JP2001282499A - Preview system and preview aiding system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately and quickly perform a print preview function. SOLUTION: A preview system is provided with image data generation method information having information whether the generation of image data is to be performed by a host or an output device in each plotting object such as characters constituting a document or a bit map to be previewed, an image data generation method determination means for determining whether the generation of image data is to be performed by a printer or the host on the basis of the image data generation method information and an image data synthesis means for synthesizing image data prepared by the host and the output device to generate a preview image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a printer connected via a communication medium such as a parallel cable capable of two-way communication, wherein the output result of the printer is connected to or built in the information processing apparatus. This is an invention relating to a preview function for checking in advance on a display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some applications such as word processing software have a preview function for checking an output image of a printer on a display connected to a host computer before actually printing a document on the printer.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a host computer when a preview is performed by a preview function attached to such an application. As shown in FIG. 2, when a preview request is received from the application 203, image data generation is performed. The means 204 generates image data. At this time, the image data generating means 2
Reference numeral 04 generates image data using information such as fonts of the host. The generated image data is stored in the drawing memory 205 and the preview image display means 20
6 connected to the host PC 201
02 is displayed.

However, the preview function attached to this application generates and displays a preview image using font information of the host computer and a program for displaying figures and the like on the display as described above. On the other hand, when printing with a printer, print data for causing a printer to print figures and the like is generated using font information of the printer and a program called a printer driver, and the printer generates the print data. It develops the output image and prints it. For this reason, the font information of the host may differ from the font information stored in the printer,
In some cases, the processing content for displaying the preview image of the document on the display is different from the processing content for generating the image data of the document by the printer. Therefore, the image displayed by the preview function of the application may be different from the print result actually output by the printer.

As means for solving this problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
There is an invention described in Japanese Patent No. 30410. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, when a preview request is received from the application 304, the print data generating unit 305 performs the same operation as in the normal printing.
Print data is generated, and the print data is transmitted to the printer 302.
The print data is expanded to create image data to be actually printed. When printing is performed, printing is performed using the image data generated here. When previewing is performed, the image data is returned to the host computer by the image data returning means 310, and the image data on the host side is returned. By displaying the preview image on the display 303 connected to the host computer by the preview image display unit 308 via the receiving unit 306, the preview image is generated by using the same font information, program, and the like as when actually outputting to the printer. Thus, the same preview image as the output result of the actual printer can be displayed.

[0006]

In the prior art configuration shown in FIG. 2, data transmission / reception and image data expansion processing do not occur as compared with the configuration shown in FIG. Although generation can be performed, there is a problem that the preview image generated by the host may differ from the actual print result of the printer as described above.

In the prior art configuration shown in FIG. 3, the size of print data generated by the host at the time of preview differs depending on the document or figure to be printed, and is drawn with a large number of drawing objects such as lines and circles. When printing such complicated graphics, the size of the print data generated by the host increases in proportion to the number of drawing objects that compose the document, so the transfer time of the print data from the host to the printer is extremely short. Become longer.

When the size of print data generated by the host increases, the processing time required for developing the print data into image data in the printer also increases, and the image generated by expanding the print data in the printer is further increased. Data size is one A4 sheet, 600d resolution
In the case of pi, full-color printing, if image data is not compressed, the size is about 100 megabytes, so that the transfer time when transferring image data generated by the printer to the host is also long.

Therefore, according to the conventional method of generating a preview image having the configuration shown in FIG. 3, a preview image similar to the print result of the printer can be obtained, but a long wait occurs until the preview image is displayed. There is a problem to do.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, the whole image data of the preview image is not obtained from the printer, but the output result of the printer is compared with the output result of the printer in FIG. For drawing objects with the same preview result by the configuration shown,
As shown in FIG. 2, image data is generated on the host side,
In the case of a drawing object in which the output result of the printer and the preview result by the configuration shown in FIG. 2 are different, the image data is generated via the printer as shown in FIG. The synthesized data is displayed on the display as a preview image.

