JPH11237962A - Printing controller and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently the dividing processing of a once-generated job file is a page unit in a printing controller for performing the printing processing of a job file at a client. SOLUTION: A client 1 is connected through a network or the like to a printer 2. In a printing controller 3, a job file generating means 3a generates the job file of a file to which printing is commanded on the side of an application 4. Then, the job file is stored in a job file storage means 3b. When any job file is selected by a user, a job file reading means 3c reads the selected job file from the job file storage means 3b. Then, a job file dividing processing means 3d performs dividing processing to the read job file in a page unit according to the operation of the user, and a new job file generating means 3e newly generates the job file of respective data to which dividing processing is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a print control apparatus for performing print processing of a job file on a client side, and a recording medium, and more particularly to generating a job file of a file instructed to be printed on an application side and transmitting the generated job file to the print apparatus side. And a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when a client issues a print command to a printing apparatus, a user specifies a file to be printed on an application, and a job file of the specified file is sent to a print control apparatus, a so-called printer driver. Generated by The printer driver sends the generated job file to the printing device, and prints the job file there.

Conventionally, in such a printing process, there have been many inventions in which the processing efficiency on the client side is improved. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-317151,
In an image processing apparatus that performs various jobs, a standard job is registered with a one-touch key or the like so that the job can be easily executed. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-216
In Japanese Patent No. 606, a job file having a program command for printing a print file and an electronic system print file are combined to form a job file, which is output to a printing device by a print manager via a network.

Further, job execution information generated in response to job processing is saved and accessed in a printing apparatus.
The job is stopped or restarted in a printer that allows viewing of font information during the time required for printing (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-160452) or a job processing apparatus that sequentially executes jobs requested to be processed. (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-286895) and a method in which print job files are given priority to increase printing efficiency (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-175614).

[0005]

However, in these conventional techniques, when a print command is issued, there has been only a method of giving a command on an application. For this reason, if a job file that has been printed is to be divided or concatenated in page units, it must be performed again on the application, which is troublesome and requires less processing time because of the conversion to the job file. Was wasted.

In particular, when a printing apparatus connected via a network is used by a large number of clients, each client needs to perform processing by its own application even for a common job file, and the processing is wasted. Was. In addition, it is necessary to provide the same number of applications as the number of clients, which is uneconomical.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a printing apparatus and a recording medium capable of efficiently performing a page-by-page division process of a once generated job file. I do.

Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to efficiently perform processing for linking divided job files.

[0009]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a print control apparatus for performing a job file printing process in a client includes a job file for generating a job file of a file instructed to be printed by an application. Generating means, job file storing means for storing the job file, job file reading means for reading a job file selected by a user from the job file storing means, and reading the read job file according to a user operation. Job file division processing means for performing division processing on a page-by-page basis, new job file generation means for newly generating a job file of each of the divided processing data, and printing of the new job file in response to a print command from a user. On the printing device side Print control apparatus characterized by comprising: a print data transmitting unit for signal for, is provided.

In such a printing apparatus, when the job file generating means generates a job file of a file instructed to be printed on the application side, the job file is stored in the job file storing means. When a user selects a job file, the job file reading means reads the selected job file from the job file storage means.

Then, the read job file is
The job file division processing unit divides the data in units of pages according to the operation of the user, and the new job file generation unit newly generates a job file of each of the divided data. The new job file generated in this way is transmitted by the print data transmitting means to the printing apparatus as print data in response to a print command from the user.

Thus, the user can freely divide and print the once generated job file without relying on the application. Further, in addition to the above-described configuration, by providing a job file linking unit that links the read job files in page units according to a user's operation, the user can create a once-generated job file or a divided job file. Can be freely linked and printed without relying on the application.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the concept of the function of the present embodiment. The client 1 is connected to the printing device 2 via a network or the like. The client 1 is provided with an application 4 for processing a document file and the like, and a print control device 3 for causing the printing device 2 to print a file instructed to be printed by the application 4. Here, the print control device 3 is provided by, for example, software.

In the print control device 3, the job file generating means 3a generates a job file of a file instructed by the application 4 to print. Then, the job file is stored in the job file storage unit 3b.
When a user selects a job file, the job file reading unit 3c reads the selected job file from the job file storage unit 3b.

