JPH0379374A - Printing output control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to apply on every type of printers and make it possible to replace a connected printer easily with a different type of printer by a method wherein functional codes on the processor side are converted to functional codes on the printer side by using a table which corresponds with the machine type of an actually connected printer based on machine type information. CONSTITUTION:On an external memory unit 9, functional code correspondence tables for each machine type 15a, 15b, 15c and so forth, which correspond with the machine types of respective printers 6 to be connective with this printing output control device, are provided. For example, when the machine type information for the presently connected printer 6 is input from an operation panel 8, a functional code correspondence table for the pertinent machine type is set in a RAM 13, and a functional code on the processor side, which is generated at the data processing stage, is automatically converted to a functional code on the printer side and is sent to the printer 6. By this method, it becomes possible to connect the printers 6 for a plurality of paper forms which have mutually different functional codes on the printer side, without changing the control program itself, which is stored in a ROM 12.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a print output control device that prints out externally input character data to a printer, and particularly relates to a print output control device that prints out character data input from the outside to a printer. The present invention relates to a print output control device to which various types of printers can be connected.

(Prior Art) A print output control device serving as one terminal in an information processing system inputs character data such as character codes sent from the host computer of the information processing system along with the input paper size and one line. number of characters, number of lines on one page, one character interval.

It has a function of executing data processing such as editing according to format data such as line spacing and print character size, and then sending the data to the printer connected to the connector.

On the other hand, on the printer side, in order to print out each character in each of the above formats, the actual printing operation is controlled using function codes such as paper selection, line feed, page feed, and so on. Therefore, generally, the print output control device determines each of the above-mentioned function codes based on the input format data and sends them to the connected printer together with the character data.

However, although the character data itself is generally common to each printer, the function code and the function actually intended by the function code may differ depending on the manufacturer. Furthermore, even if the models are from the same manufacturer, the number of function codes equipped may differ between high-end models and inexpensive models.

Therefore, the print output control device matches each function code generated in the data processing process of character data input from the host computer with the function code that matches the model of the printer connected to the print output control device. It is necessary to have a built-in control program. As a result, a number of control programs corresponding to the number of printer models to be connected are prepared, and the control programs are replaced when the printer models are replaced.

However, creating a control program for each printer model requires a great deal of time and expense. In addition, it is necessary to write the control program to the print output control device each time.
Printer replacement work becomes extremely complicated.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, a control program must be prepared for each type of printer to be connected, which makes printer replacement work complicated.

The present invention was made based on these circumstances,
By creating a correspondence table between processor-side function codes and printer-side function codes for each printer model, one common control program can be used for all printer models, eliminating the need to create control programs for each printer model. An object of the present invention is to provide a print output control device that allows a connected printer to be easily replaced with a different model.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention processes each character data input from the outside according to the input format data together with the character data, and connects the data. Various function codes corresponding to character data and format data are sent to the currently connected printer among multiple types of printers that are selectively connected via the connector, and the format data is sent to this printer in the specified format. In a print output control device that prints out each character, the relationship between each processor-side function code generated during data processing and each printer-side function code set in each printer corresponding to the function intended by this processor-side function code is determined. a function code correspondence table for each printer model to be stored; and a function code correspondence table specifying means for specifying a function code correspondence table for the corresponding printer model in response to input of model information indicating the model of the printer connected to the connection connector; Function code conversion means for converting each processor-side function code generated in data processing into a corresponding printer-side function code using a function code correspondence table designated by the function code correspondence table designation means, and sending the converted function code to the corresponding printer; It is equipped with the following.

(Function) In the print output control device configured as described above, a function code correspondence table is provided for each printer model, showing the correspondence between processor side function codes and printer side function codes. Therefore, when a connected printer model is input from, for example, an operation panel, the function code correspondence table of the corresponding printer model is designated by the function code correspondence table designating means. Therefore, each processor-side function code generated by data processing character data inputted from the outside is converted into a printer-side function code according to this specified multi-function code correspondence table, and sent to the corresponding printer. Therefore, the printer prints out characters in the format specified by the input format data.

(Example) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a print output control device according to an embodiment. The print output device of this embodiment has a multiprocessor system configuration, and a main board 2 and a subboard 3 are attached to a frame 1. The main board 2 is equipped with a main processor 4 that monitors and controls the entire device, and the sub-board 3 processes character data input from an external host computer by editing, etc., according to format data input together with the character data. A control processor 7 is installed that processes data, converts each function code generated in the data processing into a printer-side function code, and sends it to the printer 6 via the connector 5 along with the character data after the data processing.

The main processor 4 also includes an operation panel 8 for inputting the model of the printer 6 connected to the connector 5, and a floppy disk drive device (FDD) that stores a function code correspondence table for each printer model.
) etc. is connected to the external storage device 9.

