JPH07205517A - Form generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the function of a dot matrix printer by connecting a foam generating device provided with memories of page unit, capable of registering the form to be printed to a dot matrix printer on the market and outputting images by the page unit. CONSTITUTION:Foam data and attribute to be printed by preset commands from a host system 1 are registered in a RAM 5 of a form generating device. Then, printing data is input from a host system 7. Letters, figures and the like are drawn in a page memory 4 by a CPU 2 in compliance with the designated attribute by the foam generating device through the above arrangement. When the drawing for one page is completed, image development data of the page memory 4 is output into a dot matrix printer 8 through an output IF3 and printing is carried out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of Use of the Invention When a dot matrix printer is used in a data processing system, the output of large characters, graphics, etc., which cannot be printed by normal operation, is printed in a predesignated and registered form. The present invention relates to a control device that enables (2) Conventional Technology A conventional dot matrix printer prints characters corresponding to a designated character code line by line. (3) Problems of the prior art The size of printed characters is usually one type, and the printing direction is fixed from right to left. For this reason, it has been impossible for the printer itself to print characters of arbitrary size or print form forms on the same sheet from bottom to top. (4) Object of the Invention The present form generating device improves the function of the dot matrix printer and enables printing of label characters of arbitrary direction and arbitrary size, form forms, and the like. From the host computer that specifies the data to be printed, it is possible to regard this generator as a printer, define the print attribute of one page of print form by a predetermined unique command, and then send the data. According to the procedure, generate character and graphic data and print. The input switching by the two input interfaces can be used by separating the normal print function and the label form function. (5) In the embodiment / figure, the host system 1 uses a predetermined command to print the data format,
The attribute is registered in the RAM 5 in the form generator. As attributes, the size, type, printing direction, spacing, conversion, etc. of label characters / graphics can be defined. After the form attribute is designated, the print data is input from the host system 7 so that the form generating device receives the data, and the CPU 2 creates a character / graphic in the in-device page memory 4 according to the designated attribute. And so on. When the drawing for one page is completed, the image development data in the page memory is transferred to the dot matrix printer 8 through the output interface 3 and printed. The normal form generating device has a plurality of page memories, and can generate the data of the next page while printing the image data of the page.・ By providing two 1 input interfaces,
Normal print and label form print functions can be automatically switched. In the normal print mode, this device functions as a buffer device that transmits data from the host to the printer 8 as it is. The ROM 6 stores character source data for developing an image in an arbitrary size, a program for operating the form generator, and the like. (6) Effects of the invention By applying the foam generating device, label characters,
Bar code, image figure data, etc.
Since printing can be done easily in any direction, high-speed printing can be performed without burdening the host system as in the past, and data sent from the host computer is drastically reduced, improving work efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram when the form generating device is actually used by being connected to a host system for inputting information and a dot matrix printer. 1. Input interface 2. CPU (central processing unit) in the foam generator Output interface 4. Page memory 5. RAM (random access memory) 6. ROM (Read Only Memory) 7. Host system 8. Dot matrix printer

Claims (1)

(Claims) (1) Having a standardized printer input interface, connecting to a commercially available dot matrix printer capable of image output, having a page-unit storage memory, and being able to register a form to print An external data generator that generates label characters and graphics of various sizes and outputs images in page units. In the present invention,
A plurality of input interfaces normally used in the generator (for example, Centronics parallel and RS232
A function to automatically switch one to the standard function printer of the printer and the other to the image output function of this form generator.