Then, the read job file is
The job file division processing unit 3d performs division processing on a page basis according to a user operation, and converts the job files of the divided data into new job file generation units 3d.
e is newly generated. The print data transmitting unit 3f transmits the generated new job file as print data to the printing apparatus 2 according to a print command from the user.

The printing device 2 prints the received print data on paper. Next, a specific configuration of the print control apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration related to the print control apparatus according to the present embodiment. Client 10
Is connected to a printer 20 via a network or the like, and file printing is executed in response to a request from the client 10. The printer 20 has a client 1
Many clients (not shown) other than 0 are connected. The client 10 includes a printer driver 11 and an application 12 related to file printing. The client 10 is provided with an HDD (hard disk drive) 13 for storing various programs and files. Further, the client 10 has a monitor 14 for displaying a screen,
A keyboard 15 and a mouse 16 for a user to perform an input operation are connected.

When a print command is sent together with a file from the application 12, the job file generating means 11a as a function of the printer driver 11 generates a job file based on the file. Then, the generated job file is sent to the job file management unit 11b. If the command from the application 12 is a normal print command, the job file is also sent to the print data transmitting unit 11g. The print data transmitting unit 11g transmits the transmitted job file to the printer 20 as print data.

On the other hand, the job file management means 11b
The generated job file is stored in the HDD 13,
The job file is read from the HDD 13 or deleted according to a request from each function. The user operation receiving unit 11c executes on the monitor 14 a screen display necessary for selecting a job file and selecting a dividing process and a connecting process to be described later. Further, the user operation receiving means 11c
The user's operation using the keyboard 15 and the mouse 16 is accepted.

The job file division processing means 11d divides the job file specified by the user in units of pages according to the operation of the user. This split data is
This is sent to the new job file generation means 11f. Also,
The divided data is sent to the job file connection processing unit 11e when a request for connection processing is made. The job file connection processing means 11e responds to a user operation by
The job file in the HDD 13 and the file data divided by the job file division processing unit 11d are linked in page units. The linked file data is sent to the new job file generating means 11f.

The new job file generation means 11f generates a new job file based on the file data from the job file division processing means 11d and the job file connection processing means 11e. The generated new job file is stored in the HDD 13 via the job file management unit 11b. The new job file is sent to the printer 20 via the print data transmitting unit 11g.
To be printed there.

Next, a description will be given of a specific processing procedure on the screen of the division processing and the connection processing of the job file. First, the user issues a print instruction on the application 12 for a file such as a document created on the application 12. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display at the time of a print instruction on an application. When printing a document created with the document input software, click "File" in the menu bar at the top of the screen,
A pull-down menu 31 as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. The pull-down menu 31 includes a print command 31a.
Is displayed. By clicking this, a window for a print command is displayed on the screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen display example of a window for a print command on an application. In the print window 32, a printer name, a print range, and the like can be specified. Here, if the check box 32a of "output to file" is checked and the "OK" button 32b is clicked, a dialog for inputting a job file name is displayed on the screen.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a display example of a dialog for inputting a job file name. In the dialog 33, enter the job file name in the file name column 33a,
By clicking the "Save" button 33b, a job file is generated by the printer driver, and the
D13 is stored.

In some applications, the window shown in FIG. 4 does not appear. In this case, FILE: may be specified as the connection destination for printing in the attribute setting of the printer 20 itself. When printing is designated, a job file name input screen is displayed, and a job file is generated by an operation there.

Next, the processing on the user side when the generated job file is divided on a page basis will be described. To execute the division processing, a printer dialog is opened on the screen and an information property is selected.

FIG. 6 shows a display example of the information property screen of the printer. On the information property screen 34, a "job" button 34a is displayed. When this button is clicked, a job file processing selection screen is displayed on the screen.

FIG. 7 shows a display example of a job file processing selection screen. In the job file processing selection screen 35, a job file name display field 35a, a page number field 35
b, "Load" button 35c, "Split" button 35d,
A "link" button 35e, a "send" button 35f, and a "close" button 35g are displayed. Of these,
When the "load" button 35c is clicked, a job file selection screen for selecting a job file to be processed is displayed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of a job file name selection screen. Since a list of job file names is displayed on the job file selection screen 36, a job file name to be processed is selected from the list. Then, on the screen, the job file processing selection screen 35 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed again, and as shown in FIG. 9, the selected job file name is displayed in the job file name display field 35a. Here, the five-page job file “test.p
"s" is selected and displayed. If the user wants to divide the job file “test.ps” in page units, the user clicks the “divide” button 35d. As a result, a window for specifying a division range is displayed on the screen.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a display example of the division range designation window. In the division range specification window 37,
Button 37a for selecting "all pages", button 37b for selecting "designation of page", page input field 37
c, a check box 37d for designating "Create a job file for each page", an "OK" button 37e, and the like are displayed.

