JPH09202010A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print by easily adding characters partly written horizontally in a character row of vertical writing. SOLUTION: When a vertical printing is set, a setting means for partly printing horizontally is provided and a size of width is aligned and printed horizontally. For printing an optional character row 'CD' in a character row data 'ABCDE' stored as a text data of vertical writing in a way of horizontal partial writing, a 'horizontal composition' key of a key input section is operated so as to designate a range. Then, a horizontal composition flag H is added and stored in a character data of a horizontal composition designating range. When printing operation is started, from the number of continuous characters of the horizontal composition flag H added to the character data of individual text data, a range of partial horizontal printing is determined. A total length L of the horizontal writing character font at the pertinent part is contracted so as to be aligned to a font width W of other vertical writing character, expanded into a print buffer, and printed as a vertical writing text data which contains the partial horizontal writing characters.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device such as a tape printer for printing an arbitrary input character string on a band-shaped recording paper (tape).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a tape printer is used for printing tapes such as titles and name tags of video and audio cassettes. In this tape printer, character string data is input by setting the character size, font type, modification pattern, etc. of the character to be printed according to the length and width of the band-shaped recording paper (tape) to be printed. When printing is instructed, the input character string data is expanded as print data in a register for printing according to the set character size, font type, and decoration pattern, and is printed out on the tape by a serial printer or the like. .

In this case, the direction of the character string with respect to the length direction of the tape can be designated as horizontal writing or vertical writing. Then, in the tape printer, in an arbitrary portion of the character string designated as vertical writing,
Partial horizontal writing can be performed in which the vertical characters are arranged in the tape width direction and printed.

In the conventional tape printer, in order to input the characters for the partial horizontal writing into the character string designated by the vertical writing, the range of the partial horizontal writing is different from the other range. It is necessary to set the block format for setting, and set the character size and line feed operation according to the tape width within this block format.

[0005]

That is, in the conventional tape printer, in order to input a partial horizontal writing character in a character string designated for vertical writing, setting of block format, setting of character size in block, and line feed operation are performed. However, there is a problem in that it is difficult to print the partial horizontal writing characters because of the troublesome operation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is very easy to perform vertical writing characters without the need for complicated operations such as setting of block format, setting of character size in blocks, and line feed operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that enables printing by including partially horizontally written characters in a row.

[0007]

That is, the printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit for storing a character string, and a vertical writing mode for printing the entire character string vertically in the length direction of a belt-shaped recording paper. And a print direction setting means for setting either horizontal writing in horizontal writing, and when the vertical printing is set, an arbitrary character string in the character string is written horizontally in the width direction of the recording paper. And a setting changing unit for changing the setting to the partial horizontal writing printing, and aligning the length size of the character string for which the partial horizontal printing is set to the width size of the character string for which the vertical printing is set, Printing in which the character string for which the vertical writing is set is printed vertically in the length direction of the recording paper, and the character string for which the partial horizontal printing is set is printed horizontally in the width direction of the recording paper. And a control means.

That is, in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, an arbitrary character in the character string set as vertical writing printing in which the entire character string stored in the storage means is printed vertically in the length direction of the band-shaped recording paper. For a row, if the setting is changed to partial horizontal print with horizontal printing in the width direction of the recording paper and printing is instructed, the length size of any character string changed to the partial horizontal print will be Aligned with the width size of the character string set as vertical print, the character string set as vertical print is printed vertically in the length direction of the recording paper,
The character string set as the partial horizontal writing is printed horizontally in the width direction of the recording paper.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic circuit of a tape printer equipped with the printing apparatus of the present invention.

This tape printer has a control unit (CPU)
11 is provided. The control unit (CPU) 11 is based on a key operation signal supplied from the key input unit 12, and
A system program stored in advance in the M13 is activated to control the operation of each part of the circuit. The control part (CPU) 11 includes the key input part 12 and the ROM 1
3, the character generator 14 and the RAM 15 are connected.

A liquid crystal display unit 16 and a printer unit 17 are connected to the control unit (CPU) 11. Further, a tape width detector 18 is connected to the control unit (CPU) 11.

