = “OneSideFront” /> and −1 indicating that the last page and the previous page are to be printed. .

  Further, in the third cover setting, a cover for double-sided printing in which the image of the printed matter is in the form shown in FIG. 5 is set. In this case, as in the second case, it can be realized by putting page data for the cover in addition to the text data in the document data input as a job. As shown in FIG. 5, the page number of the apparent cover page is 1 page and 2 pages for the front cover, and the back cover is the page before the last page and the last page. Separately, the page data for the cover is edited on the first page and the second page, and before and on the last page. Display can be supported by using an exception page setting conforming to JDF.

  When specifying both sides on the front cover, for example, <LayoutPreparationParamsNumberUp = “1 1” PartIDKeys = “RunIndex” Rotate = “Rotate0” Sides = “OneSideFrontPolyPot” <ImageShiftPositionX = “Left” PositionY = “Bottom” ShiftBack = “0.000000e + 000 0.000000e + 000” ShiftFront = “0.000000e + 000 0.000000e + 000” />, <LayoutPrepPreparation A job ticket expressed as msRunIndex = “0 to 1” Sides = “TwoSideFlipY” />, </ LayoutPreparationParams> is generated.

  Here, as a child tag of the LayoutPreparationPrams tag, specifically, <LayoutPreparationParamsRunIndex = “0 to 1” Sides = “TwoSideFlipY” /> is defined and handled as an exception page. As in the first and second cases described above, from the JDF page concept, Run Index = “0-1” means page 1 to page 2, and Sides = “TwoSideFlipY” is printed on both sides. Meaning. TwoSideFlipY means a short side and TwoSideFlipX means a long side. Incidentally, in the case of a back cover, <LayoutPreparationParamsRunIndex = “− 2 to −1” Sides = “TwoSideFlipY” />, and −2 to −1 indicating that the last page and the previous page are to be printed. It can be realized by specifying.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the control unit 3. When the control unit 3 receives print data transferred from the data transfer unit 17 of the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C via the network 2, the data acquisition unit 32 displays the print data as a job on the job display unit 34. To do. Further, the job ticket of the received print data is analyzed by the ticket analysis unit 33 and the print setting is read. The preview display unit 31 performs a preview display based on the analyzed print settings and PDL data. When printing is performed, the print data is transferred to the printer 4 via the network 2 through the data transfer unit 35, so that the printer 4 performs printing.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing cover setting operation processing relating to the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C. Here, a state is shown in which cover setting operation processing is performed by the printer driver functions of the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C in accordance with user operation input instructions.

  Referring to FIG. 10, when performing cover setting on the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C, the user first opens a cover setting screen as shown in FIG. 6 by the printer driver 10 (graphical user interface GUI 12) (step S11). ) After processing, the front cover, back cover, selection method (user settings / paper list), paper feed tray, paper size, basis weight, paper type, printing surface ( By inputting “None / Yes” or the like, the cover setting is input (step S12).

  After entering the cover settings, the user presses the OK button to save the cover settings (step S13), closes the dialog on the display screen for the cover settings, and confirms the cover settings by the printer driver 10 Then, a list display as shown in FIG. 7 is performed (step S14), and the process proceeds.

  Further, when the cover setting is completed and the user presses the print start button to issue a print command (step S15), a job ticket based on JDF is generated and output.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process up to job transfer to the printer 4 of the control unit 3 according to the detailed process related to the cover setting of the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C in the printing system according to the first embodiment. Here, a detailed process in the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C accompanying the operation process shown in FIG. 10 and a sequence of the operation process that reaches the print setting of the control unit 3 in response thereto are shown.

  Referring to FIG. 11, in the cover setting detail processing in the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C, when a process for opening the previous cover setting screen is requested (step S11), a cover setting dialog is displayed by the graphical user interface GUI 12. After the display (step S21) processing is performed, when the previous user presses the OK button to save the cover setting (step S13), when the cover setting dialog is closed by the processing, the cover setting is stored in the data storage unit 13. (Step S22) Processing is performed. Further, after performing the process of displaying a list of covers set with the graphical user interface GUI 12 (step S23), the previous user presses the print start button to issue a print command (step S15) and receives a print start command by the process. The job ticket generation unit 15 generates a job ticket based on the cover setting stored in the data storage unit 13 (step S24). Furthermore, after the PDL data of the job is generated by the drawing unit 14 (step S25), the job (print data) including the created PDL data and the job ticket is transmitted via the network 2 through the data transfer unit 17 of the port monitor 16. To send to the control unit 3 (step S26). The above operation processing is the detailed processing for setting the cover in the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C.