Further, the control processor 7 is connected to the main processor 4 through a transmission line 10, and includes a CP that executes various information processing.
U (central processing unit)11. ROM 12 for storing control programs for data processing, RAM 13 for storing variable data. It is comprised of an interface 14 and the like that are connected to the printer 6 via the connector 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the external storage device 9 stores the intentions of each processor-side function code CDP, ~CDP, for each processor-side function code CDP, ~cDPN generated in data processing in the control processor 7. Each printer side function code CDA on the printer 6 side indicating the function to
C.D.A.N.

A plurality of function code correspondence tables 15a, 15b, 15c, - for storing CDB, -CD, . . . are provided for each printer model.

Next, the operation of the print output control device configured as described above will be explained.

First, the operator connects the connection cable of the printer 6 to the connection connector 5. Then, input the model information of the connected printer 6 from the operation panel 8 manually. Then, the main processor 4 stores each function code correspondence table 15a in the external storage device 9.

15b and 15c to read one function code correspondence table corresponding to the model of the connected printer 6.

The read function code correspondence table is then sent to the control processor 7 via the transmission line 10. The control processor 7 stores the input function code correspondence table in the RAM1.
Store in 3.

This completes the preparation process when a printer 6 is newly connected to the connector 5 of this print output control device and when an already connected printer 6 is replaced with a different model of printer 6.

When the preparation process is completed, the system waits for character data and format data to be input from an external host computer. When the character data and format data are input, the CPU II of the control processor 7 uses the control program of the ROM 12 to execute predetermined data processing such as editing the input character data based on the format data. Then, in the data processing process, various processor side function codes CDP, -CDPN necessary for actual printing operation control are determined. Then, the obtained processor side function code CDP, ~CDP
, is converted into a function code for each printer using a function code correspondence table corresponding to the corresponding printer 6 stored in the RAMI 3. The processed character data and each printer-side function code are transmitted to the printer 6 via the interface 14 and the connector 5.

The printer 6 prints out each input character data on printing paper using the printer-side function code input together with each character data. Therefore, each character is printed on the printing paper in a format corresponding to the format data instructed by the host computer.

In this way, the external storage device 9 stores the function code correspondence table 15a for each model, which corresponds to the model of each printer 6 that can be connected to this print output control device.

By providing 15 b r 15 c , . . . , for example, by simply inputting the model information of the currently connected printer 6 from the operation panel 8, the function code correspondence table for the corresponding model is set in the RAM 13, and the data is stored. A processor-side function code generated during the processing process is automatically converted into a printer-side function code and sent to the printer 6. Therefore, it is possible to connect printers 6 for a plurality of documents with different printer-side function codes without changing the control program itself stored in the ROM 12.

Therefore, unlike conventional devices, it is not necessary to create and prepare a different control program for each printer, so the manufacturing cost of the entire print output control device can be reduced. The currently connected printer 6 can be easily changed to another model of printer 6 by simply inputting the following.

As a result, the most suitable printer 6 can be easily selected depending on the type of data to be printed out.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In the embodiment, the function code correspondence table for each printer model is stored in the external storage device 9, but if the ROM 12 of the control processor 7 has sufficient storage capacity, each function code correspondence table can be stored in the ROM 12. may be set, and the model code correspondence table for the corresponding model may be selectively used in response to the model information input.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the print output control device of the present invention, a correspondence table is provided between the processor-side function code and the printer-ladder side function code for each printer model, and it is possible to check the actual connection by inputting the model information. The processor-side function code is converted into the printer-side function code using a correspondence table corresponding to the printer model. Therefore, one common control program can be used for all printer models, there is no need to create a control program for each printer model, and the connected printer can be easily replaced with a different model.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a print output control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a correspondence table for each function code stored in an external storage device in the actual monument device. 4... Main processor, 5... Connection connector, 6
...Printer, 7.Control processor, 8.Operation channel, 9.External storage device, 11.CPU
, 12-ROM, 13-RAM, 15a, 15b,
15c...Function code correspondence table. Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] Each character data input from the outside is processed according to the input format data along with this character data, and the characters are sent to the currently connected printer among the multiple types of printers that are selectively connected via the connector. In a print output control device that sends data and various function codes corresponding to the format data and causes this printer to print out each character in the format specified by the format data, each processor side function code generated in the data processing a function code correspondence table for each printer model that stores the relationship between the processor side function code and each printer side function code set for each printer corresponding to the intended function of the processor side function code;
function code correspondence table designation means for specifying a function code correspondence table for the printer model in response to model information input indicating the model of the printer connected to the connection connector; A print output control device comprising function code conversion means for converting into a corresponding printer-side function code using the function code correspondence table designated by the function code correspondence table designation means and sending it to the corresponding printer.