JPH0839870A - Output device and output method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a recording sheet with characters printed using a different font from a font designated by an external device from being used unnecessarily, if the selection of a font designated by a font selection command from the external device failed. CONSTITUTION:A printer control unit 1000 receives a font selection command from a host computer 3000 and interprets whether the selection of font data designated by the selection command is a success or an error. In addition, if the interpretation result indicates a font data selection error, the printer control unit 1000 notifies the host computer 3000 of information on the font data selection error. The host computer 3000 sends a command for instructing the suspension of a printing action to the printer control unit 1000, if the host computer 3000 received the information on the font data selection error from the printer control unit 1000.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output device such as a printing device and an output method which are communicatively connected to an external device such as a host computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, there is a printing device as a device that takes in data supplied from a host computer and outputs this data in a predetermined form, and this printing device and an external host computer are communicably connected. There is.

When a font selection command is supplied from the host computer to the printing device, the printing device selects the font designated by the font selection command and performs the printing operation with this font.

When the printing device fails to select the font specified by the font selection command from the host computer, the printing device selects a font according to a predetermined selection criterion, and the printing operation with this font is performed.

[0005]

However, when the printing device fails to select the font specified by the font selection command from the host computer, the printing device selects the font according to a predetermined selection criterion. Printing with a font different from the font designated by the computer is performed, and a recording paper on which printing with a font different from the font designated by the host computer is recorded is output. Therefore, the recording paper is wasted.

Further, in order to suppress the wasteful consumption of the recording paper, it is necessary to forcibly interrupt the printing operation of the printing apparatus and to issue the font selection command from the host computer to the printing apparatus again. It is troublesome.

A first object of the present invention is to record a print in a font different from the font designated by the external device when the selection of the font designated by the font selection command from the external device fails. An object of the present invention is to provide an output device and an output method capable of suppressing wasteful consumption of paper.

A second object of the present invention is to perform a printing operation with a font specified by an external device without taking time and effort when the selection of a font specified by a font selection command from the external device fails. An object is to provide an output device and an output method that can be re-executed.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In an output device such as a printing device, which is communicatively connected to an external device such as a host computer and performs a printing operation for printing on a recording sheet based on a command from the external device, storage means for storing a plurality of fonts in advance; Selection means for selecting a font from a plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from an external device; printing means for executing a printing operation using the font selected by the selection means; Determination means for determining whether the selection of the font specified by the font selection command from the device has succeeded or failed, and outputting the determination result;
When the determination result indicates a failure in selecting a font specified by a font selection command from the external device, notification means for notifying the external device of font selection failure information indicating failure in selecting the font, and the notification means When a printing operation stop command is given from the external device after the font selection failure information is notified, the control means controls to stop the printing operation of the printing means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the output device according to the first aspect, the control means suspends the printing operation when the determination result indicates a font selection failure due to a font selection command from the external device. It is characterized in that the printing operation of the printing means is temporarily suspended until a command is given.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in an output device such as a printing device which is communicably connected to an external device such as a host computer and performs a printing operation for printing on a recording sheet based on a command from the external device, Storage means for storing a plurality of fonts; selection means for selecting a font from the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from the external device; and a font selected by the selection means. A printing unit that executes a printing operation, and determines whether the selection of the font specified by the font selection command from the external device has succeeded or failed,
When the determination result outputs the determination result and the determination result indicates that the font specified by the font selection command from the external device fails, the font selection failure information indicating the failure in selecting the font is sent to the external device. Notifying means for notifying, and when a font selection command is given again from the external device after the notification of the font selection failure information by the notifying means, the selecting means is caused to select a font by the given font selection command. And a control means for controlling.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the output device according to the third aspect, when the external device is given the font selection failure information, one of the font selection command and the print operation stop command is issued. It is characterized in that the control means controls to stop the printing operation of the printing means when the printing operation stop command is given from the external device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the output device according to the fourth aspect, the control means, when the determination result indicates a font selection failure due to a font selection command from the external device, the font selection command. The printing operation of the printing means is temporarily suspended until either one of the printing operation stop command and the printing operation stop command is given.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the output device according to the third aspect, the font designated by the font selection command given again is the same as the font designated by the font selection command given last time. It is characterized by being.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the output device according to the third aspect, the font designated by the again given font selection instruction is different from the font designated by the previously given font selection instruction. Is characterized by.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in an output device such as a printing device which is communicably connected to an external device such as a host computer and performs a printing operation for printing on a recording sheet based on a command from the external device, Storage means for storing a plurality of fonts; selection means for selecting a font from the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from the external device; and a font selected by the selection means. A printing unit that executes a printing operation, and determines whether the selection of the font specified by the font selection command from the external device has succeeded or failed,
A determining means for outputting the determination result; and, when the determination result indicates a failure in selecting a font designated by a font selection command from the external device, indicates a failure in selecting the font and a font selectable by the selecting means. Notifying means for notifying the external device of font selection failure information, and, when a font selection command is given again from the external device after the notification of the font selection failure information by the notifying means, the selection means of the selectable font And a control unit for controlling the selection.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the output device according to the eighth aspect, when the external device is provided with the font selection failure information, one of the font selection command and the print operation stop command is issued. It is characterized in that the control means controls to stop the printing operation of the printing means when the printing operation stop command is given from the external device.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the output device according to the ninth aspect, the control means, when the determination result indicates a font selection failure due to a font selection command from the external device, the font selection command. The printing operation of the printing means is temporarily suspended until either one of the printing operation stop command and the printing operation stop command is given.

The invention described in claim 11 is used for an output device such as a printing device which is communicably connected to an external device such as a host computer and performs a printing operation for printing on a recording sheet based on a command from the external device. In the output method, a step of storing a plurality of fonts in the storage means in advance,
A step of selecting a font from a plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from the external device, and whether the font specified by the font selection command from the external device has been selected successfully A step of determining whether or not a failure has occurred, and outputting the result of the determination, and when the result of the determination indicates a failure in selecting a font specified by a font selection command from the external device, a font selection failure indicating a failure in selecting the font A step of notifying information to the external device, and a step of stopping the printing operation with the selected font when a printing operation stop command is given from the external device after notifying the font selection failure information. To do.

