JP6628127B2 - Image processing apparatus and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present specification relates to a technique for printing a plurality of page images.

  Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for printing a predetermined image (a so-called nail heading image) on edges of a plurality of sheets. In this technique, the image processing apparatus prints, on the surface of a sheet, a nail heading image indicating a classification result obtained by classifying a plurality of pages by one method, and a nail heading indicating a classification result obtained by classifying a plurality of pages by another method. The image is printed on the back of the paper. The details of the nail head image to be printed for each of the plurality of pages, for example, the classification of the plurality of pages and the text shown in the nail head image are specified by the user via the print setting screen.

JP 2010-201802 A

  However, in the above technique, there is a possibility that the user's burden when the user designates the nail head image to be printed for each of the plurality of pages becomes excessively large.

  The present specification discloses a technique capable of reducing a user's burden of printing a supplementary image (for example, the nail head image described above) when printing a plurality of page images.

  The technology disclosed in this specification can be implemented as the following application examples.

[Application Example 1] An image processing apparatus that includes m (m is an integer of 2 or more) page data, each of which indicates a page image, and supplementary data that supplements the m page data. An acquisition unit for acquiring a file, wherein the supplementary data is displayed when m page images indicated by the m page data are displayed on the display unit using the target file; User's operation for moving from the screen on which the first page image indicated by the first page data of the data is displayed to the screen on which the second page image indicated by the second page data is displayed Using the acquisition unit and the supplementary data, m pieces of the page data are divided into a first group including the first page data, and a second group of the second page data. And a k group (k is an integer that satisfies 2 ≦ k <m), and the k groups each have a page order with respect to each other. Using the classification unit including one or more continuous page data, the m pieces of the page data, and the classification result by the classification unit, m pieces of the page data corresponding to the m pieces of the page data, respectively. Wherein the m pieces of the processed page data are one or more first page data corresponding to each of the one or more page data belonging to the first group. Including one or more second processed page data corresponding to each of one or more of the one or more page data belonging to the second group, wherein the one or more of the first Processed page Each of the data indicates a first processed page image including the page image indicated by the corresponding page data and a first supplementary image indicating that the image belongs to the first group. Each of the above-described second processed page data includes a second image including the page image indicated by the corresponding page data and a second supplementary image indicating that the page belongs to the second group. M generated page images including the first processed page image and the second processed page image using the generation unit and the m processed page data indicating the processed page image An image processing apparatus, comprising: a print control unit configured to control a print process for printing an image.

According to the above configuration, the m page data are classified into k groups including the first group and the second group using the supplementary data included in the target file. Then, first processed page data each indicating a first processed page image including a corresponding page image and a first supplementary image indicating that the image belongs to the first group, and a corresponding page image , A second supplementary image indicating that the image belongs to the second group, and first processed page data each indicating a second processed page image. The supplementary data is usually used when the target file is displayed on the display unit. In the above configuration, the supplementary data is used to generate processed page data. As a result, when printing m page images, the burden on the user for printing the supplementary images can be reduced.
[Application Example 2]
An image processing apparatus according to application example 1,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the print control unit prints the m processed page images one by one on m print surfaces of a plurality of print media.
[Application Example 3]
An image processing apparatus according to application example 2,
The first supplemental image is printed at a first location along a particular edge of a print medium on which the first processed page image is printed;
The second supplemental image is a second position along the specific edge of the print medium on which the second processed page image is printed, and the second supplemental image is different from the first position. An image processing device that is printed at a location.
[Application Example 4]
An image processing apparatus according to any one of application examples 1 to 3,
The supplementary data includes n (n is an integer satisfying (k−1) ≦ n) item information,
The n pieces of item information have a hierarchical structure indicating p (p is an integer of 2 or more) layers,
The classifying unit uses the k or (k−1) item information belonging to the q-th (q is an integer of 1 or more and less than p) -th layer or more of the p layers to obtain m An image processing apparatus for classifying the page data into k groups.
[Application Example 5]
An image processing apparatus according to application example 4, further comprising:
an instruction acquisition unit that acquires an instruction to specify the q-th layer from the user from among the p layers,
The classifying unit may classify m page data into k groups using k or (k-1) item information items belonging to a q-th or higher layer specified by a user's instruction. Image processing device.
[Application Example 6]
The image processing apparatus according to any one of application examples 1 to 5, further comprising:
based on the number of the groups into which the m pieces of the page data are classified and the length along a specific edge of a print medium on which the m processed page images are to be printed; An image processing device comprising: a first determination unit that determines a length of a supplementary image and a second supplementary image in a direction along the specific end.
[Application Example 7]
An image processing apparatus according to any one of application examples 1 to 6, wherein
The supplementary data includes text data related to the page image,
The image processing apparatus further includes:
A selection unit that selects one or more characters from a character string indicated by the text data for each of the first supplementary image and the second supplementary image;
The first supplementary image is an image including one or more characters selected for the first supplementary image,
The image processing device, wherein the second supplementary image is an image including one or more characters selected for the second supplementary image.
[Application Example 8]
An image processing apparatus according to application example 7,
The selection unit is configured to determine a length of the first supplementary image and the second supplementary image in a direction along a specific edge of a print medium, and a character to be included in the first supplementary image and the second supplementary image. An image processing apparatus for selecting one or more characters from a character string indicated by the text data based on the size of the character data.
[Application Example 9]
The image processing apparatus according to application example 7 or 8, further comprising:
Based on the size of characters in at least one of the m page images indicated by the m page data, the first and second supplementary images indicate the characters. An image processing apparatus comprising: a second determining unit that determines a size of a character to be formed.
[Application Example 10]
An image processing apparatus according to any one of application examples 7 to 9, wherein
The supplementary data includes character color information indicating a color of a character string indicated by the text data,
The image processing apparatus further includes:
A third determining unit that determines a character color based on the character color information;
The image processing device, wherein the first supplementary image and the second supplementary image are images showing a character having the determined character color.
[Application Example 11]
An image processing apparatus according to any one of application examples 1 to 10, wherein
The supplementary data includes first item information, second item information, third item information, and fourth item information respectively associated with at least one of the m pieces of page data. Including
The classification unit includes:
At least one page data including the page data corresponding to the first item information, and the page data immediately before the page data corresponding to the second item information, wherein Categorizing one or more of the page data that are consecutive into the first group,
At least one page data including the page data corresponding to the third item information and the page data immediately before the page data corresponding to the fourth item information, wherein An image processing apparatus for classifying one or more pieces of the page data having a plurality of consecutively into the second group.

  The technology disclosed in the present specification can be realized in various forms, for example, a printing device, a control device of the printing device, an image processing method, and a computer program for realizing the functions of these devices and methods. , A recording medium on which the computer program is recorded, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computer 200 and a printer 100 as an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of a printing process. It is a schematic diagram of a target file IF. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a document indicated by a target file IF. It is a figure showing an example of instruction input screen WI1WI2. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print image of a single-sided printing process. It is a flowchart of a parameter determination process. 9 is a flowchart of a one-sided printing process. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating print images TI1 to TI20. 9 is a flowchart of a duplex printing process. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print image of a double-sided printing process.

A. Example:
A-1: Configuration of Image Processing Apparatus Next, an embodiment will be described based on an example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computer 200 as an image processing apparatus and a printer 100 according to the embodiment.

  The computer 200 is, for example, a personal computer, and includes a CPU 210 as a processor as a controller of the computer 200, a non-volatile storage device 220 such as a hard disk drive, a volatile storage device 230 such as a RAM, and operation of a mouse and a keyboard. The display unit 270 includes a unit 260, a display unit 270 such as a liquid crystal display, and a communication unit 280. The computer 200 is communicably connected to an external device such as the printer 100 via the communication unit 280.

  The volatile storage device 230 provides a buffer area 231 for temporarily storing various intermediate data generated when the CPU 210 performs processing. The non-volatile storage device 220 stores a computer program CP. In this embodiment, the computer program CP is a printer driver program for controlling a printer unit 130 of the printer 100 described later, and is provided in a form downloaded from a server. Instead, the computer program CP may be provided in a form stored in a DVD-ROM or the like. The CPU 210 executes a printing process described later by executing the computer program CP.

