JP2005161687A - Layout printing system, layout printing method, and layout printing program - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a condition setting procedure at the time of layout printing by automatically determining the optimum size and arrangement direction of a print image on an output paper only by setting the number of layouts to be printed on one page of output paper. To improve user-friendliness.
A layout printing method for printing an image of a plurality of pages on one page of output paper, and a print condition setting step for setting the number of layouts (number of images) to be printed on one page of output paper (step S301). ), A print document / image data acquisition step for acquiring document / image data to be printed (step S302), a print data generation step for generating print data including format information for layout printing (step S303), A printing process execution step (step S304) for executing the printing process.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a layout printing system, a layout printing method, and a layout printing program that re-layout and print a document or image composed of a plurality of pages in units of one page.

  After creating a multi-page document or image on a computer using word processing software, etc., if you want to list the entire document or image or check the layout, create the multi-page document or image on a single page. Printing (hereinafter referred to as layout printing) is often performed. In such a case, conventionally, it has been necessary to display a print dialog box on a display means of a computer and set the number of pages, the size, and the arrangement direction of an image to be printed on output paper.

  As in the above prior art, each time layout printing requires setting of multiple printing conditions including the number of pages of the print image, the operation is complicated, so an operation error occurs when setting the printing conditions There is a risk.

  In order to solve the above-described problems caused by the prior art, the present invention automatically determines the optimal size and orientation of the print image on the output paper by simply setting the number of layouts to be printed on one page of the output paper. An object of the present invention is to provide a layout printing system, a layout printing method, and a layout printing program.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a layout printing system according to the invention of claim 1 is a layout printing system for printing a plurality of pages of document / image data on one page of output paper, and the output Print condition setting means for setting print conditions including the number of layouts (number of images) to be printed on one page of paper, print document / image data acquisition means for acquiring document / image data to be printed, and the print conditions Print data creation means for creating print data for performing layout printing using the document / image data acquired by the print document / image data acquisition means based on the printing conditions set by the setting means; Print processing execution means for executing print processing based on the print data created by the print data creation means And it features.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, layout printing can be executed with a simple operation.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the layout printing system according to the first aspect, wherein the printing condition setting means includes an output paper size selection changing means for changing a paper size of the output paper included in the printing conditions; And margin width setting changing means for changing a margin width of the output paper included in the printing condition.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the preset output paper size and margin width can be changed during layout printing.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the layout printing system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the print data creating means performs printing on the output paper based on the printing conditions set by the printing condition setting means. It is characterized by determining an optimal size and arrangement direction of an image.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, at the time of layout printing, the optimum size and arrangement direction of the print image on the output paper are automatically determined only by setting the number of layouts.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a layout printing method for printing a plurality of pages of document / image data on one page of output paper, wherein the number of layouts to be printed on one page of output paper ( A printing condition setting step for setting a printing condition including the number of images), a printing document / image data acquisition step for acquiring a document / image data to be printed, and a printing condition set by the printing condition setting step A print data creation step for creating print data for performing layout printing using the document / image data obtained by the print document / image data acquisition step, and the print data created by the print data creation step. And a printing process execution step for executing a printing process based on the printing process.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, layout printing can be executed with a simple operation.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the layout printing method according to the fourth aspect, the printing condition setting step includes an output paper size selection changing step of changing a paper size of the output paper included in the printing condition; And a margin width setting changing step of changing a margin width of the output paper included in the printing condition.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the preset output paper size and margin width can be changed during layout printing.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the print data creating step performs printing on the output paper based on the print conditions set in the print condition setting step. It is characterized by determining an optimal size and arrangement direction of an image.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, at the time of layout printing, the optimum size and arrangement direction of the print image on the output paper are automatically determined only by setting the number of layouts.

  Moreover, according to the layout printing program concerning Claim 7, a computer can be made to perform the method as described in any one of Claims 4-6.

  According to the layout printing method, the layout printing program, and the layout printing system according to the present invention, the optimum size and arrangement direction of the printed image on the output paper can be determined only by setting the number of layouts to be printed on one page of the output paper. Since it is automatically determined, the condition setting procedure at the time of layout printing can be reduced, and the user-friendliness can be improved.

