JP6803795B2 - Printer driver and information processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device including a printer driver, and more particularly to a help display process by the printer driver.

Conventionally, when displaying help information of a plurality of setting items, there has been one that enables each help information to be displayed in a desired order (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the conventional method, when displaying help information, the functions that can be used and the selectable items are different for each model, so all the different help data corresponding to each model are prepared.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-9420 (page 5, FIG. 1)

In the conventional method, since it is necessary to prepare help data for each model, the man-hours for customization have increased. For example, if you want to prepare help files for 20 languages for each of 5 models with different functions for one printer driver, you need to prepare 100 files, which is the product of the number of models and the supported languages. There were problems such as the trouble of customization and the increase in file size.

The printer driver according to the present invention
Based on the device information of the printer, and the individual function ID indicating the functions of the printer, the input format for setting required individual function ID indicates functions, ranges enterable fields of the individual function ID Common data storage that stores common help data that corresponds to the function data generation unit that generates function data that corresponds to information and the help explanation that is prepared for each combination of the function ID prepared in advance and its attribute data. It has a unit and a help generation unit that determines a combination of the function ID prepared in advance and the attribute data based on at least the individual function ID and specifies a corresponding help explanation based on the common help data. It is a feature.

According to the printer driver according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently select the desired help explanation for a plurality of models of printers based on the common help data having data corresponding to the function explanations of the plurality of models of printers, and thus customize the printer. It is possible to solve the troubles and problems that lead to an increase in file size.

It is a block diagram of the communication system which shows the application environment example of the computer of Embodiment 1 by this invention. It is a screen display figure which shows the print setting screen which a setting display part displays. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of help display operation by a computer, especially a printer driver. It is a figure which shows the screen of the help display window (A) of a paper size. It is a figure which shows the screen of the help display window (A) of the number of copies. It is a figure which shows the screen of the help display window (A) of double-sided printing. It is a figure which shows the screen of the help display window (B) of a paper size. It is a figure which shows the screen of the help display window (B) of the number of copies. It is a figure which shows the screen of the help display window (B) of double-sided printing.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication system showing an example of an application environment of the computer 11 of the first embodiment according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, in this communication system, the printer 13 is connected to the computer 11 as an information processing device through the network 12.

The computer 11 is composed of an application 101 (WORD, EXCEL, etc.) which is software for creating and printing a document, an image, and the like, and a printer driver 201 used when executing a printing process by the application 101. ing. The printer driver 201 includes a common help data storage unit 211 as a common data storage unit, a help generation unit 212, a setting display unit 213, a help display unit 214, a function providing unit 215, a print processing unit 216, a communication unit 217, and device information. It is composed of an acquisition unit 218.

The device information acquisition unit 218 has a function of acquiring device information of a printer connected to the network 12, here, the printer 13 by polling at regular time intervals. Table 1 shows an example of the device information of the printer 13 acquired here.

As shown in the table, the function of the function ID "tray 2" as the individual function ID is in the "on" state and the function of the function ID "tray 3" is in the "off" state as the device information of the printer 13. , The device information such that the function of the function ID "double-sided printing unit" is in the "on" state is acquired. The function ID referred to here is a unique ID set to identify at least each function of the printer connected to the network 12.

The function providing unit 215 has a function of referring to the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit 218 and creating functional data of the printer. Here, Table 2 shows the functional data 1 created by referring to the device information (Table 1) of the printer 13. The function data set in this way is stored in the storage unit in the function providing unit 215.

As shown in the table, the function data 1 here is information on the function ID set for each function of the printer 13, the input format corresponding to each function ID, the selection range as range information, and the function limitation thereof. have.

Here, as input formats, "selection" for selecting one from a plurality of options and "integer value" for selecting an integer value from a certain numerical range are prepared and appropriately set. When "selection" is described in the input format, selectable items shall be described by separating them with "," (colon) as the selection range. When "integer value" is selected as the input format, enter the maximum value after "Max =" and the minimum value after "Min =" as the selection range of numerical values, and enter "," (colon) for each item. ) Separated the description.

The function restriction shall be described when there is a function that cannot be used or a selection item as a result of referring to the device information. For example, when the double-sided printing unit cannot be used, the item "close the long side, close the short side" that is subject to the function restriction is described as in the function data 3 shown in Table 5 described later. The selection items described in the function restriction in this way are excluded from the help generation as described later.

