JPH11167476A - Printing method, its device and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing method and device which improve visibility of a printing result, reduce a printing time and save printing papers to improve economy, and a recording medium housing a program code which can be read by an information processor. SOLUTION: An intermediate data file is prepared S204 by the designation S209 of a printing mode and page control S203 is executed to judge whether the printing line of the last page can be moved to the last margin of a page before the last page when the printing line of the last page of print data is one line, to move a printing position to the page before the last page when it is possible, and to additionally delete the last page. Thereby the visibility of the printing result is improved, the printing time is reduced and printing paper is saved to improve economy.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system including a printer having a function of printing on a page basis and an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer connected to the printer, instructing page control and obtaining a desired print result. And a storage medium storing a program code readable by an information processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing process in a system including a printer having a function of printing on a page basis and an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer connected to the printer, an application having a function of editing a print page format has been used. When the operator or application arranged the page and ordered printing, the printer control command generation program (printer driver) generated the final printer control command (print data) and transmitted the data to the printer. . Also, in an application that does not have a print page format editing function, when printing is instructed, the application divides it into pages based on a simple line count and the like, and the printer control command generation program issues the final printer control command (print data ) And send that data to the printer.

[0003]

However, according to the above-described method, when an application does not have a function of adjusting the appearance of a print page, for example, in the case of a text editor or the like, division of a page unit is performed by a simple line within the application. The operation is performed by counting several times, and since the operator does not know the page format, it is printed even though the last page has only one line, and the print result becomes difficult to see.
There is a problem that one extra printing paper is required, which is uneconomical.

Further, even in an application having a print page format editing function, the above-described printing result may be caused due to an operator's editing error or the like, and the same problem may occur.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned prior art, and has as its object the object of the present invention is to print the last page of the print data when the number of print lines is one. If the print line of the last page can be moved to the last margin of the previous page, the print position is moved to the previous page of the last page, the last page is further deleted, the visibility of the print result is improved, and the print time is reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print processing method and apparatus capable of saving printing paper and improving economical efficiency, and a storage medium storing a program code readable by an information processing apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following constitution.

That is, a print mode designating step for designating a print mode, a print designating step for designating print information to be transmitted to a printing apparatus, and a page for determining whether to perform page control according to the designated print mode. A control determining step, an intermediate data generating step of generating intermediate data for page control from the print information based on the determination of the determining step, a storing step of storing the generated intermediate data, and a printing apparatus. A page information recording step of recording page information corresponding to the intermediate data to be transmitted to, an intermediate data editing step of editing the stored intermediate data according to the designated print mode, and the edited intermediate data. Outputting the intermediate data to be output, the output intermediate data, and the page information corresponding to the intermediate data, Comprising a print data generation step of generating printing data, and an output step of outputting the final print data that is generated.

[0008] The intermediate data editing step may further include:
A print determining step of determining whether a character print line of the last page of the stored intermediate data is one line and the one line can be printed in a margin of a previous page, and determining that the print is possible in the print determining step Then, the intermediate data is edited by including a print position editing step of editing the print position of the one line and a page deletion step of deleting the last page.

[0009] The intermediate data is stored in a single file including a page information recording unit for recording the page information and an intermediate data recording unit for describing intermediate data corresponding to the page information.

The intermediate data is stored in a page information recording file for recording the page information, and a plurality of intermediate data recording files for describing the intermediate data in page information units.

The print determining step of determining whether printing is possible is performed when the character attribute of one line printed on the last page is equal to the character attribute of the last line on the previous page. A second print determination step of determining.

The designation of the print mode and the designation of the print information are input and designated by a keyboard.

The designation of the print mode and the designation of the print information are input and designated by a pointing device.

A print mode designating unit for designating a print mode; a print designating unit for designating print information to be transmitted to the printing apparatus; and a page for determining whether to perform page control according to the designated print mode. Control determining means, intermediate data generating means for generating intermediate data for page control from the print information based on the determination of the determining means, storing means for storing the generated intermediate data, and a printing apparatus Page information recording means for recording page information corresponding to the intermediate data to be transmitted to, intermediate data editing means for editing the stored intermediate data according to the designated print mode, and From the output intermediate data output means, the output intermediate data, and page information corresponding to the intermediate data, a final Comprising a print data generation means for generating printing data, and output means for outputting a final print data the generated and.

Further, the intermediate data editing means further comprises:
A print determination unit that determines whether the last page of the stored intermediate data has one character print line and the one line can be printed in the margin of the previous page; and a print determination unit that determines that the print is possible. Then, the intermediate data is edited by providing a print position editing means for editing the print position of the one line and a page deletion means for deleting the last page.

Further, the intermediate data is stored in one file including a page information recording unit for recording the page information, and an intermediate data recording unit for describing the intermediate data corresponding to the page information.

The intermediate data is stored in a page information recording file for recording the page information, and a plurality of intermediate data recording files for describing the intermediate data in page information units.

The print determining means for determining whether printing is possible is performed when the character attribute of one line printed on the last page is equal to the character attribute of the last line on the previous page. And a second print determination unit for determining.

The designation of the print mode and the designation of the print information are input and designated by a keyboard.

The designation of the print mode and the designation of the print information are input and designated by a pointing device.

