JPH0751368B2 - Print control device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control device that prints in a desired character font in a printer based on a character code and a print control command from a host computer.

[Conventional technology]

Printers are becoming popular as peripheral devices for OA, and optical printers (hereinafter referred to as LP) such as laser printers and LED printers, which have been reduced in price, are becoming daisy wheel printers (hereinafter referred to as DP) and wire dot printers (hereinafter referred to as WP). It is being replaced. LP is capable of high-speed, low-noise printing, high-quality printing based on high resolution, and multi-font printing. The multi-font printing is to print with a plurality of character fonts selected and one character font selected from these character fonts at any time according to a user's instruction. By the way, LP has a built-in ROM
In addition to this, you can use it by equipping an external cartridge ROM with more than 30 kinds of fonts.

There are the following two methods for conventional multi-font selection.

(1) Selection method based on font name (hereinafter referred to as font name method) This method is a method for selecting a font to be used according to a font name designated by a user using a control command or an operation panel switch. As a font name,
Proposal, pica, elite, italic, bold, goshsk, mincho type. This method is called "Epson FK-80 Printer User's Manual" (EP
SON FX-80 PRINTER USER'S MANUAL).

(2) Font selection method based on character pitch (hereinafter referred to as character pitch method) This method is a method for selecting a character font to be used by a character pitch designated by a user using a control command or an operation panel switch. Character pitch is usually CPI
(Characters Per Inc.)
Instructed in units of h). This method is disclosed in JP-A-60-179.
No. 261, for example.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, these two selection methods are inconvenient because (1) the common problem is insufficient monitoring of the mounting state of the cartridge ROM with respect to the slot.
The conventional print control device is a cartridge cartridge RO at the initial stage.
I check the mounting state of M, but I do not monitor the change sequentially while using the printer. Therefore, if the cartridge ROM mounted in the initial stage is subsequently removed, a printing error may occur. Further, even if a cartridge ROM that has not been mounted at the initial point is added after that, the mounting of the cartridge ROM is not recognized, so that the character font provided in the cartridge ROM is not used.

(2) Font name system is 1 for each font name
It is assumed that there are only one character font. Therefore, when there are a plurality of character fonts having the same font name and different character shapes, there is a problem that the target character font cannot be uniquely selected even if the font name is specified.

The LP has a high resolution characteristic that can realize multi-font printing as described above, but in order to maintain the commonality with the application software on the word processor or personal computer, the LP with a low multi-font selection function is used. Printer command system for WP and WP is often used. However, since these DP and WP printer command systems perform multi-font selection by font names, the above problem is remarkable.

(3) The character pitch method is always 1 from multiple character fonts.
Although it has the advantage that one character font can be selected, there is a problem that a favorite character font cannot be selected by font name.

In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-font printing system in which an external cartridge ROM can be removably mounted so that a character font desired by a user is uniquely selected by designating a font name. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print control device capable of performing character expansion and printing a character pattern in a printer in a desired character font.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a host computer that transmits a print control command including a character font selection command that specifies a character code and a character font name, and
At least built-in program for command interpretation and execution, and resident character font pattern data
A system memory means including a ROM and a cartridge ROM that is detachably attached to a slot and stores character font pattern data of a plurality of character shapes corresponding to character font names; and via the host computer and the I / F. A ROM connected to the system memory means connected via a bus is accessed based on a print control command including a character code selection command for designating a character code and a character font name that is transmitted from the host computer. A CPU for generating character pattern data by selecting a character font from a plurality of character fonts having different character shapes and having the same character font name corresponding to the character font selection command according to a predetermined priority rule and performing character expansion to generate character pattern data; Buffer memory means for storing character pattern data generated in CPU A print control apparatus characterized by comprising a printer for printing by outputting the character pattern data stored in said buffer memory means. Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the print control device, identification numbers are given to the plurality of cartridge ROMs, and the CPU determines the priority rule based on the identification numbers. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the CPU in the print control device is configured to select a character font at a delimiter of character expansion.

