JPH07323616A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform printing by respectively applying necessary printing data to a plurality of output destinations only by processing printing data collected as a whole. CONSTITUTION:The printing data 32 formed by a printing data forming device 31 is inputted to a printing data processor 35. An output destination or a printing form, printing resources or the like are specified from a table on the basis of key data wherein the printing data of one file is contained at every page to be outputted to the corresponding printer among printers 331.... The output of a classifying page can be also performed and, in this case, before the corresponding printing data is outputted, the classifying page is outputted to the printer 33 to perform the insertion of classifying paper. The same page of printing data is copied and printed matter can be outputted to a different output destination while the form or font of printing is changed or a part of a compsn. is corrected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system in which printed matter is distributed to a plurality of places by using electronically created information, and more specifically, like a one-part delivery slip in a department store. The present invention relates to a printing system that is particularly suitable for outputting printed matter having contents that are related to each other such that the contents of the slips of the respective delivery destinations are roughly the same, and the forms and description contents of the slips are partially different.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In many companies operating in a relatively wide area, for example, printouts showing various details such as pay slips or monthly processing results or annual processing results are sent to departments within the same office. It is distributed to remote or nearby branches and sales offices. The printed matter distributed to each of these departments has the exact same contents, but in many cases, some of them differ from department to department. An example of the latter is a salary statement handed to an employee at each business office, business establishment or research institute. The salary allowance and the salary system are often changed depending on the work content or character of the employee such as a sales office or a research institute. Therefore, it may be inconvenient to form the pay statement in a completely unified format company-wide. In addition, the name of a business office, business establishment, etc. is often written on the cover of a printed matter such as a pay statement, and in these cases, the format of the cover needs to be changed each time.

FIG. 38 shows a first conventional printing system in which printed matter is output in a form suitable for each delivery destination.
This is an example of. In this example, the Nagoya area,
It shows the printing system of a company whose sales offices are divided into three areas, the Osaka area and the Fukuoka area. The print data creation device 11, with the district print data creation unit 12 ₁ Nagoya, with district print data creation unit 12 ₂ Osaka, print data created corresponding to each district as Fukuoka district print data creation unit 12 ₃ Parts are arranged. Print data 13 ₁ created for Nagoya print data generating unit 12 ₁ is stored in the area storage unit 14 ₁ Nagoya. Similarly, the print data 13 ₂ created by the print data creation section 12 ₂ for the Osaka area is stored in the storage section 14 ₂ for the Osaka area, and the print data 13 ₃ created by the print data creation section 12 ₃ for the Fukuoka area is for the Fukuoka area. It is stored in the storage unit 14 ₃ .

The print data output device 15 outputs print data 16 _{1 to} 16 from the respective storage units 14 _{1 to} 14 _3.
3 is read out in a time-division manner, sent to the center printing device 17 arranged in the printing center of the company, and printing is performed here in a unified manner. In the printing center of the company, will be distributed to each printed material obtained in this way mailing 18 _{1-18 3} Nagoya district in a manner that, in each sales office of the Osaka district and Fukuoka district.

FIG. 39 shows that each printed matter is matched with a recipient.
Second of the conventional printing system that outputs in a fixed form
This is an example of. This second example is the same as FIG. 38.
The same reference numerals are given to some parts, and these explanations are appropriate.
Omitted for convenience. In this example, the storage section 14 for Nagoya area₁,
Memory area 14 for Osaka area₂And storage area 14 for Fukuoka area ₃
Print data 16 read from₁~ 16₃Print the
It is sent to the data output processing unit 22 in the data output device 21.
Be done. The data output processing unit 22 has a line 23, respectively.₁~ 2
Three₃Printing device 24 for each district via₁~ 24₃Contact
Has been continued.

Therefore, in the second conventional example, the Nagoya area printing device 24 ₁ prints the contents stored in the Nagoya area storage unit 14 _{1 in} the print data creating device 11. The Osaka area printing device 24 ₂ prints the stored contents of the Osaka area storage unit 14 _{2 in} the print data creating device 11. Further, the Fukuoka area printing device 24 ₃ prints the stored contents of the Fukuoka area storage unit 14 _{3 in} the print data creating device 11. For this reason, if each of the printing devices 24 _{1 to} 24 ₃ is arranged in the area in charge, printed matter can be obtained in these areas from the communication control device (not shown) via the lines 23 ₁ to 23 _3. . That is, unlike the case of FIG. 38, mailing is not required.

By the way, the first conventional example shown in FIG. 38 is a printing system using a communication means that does not have the performance to match the output amount of the printed matter, or printing to a distribution destination such as a sales office. It is often used in printing systems where no device is available. Further, the printing system shown in FIG. 39 has come into widespread use particularly recently due to the widespread use of high-speed lines and the cost reduction of lines.

[0008]

However, in such a conventional printing system, as shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, the print data creation unit 12 ₁
~ 12 ₃ are arranged, and these are independently printed data 16 ₁ ~
16 ₃ was created and output. Therefore, even if the printed matter output from each of the printing devices 24 _{1 to} 24 ₃ has pages with common contents as one company, these pages are stored in the storage units 14 _{1 to} 14 ₃ in a duplicated form. As a result, the storage units 14 _{1 to} 14 ₃ and the lines 23 ₁ to 23 ₃ for transmitting these contents cannot be efficiently used.

Further, each print data creating section 12 _{1 to} 12 ₃
Is independent for each district or business office.
Therefore, the conditions for processing the print data created by these are also unique, and when the output destination of the printed matter is changed due to changes in the situation such as adding terminals or changing the organization. It was necessary to correct the configuration itself of the corresponding print data creation unit.

Therefore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-259823 discloses a printing system using a management table. In this prior art, a print data output device side that outputs print data is provided with a management table that associates print data names with information about print devices that output printed matter. The print data output device uses the management table based on the selected print data, and outputs one print data to the printing device corresponding to the print data.

According to this prior art, even when the output destination of the printed matter is changed due to a change in the situation such as the addition of terminals or the change of organization, the output destination (information of the printing apparatus) and the print data are associated with each other in the management table. Therefore, the management itself regarding the output of print data can be simplified. However,
As a premise of this, it is necessary to prepare a print data generating unit or an original procedure (program) for generating print data in units of output departments or remote branch offices or sales offices. Also, if the output destination is changed,
The print resources such as the content of print data and the character type used for printing may be changed. Therefore, in this case, it is necessary to modify the configuration of the print data generation unit or the processing procedure used to generate the print data.

Further, in this conventional technique, the management table associates the print data name with the printed matter. Therefore, even when almost the same print data is output to each printing device, the print data is created separately for each output destination as in the case where different print data is output, and efficient processing is performed. There was also the problem of not being able to do.

This will be described with respect to, for example, the one-part delivery slip created at the time of purchasing goods at the department store. A single-delivery delivery slip consists of multiple slips for each delivery destination, such as a copy slip to be given to the customer, a copy slip to the issuing department, an accounting slip to the accounting department, and a shipping slip to the delivery office. It is configured. In each of these slips, predetermined items such as the name and address of the customer who purchased the product and the name of the product are described as common items. In addition to this, the price of the product, the name of the handler, and various contents such as the name of the delivery place and the column of the receipt stamp are selected and sorted on each slip. . As you can see, the details of the individual vouchers are not the same, but some vouchers have only slight differences in the vouchers, and some vouchers have the same vouchers but different forms. Can also exist. As you can see on this shipping slip,
It is inefficient to newly prepare a common part one by one to prepare print data separately for each of a number of printed materials including common data.

It is expected that the work of electronically creating print data using a computer will increase in the future. In addition, the content of print data has become diverse due to the higher functionality of printing apparatuses. Under such circumstances, the operation and management of the printing system have become complicated, and it is a serious issue to make this as efficient as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system capable of efficiently outputting some related printed matter including common print contents.

Another object of the present invention is to insert a sorting page between a series of printed matter output from a printing device to facilitate sorting, and to sort the sorting pages by including common print contents. It is to provide a printing system capable of efficiently outputting the related items.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a printing device for outputting a printed matter without individually designating the printing device on the print data side.
An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system capable of individually specifying the output destination of a printed material with the minimum necessary information.

[0018]

According to a first aspect of the invention, (a) print data consisting of a series of pages with output destination change information indicating that change is applied only to a page for changing the output destination of a printed matter. Print data input means for inputting, (b)
Output destination of those pages until the first page with the output destination change information is input from the print data input means, and each time the page with output destination change information is input, a new output is made from that page The output destination of the page until the page with the change destination information is input is set as an independent default output destination, and the first state without the output destination change information and 1 for each output destination change information are set. A plurality of output destinations are set among the default output destination setting means for presetting the output destinations of the print data in correspondence with each other and (c) the default output destinations set by the default output destination setting means. For output, set the output destination to 1 for each page.
The output destination assigning means for sequentially assigning one by one, and (d) the output destination set by the default output destination setting means corresponds to the output destination, and the output destination assigned by the output destination assigning means for a plurality of output destinations. Connected to the output destination setting means for setting the output destination of the page to be printed, (e) the data output means for outputting the print data in page units to the output destination set by the output destination setting means, and (f) the data output means. The printing system is equipped with a plurality of printing devices that perform printing when print data is sent corresponding to the output destination.