  Exemplary embodiments of a layout printing method, a layout printing program, and a layout printing system according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Schematic configuration of layout printing system)
First, a schematic configuration of a layout printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the layout printing system. The layout printing system includes an input unit 101, a display unit 102, a control unit 103, a reading unit 104, a storage unit 105, and a printing unit 106.

  The input unit 101 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and performs input of characters, numbers, data, movement of a cursor displayed on the display unit 102, selection of a range, movement of a window, change of size, and the like. The display means 102 displays data such as a document, an image, and function information as well as a cursor, an icon, or a tool box. The control means 103 controls the entire system. The reading unit 104 optically reads an image and takes in the image data into the system.

  In addition, the storage unit 105 stores a document data storage unit 111 that stores document data created by an application, an image data storage unit 112 that stores image data acquired by the reading unit 104, and a set printing condition. A print condition storage unit 113 and a print data storage unit 114 that stores the generated print data are provided. The printing means 106 prints the print data created by this layout printing system.

(Functional configuration of control means)
Next, a functional configuration of the control unit 103 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the control means 103. The control unit 103 includes an input information control unit 201, a print condition setting unit 202, a document data processing unit 203, an image processing unit 204, a print data creation unit 205, and a print processing execution unit 206.

  The input information control unit 201 allocates information input from the input unit 101 to each unit. The print condition setting unit 202 sets print conditions (number of layouts) for layout printing based on information input from the input unit 101. Also, the printing conditions are changed when there are changes in the printing conditions such as the output paper size and the margin width of the output paper set in advance. The printing conditions set (changed) here are stored in the printing condition storage unit 113.

  The document data processing unit 203 reads document data created using an application or the like from the document data storage unit 111. In addition, information input from the input unit 101 is added to the read document data, or correction is performed based on the information input from the input unit 101. The image processing unit 204 stores the image data acquired from the reading unit 104 in the image data storage unit 112 and performs predetermined image processing so that the acquired image data can be processed in the layout printing system.

  The print data creation unit 205 uses the document data and image data that have been subjected to predetermined processing by the document data processing unit 203 and the image processing unit 204 based on the printing conditions set by the printing condition setting unit 202, and print means. In step 106, printable data is created. In particular, when performing layout printing, the optimum size and arrangement direction of the print image on the output paper are determined from the preset margin width of the output paper and the number of layouts input from the input means 101. The print data created by the print data creation unit 205 is stored in the print data storage unit 114. The print processing execution unit 206 causes the printing unit 106 to execute print processing for the print data created by the print data creation unit 205.

  Since this layout printing system is configured as described above, when layout printing is performed, the optimum size and size of the print image on the output paper can be determined simply by specifying the number of layouts to be printed on one page of output paper. The arrangement direction is automatically determined. Therefore, it is not necessary to set and change the size and arrangement direction of the print image every time layout printing is performed, and complicated operations can be omitted, so that the user convenience is improved.

(Processing procedure of layout printing method)
Next, the processing procedure of the layout printing method will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the layout printing method. First, conditions for layout printing are set (step S301). Specifically, information input from the input unit 101 is sent to the print condition setting unit 202 via the input information control unit 201. The print condition setting unit 202 sets conditions for layout printing based on the information. Hereinafter, the process of this step will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the printing condition setting step. First, the user operates the input unit 101 to display a print dialog box 500 as shown in FIG. 5 on the display unit 102 (step S401). In this case, a print condition setting dialog box is usually displayed. To perform operations other than print condition setting, click the corresponding tab. Next, the user designates “layout printing” in the printing method designation area 501 (step S402).

  Subsequently, the desired number of layouts is set in the layout number setting area 502 (step S403). Furthermore, the user confirms whether or not it is necessary to change settings of other printing conditions (for example, the size of the output paper and the margin width) (step S404). If there is a need to change (step S404: Yes), the corresponding printing conditions are changed (step S405), the “OK” button 503 is clicked (step S406), and the process ends. On the other hand, if no change is necessary (step S404: No), the “OK” button 503 is clicked as it is (step S406), and the process is terminated.

  Next, document / image data to be printed is acquired (step S302). The document data is acquired when the document data processing unit 203 reads out the document data previously created by an application or the like stored in the document data storage unit 111. The image data is acquired by the image processing unit 204 acquiring the image data read by the reading unit 104 and processing the image data so that it can be processed by the layout printing system. If necessary, information can be added or corrected based on information input from the input unit 101 to the acquired document / image data.

