JPH08202519A - Print controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To print a document which has the desired number of pages and desired margins on one printing form. CONSTITUTION: An information input processing part 2 receives 2nd format information indicating a desired file name, printing form size, the number of print pages per form, and others from an input part 91, reads document data on the corresponding file and 1st format information out of a document data storage part 92, reads print density information on a printer 93 out of an environment storage part 11, and applies 3rd format information including a reduction rate to a conversion and compression part 3 together with document data. The converting and compressing process part 3 converts the document data into image data compressed at the specified compression rate and outputs the data to a data storage part 4. A print data generation part 5 converts the image data into print data wherein an area for printing the specified number of pages on one printing form is specified and outputs the print data, and an auxiliary line data addition part 7 adds auxiliary line data and outputs the resulting print data to a print processing part 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control device, and more particularly to a print control device for simultaneously printing a plurality of pages on one sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for printing a plurality of pages on one sheet, a printing device described in JP-A-60-178530 is known.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing apparatus described in the above publication.

In the figure, an editing unit 101, which is one of the components of the Japanese printing apparatus 100, reads a file having a file name to be printed from an external file 104, and a switch 121 of a switch board 102 makes one sheet. The number of pages to be printed on
The output position of the form data from the left end of the printing paper is input by the switch 122.

In FIG. 5, 3 is printed on one sheet of printing paper.
Pages of data are printed side by side.

In this case, the switch 121 specifies 3 as the number of pages, and the switch 122 specifies the printing position of the leftmost page.

The editing unit 101 reads three pages of data from the file 104, edits the data according to the conditions specified by the switches 121 and 122, outputs the edited data to the printer 105, and the printer 105 prints the data. Three pages are printed on a sheet of printing paper.

[0008]

The above-described conventional print control apparatus of this type can print a document for a plurality of pages on one printing sheet, but it is defined by the data stored in the file 104. Although it is possible to shift the printing position on the printing paper by each page while keeping the vertical and horizontal sizes on the printing paper for one page as it is, it should be printed by the above data. It is impossible to change the size.

Therefore, when printing the data stored in the file 104, the size of each page cannot be reduced and it is not possible to print an arbitrary number of pages on one sheet of printing paper. There is.

In addition, there is a drawback that it is not possible to insert an auxiliary line indicating the boundary between adjacent pages, or to insert and print a boundary line indicating the boundary with another printing surface. There is.

[0011]

In a print control apparatus according to the present invention, document data is stored in advance in a document data storage unit together with first format information regarding a number of lines per page, a number of characters, and a character size with a file name. When a print command specifying a file name is added from the outside, document data having the corresponding file name is read from the document data storage unit, output to a printer connected to the outside, and printed on a print sheet. In the apparatus, an environment storage unit that stores information about the printing density of the printer, the vertical and horizontal sizes of the printing paper, the size of the margins on each side of the printing paper, the file name, the printing paper 1 When information regarding the number of printed pages per sheet is output from the externally connected input device as the second format information, the print density information is output from the environment storage unit. When receiving the second format information, the document data having the file name designated by the second format information is received together with the first format information by the number of pages designated by the second format information. Based on the first format information, read out from the document data storage unit, the reduction ratio of the document to be printed is calculated based on the first and second format information, and the read document data is converted into the second format information. An information input processing unit for outputting together with the document data as the added third format information, and image data according to the reduction ratio of the document data according to the print density based on the third format information and the document data. A conversion / compression processing unit that converts and outputs the third format information and a data storage unit that temporarily stores image data when received, and is output from the conversion / compression processing unit. When the third format information is received, the image data stored in the data storage section is read out, the print area of each page for one printing sheet is determined based on the third format information, and the data storage section stores it. A print data creation unit that creates print data in which the image data that has been placed in the print area and outputs positional information on the print paper of the print data of each page as fourth format information; A print data storage unit for temporarily storing data, and reading the print data from the print data storage unit to generate a predetermined auxiliary line and a boundary line based on the fourth format information and adding the line to the print data. An auxiliary line processing unit that outputs as print data, and a print processing unit that, when receiving the print data, adds a control symbol corresponding to the printer to the print data and outputs the print data to the printer. It is configured with.