  The printer 100 includes a print engine 120 which is a mechanism for printing an image on a print medium such as paper by a predetermined method (for example, ink jet or laser), a control unit 110 including a CPU and a memory for controlling the print engine 120, It has.

A-2: Printing Process FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the printing process. This printing process is started based on a user's start instruction, for example, when the computer program CP is executed in the computer 200 and the printer driver is activated.

  In S5, the CPU 210 acquires a document file to be printed (hereinafter also referred to as a target file) from the nonvolatile storage device 220 or the volatile storage device 230. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the target file IF. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a document indicated by the target file IF. The target file IF is a document file indicating documents of m pages. In the present embodiment, the target file IF is a so-called PDF file having a file format called PDF (abbreviation of Portable Document Format).

  The target file IF includes a page data group PG including m (m is an integer of 2 or more) page data PD each indicating a page image PI, and supplementary data SD for supplementing the m page data PD. Contains. In the examples of FIGS. 3 and 4, the target file IF includes 20 page data PD1 to PD20 indicating 20 page images PI1 to PI20 (FIG. 4) (m = 20). The page data PD is image data that describes one page image PI using a drawing command according to the PDF format. The page order is determined for each of the plurality of page data PDs (that is, for each of the plurality of page images PI). The integers at the end of the codes of the page data PD1 to PD20 in FIG. 3 and the page images PI1 to PI20 in FIG. 4 are numbers indicating the page order.

  In this embodiment, the supplementary data SD is data called a bookmark (document outline) in PDF. Generally, the supplementary data SD is data used when a page image indicated by the PDF file is displayed by the viewer using the PDF file. More specifically, the supplementary data SD indicates information that can be displayed independently of each page image when the page image indicated by each page data in the PDF file is displayed on the viewer. For example, the information indicated by the supplementary data SD is shown in an operation window different from a screen displaying a page image (hereinafter, a page window). The operation window is a screen for receiving an operation from the user, and includes, for example, a plurality of options indicating a plurality of item information described later included in the supplementary data SD. For example, in a state where the page image PI1 of FIG. 4A is displayed in the page window, if the user selects an item indicating item information I22 described later from among a plurality of options in the operation window, the page is displayed. The page image displayed in the window moves from the page image PI1 to the page image PI13 associated with the item information I22. Thus, it can be said that the supplementary data SD is data representing an operation screen displayed together with the page image display screen when displaying the page image. It can be said that the operation screen is a screen used for the user to operate the display of the page image.

  The supplementary data SD has a tree structure in which a plurality of items of information are associated in a tree shape. This tree structure has a hierarchical structure having three layers. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the supplementary data SD includes root item information I0, first-layer item information I1 to I3 associated with the root item information I0, and first-layer item information I2. It includes item information I21 and I22 of the second layer associated with the item information I21 and I212 of the third layer associated with the item information I21 of the second layer.

  The supplementary data SD will be described in more detail. Each of the plurality of item information items I1 to I3, I21, I22, I211 and I212 included in the supplementary data SD is represented by a plurality of entries as / Title, / Parent, / Prev, / Next, and / First. And / Last, / Dest, / Collor, and / Font. / Title is text data indicating a character string representing the title of the item information. For example, the / Title of the item information I2 in FIG. 3 is “Main subject”, and the / Title of the item information I21 is “Experiment method”. / Parent is an entry indicating the item information of the upper hierarchy to which the item information is associated. For example, / Parent of item information I2 indicates item information I0, and / Parent of item information I21 indicates item information I2. / Prev is an entry indicating the previous item information among the item information of the same hierarchy. For example, / Prev of item information I2 indicates item information I1. Since the item information I21 does not have the previous item information, / Prev of the item information I21 is omitted. / Next is an entry indicating the next item information among the item information of the same hierarchy. For example, / Next of item information I2 indicates item information I3, and / Next of item information I21 indicates item information I22. / First is an entry indicating the first item information of the item information of the next lower hierarchy. For example, / First of the item information I2 indicates the item information I21, and / First of the item information I21 indicates the item information I211. / Last is an entry indicating the last item information of the item information of the next lower hierarchy. For example, / Last of item information I2 indicates item information I22, and / Last of item information I21 indicates item information I212. / Dest is data indicating the page image PI to which the item information is associated and the position in the page image PI. For example, / Dest of the item information I2, I21 indicates the page image PI5 of the fifth page. / Color is an entry indicating the character color of the character string representing the title of the item information. The character color is represented by, for example, RGB values of 256 gradations of each component. / Font is an entry indicating the font of a character string representing the title of the item information.

  Each of the plurality of item information items I1 to I3, I21, I22, I211 and I212 includes a / Dest entry, and thus is associated with one of the twenty page images PI1 to PI20. In the example of FIG. 4, item information I1 is associated with the page image PI1 of the first page, and item information I2, I21, and I211 are associated with the page image PI5 of the fifth page. The item information I22 is associated with the page image PI13 of the thirteenth page, and the item information I3 is associated with the page image PI8 of the eighteenth page.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the description will be continued. In S10, CPU 210 causes display unit 270 to display an instruction input screen for inputting an instruction relating to print processing. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the instruction input screens WI1 and WI2. The main screen WI1 in FIG. 5A includes a pull-down menu PM1, a plurality of radio buttons RB1 to RB9, and a plurality of buttons BT1 to BT3.

  The pull-down menu PM1 is an input element for inputting the designation of a paper size as a print medium. Radio buttons RB1 and RB2 are input elements for inputting an instruction as to whether to print a sheet vertically or horizontally. Radio buttons RB3 and RB4 are input elements for inputting an instruction to execute either double-sided printing for printing on both sides of a sheet or single-sided printing for printing on one side of a sheet.

  Radio buttons RB5 to RB7 are input elements for instructing a binding direction of a sheet. The binding direction is a direction in which, when binding a plurality of printed sheets to produce a booklet, the end to be bound is located among the four ends of the printed sheets. Specifically, the binding direction is defined on the basis of a state in which the printing surface of the odd-numbered page is facing up in the case of single-sided printing and the printing surface in the case of double-sided printing.

  Radio buttons RB8 and RB9 are input elements for instructing whether to print an image indicating a nail heading (hereinafter also referred to as heading image CI) together with page image PI. The CPU 210 analyzes the target file IF acquired in S5 of FIG. 2 and, when the target file IF includes the supplementary data SD, allows input of a print instruction for the heading image CI. When the target file IF does not include the supplementary data SD, the CPU 210 does not permit the input of the print instruction of the heading image CI. Hereinafter, the headline image CI will be briefly described.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print image of the simplex printing process. FIGS. 6A and 6B show print images TI1 and TI1b as an example of a print image TI printed by single-sided printing. The print image TI1 of FIG. 6A includes a page image PI1 of the first page (see FIG. 4A) and a heading image CIRa along the right end of the print image TI1. The print image TI1b in FIG. 6B includes a page image PI1 of the first page and a heading image CIu along the upper end of the print image TI1b.

  6A and 6B indicate the position of the sheet on which the print images TI1 and TI1b are to be printed. As will be understood from the above description, when a booklet is produced by binding printed sheets, a heading image CI is attached to a specific edge of the sheet so that the booklet appears on the fore-edge of the booklet (side surface of the unbound booklet). Printed along. A specific end of the sheet on which the heading image CI is printed is also referred to as an arrangement end on the sheet. Similarly to the end in the binding direction, the arrangement end of the heading image CI on the sheet is defined based on a state in which the print surface of the odd-numbered page faces up in the case of one-sided printing and the odd-numbered page in the case of double-sided printing. For example, the arrangement end of the heading image CI is the right end of the sheet, which means that the heading image CI is printed on the right end in a state where the printing surface is facing up in the case of single-sided printing and the printing surface of the odd-numbered page in the case of double-sided printing. Means to be done. The arrangement end of the heading image CI on the sheet is an end different from the end in the binding direction of the sheet. For example, when the end in the binding direction of the sheet is the left end, the arrangement end of the heading image CI is any one of the right end, the lower end, and the upper end.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the description will be continued. When the detailed setting button BT3 of the main screen WI1 of FIG. 5A is pressed, the CPU 210 displays the detailed setting screen WI2 of FIG. The detailed setting screen WI2 includes a plurality of pull-down menus PM2 to PM4, a plurality of radio buttons RB10 to RB13, and a plurality of buttons BT4 and BT5.