That is, according to the first aspect of the invention, the print data with the output destination change information indicating the change is input only to the page for changing the output destination of the printed matter by the print data input means. The printing system is provided with default output destination setting means for presetting the output destination of the print data of each page range divided by the output destination change information as the changed portion, and the setting contents are stored as a table, for example. is doing.

For example, if the output destination change information is arranged in only one place on a page in the middle of the print data consisting of a series of pages, from the first page to the page immediately before the page to which the output destination change information is copied. For each of the above, one default output destination is set, and these output destinations are specified even if no particular output destination is specified in the print data. In addition, in this example, from the page to which the output-destination change information is copied to the last page, the other default output destinations that have been set are output destinations. Therefore, the output destinations of the printed matter must be specified for these as well. become. For print data in which output destination change information is placed at two locations (pages) in the middle of print data consisting of a series of pages,
The output destinations of all the pages are specified by presetting the output destinations of the three sections. The same applies hereinafter.

It goes without saying that the default output destination setting means can set one output destination for each of the above-mentioned sections as default output destinations, but a plurality of output destinations can be set for some or all of them. It is also possible to do so. The output destination assigning means sequentially assigns one of these output destinations for each page to which a plurality of default output destinations have been set. That is,
For example, if there is no output destination change information from the first page to the fourth page, two default output destinations corresponding to these are output destination A (printing device) and output destination B (printing device). If set in the order of, the output destination is A for the first page, and the output destination is B for the second page. A is the output destination for the third page again, and B is the output destination for the fourth page. When the output destination setting means is omitted, the output destination set by the output destination setting means is 1
When there are two or more output destinations, the output destinations thus assigned by the output destination assigning means are set as output destinations of the corresponding page. The data output means outputs the print data page by page to the output destination set by the output destination setting means, and each printing device outputs the printed matter page by page based on the sent print data.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, (a) print data input means for inputting print data consisting of a series of pages with output destination change information indicating the change only on the page for changing the output destination of the printed matter. And (b) the output destination of those pages until the first page with the output destination change information is input from the print data input means, and the page with the output destination change information The default output destinations are the output destinations of pages until new pages with new output destination information are input, and the initial state without output destination change information and each output Default output destination setting means for presetting the output destination of the print data in correspondence with the destination change information one by one,
(C) In the case where one default output destination set by the default output destination setting unit is set with print control data for performing multiple types of printing, these print control data are sequentially output for each page. Print control data allocating means for allocating, (d) data output means for outputting the print control data and print data of the page corresponding to the output destination set by the default output destination setting means, and (e) data output means, respectively. The printing system is provided with a plurality of printing devices that are connected and that prints the page using the print control data and the print data that have been sent in correspondence with the output destination.

That is, according to the second aspect of the invention, the print data with the output destination change information indicating the change is input only to the page for changing the output destination of the printed matter by the print data input means. The printing system is provided with default output destination setting means for presetting the output destination of the print data of each page range divided by the output destination change information as the changed portion, and the setting contents are stored as a table, for example. is doing.

Printed matter having different printing forms such as print resources such as fonts and forms, printing paper size, printing direction, etc. is output to one default output destination set by the default output destination setting means. Sometimes. Therefore, when the default output destination set by the default output destination setting unit is made to perform a plurality of types of printing, the print control data assigning unit realizes these on a page-by-page basis. It is designed to allocate data. The data output means outputs the print control data and print data of the page corresponding to the output destination set by the default output destination setting means. Therefore, each printing apparatus uses the print control data to output the print data sent from the data output means, uses the desired print resources, and creates the printed matter in the desired print form.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, (a) print data input means for inputting print data consisting of a series of pages with output destination change information indicating only the output destination of the printed matter. And (b) the output destination of those pages until the first page with the output destination change information is input from the print data input means, and the page with the output destination change information The default output destinations are the output destinations of pages until new pages with new output destination information are input, and the initial state without output destination change information and each output Default output destination setting means for presetting the output destination of print data in correspondence with the destination change information one by one,
(C) When requesting to copy and output each page of print data corresponding to any of the default output destinations set by the default output destination setting means, the number of copies corresponding to the default output destination And a copy page setting means for presetting the output destination of the copied page, and (d) print data is output page by page to the output destination set by the output destination setting means and set by the copy page setting means. The data output means for outputting the print data obtained by copying the page corresponding to the output destination, and (e) the data output means, respectively, are connected to the data output means, and the print data sent to the output destination is used to print the page. A printing system is equipped with a plurality of printing devices for printing.

That is, according to the third aspect of the invention, the print data with the output destination change information indicating the change is input only to the page for changing the output destination of the printed matter by the print data input means. The printing system is provided with default output destination setting means for presetting the output destination of the print data of each page range divided by the output destination change information as the changed portion, and the setting contents are stored as a table, for example. is doing.

In this printing system, when a request is made to copy and output each page of print data corresponding to any of the default output destinations set by the default output destination setting means, the default A copy page setting means for setting the number of copies and the output destination of copied pages in advance corresponding to the output destination is prepared, and the setting contents are also prepared as a table, for example. Therefore, when the print data of a certain page is output to the original output destination and the page is requested to be copied and output, the page corresponding to the output destination set by the copy page setting means is also included. The print data of will be copied and output. As a result, a desired printed matter can be output from each printing apparatus without describing a complicated output destination in the original print data.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, (a) print data input means for inputting print data consisting of a series of pages with output destination change information indicating only the page for changing the output destination of the printed matter. And (b) the output destination of those pages until the first page with the output destination change information is input from the print data input means, and the page with the output destination change information The default output destinations are the output destinations of pages until new pages with new output destination information are input, and the initial state without output destination change information and each output Default output destination setting means for presetting the output destination of print data in correspondence with the destination change information one by one,
(C) When requesting to copy and output each page of print data corresponding to any of the default output destinations set by the default output destination setting means, the number of copies corresponding to the default output destination Copy page setting means for presetting the output destination of the copied page and (d) Copy page setting means for each of a plurality of output destinations of the copied page A copy page output destination assigning means for sequentially assigning these output destinations to the output destination, and (e) an output destination set by the copy page setting means for outputting print data page by page to the output destination set by the output destination setting means. Alternatively, data output means for outputting print data obtained by copying a page corresponding to the output destination assigned by the copy page output destination assigning means, and (f) data A plurality of printing apparatuses perform printing of the page is provided to the printing system using a print data sent data output means and respectively corresponding to the connected future destination.

That is, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the print data with the output destination change information indicating the change is input only to the page for changing the output destination of the printed matter by the print data input means. The printing system is provided with default output destination setting means for presetting the output destination of the print data of each page range divided by the output destination change information as the changed portion, and the setting contents are stored as a table, for example. is doing.

Further, in this printing system, when a request is made to copy and output each page of print data corresponding to one of the default output destinations set by the default output destination setting means, the default A copy page setting means for setting in advance the number of copies and the output destination of the copied pages corresponding to the output destination is prepared, and the output destinations of the pages copied by the copy page setting means are set to two or more. In such a case, these output destinations are sequentially assigned to each copied page. For example, if an output destination of A is set for a page of certain print data and output destinations of D and E are set as copy output destinations, the print data is output with A as the output destination. The print data of the page is copied, and the print data is repeatedly selected and output to the output destinations of D and E.

Therefore, when it is required to output the print data of a certain page to the original output destination, and to copy the page and output it to a plurality of output destinations, the information about these output destinations is repeated. By using the print data, the print data can be sequentially output to a plurality of output destinations, and desired prints can be output from each printing device without describing a complicated output destination in the original print data.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, (a) print data input means for inputting print data consisting of a series of pages with output destination change information indicating the change only on the page for changing the output destination of the printed matter. And (b) the output destination of those pages until the page with the first output destination change information is input from the print data input means, and the page with the output destination change information The output state of the page until the page to which the new output destination information is added is input independently as the default output destination, and the initial state without the output destination change information and each output Default output destination setting means for presetting the output destination of print data in correspondence with the destination change information one by one,
(C) When it is requested to copy and output each page of the print data corresponding to any of the default output destinations set by the default output destination setting means, it is copied corresponding to the default output destination. Copy page output destination setting means for presetting a page output destination, and (d) print control data for causing one output destination set by the copy page output destination setting means to perform one or a plurality of types of printing. And (e) when the print control data for setting a plurality of types of printing is set by the print control data setting means, the print control data is sequentially assigned to each page. The print data is output page by page to the copy page print control data allocating means and (f) the output destination set by the output destination setting means. Data output means for outputting print control data of a page corresponding to the output destination set by the page output destination setting means and print data obtained by copying the page, and (g) data output means are respectively connected to correspond to the output destination. The printing system is provided with a plurality of printing devices that print the page by using the print data or the print control data and the print data sent by being sent.

That is, according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the print data with the output destination change information indicating the change is input only to the page for changing the output destination of the printed matter by the print data input means. The printing system is provided with default output destination setting means for presetting the output destination of the print data of each page range divided by the output destination change information as the changed portion, and the setting contents are stored as a table, for example. is doing.

