JPH0920035A - Printing system and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system for easily setting a printing control program corresponding to a printing device to be used or changing the program, and identifying information contained in the program on a screen as well as a printing method using the system. SOLUTION: This printing system consists of an external storage device 3 which stores a printing control program corresponding to plural printing devices, a storage part 6 which stores the printing control program which is read from the external storage device 3, and a control part 5 which reads the printing control program from the external storage device 3 and controls printing based on the printing control program. In addition, the control part 5 is equipped with a means 55 or printing a document which instructs a printing device 7 desired to be used to print data, using the printing control program stored in the storage part 6, when the printing control program is not present in the external storage device 3 but is present in the storage part 6, and when said program is present in the external storage device 3 and is also present in the storage part 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system and a printing method for printing with a printing device for a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a printing apparatus for a personal computer does not have an interface for discriminating which model the printing apparatus is. In addition, changing the printing device to another printing device requires the following troublesome operations.

In a printing system having a built-in storage device such as a fixed disk, a print control program is registered in the built-in storage device, and at the time of printing, the print control program is read from the built-in storage device, so even temporarily. To change the printing device to another printing device, once finish printing,
The print control program used for printing up to now
Change to a print control program that corresponds to another printing device,
It was necessary to re-register in the built-in storage device.

Further, in a printing system which does not have a built-in storage device such as a fixed disk as a storage device and is provided only with an external storage device such as a floppy disk, the print control program is read from the external storage device only once. To change to a different printing device even temporarily, once the printing system is stopped, the printing system is restarted, and then the printing control program corresponding to the different printing device is read again from the external storage device. There was a need.

Further, when a person other than the person who starts the printing system uses the printing system, there is no means for knowing in which printing apparatus the printing control program corresponding to the printing system is loaded. I had to check with the person who started it.

[0006]

Therefore, in the above-mentioned prior art, the printing apparatus which is normally used is used.
Even temporarily, in order to change to another printing device, it is necessary to end printing once and re-register or load the print control program corresponding to the printing device each time.
There is a problem that the operability of changing the print control program is poor.

When a person other than the person who starts the printing system uses the printing system, it is necessary to check the print control program read by the person who starts the printing system one by one. There was a problem in terms. In addition, when printing is performed without checking the read print control program, there is a problem that the print is performed by the print control program of a different printing device and the printing becomes invalid.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system in which a printing control program corresponding to a printing apparatus desired to be used can be easily set or changed, and information of the printing control program can be confirmed on a screen. To provide a printing method.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an external storage device for storing each print control program corresponding to a plurality of printing devices, and the above-mentioned external storage device read from the external storage device. A storage unit that stores each print control program and the corresponding print control program corresponding to the printing apparatus that you want to use are read from the external storage device,
In a printing system having a control unit that controls printing based on the corresponding print control program, the control unit may include:
When the corresponding print control program does not exist in the external storage device but exists in the storage unit, and the corresponding print control program exists in the external storage device, and the corresponding print control program also exists in the storage unit. In this case, the document printing means is characterized by having a document printing means for instructing printing to the printing device desired to be used by using the corresponding printing control program stored in the storage section.

Further, an external storage device capable of storing respective print control programs corresponding to the plurality of printing devices, an internal storage device preliminarily storing respective print control programs corresponding to the plurality of printing devices, and both of the above. A storage unit that stores each of the print control programs read from the storage device, and a corresponding print control program corresponding to the printing device that is desired to be used is read from both of the storage devices, and printing is controlled based on the corresponding print control program. In the printing system having a control unit for controlling the storage unit, the control unit stores the corresponding print control program in the external storage device, and stores the storage unit in the storage unit when the corresponding print control program exists in the storage unit. Using the corresponding printing control program that is being executed, instruct printing to the printing device you want to use,
If the corresponding print control program does not exist in the external storage device, the print control program in the built-in storage device is checked, the corresponding print control program exists in the built-in storage device, and the corresponding print is also performed in the storage unit. When a control program is present, it has a document printing means for instructing printing to the printing device to be used by using the corresponding printing control program stored in the storage section. Is characterized in that: an external storage step for storing each print control program corresponding to a plurality of printing devices; a storage step for storing each print control program read from the external storage step; Load the corresponding print control program corresponding to the printing device you want to use, and based on the corresponding print control program In a printing method having a control step of controlling printing by means of a printing method, the control step includes the case where the corresponding print control program does not exist in the external storage step but exists in the storage step, and the corresponding print control in the external storage step. When the program exists and the corresponding print control program also exists in the storage step, the document printing for instructing the printing apparatus to use by using the corresponding print control program stored in the storage step To have steps.