Here, "all pages" is selected when dividing the entire job file one page at a time. On the other hand, “designation of page” is selected when designating a page to be divided and cut. At this time, if the designated page is a single page, the page number is entered in the page input box 37.
c, for a plurality of continuous pages, enter "2-4" as shown in the figure, and for a plurality of intermittent pages, enter "2, 5, 7". input.

When the check box 37d for designating "create a job file for each page" is checked, one job file is generated for each page. When the check box 37d is not checked, the designated job file is designated. One job file containing all pages is generated. When "all pages" is selected, the check box 37d is automatically checked.

When the page is designated as shown in the figure and the [OK] button 37e is clicked, the screen is switched to the job file processing selection screen 35 again. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of a job file processing selection screen 35 after page designation. Job file processing selection screen 35
, A newly generated job file name “Test 2 & 4.ps” is displayed. When "Test 2 &4.ps" is specified on the screen with a cursor or the like and the transmission button 35f is clicked, the job file divided in page units is transmitted to the printer 20 and printed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the division process of a once generated job file in units of pages can be executed on the printer driver side, thereby improving work efficiency. The newly created job file is stored in the HDD
13 so that other clients can easily use it without going through an application. Therefore, the work efficiency of other clients can be improved, and the cost can be reduced because it is not necessary to provide an application for all clients.

Next, a description will be given of internal processing on the printer driver side in executing such a division processing. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a job file. Usually, in the job file 40, a Header portion is included at the beginning of the file, and "%% Page: NN" (where N represents the number of pages) indicating a page break is included at the beginning of each page. . At the end of the file, EOF (End O
f File) part is provided. When performing the division process, each page is cut out based on "%% Page: NN".

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a division processing procedure. Here, a case is shown in which two pages and five pages are cut from the seven-page job file 41 to form one file. First, two-page data 42 and five-page data 43 are cut out from the job file 41. Then, a new job file 44 is generated by superimposing the data 42 and the data 43 and providing a Header part at the head and an EOF part at the end.

Next, the connection processing will be described. The connection processing of the job file in page units is performed on the job file processing selection screen 35 shown in FIG. Then, by selecting two or more job files from the job file names and clicking a "link" button 35e,
These are linked to generate one job file. For example, the two job files “test.ps” and “test 2 & 4.p” displayed on the screen of FIG.
If you want to create a new job file by linking “s”, select both with the cursor or the like and click the “link” button 3
Click 5e.

Thus, the job file “test.p”
s "and" test 2 & 4.ps "are generated, and the new job file name" test # test2 & 4.ps "is displayed on the job file processing selection screen 35, as shown in FIG. Is displayed.
Here, # is a symbol that connects files.

As described above, by enabling the linking process on a page-by-page basis, the user can freely link and print the job file generated once or the divided job files without relying on the application. Can be.

Next, a processing procedure of a program for performing such processing will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a program for executing the division processing. [S1] A file pointer is placed at the beginning of a job file to be divided. [S2] The file pointer is advanced to the head of the page or the end of the file. [S3] It is determined whether or not the position currently indicated by the file pointer is the EOF indicating the end of the file. If EOF, the process proceeds to step S10. If not, the process proceeds to step S4. [S4] It is determined whether or not the position currently indicated by the file pointer is the head of the page. If the head is the head, the process proceeds to step S5; [S5] A mark is placed at the position of the current file pointer. [S6] The file pointer is advanced to the head of the page or the end of the file. [S7] The part from the mark to immediately before the file pointer is copied to a temporary file. [S8] It is determined whether or not it is designated to generate a job file for each page. If so, the process proceeds to step S9; otherwise, the process returns to step S3. [S9] The temporary file is written out as a job file. [S10] It is determined whether or not it is specified to generate a job file for each page, and if so, step S11 is performed.
Otherwise, the flowchart ends. [S11] The temporary file is written out as a job file.

