JP2008015563A - Printing control device, printing control method, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve layout printing with good appearance with limited blank space even for print data in which pages different in size and orientation are mixed. <P>SOLUTION: A de-spooler 506 in an internal spool processing part 501 of a printer driver 203 calculates layout pattern based on each logical page information of print data, and the layout count and output paper size in print setting information, and generates print data based on the calculated layout pattern. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention reduces the arrangement of print data for a plurality of pages on a single sheet of paper instead of printing one page of print data on a single sheet of paper when printing with a digital multifunction peripheral or printer. And printing technology.

  When printing with a digital multi-function peripheral, printer, etc., instead of printing one page of print data on a single sheet of paper, the print data for a plurality of pages is reduced and printed on a single sheet of paper. There is technology.

  Such printing is called layout printing, N-page printing, Nup printing, and the like, and is used for purposes such as draft printing and paper saving.

  However, if you print N pages of a document with multiple page sizes and page orientations, the paper will be ejected when the page size or orientation changes, even though N pages are not printed on the same sheet. There is a problem of end.

  As means for solving such a problem, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-99723) has been proposed.

  In Patent Document 1, by changing the enlargement / reduction ratio for each document size or changing the orientation of the paper, different page sizes and orientations are reduced and arranged on one sheet, and the paper is discharged halfway at the change of the page size. There has been proposed a technique for printing N pages on the same sheet.

  According to the present invention, when paper sizes and paper orientations are mixed in the same document, the enlargement / reduction ratio is determined for each logical page, and different logical pages are reduced and printed on the same paper. At this time, by laying out so that the orientations of the logical pages are aligned, it is possible to obtain an output close to a document in which the paper sizes and orientations are not mixed.

  Further, as in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-249858), when N pages are printed in order to obtain a print result with a reduced layout without white areas, the number of pages of the print document is There is a technique for determining a reduced layout to be divided by the number of variable pages so that a useless blank area does not occur when the number is not a multiple of N pages (Prior Art 3).

  20 to 22 are schematic diagrams for explaining conventional layout printing.

For example, when a 9-page document such as 2001 shown in FIG. 20 is printed in 4up, when the layout technique of Patent Document 1 is used, the layout is as shown in FIG. 21, and when the layout technique of Patent Document 2 is used. The layout is as shown in FIG.
JP-A-11-99723 JP-A-11-249858

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has the following problems.

  As shown in FIG. 20, when the orientation of the logical paper is different, the output paper is evenly divided in the area where the output paper is evenly divided and the print orientation is aligned. Therefore, useless margins are generated at the top, bottom, left and right of the reduced image. (FIG. 21). On the other hand, if the useless blank space is not generated, the orientation of printing is not uniform, and the readability deteriorates.

  Regardless of the size of the logical paper, the output paper is reduced and arranged so that it fits in an equally divided area. Therefore, the enlargement / reduction ratio is different for each logical paper, and the appearance of the original data mixed in the paper is destroyed.

  Because the size of the output paper is reduced so that it fits into an evenly divided area without considering the size of the logical paper, a reduction that exceeds the reduction ratio assumed by the user is applied (eg, A3 vertical data is converted to A4 horizontal data). 2in1), readability of character data, etc. is poor.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, the purpose of arranging the N-page printing appearance when the paper sizes and orientations are mixed in the same document is the same, but the appearance of paper mixing is lost (FIG. 22).

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to perform Nup printing with a small margin and good appearance even for print data in which pages of different sizes and orientations are mixed. It is to provide a mechanism that can.

  The present invention provides print data, a number of layouts that specify the number of logical pages of print data to be laid out on output paper, a holding unit that holds print setting information of the print data including the output paper size, and each logic of the print data. Logical page information acquisition means for acquiring page information, layout pattern calculation means for calculating a layout pattern based on the logical page information and the print setting information, and based on the layout pattern calculated by the layout pattern calculation means Generating means for generating print data.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a good layout printing while maintaining the original document with the enlargement / reduction ratio and printing direction of each sheet.

  In addition, regarding pages with different paper series, it is possible to perform layout printing with a good appearance as a whole by scaling with a different scaling ratio from other pages.

  Further, when a margin is generated, the number of pages can be changed to perform layout printing with a small margin.