  The pull-down menu PM2 specifies item information to be used for printing the heading image CI among a plurality of item information I1 to I3, I21, I22, I211 and I212 of the supplementary data SD included in the target file IF. Is an input element for The specification of the item information to be used is performed by specifying the lower limit of the layer to which the item information to be used belongs (hereinafter, also referred to as a use layer). The CPU 210 analyzes the target file IF acquired in S5 of FIG. 2, recognizes the hierarchy of the hierarchical structure of the supplementary data SD, and determines a selectable selection item in the pull-down menu PM2 so that each hierarchy can be selected. I do. For example, in the example of FIG. 3, since the hierarchical structure of the supplementary data SD includes the first to third layers, any one of these three layers can be selected in the pull-down menu PM2. It is.

  The pull-down menu PM3 is an input element for designating a character color of a character to be included in the heading image CI. The pull-down menu PM4 is an input element for designating a background color to be included in the heading image CI. The selectable items in the pull-down menus PM3 and PM4 include, for example, a plurality of predetermined candidate colors such as black, blue, and red, and automatic setting. The CPU 210 controls selectable items in the pull-down menus PM3 and PM4 so that the same color cannot be selected as the character color and the background color. In the embodiment, both the character color and the background color can be specified by the user. However, as a modified example, the CPU 210 may specify that only one of the character color and the background color can be specified by the user. good. In this case, the other of the character color and the background color is automatically determined by the CPU 210. For example, the other of the character color and the background color may be determined to be a complementary color of one of the character color and the background color specified by the user.

  Radio buttons RB10 to RB13 are input elements for designating the arrangement end of heading image CI described above. The selection items that can be selected by the radio buttons RB10 to RB13 are three ends, excluding the end in the binding direction selected by the radio buttons RB5 to RB7 of the main screen WI1, among the four ends of the top, bottom, left, and right of the sheet. , Automatic setting, and so on. In the example of FIG. 5, since the left end is selected as the end in the binding direction on the main screen WI1, three ends (upper end, lower end, right end) excluding the left end can be selected with the radio buttons RB11 to RB13. It has been.

  Note that the default selection items of the pull-down menus PM2 to PM4 are the highest hierarchy (first hierarchy), automatic setting, and automatic setting, respectively. The default selection items of the radio buttons RB10 to RB13 are automatic setting. When these settings are not selected by the user, it is determined that these default selection items have been selected. When these settings are not selected by the user, specifically, when the detailed setting button BT3 of the main screen WI1 is not pressed and the detailed setting screen WI2 is not displayed, or This is a case where the pull-down menu PM2 is not operated even when the screen WI2 is displayed.

  When the OK button BT4 on the detailed setting screen WI2 is pressed, the CPU 210 validates the settings input via the detailed setting screen WI2 and displays the main screen WI1 on the display unit 270. When the cancel button BT5 on the detailed setting screen WI2 is pressed, the CPU 210 invalidates the setting input via the detailed setting screen WI2 and displays the main screen WI1 on the display unit 270.

  The user inputs necessary settings on the instruction input screens WI1 and WI2, and presses the print button BT1. When the print button BT1 is pressed, the CPU 210 advances the process to S15, and when the cancel button BT2 is pressed, the process is interrupted.

  In S15, the CPU 210 acquires print settings via the instruction input screens WI1 and WI2. Specifically, when the print button BT1 is pressed, the CPU 210 acquires items selected on the instruction input screens WI1 and WI2 as print settings.

  In S20, CPU 210 determines whether or not a print instruction for heading image CI has been issued. If the radio button RB8 on the main screen WI1 has been selected when the print button BT1 is pressed, it is determined that a print instruction for the headline image CI has been issued, and if the radio button RB9 has been selected, It is determined that the print instruction for heading image CI has not been issued.

  If the instruction to print the heading image CI has not been issued (S20: NO), the CPU 210 executes normal printing in S25. Specifically, the CPU 210 generates print data for printing the page images PI1 to PI20 of FIG. 4 as they are (ie, without including the index image CI) and transmits the print data to the printer 100. If a print instruction for heading image CI has been issued (S20: YES), CPU 210 proceeds to S30 to print an image including heading image CI.

  In S30, the CPU 210 executes a parameter determination process. The parameter determination process is a process of determining parameters related to the headline image CI using the supplementary data SD of the target file IF and the print settings acquired in S15. The parameter determination processing will be described later.

  In S35, the CPU 210 determines whether or not single-sided printing has been designated via the main screen WI1. If single-sided printing is specified (S35: YES), the CPU 210 executes single-sided printing processing in S40. In the one-sided printing process, using the parameters determined in the parameter determination process, 20 print images TI each including a page image PI and a heading image CI are converted into 20 print images of a print medium consisting of 20 print medium surfaces. One print is printed on each print surface. The one-sided printing process will be described later.

  If single-sided printing has not been specified, that is, if double-sided printing has been specified (S35: NO), the CPU 210 executes double-sided printing processing in S45. In the double-sided printing process, using the parameters determined in the parameter determining process, 20 print images TI each including a page image PI and a heading image CI are formed by 20 print images TI each including front and back surfaces of 10 print media. Are printed one by one on the printing surface. The two-sided printing process will be described later. When the one-sided printing process and the two-sided printing process end, the printing process ends.

A-3: Parameter Determination Process FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the parameter determination process. In S100, the CPU 210 selects one of the item information items I1 to I3, I21, I22, I211 and I212 of the supplementary data SD of FIG. And a plurality of item information to be used are determined. Specifically, the item information belonging to the lower hierarchy of the use hierarchy and the item information belonging to the hierarchy higher than the lower limit of the use hierarchy, to which the lower item information is not associated, should be used. Determined as item information. For example, in the example of FIG. 3, when the lower limit of the use hierarchy is the first hierarchy, three item information I1 to I3 belonging to the first hierarchy are determined as the item information to be used. In the example of FIG. 3, when the lower limit of the use hierarchy is the second hierarchy, two item information items I21 and I22 belonging to the second hierarchy correspond to the item information items belonging to the first hierarchy and lower. Four item information items, which are two item information items I1 and I3 not attached, are determined as item information items to be used. Hereinafter, the description will be continued assuming that the lower limit of the use hierarchy is the second hierarchy, and in this step, four item information items I1, I21, I22, and I3 have been determined as the item information items to be used.

  In S105, the CPU 210 uses the determined item information to be used among the supplementary data SD to set k page data PD1 to PD20 of the target file IF (k satisfies 2 ≦ k <m). (Integer) group, and group information indicating the classification result is generated. In the example of FIG. 4, 20 page data PD1 to PD20 are classified into four groups (k = 4). Classifying the 20 page data PD1 to PD20 into 4 groups is equivalent to classifying the 20 page images PI1 to PI20 into 4 groups, as shown in FIG.

  A specific description will be given using the example of FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the four pieces of item information I1, I21, I22, and I3 to be used are a page image PI1 of the first page, a page image PI5 of the fifth page, a page image PI13 of the thirteenth page, respectively. It is associated with the page image PI18 of the 18th page. The twenty page data PD1 to PD20 in FIG. 4 are page data (specifically, shown in the / Dest entry (FIG. 3)) in which four pieces of item information I1, I21, I22, and I3 to be used are associated. Page data) are divided into four groups. Thus, in the present embodiment, the number of item information to be used and the number of groups obtained as a result of the classification are equal to each other. In addition, since the above-described heading image CI is an image indicating a group into which the page data PD is classified, the number of groups and the number of types of the output image CI are equal to each other. In the present embodiment, the number of groups, the number of item information to be used, and the number of types of heading images CI are all four. Note that, depending on the contents of the supplementary data SD, the item information may not match the number of groups to be classified. More specifically, item information may not be set from the first page to a specific page in the PDF file. In this case, the area from the top page to the specific page is classified into one group, and the pages subsequent to the specific page are classified into groups so as to match the number of item information. That is, the number of groups may be one more than the number of item information. In general, the number of groups is the same as the number of item information and the number of types of heading images CI, or one more than the number of item information and the number of types of heading images CI.