The key input unit 12 is provided with character input keys such as kana character keys, numeral keys, and symbol keys for inputting an arbitrary character string to be printed data, and a menu selection screen is displayed. "Menu" key that is operated when you perform, "Format setting" key that is operated when you format in the text creation mode, "Font size" that is operated when you display the character size selection screen
Key, "Character font" key operated when displaying the character font selection screen, "Character modification" key operated when displaying the character decoration selection screen, character string input with vertical print set Various functions such as the "horizontal group" key that is operated to specify the range of partial horizontal writing for data, the cursor key that is used to move the cursor on the display screen and select data Keys are provided.

In this case, on the character size selection screen,
For example, "1x1" to "1x8""2x1" to "5x8"
Up to 40 types of size specification data are displayed.
On the character font selection screen, font designation data including, for example, “Mincho”, “Gothic”, and “writing brush” is displayed, and on the character decoration selection screen, for example, “shaded”.
The modification designation data consisting of "underline" and "with frame" is displayed.

The ROM 13 stores a system program that controls the basic operation of the tape printer, a text creation processing program, a created text display processing program, a print processing program, and the like.

The character generator 14 stores font patterns corresponding to all the character / number / symbol data that can be input by the character input keys of the key input unit 12 together with the corresponding code data.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of registers provided in the RAM 15 of the tape printer. RAM
Reference numeral 15 denotes an input buffer 15a in which character string data input by a key is stored as text data, and a liquid crystal display unit 1
The display data to be displayed in 6 is expanded into bit map data read from the character generator 14 for each character, and is stored in the display buffer 15b and the printer unit 17.
The print buffer 15c in which the print data to be printed at is expanded and stored in a bitmap pattern read from the character generator 14 for each character, "A = 0" in the text creation mode, and "A = in the print mode.
Operation mode flag register 15d set to "1",
When "Vertical print" is set in the text creation mode, "B = 1", and when "Horizontal print" is set, "B ="
Format mode flag register 15e set to 0 ",
A character size data memory 15f for storing character size data selected and set on the character size selection screen in the text creation mode, a character font data memory 15g for storing font type data selected and set on the character font selection screen, and a character A character decoration data memory 15h in which the decoration pattern data of the font selected and set on the decoration selection screen is stored, and pointer data for sequentially instructing individual character data of the text data stored in the input buffer 15a in the print mode. Of the character data of the horizontal register flag "H = 1" set as the partial horizontal writing in the character string of the text data stored in the input buffer 15a in the print mode. Count the number of consecutive Count data c is counter register 15j stored, the tape width data register 15k such that the tape width data is stored, which is detected by the tape width detector 18, a variety of data registers are provided.

The liquid crystal display section 16 has a dot matrix type display screen, and the control section (C) according to the display data stored in the display buffer 15b in the RAM 15.
The display operation is performed by selectively driving the common line and the segment line by the PU) 11.

The printer unit 17 comprises a thermal transfer type serial printer, and print data stored in the print buffer 15c in the RAM 15 is applied to a belt-shaped recording paper (tape) fed from a tape reel (not shown). Dissolve the ink ribbon and print 1 dot line data at a time.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the data structure of one character of character string data stored as text data in the input buffer 15a in the RAM 15 of the tape printer.

The data for one character stored in the input buffer 15a includes the character data stored as code data, the font type, the decoration pattern, the attribute data indicating the character size, and the presence / absence of designation of partial horizontal printing. Since the character size data, the character font data, and the character decoration data are set and stored in the corresponding memories 15f to 15h, the character data is input as code data. The relevant character size data, character font data, and character decoration data are stored in association with each other as attribute data.
When the "horizontal composition" key is operated on the input character string data and the range of partial horizontal writing is specified, the horizontal composition flag "H = 1" corresponds to each character data corresponding to the specified range. It is attached and stored.

Next, the operation of the tape printer having the above construction will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a text creating process by the tape printer.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a tape printing process by the tape printer. FIG. 6 is a view showing an input display state of text data accompanying the text creation processing of the tape printer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a printing state of the text data accompanying the tape printing process of the tape printer.
When the text creation menu is selected while the menu selection screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 by operating the "menu" key of the key input unit 12, the text creation mode flag "A" is stored in the operation mode flag register 15d in the RAM 15. By setting "= 0", the text creating process in FIG. 4 is started, and the data stored in the other various registers in the RAM 15 are cleared and initialized (step S1).