Further, a print mode designating unit for designating a print mode, a print designating unit for designating print information to be transmitted to a printing apparatus, and a page for determining whether to perform page control according to the designated print mode. Control determining means, intermediate data generating means for generating intermediate data for page control from the print information based on the determination of the determining means, storing means for storing the generated intermediate data, and a printing apparatus Page information recording means for recording page information corresponding to the intermediate data to be transmitted to, intermediate data editing means for editing the stored intermediate data according to the designated print mode, and From the output intermediate data output means, the output intermediate data, and page information corresponding to the intermediate data, a final Comprising a print data generation means for generating printing data, and output means for outputting a final print data said generated computer readable recording medium recording a program for a function.

Further, a print determining means for determining whether or not one character print line of the last page of the stored intermediate data is printable and the one line can be printed in a margin of a previous page; The program further includes a program for causing a print position editing unit that edits the print position of the one line and a page deletion unit that deletes the last page when it is determined that printing is possible.

[0023] Also, a file for storing the intermediate data in one file comprising a page information recording unit for recording the page information and an intermediate data recording unit for describing intermediate data corresponding to the page information is provided. Including programs.

The program further includes a program for causing a page information recording file for recording the page information and a plurality of intermediate data recording files for describing intermediate data in units of the page information to execute the storage of the intermediate data.

Further, a second print determining means for determining that printing is possible when the character attribute of one line printed on the last page is equal to the character attribute of the last line on the previous page is further operated. Includes programs for

Further, the program includes a program for executing designation of the print mode and designation of the print information by a keyboard.

Further, the program includes a program for executing designation of the print mode and designation of the print information by a pointing device.

A printing method for performing printing on a page-by-page basis determines whether or not the print line of the last page can be moved to the last margin of the previous page of the last page, and if possible, changes the print position of the last page. Move to the previous page and delete the last page.

A printing apparatus that performs printing on a page basis determines whether or not the print line of the last page can be moved to the last margin of the previous page of the last page, and if possible, changes the print position of the last page. Move to the previous page and delete the last page.

[0030]

Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a print processing apparatus according to a first embodiment. In the figure, 1
Is an information processing device such as a personal computer, and a video memory (VRAM) 3 and a display unit (CR
T) 4, keyboard (KBD) 5, pointing device (PD) 6, disk controller 7, hard disk drive (HD) 9, connection 10, CPU 11, RA
The M12 and the ROM 13 are main components, and these components are connected to each other via the system bus 2.

The CPU 11 controls the entire information processing apparatus 1 according to a program represented by a flowchart shown in FIG.

The RAM 12 stores a program as a main memory of the CPU 11, and has a temporary storage area for various data used as a work data area when the CPU 11 executes control.

The disk controller 7 controls access to an external storage device such as a hard disk device (HD) 9 or a floppy disk (FD) 8 as an external memory.

A hard disk drive (HD) 9 and a floppy disk (FD) 8 are devices for recording and reading / writing data on / from a magnetic storage medium on the disk. Program and CPU for information processing apparatus 1
An operating system (OS), various application programs, printer control commands (print data), a generation program (printer driver), a printing system program having a page control function, and the like, which are 11 control programs, are stored.

This storage medium is not limited to a hard disk drive or a floppy disk, but may also be a magnetic tape or a CD-ROM.
It may be a ROM, an IC memory card, a DVD, or the like.

The ROM 13 is an internal memory, and the hard disk device (HD) 9 and the floppy disk (F
D) Various data and programs are stored in the same manner as 8).

The display unit 4 displays various graphics such as bitmap data, command images of command menus, operator messages, and the like on the screen in the information processing apparatus 1. The display unit 4 uses a CRT (cathode ray tube) or a liquid crystal. It is configured.

The video memory 3 stores data to be displayed on the display unit 4.

The keyboard 5 and the pointing device 6 are both operated by an operator to input various data and commands, or a print mode.
Further, by selecting a command image or the like of a command menu displayed on the screen of the display unit 3 using the keyboard 5 and the pointing device 6, it is possible to instruct the execution of the command and the print mode.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a connection unit, which is connected to a printer 15 via a predetermined bidirectional interface 14 such as a Centronics interface or a network interface.
And executes a communication control process with the printer device 15 described later, such as transmitting a printer control unit command (print data).

Reference numeral 15 denotes a printer, which includes a connection unit 17, a printing unit (printer engine) 18, an operation unit 19, an external memory 20, a CPU 21, a RAM 22, and a ROM 23, which will be described in detail later. The components are connected to one another via a system bus 16.

The CPU 21 is a printer CPU and controls the entire printer device 15. The CPU 21 transmits an image signal to the printing unit 18 from a printer control command (print data) received by the connection unit 17 based on a control program stored in the ROM 13 or the external memory 20 described later.

The RAM 22 has, as a main memory of the CPU 21, a temporary storage area for various data used as a work data area when the CPU 21 executes control.

The external memory 20 is also connected as an option, and stores font data, emulation programs, form data, and the like.

The ROM 23 is an internal memory of the printer.
As with the external memory, it stores various data, a printer control program for controlling the printer, and the like.

The printing unit 18 is a printer engine, is controlled by the CPU 21, receives image signals output from the ROM 23 or a control program stored in the external memory 20 via the system bus, and performs actual printing. Do.

The operation unit 19 includes an input unit such as an operation panel and operation switches, and a display unit such as an LED and a liquid crystal panel. The operation unit 19 receives an operation of an operator and displays a result. The operator can instruct and confirm the settings of the printer 15 via the operation unit 19.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a connection unit which is connected to the connection unit 10 of the information processing apparatus 1 via the above-described bidirectional interface 14 to receive a printer control command (print data) and to notify the internal state of the printer. It is also possible to do.

Next, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 10 described above, steps until the print processing apparatus having the page control function in the information processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment operates will be further described.