In this printing system, when a request is made to copy and output each page of print data corresponding to any of the default output destinations set by the default output destination setting means, the default Copy page output destination setting means for presetting the output destination of the page to be copied corresponding to the output destination, and one or a plurality of types of printing for one output destination set by the copy page output destination setting means A print control data setting unit for presetting print control data for the above is prepared, and these setting contents are also stored as, for example, a table. Here, one type of printing refers to one type of printing specified by a printing resource or a printing form. When the print control data for setting a plurality of types of printing is set by the print control data setting unit, the print control data is sequentially assigned to each page, and the data output unit is set to print data according to the assignment. The print control data is output to the corresponding printing device.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain a printed matter in which the printing form and printing resources are changed for each copied page.
Without describing a complicated output destination in the original print data,
It is possible to output a printed matter using various forms and fonts.

In the invention according to claim 6, (a) print data consisting of a series of pages in which assortment information as a mark for inserting a sorting page immediately before a specific page of a printed matter is attached only to the specific page Print data input means for inputting, and (b) sorting page content setting means for presetting the contents of the sorting page such as the output destination of the sorting page in association with the sorting information, and (c) print data input Sorting page data generating means for discriminating this when the print data input from the means includes sorting information and generating sorting page data having the content set by the sorting page content setting means; ) When a plurality of sorting page output destinations are set for one sorting information by the sorting page content setting means, the sorting page data generating means generates the sorting page data. Sorting page data output means for distributing the sorted sorting page data to these output destinations one page at a time, and (e) Output destination corresponding to the print data input by the print data input means for each page. When the print data is sent by being connected to the data output means for outputting to (1) and the data output means and the sorting page data output means, respectively, the page is printed while the sorting page data is sent. In this case, the printing system is provided with a plurality of printing devices that print the sorting page before printing the print data of the corresponding page.

That is, in the invention according to claim 6, print data in which assortment information as a mark for inserting a sorting page just before a particular page of a printed matter is attached to the particular page is input by the print data input means. To do. Here, the sorting page refers to a page inserted to sort printed matter continuously output from the printing device,
It is distinguished from other pages by the peculiarity of the color of the paper and the form and design used for it. The sorting page is printed as the page immediately before the specific page of the print data. Therefore, information such as output destination change information is added as assortment information to the specific page in the print data input from the print data input means.

The sorting page content setting means is means for presetting what sort of sorting page is output in correspondence with these sorting information, and the setting content is stored as, for example, a table. There is. The sorting page data generation means determines when the print data input from the print data input means includes sorting information, and generates sorting page data having the content set by the sorting page content setting means. To do. When a plurality of sorting page output destinations are set for one sorting information item, the generated sorting page data is distributed to each of these output destinations and output one page at a time. ing. Therefore, the sorting page can be output to a plurality of output destinations as necessary without incorporating the output destination of the sorting page in the print data.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, (a) print data consisting of a series of pages in which assortment information as a mark for inserting a sorting page immediately before a particular page of a printed matter is attached only to the particular page Print data input means for inputting, and (b) sorting page content setting means for presetting the contents of the sorting page such as the output destination of the sorting page in association with the sorting information, and (c) print data input When assortment information is included in the print data input from the means, this is discriminated, and when the content set by the sorting page content setting means is plural for one sort information, for these plural sorts The sorting page data generating means for generating page data and the contents set by (d) sorting page content setting means are duplicated for one sorting information. If there is, the sorting page data output unit that sorts and outputs the plurality of types of sorting page data generated by the sorting page data generation unit to each of these output destinations, and (e) print data input Data output means for outputting the print data input by the means to a corresponding output destination for each page,
(F) When the print data is sent by being connected to the data output means and the sorting page data output means, respectively, the page is printed, and when the sorting page data is sent, the print data of the corresponding page is sent. The printing system is provided with a plurality of printing devices that print the sorting pages before performing the printing.

That is, in the invention described in claim 7, the print data inputting means inputs the print data in which the sorting information as a mark for inserting the sorting page immediately before the specific page of the printed matter is attached only to the specific page. To do. The sorting page is printed as the page immediately before the specific page of the print data. Therefore, information such as output destination change information is added as assortment information to the specific page in the print data input from the print data input means.

The sorting page content setting means is means for presetting what sort of sorting page is output in correspondence with these sorting information, and the setting content is stored as, for example, a table. There is. The sorting page data generation means determines when the print data input from the print data input means includes sorting information, and generates sorting page data having the content set by the sorting page content setting means. To do. When the content set by the assortment page content setting means is plural for one piece of assortment information, these plural sorts of page data are generated by the assortment page data generation means, and these are output to these output destinations. To be output for each page. Here, “plurality of types” means a case where printing resources and printing forms are different. As a result, it is possible to output the sorting pages having different forms, fonts used, printing paper colors, and printing paper orientations to the respective output destinations as sorting pages.

[0042]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 shows a functional configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This printing system inputs a print data creation device 31 that creates print data and print data 32 created here,
First to N printing apparatus 33 ₁ ~ 33 _N of which are disposed in various
And a print data processing device 35 that outputs print data 34 _{1 to} 34 _N matching them. During the print data processing unit 35 and the printing devices 33 ₁ ~ 33 _N may be optionally be connected by a dedicated communication cable, or may be connected via a telephone network.

The print data creation device 31 includes print data A for creating different print data A to C.
A creation unit 41A, a print data B creation unit 41B, and a print data C creation unit 41C are provided. These print data A~C is not intended corresponding individual one-to-one to the printing apparatus 33 ₁ ~ 33 _N of the first to N, as a matter of course. The created print data A to C are stored in the storage unit 42.

In the print data processing device 35, the data input unit 44 inputs the print data 32, performs predetermined processing under the control of the main control unit 45, and outputs the print data 34 _{1 to} 34 _N from the data output unit 46. Corresponding printing devices 33 _{1 to} 33 _N
It is designed to perform the process of sending to the. Here, the main control unit 45 is connected to some processing units in addition to the data input unit 44 and the data output unit 46, and controls these units. Next, each control unit connected to the main control unit 45 will be specifically described.

The main control unit 45 includes a data input unit 44 for inputting print data, a processing information management unit 48 for notifying the data output unit 46 of processing information of page data by using a processing information table described later, and sorting. Is connected to the assortment information management unit 49 for outputting data for use in the nonvolatile storage device 51 and the volatile storage device 52.
Connected with. The main controller 45 further includes a display device 5
3, a display control unit 54 that controls display, a input control unit 56 that controls input of an input device 55 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and the data output unit 46 described above are connected.
The non-volatile storage device 51 stores fixed data such as a predetermined program and various tables, and the volatile storage device 52 is temporarily required for controlling the print data processing device 35. Information such as data and tables is stored.

FIG. 2 shows each item of the processing information table. In the processing information table 64, processing information 66 can be set for each processing identifier 65 as an identification name. As the processing information 66, the output destination change information 66 ₁ ,
Default output destination 66 ₂ , print form 66 ₃ , print resource 6
6 ₄ , correction information 66 ₅ , number of copies 66 ₆ , copy range 66
₇ , a copy output destination 66 ₈ , a copy print form 66 ₉ , a copy print resource 66 ₁₀ and copy correction information 66 ₁₁ .

The output destination change information 66 ₁ is information for setting the output destination change information in the print data. This is composed of character string information as a key and position information within the page.

The default output destination 66 ₂ is for setting a plurality of default output destinations of print data. When a plurality of default output destinations 66 ₂ are designated, the repeated output destinations are changed in page units. The default output destination 66 ₂ can be changed by the output destination change key.

The print form 66 ₃ is information for setting various print form information set when the print data is output to the printing device 33. Such information includes print orientation information such as horizontal printing or vertical printing,
Double-sided / single-sided printing information such as double-sided printing or single-sided printing, paper size information such as what size of paper is to be printed, print starting point coordinate information that defines printing start point coordinates, or a reduction ratio at printing. There is, for example, reduction / enlargement ratio information that defines the enlargement ratio.

[0051] The print resource 66 ₄ is information that defines a print resource information used to print the print data.
Such information includes, for example, form name information indicating the name of a form used as an electronic overlay, form color information indicating the color of the form, and font information indicating the font type.

[0052] The correction information 66 _5, when outputting the print data, which is information for setting the corrections when modifying the print data to be the source. This includes modification condition information indicating conditions for modification, modification condition position information, and
There is correction information for correction by replacement or deletion.

[0053] The number of copies 66 _6, which is information for setting the number of copies per page to be printed out print data. The copy range 66 ₇ is information indicating the range of pages to be copied. For example, in the case of the first page to the second page, "1-2" is displayed.

Copy output destination 66 ₈ , copy print form 66 ₉ ,
A plurality of copy print resources 66 ₁₀ and copy correction information 66 ₁₁ can be set for each copy range. When multiple items are specified, they are repeatedly used in units of copy range. Here, the copy as the output destination 66 _8, so as to set the output destination information to copy outputs the data. The reprographic printing form 66 _9, so as to set the print mode information to be applied to a copying page data. As the print form information, the print orientation information described above,
There is, for example, double-sided single-sided print information, paper size information, print origin coordinate information, or reduction / enlargement ratio information at the time of printing.

As the copy print resource 66 ₁₀ , print resource information applied to a plurality of page data is set. The print resource information includes, for example, the above-mentioned form name information, form color information, and font information. The copy modification information 66 _11, is adapted to set the data correction information to be applied to a copying page data.
The data correction information includes correction condition information, correction condition position information, and correction information for performing correction by replacement or deletion.