  Next, print data for layout printing is created (step S303). This print data is created by the document data processing unit 205 based on the print conditions (number of layouts, output paper size, output paper margin width, etc.) set / changed by the print condition setting unit 202. The optimum size and arrangement direction of the print image on the output paper are determined using document data and image data that have been subjected to predetermined processing by the image processing unit 203 and the image processing unit 204, and data that can be printed by the printing unit 106 is created. To do.

  For example, in addition to the printing conditions in which the A4 size output sheet, the vertical margin width a and the horizontal margin width b are selected and set first, the number of layouts in the print dialog box 500 shown in FIG. 5 is set. When the number of layouts “2” is set in the area 502, as shown in FIG. 6, 2 is set for an A4 size output sheet 600 in which the vertical margin width is a and the horizontal margin width is b. The optimal size and orientation of the printed image are determined so that the page image can be laid out.

  Finally, a printing process is executed (step S304). Here, the print processing execution unit 206 causes the printing unit 106 to execute the print processing of the print data created in step S303.

  As described above, according to the layout printing method, layout printing program, and layout printing system of the present invention, when performing layout printing, the output paper can be set simply by setting the number of layouts to be printed on one page of output paper. The optimal size and orientation of the printed image with respect to is automatically determined. Therefore, it is not necessary to set and change the size and arrangement direction of the print image every time layout printing is performed, and complicated operations can be omitted, so that the user convenience is improved.

  The layout printing method described in the present embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  As described above, the layout printing system, the layout printing method, and the layout printing program according to the present invention are useful for printing document data, image data, and the like. In particular, a document created by a computer using word processing software or the like. Suitable for layout printing of data, image data, etc.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a layout printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the control means shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a layout printing method. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a printing condition setting process. It is a figure which shows an example of the print dialog box displayed on a display means. It is a figure for demonstrating the determination of the arrangement direction of a printing image.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Input means 102 Display means 103 Control means 104 Reading means 105 Storage means 106 Printing means 111 Document data storage part 112 Image data storage part 113 Print condition storage part 114 Print data storage part 201 Input information control part 202 Print condition setting part 203 Document Data processing unit 204 Image processing unit 205 Print data creation unit 206 Print processing execution unit 500 Print dialog box 501 Printing method designation area 502 Layout number setting area 503 “OK” button 600 Output paper

Claims (7)

A layout printing system for printing a plurality of pages of document / image data on one page of output paper,
Printing condition setting means for setting printing conditions including the number of layouts (number of images) to be printed on one page of the output paper;
Print document / image data acquisition means for acquiring document / image data to be printed;
Print data creation means for creating print data for performing layout printing using the document / image data acquired by the print document / image data acquisition means based on the print conditions set by the print condition setting means When,
Print processing execution means for executing print processing based on the print data created by the print data creation means;
A layout printing system comprising: The printing condition setting means includes
Output paper size selection changing means for changing the paper size of the output paper included in the printing conditions;
Margin width setting changing means for changing the margin width of the output paper included in the printing condition;
The layout printing system according to claim 1, further comprising: The print data creation means includes
3. The layout printing system according to claim 1, wherein an optimum size and arrangement direction of a print image on the output paper are determined based on a printing condition set by the printing condition setting unit. A layout printing method for printing a plurality of pages of document / image data on one page of output paper,
A printing condition setting step for setting printing conditions including the number of layouts (number of images) to be printed in one page of the output paper;
Print document / image data acquisition process for acquiring document / image data to be printed;
A print data creation step for creating print data for performing layout printing using the document / image data acquired by the print document / image data acquisition step based on the print conditions set by the print condition setting step When,
A print processing execution step of executing a print processing based on the print data created by the print data creation step;
The layout printing method characterized by including. The printing condition setting step includes
An output paper size selection changing step of changing the paper size of the output paper included in the printing conditions;
A margin width setting changing step of changing a margin width of the output paper included in the printing condition;
The layout printing method according to claim 4, further comprising: The print data creation step includes
6. The layout printing method according to claim 4, wherein an optimum size and arrangement direction of a print image on the output paper are determined based on the printing condition set in the printing condition setting step.   A layout printing program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 4.

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