[Action]

Since the CPU monitors the cartridge ROM installed at the time of printing and the character font and selects the character font to be used from among them, it follows the cartridge ROM even if the user removes or attaches it while using the printer. Character font selection becomes possible. Even if there are a plurality of character fonts having the same font name, the user can select the character font desired by using the priority order among the character fonts.

For example, as for the priority order between the character fonts, the built-in ROM and the cartridge ROM have priority over the cartridge ROM, and in the case of the cartridge ROMs, the slot positions may be prioritized. Printer Proportioner to null font (hereinafter referred to as P _1), are built one (for FX-80 emulation), if a user is having Katoritsuji ROM for another Proportioner to Naruru font (hereinafter referred to as P ₂₎ , P ₂ is selected if the cartridge ROM is attached to the slot. When using P ₁ , the cartridge ROM should be removed from the slot.

By doing so, the character font desired by the user can be arbitrarily selected and used while maintaining the conventional command system.

〔Example〕

First, in the printing apparatus by the printing control apparatus according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the printing control apparatus 1 is electrically connected to the host computer 2 by a serial or parallel signal, and the printer main body 3 is connected to a video device. Electrical connection is made by signals.

As shown in FIG. 1, the print control device includes a serial I / F 11 that executes serial signal communication with the host computer, and a parallel I / F 12 that also executes parallel signal communication. The CPU 13 that controls this device interprets and executes the character code and control command sent from the host computer. The command interpretation and execution includes a process of expanding the character pattern data, that is, a process of writing a character pattern corresponding to a character code to the buffer memory unit 15 while referring to the font cartridge ROM in the system memory unit 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the system memory unit 14 includes a built-in ROM 141,
A RAM 142 and a cartridge ROM 143 are provided. Internal ROM 141
Stores command interpretation, execution programs, and resident character font pattern data (hereinafter referred to as built-in font ROM). As shown in FIG. 3, the RAM 142 includes a command buffer unit 142-a, a font identification table 142-b, a font start address table 142-c, a character expansion font table 142-d, and a character expansion control table 142.
-E is provided. The CPU 13 interprets and executes commands while updating these tables on the RAM 142. Cartridge ROM 143 is detachably provided in the cartridge slot and the number thereof varies from 0 to the number of cartridge slots depending on the attaching / detaching operation. These cartridge ROMs 143 store font pattern data or command interpretation programs.

Character pattern data developed by command execution is sequentially written in the buffer memory section 15, and the parallel-serial conversion section 16 converts the character pattern data from the parallel format to the serial format to form a video signal.

Reference numeral 17 is an operation panel I / F, and 18 is an operation panel. The operation panel 18 is provided with a display section for notifying the operator of the status of the printer and the print control device, and a switch for the operator to set the status.

A plurality of character font data are stored in the built-in ROM 141 and the cartridge ROM 143 in the data format shown in FIG. In this embodiment, character fonts 1 to N are stored. For each character font n, common management information 32, individual character management information 33, and character pattern data 34 are stored separately from the head address An31. The common management information 32 is common information that does not change depending on characters, and includes a font identification number, font name, portrait / landscape distinction, start address of character pattern data 34, start address of each character individual management information 33, and font. The number of characters, ASCII code of the first character, horizontal size of character pattern, vertical size of character pattern, number of occupied words of character pattern, etc. are stored. These are commonly used when expanding all the characters belonging to the character font n. To speed up character expansion, the latter seven items of these are RA
It is stored in the font table 142-d for character expansion on the M142 and used. The character expansion font table 142-d is set by selecting and copying from the management information 32 when the character font n is selected and confirmed. This table 142-d is shown in FIG.

When storing N character fonts in the ROM in the data format shown in FIG. 5, there are the following degrees of freedom.

(1) Character fonts 1 to N can be put in one font ROM or divided into a plurality of font ROMs.

(2) Built-in ROM and cartridge ROM as font ROM
One or both of M can be used.