  Therefore, even if the print data includes a mixture of pages of different sizes and orientations, it is possible to perform layout printing with less margin and good appearance.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the printing system includes a host computer 3000 and a printer 1500, which are connected to each other via a data transfer path 121.

  The host computer 3000 includes a CPU 101, a RAM 102, a ROM 103, an input controller (input C) 105, a video controller (VC) 106, a memory controller (MC) 107, a communication interface controller (communication I / FC) 108, A keyboard (KB) 109, a CRT display (CRT) 110, and an external memory 111.

  The CPU 101, RAM 102, ROM 103, input C 105, VC 106, MC 107, and communication I / FC 108 are connected to each other via the system bus 104.

  In the ROM 103 or the external memory 111, a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System), an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as “OS”), which is a control program of the CPU 101, and various programs necessary for executing each process described later. Etc. are stored.

  The OS used in the present embodiment is assumed to be, for example, Windows XP (registered trademark) manufactured by Microsoft Corporation, but is not limited thereto.

  The RAM 102 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 101. The CPU 101 implements various operations by loading a program necessary for execution of processing into the RAM 102 and executing the program.

  An input controller (input C) 105 controls input from a keyboard (KB) 109 or a pointing device such as a mouse (not shown).

  A video controller (VC) 106 controls display on a display device such as a CRT display (CRT) 110. The display device is not limited to the CRT, and may be a liquid crystal display.

  A memory controller (MC) 107 controls access to the external memory 111.

  The external memory 111 stores a boot program, browser software, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, and the like, and includes a hard disk (HD), floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD), or PCMCIA. It consists of a compact flash memory connected to the card slot via an adapter.

  A communication I / F controller (communication I / FC) 108 controls connection / communication with an external device via a network. For example, Internet communication using TCP / IP or data transmission / reception with the printer 1500 via the data transfer path 121 is possible.

  For example, the CPU 101 displays display information on the CRT 110 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 102. Further, the CPU 101 allows a user to give an instruction by displaying a mouse cursor or the like on the CRT 110.

  The printer 1500 includes a CPU 112, a RAM 119, a font ROM 113a, a program ROM 113b, a data ROM 113c, an input unit 118, a printing unit interface (printing unit I / F) 116, a printing unit 117, an operation unit 1501, A memory controller (MC) 120 and an external memory 114 are provided. The CPU 112, RAM 119, ROM 113, input unit 118, printing unit I / F 116, operation unit 1501, and MC 120 are connected to each other via a system bus 115.

  The printer CPU 112 outputs an image signal as output information to the printing unit (printer engine) 117 via the printing unit I / F 116 based on a control program stored in the program ROM 113b or the external memory 114.

  The program ROM 113b stores a control program for the CPU 112 and the like. The font ROM 113a stores font data used when generating the output information. The data ROM 113c stores information used on the host computer 3000 when the printer 1500 does not have the external memory 114 such as a hard disk.

  The CPU 112 can perform communication processing with the host computer 3000 via the input unit 118 and notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer 1500 and the like.

  A RAM 119 is a main memory of the CPU 112 and functions as a work area. The RAM 119 is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 119 is also used for an output information expansion area, an environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like.

  A memory controller (MC) 120 controls access to the external memory 114. The external memory 114 is connected as an option, stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like, and includes a hard disk (HD), an IC card, and the like.

  The operation unit 1501 is an operation panel on which switches for operation, LED indicators, and the like are arranged. Note that the number of external memories 114 provided in the printer 1500 is not limited to one, and may be plural as long as at least one is included. In addition to the built-in font, the printer 1500 may be configured so that an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages with different language systems can be connected. Further, the printer 1500 may have an NVRAM that stores printer mode setting information set by the operation unit 1501.

  In this embodiment, the page description language (hereinafter referred to as “PDL”) supported by the printer 1500 is assumed to be a relatively advanced PDL such as an LBP Image Processing System (hereinafter referred to as “LIPS”). However, it is not limited to this.

  A print control program (hereinafter referred to as “printer driver”) for realizing the present invention is recorded in the external memory 111 and is executed by the CPU 101 by being loaded into the RAM 102 as necessary. Definition files and various information tables used by the printer driver are stored in the external memory 111. Note that the configuration of the printing system is an example, and it goes without saying that there are various configuration examples depending on the application and purpose. For example, the present invention may be applied to a single device, or may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices connected via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network). .