In other words, the document printing means of the control unit is
If the print control program does not exist in the external storage device but exists in the storage unit, or if the print control program exists in the external storage device and the print control program also exists in the storage unit, the print control program exists in the storage unit. Using the stored print control program, the print instruction is given to the printing device to be used.

If the corresponding print control program exists in the external storage device and does not exist in the storage unit, the corresponding print control program in the external storage device is read into the storage unit and used by using the corresponding print control program. Instruct the printing device to print.

If the corresponding print control program does not exist in the storage unit and the external storage device, a request for displaying the setting of the corresponding print control program stored in the external storage device is issued.

Further, in a printing system having a built-in storage device and an external storage device as a storage device, the document printing means of the control section first checks the print control program of the external storage device and prints the print data in the external storage device. When the control program exists and the corresponding print control program also exists in the storage unit, the corresponding print control program stored in the storage unit is used to instruct the printing device to use and the corresponding external storage device is used. If the print control program does not exist, the print control program in the built-in storage device is checked. If the print control program exists in the built-in storage device and the print control program also exists in the storage unit, the print control program exists in the storage unit. Using the stored print control program, the print instruction is given to the printing device to be used.

If the corresponding print control program exists in both storage devices but does not exist in the storage unit, the corresponding print control programs of both storage devices are read into the storage unit and used by using the corresponding print control program. Instruct the printing device to print.

If the print control program does not exist in any of the storage unit, the external storage device, and the built-in storage device,
A request to display the settings of the corresponding print control program stored in the external storage device is made.

Further, at the time of printing, print control program information such as the type and name of the print control program read from the external storage device or the internal storage device into the storage unit is displayed on the print condition setting screen.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printing system and a printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a functional configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. An input device 1 such as a keyboard for inputting characters and commands, a display device 2 such as a CRT display for displaying characters and figures, an external storage device 3 for reading and writing a storage medium such as a floppy disk, a storage medium such as a fixed disk A built-in storage device 4 for reading and writing data, a control unit 5 including a microprocessor for controlling each device, a storage unit 6 including a semiconductor memory for storing information, data, and the like, printing for printing documents, etc. It is composed of the device 7.

The control unit 5 includes an input control unit 51, a document editing unit 52, a display control unit 53, a file management unit 54,
The document printing means 55 is used.

The input control means 51 passes the input data input by the user via the input section 1 to the document editing means 52 and the document printing means 55.

The document editing means 52 carries out a process of editing a new document and a process of updating a document registered in the external storage device 3 or the internal storage device 4.

The display control means 53 is the document editing means 5
2. In response to the display request from the document printing means 55, characters, figures, etc. are displayed on the display device 2.

The file management means 54 reads data from files in the external storage device 3 and the internal storage device 4,
Performs processing such as writing data to files.

The document printing unit 55 reads the document being edited by the document editing unit 52 from the external storage device 3 or the internal storage device 4 into the print control program area 63 of the storage unit 6 based on the corresponding print control program. Instruct the printing device 7 to print. Further, FIG. 3 is a configuration example of the storage unit 6 in which the print control program information such as the type and name of the corresponding print control program read from the external storage device 3 or the built-in storage device 4 into the storage unit 6 is displayed. It is composed of a control program type area 61, a print control program name area 62, a print control program area 63, an editing document data area 64, and the like.

For example, when it is recognized that "there is no corresponding print control program corresponding to the printing device to be used" in the initial processing of the document printing unit 55 and the corresponding print control program is read from the external storage device 3 or the internal storage device 4, In the print control program type area 61, the print control program type 31 of the corresponding print control program corresponding to the printing apparatus 7 desired to be used is set. In the print control program name area 62, the print control program name 32 of the corresponding print control program is displayed in the print control program area 6
In 3, a print control program 33, which is the corresponding print control program, is set. FIG. 3 shows an example in which “program A” is set in the print control program name area 62.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the built-in storage device 4, which is configured as a collection of media of a plurality of external storage devices 3, and includes a logical floppy a41, a logical floppy b42, and a logical floppy c4.
3 and so on.

FIG. 5 shows that the external storage device 3 is set.
Alternatively, it is a configuration example of a storage medium stored in the built-in storage device 4, and includes a print control program type 31, a print control program name 32, a print control program 33, and the like. In the print control program type 31, the number of the corresponding print control program corresponding to the printing device 7 desired to be used is set. In the print control program name 32, the name of the corresponding print control program is the print control program 33.
Is set to the corresponding print control program. FIG. 5 shows an example in which “program A” is set in the print control program name 32.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of the print condition setting screen, which is composed of an input column for the number of print copies, an input column for the print page range, a display column for the print control program name, and the like.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which "program A" is displayed in the print control program name display field.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the printing process of the document printing means 55 of FIG. First, when printing is instructed during document editing, the document printing unit 55 operates and acquires a print control program name, for example, "program A" from the print control program name area 62 of the storage unit 6 (step 201).