The data format may be the data format shown in FIG. 6 instead of the format shown in FIG.

Note that FIG. 5 shows the data storage format in the case where N font data are installed at that time. Generally, as shown in FIG. 7, there are M (A ₁ , A ₂ −A _M ) leading addresses of fonts that can be mounted in the device, and N (A _j1 , A _j2 ... A _jn ) fonts are included in the font. data is implemented, other start address Ax, Ay, a _M is not implemented.

The font identification table 142-b will be described with reference to FIG. In this table 142-b, for each font name,
A string of the number of character fonts and a font identification number is stored.
In the illustrated table, there are two character fonts whose font names are proportional, and the font identification numbers 1 and 2 are given. Therefore, by using this table 142-b, a column of font identification numbers can be obtained for font names. The following two methods can be applied as the method of setting the table 142-b.

Method 1; (1) A table as shown in FIG. 8 is created and stored in the built-in ROM 141 in advance for all the character fonts provided by the printer maker to the user.

(2) A table 142-b is created on the RAM 142 by reading data from the ROM 141 and copying the data when the printer is powered on.

Note that this processing is not necessary in the case of a program that directly refers to the table on the ROM 141.

Method 2; (1) Check the common management information 32 of all the character fonts implemented at that time for each delimiter of character expansion such as page, line, character, etc., and create a table 142-b.

In this embodiment, the mounting state of the cartridge ROM is successively monitored by the second method to create the font identifying table 142-b.

The font start address table 142-c will be described with reference to FIG. The table 142-c stores the head addresses A _{1 to} AM of all the character fonts (font identification numbers _{1 to M} ) that can be held by the print control apparatus. By using this table 142-c, it is possible to know the start address A _n in the ROM in which the character font is stored for each font identification number n. As the value of the start address A _n , By using a special numerical value which cannot occur, it is indicated that the character font of the font identification number n is not mounted in this control device. As a result, the fact that the specified character font is not mounted is identified and displayed on the operation panel 18, and the operator is informed accordingly. This table 142-c also has pages, rows,
For each delimiter of character expansion such as characters, the common management information 32 of all the character fonts implemented at that time is checked and created.

Next, the operation of this print control device is shown in the program analysis diagram (PAD = Problem Anali
sis diagram).

In FIG. 11, after the printer 71 and the print control device are turned on at block 71, the block 72 initializes the font identification table 142-b on the RAM. After this CPU
13 is a block 73, which is a serial I / F 1 from the host computer.
Processes the character code and control command string sent through 1 or parallel I / F 12.

FIG. 12 shows the details of this command processing 73. First, at block 730, the command is sent to the command buffer section 142-a.
To store. In block 731, the CPU 13 sequentially reads and interprets the commands in the command buffer unit 142-a. The interpreted command executes at block 732 as follows.

First, in block 733, the mounting state of the font is checked, and in block 734, the font start address table 142-c and the font identification table 142-b are reset. In addition,
The font identification table 142-b may be set without resetting. The font mounting state is checked by separating characters such as pages, lines, and characters, as described above. If the command is a font selection command, block 735 transfers to block 736 to check whether it is a font name selection command. In the case of the selection command by font name, block 737 executes the font selection procedure by font name. If it is not a selection command by font name, block 738 performs another type of font selection procedure. If the command is not a font selection command, block 735 to block 7
Then, the processing shifts to 39, and other processing indicated by the command is executed.

Step 13 of the font selection process 737 by font name
It will be described with reference to the drawings. In block 740, the font identification number n corresponding to the input font name is searched for in the font identification table 142-b (FIG. 8) previously set in the processes of blocks 72 and 734. If the number of the corresponding font is 0, the block 741 is moved to the block 742 to display the fact on the operation panel 18 and then the block 74
Move to step 3 to perform other necessary processing. If the number of the corresponding font is 1, block 741 moves to block 744,
A character expansion font table 142-d (FIG. 10) is created for the character font having the determined font identification number n. If the number of corresponding fonts is 2 or more, block 74
Move from 1 to block 745, determine one font identification number based on the priority order, then move to block 746, and in the same way as block 744, font table for character expansion 1
Create 42-d.