The twelfth aspect of the present invention is used in an output device such as a printing device which is communicably connected to an external device such as a host computer and performs a printing operation for printing on a recording sheet based on a command from the external device. In the output method, a step of storing a plurality of fonts in the storage means in advance,
A step of selecting a font from a plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from the external device, and whether the font specified by the font selection command from the external device has been selected successfully A step of determining whether or not a failure has occurred, and outputting the result of the determination, and when the result of the determination indicates a failure in selecting a font specified by a font selection command from the external device, a font selection failure indicating a failure in selecting the font And a step of notifying information to the external device, and when a font selection command is given again from the external device after the notification of the font selection failure information, a font is selected by the given font selection command and the selected font is selected. And a step of executing a printing operation using the font.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the output method according to the twelfth aspect, when the font selection failure information is given by the external device, one of the font selection command and the print operation stop command is issued. And a step of stopping the printing operation when the printing operation stop command is given from the external device.

The invention according to claim 14 is used for an output device such as a printing device which is communicably connected to an external device such as a host computer and which performs a printing operation for printing on a recording sheet based on a command from the external device. In the output method, a step of storing a plurality of fonts in the storage means in advance,
A step of selecting a font from a plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from the external device, and whether the font specified by the font selection command from the external device has been selected successfully A step of determining whether or not a failure has occurred and outputting the result of the determination, and when the result of the determination indicates a failure in selecting the font specified by the font selection command from the external device, the failure in selecting the font and the selectable font Notifying the external device of font selection failure information indicating that the font selection failure information is transmitted to the external device, and when the font selection command is given again from the external device after the notification of the font selection failure information, the selectable font is selected and the selected font is selected. And a step of executing a printing operation with a font.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the output method according to the fourteenth aspect, either one of the font selection command and the print operation stop command is issued when the font selection failure information is given by the external device. And a step of stopping the printing operation when the printing operation stop command is given from the external device.

[0024]

In the output device according to claim 1, a plurality of fonts are stored in the storage means in advance, and the selection means selects a font from the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from an external device. Select, the printing means executes the printing operation with the font selected by the selection means, and the judgment means judges whether the font specified by the font selection command from the external device has succeeded or failed, and the judgment result Is output, and when the determination result by the notifying means indicates a failure in selecting the font specified by the font selection command from the external device, the font selecting failure information indicating the failure in selecting the font is notified to the external device. When a printing operation stop command is given from an external device after notifying the font selection failure information by the notification means, the printing operation of the printing means is controlled to be stopped. .

In the output device according to the second aspect, when the control means causes the judgment result to indicate a font selection failure by a font selection command from an external device, the printing operation of the printing means is temporarily performed until a print operation stop command is given. Control to interrupt.

In the output device according to the third aspect, a plurality of fonts are stored in the storage means in advance, and the font is selected from the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on the font selection command from the external device by the selection means. Select and execute the printing operation with the font selected by the selection means with the printing means,
The judgment means judges whether the font specified by the font selection command from the external device has succeeded or failed, outputs the judgment result, and the notification means specifies the judgment result by the font selection command from the external device. When the selected font has failed, the external device is notified of the font selection failure information indicating the failure of the font selection, and the control means gives the font selection command again after the notification means notifies the font selection failure information. At this time, the selection means is controlled to select the font by the font selection command given again.

In the output device according to the fourth aspect, when the external device gives the font selection failure information, either one of the font selection command and the print operation stop command is generated, and the control device prints it from the external device. When the operation stop command is given, the printing operation of the printing means is stopped.

In the output device according to the fifth aspect, when the determination result indicates that the font selection by the font selection command from the external device fails in the control means, either one of the font selection command and the printing operation stop command is given. Until then, the printing operation of the printing means is controlled to be interrupted.

In the output device according to the sixth aspect, the font specified by the font selection command given again is the same as the font specified by the font selection command given last time.

In the output device according to the seventh aspect, the font designated by the font selection command given again is different from the font designated by the font selection command given last time.

In the output device according to the eighth aspect, a plurality of fonts are stored in the storage means in advance, and the font is selected from the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on the font selection command from the external device by the selection means. Select and execute the printing operation with the font selected by the selection means with the printing means,
The judgment means judges whether the font specified by the font selection command from the external device has succeeded or failed, outputs the judgment result, and the notification means specifies the judgment result by the font selection command from the external device. When the selection failure of the selected font is indicated, the selection failure of the font and the font selection failure information indicating the font selectable by the selection means are notified to the external device, and the control means notifies the font selection failure information by the notification means to the external device. When the device issues a font selection command again, it controls the selection means to select its selectable font.

In the output device according to the ninth aspect, when the external device gives the font selection failure information, either one of the font selection command and the printing operation stop command is generated, and the control device causes the external device to output the font selection command. When the printing operation stop command is given, the printing operation of the printing means is controlled to be stopped.

In the output device according to the tenth aspect, when the determination result indicates that the font selection command from the external device fails in the font selection, either one of the font selection command and the print operation stop command is given. Control is performed so that the printing operation of the printing means is temporarily suspended until the above operation.

In the output method according to claim 11, a plurality of fonts are stored in the storage means in advance, and a font is selected from the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from an external device, The font selection specified by the font selection command from the external device is judged to have succeeded or failed, the judgment result is output, and the judgment result is the font selection failure specified by the font selection command from the external device. , It notifies the external device of font selection failure information indicating that the font selection has failed, and when the external device gives a print operation stop command after notifying the font selection failure information, the printing operation with the selected font is stopped. .

In the output method according to the twelfth aspect, a plurality of fonts are stored in the storage means in advance, and a font is selected from the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from an external device, The font selection specified by the font selection command from the external device is judged to have succeeded or failed, the judgment result is output, and the judgment result is the font selection failure specified by the font selection command from the external device. , The external device is notified of font selection failure information indicating that the font selection has failed, and when the font selection command is given again from the external device after the notification of the font selection failure information, the A font is selected and the printing operation with the selected font is executed.