FIG. 3 shows each item of the sorting information table. The assortment information table 68 is the assortment information 6
9 ₁ , the number of pages 69 ₂ , output destination information 69 ₃ , print form 69 ₄ , print resource 69 ₅ and change information 69 ₆ . Here, the sorting information is information that sets the conditions for outputting the sorting pages that are output for sorting between the continuously output printed materials. For example, the character string information or the in-page position information, which is a key for sorting, becomes the sorting information. Number of pages 69 ₂
Is information for setting the number of sorting pages to be output.
The sorting pages are not always output page by page.
For example, when the operator further sorts the printed matter output by the printing device 33, there are cases where two or more sorting pages are printed out at one place.

The output destination information 69 ₃ corresponds to the sorting information 69 ₁ and the printing device 33 when the sorting page is output.
Is information indicating. When a plurality of output destinations are designated as the output destination information 69 ₃ , the output destinations are repeatedly changed by the number of output pages. The print form 69 ₄ is information defining a plurality of print forms to be applied to the sorting page. Regarding the “print form” itself, the print form 66
_This is the same as that defined in ₃ (FIG. 2), and includes print orientation information, double-sided single-sided print information, paper size information, print origin coordinate information, reduction / enlargement ratio information, and the like.

[0058] printing resources 69 ₅ is information for setting a printing resources to be applied to the sorting for the page to be output. The “print resource” itself is the same as that defined in the print resource 66 ₄ (FIG. 2), and includes form name information, form color information, font information and the like. If the print resources 69 ₅ is specified plurality of ways, the output page number of repeats, so that the print resource information changes. Change information 69
Reference numeral ₆ is information for setting change information of assortment page data for each copy page.

Returning to FIG. 1, description of each processing unit in the print data processing device 35 will be continued. The data input unit 44 processes the print data 32 sent from the print data creation device 31 into the processing information table 64 (FIG. 2) and the sorting information table 6
8 (FIG. 3). Then, in order to send the print data to the printing device 33 designated as the output destination by the processing information table 64 and the sorting information table 68, the data output unit 46 is requested to output the print data page by page. .

The processing information management section 48 performs the initialization processing in accordance with an instruction from the main control section 45 as a non-volatile storage device 5.
The process information table 64 (FIG. 2) is read from the inside of No. 1 and the process of storing this information in the volatile storage device 52 is performed.
Also, the data (page data) for each page passed from the data input unit 44 is inspected based on the information set in the processing information table 64, and the data main unit 46 is passed via the main control unit 45. The processing for notifying information for processing the page data is performed.

The assortment information management section 49 uses the non-volatile storage device 5 as an initial setting process according to an instruction from the main control section 45.
The assortment information table 68 (FIG. 3) is read from inside 1 and the processing of storing this information in the volatile storage device 52 is performed.
The one-page data transferred from the data input unit 44 is inspected based on the information set in the assortment information table 68, and the data main unit 46 is passed via the main control unit 45.
Prior to the output of the page data, processing for notifying the data main unit 46 of processing information for outputting the page data for sorting is performed.

The data output unit 46 sends the delivered page data to the designated printing device 33 according to an instruction from the main control unit 45. In addition, the information setting of the printing apparatus 33 is performed based on the information of each item of the printing forms 66 ₃ and 69 ₄ and the printing resources 66 ₄ and 69 _{5 in} the processing information table 64 (FIG. 2) and the sorting information table 68 (FIG. 3). The process for outputting the control record for use is performed. In addition, in response to the output request for the sorting page, the sorting page data is generated prior to sending the corresponding print page data,
This is sent to the corresponding printing device 33.

FIG. 4 shows an outline of a circuit configuration of an apparatus in which the print data creating apparatus and the print data processing apparatus are integrated in the printing system having the above-mentioned configuration. This device is equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 81.
CPU81 is connected with each section of the device through a bus 82 such as a data bus, and the creation of print data to be based, which to perform processing for delivering to the printing devices 33 ₁ ~ 33 _N (Fig. 1) Has become. Of these, working memory 8
Reference numeral 3 corresponds to the volatile storage device 52 shown in FIG. 1, and is composed of a RAM (random access memory). The disk control device 84 is a device for controlling input / output to / from the magnetic disk 85. The magnetic disk 85 corresponds to the nonvolatile storage device 51 of FIG. The magnetic disk 85 stores programs for performing various controls and the above-mentioned tables.

The input circuit 86 is connected to a keyboard 87 and a mouse 88 as a pointing device, and is designed to input data when creating print data or when designating printing. The display control device 91 is a device that controls the display of the CRT 92 as a display (monitor). The communication control device 93 is connected to the communication means 94 such as a communication cable or a communication line printer 33 ₁ -
The print data is sent to 33 _N , and necessary print data is fetched from a print data source such as a host computer (not shown). In the case of an apparatus that exclusively takes in print data from a print data source and does not create print data by itself, the circuit configuration shown in FIG. Can also be

First example

Then, in order to explain the details of the control of each part of the apparatus, a simple print data processing example in which printing is performed by this printing system will be given as a first example, and the outline of the control will be explained. . Here, the print data A
Using the first and second printing devices 33 ₁ , 33 ₂ located in Tokyo and the third printing device 33 located in Osaka
It is assumed that each of the _three prints is output. Also, for simplicity of explanation, it is assumed that there is no page common to both districts.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the print data A as the input data used in this first example. The print data A is data of eight consecutive pages from the first page to the eighth page. The first page is "Tokyo Data ₁ ", and the key information indicating the output destination is not shown here. Therefore, the default output destination is the output destination. The same applies to the second page to the fourth page. On the fifth page, output destination change information 66
₁ (Fig. 2) is written as "Osaka ₁₀ ", and the output destination will be changed for subsequent pages.

FIG. 6 shows the processing information table in the first example.
It shows the contents of the file. Processing information table 64
Is the default output destination for "Processing A" of the processing identifier 65
66 ₂Is the first printing device 33₁And the second printing device 33₂
Has become. Therefore, the printed matter is the first printing device 33.₁
And the second printing device 33₂Will be output alternately to
It First printing device 33₁When output to, print
Form 66₃The printing direction of the paper is
The first form is used for printing. Second printing device 3
Three₂When output to the₃As for
The paper is printed in the vertical direction, and the second form is used for printing.
Is used.

For the fifth and subsequent pages of the print data A, since the default output destination 66 ₂ is the third printing device, the printed matter is output to this. At this time, the printed matter in which the printing direction is horizontal and the fourth form is used and the printed matter in which the printing direction is vertical and the fifth form is used are printed alternately.

FIG. 7 shows each form used in this first example. The first form 101 is a form applied to lateral printing as shown in FIG. 1A, and is provided with a semi-transparent band for a predetermined width from the lower end of the paper.
The second form 102 is a form applied to longitudinal printing, as shown in FIG. 2B, and is provided with a band having a slightly dark density from the lower end of the paper by a predetermined width. Third Form 10
Reference numeral 3 denotes a form applied to lateral printing as shown in FIG. 3C, which is provided with an opaque band from the lower end of the paper by a predetermined width. The fourth form 104 is a form applied to lateral printing as shown in FIG. 3D, and is provided with a semitransparent band from the lower end of the paper by a predetermined width and except for the central portion. The fifth form 105 is a form applied to longitudinal printing, as shown in FIG. 8E, and has a predetermined width from the lower end of the paper and is opaque on the left side except for the central portion and has a slightly darker density on the right side. The band is attached.

FIG. 8 shows the printed matter output to the first printing apparatus, and FIG. 9 shows the printed matter output to the second printing apparatus in time series. Key information indicating the output destination is not shown on the first page of the print data A in FIG. Therefore, the first printing device 33 ₁ is designated from the setting contents of the default output destination 66 ₂ of the processing information table 64, the first form 101 is used, and the printed matter of the first page in FIG. 8 is output. .

For the data of the second page of the print data A, the second printing device 33 _{2 which} is set _second as the default output destination 66 ₂ is designated, the second form is used, and The printed matter of the first page shown in 9 is output. At this time, the correction information 66 is stored in the processing information table 64.
“Total deletion” is specified as ₅ . Therefore, the content "total 150" existing on the second page of the print data A is output without being printed by the second printing device 33 ₂ .

The data of the third page of the print data A is processed by the _first printing device 33 ₁ again. Therefore, this is the first printing device 33 ₁ as shown in FIG.
Will be output as the second page of data.
The data of the fourth page of the print data A is processed by the second printing device 33 ₂ this time. At this time, the second
The form is used, the paper is printed in the vertical direction, and the total is deleted as in the case of the second page of the print data A.

FIG. 10 is a time-series representation of the printed matter output to the third printing apparatus. For the data on the fifth page of the print data A, the output destination change information 66
_{Since 1} is written as "Osaka ₁₀ ", the output destination is changed from the processing information table 64 to the third printing device 33 ₃ . Then, the fourth form 104 is printed in the horizontal direction.
The printed matter in which is used is output as the first page.
Next, regarding the data of the sixth page of the print data A, the printed matter in which the printing direction is the vertical direction and the fifth form 105 is used is output as the second page. Similarly, with respect to the data of the seventh page of the print data A, the printed matter in which the print direction is the horizontal direction and the fourth form 104 is used is output as the third page, and the print data A
As for the data of the eighth page, the printed matter in which the printing direction is the vertical direction and the fifth form 105 is used is output as the fourth page. In this way, eight pages of the print data A are printed by the three printing devices 33 _{1 to} 3 3.
It was done in 3 ₃ .