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the host computer 3000 in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the host computer 3000 includes an application program (hereinafter referred to as “application”) 201, a graphics engine 202, a printer driver 203, and a print subsystem 204, which are respectively stored in the external memory 111. A program module stored as a file. These modules are loaded into the RAM 102 and executed by the OS and modules that use the modules.

  An application 201 and a printer driver 203 are connected to an external memory such as a hard disk (HD) from an external memory 111 such as an FD or a CD-ROM (not shown) or from an external device connected via a network 301 (FIG. 3) described later. 111.

  The application 201 stored in the external memory 111 is loaded into the RAM 102 and executed by the CPU 101. When printing is performed from the application 201 to the printer 1500, output (rendering) is similarly performed using the graphics engine 202 that is loaded into the RAM 102 and executed by the CPU 101.

  The graphics engine 202 activates a printer driver 203 prepared for each printing apparatus. As a result, the printer driver 203 is executed by the CPU 101 loaded from the external memory 111 to the RAM 102.

  The graphics engine 202 uses the printer driver 203 to convert a print command or drawing command output from the application 201 into a printer control command using PDL.

  The printer control command converted by the printer driver 203 is output to the printer 1500 via the print subsystem 204 and the data transfer path 121.

  The print subsystem 204 is started by the OS, loaded from the external memory 111 to the RAM 102 and executed by the CPU 101, scheduling of print jobs, connection control between the host computer 3000 and the printer 1500, and the printer 1500. Manage status.

  The printer driver 203 converts the print command or drawing command output from the application 201 into a printer control command, and in addition to the function of instructing the printer to be reflected in the print output, the printer driver 203 and the printer driver A function for performing settings for controlling the functions of the 1500 (hereinafter referred to as “user interface (UI)”), a function for storing the settings, and information on functions of the printer driver 203 and the printer 1500 are stored in the application 201 and the OS. Provided when the function set in the UI is a function that the printer 1500 has, the function that generates a printer control command, and the function that is set in the UI is a function that is unique to the printer driver 203 It has a function to realize the function.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which the host computer 3000 and the printer 1500 in FIG. 1 are applied.

  In FIG. 3, the printing system includes a plurality of host computers 3000, a printer 1500, and a print server computer 4000, which are connected to each other via a network 301.

  The communication I / F controller 108 of the host computer 3000 connected to the network 301 has a network interface card (NIC) function.

  The printer 1500 may be configured to be connected to the print server computer 4000 via the local interface 302 such as Centronics or USB and to be connected to the network 301 via the print server 4000. Form may be sufficient. The input unit 118 of the printer 1500 directly connected to the network 301 has a function of a network interface card (NIC).

  When the host computer 3000 transmits a print job to the printer 1500 connected to the network 301 via the print server computer 4000, first, the host computer 3000 transmits the print job to the print server computer 4000 via the print subsystem 204. The print server computer 4000 transmits the print job transmitted from the host computer 3000 to the printer 1500 via a print subsystem (not shown) on the print server computer 4000.

  When the host computer 3000 transmits a print job to the printer 1500 directly connected to the network 301, the host computer 3000 transmits the print job directly to the printer 1500 via the print subsystem 204.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a basic flow of print control processing executed by the host computer 3000 of FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the application 201 does not directly transmit / receive information to / from the printer driver 203 but transmits / receives information to / from the printer driver 203 via the graphics engine 202 included in the OS.

  The graphics engine 202 receives an instruction from the application 201 and instructs the printer driver 203.

  First, the application 201 notifies the graphics engine 202 of print setting information such as single-sided / double-sided printing settings and the number of copies setting via the memory secured in the RAM 102, and the printer driver 203 receives the printing from the graphics engine 202. Based on the print setting information, the printer driver 203 receives a request for initializing a memory area secured in the RAM 102 to store information (printer driver information) necessary for printing processing. (Step S401). As a result, the printer driver 203 secures a memory area for holding the printer driver information, and initializes the memory area in accordance with the print setting information.

