JPH0858177A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To print a desired page on the side of a printer even if a person ready to perform printing does not remember a page necessary for printing. CONSTITUTION: When an operator on the side of a printer 30 inputs the expression contained in the page concerned as page indication data 32 from a page indication means 31, the printing data 15 inputted from an input means 14 is compared in a record unit by a page selection means 35 and, in the case of coincidence, a detection signal 38 is inputted to a page forming means 39. The page forming means 39 stores the printing data 43 of the page concerned stored in a page buffer means 42 in a magnetic disk 44 and an output processing means 45 performs the printing of this page to obtain printed matter 27.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device for printing print data stored in a storage means such as a host computer, a workstation, a tape device, a disk device, or the like. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a function of selecting a page and printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When print data extends over a plurality of pages, there is a considerable demand for printing only necessary pages. In order to meet such a request, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-248273, a host computer selects print data page by page, edits only the necessary pages, and outputs them to a printing apparatus as print data. The disclosed technology is disclosed. Here, the printing apparatus prints the data created on the host side as it is. On the other hand, some printers can select a page required for printing.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the technical contents conventionally used for selecting a page by a printing apparatus. The print data 15 read from the input medium (information storage means) 14 including the magnetic tape 11, the magnetic disk 12, or the host computer 13 is converted into an intermediate file format 17 for printing in record units by the input processing means 16. To be converted. The page creation means 18 uses the information input means 19 such as a keyboard to
The page number information 21 to be read is supplied. Then, for example, when the printing of the fifth page is specified by the page number information 21, only the print data of the fifth page is extracted from the format 17 of the intermediate file, and this is used as the print data 22 in a storage medium such as a magnetic disk. 23.

The output processing means 24 in the printer reads out the print data 25 from the storage medium 23 and outputs it as a printed matter 27. In the above example, since the printing of the fifth page is instructed from the information input means 19,
The print data 25 of this page is read out and printed matter 27
Will be output as.

[0005]

By the way, in the case of the former prior art, processing of print data by the host computer is essential. That is, a host computer is used to realize the selective output of pages, and the print data of a specific page that is selectively output by the host computer is sent to the printing apparatus to perform printing. In this conventional technique, print data of all pages necessary for printing must be readable from the host computer. Therefore, there is a problem that it cannot be realized by offline printing.

In the latter conventional technique shown in FIG. 8, page selection is performed on the printing device side. Therefore,
The operator needs to know how many pages are necessary for printing, and if this is not accurate, there is a problem that unnecessary pages are printed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of printing a desired page without requiring a person who intends to print to operate a host computer or remember a page required for printing. To provide.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
(A) Print data input means for inputting print data,
(B) A page designation information input means for inputting one or a plurality of phrases contained in the page to be printed of the print data input to this print data input means as page designation information, and (c) this page designation The page designation information input from the information input means is sequentially compared with the print data to detect the page containing the page designation information, and (d) the page detected by the page detection means. Image creation means for receiving print data and creating print images of these pages,
(E) A printing device is provided with a printing device for printing the print image created by the image creating device.

That is, according to the first aspect of the invention, the print data is input online or offline by the print data input means such as a host computer or a floppy disk, and is included in the page to be printed from the page designation information input means. Ask them to enter one or more words or phrases as page designation information. The corresponding page detection unit detects the page of the print data including the page designation information by sequentially comparing the page designation information and the print data in record units, and the image creation unit prints the page. Create an image for.
The printing means prints this. As a result, a desired page can be printed even if the operator does not specifically remember the page to be printed.

According to the second aspect of the invention, (a) print data input means for inputting print data, and (b) print data input to the print data input means are included in a page to be printed. , Or page specification information input means for inputting one or more conditions not included as page specification information, and (c) page specification information input from this page specification information input means is sequentially compared with print data, and these Corresponding page detecting means for detecting a corresponding page by a predetermined logic using the page designation information of
An image creating unit that receives the print data of the pages detected by the corresponding page detecting unit and creates print images of these pages, and (e) a printing unit that prints the print image created by the image creating unit. The printer is equipped with it.

That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the print data is input online or offline by the print data input means such as a host computer or a floppy disk, and is included in the page to be printed from the page designation information input means. Causes one or more conditions that are or are not included to be input as page designation information. The corresponding page detecting means detects the corresponding page by a predetermined logic using the page specifying information by sequentially comparing the page specifying information and the print data in record units.