Another example of printing will be described later, and the state of control of each unit of this printing system will be described next.

FIG. 11 shows an outline of the processing operation of the main control section. When the print data processing device 35 (FIG. 1) of this system is powered on, the main control unit 45 first performs the activation process of the display control unit 54 (step S10).
1). Based on this, the display controller 54 displays the display device 53.
An initial screen is displayed on (CRT 92 shown in FIG. 4) (step S102). The main control unit 45 performs the activation process of the input control unit 56 (step S103), and the input control unit 56 starts the process of accepting various requests from the operator (operator) (step S104).

When the operator operates the keyboard 87 or the mouse 88 to input any request (step S105; Y), the input control section 56 transfers it to the main control section 45 (step S106). . The main control unit 45 checks the request (step S1).
07). As a result, if the stop of the print data processing device 35 is requested (step S108; Y),
The main control unit 45 notifies each processing unit in the print data processing device 35 to stop the processing (step S1).
09). As a result, the processing of each processing unit is stopped. However, if there is a stop request while the print data is being processed, the print data processing device 35 stops after the processing of the print data is completed.

On the other hand, when the creation of the table is requested (step S110; Y), the main control unit 45 executes the creation processing of the corresponding table (step S111).
The table creating process is a process of creating the two tables 64 and 68 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and changing the information in the existing table.

Unlike the above, if the processing of the print data is requested (step S113; Y), the main control section 45 executes the processing (step S113). That is, according to information set in each table 64 and 68, after the processing of the print data, the printing apparatus 33 ₁ -
This print data is sent to the corresponding device of 33 _N to create a printed matter. The processing of the print data ends when there is a request to stop the print data processing device 35 and all the processing is completed as described above. After the process of step S111 or S113 is performed, the process returns to step S104 and waits for the next operator's request.

FIG. 12 shows the flow of the table creating process shown in step S111 of FIG. When the main control unit 45 of the print data processing device 35 determines that the table creation process is performed, it analyzes which table creation process is involved (step S201). As a result, if the process information table 64 shown in FIG. 2 is related to creation or modification (step S202; Y), the process information table 64 is created and updated (step S203). This process will be described in detail below. If it is not related to the creation or modification of the processing information table 64 (N), it is checked whether it is related to the creation or modification of the sorting information table 68 shown in FIG. 3 (step S204). If so (Y), creation / update processing of the sorting information table 68 is performed (step S205). This process will be described in detail later. If it is not related to the creation or modification of the assortment information table 68 (N), it is considered that an error has been input, and the processing is terminated (end). Depending on the device, an error display may be displayed.

FIG. 13 shows an outline of the creation / update processing of the processing information table shown in step S211 of FIG. In this process, first, the main control unit 45 requests the process information management unit 48 to create and update the process information table 64 (step S301). The processing information management unit 48 analyzes the content of this request (step S302),
When a new creation of the processing information table 64 is requested (step S303; Y), this new creation is performed (step S304). Then, this is stored in the non-volatile storage device 51 (FIG. 1) (step S305), thereby ending the processing (end).

When it is determined in step S303 that the table is to be updated (N), the processing information management unit 48 stores the corresponding processing information table 64 in the nonvolatile storage device 51.
Is read and stored in the volatile storage device 52 (step S306). After that, the processing information management unit 48 performs a process of changing the contents of the processing information table 64 (step S30).
7). The new data or the changed data input in the new creation processing in step S304 or the change processing in step S307 is the data received by the main control unit 45 and stored in the volatile storage device 52.
It will be handed over when requesting 1. When the modification process of the process information table 64 is completed, the process proceeds to step S305, and the process information table 64 stored in the non-volatile storage device 51 is replaced.

FIG. 14 shows an outline of the creation / update processing of the assortment information table shown in step S213 of FIG. In this process, the main control unit 45 first requests the assortment information management unit 49 to create and update the assortment information table 68 (step S401). The assortment information management unit 49 analyzes this request content (step S402),
When a new creation of the assortment information table 68 is requested (step S403; Y), this new creation is performed (step S404). Then, this is stored in the non-volatile storage device 51 (FIG. 1) (step S405), thereby ending the processing (end).

When it is determined in step S403 that the table is to be updated (N), the assortment information management unit 49 stores the corresponding assortment information table 68 from the nonvolatile storage device 51.
Is read and stored in the volatile storage device 52 (step S406). The assortment information management unit 49 thereafter performs a process of changing the contents of the assortment information table 68 (step S40).
7). The new data or the modified data mainly used in the new creation processing of step S404 and the modification processing of step S407 is received by the main control unit 45 and stored in the volatile storage device 52.
It will be handed over when requesting 1. When the changing process of the assortment information table 68 is completed, the process proceeds to step S405, and the assortment information table 68 stored in the nonvolatile storage device 51 is replaced.

FIGS. 15 to 17 show the flow of control relating to the processing of the print data processing request. First, FIG. 15 will be described. The main control unit 45 first checks whether or not a system stop request is input from the operator (step S601). If the request is accepted (step S602; Y), the process is ended (END). It should be noted that a stop request may occur even when some kind of error occurs in the system.

When it is determined in step S602 that the stop request has not been accepted (N), the main control unit 45 requests the data input unit 44 to start inputting print data in order to process the print data. (Step S60
3). Upon receiving this request, the data input unit 44 performs a process of acquiring print data to be processed (step S60).
4). When there is no print data at the time when this acquisition processing is performed and the acquisition cannot be performed (step S6)
05; N), and again returns to step S601 to check whether a stop request has been accepted thereafter.
If the stop request is not accepted, it is checked whether there is print data to be printed.

It should be noted that, when it is attempted to acquire print data in step S604, it may be found that there are a plurality of print data. In such a case, it is necessary to first acquire one print data to be printed first. In this case, the acquisition priority order may be before or after the time when the print data is created, or may follow a predetermined priority order.

When the print data is acquired (step S605; Y), the main control unit 45 requests the process information management unit 48 to set the process information table 64 (FIG. 2) according to the print data attribute. (Step S606). The processing information management unit 48 sets the processing information table 64 (step S607). In the first example described above, the processing information table 64 of FIG. 6 is set.

The main control unit 45 then sends the assortment information table 6 to the assortment information management unit 49 according to the print data attribute.
8 (FIG. 3) is requested (step S60)
8). The assortment information management unit 49 sets the assortment information table 68 based on this (step S609). It is not necessary to output the sorting pages for sorting depending on the print data attribute to be processed. In such a case, the sorting information table 68 is not set. The above first example corresponds to this case.

When the setting of the tables 64 and 68 is completed, the print data input process is performed by the data input unit 44 (step S610). This process is sequentially performed page by page until the end of the file is detected (step S611). In the first example, the print data for the print data A shown in FIG. 5 is first inputted and processed, and then the process for the second and subsequent pages is performed page by page. Be seen.

FIG. 16 shows the flow of processing for each page.
It is a thing. With this printing system,
If you want to use this classification before printing the print data
I'm going to output a page for. Therefore, the main control unit 4
5 is received from the data input unit 44 by the sorting information management unit 49.
Hand over the print data and check this print data
Is requested (step S612). Sorting information management unit 49
Shows the corresponding page of the obtained print data in Figure 3.
Sorting information 69 in the sorting information table 68 shown ₁Obey
To check (step S613).

As a result of the check, if the sorting conditions match (steps S614 and S615; Y), the sorting information management unit 49 first creates sorting page output information as result information to be passed to the main control unit 45. (Step S61
6). The sorting page output information is composed of the following information. (A) Number of output pages for sorting page (b) Output destination information indicating output destination of sorting page (multiple settings possible) (c) Print mode information for sorting page (sorting) indicating printing mode of sorting page (D) It is possible to set print resource information for the sorting page that represents the printing resources of the sorting page (multiple settings are possible). (E) Change information for sorting page data (multiple settings are possible).

In this way, when the checking process for all sorting conditions is completed (step S614;
Y), the main control unit 45 receives the sorting page output information created in step S616 and analyzes it (step S617). When it is necessary to output the sorting page before outputting the print data (step S618; Y), the sorting page output information about the sorting page is notified to the data output unit 46, and the corresponding printing is performed. The device 33 is caused to perform the process of outputting the sorting page (step S619). The sorting page output process is the same as the normal print data output process, and will therefore be described in detail in the section of the normal print data output process. If the output of the sorting page is not required in step S618, the process of step S619 is not performed and the process proceeds to the next process step.

FIG. 17 shows a state of control after the output processing of the sorting page is completed as a continuation of the processing of FIG. When the output process of the sorting page is completed,
The main control unit 45 transfers the print data received from the data input unit 44 to the processing information management unit 48, and requests a check for determining the output destination of the print data of the page (step S620). The processing information management unit 48 checks the print data of the page obtained using the information in the processing information table 64 shown in FIG. 2 and outputs page data corresponding to one page as page data as information. A control information creation process is performed (steps S621 to S6).
24). The created page data control information is stored in the main control unit 4.
5 will be notified.