  When the printer driver 203 completes the necessary processing by receiving the initialization request for the memory area holding the printer driver information referred to by the printer driver 203, the printing capability of the printer driver 203 according to the print setting information received in step S401. Information is notified to the graphics engine 202.

  The application 201 acquires a handle value necessary for associating the print job that is finally transmitted to the printer 1500 with the print setting information to be reflected in the print job from the graphics engine 202 (step S402).

  Next, when the application 201 makes a print start request to the graphics engine 202, the printer driver 203 receives the print start request from the graphics engine 202 (step S403).

  As a result, the printer driver 203 generates a printer control command by PDL necessary for the printer 1500 to start printing. The process for generating the printer control command may be performed when the printing process for the first page (first page) is started, that is, when the drawing instruction for the first page from the application is received.

  When the application 201 issues a drawing instruction for drawing a drawing object such as a character or an image to the graphics engine 202, the printer driver 203 receives the drawing instruction from the graphics engine 202 (step S404). ).

  As a result, the printer driver 203 appropriately generates a printer control command reflecting a drawing instruction including a specified drawing object, a page break, and a request for changing print setting information in the middle, and the generated printer control The command is output to the printer 1500. Note that the number of pages to be printed depends on the designation from the application 201.

  Next, when the application 201 makes a print end request to the graphics engine 202, the printer driver 203 receives the print end request from the graphics engine 202 (step S405). As a result, the printer driver 203 generates a printer control command necessary for the printer 1500 to end printing, and ends the printer control command generation processing.

  Next, the application 201 notifies the graphics engine 202 of the handle value discard request acquired in step S <b> 402, and the printer driver 203 receives a request to discard the printer driver information stored in the memory area from the graphics engine 202. To do. As a result, the printer driver 203 performs a process of discarding the printer driver information (step S406).

  One print job to be transmitted to the printer 1500 is generated by the processing in steps S403 to S405.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing in detail the configuration of the printer driver 203 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the printer driver 203 has a configuration in which print data from the application 201 is once spooled with intermediate code data, and can process the contents of the intermediate code data once spooled. As a result, functions that the application 201 does not have, such as enlargement / reduction or printing by reducing a plurality of pages into one page, can be realized with respect to print data from the application 201.

  In order to process the print data, settings are normally made from a window provided by the printer driver 203, and the printer driver 203 stores the setting contents on the RAM 102 or the external memory 111.

  First, the dispatcher 501 receives a DDI function that is a print command from the graphics engine 202. When the print command (DDI function) received by the dispatcher 501 from the graphics engine 202 is based on the print command (GDI function) issued from the application 201 to the graphics engine 202, the dispatcher 501 stores the external memory 111. Is loaded into the RAM 102, and a print command (DDI function) is sent to the spooler 503 instead of the normal print data creation processing unit 507.

  The spooler 503 analyzes the received print command, converts it into intermediate code data for each page, and saves it in the spool file 504. A spool file of intermediate code data stored in units of pages is referred to as a page drawing file (PDF).

  Further, the spooler 503 obtains processing setting information shown in FIG. 6 to be described later from the printer driver 203 regarding print data such as bookbinding printing, Nup, duplex, stapling, color / monochrome designation set for the printer driver 203. Then, it is stored in the spool file 504 as a file for each job. The spool file of the processing setting information stored for each job is called a job setting file (SDF: Spool Description File).

  The spool file 504 is generated as a file on the external memory 111, but may be generated on the RAM 102.

  The spooler 503 loads the spool file manager 505 stored in the external memory 111 into the RAM 102 and notifies the spool file manager 505 of the generation status of the spool file 504. Thereafter, the spool file manager 505 determines whether printing can be performed in accordance with the contents of the processing setting information regarding the print data stored in the spool file 504.

  When the spool file manager 505 determines that printing can be performed using the graphics engine 202, the despooler 506 stored in the external memory 111 is loaded into the RAM 102, and the despooler 506 is described in the spool file 504. Instructed to print the page drawing file of the intermediate code data.

  The despooler 506 processes the page drawing file of the intermediate code data included in the spool file 504 in accordance with the job setting file including the processing setting information included in the spool file 504, regenerates the GDI function, and again transmits to the graphics engine 202. Output GDI function.