For example, even if the page designation information including the two phrases A and B that should be included in the page is included, the page designation information including the phrase C that should not be included in the page is included. If so, the logic may be such that the page is not detected as the corresponding page. If the page specifying information for one of A and B is included and the page specifying information for C is not included, the corresponding page is included. The logic may be such that detection is performed as. Other logic is free to build. Further, the operator can use the conditions other than the words alone or in combination with the words as the page designation information. For example, if it is a page containing a table, that a word or phrase is shaded, or that word or phrase is printed in red, which is the decisive factor in printing the page, These conditions can also be used as page designation information.

The image creating means creates an image for printing the detected page. The printing means prints this. As a result, a desired page can be printed even if the operator does not specifically remember the page to be printed.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 8 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be appropriately omitted. The printing device 30 includes a page designating unit 31. The page designating means 31 is a means for the operator to designate the print data by page as in the conventional case, and when the page is not remembered, the unique word / phrase included in the page is input so that the page You can specify printing. In the following, a description of a case of specifically designating a page will be omitted, and a description will be given only when a target page is printed by inputting a phrase.
Page designation information 32 input from the page designation means 31
Are temporarily stored in the magnetic disk 33. At the time of printing, the page designation information 34 read from here is input to the page selection means 35.

On the other hand, the print data 15 read from the input medium 14 is inputted to the input processing means 36 and inputted to the page selecting means 35 as record unit data (hereinafter referred to as record data) 37. Page selection means 3
5 sequentially compares the page designation information 34 including unique words with the record data 37. When the two match, a detection signal 38 indicating this is shown.
Is output and input to the page creating means 39. Further, the record data 41 is sequentially input from the page selection means 35 to the page buffer means 42, and the data of a necessary page among them is printed as the print data 43 by the instruction from the page creation means 39 as the magnetic disk 44. It is designed to be stored in. The output processing means 45 reads out the print data 46 from the magnetic disk 44, and the printed matter 27 is output based on this.

FIG. 2 shows an outline of the circuit configuration of this printing apparatus. The printing device 30 is equipped with a CPU (central processing unit) 51 having a central function of performing various controls. The CPU 51 is connected to each unit in the device by a bus 52 such as a data bus. Of these, the information input device 53 is composed of an input device such as a keyboard, a touch panel of a CRT or a mouse as a pointing device (not shown), and is used by the operator to give various instructions for operating the printing device 30. Is being used for. The information input device 53 is also used to input information for printing desired print contents. The disk control circuit 54 includes a disk device 55.
Is a circuit for controlling input / output to / from. Disk device 5
5 stores various programs for controlling the printing apparatus 30, font data used for printing, and print data for printing.

The tape control circuit 56 is a circuit for inputting / outputting data to / from the tape device 57. The tape device 57 is used to input the created print data offline. The online control circuit 58 is connected to the host computer 61 via a predetermined communication cable 59.
Is to be connected. The internal memory 62 is RA
It is composed of M (random access memory) and ROM (read only memory). Of these, the RAM is designed to store the programs stored in the disk device 55 at the time of execution thereof and the data temporarily required for the control of these programs. The ROM stores a program for starting the printing device 30 and fixed data. The printing unit 63 prints the print data input from the host computer 61 online or offline from the tape device 57 or the disk device 55, and outputs the printed matter 27.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the principle of outputting a printed matter of a page in which predetermined characters are used by using this printing apparatus. Here, it is assumed that the printed matter in which the characters "Iwatsuki city" are used is output. On the left side of this figure, the contents of each page of certain print data 71 ₁
-71 flowchart showing a _6. These print data 7
2 is processed by the printing device 30, the character "Iwatsuki-shi" is input as the identifier data 73 from the information input device 53 shown in FIG. Then, the printing apparatus 30 extracts the third and sixth page contents 71 _3, 71 ₆ including the character of "Iwatsuki-shi" representing the identifier data 73, the print-out as shown in the right side of FIG. 3 Will be done.