  This will be described more specifically. The four pieces of item information I1, I21, I22, and I3 are sorted into the first item information I1, the second item information I21, the third item information I22, and the fourth item information in the order of the page order of the corresponding page image PI. Item information I3. In this case, page data of four pages from the page data PD1 corresponding to the first item information I1 to be used to the page data PD4 immediately before the page data PD5 corresponding to the second item information I21. PD1 to PD4 are classified into a group G1. Eight pages of page data PD5 to PD12 from the page data PD5 corresponding to the second item information I21 to the page data PD12 immediately before the page data PD13 corresponding to the third item information I22 are classified into the group G2. You. The page data PD13 to PD17 for five pages from the page data PD13 corresponding to the third item information I22 to the page data PD17 immediately before the page data PD18 corresponding to the fourth item information I3 are classified into the group G3. You. The page data PD18 to PD20 for three pages from the page data PD18 corresponding to the fourth item information I3 to the last page data PD20 are classified into a group G4. As described above, one or more page data PD belonging to each group is one or more page data in which the page order is continuous with each other. FIGS. 4A to 4D show page images PI1 to PI20 indicated by 20 page data PD1 to PD20 classified into any of the groups G1 to G4. .

  In S110, CPU 210 determines whether or not the layout end of heading image CI has been designated. If a specific end of the sheet is designated as the arrangement end of the heading image CI described above via the detailed setting screen WI2 in FIG. 5B (S110: YES), the CPU 210 proceeds to S115. Is determined as the arrangement end of the heading image CI. If the automatic setting is specified on the detailed setting screen WI2 and the specific edge of the sheet is not specified (S110: NO), the CPU 210 determines in S120 that the radio button RB10 corresponding to the edge in the binding direction is pressed. When it is selected, it is determined that the arrangement end of the heading image CI is not specified.

  If the placement end of the heading image CI is designated (S110: YES), the CPU 210 determines the designated end as the placement end in S115. If the placement end of the heading image CI is not specified (S110: NO), the CPU 210 determines in S120 the end opposite to the end in the binding direction specified on the main screen WI1 of FIG. 5A. Is determined as the arrangement end.

  In S125, the CPU 210 determines the length L in the direction along the arrangement end of the heading image CI. The length L is determined based on the number of groups into which the page data is classified and the length in the direction along the arrangement end of the sheet on which the print image TI is to be printed. When the right end of the paper is the placement end, that is, when the direction along the placement end is the vertical direction (FIG. 6A), when the top end of the paper is the placement end, that is, the direction along the placement end is The case of the horizontal direction (FIG. 6B) will be described more specifically using the example of FIG.

When the right end of the sheet in FIG. 6A is the arrangement end, the vertical length La of the heading image CIRa is represented by the number k of groups into which page data is classified and the vertical length of the sheet PA. It is determined using H1, the vertical length HU of the upper margin, and the vertical length HB of the lower margin. Specifically, a value obtained by dividing the vertical length H2 of the print image TI by the number k of groups is set as the vertical length La of the index image CIRa (La = (H2 / k)). The vertical length H2 of the print image TI is a value obtained by subtracting the sum of the vertical lengths HU and HB of the upper and lower margins from the vertical length H1 of the paper PA (H2 = H1− ( HU + HB)). Therefore, the length La of the heading image CIRa in the vertical direction is calculated using the following equation (1).
La = {H1- (HU + HB)} / k ... (1)
Even when the left end of the sheet is the arrangement end, the vertical length of the heading image CI is calculated by the same formula.

In the case where the upper end of the sheet in FIG. 6B is the arrangement end, the length in the direction along the arrangement end of the heading image CIu, that is, the lateral length Lb is determined by the number k of groups and the length of the sheet PA. It is determined using the horizontal length W1, the horizontal length WR of the right margin, and the horizontal length WL of the left margin. Specifically, a value obtained by dividing the horizontal length W2 of the print image TI by the number k of groups is set as the horizontal length Lb of the index image CIb (Lb = (W2 / k)). The horizontal length W2 of the print image TI is a value obtained by subtracting the sum of the horizontal lengths WR and WL of the left and right margins from the horizontal length W1 of the paper PA (W2 = W1- ( WR + WL)). Therefore, the horizontal length Lb of the heading image CIb is calculated by using the following equation (2).
Lb = {W1- (WR + WL)} / k ... (2)
Even when the lower end of the sheet is the arrangement end, the horizontal length of the heading image CI is calculated by the same formula. Note that these lengths L are represented using the number of pixels.

  In S130 of FIG. 7, the CPU 210 determines the size CS of the character in the headline image CI based on the size of the character in the 20 page images PI1 to PI20. Specifically, the CPU 210 analyzes the twenty page data PD1 to PD20 (specifically, the font size indicated by the text data in the page data), and analyzes one of the characters included in the page images PI1 to PI20. The size adopted for the largest number of characters among the types or more sizes is determined as the size CS of the characters in the index image CI. As a modification, the character size CS may be determined based on only the characters in the page image PI1 of the first page. In addition, the median value when one or more types of characters included in the page images PI1 to PI20 are arranged in ascending order may be determined as the character size CS.

  In S135, the CPU 210 determines the size of the character in the heading image CI based on the length L in the direction along the layout end of the heading image CI determined in S125 and the character size CS determined in S130. Determine the maximum number of characters TC. Specifically, a value obtained by dividing the length L in the direction along the arrangement end of the heading image CI by a value obtained by adding a predetermined character interval ΔT to the character size CS is calculated as the maximum number of characters TC (TC = (L / (CS + ΔT)) As a modified example, the maximum number of characters TC is determined by referring to a table in which the maximum number of characters TC is associated with each of a plurality of combinations of the range of the length L and the character size CS. You may decide.

  In S140, CPU 210 determines characters in heading image CI for each of the k types of heading images CI using supplementary data SD. Specifically, the CPU 210 acquires, from the supplementary data SD, corresponding item information for each of the k groups in which the page data is classified. The item information corresponding to the group is, among the item information to be used, the item information in which the page order in the group is associated with the first page data. In the example of FIG. 4, the item information corresponding to the group G1 is the item information I1, and the item information corresponding to the group G2 is the item information I21.

  The CPU 210 converts characters from the text data included in the acquired item information, specifically, from the character string indicated by the text data (FIG. 3) described in the / Title entry, starting from the top with the maximum number of characters TC as an upper limit. select. Then, CPU 210 determines a character selected from the text data included in the item information as a character in heading image CI indicating a group corresponding to the item information. In the example of FIG. 4, assuming that the maximum number of characters TC is four, the characters in the four types of heading images CI indicating the four groups G1 to G4 are “introduction”, “experimental method”, and “experimental result”, respectively. "Conclusion" is determined. When a character is described in the horizontal direction with respect to the arrangement end, a half-width character is calculated as 0.5 character.

  In S145, CPU 210 determines whether the character color and the background color of heading image CI have been specified by the user via detailed setting screen WI2 in FIG. 5B. If the character color and the background color are specified by the user (S145: YES), in S150, CPU 210 determines the character color and the background color of heading image CI according to the specification of the user.

  If the character color and the background color have not been specified by the user (S145: NO), in S155, CPU 210 determines the character color and the background color of index image CI using supplementary data SD. Specifically, the character color described in the / Color entry of the item information included in the supplementary data SD is determined as the background color of the heading image CI. Then, a complementary color of the character color described in the / Color entry of the item information is determined as the character color of the heading image CI. The character color and the background color of the heading image CI may be determined to be different colors for each type of the heading image CI based on the corresponding item information. Alternatively, the character color and the background color of the heading image CI may be determined to be colors common to the k kinds of heading images CI based on one item information. When the character color and the background color of the heading image CI are determined in S150 and S155, the parameter determination processing ends.