In the output method according to the thirteenth aspect, when the external device gives the font selection failure information, either one of the font selection command and the printing operation stop command is generated, and the printing operation stop command is issued from the external device. When given, stop printing operation.

In the output method according to claim 14, a plurality of fonts are stored in the storage means in advance, and a font is selected from the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from an external device, The font selection specified by the font selection command from the external device is judged to have succeeded or failed, the judgment result is output, and the judgment result is the font selection failure specified by the font selection command from the external device. , The font selection failure information indicating the font selection failure and the selectable font is notified to the external device, and when the font selection command is given again from the external device after the notification of the font selection failure information, Make a selection and execute the printing operation using the selected font.

In the output method according to the fifteenth aspect, when the external device gives the font selection failure information, one of the font selection command and the printing operation stop command is generated, and the printing operation stop command is issued from the external device. When given, stop printing operation.

[0039]

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

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a laser beam printer which is a first embodiment of the output device of the present invention.

The laser beam printer 1500 is communicatively connected to an external host computer, inputs print data (character codes, etc.), form information, macro commands, etc. supplied from this host computer and stores those information. At the same time, a corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created based on the information, and an image is formed on a recording sheet that is a recording medium.

As shown in FIG. 1, the laser beam printer 1500 includes a printer control unit 1000 for controlling the entire apparatus and analyzing character information supplied from a host computer, switches for operation, a liquid crystal display and LEDs. Operation panel 1 provided with a display etc.
501.

The printer control unit 1000 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern,
This video signal is output to the laser driver 1502.

The laser driver 1502 comprises a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1503. This circuit is
The laser light 1504 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1503 is switched on / off in accordance with the input video signal. The laser beam 1504 is swung in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 1505 to scan and expose the electrostatic drum 1506. By this scanning exposure, the electrostatic drum 150
An electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on 6. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing unit 1507 arranged around the electrostatic drum 1506 and then transferred to the recording paper.

Cut sheets are used as the recording sheets, and the cut sheet recording sheets are stored in a sheet feeding cassette 1508 mounted on the laser beam printer 1500.

The paper feed cassette 1508 has a size detection mechanism for detecting the size of the recording paper contained therein, and the size of the recording paper detected by this detection mechanism is the control unit 100.
Given to 0. The number of the paper cassettes 1508 that can be mounted is at least one.
Are prepared in advance for each size of the contained recording paper.

The recording paper in the paper feed cassette 1508 is taken into the apparatus by the paper feed roller 1509 and the carry rollers 1510 and 1511 and is carried toward the electrostatic drum 1506.

The laser beam printer 1500 is provided with at least one or more card slots. The laser beam printer 1500 can be connected with an optional font card and a control card (emulation card) of a different language system in addition to the built-in font. Is configured.

Next, a printer control system of the laser beam printer 1500 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer control system of the laser beam printer of FIG.

The host computer 3000 connected to the laser beam printer 1500 includes a control unit 2000, as shown in FIG. The control unit 2000 uses the RO
CP that executes document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed based on a document processing program stored in the program ROM of M3
The CPU 1 has a U1 and controls each device connected to the system bus 4 as a whole.

The program ROM of the ROM 3 has a C program together with a control program such as the above-mentioned document processing program.
The control procedure performed by the PU 1 (the flow shown in FIG. 4) is stored, the font ROM stores the font data used in the document processing, and the data ROM stores various data used in the document processing. Has been done.

When the control program or control procedure stored in the ROM 3 is executed by the CPU 1, R
The AM2 is used as a work memory for temporarily storing various data in the calculation and logical judgment of the CPU1.

The CPU 1 has a keyboard (KB in the figure).
9) gives instructions. The keyboard 9 is a group of character keys used for inputting letters, numbers, symbols, etc.
And a function key provided with a plurality of function keys for instructing movement of the cursor, formatting processing, and execution of activation.

A key code conversion process (conversion into an internal code) for an input symbol from the keyboard 9 is executed by a keyboard controller (represented by KBC in the drawing) 5.

Characters, mathematical expressions and the like corresponding to the key code input from the keyboard 9 are displayed at predetermined positions on the screen of the CRT 10.

The CRT 10 is driven by a display device controller (represented by CRTC in the figure) 6, and the display device controller 6 refers to a positioning control of a character string to be displayed at the cursor position on the screen and an internal character generator. Meanwhile, display control for displaying characters, symbols, etc. is performed by converting the input character code into a dot pattern.

Documents, edit files, calculation processing results, etc. created on the screen of the CRT 10 are stored in the external memory 11. The external memory 11 is composed of a hard disk device, a floppy disk device, etc., and writing / reading to / from the external memory 11 is controlled by a memory controller (denoted by MC in the drawing) 7.

Further, the created document, the edit file, the calculation processing result, and the like are stored in the printer controller (P in the figure).
8 (represented by RTC). The printer controller 8 is a printer control unit 10 of the laser beam printer 1500 via a bidirectional interface 21.
00 to execute communication control processing with the laser beam printer 1500.

It should be noted that the CPU 1 executes, for example, an outline font rasterizing process on the display information RAM set on the RAM 2 to enable WYSIWYG on the CRT 10. Also, CPU1
Opens various windows registered based on commands designated by the mouse cursor on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing.

On the other hand, the laser beam printer 150
The printer control unit 1000 of 0 has an input unit 18 connected to the printer controller 8 via the interface 21, a control program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13, and a control program stored in the external memory 14. Based on the above, each device connected to the system bus 15 is comprehensively controlled, and the printing unit I
A CPU 12 that supplies an image signal as output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 via a / F (printing unit interface) 16. The CPU 12 performs communication processing with the host computer 3000 via the input unit 18.

In the program ROM of the ROM 13, the control program (the flow shown in FIG. 3) performed by the CPU 12 and the like are stored together with the above-mentioned control program, and the font RO
M stores font data used when the output information is generated, and the data ROM includes an external memory 14
When not provided, various data used on the host computer 3000 are stored.