In the print control apparatus of the second invention, the document data is stored in advance in the document data storage unit together with the first format information regarding the number of lines per page, the number of characters, and the character size with a file name. In a print control device, when a print command designating a file name is externally added, document data having the corresponding file name is read from the document data storage unit, output to a printer connected to the outside, and printed on a print sheet. An environment storage unit that stores information about the printing density of the printer, the vertical and horizontal sizes of the printing paper, the size of the margins on each side of the printing paper, the file name, and one sheet of the printing paper When the information regarding the number of printed pages of is output from the externally connected input device as the second format information, the information of the print density is read from the environment storage unit. An information input processing unit that adds the second format information and outputs it as third format information converted into a predetermined format; and, when receiving the third format information, the information input processing unit and the first format information together with the first format information. The document data having the file name designated by the third format information is read out from the document data storage unit by the number of pages designated by the third format information based on the first format information and read out. A data read processing unit that calculates the reduction ratio of a document to be printed based on the first and third format information and outputs the document data together with the document data as fourth format information added to the third format information. And converting the document data into image data according to the print density based on the fourth format information output by the data read processing unit and the document data and outputting the image data. A conversion processing unit that outputs the image data, a data storage unit that temporarily stores the image data when the image data is received, the image data stored in the data storage unit is read, and the data is reduced according to the reduction ratio included in the fourth format information. A compression processing unit that overwrites the storage unit and outputs the fourth format information, and a print area of each page for one printing sheet is defined based on the fourth format information output by the compression processing unit. Print data for generating print data in which the image data stored in the data storage unit is arranged in the print area, and outputting position information of the print data of each page on the print paper as fifth format information A creation unit, a print data storage unit for temporarily storing the print data, the print data read from the print data storage unit, and a predetermined auxiliary line based on the fifth format information. And an auxiliary line adding unit that generates a boundary line and adds it to the print data and outputs it as print data; and when the print data is received, a control symbol corresponding to the printer is added to the print data to the printer. And a print processing unit for outputting.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the print control apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the print control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has an input unit 91 composed of an external keyboard or the like.
The second format information and the file name are input from the document data storage unit 92 in accordance with the print command specifying the file name, and the document data having the corresponding file name and the first document formula information attached to the document data are displayed. An information input processing unit 2 for reading and processing according to the second format information input from the input unit 1, and a printer 9 connected to the print control apparatus 1.
The environmental storage unit 11 stores the environmental condition for No. 3, that is, the resolution that is the printing density of the printer 93.

The print control apparatus 1 further receives the third format information and the document data output from the information input processing unit 2, and receives the document data at the reduction ratio designated by the third format information. A conversion compression processing unit 3 that reduces the size, converts the image data to output, and outputs the received third format information as it is, a data storage unit 4 that temporarily stores the received image data, and a conversion compression processing unit 3. When the third format information output from is received,
The size of each of a plurality of pages to be printed on one sheet of printing paper and its print area are determined, the above-mentioned image data is read from the data storage unit 4, converted into print data according to the above-mentioned specified print area, and is output. , A print data creation unit 5 for generating and outputting fourth print information including the position of the designated print area, a print data storage unit 6 for temporarily storing the print data described above, and the fourth print information described above. Upon receipt, the print data is read from the print data storage unit 6, an auxiliary line data addition unit 7 is added to add a predetermined auxiliary line indicating the boundary between the pages to the print data, and output as print data. A print processing unit 8 that adds a control signal necessary for the printer 93 to the print data when the data is received and outputs the print data to the printer 93 is provided.

FIG. 3 shows an auxiliary line 22 and a boundary line 21 on one sheet of printing paper 20 printed by the printing control device of the present invention.
It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of arrangement | positioning with.