The details of the solving means in claim 1 will be described below. Image data generation method information including information on whether a preview image is generated by a host or a printer for each drawing object such as a character, a bitmap image, a straight line, and a circle constituting a document to be previewed. By providing the host with image data generation method determining means for determining whether the image data of each drawing object is generated by the printer or the host based on the image data generation method information, the image data is generated according to each drawing object. In the case where the image data generation method determining means determines that the image data is generated by the host, the image data generation device includes the image data of the drawing object for which the preview request has been issued, provided in the host. Generate and draw notes by means Stored in a predetermined position.

When the image data generation method determining means determines that image data is to be generated via a printer, the print data generating means generates print data corresponding to the drawing object and transmits the print data to the printer. Image data is generated by the image data developing means of the printer. The generated image data is transmitted to the host by the image data returning means, and the host stores the image data received by the image data receiving means at a predetermined position in the drawing memory.

By performing the same operation on all drawing objects, the entire preview image is formed in the drawing memory, and the contents of the drawing memory are displayed as preview images by the preview image display means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the drawing order is held for each drawing object when the image data of each drawing object is generated. By referring to the drawing order and synthesizing the image data in the drawing order, the image data can be synthesized in the order of the drawing request when synthesizing the image data without generating the image data in the order of the drawing request. Therefore, the image data of each drawing object is efficiently generated by generating the image data of each drawing object in parallel by the printer and the host.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the generation of the image data generation method information as to whether the method of generating the image data of each drawing object is performed by the printer or the host, the drawing object to be defined by the image data generation method information is specified. Test data such as a document composed of all drawing objects is prepared, and a preview image of the test data is actually generated by both the host and the printer.

The host is provided with image data comparing means for comparing the preview image generated on the host with the preview image generated via the printer, and generates image data for each drawing object according to the comparison result of the image data comparing means. Image data generation method information is generated by providing an image data generation method information generation unit that defines a method and generates image data generation method information.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In the following embodiments, the information processing apparatus serving as a host is a personal computer (PC), but the information processing apparatus serving as a host is not limited to a PC.
An information processing device such as a digital still camera, a TV, and a set-top box may be used.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a host PC and a printer according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Hereinafter, the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a host PC, and reference numeral 102 denotes a printer connected to the host PC 101 by a communication medium capable of bidirectional communication such as a parallel cable. Reference numeral 103 denotes a display connected to the host PC for displaying a preview image. An application 104 creates a document or the like. Reference numeral 105 denotes an image data generation method determining unit that determines whether the preview image is generated by the printer or the host. Reference numeral 106 denotes image data generation method information including information on whether a preview image is generated by a printer or a host. Reference numeral 107 denotes an image data generating unit for generating a preview image by the host. Reference numeral 108 denotes print data generation means for generating print data corresponding to the drawing object and transmitting the generated print data to the printer. Reference numeral 109 denotes an image data receiving unit for receiving image data that is a part of the preview image transmitted from the printer.

Reference numeral 110 denotes an image data generating means 107
And image data combining means for combining image data created and received by the image data receiving means 109 to form a preview image. Reference numeral 111 denotes a drawing memory for storing drawing data formed by the image data synthesizing means. 112 is an image data synthesizing unit 11
This is a preview image display means for displaying the preview image generated in step 0 on a display. An image data expanding unit 113 expands print data transmitted from the host PC and generates image data. Reference numeral 114 denotes image data returning means for returning the image data generated by the image data expanding means 113 to the host PC.

The details of the operation in the first embodiment will be described below. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of the image data generation method information 106 of FIG.

As shown in the figure, the image data generation method information 401 is information that stores information that associates the image data generation method with each drawing object. This image data generation method information is generated by comparing the output result of the printer with the output image of the preview image generated by the host for all drawing objects.

The image data generation method information is divided into two cases as follows according to the comparison result.

One is a drawing object in which the output image differs between the output result of the printer and the preview image generated by the host. At this time, the method of generating the image data of the drawing object is “generate by printer”.