The print processing apparatus operates by executing a basic I / O program, an operating system (OS), and a print processing program from a CPU. The base I / O program is written in the ROM 13,
The operating system (OS) is written in an external storage memory such as a hard disk (HD) 9 or a floppy disk (FD) 8.

First, when the power of the information processing apparatus 1 is turned on, the hard disk (H) is activated by the initial program load ink (IPL) function in the basic I / O program.
D) operating system (O) stored in an external storage memory such as 9 or floppy disk (FD) 8;
S) is read into the RAM 12, and the OS operates.

Next, when the operator selects a command image or the like of a command menu displayed on the screen of the display unit 3 using the keyboard 5 and the pointing device 6 and instructs execution of the application, the hard disk (HD) 9 or the floppy disk An application stored in an external storage memory such as a disk (FD) 8
M12 is read and the application operates.

Next, when printing is instructed by the operator in the same procedure as when the application is started, the hard disk (HD) 9 or the floppy disk (F)
D) The print processing program having the page control function and the printer control command generation program (printer driver) stored in the external storage memory such as 8 are stored in the RAM 12
And the print processing system operates.

In the case of the present embodiment, the print processing program and related data are stored in a floppy disk (FD) 8, and the configuration of the recorded contents is shown in FIG.
Shown in

The print processing program and related data stored in the floppy disk (FD) 8 can be loaded into the information processing apparatus through the disk controller 7. When this floppy disk is set in the disk controller 7, the print processing program and related data are read out from the floppy disk (FD) 8 under the control of the OS and the basic I / O program, and the RA
M12 is loaded and becomes operable.

FIG. 10 shows that the print processing program is RAM
12 shows a memory map loaded and executable.

Next, an operation method of the print processing system having the page control function in the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts and data format diagrams of FIGS.

Note that this process is started in a state where a program such as a printable application is operating in the above operation steps.

In the present embodiment, when an application specifies printing processing of document data over a plurality of pages and further specifies printing having a page control function, the intermediate data writing program converts the document data received from the application into intermediate data. And temporarily store the intermediate data as one file, and further record page information in the temporary storage file. Thereafter, the intermediate data reading program reads the intermediate data temporary storage file, analyzes the intermediate data, and determines that the result of the analysis is that the last page of the document to be printed is only one line, and that the last page is one page before the last page. If one line of the last page is printable after the last line, the intermediate data is edited so that one line of the last page is printed after the last line of the last page, and the last page to be printed. Remove. Thereafter, the intermediate data reading program outputs the intermediate data to a printer control command generation program (printer driver) or a program interposed in the preceding step, and finally, the printer control command generation program (printer driver) A printer control command (print data) is generated and printing is performed.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of the print processing system of this embodiment.

First, in step S201 of FIG. 2, a mode (print mode) for specifying whether or not to enable the page control mode for causing the present print processing system to function is designated.

Next, in step S202, printing is designated.

The print mode and print designation are performed by the keyboard 5 and the pointing device 6 shown in FIG.
, And by selecting a command image or the like of a command menu displayed on the screen of the display unit 3, it is possible to give an instruction.

Next, in step S203, step S201
Then, it is determined whether or not the print mode specified in step 2 is page control ON. Here, the page control is ON (S203-YE
If S), the process proceeds to step S204 to generate intermediate data.

If the page control is OFF in the step S203 (S203-NO), each step of the page control in the print processing system is skipped as a normal print process, and the process proceeds to a step S207.

In step S207, a printer control command (print data) is generated and output to the printer. This process is a normal printing step undertaken by the printer control command generation program (printer driver).

After creating the intermediate data in step S204, the process proceeds to step S205, where the intermediate data is edited.

Next, the process proceeds to step S206, where the intermediate data is output to the printer driver.

Next, a method of generating intermediate data in step S204 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 shows step S20 of FIG. 2 of the present embodiment.
2, a drawing command of document data passed to the print processing system when print execution is designated from an application or the like is shown in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drawing command starts with a [job start command] and ends with a [job end command]. The drawing commands include a “character printing command”, a “graphic drawing command”, an “image drawing command”, a “page break command”, and the like. Also, each instruction includes parameter information etc.
For example, the [character print command] includes information such as a character type, a character code, a character print position coordinate, a character width, a character height, a character feed width, and a line feed height.

FIG. 4 shows step S20 of FIG. 2 of this embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an intermediate data generation step in FIG. 2, that is, a step of generating intermediate data from the drawing command of FIG.

First, in step S401 of FIG.
The page count N is initialized to 0.

Then, the flow advances to step S402 to receive one of the drawing commands shown in FIG.

Next, the process proceeds to step S403, and it is determined whether or not the drawing command M received in step S402 is a "job start command".

If the drawing command M received in step S403 is a [job start command] (S403-YE
S), the process proceeds to step S404, and an intermediate data file for temporarily storing the intermediate data is opened as an initialization process of the intermediate data generation step.

Next, the process proceeds to step S405, where the page count N is set to N + 1.

Next, the process proceeds to step S406, where the relationship between the page number N and the address An of the current temporary storage file is recorded as page information. The page information according to the job start command is as follows: page number N = 1, file address An
= A1.

Next, the flow advances to step S407 to convert the received drawing command M into intermediate data and record it.

Next, the flow advances to S402, where the next drawing command is received, and M is set again.

In step S403, if the received drawing command M is not the [job start command] (S403-
NO), the flow advances to step S408, and it is determined whether M is a [page break instruction].