  Subsequently, after processing of receiving jobs from the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C by the data acquisition unit 32 of the control unit 3 (step S27), the control unit 3 displays the received jobs as a job list on the job display unit 34. (Step S28) Processing is performed. Further, the control unit 3 analyzes the job ticket by the ticket analysis unit 33 and reflects the print setting including the cover on the preview display unit 31 (step S29), and the preview display unit 31 displays the print setting as a preview. The job (print data) is transferred to the printer 4 by the data transfer unit 35 of the control unit 3 (step S30), and the printer 4 prints the job (print data).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing details of the process in which the job ticket generation unit 15 of the client computers 1A, 1B, 1C included in the operation process of the flowchart in FIG. 11 generates a job ticket (step S24).

  Referring to FIG. 12, in the job ticket generation process by the job ticket generation unit 15, it is first determined whether or not there is printing on the cover (step S2411). If the result of this determination is that there is printing, it is determined whether it is single-sided or double-sided (step S2412). If this determination result is single-sided, it is subsequently determined whether it is a front cover or back cover (step S2413). Do. If the result of this determination is the front cover, an exception page setting parameter <LayoutPreparationParamsRunIndex = “0”> is generated (step S2414). If the back cover, the exception page setting parameter <LayoutPreparationParamsRunIndex = The process of generating “−1”> is performed (step S2415), and in any case, it is determined whether the print surface is the front surface or the back surface (step S2416). As a result of this determination, if it is the front surface, a process of adding Sides = “OneSidedFront” to the attribute of LayoutPreparationParamsRunIndex is performed (step S2417). Step S2418) The process is performed, and in any case, the operation process is terminated thereafter.

  Further, if the result of the previous determination of one side or both sides (step S2412) is a double side, it is subsequently determined whether the cover is the front or back (step S2419). If the result of this determination is the front cover, an exception page setting parameter <LayoutPreparationParamsRunIndex = "0 to 1"> is generated (step S2420), and if it is a back cover, the exception page setting parameter < LayoutPreparationParamsRunIndex = “− 2 to −1”> is generated (step S2421), and in either case, Sides = “TwoSiddedFlipY” or “TwoSiddedFlipX” is added to the attribute of LayoutPreparationParamRunIndex (step S24 is added). Then, the operation process ends.

  Further, as a result of the determination as to whether or not printing is performed on the first cover page (step S2411), if printing is not performed, the page insertion parameter <InsertSheet SheetType = “InsertSheet”> in the lower layer of <RunListPage = “0 to 1”> Is generated (step S2423), and then it is determined whether the front cover is the front cover or the front cover (step S2424). As a result of this determination, if it is a front cover, processing is performed to add SheetUsage = "Header" to the InsertSheet attribute (step S2425), and if it is a back cover, SheetUsage = "Trailer" is added (step S2426). In any case, the operation process is terminated thereafter.

  In the printing system according to the first embodiment described above, the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C having a printer driver function are provided with a function for setting a cover on the user interface UI, and when generating a job ticket based on JDF As the logic of the above, when the cover is set for the cover setting, the cover page when the cover is specified without printing is mapped to the insertion page setting parameter (InsertSheet), and when the cover print specification with printing is specified, the print on the cover is set with the exception page setting parameter (LayoutPrintionParameters) ), The cover is easily set in consideration of the convenience of the user, and a job ticket in a form compliant with the JDF specification can be generated and output.

  Incidentally, the processing functions related to the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C here can be rephrased as a cover setting method for a printing system on the technical overview. In this case, the cover setting method for the printing system includes the print designation step for designating whether or not to perform printing when setting the cover by the print designation means provided in the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C, and the client computers 1A, 1B, and 1C. The first job ticket generation means that generates and outputs a job ticket by mapping to an insertion page parameter (InsertSheet) compliant with JDF when the cover designation without printing is performed by the print designation means when setting the cover. Exception page setting conforming to JDF when the print designation means with the print designation means when the cover is set by the job ticket generation step and the second job ticket generation means included in the client computers 1A, 1B, 1C Parameters (Layo A second job ticket generation step of generating output job ticket mapped to tPriparationParams), comes to have. Further, the cover setting program having the procedures of these steps can be executed by a computer. Further, the cover setting program may be stored in a recording medium and read by a computer.