When the control program or control procedure stored in the ROM 13 is executed by the CPU 12, the RAM 19 is used as a work memory for temporarily storing various data in the calculation and logical judgment of the CPU 12, and a bitmap memory, It is used as an environment data storage memory, NVRAM, etc. RAM19
Aims to expand the memory capacity in cooperation with the optional RAM connected to the expansion port.

An instruction from the operation unit 1501 is given to the CPU 12 via the system bus 15.

The calculation processing result by the CPU 12 and the like are stored in the external memory 14. The external memory 14 stores font data, emulation programs, form data, and the like in addition to the control programs described above. The external memory 14 is composed of a hard disk device, a floppy disk device, etc., and writing / reading to / from the external memory 14 is controlled by a memory controller (indicated by MC in the drawing) 20.

The printer control unit 1000 receives from the host computer 3000 a font selection command designating font data stored in the font ROM of the ROM 13, the external memory 14, the option font card, etc., and uses this font selection command. Determines whether the specified font data selection succeeded or failed, and when the result shows that the font data selection failed, the font data selection failure information indicating the specified font data selection failure is input. Notify the host computer 3000 via 18 and interface 21.

When the host computer 3000 receives the font data selection failure information from the printer control unit 1000, it sends a command to the printer control unit 1000 to stop the printing operation based on the font data selection failure information.

Next, the processing procedure performed by the printer control unit 1000 during the printing operation will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the printer control unit during a printing operation in the laser beam printer of FIG.

When the print job is started, as shown in FIG. 3, first, a font selection command from the host computer 3000 is input through the interface 21 to the input unit 1.
8, and font selection processing is performed (step S11). In this font selection processing, the font selection command received by the input unit 18 is analyzed, and the font data is selected from the font data stored in the ROM for the font of the ROM 13 based on the analysis result.

Next, in the font selection process, it is determined whether the selection of the font specified by the font selection command has succeeded or failed (step S12).

When the selection of the font specified by the font selection command is successful, the print continuation process is performed (step S13). In this print continuation processing, printing is performed in the font specified by the font selection command, and the recording paper on which this printing is recorded is output.

If the selection of the font specified by the font selection command fails, that is, if another font different from the font specified by the font selection command is selected based on preset selection criteria, the printing operation is interrupted. At the same time, font selection failure information indicating that the selection of the font specified by the font selection command has failed is transmitted from the input unit 18 to the host computer 3000 (step S14).

After the font selection failure information is transmitted, the state shifts to a standby state waiting for a command from the host computer 3000 (step S15).

When the command from the host computer 3000 is received, it is determined whether this command is a font reselection command (step S16).

When the command from the host computer 3000 is a font reselection command, step S1 is executed again.
The process from 1 is performed.

When the command from the host computer 3000 is the print operation stop command, the print stop process is executed (step S17). In this print cancel processing, the print operation is stopped and the recording paper is not output. After the print cancel processing, the processing ends.

Next, a processing procedure by the host computer 3000 when the font selection failure information is received from the printer control unit 1000 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure by the host computer when the font selection failure information is received from the printer control unit of the laser beam printer of FIG.

When the font selection failure information is received from the printer control unit 1000, as shown in FIG.
First, the user gives an instruction to either reselect a font or stop the printing operation, and the content of this instruction is determined (step S21).

When the user gives an instruction to reselect a font, a font reselection command is transmitted to the printer control unit 1000 based on this instruction (step S2).
2).

When the user gives an instruction to stop the print operation, a print operation stop instruction is transmitted to the printer control unit 1000 based on this instruction (step S23).

From the above, the host computer 3000
When the selection of the font data specified by the font selection command from the host computer fails, the printing operation is stopped based on the printing operation stop command from the host computer 3000 that receives the font selection failure information, and the recording paper is output. Therefore, it is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of the recording paper on which the print data of the different font data different from the font data designated by the font selection command from the host computer 3000 is recorded.

In this embodiment, one laser beam printer 1500 and one host computer 3000 are used.
Although the description has been made by taking the system in which the and are connected by the interface 21 as an example, the principle of the present invention is applied to the plurality of laser beam printers 1500 and the host computer 3000 by LAN.
It is not necessary to mention that it can be applied to a system connected by a network such as.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The laser beam printer in this embodiment has substantially the same structure as the laser beam printer in the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the host computer 30
When the selection of the font specified by 00 is failed, the font selection failure information indicating the failure of the selection of the font is transmitted to the host computer 3000. However, in the present embodiment, the selection of the font specified by the host computer 3000 is performed. When it fails, reselect the font data based on the preset font data selection criteria,
The font selection information indicating the reselected font data is transmitted to the host computer 3000 together with the font selection failure information.

Next, a processing procedure performed by the printer control unit 1000 during the printing operation will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the printer control unit during a printing operation of the laser beam printer which is the second embodiment of the output device of the present invention.

When the print job is started, as shown in FIG. 5, first, a font selection command from the host computer 3000 is input via the interface 21 to the input unit 1.
8, and font selection processing is performed (step S31). In this font selection processing, the font selection command received by the input unit 18 is analyzed, and font data is selected from the font data stored in the font ROM of the ROM 13 or the like.

Next, in the font selection processing, it is determined whether the selection of the font specified by the font selection command has succeeded or failed (step S32).

When the selection of the font specified by the font selection command is successful, the print continuation process is performed (step S33). In this print continuation processing, printing is performed in the font specified by the font selection command, and the recording paper on which this printing is recorded is output.

When the selection of the font specified by the font selection command fails, another font different from the font specified by the font selection command is selected based on preset selection criteria (step S34).

Next, font selection information indicating the failure in selecting the font specified by the font selection command and indicating the type of font data selected based on the selection criteria is transmitted from the input unit 18 to the host computer 3000 (step S35). ).

After transmitting the font selection information, the state shifts to a standby state waiting for a command from the host computer 3000 (step S36).

When the command from the host computer 3000 is received, it is determined whether this command is a font selection permission command (step S37).