In the figure, continuous four pages of document data are printed on the printing paper 20 in four areas divided by three auxiliary lines 22 side by side.

The auxiliary line 22 is printed together with document data (not shown) at an intermediate portion between adjacent pages. That is, the printing paper 20 shown in FIG. 3 has four pages of document data (not shown) printed thereon.

A boundary line 21 in the drawing indicates a boundary when the document data (not shown) is cut out after printing. That is, it indicates that the portion below the boundary line 21 is cut off.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which document data (not shown) is printed on the printing paper 20 shown in FIG. 3, the lower part of the boundary line 21 is cut off, and the line is bent along the auxiliary line 22. is there.

That is, FIG. 4 shows the appearance of a booklet in which document data (not shown) consisting of four pages is printed on one sheet of printing paper 20.

The operation of the print control apparatus 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be described below.

The document data storage section 92 stores document data with a first file name and a first format information specifying the number of lines per page, the number of characters per line, the size of characters, and the like. It is assumed to be stored in advance.

The environment storage unit 11 also includes a printer 93.
It is assumed that the printing density possessed by, for example, the number of dots per inch is stored in advance as an environmental condition.

The number of pages to be printed on one sheet of printing paper, the file name of the document data to be printed, the vertical and horizontal sizes of the target printing paper, and the sizes of the top and bottom and left and right margins of this printing paper are As the second format information, the input unit 91
When added to the information input processing unit 2, the information input processing unit 2 reads out the document data having the specified file name and the first format information attached to this document data from the document data storage unit 92, and reads the environment. The print density information is read from the storage unit 11.

At this time, the information input processing section 2 reads out the document data for the number of pages designated by the second format information from the document data storage section 92.

Subsequently, the information input processing section 2 operates the first and second
A document in which the reduction rate of document data to be printed is calculated based on the format information and the print density, and the format information including the reduction rate, the first format information, and the second format information is read as the third format information. Output with data.

Upon receiving the document data and the third format information, the conversion / compression processing unit 3 converts the document data into image data according to the first format information, and converts the image data by the reduction ratio described above. The data is reduced and output to the data storage unit 4, and the received third format information is also output.

When the print data creation unit 5 receives the third format information output by the conversion compression processing unit 3, the print data creation unit 5 reads the above-mentioned image data stored in the data storage unit 4, While converting the image data for the specified number of pages in the area having the specified margin on the printing paper specified by the format information 2 into the printing data, and outputting it to the printing data storage unit 6. , The fourth format information designating the area is output.

Upon receiving the fourth format information, the auxiliary line data adding section 7 reads the above-mentioned print data from the print data storage section 6, and adds the print data to the adjacency designated by the fourth format information. The print data to which the image data of the auxiliary line shown in FIG. 3 is added is generated and output at the center of the blank portion between the pages to be printed.

When the print processing unit 8 receives the print data, the print processing unit 8 adds a control signal necessary for the printer 93 to print the print data to the print data and outputs the print data to the printer 93.

In this way, the printer 93 can print a document of a plurality of pages on one sheet of printing paper 20, for example, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

Among the components of the print control apparatus 1A shown in FIG. 2, a data storage unit 4, a print data creation unit 5,
The print data storage unit 6, the auxiliary line data addition unit 7, the print processing unit 8, and the environment storage unit 11 are the same as those already described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, when the print control apparatus 1A receives the second format information output from the input unit 91, the print control device 1A reads the information on the print density from the environment storage unit 11
Input processing section 2A for outputting the format information and the document data storage section 92 upon receiving the third format information, the document data having the file name designated by the third format information, and the document data attached to this document data. A data read processing unit 9 that reads out the first format information, calculates a reduction ratio to be printed on the printing paper, generates fourth format information including this reduction ratio, and outputs the fourth format information together with the above-mentioned document data; A conversion processing unit 10 that converts the document data output by the data reading processing unit 9 into image data based on the fourth format information output by the processing unit 9 and outputs the image data, and also outputs the fourth format information. When the data storage unit 4 that temporarily stores the image data output from the processing unit 10 and the fourth format information output from the conversion processing unit 10 are received, the image data stored in the data storage unit 4 is read. Out, only the reduction ratio contained in the fourth format information to reduce the image data, the data storage 4
And a compression processing unit 12 that outputs the fourth format information.