Then, the control unit (CPU) 11 waits for key input, and the "format setting" of the key input unit 12 is performed.
When the key is operated, a format selection screen for selecting either "vertical writing" or "horizontal writing" is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 16 (steps S2 → S3).

[Vertical writing] according to the display of this format selection screen
When is selected, the vertical writing flag "B = 1" is set in the format mode flag register 15e in the RAM 15 (steps S3 → S4, S5).

On the other hand, when "horizontal writing" is selected on the format selection screen displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 16, the RAM 15 is displayed.
The horizontal writing flag "B = 0" is set in the format mode flag register 15e (step S3 → S4 → S).
6).

On the format selection screen, "vertical writing" is selected and the format mode flag register 15 in the RAM 15 is selected.
First, in order to set the character size, character font, and character modification of the character string to be input as vertical writing with the vertical writing flag “B = 1” set for e, first,
When the “character size” key of the key input unit 12 is operated, for example, “1 × 1” to “1 × 8” are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 16.
A character size selection screen in which a total of 40 types of character size data from “2 × 1” to “5 × 8” are arranged is displayed (steps S7 → S8).

When an arbitrary character size is selected according to the display of the character size selection screen, the selected character size data is stored in the character size data memory 15f in the RAM 15 (steps S8 → S9).

Next, when the "character font" key of the key input unit 12 is operated, a character font selection in which character font types such as "Mincho", "Gothic" and "writing brush" are arranged on the liquid crystal display unit 16 is selected. A screen is displayed (steps S10 → S11).

When an arbitrary character font is selected according to the display on the character font selection screen, the selected character font data is stored in the character font data memory 15g in the RAM 15 (steps S11 → S12).

Further, when the "character modification" key of the key input section 12 is operated, a character modification selection screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display section 16 in which character modification patterns such as "shaded", "underlined" and "framed" are arranged. Is displayed (step S13
→ S14).

When an arbitrary decoration pattern is selected according to the display of the character decoration selection screen, the selected decoration data is stored in the character decoration data memory 15h in the RAM 15 (steps S14 → S15).

Thus, with the attribute data (character size, character font, character modification) set and stored for the character data to be input as the text data, the character input key of the key input unit 12 is operated to, for example, "A". "B"
When "C", "D", and "E" are input, the input individual character data are sequentially stored in the input buffer 15a in the RAM 15 as character code data, and the character size is changed for each character code data. Data memory 15
f, the attribute data set and stored in the character font data memory 15g and the character decoration data memory 15h are added and stored (steps S16 → S17, S18).

In this case, it is determined that the text creation mode flag "A = 0" is set in the operation mode flag register 15d in the RAM 15 for each character input, and the next character input standby state is set (step S19). → S1
6).

In this way, when the arbitrary character string "ABCDE" as the text data is input and stored in the input buffer 15a in the RAM 15, the individual character data forming the input text data respectively correspond to the corresponding characters. It is read as a font pattern by the character generator 14 according to the code data and the attribute data,
The liquid crystal display unit 1 is developed in the display buffer 15b.
6 is displayed (see FIG. 6).

As described above, when it is desired to perform partial horizontal print on an arbitrary character string "CD" in the character string "ABCDE" of the text data input and displayed in the vertical writing format, key input is performed. When the "horizontal set" key of the section 12 is operated, the format mode flag register 15e in the RAM 15
It is determined that the vertical writing flag "B = 1" has been set to, and it is determined whether the input character data exists at the cursor pointing position on the liquid crystal display unit 16 (step S).
20 → S21 → S22).

Here, the format mode flag register 1
If it is determined that the vertical writing flag "B = 1" is set in 5e and that there is an input character, it is determined whether or not the range of the character string for which the partial horizontal writing is desired is designated ( Steps S22 → S23).