The setting display unit 213 has a function of displaying the print setting screen of the printer driver 201 by referring to the information (here, the contents of Table 2) of the function providing unit 215 as the function data generation unit. FIG. 2 is a screen display diagram showing a print setting screen displayed by the setting display unit 213.

As shown in the figure, the print setting window 301 as the displayed setting screen enables settings necessary for the paper size, the number of copies, and the double-sided printing function. These setting items are displayed corresponding to the function IDs shown in the function data (here, function data 1 in Table 2), and their input formats and selection ranges are also set according to the contents of the table. ing.

Further, the print setting window 301 is provided with a paper size setting area 302, a number of copies setting area 303, and a double-sided print setting area 304 surrounded by a dotted line, and the operator moves the cursor to any area and moves the mouse to the right. By clicking, as will be described later, the help display process for displaying the help that serves as a reference for the setting work of the corresponding function is started.

The common help data storage unit 211 stores the common help data information shown in Table 3.

As shown in the table, the common help data corresponds to the Japanese data as the help explanation prepared in advance for each content of the combination of the function ID prepared in advance and the attribute data of the function ID. It is prepared. How to utilize this common help data information will be described later.

The help generation unit 212 has a function of referring to the common help data stored in the common help data storage unit 211 and the function data created by the function providing unit 215 to generate a help display window described later, and the help display unit 214. Has a function of displaying the help display window generated by the help generation unit 212. The print processing unit 216 has a function of processing the print data generated by the application 101, and the communication unit 217 has a function for the printer driver 201 to communicate with the device connected to the network 12, here the printer 13. Have.

In the above configuration, the help display operation of the computer 11, particularly the printer driver 201, will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the print process by the application 101 is started, the print setting window 301 shown in FIG. 2 is displayed by the setting display unit 213. In the print setting window 301, the operator moves the cursor to any of the paper size setting area 302, the number of copies setting area 303, and the double-sided print setting area 304 surrounded by the dotted line and right-clicks. As a result, the flow of the help display process shown in FIG. 3 for displaying the help that serves as a reference for the setting work of the corresponding function is started.

In the setting display unit 213, in the print setting window 301, the help generation unit 212 is called by designating the function ID associated with the right-clicked control unit, and the help generation unit 212 calls the help generation unit 212. (Step S101). Hereinafter, the case where the operator right-clicks the paper size setting area 302 will be described as an example. In this case, the function ID "paper size" is passed to the help generation unit 212.

The help generation unit 212 acquires the function data 1 (contents of Table 2) created by the function providing unit 215 (step S102), and further, the common help data (contents of Table 3) stored in the common help data storage unit 211. ) Is acquired (step S103).

Subsequently, the help generation unit 212 generates a help title (step S104). Here, as the title related to "paper size", the Japanese data of the line in which the function ID of the common help data shown in Table 3 is "paper size" and the attribute data is "title" is acquired. As a result, the corresponding Japanese data "paper size" is prepared as the data to be displayed on the title display unit 401a surrounded by the dotted line of the help display window (A) 401 of the paper size as the help display screen shown in FIG.

Subsequently, the help generation unit 212 generates a description of the setting contents to be displayed in the help (step S105). Here, as an explanation regarding the "paper size", the Japanese data of the line in which the function ID of the common help data shown in Table 3 is "paper size" and the attribute data is "explanation" is acquired. As a result, the corresponding Japanese data "Select the paper size" is prepared as the data to be displayed on the setting content explanation display unit 401b surrounded by the dotted line of the paper size help display window (A) 401 shown in FIG.

Subsequently, the help generation unit 212 confirms whether or not the input format corresponding to the function ID “paper size” is “selection” in the function data 1 in Table 2. If it is "selection" (step S106: Yes), a description of the selection range to be displayed in the help is generated (step S107), and then the process proceeds to step S108, while if it is other than "selection" (step S106:). No), the process proceeds to step S108 as it is. Since it is "selection" here, the process proceeds to step S107.

In step S107, in the selection ranges "A3", "A4", and "A5" corresponding to the function ID "paper size", for "A3", the function ID of the common help data shown in Table 3 is "paper size". , The Japanese data of the line whose attribute data is "A3" is acquired, and for "A4", the function ID is also "paper size" and the attribute data is "A4". The Japanese data of the line is acquired, and for "A5", the Japanese data of the line whose function ID is "paper size" and the attribute data is "A5" is acquired.