When the command from the host computer 3000 is a font selection permission command, step S34
The printing operation with the font selected in the processing of 1 is permitted, and the printing continuation processing is performed (step S33). In the print continuation process, printing is performed in the font selected in the process of step S34, and the recording paper on which this print is recorded is output.

When the command from the host computer 3000 is not a font selection permission command, it is determined whether the command is a font reselection command (step S38). This font reselection command is a command for instructing the selection of the font data initially designated by the host computer.

When the command from the host computer 3000 is a font reselection command, step S3 is executed again.
The process from 1 is performed.

When the command from the host computer 3000 is not a font reselection command, print cancel processing is performed (step S39). In this print cancel processing, the print operation is stopped and the recording paper is not output. After the print cancel processing, the processing ends.

Next, a processing procedure by the host computer 3000 when the font selection information is received from the printer control unit 1000 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure by the host computer when font selection information is received from the printer control unit of the laser beam printer which is the second embodiment of the output device of the present invention.

When the font selection information is received from the printer control unit 1000, as shown in FIG. 6, first, the user gives an instruction as to whether the font selection is permitted or not (step S41).

When the user instructs the font selection permission, a font selection permission command is transmitted to the printer control unit 1000 based on this instruction (step S).
42).

When the user instructs the non-permission of the font selection, the user waits for the instruction of the font reselection or the stop of the printing operation, and it is determined whether the user's instruction is the font reselection instruction. Is performed (step S4
3).

When the instruction from the user is a font reselection instruction, a font reselection instruction is transmitted to the printer control unit 1000 based on this instruction (step S).
44).

When the instruction from the user is not the instruction to reselect the font, that is, the instruction to stop the printing operation,
Based on this instruction, a print operation stop command is transmitted to the printer control unit 1000 (step S45).

With the above, the host computer 3000
When the selection of the font data specified by the font selection command from the above fails, the font indicating the selection failure of the font specified by the font selection command and the font indicating the type of font data selected based on the preset selection criteria are displayed. The host computer 3 which has transmitted the selection information to the host computer 3000 and has received the font selection information.
Since the font specified by the command from 000 is reselected and the printing operation is stopped, the recording paper is not output and another font different from the font data specified by the font selection command from the host computer 3000 is selected. It is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of the recording paper on which the print data based on the data is recorded.

Further, when the selection of the font data designated by the host computer 3000 fails, the printing by the font data selected based on the selection criterion can be permitted.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The laser beam printer in this embodiment has substantially the same structure as the laser beam printer in the first embodiment.

In the first and second embodiments, when the host computer 3000 instructs the reselection of the designated font, there is a fear that another font different from the designated font may be selected again. When the selection of the font specified by the computer 3000 fails, the selectable font data in the font data stored in advance is transmitted to the host computer 3000, and the font data is selected from the font data selectable by the host computer 3000. A command designating data is transmitted to the printer control unit 1000.

Next, a processing procedure performed by the printer control unit 1000 during the printing operation will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure by the printer control unit performed during the printing operation of the laser beam printer which is the third embodiment of the output device of the present invention.

When the print job is started, as shown in FIG. 7, first, a font selection command from the host computer 3000 is input via the interface 21 to the input unit 1.
8, and font selection processing is performed (step S51). In this font selection processing, the font selection command received by the input unit 18 is analyzed, and font data is selected from the font data stored in the font ROM of the ROM 13 or the like.

Next, in the font selection process, it is determined whether the selection of the font specified by the font selection command has succeeded or failed (step S52).

When the selection of the font specified by the font selection command is successful, the print continuation process is performed (step S53). In this print continuation processing, printing is performed in the font specified by the font selection command, and the recording paper on which this printing is recorded is output.

If the selection of the font specified by the font selection command fails, the printing operation is temporarily stopped, and the font data stored in advance in the font ROM of the ROM 13 is searched for selectable font data. Then, the selectable font information indicating the type of the selectable font data is transmitted to the host computer 3000 (step S54).

After transmitting the selectable font information, the state shifts to a standby state waiting for a command from the host computer 3000 (step S55).

When the command from the host computer 3000 is received, it is determined whether this command is a font reselection command (step S56).

When the command from the host computer 3000 is a font reselection command, step S5 is executed again.
The processes from 1 are executed. The font reselection command from the host computer 3000 is a command for designating one photo data in the types of selectable font data indicated by the selectable font information.

When the command from the host computer 3000 is not a font reselection command, that is, when it is a print operation stop command, print stop processing is performed (step S57). In this print cancel processing, the print operation is stopped and the recording paper is not output. After the print cancel processing, the processing ends.

Next, a processing procedure by the host computer 3000 when the selectable font information from the printer control unit 1000 is received will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure by the host computer when the selectable font information is received from the printer control unit of the laser beam printer which is the third embodiment of the output device of the present invention.

When the selectable font information from the printer control unit 1000 is received, as shown in FIG.
First, it is determined whether or not the font reselection has been performed by the user to specify one of the selectable font data indicated by the selectable font information (step S61).

When font reselection is performed, a font reselection command including information indicating one font designated by the user is transmitted to the printer control unit 1000 (step S62).

When the font reselection is not performed, that is, when the print operation stop is instructed, the print operation stop instruction is transmitted to the printer control unit 1000 based on this instruction (step S63).

From the above, the host computer 3000
When the selection of the font data specified by the font selection command from fails, the selectable font information indicating the type of the selectable font data is displayed in the host computer 30.
00, and the printing operation is stopped based on the command from the host computer 3000 that received the selectable font information, the recording paper is not output, and the other font data different from the font data specified by the host computer 3000 is not output. It is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of the recording paper on which the print data based on the font data is recorded.

Further, when the selection of the font data designated by the host computer 3000 fails, one font data of the selectable font data is designated. Therefore, the printing operation by the redesignated font data is performed. It can be executed, and the time and effort required for the user can be reduced.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of an inkjet pudding which is a fourth embodiment of the output device of the invention.

The ink jet printer 5000 is communicatively connected to an external host computer (not shown), and inputs print data (character code, etc.), form information, macro commands, etc. supplied from this host computer, Information is stored, corresponding character patterns, form patterns, and the like are created based on the information, and an image is formed on a recording sheet that is a recording medium.