As shown in FIG. 6, when partial horizontal writing is performed and a range of character strings is specified, whether the number of characters corresponding to the horizontal setting specified range is less than or equal to the specified number of characters α, that is, the tape width. Maximum number of characters that can be printed horizontally in the minimum character size α with respect to the width of the tape detected by the detector 18
If it is determined that it is less than or equal to the maximum number α of characters that can be printed in partial horizontal writing, the horizontal writing flag “H” is set for each of the character data “C” and “D” corresponding to the horizontal writing designated range.
= 1 ”is added (see FIG. 3) and stored in the input buffer 15a (steps S23 → S24 → S25).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the number of characters corresponding to the horizontal setting designated range is larger than the maximum number α of characters that can be horizontally printed with the minimum character size with respect to the tape width detected by the tape width detector 18. An error message is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 16 and the user is prompted to reset the horizontal composition designated range (steps S24 → S26).

That is, in the text creation process, the character string "ABC
When it is desired to partially print horizontally the arbitrary character string “CD” in “DE”, the range of the arbitrary character string “CD” can be designated by operating the “horizontal group” key of the key input unit 12. .

Next, the operation of printing the text data "ABCDE" (see FIG. 6) created by the text creating process will be described. When "Print" displayed on the menu selection screen is selected while the "Menu" key of the key input unit 12 is operated to display the menu selection screen on the liquid crystal display unit 16, the operation mode flag in the RAM 15 is selected. The print mode flag “A
= 1 ”is set, and the printing process in FIG. 5 is started.

When this printing process is started, the RAM 15
Pointer register 15i and counter register 15 in
j is cleared to "0" and initialized (step A1).

Then, it is first judged whether or not the vertical writing flag "B = 1" is set in the format mode flag register 15e in the RAM 15, and the vertical writing flag "B = 1".
If it is determined that is set, the pointer data P of the pointer register 15i is set to "1" and the first character of the text data stored in the input buffer 15a is designated (step A2 → A3).

In this case, the text data "ABCDE" is stored in the input buffer 15a.
When it is determined that the character "A" is present, it is determined whether or not the horizontal writing flag "H = 1" is added to the character data (steps A4 → A5).

In this case, since the horizontal set flag "H = 1" is not added to the first character "A" of the text data, the character designated by the pointer data "P = 1". The font pattern “A” corresponding to the code data and its attribute data is the character generator 14.
Read out from the memory and is vertically written in the print buffer 15c in the RAM 15 (steps A5 → A6).

Then, the pointer data P of the pointer register 15i is incremented by (+1) and updated to "2", and the second character of the text data stored in the input buffer 15a is designated (step A7).

In this case, when it is determined that "B" is present as the second character of the text data, it is determined that the horizontal set flag "H = 1" is not added to the second character "B". Accordingly, the font pattern “B” corresponding to the character code data and the attribute data designated by the pointer data “P = 2” is displayed by the character generator 14.
Is read out from the printer and is vertically written in the print buffer 15c in the RAM 15 (steps A8 → A5 → A6).

Thereafter, the pointer data P of the pointer register 15i is again (+1) set to "3",
The third character of the text data stored in the input buffer 15a is designated, and it is determined whether or not the input character exists (steps A7 and A8).

In this case, when it is determined that "C" is present as the third character of the text data, it is determined that the horizontal writing flag "H = 1" is added to the third character "C". Therefore, the count data C of the counter register 15j in the RAM 15 is incremented by (+1) and counted up to "1", and the number of consecutive characters having the horizontal set flag "H = 1" is set as "1" (step A8 → A5 → A
9).

Then, the pointer data P of the pointer register 15i is further incremented (+1) and set to "4", the fourth character of the text data stored in the input buffer 15a is designated, and the input character exists. It is determined whether or not to do it (steps A10 and A11).

If it is determined in step A11 that the fourth character of the text data does not exist, the character data to which the horizontal set flag "H = 1" is added is 1 of the third character "C". Since there are only characters, the third character "C" following the first character "A" and the second character "B" is also expanded in the print buffer 15c as a normal vertical writing font (steps A11 → A6).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step A11 that "D" is present as the fourth character of the text data, the horizontal writing flag "H =
Since it is determined that "1" is added, the count data C of the counter register 15j in the RAM 15 is further incremented by (+1) and counted up to "2", and the number of consecutive characters having the horizontal flag "H = 1". Is set as “2” (steps A11 → A12 → A9).