If it is determined in step S408 that M is a "page break command" (S408-YES), the flow advances to step S409 to set the page count N to N + 1.

Next, the process proceeds to step S410,
Similarly to 407, M is converted into intermediate data and recorded.

Next, the process proceeds to step S411, where the relationship between the page number N and the address of the current temporary storage file is recorded as page information.

Next, the flow returns to step S402, and the next drawing command is received and is set to M again. Step S40
In step S408-N, if M is not [page break instruction]
O) The process advances to step S412 to determine whether M is a [job end command].

If it is determined in step S412 that M is not the "job end command" (S412-NO), the process proceeds to step S412.
In step 413, the rendering command is converted into intermediate data and recorded. Then, the process returns to step S402, where the next drawing command is received and is set to M again.

If M is [Job end command] in step S412 (S412-YES), step S412 is executed.
Proceeding to 414, M is converted to intermediate data and recorded.

Then, the flow advances to step S415 to close the intermediate data file for temporarily storing the intermediate data, and ends.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, step S40 in FIG.
6. A method for recording page information in step S411 and a method for converting / recording intermediate data in steps S407, S410, S413, and S414 will be described.

FIG. 5 is a table showing the structure of an intermediate data temporary storage file according to the present embodiment, which is stored in a storage device such as the hard disk device 9 in FIG.

In FIG. 5, the intermediate data temporary storage file table roughly includes a page information section for recording page information and an intermediate data section for recording intermediate data.

The page information section determines in step S40 in FIG.
6. The page information recording step in step S411, that is, the area recorded when the first page and a page break are performed, and records the current page number N and the storage address of the current intermediate data corresponding to the page. . For example, in FIG. 5, the intermediate data of the first page is recorded in an area starting from an address A1 and extending to an address A2. The page number N is updated at each page information recording step, and finally, the total page number N is recorded.

The intermediate data section is an area for recording intermediate data obtained by replacing the drawing command with another command format. The intermediate data can be in a format in which a plurality of the drawing commands are combined into one. is there.

Further, the intermediate data temporary storage file is designed so that it can be output in page units when the intermediate data is output in step S206 in FIG.

Next, the intermediate data editing step in step S205 in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the flowcharts in FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the intermediate data editing step of this embodiment.

First, in step S601, the temporarily stored intermediate data file is opened.

Next, the flow advances to step S602 to read the page information section of the temporary storage file. As described in the description of FIG. 5, the page information includes the total number of pages N, the address An indicating the intermediate data recording area of each page, and the like.

Next, the flow advances to step S603 to determine whether or not the total number of pages N is N> 1.

If N> 1 in step S603 (S
603-NO), since the number of pages is one, each editing step of the intermediate data is skipped, and the processing ends.

If N> 1 in step S603 (S6
03-YES), the process proceeds to step S604, and focuses on the Nth page from the page number and address of the page information section in the intermediate data temporary storage file table in FIG.

Next, the flow advances to step S605 to count the number of print lines of the Nth page and set it as Ln.

Next, the flow advances to step S606 to determine whether or not the number Ln of printed lines of the Nth page is one. In this embodiment, one line is assumed, but a plurality of lines can be set (the same applies hereinafter).

If Ln is not 1 in step S606 (S606-NO), the flow advances to step S613 to close the intermediate data temporary storage file, and ends.

In step S606, Ln = 1
If it is (S606-YES), the process proceeds to step S607, where the height of the print line of the Nth page is obtained and set to Hl.

Next, the flow advances to step S608, and this time N-
Focus on the first page.

Then, the flow advances to step S609 to calculate the height of the last margin of the (N-1) th page and set it as Hy.

Next, the flow advances to step S610 to determine whether or not Hl> Hy to determine whether or not one line of the last page N can be printed in the margin of the (N-1) th page.

If Hl <Hy in step S610 (S610-NO), it is determined that there is no print area in the margin, the flow advances to step S613 to close the intermediate data temporary storage file, and ends.

If Hl <Hy in step S610 (S610-YES), the flow advances to step S611 to change the printing position of one line of the last page (N page) to the (N-1) th page.

Then, the flow advances to step S612 to update the number N of pages in the page information section in FIG. 5, as in the case of deleting the Nth page, which is the last page, and to store the intermediate data area of the Nth page starting with the address AN. Remove.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The basic configuration and processing operation of the print processing apparatus according to the second embodiment are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the first embodiment described above, and will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. I do.

According to the second embodiment, when an application specifies printing processing of document data over a plurality of pages and further specifies printing having a page control function, the intermediate data writing program converts the document data received from the application into an intermediate data writing program. Convert to intermediate data, temporarily store the intermediate data as one file per page,
Further, the page information is recorded as a separate page information file. Then, the intermediate data reading program reads the intermediate data temporary storage file, analyzes the intermediate data, and finds that the result of the analysis is that the last page of the document to be printed is only one line, and that
If one line of the last page is printable after the last line before the page, the intermediate data is edited and printed so that one line of the last page is printed after the last line of the last page. Delete the last page that should be. Thereafter, the intermediate data reading program outputs the intermediate data to a printer control command creation program (printer driver) or a program interposed in a preceding step, and finally, the printer control command creation program (printer driver) A printer control command (print data) is generated and printing is performed.

The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a method for generating an intermediate data temporary storage file in step S204 in FIG.
An intermediate data editing method 205 and a format of the intermediate data temporary storage file in FIG. 5 are different, and the other processes are the same. Therefore, here, the method of generating the intermediate data temporary storage file in these two steps S204 and the method of editing the intermediate data in step S205 will be described. The structure of the intermediate data temporary storage file will be described.