As a result, the corresponding Japanese data "A3: A3 (297 x 420 mm)" is used as the data to be displayed on the selection content explanation display unit 401c surrounded by the dotted line of the paper size help display window (A) 401 shown in FIG. Prepare "Masu", "A4: A4 (210 x 297 mm) will be used", and "A5: A5 (148 x 210 mm) will be used. Double-sided printing is not possible."

As described above, when the function ID "paper size" is specified in step S101, the display items of the paper size help display window (A) 401 shown in FIG. 4 are prepared respectively, and when the step S108 is reached. , The same display window (A) 401 is displayed, and the help display process is terminated.

Next, a case where the operator right-clicks the number of copies setting area 303 (FIG. 2) in step S101 will be described. In this case, the function ID "number of copies" is passed to the help generation unit 212.

The help generation unit 212 acquires the function data 1 (contents of Table 2) created by the function providing unit 215 (step S102), and further stores the common help data (contents of Table 3) of the common help data storage unit 211. (Step S103).

Subsequently, the help generation unit 212 generates a help title (step S104). Here, as the title related to "number of copies", the Japanese data of the line in which the function ID of the common help data shown in Table 3 is "number of copies" and the attribute data is "title" is acquired. As a result, the corresponding Japanese data "number of copies" is prepared as the data to be displayed in the title display section (see 401a in FIG. 4) of the help display window (A) 402 of the number of copies shown in FIG.

Subsequently, the help generation unit 212 generates a description of the setting contents to be displayed in the help (step S105). Here, as an explanation regarding the "number of copies", the Japanese data of the line in which the function ID of the common help data shown in Table 3 is "the number of copies" and the attribute data is "explanation" is acquired. As a result, the corresponding Japanese data is prepared as the data to be displayed in the selection explanation display unit (see 401b in FIG. 4) of the help display window (A) 402 for the number of copies shown in FIG.

Here, "Enter the number of copies to print at one time. You can set in the range of% Min to% Max.", But "% Min" and "% Max" in this are the selection range. The values corresponding to the minimum and maximum values of are applied. Therefore, the generated character string will be "Enter the number of copies to print at one time. It can be set in the range of 1 to 999."

Subsequently, the help generation unit 212 confirms whether or not the input format corresponding to the function ID "number of copies" is "selection" in the function data 1 in Table 2. Here, since it is an "integer value" and not an "selection" (step S106: No), the process proceeds to step S108 as it is.

As described above, when the function ID "number of copies" is specified in step S101, the display items of the help display window (A) 402 of the number of copies shown in FIG. 5 are prepared respectively, and when the step S108 is reached, the same. The display window (A) 402 is displayed, and the help display process is terminated.

Next, a case where the operator right-clicks the double-sided print setting area 304 (FIG. 2) in step S101 will be described. In this case, the function ID "double-sided printing" is passed to the help generation unit 212.

The help generation unit 212 acquires the function data 1 (contents of Table 2) created by the function providing unit 215 (step S102), and further stores the common help data (contents of Table 3) of the common help data storage unit 211. (Step S103).

Subsequently, the help generation unit 212 generates a help title (step S104). Here, as the title related to "double-sided printing", the Japanese data of the line in which the function ID of the common help data shown in Table 3 is "double-sided printing" and the attribute data is "title" is acquired. As a result, the corresponding Japanese data "double-sided printing" is prepared as the data to be displayed in the title display section (see 401a in FIG. 4) of the help display window (A) 403 of the "double-sided printing" shown in FIG.

Subsequently, the help generation unit 212 generates a description of the setting contents to be displayed in the help (step S105). For example, as an explanation regarding "double-sided printing", Japanese data of a line in which the function ID of the common help data shown in Table 3 is "double-sided printing" and the attribute data is "description" is acquired. As a result, the corresponding Japanese data "whether or not to print on both sides is specified as the data to be displayed on the selection explanation display section (see 401b in FIG. 4) of the help display window (A) 403 for double-sided printing shown in FIG. This function cannot be used unless the double-sided printing unit is installed. "

Subsequently, the help generation unit 212 confirms whether or not the input format corresponding to the function ID "double-sided printing" is "selection" in the function data 1 of Table 2, and if it is "selection" (step S106: Yes). ), A description of the selection range to be displayed in the help is generated (step S107), and then the process proceeds to step S108. On the other hand, if it is other than "selection" (step S106: No), the process proceeds to step S108 as it is. Since it is "selection" here, the process proceeds to step S107.