The other is a drawing object in which the output image is the same between the output result of the printer and the preview image generated by the host. At this time, the method of generating the image data is "generate by host". Then, information on a method of generating image data is obtained for all drawing objects, and image data generation method information is generated.

Reference numeral 402 denotes a configuration of print data generated by the print data generating unit 108 when generating image data by the printer.

As shown in the drawing, the print data stores, at the top, preview request information as information indicating that the following data is print data for generating a preview image, and then the drawing coordinates of the drawing object and the drawing coordinates. It is composed of a command (drawing object name + drawing parameter).

403 is a diagram showing the structure of the return data transmitted from the printer by the image data return means 114. As shown in the drawing, the return data 403 stores return data information indicating that the following data is image data for preview at the beginning, and then generates the drawing coordinates of the drawing object and the image data developing means 113 of the printer. It is composed of the image data obtained.

The operation from the execution of the preview function in the application to the display of the preview image will be described below. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing execution steps from the execution of the preview function to the display of the preview. When a preview is requested by the application, the preview is started in step 501.

A preview request is generated for each drawing object constituting a document. In step 502, a drawing request for each drawing object is obtained. Upon obtaining the drawing request of the drawing object, in step 503, based on the image data generation method information indicated by 401 in FIG. 4, whether to generate the image data of the drawing object requested to be drawn by the host or via a printer To determine.

If it is determined in step 503 that the host should generate image data, step 5
In step 04, image data corresponding to the drawing object requested to be drawn is generated, and in step 507, the generated image data is stored in the drawing memory.

If it is determined in step 503 that the printer generates image data, in step 505, print data corresponding to the drawing object requested to be drawn is generated and transmitted to the printer. The transmitted print data is expanded into image data by the image data expanding unit in step 506, and the expanded image data is returned to the host by the image data returning unit.

In step 507, the image data received from the printer by the image data receiving means is stored in the drawing memory by the image data synthesizing means.

In step 508, it is determined whether or not all drawing requests have been processed. If a drawing request has been generated continuously, the operation corresponding to each drawing object is repeated in the same manner from step 502 to process all drawing requests. Is completed, the image data stored in the drawing memory is displayed on the display by preview image display in step 509.

Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to an example in which a preview image of a document shown at 601 in FIG. 6 is displayed.

The document 601 is composed of a hatched circle, a character string "ABC" and a character string "123456890", and a triangle filled with a cross hatch. The character string “123456890” is overwritten by a triangle, and a part of the character string is overwritten by a triangle.

Reference numeral 602 stores information defining whether the image data for preview is generated by the host or the printer for each drawing object.

Reference numeral 603 indicates the order in which drawing requests of drawing objects are generated when the document example 601 is previewed. Reference numeral 604 denotes the contents of the drawing memory when image data corresponding to each drawing object is generated by the host or the printer when the drawing requests are generated in the order shown in 603, and the image data is combined with the drawing memory. Is illustrated.

The operation from when a drawing request for each drawing object is generated to when a preview image is formed will be described below. When the preview is executed, first, a drawing request of “drawing a circle” is generated.

The image data generation method determining means refers to the image data generation method information 602 and determines an image data generation method for this drawing request. At this time, since the image data generation method of “circle” is “generate by host”, it is determined that the host generates image data.

Next, the image data generating means provided in the host generates bitmap data according to the radius of the "circle", the thickness of the line, and the color of the line in accordance with the drawing request. Then, the bit map data of the "circle" generated by the image data generating means is stored at a predetermined position in the drawing memory according to the coordinate position specified by the drawing request by the image data synthesizing means.

Next, when a drawing request for “painting a circle with a hatch” is obtained, the image data generation method determining means refers to the image data generation method information 602 and determines that image data is to be generated by the printer, and The print data is generated in response to the drawing request of “paint with a hatch” and transmitted to the printer.