The page data control information is created by sequentially checking whether or not the output modification conditions are met (creating return information) (step S62).
3, S624). The page data control information notified to the main control unit 45 has the following configuration. However, the data output unit 4
In the case where a plurality of various types of information are designated, 6 repeatedly uses the plurality of designated information based on the page output count information as one of the page data control information and performs a process of applying. As a result, it becomes possible to output a printed matter suitable for each output destination, such as a single delivery slip in a department store. (A) Page output count information (b) Default output destination information indicating a default output destination of the print data (a plurality of settings can be set) (c) Print form information applied to the print page (a plurality of settings can be set) (d) Print resource information indicating print resources used when printing the print page (multiple settings are possible) (e) Correction information indicating correction details to be applied to the print page (multiple settings are possible) (f) Number of copies of the print data (Multiple settings are possible) (g) Copy range information indicating the copy range of the print data (multiple settings are possible) (h) Copy output destination information of the print data (multiple settings are possible) (i) Copy applied to the print page Print form information (multiple settings possible) (j) Copy print resource information used to print the print page (multiple settings possible) (k) Copy correction information applied to the print page (multiple settings possible)

Upon receiving the page data control information, the main control unit 45 requests the data output unit 46 to output the print data in order to output the print data of the corresponding page to the corresponding printing device 33 (step S625). . In response to this request, the data output unit 46 performs print data output processing (step S626). Details of the print data output process will be described later.

When the output processing of the print data for one page is completed in this way, the process returns to step S610 of FIG. 15 and the input processing of the print data is performed. As a result of this,
If the end of the file is not detected yet (step S611; N), the process shown in FIGS. 16 to 17 for the print data of the newly input page (step S61).
2 to S626) are performed.

On the other hand, when the output process up to the last page is completed by the previous print data output process,
As a result, the end of the file is detected (step S611; Y), and thereafter the process is step S601.
Then, the main control unit 45 confirms the existence of the stop request.

FIG. 18 shows an outline of the print data output processing in step S626 of FIG. Figure 1
When receiving a request for output of print data from the main control unit 45, the data output unit 46 shown in (4) checks the request content (step S701). Then, if it is the output request for the sorting page (step S702; Y), the sorting page output processing is performed (step S703). In other cases, page data output processing is performed as normal printing (step S704).

FIG. 19 shows a specific flow of the sorting page output processing by the data output section. When the output of the sorting page is requested, the data output unit 46 analyzes the sorting page output information and manages the number of output of the sorting page in a predetermined memory area of the volatile storage device 52 (FIG. 1). The output counter clearing process using is performed (step S801). Here, the number of times "1" is set in this output counter. Then, the following processing is performed for this first output destination.

Thereafter, the data output unit 46 checks the number of sorting pages to be output (step S802). If this is not "0" (step S803; N), the sorting page output destination is confirmed. (Step S802).
After that, it is checked whether or not the print form information applied to the sorting page is set (step S80).
5) If this is set (step S80)
6; Y), a control record for setting print form information is generated and output to the corresponding printing device 33 (step S80).
7). In step S803, when the number of output pages of the sorting page has been subtracted to “0” (Y), the process is ended (END).

FIG. 20 shows the processing after step S807 in FIG. The data output unit 46 next checks whether or not there is print resource information to be applied to this first output destination (step S808), and if there is information to be applied (step S809; Y), A control record for setting print resource information is generated and output to the output destination (step S810). After that, the data output unit 46 checks whether or not the change information about the sorting page data is set (step S81).
1) If this change information is set (step S)
812; Y), the data output unit 46 copies the sorting page to the volatile storage device 52 (FIG. 1), and changes the sorted page data according to the change information (step). S813). Then, the changed page data for assortment is sent to the corresponding printing device 33 (step S814).

Thereafter, the data output unit 46 increments the output counter by the number "1" and subtracts the number of sorting page output sheets by the number of output pages (step S815).
After that, the process returns to step S802 and the above processing is repeated. That is, the count value of the output counter is incremented by "1" until the number of output pages for assortment pages is reached, and the output destinations are sequentially changed accordingly. When the number of output pages for sorting pages becomes “0” and the output process for sorting pages ends (END), the data output unit 46 transfers the control to the main control unit 45.

FIG. 21 specifically shows the page data output process shown in step S704 of FIG. In the page data output process, the data output unit 46 first acquires the default output destination information in the page data control information notified from the main control unit 45 (step S90).
1). Next, one page of data is copied to the volatile storage device 52 (FIG. 1) to correspond to this output destination (step S902). Then, it is checked whether or not the copy correction information applied to the page data exists (step S903), and if it exists (step S904;
Y), the print data is corrected according to the correction information (step S905).

Next, the data output section 46 checks whether or not the print form information applied to this page data exists (step S906), and if it exists (step S906).
907; Y), and outputs a control record for print form setting to the corresponding printing device 33 (step S90).
8). After that, the data output unit 46 checks whether or not there is print resource information applied to this page data (step S909).

FIG. 22 shows a continuation of step S909 in FIG. If the applicable printing resource information exists (step S910; Y), the corresponding printing device 3
A print resource setting control record is output to No. 3 (step S911). Then, the data output unit 46 outputs the print data for one page to the output destination when omitted (step S912). In the first example shown in FIG. 6, the number of copies 66
_Since both ₆ are “0”, the page data output process is completed. If the number of copies 66 ₆ is "1" or more,
This will be described below because the printed matter is further output to each of the corresponding printing devices 33.

In step S913, the data output unit 46 checks the number of copies 66 ₆ . As a result, this is "0"
If so (step S914; Y), the output process of page data ends as described above (end).
If it is not "0" (N), the data output unit 46 acquires the copy output destination information indicating the corresponding copy destination (step S).
915). Then, the page data for one page is copied to the volatile storage device 52 (FIG. 1) for the copy destination (step S916). Then, it is checked whether there is copy correction information to be applied to the page data (step S917).

FIG. 23 shows a continuation of step S917 of FIG. If the copy correction information exists (step S918; Y), the data output unit 46 corrects the print data according to the copy correction information (step S918).
919). That is, as shown in the copy correction information, the predetermined character string information is deleted or changed to another character string information.

When this process ends, the data output unit 46
Checks whether there is copy print form information applied to the copy page (step S920).
If there is copy print form information to be applied (step S
921; Y), the data output unit 46 generates a copy / printing form setting control record and outputs it to the corresponding printing device 33 (step S922).

Thereafter, the data output unit 46 checks whether or not the copy / print resource information applied to the copy page exists (step S923). If it exists (step S924; Y), the copy / print resource setting information is set. A control record is generated and output to the printing device 33 (step S925). In this way, when the setting process for printing the corresponding page data on the corresponding printing device 33 is completed, the data output unit 46 causes the volatile storage device 5 to operate.
The page data that has been copied into the page 2 and modified as necessary is output to the printing device 33 (step S92).
6). Then, the number of copies is subtracted (step S92
7) The procedure returns to step S913, and the same processing is repeated until the number of copies reaches "0". Step S9
When it is determined in 14 that the number of copies has become "0", the output processing of the page data is completed, and therefore the data output section 46 transfers control to the main control section 45.

When the flow of processing of the printing system is shown, the second and third examples will be shown as print data processing examples in order to facilitate the understanding thereof.

Second example

FIG. 24 shows the structure of another print data A as input data in this second example. The print data A is data of four consecutive pages from the first page to the fourth page. The first page is "Tokyo Data ₁ ", and the key information indicating the output destination is not shown here. Therefore, the default output destination is the output destination. The same applies to the second page. On the third page, the output destination change information 66 ₁ (Fig. 2) is "Osaka ₁₀ ".
The output destination will be changed for subsequent pages.

FIG. 25 shows the contents of the processing information table in the second example. Processing information table 6
In No. 4, the default output destination 66 ₂ is the first printing device 33 ₁ for the output destination change information 66 ₁ not set. Therefore, the print data of the first page is first output to the _first printing device 33 ₁ . Further, the number of copies 66 ₆ in this column is “3”, and the copy output destinations are the second printing device 33 ₂ and the third printing device 33.
_{Since the third} printing device 33 ₄ and the fourth printing device 33 ₄ are respectively set, a copy page is output for these.

Regarding the column in the processing information table 64 where the output destination change information 66 ₁ is “Osaka ₁₀ ”, the default output destination 66 ₂ is the fifth printing device 33 ₅ .
Therefore, after the third page (FIG. 24) where the output destination change information 66 ₁ is “Osaka ₁₀ ”, the fifth printing device 33 ₅ is the output destination of the printed matter. And
Since the number of copies 66 ₆ is set to “2”, the printed matter of the copy page is output from the sixth printing device 33 ₆ and the seventh printing device 33 ₇ as the copy output destination.

FIG. 26 shows each form used in this second example. Each form 1 as shown
Each of 11 to 117 is applied to the lateral printing, and various kinds of bands are attached from the lower end of the paper by a predetermined width.

27 to 33 show the first to the second examples of this second example.
The printed matter output from each of the seventh printing devices is represented in time series. First, the first page of the print data A shown in FIG. 24 is processed, and “Tokyo data ₁ ” is output as the printed matter of the first page of FIG. 27. At this time, the first form 111 is used. Next, the print data of this page is the second form 11
2 is output from the second printing device 33 ₂ as the printed matter of the first page shown in FIG. At this time,
The character “total 1500” is deleted by the copy correction information 66 ₁₁ .

[0118] Similarly, from the third printer 33 ₃ 2
The printed matter of the first page shown in 9 is output as a copy page. Also at this time, the character "total 1500" is deleted by the copy correction information 66 ₁₁ . Furthermore, the fourth
The printing apparatus 33 ₄ outputs the printed matter of the first page shown in FIG. 30 as a copy page. Also at this time,
The character “total 1500” is deleted by the copy correction information 66 ₁₁ .