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, a print condition setting screen is displayed (202). At this time, the print control program name displayed in the print control program name display field, for example, “program A” is displayed.

Next, the printing conditions such as the number of copies to be printed and the printing page range are input (203). When printing conditions are input from the input unit 1, it is checked whether or not printing is executed (20
4), NO, that is, if the printing is not executed, then it is checked whether or not the printing is canceled (205). If the printing is not canceled, the process returns to step 203 again. If the printing is canceled, the process of the document printing unit 55 is ended.

If the result of the check at step 204 is YES, that is, if printing is to be executed, the print control program type 31 of the corresponding print control program corresponding to the printing device 7 desired to be used is stored in the storage medium set in the external storage device 3. Is acquired (206).

Next, it is checked whether the print control program type 31 can be acquired from the external storage device 3 (20
7) If it can be acquired, the process proceeds to step 210. If it cannot be acquired, the print control program type 31 is acquired from the built-in storage device 4 this time (208).

Next, it is checked whether the print control program type 31 has been acquired from the internal storage device 4 (20
9) If it can be acquired, the process proceeds to step 210.
If it cannot be acquired, the print control program type area 61 is checked to determine whether or not the print control program area 63 of the storage unit 6 has the corresponding print control program (213). When the print control program type 31 is set in the print control program type area 61, it is determined that there is a corresponding print control program, the process proceeds to step 212, and the printing execution process is performed by the printer 7. If the print control program type 31 is not set, it is determined that there is no corresponding print control program, and a message requesting setting of the corresponding print control program is displayed on the external storage device 3 (214).

Next, if there is a key input from the input unit 1 to set the corresponding print control program in the external storage device 3 (215), it is checked whether or not printing is executed (21).
6). When not executing, it changes to step 215 again. When executing, the print control program type 31 of the corresponding print control program newly set is acquired from the external storage device 3 (217).

Next, it is checked whether the print control program type 31 has been acquired from the external storage device 3 (21
8). If the print control program type 31 can be acquired, the process proceeds to step 210. If it cannot be acquired, the process proceeds to step 214 again.

Next, when the print control program type 31 can be acquired from the external storage device 3 or the internal storage device 4, the acquired print control program type 31 is stored in the storage unit 6.
It is checked whether the print control program type area 61 is the same as the print control program type previously set (210).

If they are not the same, the print control program 33 of the external storage device 3 or the internal storage device 4 is read into the print control program area 63 of the storage unit 6 as the corresponding print control program (211). At this time, the print control program type 31 of the read print control program 33 is set in the print control program type area 61 of the storage unit 6, and the print control program name 32 is set in the print control program name area 62. Next, the printing control program 33 is used to print the document in the editing document data area 64 by the printing device 7 (212). In this embodiment,
Details of the print execution process are omitted.

If they are the same, the corresponding print control program previously set in the print control program area 63 of the storage unit 6 is used to copy the document in the editing document data area 64 to the printer 7. Print execution processing (21
2).

In this embodiment, the print control program name 3
Although only 2 is displayed on the print condition setting screen of FIG. 6, a print control program version is provided in the print control program 33 of FIG. 5, and the version of the print control program 33 read from the external storage device 3 or the internal storage device 4 is displayed. You may.

In the present embodiment, the example of printing the document being edited has been described, but it can be applied to the case of printing the document registered in the external storage device 3 and the internal storage device 4.

In this embodiment, the printing system having the built-in storage device 4 has been described as an example. However, in the printing system having no built-in storage device 4, the processes of steps 208 and 209 in FIG. 2 are deleted. Just apply as well.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, in the printing system having the built-in storage device and the external storage device, when printing is performed by the printing device to be used, the corresponding print control program corresponding to the printing device is stored in the built-in storage device. If so, use the corresponding print control program, and
Even if you use a printing device that you normally use and want to temporarily print with another printing device, leave the print control program registered in the internal storage device as it is and use another printing device in the external storage device. By setting the print control program corresponding to, printing can be performed by another printing device, and operability can be improved.

Further, in a printing system having no internal storage device and only an external storage device, when printing is repeated without changing the printing device, the print control program is set only once in the external storage device. Also, even if the printing device you normally use is used and you temporarily change to another printing device, you do not have to terminate the printing system and you want to change the printing control of the printing device to the external storage device. The print control program can be easily changed just by setting the program, and the operability can be improved.

Further, since the information of the print control program existing in the storage section can be confirmed on the print condition setting screen, printing is not performed by the print control program different from that of the printing apparatus, and illegal printing can be eliminated.