  When the dispatcher 501 receives the print command (DDI function) received from the graphics engine 202 based on the print command (GDI function) issued from the despooler 506 to the graphics engine 202, the dispatcher 501 uses the spooler 503. Instead, a print command is sent to the normal print data creation processing unit 507 of the printer driver.

  The printer driver 203 generates a printer control command including PDL based on the DDI function acquired from the graphics engine 202, and outputs the generated printer control command to the printer 1500 via the print subsystem 204.

  In the present invention, a function is added mainly to processing when the despooler 506 receives a print start request from the spool file manager 505.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the processing setting information stored in the spool file 504 shown in FIG.

  The machining setting information is set by the user from the driver UI 1600 shown in FIG. 7 and stored in the machining setting information (FIG. 6).

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a driver UI for performing print settings of the printer driver 203 illustrated in FIG.

  The automatic layout process of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a first control processing procedure according to the present invention, which corresponds to the automatic layout processing executed by the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 1 using the printer driver 203 shown in FIG. That is, the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 101 reading out the printer driver program stored in the external memory 111 to the RAM 102 and executing it.

  Here, detailed description will be made based on the output result when 8 logical pages and 4up are designated as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing information stored in the RAM 102 during the automatic layout process shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, the description of the automatic layout process of FIG. 8 is started.

  First, in step S701 in FIG. 8, when the despooler 506 receives a print start request from the spool file manager 505, the despooler 506 refers to the Nup information included in the processing setting information (FIG. 6) regarding the print data stored in the spool file 504. Then, it is determined whether or not Nup printing is set.

  If Nup printing is not set as a result of the determination in step S701 (that is, 1up), the despooler 506 performs normal printing based on the processing setting information relating to the print data stored in the spool file 504 in step S712. To end this process.

  On the other hand, if Nup printing is set (in the case of 2up or more) as a result of the determination in step S701, the despooler 506 makes the smallest sheet from each logical page stored in the spool file 504 in step S702. The size is searched, and the size and orientation are held in the RAM 102 as output paper size information. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the output paper size information is (A4, portrait).

  Next, in step S <b> 703, the despooler 506 acquires Nup information from the processing setting information (FIG. 6) stored in the spool file 504 and stores it in the RAM 102. The Nup information is set by the user in the page layout 1602 on the driver UI 1600 shown in FIG. 7 and stored in the processing setting information.

  Next, in step S704, the despooler 506 determines the layout template shown in FIG. 11 based on the output paper size information and Nup information held in the RAM 102.

  In the example shown in FIG. 9, since the output paper size information is “A4 portrait” and the Nup setting is “4up”, the layout template to be determined is “A4 portrait 4up”. The information is held in the RAM 102.

  Next, in step S705, the despooler 506 creates a Nup table to be applied to the logical paper size shown in FIG. 12 based on the output paper size information and the Nup information held in the RAM 102.

  At this time, Nup is determined so that the same enlargement / reduction ratio is applied to each logical paper size. Here, the number of blocks means the number of Nup-divided areas of the output paper used when laying out the logical paper size. The information is held in the RAM 102.

  Next, in step S706, the despooler 506 generates the layout table shown in FIG. 13 based on the size and orientation of each logical sheet stored in the layout template of FIG. 11, the Nup table of FIG. 12, and the spool file 504. decide. The information is held in the RAM 102. Details of the processing for obtaining the layout table for each logical sheet in step S706 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S707, the despooler 506 obtains a margin ratio based on the layout table of FIG. More specifically, the margin is calculated by a calculation formula corresponding to “margin ratio = 1− (number of layout table layout numbers shown in FIG. 13) / (number of layout template layout numbers in FIG. 11 × number of output pages)”. Calculate the percentage. For example, in the example of FIG. 13, the number of layout numbers of the layout template is “11”. In the example of FIG. 11, the number of layout numbers of the layout template “A4 portrait 4up” is “4”, which is shown in the output result of FIG. Thus, since the number of output pages is “3”, the margin ratio is “1-11 / 4 × 3”, that is, “1/12”. The information is held in the RAM 102.

  In step S709, the despooler 506 determines that the margin rate obtained in step S707 is not “0%” and the Nup setting for the maximum logical paper size in the Nup table obtained in step S704 is not “1up”. If it is determined, the despooler 506 halves the number of Nup divisions held in the RAM 11 in step S710 and repeats the processing from step S704.