FIG. 4 shows the flow of processing when this printing device outputs the print contents of the corresponding page using the identifier data. The CPU 51 shown in FIG. 2 waits for the identifier data 73 to be input from the information input device 53 (step S101). Identifier data 73
Is input (Y), this is stored in the internal memory 62 (FIG. 2).
It is stored in the RAM (step S102). When the preparation for specifying the page content to be printed is completed in this way, the CPU 51 causes the host computer 61
The operation of inputting print data for two consecutive records from the first page of the print data input from (FIG. 2) and the like is performed (step S103). The reason why the print data for two records is input is that the corresponding character string exists even if the same data as the identifier data 73 exists across the boundary between the two records. This is because it is possible to print out.

The print data for two records is the RA described above.
When it is stored in M (step S104; N), it is checked whether or not there is data that matches the identifier data at the boundary between the first record 81 or the first record 81 and the next record 81 therein ( Step S105). In this example, it is checked whether the character "Iwatsuki-shi" exists.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of print data processed by the printing apparatus. The print data is composed of one or more blocks from the first block to the final M-th block, and each block is composed of a variable-length record 81. After the final Mth block, a tape mark 82 indicating the end of print data is arranged.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of each record shown in FIG. Each record 81 is composed of a record length field (RL) 84, a printer line feed control character (PCC) 85, and data 86 indicating print contents. Record length field 8 here
4 is information indicating how many bytes the data length of one record is. As a result, the end position of each record 81 and the start position of the next record can be known.

The printer line feed control character 85 is a field that indicates where to print the next record 81 after printing one record 81. Line breaks, space values between lines (open some lines and print),
Information such as page breaks is displayed. By checking the page break information, it is possible to determine the end of the page. Also, by accumulating one record at a time from the beginning of the page, it is possible to know in which line the current record should be printed.

The data 86 is EBCDIC or A if it is alphabetic or numerical data.
A 1-byte code such as SCII (ascii) is used to indicate 2-byte kanji code for kanji data.

Returning to FIG. 4, the description will be continued. Step S1
If there is data that matches the identifier data in the first record 81 prepared in 05 or at the boundary between the first record 81 and the next record 81 (Y), the corresponding page for printing Is found, the selected page flag is turned on (step S106). The printer line feed control character 85
It is checked whether or not there is a page end designation (FIG. 6) (step S107). If this designation is not made (N), the data of one old record is stored in the RAM as a part of the print data (step S108).
Then, the data for the next one record is input as supplementary data for two records to be compared with the identifier data, and at this time, the data for one record of the older one is erased (step S109). Then, the process proceeds to step S104.

In the above processing, if the identifier data does not match the contents of the corresponding record in step S105 (N), the selected page flag is off and the process proceeds to step S107. Also, step S1
When the page end is designated in 07 (Y), it is checked whether the selected page flag of the page is turned on (step S110). If it is on, the page is to be printed, so that page is printed (step S111). This is performed by the printing unit 63 shown in FIG. However, when there is data that matches the identifier data at the boundary with the next page, the selected page flag of the next page is also turned on. In this case, two consecutive pages are selected. The printing process is performed on the. When the printing of the corresponding page is completed, the corresponding RAM area is initialized to sequentially store the print data of the next page in step S108 (step S112).

On the other hand, if the selected page flag is off at the time when the end of one page is detected in step S107 (Y) (step S110;
N), the process proceeds to step S112 without performing print processing on that page.

In this way, when the processing of the print data proceeds in units of the record 81, there is no data to be compared with the identifier data at a certain point (step S104; Y). At this time, all the print data has been processed, so that the print processing ends (end).

Modification

In the above-described embodiment, the corresponding pages are printed out one by one. However, when there are a plurality of corresponding pages, they are collectively printed as 1 page.
The page may be edited and output.

FIG. 7 shows a case where the corresponding page is output with the same identifier data of "Iwatsuki City" as in FIG. Here, the print content that should originally be output as two pages is printed out as the content 91 of one page.

Further, in the embodiment described above, one identifier data is used as a keyword to extract and print the page in which the corresponding contents exist. However, the page in which a plurality of identifiers exist at the same time is extracted and The page may be printed. In this case, the selected page flag is turned on for each identifier data, a specific page in which all of a plurality of predetermined selected page flags are turned on is extracted, and the page is printed out. You can do this.