Further, the print control apparatus 1A has a designated margin on one sheet of printing paper for the image data overwritten in the data storage unit 4 based on the fourth format information and designated. Converts the print area of the image data that has the number of pages to the specified print data and outputs it, and also adds the fifth format information that includes the print position of each page on the printing paper that the print data has, to auxiliary line data. Input to the print data creation unit 5A that outputs to the unit 7, the print data storage unit 6 that temporarily stores the print data, and the auxiliary line data addition unit 7 and the auxiliary line data addition unit 7 that have already been described in FIG. And a print processing unit 8 whose output side is connected to the printer 93.

The operation of the print control apparatus 1A shown in FIG. 2 will be described below.

The second format information which has already been described in the print control apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 is input to the input section 91 which is composed of, for example, a keyboard, and the result is the information input processing section 2.
When added to A, the information input processing unit 2A reads out information regarding the print density from the environment storage unit 11 and outputs this information regarding the print density as the third format information in addition to the second format information.

Upon receiving the third format information, the data read processing section 9 reads the first format information attached to the document data of the specified file name from the document data storage section 92, and reads the third format information. The corresponding document data corresponding to the number of pages designated by the information is read and output to the conversion processing unit 10.

Next, the reduction ratio to be printed on the printing paper is calculated from the second and third format information, and the fourth format information including this reduction ratio and the above-mentioned second and third format information is converted. Output to the processing unit 10.

The conversion processing unit 10 converts the document data into image data based on the fourth format information, and the data storage unit 4
Is output to and stored in the compression processing unit 12.

When the compression processing unit 12 receives the fourth format information, the compression processing unit 12 reads the image data from the data storage unit 4, and converts the image data into the image data reduced by the reduction ratio included in the fourth format information. The data is converted and overwritten in the data storage unit 4.

Further, the received fourth format information is output to the print data creating section 5A.

When the print data creation unit 5A receives the fourth format information, it reads the image data from the print data storage unit 6 and, based on the fourth format data, prints each page to be printed on the printing paper. The print area is determined and output as the fifth print information to the auxiliary line data creation unit 7, and at the same time, the print data storage unit 6 stores the print area designation information as print data added to the image data.

Upon receiving the fifth format information, the auxiliary line data adding unit 7 reads the print data from the print data storage unit 6, and the boundary line 21 and the auxiliary line 2 illustrated in FIG.
2 and 2 are added to the image data and output as print data to the print processing unit 8.

The operation of the print processing unit 8 is the same as that already described with reference to FIG.

The auxiliary line data adding section 7 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be set in advance so that only the auxiliary line 22 is added.

[0049]

As described above, the print control apparatus according to the present invention uses the information input processing unit 2 or 2A to print the size of the printing paper from the input unit, the number of pages to be printed on one printing paper, and the distance between the pages. Receives the second format information including the margin size and the file name of the document data to be printed, and reads the document data having the corresponding file name stored in the document data storage unit 92 and the attached first format information. In addition, it has a function of converting the read document data into image data having a desired size based on the print density of the printer 93 stored in the environment storage unit 11, and further assists between adjacent pages. By providing a function to add lines, it is possible to print a desired number of pages of document data on one sheet of printing paper, and also to print auxiliary lines in the middle of each page. It has the effect that it is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a print control apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a print control apparatus of the present invention different from that of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing auxiliary lines and boundary lines printed by the print control device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a booklet whose printing surface is bent along the auxiliary line of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional device of this type.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 print control device 2 information input processing unit 3 conversion compression processing unit 4 data storage unit 5 print data creation unit 6 print data storage unit 7 auxiliary line data addition unit 8 print processing unit 9 data read processing unit 1A print control device 2A information input Processing unit 5A Print data creation unit 10 Conversion processing unit 11 Environment storage unit 12 Compression processing unit 20 Printing paper 21 Boundary line 22 Auxiliary line