The print data generated at this time is 4 in FIG.
02, information indicating that the print data is data for preview is stored at the beginning, as shown at 701 in FIG. 7, information on coordinates indicating the drawing position of the drawing object, and The drawing object name is “painted” as a drawing command corresponding to the drawing object, and the shape, pattern, and color of the painting are stored as drawing parameters.

The printer which has received the print data analyzes the drawing command of the print data by the image data expanding means, generates bitmap data corresponding to the drawing command, and displays the bit map data indicated by 403 in FIG. 4 by the image data returning means. Generate the return data of the configuration and return the return data to the host.

The actual return data at this time is represented by 70 in FIG.
It is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the return data stores information indicating that the data is image data for preview at the beginning, coordinates indicating the drawing position of the drawing object,
The image data in the bitmap format generated by the image data expanding means is stored.

Here, the image data expanding means is means provided in a conventional printer, and is means for analyzing print data generated by a printer driver of a host and generating image data of a document.

In a conventional printer, printing is performed using image data generated by the image data developing means. In the present invention, this image data is stored in return data and used as image data for preview.

When the host receives the return data from the printer by the image data receiving means and determines from the return data information stored at the head of the received data that the received data is data for a preview image, The image data combining means stores the image data at a predetermined position in the drawing memory according to the drawing coordinates of the received return data.

The storage position of the image data to be stored in the drawing memory is obtained by calculating from the drawing coordinates of the drawing object issued at the time of the drawing request. The drawing coordinates are calculated by conversion from the coordinate system of the coordinates issued at the time of the drawing request to the coordinate system in the drawing memory.

The above operation is similarly performed for the remaining drawing requests indicated by reference numeral 603, so that image data of all drawing objects is formed in the drawing memory. When the image data of all the drawing objects is stored in the drawing memory, the contents of the drawing memory, that is, the preview image are displayed on the display connected to the host by the preview image display means.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a host PC and a printer according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of FIG. 1 shown in the first embodiment, in which a test data transmitting unit 804, an image data comparing unit 810, and an image data generating method information generating unit 811 are newly added. And the image data synthesizing unit 110 and the preview image display unit are deleted.

A test data transmission unit 804 is a unit for transmitting test data used when generating image data generation method information to the image data generation unit 805 and the print data generation unit 807.

Here, the configuration of the test data is test data in which all drawing objects registered in the image data generation method information are arranged on each page.

The image data comparing means 810 is a means for comparing image data generated by the host and the printer.

Reference numeral 811 denotes a means for determining an image data generation method according to the comparison result of the image data comparison means 810 and generating image data generation method information 812.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of each processing for the method of generating image data generation method information 812 in the second embodiment.

The operation of the method for automatically generating image data generation method information 812 in the second embodiment will be described below. When a request for generating the image data generation method information 812 is generated at the timing of a user operation, connection of a new printer, update of a printer driver, or the like, first, in step 902, the test data transmission unit 804 provided in the host causes the image data generation unit The test data is transmitted to the image data generation unit 805.
5, a preview image of the test data is generated, and the preview image is stored in the drawing memory 806.

Next, in step 903, the same test data is transmitted to the print data generation means 807 by the test data transmission means 804 provided in the host, and the print data of the test data is generated and transmitted to the printer 802.

Upon receiving the print data of the test data, the printer generates a preview image by the image data expanding means 813, and returns the preview image to the host 801 by the image data returning means 814. The host PC receives the preview image transmitted from the printer by the image data receiving unit 808, and stores the preview image in the drawing memory 809.

In step 904, both the image data generated by the image data generating means 805 of the host and the image data generated by the image data developing means 813 of the printer are stored in the drawing memory 806 and the drawing memory 809. The obtained image data is compared by the image data comparing unit 810.

At this time, if the contents of the drawing memory match, the flow advances to step 905 to define the image data generation method of the corresponding drawing object in the image data generation method information as "generate by host". If the contents do not match, the process proceeds to step 906, where the method of generating image data of the corresponding drawing object is defined as "generate with a printer".