In step S107, in the selection ranges "None", "Close long side", and "Close short side" corresponding to the function ID "Double-sided printing", "None" is the common help data shown in Table 3. Get the Japanese data of the line where the function ID is "double-sided printing" and the attribute data is "none", and for "close the long side", the function ID is "double-sided printing" and the attribute Acquire the Japanese data of the line whose data is "close the long side", and for "close the short side", the function ID is "double-sided printing" and the attribute data is "close the short side". Get the Japanese data of the line that says ".

As a result, the corresponding Japanese data "None: Double-sided printing is not performed" as the data to be displayed in the selection content explanation display section (see 401c in FIG. 4) of the double-sided printing help display window (A) 403 shown in FIG. , "Bind the long side: bind the long side of the paper.", And "Bind the short side: bind the short side of the paper."

As described above, when the function ID related to "double-sided printing" is specified in step S101, the display items of the double-sided printing help display window (A) 403 shown in FIG. 6 are prepared, and step S108 is reached. At this stage, the display window (A) 403 is displayed, and the help display process is terminated.

As described above, in the print setting window 301 of FIG. 2, the operator displays the "paper size help display window (A) according to each setting operation of" paper size "," number of copies ", and" double-sided printing ". ) ”401 (Fig. 4),“ Help display window for the number of copies (A) ”402 (Fig. 5), and“ Help display window for double-sided printing (A) ”403 (Fig. 6) to set each setting item. Then, click the OK button 305 to complete these settings.

Next, the help display operation by the function data 2 corresponding to another printer (not shown) connected to the network 12 will be described. Here, it is assumed that the device information acquisition unit 218 acquires the device information of this printer, and the function providing unit 215 creates and stores the function data 2 corresponding to this other printer. The functional information of the functional data 2 is shown in Table 4.

Since there is no "double-sided printing" as the function ID here, a screen excluding the double-sided printing setting area 304 is displayed for the print setting window 301 shown in FIG. 2 as the print setting window. It will be explained with reference to it.

The operator right-clicks the paper size setting area 302 (FIG. 2) to start the flow shown in FIG. 3, and as a result, the “paper size help display window (B)” 501 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. The window. Here, the explanation is only "A4" and "A5", because the selection range corresponding to the function ID "paper size" shown in Table 4 is "A4" and "A5". , Easy to understand.

Further, the operator right-clicks the number of copies setting area 303 (FIG. 2) and starts the flow shown in FIG. 3, and as a result, the “help display window (B) of the number of copies” 502 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. .. Here, in the explanation displayed on the selection explanation display unit (see 401b in FIG. 4), the print page range is 1 to 99, which corresponds to the function ID “number of copies” shown in Table 4. Since the selection range is "Min = 1, Max = 99", it is easily understood.

Next, the help display operation by the function data 3 corresponding to yet another printer (not shown) connected to the network 12 will be described. Here, it is assumed that the device information acquisition unit 218 acquires the device information of this printer, and the function providing unit 215 creates and stores the function data 3 corresponding to the other printer. The functional information of the functional data 3 is shown in Table 5.

Here, as the print setting window, the screen excluding the paper size setting area 302 and the number of copies setting area 303 is displayed with respect to the print setting window 301 shown in FIG. 2, but here, the description will be made with reference to FIG. .. However, due to the function limitation described later, it is assumed that the content displayed in the double-sided print setting area 304 is "None" instead of "Long-edge binding".

The operator right-clicks the double-sided printing setting area 304 (FIG. 2) and starts the flow shown in FIG. 3, and as a result, the “double-sided printing help display window (B)” 601 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. Print.

Here, in the flow shown in FIG. 3, the same flow as in double-sided printing in the above-mentioned functional data 1 is passed to step S107, but here, as shown in Table 4, the “length” given as the selection range is reached. Since each function of "close edge" and "close short edge" is set as a target of function restriction, it is excluded from help generation. Therefore, here, only the explanation corresponding to "None" is displayed as the content displayed on the selection content explanation display unit 401c (see FIG. 4).