[0048]

According to the present invention, since the print control program corresponding to the printing apparatus can be easily set or changed, the operability of the printing system can be improved. Further, since the information of the print control program can be confirmed on the screen, it is possible to prevent illegal printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a printing process of a document printing unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a storage unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a built-in storage device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a storage medium in which a print control program is stored.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a print condition setting screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Input part, 2 ... Display device, 3 ... External storage device, 4 ... Built-in storage device, 5 ... Control part, 51 ... Input control means, 52 ...
Document editing means, 53 ... Display control means, 54 ... File management means, 55 ... Document printing means, 6 ... Storage section, 7 ... Printing device

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An external storage device for storing each print control program corresponding to a plurality of printing devices, a storage unit for storing each print control program read from the external storage device, and the external storage device. From the above, in a printing system having a control unit that reads a corresponding print control program corresponding to a printing device to be used and controls printing based on the corresponding print control program, the control unit stores the corresponding print control in the external storage device. If the program does not exist but exists in the storage unit, or if the corresponding print control program exists in the external storage device and the corresponding print control program also exists in the storage unit, the program is stored in the storage unit. A document printing means for instructing printing to the printing device to be used by using the corresponding printing control program A printing system characterized by the following. 2. The document printing means according to claim 1,
When the corresponding print control program exists in the external storage device and does not exist in the storage unit, the corresponding print control program of the external storage device is read into the storage unit, and the corresponding print control program is used, A printing system characterized by instructing the printing device to be used for printing. 3. The document printing unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the document printing unit stores the corresponding print control program stored in the external storage device when the corresponding print control program does not exist in the storage unit and the external storage device. A printing system characterized by requesting display of control program settings. 4. An external storage device capable of storing the respective print control programs corresponding to the plurality of printing devices, and one print control program among the respective print control programs corresponding to the plurality of printing devices being stored in advance. A built-in storage device, a storage unit that stores each of the print control programs read from both storage devices, and a corresponding print control program that corresponds to the printing device that you want to use from both storage devices, and the corresponding print In a printing system having a control unit for controlling printing based on a control program, the control unit has the corresponding print control program in the external storage device, and the corresponding print control program also exists in the storage unit. In this case, use the relevant print control program stored in the storage section to print on the desired printing device. If the corresponding print control program does not exist in the external storage device, the print control program in the built-in storage device is checked, and the corresponding print control program exists in the built-in storage device, and also in the storage unit. A printing system comprising a document printing unit for instructing printing to the printing apparatus to be used by using the printing control program stored in the storage unit when the printing control program exists. 5. The document printing means according to claim 4,
When the corresponding print control program exists in both the storage devices and does not exist in the storage unit, the corresponding print control programs of the both storage devices are read into the storage unit, and the corresponding print control program is used, A printing system characterized by instructing the printing device to be used for printing. 6. The document printing means according to claim 4 or 5, when the print control program does not exist in any of the storage unit, the external storage device, and the built-in storage device. A printing system for requesting display of the setting of the corresponding print control program stored in a device. 7. The document printing means according to claim 1, wherein the document printing means instructs to display print control program information such as the type and name of the corresponding print control program read from the both storage devices into the storage section. A printing system characterized by the above. 8. An external storage step for storing each print control program corresponding to a plurality of printing devices, a storage step for storing each print control program read from the external storage step, and the external storage device. A printing method having a control step of reading a corresponding print control program corresponding to a printing apparatus desired to be used from the device, and controlling printing based on the corresponding print control program, wherein the control step includes the corresponding print control program in the external storage step. Is not present but is present in the storage step, and if the corresponding print control program exists in the external storage step and the corresponding print control program also exists in the storage step, it is stored in the storage step. Using the corresponding printing program, A printing method comprising: a document printing step for instructing a printing device to print. 9. An external storage step in which each print control program corresponding to a plurality of printing devices can be stored, and one print control program among the print control programs corresponding to a plurality of printing devices is stored in advance. A built-in storage step, a storage step for storing each of the print control programs read from both storage steps, and a corresponding print control program corresponding to the printing apparatus desired to be used is read from both storage steps to perform the corresponding print In a printing method having a control step of controlling printing based on a control program, in the control step, the corresponding print control program exists in the external storage step, and the corresponding print control program also exists in the storage step. In this case, the corresponding print control stored in the storage step is If a print command is issued to the printing device to be used by using a program and the corresponding print control program does not exist in the external storage step, the print control program in the internal storage step is checked and the corresponding print is performed in the internal storage step. When a control program exists and the corresponding print control program also exists in the storage step, a document for instructing printing to the printing device to be used by using the corresponding print control program stored in the storage step A printing method comprising a printing step.