Then, the pointer data P of the pointer register 15i is further incremented (+1) and set to "5", the fifth character of the text data stored in the input buffer 15a is designated, and the input character exists. It is determined whether or not to do it (steps A10 and A11).

When it is determined that "E" is present as the fifth character of the text data, it is determined that the horizontal writing flag "H = 1" is not added to the fifth character "E". Therefore, the count data C of the counter register 15j in the RAM 15 is counted and the horizontal set flag "H"
= 1 ”and the number of consecutive characters“ C = 2 ”exceeds 1 character is determined (step A11 → A12 → A).
13, A14).

When it is determined in step A14 that the number C of consecutive characters having the horizontal set flag "H = 1" indicated by the count data C of the counter register 15j is less than or equal to one, the count data C is concerned. Is cleared to "0", and the corresponding character data is expanded in the print buffer 15c as a normal vertical writing font (steps A14 → A15, A6).

On the other hand, in the step A14, the count data C stored in the counter register 15j
Is "2", and when it is determined that the number of consecutive characters C having the horizontal composition flag "H = 1" is more than one of the two characters "C" and "D", the horizontal composition flag "H" The font patterns "C" and "D" corresponding to the character code data added with "= 1" are read out from the character generator 14, and these two-character fonts are horizontally written in the tape width direction detected by the tape width detector 18. It fits in
Reduction processing is performed so that the length L (see FIG. 7) of the horizontal writing portion is aligned with the font width W (see FIG. 7) of the normal character size set and stored in the character size data memory 15f (steps A14 → A16). .

In this case, the character data designated horizontally is two characters "C" and "D", and the font width W and the maximum character of other normal vertical fonts "A", "B" and "E". In order to make them uniform in size, the width of each of the horizontal designating character data "C" and "D" is reduced to 1/2, and the 1/2 reduction processing of this normal font pattern is read from the character generator 14. This is achieved by logically summing the presence / absence of black data for each 2 dot pattern in the width direction with respect to the font pattern of the set character size.

In this way, when the character font of the horizontal designating part is created, the font pattern "CD" thereof is the normal vertical writing font "A" of the first and second characters expanded in the print buffer 15c. After "B", partial horizontal writing is performed (step A17).

Then, since the continuation of the character data to which the horizontal set flag "H = 1" is added is interrupted, the count data C of the counter register 15j is cleared to "0",
It is determined whether or not there is the fifth character of the text data designated by the pointer data "P = 5" of the pointer register 15i (step A18 → A8).

In this case, when it is determined that "E" is present as the fifth character of the text data, it is determined that the horizontal writing flag "H = 1" is not added to the fifth character "E". Therefore, the font pattern “E” corresponding to the character code data and the attribute data designated by the pointer data “P = 5” is changed to the character generator 14.
The data is read out vertically from the "A", "B" and "CD" read out from the print buffer 15c in the RAM 15 (steps A8 → A5 → A6).

Then, the pointer data P of the pointer register 15i is further (+1) and updated to "6",
The sixth character of the text data stored in the input buffer 15a is designated (step A7).

In this case, since it is determined that the sixth character of the text data does not exist, the vertical writing text data "A""B""CD including the partial horizontal writing range expanded in the print buffer 15c in the RAM 15". “E” is output to the printer unit 17 and vertically printed on the tape T as shown in FIG. 7 (steps A8 → A19).

On the other hand, in step A2, the RAM
When it is determined that the horizontal writing mode flag "B = 0" is set in the format mode flag register 15e in the 15, the text data stored in the input buffer 15a is all the character code data. Also, any of the font patterns read from the character generator 14 in correspondence with the attribute data is horizontally written in the print buffer 15c, output to the printer unit 17 and horizontally printed on the tape T (steps A2 → A20, A1
9).