Creation processing 744 (74) of the font table 142-d for character expansion for the character font with the determined font identification number n
6) is executed by the procedure shown in FIG.

There are the following three methods for determining one font identification number based on priority.

Method a; (1) Prioritize the cartridge ROM 143 over the internal ROM 141.

(2) When a plurality of cartridge ROMs 143 are mounted in the slot, the cartridge ROMs 143 are prioritized according to the cartridge slot position. For example, priority is given to the left and right or the top and bottom.

(3) If character fonts cannot be uniquely determined by the prioritization of (1) and (2), the priority is assigned by using the magnitude relationship of font identification numbers.

Method b; (1) Prioritize the cartridge ROM 143 over the internal ROM 141.

(2) When a plurality of cartridge ROMs 143 are mounted on the slot, the cartridge ROM identification number previously written in each cartridge ROM is used to give priority.

(3) If character fonts cannot be uniquely determined by the prioritization of (1) and (2), the priority is assigned by using the magnitude relationship of font identification numbers.

Method c; (1) Select the largest font identification number.

The priority order described above can be changed by the user by operating the panel or the DIP switch.

According to the printing control apparatus described above, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) The user has a cartridge ROM while using the printer.
Even when the character is attached or detached, the character font can be selected according to the attached or detached state.

(2) Even if a plurality of character fonts having the same font name are mounted, one character font can always be selected by using the designated font name and the priority order between the character fonts.

(3) By using the definition of the priority order while keeping the font name system which is the conventional printer command system, the character font desired by the user can be selected from a plurality of character fonts. For example, according to the prioritization of the method a, the user can use a desired character font from a plurality of character fonts by attaching / detaching the cartridge ROM or changing the mounting position.

(4) Since the user can redefine the priority order, it is possible to select the character font that further reflects the user's intention.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, the cartridge RO
Even if M is attached or detached, it is possible to select a character font that follows it, and even if there are multiple character fonts with the same name, select the desired character phantom based on the predetermined priority rule between the character fonts. Because you can
There is an effect that a character font desired by a user is uniquely selected from a large number of character fonts by designating a font name, character expansion is performed, and a character pattern can be printed by a printer with the desired character font.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 1 to 4 are block diagrams, FIGS. 5 to 7 are character font data explanatory diagrams, and FIGS. 8 to 10 are table explanatory diagrams. Figures 11-14
The figure is a block diagram for explaining the operation. 13 …… CPU, 14 …… System memory, 141 …… Built-in RO
M, 142 …… RAM, 143 …… Cartridge ROM.

Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-60-232974 (JP, A) JP-A-60-129268 (JP, A) JP-A-60-179261 (JP, A) JP-A-61-225075 (JP , A) JP-A-63-19278 (JP, A) JP-A-61-274967 (JP, A)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A host computer for transmitting a print control command including a character font selection command for designating a character code and a character font name, and a built-in program for storing at least a program for interpreting and executing the command and resident character font pattern data. A system memory means including a ROM and a cartridge ROM that is detachably attached to a slot and stores character font pattern data of a plurality of character shapes corresponding to character font names; and via the host computer and the I / F. A ROM connected to the system memory means connected via a bus is accessed based on a print control command including a character code selection command for designating a character code and a character font name that is transmitted from the host computer. Corresponds to the character font selection command A CPU that generates a character pattern data by selecting a character font according to a predetermined priority rule from a plurality of character fonts having different character shapes with one character font name and generating character pattern data, and storing the character pattern data generated by the CPU And a printer for outputting and printing the character pattern data stored in the buffer memory means. 2. An identification number is given to the plurality of cartridge ROMs, and the CPU determines the priority rule based on the identification number. Print control device. 3. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the CPU is configured to select a character font at a character development delimiter.