A-4: One-Sided Printing Process FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the one-sided printing process. In S200, the CPU 210 selects one target page data from the 20 page data PD1 to PD20 according to the page order. The page image PI indicated by the page data of interest is also called a page image of interest.

  In step S205, the CPU 210 performs rasterization processing on the page data of interest describing the page image of interest in accordance with the PDF format, and generates bitmap data indicating the page image of interest. In the present embodiment, the bitmap data is RGB image data representing a color of each pixel with a color value (RGB value) of the RGB color system. This will be specifically described using the print image TI1 in FIG. 6A as an example. First, the CPU 210 determines the size of the page image of interest after rasterization. The vertical length H2 of the rasterized page image of interest (the page image PI1 of the first page in the example of FIG. 6A) is determined by the vertical margin H1 of the paper PA to be printed. (H2 = {H1− (HU + HB)}). The horizontal length W2 of the target page image is a value obtained by subtracting the sum of the horizontal lengths WL and WR of the left and right margins from the horizontal length W1 of the paper PA to be printed (W2 = ｛). W1- (WL + WR)}).

  The CPU 210 prepares image data representing an initial image having the determined size (for example, image data in which all pixel values are initial values) in the buffer area 231. The CPU 210 generates bitmap data indicating the target page image by drawing the target page image in the initial image according to the drawing command included in the target page data.

  In S210, the CPU 210 determines the arrangement position of the index image CI in the print image TI to be generated with reference to the group information. As described above, the layout end of the heading image CI is defined based on a state in which the print surface of the odd-numbered page faces up in the case of single-sided printing and the print surface in the case of double-sided printing. Therefore, unlike the case of double-sided printing described later, in the case of single-sided printing, the arrangement end of the index image CI determined in S115 and S120 in FIG. 7 and the end corresponding to the arrangement end in the print image TI are: Always end in the same direction. Therefore, in this step, the arrangement position of the headline image CI is determined along the arrangement end of the headline image CI.

  For example, FIG. 6A shows an example in which the layout end of the index image CI determined in S115 and S120 in FIG. 7 is the right end. In this case, first, the CPU 210 sets an additional area IA2 adjacent to the right side of the rasterized target page image (the page image PI1 in FIG. 6A). As a result, as shown in FIG. 6A, the main area IA1 where the page image of interest (the page image PI1 in FIG. 6A) is arranged, and the heading image CI is arranged adjacent to the right side of the main area IA1. A print image TI (a print image TI1 in FIG. 6A) including an additional area IA2 for performing the print operation is generated.

  FIG. 6B shows an example in which the layout end of the index image CI determined in S115 and S120 of FIG. 7 is the upper end. In this case, first, the CPU 210 sets the additional area IA2 adjacent above the rasterized target page image (the page image PI1 in FIG. 6B). As a result, as shown in FIG. 6B, the main area IA1 where the page image of interest (the page image PI1 in FIG. 6B) is arranged, and the heading image CI is arranged adjacent to the upper side of the main area IA1. A print image TI (the print image TI1b in FIG. 6B) including the additional area IA2 for performing the printing is generated.

  Such an additional area IA2 is, among the four ends of the print image TI, the arrangement end of the index image CI determined in S115 and S120 in FIG. 7 (the right end in the example of FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B). Along the upper end in the example shown in FIG. 6A), a band-shaped area having a width corresponding to the margin of the arrangement end (width WR in the example of FIG. 6A, width HU in the example of FIG. 6B). At this stage, nothing is arranged in the additional area IA2. By setting the main area IA1 and the additional area IA2 separately in advance, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience that the page image PI and the heading image CI overlap in the print image TI.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing 20 print images TI1 to TI20 corresponding to the 20 page images PI1 to PI20 shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is an example in which the arrangement end is the right end, so the direction along the arrangement end is the vertical direction. Since the 20 page images PI1 to PI20 and the 20 print images TI1 to TI20 correspond one-to-one, the 20 page images PI1 to PI20 are the same as the 20 page images PI1 to PI20. And four groups G1 to G4. The vertical position of the heading image CI arranged in each of the 20 print images TI1 to TI20 is shifted by a certain amount for each group to which the heading image CI belongs. Specifically, the vertical position of the heading image CI is shifted downward by the vertical length La (FIG. 6A) of the heading image CI in a group having a lower page order of the page images PI to which the heading image CI belongs. ing. For example, the vertical position of the index image CIRa arranged in the print image TI belonging to the group G1 is a position in contact with the upper end of the print image TI (FIGS. 9A and 6A). Then, the distances D2, D3, D4 (FIG. 9) from the upper ends of the index images CIRb, CIRc, CIRd arranged in the print images TI belonging to the groups G2, G3, G4 to the upper ends of the print images TI are D2 = La, D3 = (2 × La) and D4 = (3 × La). Note that, in this case, the horizontal positions of the headline images CIRa to CIRd are all the same, and are positions that are in contact with the right end, which is the arrangement end (FIG. 9).

  When the arrangement end is the upper end, the direction along the arrangement end is the horizontal direction. In this case, the vertical position of the heading image CI is shifted to the right by a horizontal length Lb (FIG. 6B) of the heading image CI in a group in which the page order of the page images PI to which the page image PI belongs is later. (Not shown).

  As described above, in order to determine the arrangement position of the heading image CI, the CPU 210 refers to the group information, recognizes the group to which the page image of interest belongs, and adds the arrangement position of the heading image CI to the page image of interest. In the area IA2, a different position is determined for each group.

  In S215, the CPU 210 completes the print image TI by adding the index image CI to the print image TI. Specifically, CPU 210 generates a heading image CI based on the plurality of parameters determined by the parameter determination processing, and arranges heading image CI in additional area IA2 in print image TI. For example, the background has a length L in the direction along the arrangement end determined in S125 of FIG. 7 and a predetermined length in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement end, and has the background determined in S150 or S155 in FIG. A rectangular image filled with the color is generated. The predetermined length in the direction orthogonal to the arrangement end may be, for example, the same fixed value as the width of the additional area IA2, and is dynamically determined according to the character size CS determined in S130 of FIG. Value may be used. Then, in the rectangular image, the character determined in S140 of FIG. 7 and having the character color determined in S150 or S155 of FIG. 7 is arranged, and the heading image CI is generated. . The headline image CI is arranged at the arrangement position determined in S215 in the print image TI.

  As a result, among the 20 print images TI1 to TI20 shown in FIG. 9, RBG image data indicating the print image TI including the page image of interest is generated.

  In S220, CPU 210 converts the generated RBG image data indicating print image TI into print data. Specifically, for the RGB image data, the RGB values are converted to color values (for example, CMY) including component values corresponding to the colors of the printing material (for example, C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow)). ) Is performed. Then, halftone processing using an error diffusion method, a dither method, or the like is performed on the image data after the color conversion processing. Then, the image data after the halftone processing is rearranged in the order used for printing, and a process of adding control data such as a print command is executed to generate print data. At this time, the print data is generated such that no margin is provided at the position where the heading image CI is arranged on the sheet. As a result, the heading image CI can be appropriately printed along the arrangement edge of the sheet.

  In step S225, the CPU 210 transmits the generated print data to the printer 100 to print a print image TI including the target page image and a heading image CI indicating a group to which the target page image belongs to the printer 100. Let it.

  In S230, the CPU 210 determines whether all the page data PD included in the target file IF have been processed. If all the page data PD have not been processed (S230: NO), the CPU 210 returns to S200 and selects the unprocessed page data PD as new target page data. If all the page data PD has been processed (S230: YES), the CPU 210 ends the one-sided printing process. When the one-sided printing process is completed, the 20 print images TI to TI20 shown in FIG. 9 are printed by the printer 100 one by one on the surface of 20 sheets of paper.

A-5: Duplex Printing Process FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the duplex printing process. In S300, the CPU 210 selects one target page data from the 20 page data PD1 to PD20 according to the page order. In S305, the CPU 210 performs a rasterizing process on the page data of interest to generate RGB image data indicating the page image of interest.