  On the other hand, in step S709, the despooler 506 determines that the margin rate obtained in step S707 is “0%” or that the Nup setting of the maximum logical paper size in the Nup table obtained in step S704 is “1up”. In this case, the despooler 506 applies and outputs the layout table having the lowest margin rate from the layout tables held in the RAM 102 in step S711. At this time, if the user explicitly specifies the output paper size in the output paper size 1601 on the driver UI 1600 shown in FIG. 7, the output paper size is enlarged and reduced (this example will be described later). As shown in FIG. When the process of step S711 ends, the process of this flowchart ends.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the user explicitly specifies the output paper size in the output paper size 1601 on the driver UI 1600 shown in FIG. It is.

In this example, the output paper size 1601 on the driver UI 1600 is displayed.
This corresponds to the case where “4 pages / sheet” (that is, 4 up) is designated in the page layout 1602 on the driver UI 1600 and “A3” is set in the output paper size 1601.

  In FIG. 14, as indicated by reference numeral 1401, a document in which A4P and A3L are mixed is output.

  In this case, if the output size is not explicitly specified, the output result is output Nup on A4P paper as indicated by 1402.

  However, since “A3” is explicitly designated as the output size, in this case, as shown in 1403, the layout result of A4 is enlarged and output so as to fit the output paper size A3.

  When “A5” is explicitly designated as the output size, the output size is reduced so as to fit the output size A5.

  Hereinafter, the process for obtaining the layout table of each logical sheet shown in step S706 of FIG. 8 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of a second control processing procedure according to the present invention, and corresponds to the processing for obtaining the layout table of each logical sheet in S706 of FIG. 8 in the despooler 506. That is, the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 101 reading out the printer driver program stored in the external memory 111 to the RAM 102 and executing it.

  First, in step S 801, the despooler 506 acquires information on the size and orientation of the first logical page from the intermediate code page drawing file stored in the spool file 504, and stores the information on the current logical sheet in the RAM 102.

  Next, in step S802, the despooler 506 executes a process for obtaining a position (= layout number) in which the logical page acquired in step S801 is laid out in the Nup-divided area of the output sheet. Details of the process for obtaining the layout number in step S802 are shown in FIG.

  Next, in step S803, the despooler 506 adds the size and orientation of the logical page and the layout number obtained in steps S801 and S802 to the layout table (FIG. 13) held in the RAM 102.

  Next, in step S 804, the despooler 506 acquires information about the size and orientation of the next logical page from the intermediate code page drawing file stored in the spool file 504, and stores the information on the current logical sheet in the RAM 102. It is.

  At this time, the despooler 506 determines in step S805 whether or not a logical page exists. If there is no logical page (processing of all logical pages is completed), the present process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S506 that a logical page exists, the despooler 506 advances the process to step S806.

  In step S806, the despooler 506 executes a process for obtaining a position (= layout number) in which the logical page acquired in step S804 is laid out in the Nup-divided area of the output sheet. Details of the processing in step S806 are shown in FIG.

  In step S807, the despooler 506 adds the size and orientation of the logical page and the layout number obtained in steps S804 and S806 to the layout table held in the RAM 102, and the process returns to step S804. Then, the processes of S804 to S807 are repeated until all the logical pages are finished.

  Hereinafter, the process of determining the layout position by comparing the current logical page and the previous logical page shown in steps S802 and S806 of FIG. 15 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a third control processing procedure according to the present invention, in which the current logical page shown in steps S802 and S806 of FIG. 14 in the despooler 506 is compared with the previous logical page. Corresponds to the process of determining. That is, the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 101 reading out the printer driver program stored in the external memory 111 to the RAM 102 and executing it.

  First, in step S <b> 901, the despooler 506 obtains the number of blocks corresponding to the current logical page stored on the current logical sheet in the RAM 102 from the Nup table held in the RAM 102. The information is held in the RAM 102.

  Next, in step S902, the despooler 506 determines whether the current logical page is the first page. If it is determined that the current page is the first page, the process proceeds to step S909.