First, an example of the second embodiment for generating intermediate data in step S204 in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in step S701 in FIG.
The page count N is initialized to 0.

Then, the flow advances to step S702 to receive one of the drawing commands shown in FIG.

Next, the flow advances to step S703 to determine whether or not the drawing command M received in step S702 is a "job start command".

If the drawing command M received in step S703 is a [job start command] (S703-YE
S), proceed to step S704 to open a page information file for recording page information.

Then, the flow advances to step S705 to open an intermediate data file for temporarily storing the intermediate data of the first page.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S706, wherein the page count N is set to N + 1.

Then, the flow advances to step S707 to record the page number N and the file name F of the intermediate data temporary storage file opened in step S704 as page information.

Then, the flow advances to step S708 to convert the received drawing command M into intermediate data and record it in the opened intermediate data temporary storage file.

Next, the flow advances to step S702 to receive the next drawing command and set it to M again.

If it is determined in step S703 that the received drawing command M is not a "job start command" (S703-
NO), the flow advances to step S709 to determine whether or not M is a [page break instruction].

If it is determined in step S709 that M is [page break command] (S709-YES), step S710 is executed.
Then, as in step S708, M is converted to intermediate data and recorded.

Then, the flow advances to step S711 to close the temporarily stored intermediate data file of the Nth page currently being recorded.

Next, the flow advances to step S712 to set the page count N to N + 1.

Then, the flow advances to step S713 to newly open an intermediate data file for temporarily storing intermediate data of the Nth page.

Then, the flow advances to step S714 to record the page number N and the file name FN of the intermediate data temporary storage file opened in step S713 as page information.

Next, the flow returns to step S702, and the next drawing command is received and set to M again.

If M is not [page break command] in step S709 (S709-NO), step S71
Proceed to 5 to determine whether M is a [job end command].

If it is determined in step S715 that M is not the “job end command” (S715: NO), the process proceeds to step S715.
Proceeding to 716, the rendering command is converted into intermediate data and recorded. Then, the process returns to step S702, where the next drawing command is received and set to M again.

If M is [Job end command] in step S715 (S715-YES), step S715 is executed.
Proceeding to 717, M is converted into intermediate data and recorded.

Next, the flow advances to step S718 to close the intermediate data temporary storage file for temporarily storing the currently referred intermediate data.

Then, the flow advances to step S719 to close the page information temporary storage file in which the page information is recorded, and
finish.

FIG. 8 is a table showing the structure of an intermediate data temporary storage file according to the second embodiment, which is stored in a storage device such as the hard disk device 9 in FIG.

In FIG. 8, the temporary storage file includes a page information temporary storage file for recording page information and a temporary storage file for recording intermediate data for each page.

The page information temporary storage file is a file that is recorded when the page information is recorded in steps S707 and S714 of FIG. 7, that is, when the first page and a page break are performed. The file name F of the intermediate data temporary storage file corresponding to the page is recorded. For example, in FIG. 8, the file name F1 is a file for recording the intermediate data of the first page. The page number N is updated at each page information recording step, and finally, the total page number N is recorded.

The intermediate data temporary storage file is an area for recording intermediate data obtained by replacing the drawing command with another command format, and is generated for each page.

Next, an example of the second embodiment of the intermediate data editing step in step S205 of FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the intermediate data editing step of this embodiment.

First, in step S901, the temporarily stored page information file is opened.

Then, the flow advances to step S902 to read the page information section of the temporary storage file. As described in the description of FIG. 8, the page information includes the total number of pages N, the file name Fn of the intermediate data recording file of each page, and the like.

Next, the flow advances to step S903 to determine whether or not the total number of pages N is N> 1.

If N> 1 in step S903 (S
903-NO), since the number of pages is one, each editing step of the intermediate data is skipped, and the processing ends.

If N> 1 in step S903 (S9)
03-YES), the process proceeds to step S904, and an intermediate data file Fn corresponding to the Nth page is opened based on the page number read in step S902 and the corresponding file name.

Next, the flow advances to step S905 to count the number of print lines of the Nth page and set it as Ln.

The flow advances to step S906 to determine whether or not the number Ln of printed lines of the Nth page is one.

If Ln is not 1 in step S906 (S906: NO), the flow advances to step S914 to close the page information recording file and the intermediate data file of the Nth page, and the processing ends.

In the step S906, Ln = 1
If it is (S906-YES), the process proceeds to step S907, where the height of the print line of the Nth page is obtained and set to Hl.

Next, the flow advances to step S908, and this time N-
Open the first page intermediate data file.

Next, the flow advances to step S909 to calculate the height of the last margin of the (N-1) th page and set it as Hy.

Next, the flow advances to step S910 to determine whether or not Hl> Hy to determine whether one line of the last page, page N, can be printed in the margin of page N-1.

If Hl <Hy is not satisfied in step S910 (S910-NO), it is determined that there is no print area in the margin, and the flow advances to step S914, where the page information recording file and the Nth intermediate data file, N Close the intermediate data file of the -1st page and end.

If Hl <Hy in step S910 (S910-YES), the flow advances to step S911 to change the printing position of one line of the last page (N page) to the (N-1) th page.

The process advances to step S912 to close the opened page information file, the Nth page intermediate data file, and the (N-1) th page intermediate data file.

Then, the flow advances to step S913 to update the page number N of the page information file in FIG.
The intermediate data file of the Nth page indicated by N is deleted.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described.