  In S310, the CPU 210 determines whether or not the page image of interest is an odd-numbered page image in page order (also referred to as an odd-numbered page image). If the page image of interest is an odd page image (S310: YES), the CPU 210 refers to the group information in S320 as in S210 of the one-sided printing process in FIG. In, the arrangement position of the heading image CI is determined. As a result, the placement position of the heading image CI is determined along the placement end of the heading image CI, just like the one-sided printing process. Therefore, when the page image of interest is an odd page image, the same print image as the print image TI generated in the single-sided printing process is generated.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print image of the double-sided printing process. FIGS. 11A and 11B are examples in which the arrangement end of the heading image CI determined in S115 and S120 in FIG. 7 is the right end, and FIGS. 11C and 11D are headings. This is an example where the arrangement end of the image CI is the upper end. 11A to 11D, the end in the binding direction is the left end of the sheet.

  The print image TI1c in FIG. 11A and the print image TI1d in FIG. 11C are generated when the odd-numbered page image, specifically, the page image PI1 of the first page is the target page image. This is a print image. These print images TI1c and TI1d are exactly the same as the print images TI1 and TIb of FIGS. 6A and 6B.

  If the page image of interest is an even-numbered page image in the page order (also referred to as an even-numbered page image) (S310: NO), the CPU 210 determines the layout of the heading images CI determined in S115 and S120 in FIG. It is determined whether the edge and the edge in the binding direction of the sheet are perpendicular to each other. For example, when the placement end of the heading image CI is the upper end or the lower end and the end in the binding direction of the paper is the left end or the right end, the placement end of the heading image CI and the end in the binding direction of the paper are perpendicular to each other. It is determined to be an end. When the arrangement end of the heading image CI is the right end and the end in the paper binding direction is the left end, or when the arrangement end of the heading image CI is the lower end and the end in the paper binding direction is the upper end, the paper binding is performed. It is determined that the ends of the directions are not perpendicular to each other (is parallel). As described above, the edge of the sheet in the binding direction and the edge at which the heading image CI is arranged are edges defined based on the state in which the printing surface of the odd-numbered page faces up in the case of double-sided printing.

  If the arrangement end of the heading image CI and the end in the paper binding direction are perpendicular to each other (S315: YES), the CPU 210 refers to the group information in S330 to determine the group to which the page data of interest belongs. The arrangement position of the index image CI indicating the group is determined along the arrangement end. Here, in S330, the arrangement position of the index image CI is determined along the arrangement end in the same manner as in S320, but the position in the direction along the arrangement end is different from S320. Specifically, FIG. 11D illustrates an example in which the end in the binding direction is the left end, the arrangement end is the upper end, and the ends are perpendicular to each other. In this case, similarly to the print image TI1d in FIG. 11C, an additional area IA2 adjacent to the upper end of the main area IA1 is set in the print image TI2d in FIG. The position is determined along the upper end of the print image TI2d, which is the arrangement end of the headline image CI. In the print image TI2d in FIG. 11D, the horizontal position of the heading image CIu (that is, the position in the direction along the upper end which is the arrangement end of the heading image CIu) is the print image TI1d in FIG. Is different from the horizontal position. Specifically, the distance between the index image CIu in the print image TI1d in FIG. 11C and the left end of the print image TI1d is defined as Wa. Then, the distance between the index image CIu in the print image TI2d in FIG. 11D and the right end of the print image TI2d is Wb. In this case, the horizontal position of the index image CIu in the print image TI2d of FIG. 11D is determined so that the distance Wb and the distance Wa are equal. In this way, in a booklet made by binding double-sided printed sheets, the heading images CI are printed at appropriate positions so that the heading images CI indicating the same group overlap each other.

  When the arrangement end of the heading image CI and the end in the binding direction of the sheet are parallel to each other (S315: NO), the CPU 210 refers to the group information in S325 and determines the group to which the page data of interest belongs. Is determined, and the arrangement position of the heading image CI indicating the group is determined along the end opposite to the arrangement end determined in S115 and S120 in FIG. Specifically, FIG. 11B illustrates an example in which the end in the binding direction is the left end, and the arrangement end is the right end, and is parallel to each other. In this case, unlike the print image TI1c in FIG. 11A, an additional area IA2 adjacent to the left end of the main area IA1 is set in the print image TI2c in FIG. 11B, and the headline image CIRa is The position is determined along the left end of the print image TI1c. As described above, the arrangement end determined in S115 and S120 in FIG. 7 is an end defined based on a state in which the printing surface of the odd-numbered page image faces up in the case of double-sided printing. Therefore, the arrangement end (for example, the right end) determined in S115 and S120 of FIG. 7 is defined as the opposite end (for example, the left end) if the printing surface of the even-numbered page image is defined as a reference. Because it becomes. In the case of a heading image CI indicating the same group, the position in the direction along the arrangement end (the position in the vertical direction in FIGS. 11A and 11B) is set even if the page image of interest is an odd-numbered page image. , Even in an even page image. In this way, in a booklet made by binding double-sided printed sheets, the heading images CI are printed at appropriate positions so that the heading images CI indicating the same group overlap each other.

  The processing in S335 to S350 in FIG. 10 is the same as the processing in S215 to S230 in FIG. However, the print data generated in S340 includes control data for executing double-sided printing.

  According to the present embodiment described above, the CPU 210 classifies the twenty page data PD1 to PD20 (FIG. 4) into four groups including the group G1 and the group G3 using the supplementary data SD ( S105 in FIGS. 3 and 7). Each of the four groups includes one or more page data PDs whose page order is continuous with each other. Then, the CPU 210 uses the 20 page data PD1 to PD20 and the classification result described above to generate 20 print images TI1 to TI20 corresponding to the 20 page data PD1 to PD20 (FIG. 9). Are generated (FIGS. 8 and 10). In other words, the 20 pieces of print data include four pieces of print data indicating four pieces of print images TI1 to TI4 respectively corresponding to the four pieces of page data PD1 to PD4 belonging to group G1, and five pieces of pieces of print data belonging to group G3. And five print data indicating five print images TI13 to TI17 corresponding to the page data PD13 to PD17, respectively. The four print images TI1 to TI4 (FIG. 9A) are page images PD1 to PD4 (FIG. 4A) indicated by corresponding page data PD1 to PD4, and a heading image indicating that they belong to the group G1. CIRa (FIG. 9A). The print images TI13 to TI17 (FIG. 9C) include page images PI13 to PI17 (FIG. 4C) indicated by the corresponding page data PD13 to PD17, and a heading image CIRc (FIG. 4C) indicating that they belong to the group G3. 9 (C)). Then, the CPU 210 causes the printer 100 to print 20 print images TI1 to TI20 using the 20 print data.

  As a result, when printing the 20 page images PI1 to PI20, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user for printing the index image CI together with these page images. Specifically, the classification of the 20 page data PD1 to PD20 is automatically performed using the supplementary data SD included in the target file IF. The supplementary data SD is data that is originally used when a PDF file is displayed by a viewer. In the present embodiment, the supplementary data SD is used for classifying the page data PD. More specifically, in the present invention, the supplementary data SD is used for generating each print image. Thus, for example, the user does not need to specify a group to which the same type of index image CI is added. In other words, by selecting the radio button RB8 on the main screen WI1 of FIG. 5A, a heading image is generated simply by the user instructing to add at least a nail heading. As a result, the operation burden on the user can be reduced.

  Further, the CPU 210 causes the printer 100 to print 20 print images TI1 to TI20 one by one on 20 print surfaces of a plurality of print media. Specifically, in the single-sided printing process, the print images TI are printed one by one on 20 surfaces of 20 sheets. In the double-sided printing process, the print images TI are printed one by one on 20 surfaces (front and back surfaces) of 10 sheets of paper. As a result, for example, a booklet can be appropriately created using a plurality of sheets.