The ink jet printer 5000 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.

A platen roller 5001 for feeding the recording paper 5034 and a drive motor 5013 for moving a carriage 5030 on which the ink cartridge 5031 is mounted are mounted on the housing 5033.

The platen roller 5001 is rotated by the driving force from a carrying motor (not shown). One end of the platen roller 5001 is supported by the housing 5033, and the other end is supported by the support plate 5018. Support plate 5018
Is attached to the housing 5033. The recording paper 5034 sent by the platen roller 5001 is pressed against the platen roller 5001 by a pressing plate 5002.

The driving force from the driving motor 5013 is transmitted to the lead screw 5005 via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009. The lead screw 5005 extends parallel to the axis of the platen roller 5001, and a spiral groove 5004 is formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Both ends of the lead screw 5005 are supported by the housing 5033.

Spiral groove 500 of lead screw 5005
4 is engaged with a carriage 5030, and as the lead screw 5005 rotates, the carriage 5030 moves toward the arrow a,
It is reciprocated in the direction of b along the axial direction of the lead screw 5005. A guide member 5003 whose both ends are supported by the housing 5033 is used for guiding the reciprocating motion of the carriage 5030.

An ink cartridge 5031 is mounted on the upper surface of the carriage 5030.
A recording head 5032 that ejects ink for forming an image is provided on the front surface of 31.

A carriage lever 5006 extending from the side surface of the carriage 5005 in the axial direction of the lead screw 5005 is attached to the bottom surface of the carriage 5005. The carriage lever 5006 is a member for detecting whether or not the carriage 5030 has reached the home position.

Whether or not the carriage 5030 has reached the home position is determined by determining whether or not the photocoupler 5008 has detected the carriage lever 5006. The photo coupler 5008 is a housing 503.
It is attached to 3.

Capping for covering the ink ejection surface of the recording head 5032 is performed by the cap member 5022 when the carriage 5030 is located at the home position. The cap member 5022 is provided for the recording head 5032 when the carriage 5030 is located at the home position.
Is arranged so as to cover the front surface of the, and is supported by a supporting member 5016. An opening 5023 is formed in the cap member 5022.

The suction recovery for the recording head 5032 is
This is performed by the suction means 5015 when the carriage 5005 is located at the home position. Suction means 501
5 suctions the ejection surface of the recording head 5032 through the opening 5023 of the cap member 5022. The suction for suction recovery is started by the operation of the lever 5021, and the lever 5021 moves in accordance with the movement of the cam 5020.
The cam 5020 is engaged with the carriage 5005 when the carriage 5005 is at the home position. The driving force of the drive motor 5013 is transmitted to the cam 5020 by transmission means (not shown), and the movement of the cam 5020 is controlled. The lever 5012 is moved along with the movement of the cam 5020, and the suction recovery is started by the movement of the lever 5021.

The cleaning of the recording head 5032 is performed by the cleaning member 5017, and the cleaning member 5017 is attached to the support member 5019 so as to be movable relative to the recording head 5032.

Next, the printer control system of the ink jet printer 5000 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer control system of the inkjet printer of FIG.

The ink jet printer 5000 is shown in FIG.
0, a gate array 1704 connected to a host computer via an interface 1700.
And an MPU 1701 that comprehensively controls the head driver 1705, motor drivers 1706, 1707, etc. based on a control program stored in the ROM 1702, and supplies print data as output information to the storage head 5032 via the head driver 1705. Equipped with. The MPU 1701 performs communication processing with the host computer via the gate array 1704,
704 is an interface 1700, MPU 1701 and D
Data transfer control with the RAM 1703 is performed.

The ROM 1702 stores the control program, the font data, and the like performed by the MPU 1701 together with the above-mentioned control program.

When the MPU 1701 executes the control program or control procedure stored in the ROM 1702, the DRAM 1703 calculates the MPU 1701.
It is used as a work memory for temporarily storing various data and print data in logical judgment.

The head driver 1705 is for the recording head 5
Ink ejection control of 032. Motor driver 170
Reference numeral 6 controls the drive of the transport motor 1709 for driving the platen roller for transporting the recording paper, and motor driver 1707 controls the drive of the carriage drive motor 5013 for driving the carriage.

The MPU 1701 receives a font selection command designating font data stored in the ROM 1702 from the host computer and judges whether the selection of the font data designated by this font selection command has succeeded or failed. Then, when the determination result indicates that the selection of font data has failed, the host computer is notified via the gate array 1704 and the interface 1700 of font data selection failure information indicating that the specified font data has failed to be selected.

In the host computer, the MPU 1701
When the font data selection failure information is received from, the command for instructing to stop the printing operation is transmitted to the MPU 1701 based on the font data selection failure information.

The MPU 1701 controls to stop the printing operation based on the command from the host computer.

As described above, when the selection of the font data designated by the host computer fails, the printing operation is stopped based on the command from the host computer which receives the font selection failure information, and therefore the recording paper is not output. It is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of a recording sheet on which print data of different font data different from the font data designated by the host computer is recorded.

In the present embodiment, the control performed in the same manner as in the above-mentioned first embodiment has been described, but the control in the above-mentioned second embodiment and third embodiment can be executed in the same manner.

[0146]

As described above, according to the output device of claims 1 and 2, a plurality of fonts are stored in the storage means in advance, and the selection means is based on a font selection command from an external device. A font is selected from a plurality of fonts stored in the storage means, the printing means executes the printing operation with the font selected by the selection means, and the judgment means selects the font specified by the font selection command from the external device. If the selection result is judged to be successful or not, the judgment result is output, and when the judgment result indicates the font selection failure specified by the font selection command from the external device, the font selection failure is indicated. The external device is notified of the font selection failure information shown, and after the control means notifies the font selection failure information by the notification means, the external device gives a print operation stop command. When the font selection specified by the font selection command from the external device fails, printing with a font different from the font specified by the external device is recorded. It is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of the recording paper.