1A, 1B, 1C Client computer 2 Network 3 Control unit (DFE Controller)
4 Printer 10 Printer driver 11, 31 Preview display section 12 Graphical user interface GUI
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Data storage part 14 Drawing part 15 Job ticket generation part 16 Port monitor 17, 35 Data transfer part 32 Data acquisition part 33 Ticket analysis part 34 Job display part

JP 2009-271930 A

Claims (12)

A client computer having a printer driver function for a user is connected to a printer control unit via a network, and generates and outputs a job ticket based on a job definition format for executing a print job by the client computer. A printing system that performs cover setting in the user interface,
The client computer includes a print designation unit that designates whether or not printing is performed when the cover is set, and an insert page parameter that conforms to the job definition format when a cover is designated that is not printed by the print designation unit when the cover is set. A first job ticket generation unit that generates and outputs the job ticket by mapping to an exception page setting that conforms to the job definition format when the cover designation with print is specified by the print designation unit when setting the cover And a second job ticket generation unit configured to generate and output the job ticket by mapping to a parameter.   2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the client computer includes display means for displaying a list of contents of the cover setting.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the first job ticket generation unit maps the cover page to the insertion page parameter and maps the job to the insertion page parameter when the print setting unit specifies the cover without printing in the cover setting. When generating and outputting a ticket, if the front cover is specified, specify the attribute name pointing to the beginning for the parameter that determines the insertion position of the insertion page, which is an option of the insertion page parameter. A printing system that generates and outputs a job ticket.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the first job ticket generation unit maps the cover page to the insertion page parameter and maps the job to the insertion page parameter when the print setting unit specifies the cover without printing in the cover setting. If a back cover is specified when generating and outputting a ticket, specify the attribute name pointing to the end of the parameter that determines the insertion position of the insertion page, which is an option of the insertion page parameter, and the job. A printing system that generates and outputs a ticket.   2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the second job ticket generation unit maps a job ticket by mapping to the exception page setting parameter when the cover designation with printing is performed by the print designation unit in the cover setting. When generating and outputting, if the print side is single-sided, specify “0” for the front cover for the page range specification parameter that is an option of the exceptional page setting parameter, and the front cover. Is set to the first page, “-1” is specified for the back cover, and the back cover is set as the exception page of the last page, and the job ticket is generated and output.   2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the second job ticket generation means maps the exception ticket setting parameter to the job ticket when the cover designation with printing is specified by the print designation means in the cover setting. If the print side is double-sided when generating and outputting the page, specify “0 to 1” on the front cover for the page range specification parameter that is an option of the exception page setting parameter. The front cover is set to the first and second pages, “−2 to −1” is specified for the back cover, and the back cover is set to the page one page before the last page and the exception page of the last page. In this manner, the printing system generates and outputs the job ticket.   2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the second job ticket generation means maps the exception ticket setting parameter to the job ticket when the cover designation with printing is specified by the print designation means in the cover setting. When only one side of the cover page is specified when generating and outputting the page, “OneSideFront” is specified for the front side for the parameter indicating the print side, which is an option of the exception page setting parameter, and for the back side. A printing system that generates and outputs the job ticket by designating “OneSideBackFlipY”.   2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the second job ticket generating means maps the job ticket by mapping to the exception page setting parameter when the cover designation with printing is specified by the print designation means in the cover setting. When both sides of the cover have been specified when generating and outputting the page, “TwoSideFlipY” is used for the short side binding, and “TwoSideFlipY” is used for the long side binding. A printing system that generates and outputs the job ticket by designating “TwoSideFlipX”.   3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein, when displaying the cover setting contents as a list, if the cover specifying printing is performed by the print specifying means when the cover setting is displayed, whether the printing is performed on the front cover. A printing system that displays page numbers. A client computer having a printer driver function for a user is connected to a printer control unit via a network, and generates and outputs a job ticket based on a job definition format for executing a print job by the client computer. A cover setting method for a printing system that performs cover setting in a user interface,
A print designation step for designating the presence or absence of printing in the cover setting by the print designation means provided in the client computer, and the print designation means in the cover setting by the first job ticket generation means provided in the client computer. A first job ticket generation step of generating and outputting the job ticket by mapping to an insertion page parameter that conforms to the job definition format when a cover is designated without printing by the second, and a second provided in the client computer The job ticket generation unit generates and outputs the job ticket by mapping to an exception page setting parameter that conforms to the job definition format when the cover specification is set by the print specification unit during the cover setting. Printing system for a cover setting method characterized in that it comprises a second job ticket generation step. A client computer having a printer driver function for a user is connected to a printer control unit via a network, and generates and outputs a job ticket based on a job definition format for executing a print job by the client computer. A cover setting program for causing a computer to execute the cover setting in a printing system that performs cover setting on a user interface,
A procedure of a print designation step for designating whether or not to print when setting the cover by the print designation means provided in the client computer, and the print at the time of setting the cover by the first job ticket generation means provided in the client computer. A first job ticket generation step for generating and outputting the job ticket by mapping to an insertion page parameter conforming to the job definition format when the designation means designates a cover without printing, and the client computer includes The second job ticket generating means maps the exception page setting parameter conforming to the job definition format to the job ticket when the cover designation is printed by the print designation means when setting the cover. Cover setting program for the procedure of the second job ticket generation step of generating output, characterized in that it has a.   12. A recording medium storing the cover setting program according to claim 11 in a computer-readable manner.