  Further, the heading image CIRa indicating the group G1 is printed at a first position along a specific end (arrangement end) of the sheet on which the print image TI belonging to the group G1 is printed, and the heading image CIRc indicating the group G3 is , The print image TI belonging to the group G3 is printed at a second position different from the first position along the arrangement end of the sheet to be printed (FIG. 9). As a result, a plurality of types of heading images CIRa and CIRc are printed at different positions along a specific edge of the sheet, so that, for example, a booklet with a heading image can be appropriately and easily created.

  Further, the supplementary data SD includes n (n is an integer satisfying (k-1) ≦ n) item information. The n item information has a hierarchical structure indicating p (p is an integer of 2 or more) layers. In the example of FIG. 3, the supplementary data SD includes seven item information items I1 to I3, I21, I22, I211 and I212 (n = 7). The seven items of information have a hierarchical structure indicating three layers (p = 3). The CPU 210 uses the four item information items I1, I21, I22, and I3 belonging to the second layer (the second layer) or more of the three layers counted from the top of the three layers to generate 20 pieces of page data. PD1 to PD20 are classified into four groups (S105 in FIGS. 4 and 7). As a result, the twenty page data PD1 to PD20 can be appropriately classified using a part of the item information included in the supplementary data SD.

  Further, the CPU 210 gives an instruction from the user to specify the lowermost layer to be used (for example, the qth layer (q is an integer of 1 or more and less than p)) from the three layers from the detailed setting screen WI2 ( 5) (FIG. 5) (S15 in FIG. 2). Then, the CPU 210 uses the k (for example, 4) or (k-1) item information belonging to the specified q-th layer (for example, the second layer) or higher layers to obtain 20 items of information. The page data PD1 to PD20 are classified. As a result, the twenty page data PD1 to PD20 can be classified into an appropriate number of groups according to a user's instruction.

  Further, the CPU 210 determines the number of groups (for example, four) into which the twenty page data PD1 to PD20 are classified, and the length in the direction along the arrangement end of the paper on which the twenty print images TI1 to TI20 are to be printed. 7 (for example, the length H1 in FIG. 6), the length La (FIG. 6A) in the direction along the arrangement end of the headline images CIRa to CIRd (FIG. 9) is determined (FIG. 7A). S125). Therefore, it is possible to print a heading image CI having an appropriate size according to the number of groups and the length in the direction along the paper placement edge.

  Further, the supplementary data SD includes text data relating to the page image PI (FIG. 3). CPU 210 selects a character from the character string indicated by the text data included in supplementary data SD for each of a plurality of headline images CIRa to CIRd (S140 in FIG. 7). Each of the plurality of headline images CIRa to CIRd is an image showing one or more characters selected for each of them (FIG. 9). As a result, the print data indicating the print image TI including the appropriate heading image CI, for example, the heading image CI including the character appropriately expressing the content of the corresponding page image, using the supplementary data SD, is excessively given to the user. It can be generated automatically without any burden.

  Further, CPU 210 selects one or more characters from the character string indicated by the text data based on length L in the direction along the arrangement end of the plurality of headline images CIRa to CIRd and character size CS. (S135 and S140 in FIG. 7). As a result, an appropriate number of characters can be selected, so that print data indicating the print image TI including the index image CI in which easy-to-read characters are indicated can be automatically generated. As a result, the user does not need to select a character including the heading image CI, so that the burden on the user can be further reduced.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the size CS of the character to be indicated in the index image CI is determined based on the size of the character in the page image PI (S130 in FIG. 7). Therefore, an appropriate size of the character to be included in the heading image CI can be automatically determined based on the size of the character in the page images PI1 to PI20. As a result, the user does not need to specify the character size, so that the burden on the user can be further reduced.

  Further, the supplementary data SD includes character color information (specifically, the / Color entry in FIG. 3) indicating the color of the character string indicated by the text data included in the supplementary data SD. The CPU 210 determines the character color based on the character color information (S150 in FIG. 7). The heading image CI is an image indicating a character having the determined character color. As a result, it is possible to cause the printer 100 to automatically print the print image TI including the heading image CI in which the characters having the easy-to-see color are shown.

  The CPU 210 includes page data PD1 corresponding to the first item information I1 and page data PD4 immediately before the page data PD5 corresponding to the second item information I21. PD4 is classified into group G1 (FIG. 4). The CPU 210 includes page data PD13 corresponding to the third item information I22 and page data PD17 immediately before the page data PD18 corresponding to the fourth item information I3. PD13 to PD17 are classified into group G3.

  As understood from the above description, the page image PI1 of this embodiment is an example of a first page image, and the page image PI13 is an example of a second page image. The group G1 is an example of a first group, and the group G3 is an example of a second group. The print images TI1 to TI20 of the present embodiment are examples of processed page images, the print images TI1 to TI4 are examples of first processed page images, and the print images TI13 to TI17 are second process images. This is an example of a processed page image, and the print data generated in the print processing is an example of processed page data. The heading image CI according to the present embodiment is an example of a supplementary image.

C. Modification:
(1) In the above embodiment, the target file IF is a document file conforming to the PDF format. Instead, a file format having the concept of a page in which page data indicating images of m pages can be stored in one file, and at least supplemental data can be associated with each page at least It may be. Specifically, the target file IF can adopt an XPS file format or a file format for various word processing applications. The supplementary data differs depending on the file format to be adopted. For example, when referring to the item information included in the supplementary data, a function capable of specifying a page image associated with the item information, for example, a so-called bookmark function, a table of contents function Data for functions called a bookmark function and a heading function is used. The supplementary data does not have to have a hierarchical structure indicating a plurality of layers.

(2) In the above embodiment, the heading image CI is an image showing a part of the character string indicated by the text data included in the supplementary data SD. Instead, heading image CI may be an image showing a character selected independently of supplementary data SD. For example, the heading image CI may be an image indicating a serial number.

  Further, for example, the CPU 210 may determine whether the character string indicated by the text data included in the supplementary data SD is appropriate as a character indicated in the headline image CI. Then, when it is determined that the character string is appropriate, a character selected from the character string is selected, and when it is determined that the character string is not appropriate, a serial number may be adopted. The case where it is not appropriate as a character shown in the heading image CI is, for example, a case where several characters from the head of the character string are the same among a plurality of types of heading images CI.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the group to which the page image to which the heading image CI is added belongs is indicated by making the position of the heading image CI in the direction along the arrangement end different for each group. That is, the position of the heading image CI in the direction along the arrangement end of the heading image CI is different between the plurality of heading images CI indicating different groups, and the heading image CI of the heading image CI indicating the same group is different between the heading images CI indicating the same group. The same position in the direction along the arrangement end indicates the group to which the page image to which the heading image CI has been added belongs. Instead of this, for example, the color of the heading image CI may be different for each group in a state where the positions in the direction along the arrangement end are the same between different groups. Alternatively, the length L in the direction along the arrangement end of the heading image CI may be different for each group.

(4) Some of the parameters related to the headline image CI determined in the above embodiment and automatically determined with reference to the supplementary data SD and the page data are, for example, specified by the user. May be determined based on For example, the CPU 210 obtains the designation of the maximum number of characters TC and the character size CS from the user via, for example, the detailed setting screen WI2, and determines the maximum number of characters TC and the character size CS based on the designation of the user. good.

(5) One heading image CI may include information indicating a plurality of hierarchies. For example, a combination of a number indicating a higher layer and a number indicating a lower layer, such as “1-1” and “1-2”, may be included in one heading image CI.

(6) In the above embodiment, when classifying the m pieces of page data PD, the lower limit of the hierarchy to which the item information to be used belongs is specified by the user via the detailed setting screen WI2. Instead, the CPU 210 may automatically determine the lower limit of the hierarchy to which the item information to be used belongs. For example, the CPU 210 may determine the lower limit of the hierarchy such that the number of groups is closest to a predetermined appropriate number (for example, 10).