Note that the basic configuration and processing operation of the print processing apparatus according to the third embodiment are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the first embodiment, and will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. I do.

In the third embodiment, in the intermediate data editing step in the first embodiment, the last page of the document to be printed is only one line, and the last line one page before the last page. After one line of the last page can be printed, and when the character attribute of one line of the last page and the character attribute of the last line one page before the last page are the same, The intermediate data is edited so that a line is printed after the last line of the last page, and the last page to be printed is deleted.

The third embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that the next step of comparing the line height of the last page and the height of the last margin one page before in step S610 in FIG. However, the only difference is that a step of judging the character attribute of both is added, and the other processes are the same. Therefore, here, this step will be described and the other steps will not be described. In the third embodiment, the character attribute of the last page and the character attribute of the last line one page before after step S610 in FIG. Is inserted to determine whether or not is the same.

If the character attributes are the same in the above step, the flow advances to step S611. If the character attributes are different in the above step, the intermediate data temporary storage file is closed and the process ends.

The character attributes include a character type (font file name), a print size (point size), and the like. If all of them match, it can be determined that the print position can be changed. If they match, it can be determined that the print position can be changed. (Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment according to the present invention will be described.

The basic configuration and processing operation of the print processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 according to the first embodiment, and will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the fourth embodiment, the same processing steps as those in the third embodiment described above are applied to the second embodiment. That is, in the intermediate data editing step in the second embodiment described above, the last page of the document to be printed is only one line,
When one line of the last page is printable after the last line before the page, and the character attribute of one line of the last page is the same as the character attribute of the last line one page before the last page The intermediate data is edited so that one line of the last page is printed after the last line of the last page, and the last page to be printed is deleted.

The fourth embodiment is different from the above-described second embodiment in that the next step of comparing the line height of the last page in step S910 in FIG. However, the only difference is that a step of judging the character attribute of both is added, and the other processes are the same. Therefore, here, this step will be described, and description of the other steps will be omitted. In the fourth embodiment, the character attribute of the last page and the character attribute of the last line one page before after step S910 in FIG. Is inserted to determine whether or not is the same.

If the character attributes are the same in the above step, the flow advances to step S911. If the character attributes are different in the above step, the intermediate data temporary storage file is closed and the process ends.

The character attributes include a character type (font file name), a print size (point size), and the like. If all of them match, it can be determined that the print position can be changed, or one of them can be changed. If they match, it can be determined that the print position can be changed.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device.

It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

In this case, the storage medium storing the program according to the present invention constitutes the present invention. Then, the program is read into the system or the device from the storage medium. Then, by reading the program from the storage medium into the system or the device, the system or the device operates in a predetermined method.

In this embodiment, the floppy disk (F
D) The example in which the print processing program and the related data are directly loaded into the RAM 12 and executed from the RAM 8 has been described. In addition to this, the print processing program and the related data are temporarily stored in the hard disk device (H
D), and may be loaded from the hard disk device (HD) to the RAM 12 when the print processing program is operated.

The medium for recording the print processing program is not limited to a floppy disk, but may be a magnetic tape or a CD-ROM.
It may be a ROM, an IC memory card, a DVD, or the like.

Further, the printing program may be stored in the ROM 13 and configured to be a part of the memory map, and may be directly executed by the CPU 11.

[0177]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowcharts. Each module shown will be stored in a storage medium. That is, at least “print mode instruction module 1201”, “print designation module 1202”, “page control determination module 1”
203 ”,“ intermediate data generation module 1204 ”,
“Intermediate data storage module 1205”, “Page information recording module 1206”, “Intermediate data editing module 1207”, “Intermediate data output module 120”
8, "print data generation module 1209", "print data output module 1210", "print determination module 1211", "print position editing module 1212",
The program codes of the “page deletion module 1213” and the “print attribute determination module 1214” may be stored in a storage medium. In the present embodiment, the print attribute determination module 1214 functions to perform the processing of the second print determination step.

A laser beam printer may be used as a printing device. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a laser beam printer (hereinafter abbreviated as LBP) in this case. The LBP can input character pattern data or the like and print it on recording paper.

In FIG. 13, reference numeral 1340 denotes an LBP main body, which forms an image on a recording paper as a recording medium based on a supplied character pattern or the like. Reference numeral 1300 denotes an operation panel on which switches and LED indicators for operation are arranged, and 1301 denotes a printer control unit for controlling the entire LBP 1340 and analyzing character pattern information and the like. The printer control unit 1301 mainly converts character pattern information into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1302.

The laser driver 1302 is the semiconductor laser 1
This is a circuit for driving the laser beam 303, and switches on / off a laser beam 1304 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1303 according to an input video signal. Laser light 130
Numeral 4 is swung right and left by a rotating polygon mirror 1305 to scan on an electrostatic drum 1306. Thereby, the electrostatic drum 13
On 06, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed. This latent image is stored in a developing unit 1307 around the electrostatic drum 1306.
And then transferred to recording paper. This recording paper uses a cut sheet, and the cut sheet recording paper is LBP
The sheet is accommodated in a plurality of sheet cassettes 1308 corresponding to a plurality of kinds of sheets attached to the sheet 1340, taken in the apparatus by a sheet feeding roller 1309 and conveying rollers 1310 and 1311, and supplied to an electrostatic drum 1306.