According to the third aspect of the output device, a plurality of fonts are stored in the storage means in advance, and the selection means selects from among the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from an external device. The font is selected, the printing means executes the printing operation by the font selected by the selection means, and the judgment means judges whether the selection of the font specified by the font selection command from the external device has succeeded or failed. When the determination result is output and the notification result indicates that the font specified by the font selection command from the external device has failed to be selected, the font selection failure information indicating the failure to select the font is notified to the external device for control. When the font selection command is given again from the external device after the notification means notifies the font selection failure information by the notification means, the font given to the selection means again When the font selection specified by the font selection command from the external device fails, the font specified by the external device is used without any trouble. The printing operation can be re-executed.

According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the output device, when the external device gives the font selection failure information, either one of the font selection command and the print operation stop command is generated, and the control means is generated. When the printing operation stop command is given from the external device, the printing operation of the printing unit is controlled so that when the font selection specified by the font selection command from the external device fails, the external device It is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of the recording paper on which printing by a font different from the font specified by is recorded.

According to the output device of claim 6, since the font designated by the font selection command given again is the same as the font designated by the font selection command given last time, the font is designated first. The selected font can be selected again, and the printing operation using the first specified font can be re-executed.

According to the output device of claim 7, since the font designated by the font selection command given again is different from the font designated by the font selection command given last time, the font selection success rate is increased. Can be raised.

According to the output device of the eighth aspect, a plurality of fonts are stored in the storage means in advance, and the selection means selects from among the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from an external device. The font is selected, the printing means executes the printing operation by the font selected by the selection means, and the judgment means judges whether the selection of the font specified by the font selection command from the external device has succeeded or failed. When the judgment result is output and the notification means indicates that the font specified by the font selection command from the external device has failed to be selected, the font selection failure information indicating the font selection failure and the font selectable by the selection means Is notified to the external device, and the font selection command is given again from the external device after the control unit notifies the font selection failure information by the notification unit. When the selection of the font specified by the font selection command from the external device fails, the external device does not take time to operate from the external device. The printing operation using the specified font can be re-executed.

According to the ninth and tenth output devices, when the external device gives the font selection failure information, either one of the font selection command and the print operation stop command is generated, and the control means is generated. When the printing operation stop command is given from the external device, the printing operation of the printing unit is controlled to be stopped. Therefore, when the font selection specified by the font selection command from the external device fails, the external device It is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of the recording paper on which printing by a font different from the font specified by the device is recorded.

According to the output method of the eleventh aspect, a plurality of fonts are stored in the storage means in advance, and a font is selected from the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from an external device. Then, it is judged whether the selection of the font specified by the font selection command from the external device succeeded or failed, and the judgment result is output, and the judgment result is the font specified by the font selection command from the external device. When the selection failure is indicated, the font selection failure information indicating the failure of the font selection is notified to the external device, and when the printing operation stop command is given from the external device after the notification of the font selection failure information, the printing operation by the selected font is Since it is canceled, the font specified by the external device fails when the selection of the font specified by the font selection command from the external device fails. It is possible to suppress the recording paper printed by different font is recorded is wasted.

According to the output method of claim 12, a plurality of fonts are stored in the storage means in advance, and a font is selected from the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from an external device. Then, it is judged whether the selection of the font specified by the font selection command from the external device succeeded or failed, and the judgment result is output, and the judgment result is the font specified by the font selection command from the external device. When the selection failure is indicated, the font selection failure information indicating the failure of the font selection is notified to the external device, and when the font selection command is given again from the external device after the notification of the font selection failure information, the font selection given again Since the font is selected by the command and the printing operation is executed with the selected font, the font selection command from the external device In when the selection of the specified font has failed, it is possible to re-execute the printing operation by font specified from an external device without any trouble in operation.

According to the output method of the thirteenth aspect, when the font selection failure information is given by the external device, either one of the font selection command and the printing operation stop command is generated, and the printing operation is stopped from the external device. When the command is given, the printing operation is stopped. Therefore, when the font selection specified by the font selection command from the external device fails, the printing with the font different from the font specified by the external device is recorded. It is possible to suppress wasteful consumption.

According to the output method of claim 14, a plurality of fonts are stored in the storage means in advance, and a font is selected from the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from an external device. Then, it is judged whether the selection of the font specified by the font selection command from the external device succeeded or failed, and the judgment result is output, and the judgment result is the font specified by the font selection command from the external device. When the selection failure is indicated and the font selection failure information indicating the font selection failure and the selectable font is notified to the external device, and the font selection command is given again from the external device after the notification of the font selection failure information,
Selects a selectable font and executes the printing operation with the selected font. Therefore, when the font selection specified by the font selection command from the external device fails, the external device can be operated without trouble. The printing operation with the font specified by can be re-executed.

In the output method according to the fifteenth aspect, when the external device gives the font selection failure information, either one of the font selection command and the printing operation stop command is generated, and the printing operation stop command is issued from the external device. When it is given, the printing operation is stopped, so when the selection of the font specified by the font selection command from the external device fails, the recording paper on which printing with a font different from the font specified by the external device is recorded is wasted. It is possible to suppress consumption.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a laser beam printer which is a first embodiment of an output device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer control system of the laser beam printer of FIG.

3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure by a printer control unit performed during a printing operation in the laser beam printer of FIG.

4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure by a host computer when font selection failure information is received from the printer control unit of the laser beam printer of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by a printer control unit during a printing operation of a laser beam printer which is a second embodiment of the output device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure by the host computer when font selection information is received from the printer control unit of the laser beam printer which is the second embodiment of the output device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by a printer control unit during a printing operation of a laser beam printer which is a third embodiment of the output device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure by the host computer when the selectable font information is received from the printer control unit of the laser beam printer which is the third embodiment of the output device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of an inkjet printer which is a fourth embodiment of the output device of the invention.