Therefore, according to the tape printer having the above-mentioned configuration, the character string data "ABC" stored in the input buffer 15a in the RAM 15 as the vertically written text data.
If the range is specified by operating the "horizontal set" key of the key input unit 12 to partially print the arbitrary character string "CD" in "DE" horizontally, the horizontal set flag is added to the character data in the horizontal set specified range. “H = 1” is added and stored. Then, when the printing process is started, the range of the partial horizontal printing is determined from the number of consecutive characters of the horizontal writing flag H added to each character data of the text data, and the total length L of the horizontal writing font of the corresponding part is determined. The text is reduced so as to be aligned with the font width W of other vertically written characters, expanded in the print buffer 15c, and printed by the printer unit 17 as vertically written text data including partially horizontally written characters. By simply specifying the range in which you want to perform partial horizontal writing for the data, the character font in the specified range is automatically reduced following horizontal writing and the horizontal font is printed. Very easy. In addition, it is possible to perform tape printing including partial horizontal writing characters in the vertical writing character string.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, the entire character string stored in the storage means is printed vertically in the lengthwise direction of the band-shaped recording paper. For any character string, if you change the setting to partial horizontal printing to print horizontally in the width direction of the recording paper and instruct printing,
The length size of an arbitrary character string whose setting is changed to the partial horizontal print is aligned with the width size of the character string set as the vertical print, and the character string set as the vertical print is the recording paper. In addition to being printed vertically in the lengthwise direction, the character string set as the partial horizontal printing is printed horizontally in the widthwise direction of the recording paper.

Therefore, for example, it is possible to very easily print a partially written horizontal character in a vertically written character string without the need for complicated operations such as setting of a block format, setting of a character size in a block, and line feed operation. It will be possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of a tape printer equipped with a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of registers included in a RAM of the tape printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data structure of one character of character string data stored as text data in an input buffer in the RAM of the tape printer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a text creation process by the tape printer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing tape printing processing by the tape printer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an input display state of text data accompanying the text creation processing of the tape printer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a printing state of text data associated with a tape printing process of the tape printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Control part (CPU), 12 ... Key input part, 13 ... ROM, 14 ... Character generator, 15 ... RAM, 15a ... Input buffer, 15b ... Display buffer, 15c ... Print buffer, 15d ... Operation mode flag register (A ), 15e ... Format mode flag register (B), 15f ... Character size data memory, 15g ... Character font data memory, 15h ... Character modification data memory, 15i ... Pointer register (P), 15j ... Counter register (C), 15k ... tape width data register, 16 ... liquid crystal display section, 17 ... printer section.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing a character string, and either of vertical writing for printing the entire character string vertically in a lengthwise direction of a belt-shaped recording paper or horizontal printing for printing horizontally is set. A print direction setting unit and a setting change for changing the setting to a partial horizontal print in which any character string in the character string is printed horizontally in the width direction of the recording paper when the vertical print is set. Means for aligning the length size of the character string for which the partial horizontal writing is set to the width size of the character string for which the vertical writing is set, and setting the character string for which the vertical writing is set to the recording paper. And a print control unit for printing the character string for which the partial horizontal print is set in the lengthwise direction of the recording paper in the horizontal direction of the recording paper. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control unit includes a character size determination unit that determines a print size of the character string to a maximum size printable in a print area of the recording paper. . 3. A character font storage unit for storing a character font is further provided, and the print control unit is stored in the character font storage unit corresponding to the character string for which the partial horizontal writing is set. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising character font creating means for creating character fonts of different sizes from the character font. 4. The setting change means includes a display means for displaying a character string stored in the storage means, and an input means for designating an arbitrary range of character strings in the character string displayed on the display means. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: 5. A printing device for printing arbitrary characters on a band-shaped recording paper, inputting means for inputting a character string and a character size, and printing the entire character string vertically in the length direction of the recording paper. A print direction setting unit for setting either vertical writing or horizontal writing for horizontal writing, and an arbitrary character string in the character string when the vertical printing is set, the width of the recording paper. Setting changing means for changing the setting to partial horizontal printing for horizontal writing in a certain direction, character string data input from the inputting means, and character size input from the inputting means to each character data of the character string Storing means for correspondingly storing the data of the printing direction set by the printing direction setting means and the setting changing means, and a character string for which the partial horizontal printing is set based on the data stored in the storing means Length size Aligning to the width size of the character string for which the vertical writing is set, the character string for which the vertical writing is set is printed vertically in the length direction of the recording paper, and the partial horizontal printing is set. And a printing unit that prints the written character string horizontally in the width direction of the recording paper.