The printing apparatus of this embodiment has been described by taking a laser beam printer as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to an ink jet printer described below. FIG. 14 is a schematic view of an inkjet recording apparatus IJRA (not shown) capable of feeding a plurality of types of sheets in accordance with a print job. In the figure, the carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 1404 of the lead screw 1405 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 1411 and 1409 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 1413 has a pin (not shown). Then, it is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An ink jet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. Reference numeral 1402 denotes a paper pressing plate, which presses the paper against the platen 1400 in the moving direction of the carriage. 1407, 1408
Is a home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 1406 in this region and switching the rotation direction of the motor 1413 and the like.
Reference numeral 1416 denotes a member that supports a cap member 1422 that caps the front surface of the print head. Reference numeral 1415 denotes suction means that suctions the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the print head through an opening 1423 in the cap. Reference numeral 1417 denotes a cleaning blade. Reference numeral 1419 denotes a member that enables the blade to move in the front-rear direction. These members are supported by a main body support plate 1418. It goes without saying that the blade is not limited to this form and a known cleaning blade can be applied to this example. Reference numeral 1421 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, and a cam 1420 for engaging with the carriage.
The driving force from the driving motor is controlled by known transmission means such as clutch switching. The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired operations can be performed at the corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 1405 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. If this operation is performed, any of the present embodiments can be applied.

Next, a control configuration for executing the recording control of the above-described apparatus will be described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure showing the control circuit, 150
Reference numeral 0 denotes an interface for inputting a print signal, 1501 denotes an MPU, 1502 denotes a program ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 1501, and 1503 stores various data (such as the print signal and print data supplied to the head). It is a dynamic ROM. 1
A gate array 504 controls supply of print data to the print head 1508.
00, data transfer control between the MPU 1501 and the RAM 1503 is also performed. Reference numeral 1510 denotes a carrier motor for transporting the recording head 1508, and reference numeral 1509 denotes a transport motor for transporting the recording paper. Reference numeral 1505 denotes a head driver for driving the head, and reference numerals 1506 and 1507 denote transport motors 1 respectively.
Reference numeral 509 denotes a motor driver for driving the carrier motor 1510.

The operation of the above control configuration will be described. When a recording signal enters the interface 1500, the gate array 1
A print signal is converted into print data for printing between the 504 and the MPU 1501. And the motor driver 1
The printheads 506 and 1507 are driven, and the printhead is driven according to the print data sent to the head driver 1505 to perform printing.

The components of the present invention can be incorporated into the above-described control structure of the ink jet printer, and it is apparent that the present invention can be applied not only to the laser beam printer but also to the above ink jet printer.

[0188]

As described above, according to the graphic processing method, apparatus, and storage medium of the present invention, a printer having a function of printing on a page basis and an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer connected to the printer are provided. In the print processing on the information processing apparatus, further, before generating print data to be transmitted to the printer, generating intermediate data having a data format different from the print data, and generating the intermediate data. In a print processing system capable of temporarily storing and generating print data from the intermediate data, a print mode is designated, execution of printing is instructed, and it is determined whether to perform page control according to the print mode. When the intermediate data is generated and temporarily stored, page information of print data to be transmitted to the printer is recorded. The temporarily stored intermediate data is edited, and the edited intermediate data is output, and based on the output intermediate data, final print data is generated and output. The time can be shortened, and the printing paper can be saved, and the economy can be improved.

At the time of the editing of the first intermediate data, it is determined whether the character print line of the last page is one line and the one line can be printed in the margin of the previous page. When it is determined that printing is possible, the printing position of the one line is edited and the last page is deleted, so that the visibility of the printing result is improved, and the printing time is shortened.
This has the effect of saving printing paper and improving economy.

Since the intermediate data is stored in one file including a page information recording unit for recording the page information and an intermediate data recording unit for describing the intermediate data corresponding to each page, the print result is And the printing time can be reduced, the printing paper can be saved, and the economy can be improved.

Since the intermediate data is stored in a page information recording file for recording the page information and a plurality of intermediate data recording files for describing the intermediate data for each page, the visibility of the print result is improved. And the printing time can be shortened, and the printing paper can be saved and the economy can be improved.

In determining whether or not printing is possible, it is determined that printing is possible when the character attribute of one line printed on the last page is equal to the character attribute of the last line on the previous page. Therefore, it is possible to improve the visibility of the printing result, shorten the printing time, and save printing paper, thereby improving the economy.

Further, since the designation of the printing mode and the designation of the printing information are designated by a keyboard, the visibility of the printing result is improved, the printing time is shortened, the printing paper is saved, and the economy is reduced. The effect which can raise is produced.

Further, since the designation of the printing mode and the designation of the printing information are designated by a pointing device, the visibility of the printing result is improved, the printing time is reduced, the printing paper is saved, and the economy is reduced. It has the effect of enhancing the character.

[0195]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a print processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a print processing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating data necessary for a printing process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of generating intermediate data according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a structure of a file required for a printing process in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of editing intermediate data according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of generating intermediate data according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a file necessary for print processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of editing intermediate data according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a memory map in a state where a print processing program is loaded into a RAM and becomes executable.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print processing program and related data.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a memory map in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a laser printer.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an inkjet printer.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of the printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 information processing device 3 video memory 4 display unit 5 keyboard (KBD) 6 pointing device (PD) 7 disk controller unit 9 hard disk unit 11 CPU 12 RAM 13 ROM 15 printer device 18 printing unit 19 operation unit 20 external memory 21 CPU

Claims (23)