  In step S909, the despooler 506 sets the starting layout number to (1), and proceeds to step S910. The information is held in the RAM 102.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S902 that the current logical page is not the first page, the despooler 506 advances the process to step S903.

  In step S903, the despooler 506 checks whether there is an area for laying out the current logical page stored on the current logical sheet in the RAM 102 on the same output sheet. Specifically, if “Nup information − previous page layout number <= number of blocks of current logical page” is “true”, it is determined that there is an area for layout, and if “false”, the layout is determined. It is determined that there is no area to do.

  If it is determined in step S903 that there is no area for laying out the current logical page stored on the current logical sheet in the RAM 102 on the same output sheet, the despooler 506 cannot output the same output sheet on the same output sheet. The process proceeds to step S909, the starting layout number is set to (1), and the process proceeds to step S910. The information is held in the RAM 102.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S903 that there is an area for laying out the current logical page stored on the current logical sheet in the RAM 102 on the same output sheet, the despooler 506 performs processing in step S904. Proceed.

  In step S904, the despooler 506 determines whether the current logical page and the previous page stored in the RAM 102 have the same paper size. If it is determined that they are the same, the process proceeds to step S905. To proceed.

  In step S905, the despooler 506 determines whether or not the current logical page and the previous page stored in the RAM 102 have the same paper orientation. The process proceeds to S907.

  In step S907, the despooler 506 sets “previous page layout number + 1” as the starting layout number, and proceeds to step S910. For example, if the layout number of the previous page is (1), the starting layout number of the current page is (2). The information is held in the RAM 102.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S905 that the current logical page and the previous page stored in the RAM 102 are not in the same paper orientation, the despooler 506 determines that the output cannot be performed on the same output paper. The process proceeds to step S909, the starting layout number is set to (1), and the process proceeds to step S910. The information is held in the RAM 102.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S904 that the paper size is the same between the current logical page and the previous page held in the RAM 102, the process proceeds to step S906.

  In step S906, the despooler 506 determines whether the current logical page and the previous page have different paper sizes, but as a result of applying Nup to the current logical page, the data direction is the same as that of the previous page. For example, in the case of A3L 2up and A4P 4up, A3P 2up and A5P 8up, etc., the direction of data becomes the same by applying Nup. L: Landscape, P: Portrait.

  If it is determined in step S906 that Nup is applied to the current logical page and the direction of the data is the same as that of the previous page, the despooler 506 can determine that it can be laid out on the same output sheet. Proceed with the process.

  In step S908, the despooler 506 obtains the starting layout number by the following expression, and proceeds to step S910. Specifically, “layout number = layout number of previous page / current block number (rounded up) obtained in S901 × current block number + 1”. For example, if “previous page A4P layout number (1), current page A3L has 2 blocks, the starting layout number is (3). This information is stored in the RAM 102.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S906 that the data orientation is not the same as that of the previous page even if Nup is applied to the current logical page, the despooler 506 can determine that it cannot be laid out on the same output sheet. The process proceeds to step S909, the starting layout number is set to (1), and the process proceeds to step S910. The information is held in the RAM 102.

  Finally, in step S910, the despooler 506 sets the region for the current number of blocks as a layout number based on the starting layout number stored in the RAM 102 obtained in any of steps S907 to S909, and ends the process. To do. For example, when the starting layout number (3), the paper size A3L, and the number of blocks is 2, the layout numbers are (3) and (4).

  As described above, there is an effect that the NUP printing can be performed with the reduction ratio and the printing direction of each sheet as the original document.

[Other Embodiments]
In the first embodiment, the case where the layout control is performed using the same series (A system / B system) paper as an example has been described. Alternatively, the layout may be made so as to fit on the output paper. In the case of this configuration, some margins are generated in the top, bottom, left, and right.

  In the first embodiment, the same enlargement / reduction ratio is applied to all the logical sheets. However, in the case of sheets of similar sizes such as A4 and LTR, the enlargement / reduction ratio is finely adjusted so that it fits on the sheet. May be laid out. In the case of this configuration, it is possible to lay out so as to fit on the output sheet with almost no appearance.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the configuration in which the layout mode with a low margin rate is selected has been described. However, a layout mode that minimizes the number of output pages may be selected to reduce paper. Further, these modes may be selectable on the driver UI.