FIG. 16 shows steps S9 and S1 in FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing a specific procedure of the first process. [S21] A Header part is inserted at the beginning of the temporary file. [S22] EOF is inserted at the end of the temporary file. [S23] The file pointer is placed at the head of the temporary file. [S24] It is assumed that n ← 1. [S25] The file pointer is advanced to the beginning of the page or the end of the file. [S26] It is determined whether or not the position currently indicated by the file pointer is EOF indicating the end of the file.
If so, the process proceeds to step S29, and if not, the process proceeds to step S27. [S27] In order to make the position pointed to by the file pointer the head of the n-th page, "%% Page: NN" indicating a page break is added to the position. [S28] It is assumed that n ← n + 1. [S29] The temporary file is written out and cleared.

Next, a processing procedure of a program for executing the connection processing will be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a program for executing the connection processing. [S31] It is assumed that n ← 1. [S32] It is determined whether the connection of the n-th job file from the top of the list has been specified. If so, the process proceeds to step S33; if not, the process proceeds to step S34. [S33] The body of the n-th job file is copied to a temporary file. [S34] It is determined whether or not there are n + 1 or more job files in the list. If so, the process proceeds to step S35; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S36. [S35] It is assumed that n ← n + 1. [S36] The temporary file is written out as a job file by executing the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a specific procedure of the process in step S33 of FIG. [S41] The file pointer is placed at the head of the job file. [S42] The file pointer is advanced to the beginning of the page or the end of the file. [S43] It is determined whether or not the position currently indicated by the file pointer is the EOF indicating the end of the file.
If it is, the flow chart ends, and if it is not EOF, the process proceeds to step S44. [S44] A mark is placed at the position of the file pointer. [S45] The file pointer is advanced to the end of the file. [S46] The portion from the mark to immediately before the file pointer is copied to a temporary file.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a user selects a job file, the selected job file is divided into pages in accordance with the operation of the user, and each divided data is divided. A new job file is generated, and the generated new job file is transmitted to the printing apparatus as print data in response to a print command from the user. Can be divided and printed freely without relying on.

Therefore, work efficiency is improved. Also, since the generated job file can be easily used by other clients without going through an application, the work efficiency of other clients is improved, and
Costs can be reduced because not all clients need to have applications.

Further, according to the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, the read job file can be connected in units of pages according to the operation of the user. Files can be linked and printed freely without resorting to applications.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a concept of a function according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration related to a print control apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example when a print command is issued on an application.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen display example of a print instruction window on an application.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a dialog for inputting a job file name.

FIG. 6 illustrates a display example of an information property screen of a printer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a job file processing selection screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a job file name selection screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example when a job file name selected as a processing target is displayed on a job file processing selection screen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of a division range designation window.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a job file processing selection screen after a page is specified.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a job file.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a division processing procedure.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a job file processing selection screen after file connection processing;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a program for executing a division process.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a specific procedure of processing in steps S9 and S11 in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a program for executing a linking process.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a specific procedure of a process in step S33 of FIG. 17;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 client 2 printing device 3 print control device 3a job file generating means 3b job file storing means 3c job file reading means 3d job file dividing processing means 3e new job file generating means 3f print data transmitting means 4 application

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A print control device for performing print processing of a job file in a client, wherein: a job file generation means for generating a job file of a file instructed to be printed by an application; and a job file storage means for storing the job file. A job file reading unit that reads a job file selected by a user from the job file storage unit; a job file division processing unit that divides the read job file in page units according to a user operation; New job file generating means for newly generating a job file of each processed data; and print data transmitting means for transmitting the new job file as print data to the printing apparatus in response to a print command from a user. Specially Print control apparatus according to. 2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a new job file storage unit that stores the new job file. 3. A job file linking means for linking the read job files in page units according to a user operation.
The printing control device according to the above. 4. A job file generating means for generating a job file of a file instructed to be printed by an application, on a computer-readable recording medium storing a print control program for performing a job file printing process in a client; Means for storing a job file selected by a user from the storage device, a job file dividing means for dividing the read job file into pages in accordance with a user operation Processing means; new job file generating means for newly generating a job file of each of the divided data; printing for transmitting the new job file as print data to a printing apparatus in response to a print command from a user A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for functioning as a data transmission unit is recorded.