Next, the second part of the print data A shown in FIG.
The page number is processed. As a result of this, FIGS.
As shown in the respective 0 so that the second page of the printed material is output from the printer 33 _to 333 ₄ corresponding.
In these cases, the corresponding ones of the first to fourth forms 111 to 114 set in the processing information table 64 are used, and the printed matter combined with the print data (overlay) is output. Will be.

When the above processing is completed, the processing of the third page of print data A is started. Here, since the output destination change information 66 ₁ is “Osaka ₁₀ ”, the fifth printing device 33 ₅ is changed to the output destination. Then, as shown in FIG. 31, the printed matter of the first page is output using the fifth form 115. Then two copying is performed, the first of its output as a sixth its first page from the printing apparatus 33 ₆ uses a form 116 of the sixth (Fig. 32). The following printed copy is
The seventh printing device 33 ₇ using the seventh form 117
Is output as the first page (FIG. 33). For these copy pages, the letters "total 500" will be deleted.

Similarly, the print data for the fourth page in FIG.
For the data, the fifth to seventh printing devices 33_Five~ 33₇
Output from each as the second page printed matter.
Becomes Even in this case, the setting is made in the processing information table 64.
Printing resources 66_Four, 66 _TenForm 11 as
The corresponding one of 5-117 is used, and
Printing device 33_FiveOther printing device 33₆, 33₇Out of
For the printed matter to be printed, copy correction information 66₁₁By
Therefore, the character "total 100" will be deleted.

Third example

In the third example, the print data A (FIG. 24) used in the second example is used as it is. Further, as the printing resources, the respective forms 111 to 116 excluding the seventh form 117 from the first to seventh forms 111 to 117 shown in FIG. 26 are used.

FIG. 34 shows the processing information in this third example.
It shows the contents of the table. Processing information table
The output destination of the copy page is the second printing device.
33 ₂It can be seen that it is. Also, the output destination change information 66
₁In the upper column where is not set, the number of copies 66₆
Is "2", so two copies of printed matter with the same content
You can see that each page is output.

FIG. 35 shows the set contents of the assortment information table described with reference to FIG. The assortment information 69 ₁ in the assortment information table 68 is “Osaka ₁₀ ”, and it can be seen that the assortment page is inserted immediately before this. The first page of these sorting pages is the first printing device 33 ₁ from the output destination information 69 ₃ and the second page is the second printing device 33 ₂ . Also, notice that the fifth form 115 is used from the print resources 69 ₅ for the former, it is understood that the form 116 of the sixth is used for the latter.

FIG. 36 is a time-series representation of the printed matter output from the first printing device in this third example.
Similarly, FIG. 37 shows the printed matter output from the second printing device in time series. Fig first page of the print data A from the first printing apparatus 33 ₁ shown in FIG. 24 3
6 first page of the printed material as shown is outputted to the second printing device 33 the first page and the second page of the printed material as shown from ₂ in FIG. 37 is output as a copy page. Similarly, the print data A for the second page in FIG.
Is processed.

Next, before the processing of the third page of FIG. 24 is performed, the sorting information table 68 is used to output sorting pages to the respective printing devices 33 ₁ and 33 ₂ . First
In the case of the printing device 33 ₁ of No. 3, this is the third page, and in the case of the _second printing device 33 ₂ , this is the fifth page. After that, the processing of the print data A on the third and fourth pages of FIG. 24 is performed. For these, a total of two copy pages are output, one for each page.

[0128]

As described above, claims 1 to 5 are as follows.
According to the described invention, the print data with the output destination change information indicating the change is input only to the page for changing the output destination of the printed matter from the print data input means.
Then, a default output destination setting means for presetting the output destination of the print data of each page range divided by the output destination change information as a change location is prepared, and the output destination of each page of the print data is prepared by this. Since it is specified, it is not necessary to enter an output destination for each page of print data, the format of print data is simplified, and the total amount of data is reduced. Therefore, the memory required for storing print data can be made relatively small in capacity, and the time required for data transmission can be shortened. Moreover, since the default output destination can be set on the printing system side, the original print data itself can be modified even if the distribution destination of printed matter is changed due to department transfer, terminal addition or change, etc. This can be easily dealt with by simply changing the contents of the table or the like on the printing system side. Therefore, the time required for the system administrator to manage the data can be greatly reduced.

Further, until now, a program and print data for generating print data have been created individually for remote branch offices and sales offices, but this is no longer necessary, and each print data consisting of one file is used. Print data can be output to a plurality of output destinations such as a branch office and a sales office. Therefore,
It is possible to reduce the effort of creating a program for outputting print data. Further, it is possible to eliminate the waste of the duplicated creation of the common data part required to create the individual print data, and to improve the efficiency of the printing system also in this respect.

Further, in the invention according to claim 1, when there is one output destination set by the default output destination setting means, the output destination corresponds to the output destination, and when there are a plurality of output destinations, the output destination assigned by the output destination assigning means corresponds. Since the output destination setting means for setting the output destination of the page is provided, the output destination can be repeatedly changed for each page, and particularly, the standard print material distribution work can be efficiently performed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the default output destination set by the default output destination setting unit is made to perform a plurality of types of printing, the print control data assigning unit sets these for each page. To realize this, print control data is allocated for this purpose. Therefore, each printing device can create a printed matter in a desired printing form by using desired printing resources by using the printing control data when outputting the printing data sent from the data output means.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when it is requested to copy and output each page of the print data corresponding to any of the default output destinations set by the default output destination setting means, The copy page setting means for presetting the number of copies and the output destination of the copied pages is prepared in correspondence with the default output destination. Therefore, it is possible to perform a two-layered process of printing the relevant page and printing a copy of that page without adding special data to the print data side, and it is possible to deal with complicated printing work. Moreover, there is an effect that it is possible to flexibly cope with the change of the organization of the business office or the addition of terminals.

Further, in the invention according to claim 4, copy page setting means for presetting the number of copies and the output destination of the copied pages are prepared in correspondence with the default output destination. When two or more output destinations of the copied pages are set by the setting means, these output destinations are sequentially assigned to each copied page. Therefore, while the print data of a page is to be output to the original output destination, and when it is required to copy the page and output to multiple output destinations, the information on these output destinations is repeatedly used. The print data can be sequentially output to a plurality of output destinations, and desired prints can be output from the respective printing devices without describing a complicated output destination in the original print data. That is, it is possible to cope with a more complicated system than the invention described in claim 3.

Further, in the invention according to claim 5, when it is requested to copy and output each page of the print data corresponding to any of the default output destinations set by the default output destination setting means, Copy page output destination setting means for presetting the output destination of the page to be copied corresponding to the default output destination, and one or more kinds of printing for one output destination set by the copy page output destination setting means Since the print control data setting means for presetting the print control data for performing the above is provided, it is possible to obtain a printed matter in which the printing form and the printing resource are changed for each copied page, which is complicated to the original print data. It is possible to output a printed matter using various forms, fonts, etc., without describing a specific output destination.

According to the sixth and seventh aspects of the present invention, the sorting pages can be appropriately inserted when the print data is output, which facilitates sorting. Moreover, since it is not necessary to enter data for specifying the contents of the sorting page in the print data, the total amount of print data can be reduced. In addition, detailed data such as the output destination of the sorting page will be prepared separately on the printing system side, so even if the organization of the office or the configuration of the terminal is changed, the data related to the sorting page will be saved. It need only be changed in one place, and there is no need to correct existing print data in general. Therefore, it is possible to significantly reduce the time required for system management by the administrator of the print data output work.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 6, when a plurality of output destinations of the sorting page are set for one sorting information, the generated sorting page data is output to these. Since the pages are sorted and output first, the sorting pages can be output to a plurality of output destinations if necessary.

According to the invention described in claim 7, when the contents set by the assortment page content setting means are plural for one sort information, these plural sorts of page data are sorted as sort page data. Since the pages are generated by the generating means and are distributed to these output destinations one page at a time, the pages for assortment are different in the form, the font used, the color of the printing paper, and the orientation of the paper at the time of printing. Can be output to each output destination as a sorting page. That is, it is possible to output the optimal sorting page in consideration of the circumstances such as the function of each printing apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing each item of a processing information table in this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing each item of a sorting information table in this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an outline of a circuit configuration of an apparatus in which a print data creating apparatus and a print data sending apparatus are integrated in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of print data A as input data in the first example in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a processing information table in the first example.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing each form used in the first example.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the printed matter output to the first printing apparatus in time series in the first example.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the printed matter output to the second printing apparatus in the first example in time series.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the printed matter output to the third printing apparatus in the first example in time series.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an outline of the processing operation of the main control unit in the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a flow of table creation processing shown in step S111 of FIG.

13 is a flowchart showing an outline of the creation / update processing of the processing information table shown in step S211 of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an outline of the creation / update processing of the assortment information table shown in step S213 of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a first stage of a control flow relating to processing of a print data processing request in this embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a second stage of the control flow relating to processing of a print data processing request in this embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a third stage of the control flow relating to processing of a print data processing request in this embodiment.