In the present embodiment, paper size, number of copies, and double-sided printing are given as examples of print setting items, but they can also be applied to other print settings.
Further, in the present embodiment, selection and an integer value are given as examples of the input format, but in addition, a character string and a real number can also be used.
Further, in the present embodiment, the device information acquisition unit 218 is prepared, but this function can be omitted. For example, it is possible to let the user specify the number of trays, the number of double-sided printing units, and the like.
Further, in the present embodiment, only Japanese data is stored in the common help data, but other languages such as English data are stored, and localization is performed by switching the reference location according to the OS language or the user's specification. Is also possible.
Further, in the present embodiment, only the character string is used for displaying the help, but it is also possible to specify and display the image, the moving image, and the link information in the common help data.
Further, in the present embodiment, the help is displayed in response to the operation, but when the help button is pressed, the help item list and the help page for displaying the contents are also used. It can correspond to various forms such as being applicable.

As described above, according to the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment, since appropriate data is extracted from the common help data based on the functional data generated for each model to generate a help display window, each model is generated. There is no need to prepare help data in the information processing, the man-hours for customization can be reduced, and it can be expected that the increase in file size will be suppressed compared to the case where a help file is prepared for each model.
In addition, since help is displayed within the range of available functions of each printer, the range of available functions may change depending on the presence or absence of trays, double-sided printing units, etc. Appropriate help display can always be performed.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is adopted for a printer has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is also applicable to MFPs (Multi Function Printers), facsimiles, label making machines, copiers, and the like. Available.

11 Computer, 12 Network, 13 Printer, 101 Application, 201 Printer Driver, 211 Common Help Data Storage Unit, 212 Help Generation Unit, 213 Setting Display Unit, 214 Help Display Unit, 215 Function Provider Unit, 216 Print Processing Unit, 217 Communication Copy, 218 Device information acquisition section, 301 Print setting window, 302 Paper size setting area, 303 Copies setting area, 304 Double-sided print setting area, 401 Paper size help display window (A), 401a Title display section, 401b Setting description Display section, 401c Selection description display section, 402 copies of help display window (A), 403 Double-sided printing help display window (A), 501 paper size help display window (B), 502 copies of help display window (B) ), 601 Double-sided printing help display window (B).

Claims (11)

Based on the device information of the printer, and the individual function ID indicating the functions of the printer, the input format for setting required individual function ID indicates functions, ranges enterable fields of the individual function ID A functional data generator that generates functional data that corresponds to information,
A common data storage unit that stores common help data that corresponds to a help explanation prepared for each combination of a function ID prepared in advance and its attribute data,
It is characterized by having at least a help generation unit that determines a combination of the function ID prepared in advance and the attribute data based on the individual function ID and specifies a corresponding help explanation based on the common help data. Printer driver. The printer driver according to claim 1, further comprising a help display unit that generates a help display screen that displays a help explanation text specified by the help generation unit . The help generation unit generates the help description specified based on the attribute data corresponding to the title display unit and the individual function ID as data to be displayed on the title display unit of the help display screen. The printer driver according to claim 2. The help generation unit uses the help explanation text specified based on the attribute data corresponding to the setting content explanation display unit and the individual function ID as data to be displayed on the setting content explanation display unit of the help display screen. The printer driver according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the printer driver is generated. When the input format is a format that involves selection processing, the help generation unit may use the attribute data related to the range information and the individual function ID as data to be displayed on the selection content explanation display unit of the help display screen. The printer driver according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the help description specified based on the above is generated. Any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a setting display unit for generating a setting screen for making settings necessary for the function corresponding to the individual function ID registered in the function data is provided. The printer driver described in. The help generation unit determines a combination of the prepared function ID and the attribute data corresponding to the selected individual function ID in response to the selection of the individual function ID displayed on the setting screen. The printer driver according to claim 6, wherein the corresponding help description is specified. The printer driver according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the individual function ID is a function ID corresponding to a function of selecting a paper size. The printer driver according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the individual function ID is a function ID corresponding to a function of setting the number of copies to be printed. The printer driver according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the individual function ID is a function ID corresponding to the number of copies to be printed. An information processing apparatus comprising the printer driver according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and an application for printing with the printer.

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