This series of operations is performed for each drawing object for which a drawing request has been issued, that is, for each page, and image data is compared for all drawing objects.
The image data generation method is determined, and the image data generation method information 812 is automatically generated or updated.

In the comparison of the drawing memories, even if the image data does not completely match, if the error of the comparison result is within a predetermined threshold value, it is determined that the two image data match, and the host If the difference between the image data and the image data generated by the printer is within an allowable range, the image data may be defined as “generated by the host”.

In the test data, each drawing object is arranged for each page. However, a plurality of drawing objects are arranged on the same page. Information such as coordinates may be held, and the image data generation method information 812 may be generated by determining which drawing object is being compared based on the information such as the coordinates of the drawing position when comparing image data.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 10 shows a drawing request storage table 1001 for storing information of each drawing request and an image data information storage table 1002 for storing image data for each drawing request in the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

Reference numeral 1001 denotes a drawing request storage table according to the third embodiment. The drawing request storage table 1001 stores, as shown in FIG.
It is a set of information as a set. In the third embodiment,
Two image request storage tables, one for a drawing object for generating image data on the host and one for a drawing object for generating image data on the printer, are required.

FIG. 10 shows an image data information storage table 1002 according to the third embodiment. The image data information storage table 1002 is a set of information composed of three pieces of information: the order of drawing requests for image data generated by the host and the printer, coordinates indicating a drawing position, and the start address of the generated image data. It is.

The operation of the preview image generating method according to the third embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the contents of each processing in the preview image generating method according to the third embodiment.

Reference numerals 1101 to 1107 are flowcharts showing processing from when a preview image display request is issued to when all drawing requests are acquired and a drawing request storage table is created.

Reference numerals 1108 to 1113 are flowcharts showing processes from extracting a drawing request from the drawing request storage table, generating image data corresponding to each drawing request, and generating an image data information storage table.

Reference numerals 1114 to 1118 are flowcharts showing processing from extracting image data of each drawing object from the image data information storage table to generating a preview image.

When a preview request is received, information on all drawing requests is first stored in a drawing request storage table 1001 shown in FIG. 10 as shown in flowcharts 1101 to 1107 in FIG.

At this time, the drawing request information is stored in the drawing request storage table 1001 in the order in which the drawing requests are generated, and the drawing object for which the drawing request is made by the image data generation method determining means 105 is generated by the printer. , Or a drawing object that generates image data at the host, and the drawing request storage table for the drawing object that generates the image data at the host and the drawing request storage table for the drawing object that generates the image data at the printer The drawing request and the drawing order are stored in the drawing request storage table.

Next, FIG.
As shown at 1113, drawing request information is extracted from each drawing request storage table in the order of drawing request, and image data is generated. At this time, the processing of generating image data by the host and the processing of generating image data by the printer are performed in parallel in separate threads, and the image data generated by each thread is as shown by 1002 in FIG. Stored in the image data information storage table by configuration.

Then, when the image data information storage table 1002 is created for all drawing requests, the image data synthesizing means 110 subsequently generates each of the image data information storage tables 1002 as shown in the flowcharts 1114 to 1118 of FIG. The image data is stored in a predetermined position in the drawing memory (image data information storage
002) to form a preview image.

[0077]

As described above, according to the preview system according to the first aspect of the present invention, a drawing object having a different output result from a printer and a preview image displayed by a preview function of an application is previewed from the printer. The printer obtains an image, generates a preview image on the host for a drawing object whose output result matches the preview screen displayed by the preview function of the application, and combines and displays both preview images. And the amount of data transmitted and received between the host and the host can be reduced, and an accurate preview image in which the output result of the printer matches the preview image displayed on the display can be displayed at high speed.

According to the preview system of the present invention, when image data is generated by a printer, data must be transmitted and received between the host and the printer, and the printer is mounted on the printer. The CPU
Normally, since the capacity is lower than the CPU mounted on the host, the generation of image data on the printer takes longer to process than the generation of image data on the host. When the image data is generated in parallel by the host, an efficient preview image is generated, and a faster preview image can be displayed.