18 is a flowchart showing an outline of print data output processing in step S626 of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a specific flow of assortment page output processing by the data output unit.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the processing after step S807 in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart specifically showing the page data output process shown in step S704 of FIG.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a continuation of step S909 in FIG.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a continuation of step S917 in FIG.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of another print data A as input data in the second example.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a processing information table in the second example.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing each form used in the second example.

FIG. 27 is a plan view showing the printed matter output from the first printing apparatus in time series in the second example.

FIG. 28 is a plan view showing the printed matter output from the second printing apparatus in time series in the second example.

FIG. 29 is a plan view showing the printed matter output from the third printing apparatus in time series in the second example.

FIG. 30 is a plan view showing the printed matter output from the fourth printing apparatus in time series in the second example.

FIG. 31 is a plan view showing the printed matter output from the fifth printing apparatus in the second example in time series.

FIG. 32 is a plan view showing a printed matter output from a sixth printing apparatus in a second example in a time series.

FIG. 33 is a plan view showing the printed matter output from the seventh printing apparatus in time series in the second example.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a processing information table in the third example.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram showing setting contents of the assortment information table described in FIG. 3 in the third example.

FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram showing printed matter output from the first printing apparatus in time series in the third example.

FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram showing the printed matter output from the second printing apparatus in time series in the third example.

FIG. 38 is an explanatory diagram showing a first example of a conventional printing system that outputs printed materials in a form suitable for each distribution destination.

FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram showing a second example of a conventional printing system in which printed matter is output in a form suitable for each delivery destination.

[Explanation of symbols]

31 ... Print data creating device, 32, 34 ... Print data,
33 ₁ ... First printing device, 33 ₂ ... Second printing device, 3
3 ₃ ... Third printing device, 33 _N ... Nth printing device, 35
... print data processing device, 41A ... print data A, 42 ...
Storage unit, 44 ... Data input unit, 45 ... Main control unit, 46 ...
Data output unit, 48 ... Processing information management unit, 49 ... Sorting information management unit, 51 ... Nonvolatile storage device, 52 ... Volatile storage device, 53 ... Display device, 55 ... Input device, 64 ... Processing information table, 68 ... Sorting information table, 71 ... Control information table, 81 ... CPU, 83 ... Working memory, 85 ... Magnetic disk, 86 ... Input circuit, 87 ... Keyboard, 88
... mouse, 92 ... CRT, 93 ... communication control device, 10
1, 111 ... First form, 102, 112 ... Second form, 113 ... Third form, 114 ... Fourth form, 115 ... Fifth form, 116 ... Sixth form, 117 ... Seventh Form of

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A print data input means for inputting print data consisting of a series of pages with output destination change information indicating that output destination change information is given only to a page for changing the output destination of a printed matter, and first from the print data input means. Output destinations of the pages to which the output destination changing information is added, and output destination changing information is newly added from the page every time the page to which the output destination changing information is input is input. The default output destinations are the output destinations of the pages until the next page is input, and the initial state without the output destination change information and the output destination change information are printed one by one. The default output destination setting means for presetting the output destination of data and the default output destination set by the default output destination setting means for which a plurality of output destinations have been set Output destination assigning means for sequentially assigning these output destinations one by one, and when there is one output destination set by the default output destination setting means, that output destination is assigned, and when there are a plurality of output destinations, the output destination assigning means is assigned. Connected to the output destination setting means for setting each output destination as the output destination of the corresponding page, the data output means for outputting the print data in page units to the output destination set by the output destination setting means, and the data output means, respectively. A printing system comprising: a plurality of printing devices that perform printing when print data is sent corresponding to an output destination. 2. A print data input means for inputting print data consisting of a series of pages to which output destination change information is added only to a page for changing the output destination of the printed matter, and the first from the print data input means. Output destinations of the pages to which the output destination changing information is added, and output destination changing information is newly added from the page every time the page to which the output destination changing information is input is input. The default output destinations are the output destinations of the pages until the next page is input, and the initial state without the output destination change information and the output destination change information are printed one by one. A default output destination setting means for presetting an output destination of data, and a print control data for causing one default output destination set by the default output destination setting means to perform a plurality of kinds of printing. For those that have been set, print control data allocation means for sequentially allocating these print control data for each page, and print control data and print data for the page corresponding to the output destination set by the default output destination setting means And a plurality of printing devices that are respectively connected to the data output unit and that print the page by using the print control data and the print data that are respectively connected to the data output unit and are sent corresponding to the output destination. Characteristic printing system. 3. A print data input means for inputting print data consisting of a series of pages to which output destination change information indicating the output destination change information is attached only to a page for changing the output destination of the printed matter, and the first from the print data input means. Output destinations of the pages to which the output destination changing information is added, and output destination changing information is newly added from the page every time the page to which the output destination changing information is input is input. The default output destinations are the output destinations of the pages until the next page is input, and the initial state without the output destination change information and the output destination change information are printed one by one. A default output destination setting means for presetting a data output destination and each page of print data corresponding to any of the default output destinations set by the default output destination setting means is copied. When a request is made to print, the copy page setting means for presetting the number of copies and the output destination of the copied pages corresponding to the default output destination, and the printing to the output destination set by the output destination setting means Data output means for outputting data page by page and for outputting print data obtained by copying the page corresponding to the output destination set by the copy page setting means, and data output means respectively connected to the output destination. A printing system comprising: a plurality of printing devices that print the page using the sent print data. 4. A print data input means for inputting print data consisting of a series of pages to which output destination change information is added only to a page for changing the output destination of the printed matter, and the first from the print data input means. Output destinations of the pages to which the output destination changing information is added, and output destination changing information is newly added from the page every time the page to which the output destination changing information is input is input. The default output destinations are the output destinations of the pages until the next page is input, and the initial state without the output destination change information and the output destination change information are printed one by one. A default output destination setting means for presetting a data output destination and each page of print data corresponding to any of the default output destinations set by the default output destination setting means is copied. When a request is made, the copy page setting means for presetting the number of copies and the output destination of the copied page in correspondence with the default output destination, and the output of the page copied by the copy page setting means When a plurality of destinations are set, the copy page output destination assigning unit that sequentially assigns these output destinations for each copied page, and the print data is output in page units to the output destination set by the output destination setting unit. A data output means for outputting print data obtained by copying a page corresponding to the output destination set by the copy page setting means or the output destination assigned by the copy page output destination assigning means is connected to the data output means, respectively. Plural printing devices that print the page using print data sent corresponding to the output destination Printing system characterized by comprising a. 5. A print data input unit for inputting print data consisting of a series of pages with output destination change information indicating the change of the output destination of the printed matter only; Output destinations of the pages to which the output destination changing information is added, and output destination changing information is newly added from the page every time the page to which the output destination changing information is input is input. The default output destinations are the output destinations of the pages until the next page is input, and the initial state without the output destination change information and the output destination change information are printed one by one. A default output destination setting means for presetting a data output destination and each page of print data corresponding to any of the default output destinations set by the default output destination setting means is copied. The copy page output destination setting means for presetting the output destination of the page to be copied corresponding to the default output destination when requesting input, and one output destination set by the copy page output destination setting means. Print control data setting means for presetting print control data for performing one or a plurality of types of printing, and print control data for performing a plurality of types of printing are set by the print control data setting means. Occasionally, the print control data allocating means for the copy page, which sequentially assigns these print control data for each page, outputs the print data page by page to the output destination set by the output destination setting means, and sets it by the copy page output destination setting means. Output the print control data of the page corresponding to the specified output destination and the print data obtained by copying the page. And a plurality of printing devices that are respectively connected to the data output unit and that print the page using print data or print control data and print data that have been sent in correspondence with output destinations. A printing system characterized by. 6. A print data input means for inputting print data consisting of a series of pages in which assortment information as a mark for inserting a sorting page just before a specific page of a printed matter is attached to the specific page, A sorting page content setting unit that presets the contents of the sorting page such as an output destination of the sorting page in association with the sorting information, and the sorting information is included in the print data input from the print data input unit. When the sorting page content setting means determines the sorting page data and generates sorting page data having the content set by the sorting page content setting means, the sorting page content setting means outputs one sorting page. When multiple items are set for sorting information,
Sorting page data output means for sorting and outputting the sorting page data generated by the sorting page data generation means to these output destinations one page at a time, and the print data input by the print data input means for the page. The data output means for outputting to each corresponding output destination, the data output means and the sorting page data output means are respectively connected, and when print data is sent, the page is printed, while the sorting page data is A printing system comprising: a plurality of printing devices that print sorting pages before printing the print data of the corresponding page when sent. 7. A print data input means for inputting print data consisting of a series of pages in which assortment information as a mark for inserting a sorting page just before a specific page of a printed matter is attached to the specific page, A sorting page content setting unit that presets the contents of the sorting page such as an output destination of the sorting page in association with the sorting information, and the sorting information is included in the print data input from the print data input unit. When the content set by the sorting page content setting means is plural for one sorting information, a sorting page data generating means for generating a plurality of sorting page data is provided. , The content set by the sorting page content setting means is 1
When there are a plurality of types of sorting information, a sorting page data output unit that sorts and outputs the plurality of types of sorting page data generated by the sorting page data generation unit to each of these output destinations. Data output means for outputting the print data input by the print data input means to a corresponding output destination for each page, and print data sent to the data output means and the sorting page data output means, respectively. When the sorting page data is sent, when the sorting page data is sent, the sorting page is printed before the printing data of the corresponding page is printed. Printing system.