Further, in the embodiment, when there are a plurality of pages in which the identifier data "Iwatsuki-shi" exists, all of them are targeted for print output, but conditions other than characters are further added to satisfy the condition. You may make it output only a page. For example, the identifier "Iwatsuki-shi" is written in "Mincho type" (specifying the type and size of characters), or written at the top of one page (specifying the location), or in color. In the case where it is memorized that the information is printed or printed with halftone dots (presence or absence of emphasis processing), these conditions are input from the information input device 53, and all the input conditions are entered. The matched printed matter or the printed matter that matches a predetermined number or more of these conditions may be output. Even if you do not remember the page itself where the identifier is written, if it is clear on what line it is present due to the layout of the print characters, do not specify the page and specify the identifier. It is also possible to specify the data and line.

In the embodiment, the description has been made on the premise that input data is stored once and processed in record units. However, print data sent from the host computer 61 is directly processed. You may If the input data is temporarily stored in a large-capacity storage device such as a disk device, read from the large-capacity storage device, and transferred to the input processing program unit, when performing several types of searches for each distribution destination, There is no need to retransfer from the host computer 61. Therefore, the load on the host computer 61 is reduced. Further, if the print data is stored once in the disk device or the like, the transfer speed from the host computer 61 can be increased and the processing can be improved.

[0036]

As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, desired items can be displayed without the operator operating the host computer and designating the page on the printing apparatus side. Printing of the described page can be performed. Therefore, as long as you remember the characteristic items, you can print the desired page accurately, eliminating the waste of printing by remembering the pages and the need to check on the display, which contributes to the efficiency of business processing. can do. In addition, in printing by specifying a page, it is often difficult to print all the areas in which necessary items are described. However, in the inventions according to claims 1 and 2, pages corresponding to page specifying information are included. Since all of the pages can be extracted, even if there are a plurality of pages of desired description items, all of them can be easily printed out. Further, since printing can be performed without imposing a load on the host computer, there is an advantage that printing is not affected even when a failure occurs in the host computer.

According to the first aspect of the invention, one or more words existing on the page can be input as the page designation information. Therefore, in the case of a unique word, for example, one word is common. In the case of words and phrases, a desired page can be extracted by combining a plurality of words and phrases.

Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, one or a plurality of conditions which are included or not included in the page to be printed are input as the page designation information. Therefore, by inputting a word that does not exist on the page but may exist on other pages, the pages can be selected. In addition to words, it is possible to enter other conditions associated with printing, such as the presence or absence of shading processing and the designation of printing colors, so it is possible to enter accurate page designation information according to the characteristics of each printing. The desired page can be printed more easily without remembering the page.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a circuit configuration of the printing apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the principle of outputting a printed matter of a page in which predetermined characters are used by using the printing apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a flow of processing when outputting print contents of a corresponding page using identifier data in the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of print data processed by the printing apparatus.

6 is a record configuration explanatory view showing the configuration of each record shown in FIG. 5. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a printed matter showing a modified example in which the corresponding page is output with the identifier data “Iwatsuki-shi”.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of technical contents conventionally used for selecting a page by a printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

14 ... Input medium, 15, 43 ... Print data, 27 ... Printed matter, 30 ... Printing device, 31 ... Page designation means, 32 ... Page designation information, 33, 44 ... Magnetic disk, 35 ... Page selection means, 36 ... Input processing Means, 38 ... Detection signal, 3
9 ... Page creating means, 42 ... Page buffering means, 45
... output processing means, 51 ... CPU, 53 ... information input device,
55 ... Disk device, 57 ... Tape device, 61 ... Host computer, 62 ... Internal memory, 63 ... Printing section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A print data input unit for inputting print data, and one or a plurality of words / phrases included in a page to be printed of the print data input to the print data input unit are input as page designation information. Page designating information input means, corresponding page detecting means for sequentially comparing the page designating information input from the page designating information input means with print data, and detecting a page containing the page designating information; An image creating unit that receives print data of the pages detected by the device and creates print images of these pages; and a printing unit that prints the print image created by the image creating unit. Printing device. 2. A print data input unit for inputting print data, and one or a plurality of conditions included or not included in a page to be printed by the print data input to the print data input unit. The page designation information input means for inputting as the page designation information and the page designation information input from the page designation information input means are sequentially compared with the print data to find the corresponding page by a predetermined logic using these page designation information. Corresponding page detecting means for detecting, image creating means for supplying print data of pages detected by the corresponding page detecting means, and creating print images of these pages, and printing the print image created by this image creating means And a printing unit for performing the printing.