Further, according to the image data generating method information creating apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, font information is added to the host by automatically generating a database storing the image data generating method of each drawing object. If the print result or the preview image generated by the host changes when the printer driver is updated or when the printer driver is upgraded, the user can automatically update the image data generation method information. When it is necessary to update the image data generation method information due to the addition of a printer driver or a version upgrade of the printer driver, it is not necessary to manually update the image data generation method information for each drawing object, thereby reducing the user's labor. Becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration when a preview image is generated on a host according to one of the conventional techniques.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a configuration in which a preview image is generated via a printer according to one of the conventional techniques.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of image data generation method information;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a preview processing procedure according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a preview image combining method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of print data and return data according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of generating image data generation method information according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a drawing request storage table and an image data information storage table according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a preview image generating method according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 Host PC 102 Printer 103 Display 104 Application 105 Image data generation method determination unit 106 Image data generation method information 107 Image data generation unit 108 Print data generation unit 109 Image data reception unit 110 Image data synthesis unit 111 Drawing memory 112 Preview image display unit 113 image data expanding means 114 image data returning means 201 host PC 202 display 203 application 204 image data generating means 205 drawing memory 206 preview image displaying means 301 host PC 302 printer 303 display 304 application 305 print data generating means 306 image data receiving means 307 Drawing memory 308 preview image Image display means 309 Image data expansion means 310 Image data return means 401 Image data generation method information 402 Print data 403 Return data 601 Document example 602 Image data generation method information 603 Drawing request generation order 604 Transition of synthesis of preview image 701 Print data 702 Return data 801 Host PC 802 Printer 803 Application 804 Test data transmitting means 805 Image data generating means 806 Drawing memory 807 Print data generating means 808 Image data receiving means 809 Drawing memory 810 Image data comparing means 811 Image data generating method information generating means 812 Image data generation method information 813 Image data expanding means 814 Image data returning means 1001 Drawing request Storage table 1002 Image data information storage table

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Ryuichi Hori 3-10-18 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima-shi, Hiroshima F-term in Hiroshima Research Laboratory, Matsushita Electric Information System Co., Ltd. 2C087 AB01 AB05 BA03 BD07 BD41 CB20 5B021 AA01 BB04 CC02 DD09 PP08 5C062 AA13 AB22 AB23 AB38 AB42 AC05 AC24 BA00 5C076 AA11 AA19 BA05 BA06 9A001 BB01 BB03 BB04 HH28 JJ35 KK42

Claims (3)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus comprising an output device and a host connected to each other via a communication medium capable of two-way communication, wherein the image data is generated by the output device or by the host. Data generation method determining means, image data generating means for generating image data according to the drawing object for which the preview request has been made, print data according to the drawing object for which the preview request has been made, and outputting the print data to the output device. Print data generating means for transmitting, image data receiving means for receiving image data generated by the output device, and an image for synthesizing the image data obtained by the image data receiving means and the image data generated by the image data generating means Data combining means and the combined image data on the display device A preview system comprising preview image display means for displaying. 2. An image data information storage table for storing information relating a drawing request sequence of each drawing object to image data generated by a host and an output device, and after generating image data of all drawing objects, 2. The preview system according to claim 1, further comprising image data synthesizing means for synthesizing image data in the order of drawing request. 3. An information processing apparatus comprising an output device and a host connected to each other via a communication medium capable of bidirectional communication, wherein test data to be previewed is transmitted to an image data generating means and a print data generating means. Test data transmitting means, image data generating means for generating image data corresponding to a drawing object, print data generating means for generating print data corresponding to a drawing object, and transmitting the print data to an output device, and an output device Image data receiving means for receiving the image data generated by the image data generating means, image data comparing means for comparing the image data generated by the output device with the image data generated by the host, and an image according to the comparison result of the image data comparing means. Image data generation method information for creating data generation method information A preview support system comprising a report generation unit.