[Claims] A print mode designating step of designating a print mode; a print designating step of designating print information to be transmitted to a printing apparatus; and a page for determining whether to perform page control according to the designated print mode. A control determining step; an intermediate data generating step of generating intermediate data for page control from the print information based on the determination of the determining step; a storing step of storing the generated intermediate data; A page information recording step of recording page information corresponding to the intermediate data to be transmitted to the intermediate data editing step of editing the stored intermediate data according to the designated print mode; and Intermediate data output step of outputting, the output intermediate data, and page information corresponding to the intermediate data, Print processing method characterized by comprising: a print data generation step of generating printing data, and an output step of outputting the final print data that is generated. 2. The intermediate data editing step further determines whether a character print line of the last page of the stored intermediate data is one line and the one line can be printed in a margin of a previous page. A printing determination step, and when it is determined that printing is possible in the printing determination step,
2. The print processing method according to claim 1, further comprising a print position editing step of editing a print position of a line, and a page deletion step of deleting the last page, wherein the intermediate data is edited. 3. The intermediate data includes: a page information recording unit that records the page information; and an intermediate data recording unit that describes intermediate data corresponding to the page information.
The print processing method according to claim 1, wherein the print processing method is stored in one file. 4. The intermediate data is stored in a page information recording file that records the page information and a plurality of intermediate data recording files that describe the intermediate data in units of the page information. Item 7. The print processing method according to Item 1. 5. The print determining step of determining whether printing is possible is performed when the character attribute of one line printed on the last page is equal to the character attribute of the last line on the previous page. 3. The print processing method according to claim 2, further comprising a second print determination step of determining. 6. The print processing method according to claim 1, wherein the designation of the print mode and the designation of the print information are input by a keyboard. 7. The print processing method according to claim 1, wherein the designation of the print mode and the designation of the print information are input and designated by a pointing device. 8. A print mode designating unit for designating a print mode, a print designating unit for designating print information to be transmitted to a printing apparatus, and a page for determining whether to perform page control according to the designated print mode. Control determining means; intermediate data generating means for generating intermediate data for page control from the print information based on the determination of the determining means; storage means for storing the generated intermediate data; Page information recording means for recording page information corresponding to the intermediate data to be transmitted to the intermediate data editing means for editing the stored intermediate data according to the designated print mode; and Intermediate data output means for outputting, the output intermediate data, and page information corresponding to the intermediate data, Print processing apparatus characterized by comprising: a print data generation means for generating printing data, and output means for outputting a final print data the generated and. 9. The intermediate data editing unit further determines whether a character print line of the last page of the stored intermediate data is one line and the one line can be printed in a margin of a previous page. A print determination unit, and when the print determination unit determines that printing is possible,
9. The print processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a print position editing unit that edits a print position of a line; and a page deletion unit that deletes the last page, and edits the intermediate data. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate data is stored in a single file including a page information recording unit that records the page information, and an intermediate data recording unit that describes the intermediate data corresponding to the page information. Claim 8
A print processing apparatus according to claim 1. 11. The intermediate data is stored in a page information recording file that records the page information and a plurality of intermediate data recording files that describe the intermediate data in units of the page information. Item 9. The print processing device according to item 8. 12. The printing determination means for determining whether printing is possible is performed when the character attribute of one line printed on the last page is equal to the character attribute of the last line on the previous page. The print processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a second print determination unit configured to determine. 13. The print processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the specification of the print mode and the specification of the print information are input and specified by a keyboard. 14. The print processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the designation of the print mode and the designation of the print information are input and designated by a pointing device. 15. A print mode designating unit for designating a print mode, a print designating unit for designating print information to be transmitted to a printing apparatus, and a page for determining whether to perform page control according to the designated print mode. Control determining means; intermediate data generating means for generating intermediate data for page control from the print information based on the determination of the determining means; storage means for storing the generated intermediate data; Page information recording means for recording page information corresponding to the intermediate data to be transmitted to the intermediate data editing means for editing the stored intermediate data according to the designated print mode; and Intermediate data output means for outputting, the output intermediate data, and page information corresponding to the intermediate data, Computer readable recording medium recording a program for the print data generating means, and output means for outputting a final print data the generated, to a function that generates print data. 16. A print judging means for judging whether a character print line of the last page of the stored intermediate data is one line and the one line can be printed in a margin of a previous page, and the print judgment means. When it is determined that printing is possible,
The storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising a program for causing a print position editing unit that edits a print position of a line and a page deletion unit that deletes the last page to function. 17. A file for storing the intermediate data in one file, comprising: a page information recording unit that records the page information; and an intermediate data recording unit that describes intermediate data corresponding to the page information. The storage medium according to claim 15, comprising a program. 18. A program for causing a page information recording file for recording the page information and a plurality of intermediate data recording files for describing intermediate data in units of the page information to include a program for executing the storage of the intermediate data. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein: 19. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second print determining unit that determines that printing is possible when the character attribute of one line printed on the last page is equal to the character attribute of the last line of the previous page. 17. The storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising a program for executing the program. 20. The storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising a program for executing designation of said print mode and designation of said print information by a keyboard. 21. The storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising a program for executing designation of said print mode and designation of said print information by a pointing device. 22. A printing method for performing printing on a page-by-page basis, wherein it is determined whether or not a print line of the last page can be moved to the last margin of the previous page of the last page, and if possible, the printing position is set to the last A printing method characterized by moving to the previous page of a page and deleting the last page. 23. A printing apparatus for performing printing on a page-by-page basis, wherein it is determined whether or not a print line of the last page can be moved to the last margin of the previous page of the last page, and if possible, the printing position is set to the last. A printing apparatus for moving to a previous page of a page and further deleting a last page.