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G06F 17/21

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A document name is attached to a document data storage unit in advance together with first format information concerning the number of lines per page, the number of characters, and the character size, and a print command designating a file name is externally issued. In a print control device for reading the document data having the corresponding file name from the document data storage unit when it is added, outputting it to an externally connected printer, and printing it on a print sheet, information about the print density of the printer. And an environment storage unit that stores information such as the vertical and horizontal sizes of the printing paper, the size of the margins on each side of the printing paper, the file name, and the number of printed pages per printing paper. When output as format information from an externally connected input device, the print density information is read from the environment storage unit and the second format information is received. The second format together with the first format information
Of the document data having the file name designated by the format information is read from the document data storage unit by the number of pages designated by the second format information based on the first format information, and the read document data is read. An information input processing unit that calculates a reduction ratio of a document to be printed based on the first and second format information and outputs the reduced rate together with the document data as third format information added to the second format information. Based on the third format information and the document data, the conversion compression processing unit that converts the document data into image data according to the reduction ratio according to the print density and outputs the image data, and also outputs the third format information. A data storage unit for temporarily storing the image data, and image data stored in the data storage unit for receiving the third format information output from the conversion compression processing unit. Based on the third format information, a print area for each page of one printing sheet is determined based on the third format information, and image data stored in the data storage unit is arranged in the print area to generate print data to generate each page. A print data creation unit that outputs position information of the print data on the print sheet as fourth format information, a print data storage unit that temporarily stores the print data, and the print data storage unit that prints the print data. An auxiliary line processing unit that reads out the data for use, generates a predetermined auxiliary line and a boundary line based on the fourth format information, adds the line to the print data, and outputs the print data as print data; A print control device comprising: a print processing unit that adds a control symbol corresponding to a printer to the print data and outputs the print data to the printer. 2. The document data is stored in advance in the document data storage unit together with the first format information relating to the number of lines per page, the number of characters, and the character size with a file name, and a print command designating the file name is externally issued. In a print control device for reading the document data having the corresponding file name from the document data storage unit when it is added, outputting it to an externally connected printer, and printing it on a print sheet, information about the print density of the printer. And an environment storage unit that stores information such as the vertical and horizontal sizes of the printing paper, the size of the margins on each side of the printing paper, the file name, and the number of printed pages per printing paper. When the format information is output from an externally connected input device, the print density information is read from the environment storage unit and added to the second format information in advance. The third converted into the prescribed style
An information input processing unit for outputting as format information of
When the document data having the file name designated by the third format information is received together with the first format information by the number of pages designated by the third format information, the document data storage unit From the first format information, the read document data is read out based on the first and third format information, and the reduction ratio of the document to be printed is calculated and added to the third format information. A data read processing unit which outputs together with the document data as the format information, and the document data is converted into image data according to the print density based on the fourth format information output by the data read processing unit and the document data. And output the fourth format information, a data storage unit that temporarily stores the image data when the image data is received, and an image stored in the data storage unit. And a compression processing unit that reads out the data and reduces the data according to the reduction ratio included in the fourth format information, overwrites the data storage unit, and outputs the fourth format information; and the compression processing unit that outputs the compression processing unit. Based on the format information of No. 4, the print area of each page for one printing sheet is determined, and the image data stored in the data storage unit is arranged in the print area to generate print data, and the printing of each page is performed. Print data creating section for outputting position information of the print data on the print sheet as fifth format information, a print data storage section for temporarily storing the print data, and the print data from the print data storage section. An auxiliary line adding unit that generates a predetermined auxiliary line and a boundary line based on the read out fifth format information, adds the auxiliary line and the boundary line to the print data, and outputs the print data as print data,
A print control device comprising: a print processing unit which, upon receiving the print data, adds a control symbol corresponding to the printer to the print data and outputs the print data to the printer.