(7) In each of the above embodiments, the computer 200 as the image processing apparatus that executes the printing process of FIG. 2 may be a device different from a personal computer, for example, a printer 100, a digital camera, a scanner, or a smartphone. Good. When the printer 100 executes the printing process of FIG. 2, printing using print data is executed using, for example, the print engine 120 of the printer 100. The image processing apparatus that executes the print processing in FIG. 2 may be, for example, a server that acquires the target file IF from a user terminal or the printer 100 and executes the image processing. In such a server, a plurality of computers that can communicate with each other via a network may share a part of the function as an image processing device, and may realize one image processing function as a whole. In this case, the whole of the plurality of computers that can communicate with each other via the network corresponds to the image processing apparatus.

(8) In each of the above embodiments, a part of the configuration realized by hardware may be replaced by software, and conversely, a part or all of the configuration realized by software is replaced by hardware. You may do so. For example, part of the processing executed by the CPU 210 of the computer 200 in FIG. 1 may be realized by a dedicated hardware circuit.

  As described above, the present invention has been described based on the examples and the modified examples. However, the above embodiments of the present invention are for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

  100 ... printer, 110 ... control unit, 120 ... print engine, 130 ... printer unit, 200 ... computer, 210 ... CPU, 220 ... non-volatile storage device, 230. .. volatile storage device, 231, buffer area, 260, operation section, 270, display section, 280, communication section

Claims (12)

An image processing device,
An acquisition unit for acquiring a target file including m (m is an integer of 2 or more) page data each indicating a page image and supplementary data for supplementing the m page data; The data is indicated by the first page data of the m page data when m page images indicated by the m page data are displayed on the display unit using the target file. The data used for a user's operation for moving from the screen on which the first page image is displayed to the screen on which the second page image indicated by the second page data is displayed, and the supplementary data is , N (n is an integer satisfying (k−1) ≦ n) item information, and the n pieces of item information have a hierarchical structure indicating p (p is an integer of 2 or more) layers. Have, said acquisition And,
an instruction obtaining unit that obtains, from a user, an instruction designating a q-th (q is an integer of 1 or more and less than p) layer out of p layers;
Using the supplementary data, m pieces of the page data are replaced with k pieces (k is a number) including a first group including the first page data and a second group including the second page data. A classification unit for classifying into a group of (2, an integer that satisfies 2 ≦ k <m), wherein each of the k groups includes one or more pieces of the page data whose page order is continuous with each other. ,
a generation unit that generates m processed page data corresponding to each of the m pieces of the page data using the m pieces of the page data and the classification result obtained by the classification unit; The processed page data includes one or more first processed page data corresponding to each of the one or more page data belonging to the first group and one or more first processed page data belonging to the second group. And one or more second processed page data corresponding to each of the page data, and each of the one or more first processed page data is indicated by the corresponding page data. FIG. 9 shows a first processed page image including a page image and a first supplementary image indicating that the image belongs to the first group, and shows one or more of the second processed page data. Re represents said page image represented by the corresponding said page data, and a second supplementary image indicating that it belongs to the second group, the second processed page image including, said generator,
a print control unit that causes a print execution unit to print m processed page images including the first processed page image and the second processed page image, using the m processed page data; ,
With
The classifying unit uses the k or (k−1) item information items belonging to the q-th layer or more layers specified by the user's instruction among the p layers to obtain m pages of the page. An image processing apparatus for classifying data into k groups. An image processing device,
An acquisition unit for acquiring a target file including m (m is an integer of 2 or more) page data each indicating a page image and supplementary data for supplementing the m page data; The data includes text data relating to the page image, and when m page images indicated by the m page data are displayed on the display unit using the target file, the m Is used for a user's operation for moving from the screen on which the first page image indicated by the first page data is displayed to the screen on which the second page image indicated by the second page data is displayed. The acquisition unit,
Using the supplementary data, m pieces of the page data are replaced with k pieces (k is a number) including a first group including the first page data and a second group including the second page data. A classification unit for classifying into a group of (2, an integer that satisfies 2 ≦ k <m), wherein each of the k groups includes one or more pieces of the page data whose page order is continuous with each other. ,
a generation unit that generates m processed page data corresponding to each of the m pieces of the page data using the m pieces of the page data and the classification result obtained by the classification unit; The processed page data includes one or more first processed page data corresponding to each of the one or more page data belonging to the first group and one or more first processed page data belonging to the second group. And one or more second processed page data corresponding to each of the page data, and each of the one or more first processed page data is indicated by the corresponding page data. FIG. 9 shows a first processed page image including a page image and a first supplementary image indicating that the image belongs to the first group, and shows one or more of the second processed page data. Re represents said page image represented by the corresponding said page data, and a second supplementary image indicating that it belongs to the second group, the second processed page image including, said generator,
a print control unit that causes a print execution unit to print m processed page images including the first processed page image and the second processed page image, using the m processed page data; ,
A selection unit that selects one or more characters from a character string indicated by the text data for each of the first supplementary image and the second supplementary image;
With
The first supplementary image is an image including one or more characters selected for the first supplementary image,
The second supplementary image is an image including one or more characters selected for the second supplementary image,
The image processing device may further include, based on a size of a character in at least one page image of the m page images indicated by the m page data, the first supplementary image and the An image processing apparatus comprising: a size determining unit that determines a size of a character to be indicated in a second supplementary image. The image processing device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the print control unit prints the m processed page images one by one on m print surfaces of a plurality of print media. The image processing device according to claim 3 ,
The first supplemental image is printed at a first location along a particular edge of a print medium on which the first processed page image is printed;
The second supplemental image is a second position along the specific edge of the print medium on which the second processed page image is printed, and the second supplemental image is different from the first position. An image processing device that is printed at a location. The image processing device according to claim 2 ,
The supplementary data includes n (n is an integer satisfying (k−1) ≦ n) item information,
The n pieces of item information have a hierarchical structure indicating p (p is an integer of 2 or more) layers,
The classifying unit uses the k or (k−1) item information belonging to the q-th (q is an integer of 1 or more and less than p) -th layer or more of the p layers to obtain m An image processing apparatus for classifying the page data into k groups. The image processing device according to claim 5 , further comprising:
an instruction acquisition unit that acquires an instruction to specify the q-th layer from the user from among the p layers,
The classifying unit may classify m page data into k groups using k or (k-1) item information items belonging to a q-th or higher layer specified by a user's instruction. Image processing device. The image processing device according to claim 1 ,
The supplementary data includes text data related to the page image,
The image processing apparatus further includes:
A selection unit that selects one or more characters from a character string indicated by the text data for each of the first supplementary image and the second supplementary image;
The first supplementary image is an image including one or more characters selected for the first supplementary image,
The image processing device, wherein the second supplementary image is an image including one or more characters selected for the second supplementary image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising:
Based on the size of characters in at least one of the m page images indicated by the m page data, the first and second supplementary images indicate the characters. An image processing apparatus comprising a size determining unit for determining a size of a character to be formed. An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2, 7, 8,
The selection unit is configured to determine a length of the first supplementary image and the second supplementary image in a direction along a specific edge of a print medium, and a character to be included in the first supplementary image and the second supplementary image. An image processing apparatus for selecting one or more characters from a character string indicated by the text data based on the size of the character data. An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2,7,8,9,
The supplementary data includes character color information indicating a color of a character string indicated by the text data,
The image processing apparatus further includes:
A character color determination unit that determines a character color based on the character color information,
The image processing device, wherein the first supplementary image and the second supplementary image are images showing a character having the determined character color. The image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , further comprising:
based on the number of the groups into which the m pieces of the page data are classified and the length along a specific edge of a print medium on which the m processed page images are to be printed; An image processing device, comprising: a length determining unit that determines a length of a supplementary image and the second supplementary image in a direction along the specific end. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
The supplementary data includes first item information, second item information, third item information, and fourth item information respectively associated with at least one of the m pieces of page data. Including
The classification unit includes:
At least one page data including the page data corresponding to the first item information and the page data immediately before the page data corresponding to the second item information, wherein each of the page data includes a page order; Categorizing one or more of the page data that are consecutive into the first group,
At least one page data including the page data corresponding to the third item information and the page data immediately before the page data corresponding to the fourth item information, wherein An image processing apparatus for classifying one or more pieces of the page data having a plurality of consecutively into the second group.

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