10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer control system of the inkjet printer of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,12 CPU 3,13,1702 ROM 17 Printing unit 18 Input unit 21,1700 Interface 1000 Printer control unit 1500 Laser beam printer 1701 MPU 1705 Head driver 2000 Control unit 3000 Host computer 5000 Inkjet printer 5032 Recording head

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An output device, such as a printing device, which is communicatively connected to an external device such as a host computer and performs a printing operation for printing on a recording sheet based on a command from the external device, stores a plurality of fonts in advance. Storage means,
Selection means for selecting a font from a plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from the external device; printing means for executing a printing operation using the font selected by the selection means; Determination means for determining whether the font specified by the font selection command from the external device has succeeded or failed, and outputting the result of the determination; and the determination result specified by the font selection command from the external device. When the selected font has failed, the notification means for notifying the external device of font selection failure information indicating the failure in selecting the font, and the printing operation from the external device stopped after the notification of the font selection failure information by the notification means A control means for controlling the printing operation of the printing means to be stopped when a command is given. That output device. 2. The control means temporarily suspends the printing operation of the printing means until the printing operation stop instruction is given when the determination result indicates that the font selection by the font selection instruction from the external device has failed. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the output device is controlled as follows. 3. A plurality of fonts are stored in advance in an output device such as a printer which is communicably connected to an external device such as a host computer and performs a printing operation for printing on a recording sheet based on a command from the external device. Storage means,
Selection means for selecting a font from a plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from the external device; printing means for executing a printing operation using the font selected by the selection means; Determination means for determining whether the font specified by the font selection command from the external device has succeeded or failed, and outputting the result of the determination; and the determination result specified by the font selection command from the external device. And a notification means for notifying the external device of font selection failure information indicating failure of selection of the font, and a font selection command from the external device after the notification of the font selection failure information by the notification means. Is given again, the selection means is caused to select a font by the font selection command given again. Output apparatus characterized by comprising a control means for controlling the so that. 4. The external device generates one of the font selection command and the print operation stop command when the font selection failure information is given, and the control means causes the external device to perform the printing operation. 4. The output device according to claim 3, wherein the output operation is controlled to stop the printing operation of the printing unit when a stop command is given. 5. The control means, when the judgment result indicates a font selection failure due to a font selection command from the external device, the control means is temporarily operated until either one of the font selection command and the printing operation stop command is given. The output device according to claim 4, wherein the printing operation of the printing unit is controlled to be interrupted. 6. The output device according to claim 3, wherein the font designated by the font selection command given again is the same as the font designated by the font selection command given last time. 7. The output device according to claim 3, wherein the font designated by the font selection command given again is different from the font designated by the font selection command given last time. 8. An output device, such as a printing device, which is communicably connected to an external device such as a host computer and performs a printing operation for printing on a recording sheet based on a command from the external device, stores a plurality of fonts in advance. Storage means,
Selection means for selecting a font from a plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from the external device; printing means for executing a printing operation using the font selected by the selection means; Determination means for determining whether the font specified by the font selection command from the external device has succeeded or failed, and outputting the result of the determination; and the determination result specified by the font selection command from the external device. Of the font selection failure information and the font selection failure information indicating the font selection failure information indicating the font selectable by the selection means to the external device, and the font selection failure information by the notification means. When a font selection command is given again from the external device after the notification, the selectable font of the selection unit is given to the selection unit. Output apparatus characterized by a control means for controlling so as to the choice. 9. The external device generates one of the font selection command and the print operation stop command when the font selection failure information is given, and the control means causes the external device to perform the printing operation. 9. The output device according to claim 8, wherein when the stop command is given, the printing operation of the printing unit is controlled to be stopped. 10. The control means, when the determination result indicates a font selection failure due to a font selection command from the external device, the control means temporarily waits until either one of the font selection command and the printing operation stop command is given. The output device according to claim 9, wherein the printing operation of the printing unit is controlled to be interrupted. 11. An output method used in an output device such as a printing device, which is communicably connected to an external device such as a host computer, and performs a printing operation for printing on a recording sheet based on a command from the external device, and a storage means. A plurality of fonts in advance, a step of selecting a font from the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from the external device, and a font selection command from the external device. Determining whether the selection of the font specified in step 1 has been successful or unsuccessful, and outputting the result of the determination, and when the result of the determination indicates failure in selecting the font specified by the font selection command from the external device. A step of notifying the external device of font selection failure information indicating failure in selection of the font, and notification of the font selection failure information And a printing operation stop command is given from the external device later, the printing operation with the selected font is stopped. 12. An output method used in an output device such as a printing device, which is communicatively connected to an external device such as a host computer, and performs a printing operation for printing on a recording sheet based on a command from the external device, and a storage means. A plurality of fonts in advance, a step of selecting a font from the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from the external device, and a font selection command from the external device. Determining whether the selection of the font specified in step 1 has been successful or unsuccessful, and outputting the result of the determination, and when the result of the determination indicates failure in selecting the font specified by the font selection command from the external device. A step of notifying the external device of font selection failure information indicating failure in selection of the font, and notification of the font selection failure information When a font selection command is given again from the external device later, a step of selecting a font by the given font selection command and executing a printing operation with the selected font is output. Method. 13. A step of generating one of the font selection command and the print operation stop command when the font selection failure information is given by the external device,
13. The output method according to claim 12, further comprising: stopping the printing operation when the printing operation stop command is given from the external device. 14. An output method used in an output device such as a printing device, which is communicatively connected to an external device such as a host computer, and performs a printing operation for printing on a recording sheet based on a command from the external device. A plurality of fonts in advance, a step of selecting a font from the plurality of fonts stored in the storage means based on a font selection command from the external device, and a font selection command from the external device. Determining whether the selection of the font specified in step 1 has been successful or unsuccessful, and outputting the result of the determination, and when the result of the determination indicates failure in selecting the font specified by the font selection command from the external device. A step of notifying the external device of font selection failure information indicating the font selection failure and the selectable font; When the font selection command is given again from the external device after notification of the font selection failure information,
A step of selecting the selectable font and executing a printing operation with the selected font. 15. A step of generating either one of the font selection command and the print operation stop command when the font selection failure information is given by the external device,
15. The output method according to claim 14, further comprising: stopping the printing operation when the printing operation stop command is given from the external device.