  In the first embodiment, the paper size is determined based on the paper size information (DEVMODE :: dmPaperSize) set in the printer driver. However, the paper size may be automatically determined from the print data. For example, in the case where data is written only at the left end of the A3 landscape, it is determined as an A4 portrait.

  Further, when a margin is generated regardless of which layout pattern is applied, a mode for deleting the margin part by changing the output paper size may be provided. This example is shown in FIG.

  In the example shown in FIG. 17, the output paper size is changed from A4 to A5. As a result, the margin becomes “0”.

  In addition, when a margin occurs, a mode may be provided in which the page order is changed to optimize the margin area to be minimum. An example of this is shown in FIG.

  In the example shown in FIG. 18, the blank area is minimized by inserting the logical page 5 in an empty place. At this time, a page number may be assigned so that the order can be understood.

  Note that this processing may not produce the expected output when special processing is applied to special paper such as postcards and envelopes. If these papers are specified, this processing is not applicable. You may do it.

  It should be noted that the configuration and contents of the various data described above are not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the various data and configurations are configured according to the application and purpose.

  Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention can take an embodiment as, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or recording medium, and specifically includes a plurality of devices. The present invention may be applied to a system including a single device.

  As described above, Nup printing with good appearance can be performed with the enlargement / reduction ratio and printing direction of each sheet as the original document.

  In addition, regarding pages with different paper series, it is possible to perform Nup printing with a good overall appearance by scaling with a different scaling ratio than other pages.

  Further, when margins occur, the number of pages can be changed to perform Nup printing with a small margin.

  Therefore, even if the print data includes a mixture of pages of different sizes and orientations, it is possible to perform Nup printing with a small margin and good appearance.

  The configuration of a data processing program that can be read by the print control apparatus (computer 3000) according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a recording medium (storage medium) that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the print control apparatus (computer 3000) according to the present invention.

  Although not specifically shown, information for managing a program group stored in the recording medium, for example, version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons may also be stored.

  Further, data depending on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, when a program or data to be installed is compressed, a program to be decompressed may be stored.

  The functions shown in FIGS. 8, 14, and 15 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external recording medium via a network. Is.

  As described above, a recording medium in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is stored in the recording medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, A silicon disk or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading a recording medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

  Furthermore, by downloading and reading out a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a server, database, etc. on a network using a communication program, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. It becomes.

  In addition, all the structures which combined each embodiment mentioned above and its modification are also included in this invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the software structure of the host computer 3000 of embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which a host computer 3000 and a printer 1500 according to an embodiment of the present invention are applied. It is a figure which shows the basic flow of the printing control processing performed by the host computer 3000 of embodiment of this invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating in detail a configuration of a printer driver 203 according to the embodiment of this invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the process setting information regarding the print data of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the page layout on driver UI of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the automatic layout process of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the output result at the time of designating the logical page of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the information memorize | stored on RAM102 of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the layout template of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the table of Nup applied to the logical paper size of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the layout table of embodiment of this invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which an output paper size is explicitly specified by an output paper size 1601 on the driver UI 1600 shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which calculates | requires the layout table of each logical paper of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which calculates | requires the layout number for each logic of embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a mode in which a margin portion is deleted while changing an output paper size. It is the schematic diagram which showed an example of the mode which replaces page order and optimizes so that a blank area may become the minimum. It is a figure explaining the memory map of the recording medium (storage medium) which stores the various data processing program which can be read with the printing control apparatus (computer 3000) based on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the conventional layout printing. It is a figure for demonstrating the conventional layout printing. It is a figure for demonstrating the conventional layout printing.

Explanation of symbols

3000 Host computer 1500 Printer 203 Printer driver 502 Internal spool processing unit 506 Despooler

Claims (11)

Holding means for holding print data, print setting information of the print data including the number of layouts specifying the number of logical pages of the print data to be laid out on the output paper, and the output paper size;
Logical page information acquisition means for acquiring each logical page information of the print data;
Layout pattern calculating means for calculating a layout pattern based on the logical page information and the print setting information;
Generating means for generating print data based on the layout pattern calculated by the layout pattern calculating means;
A printing control apparatus comprising: The layout pattern calculation means includes
Determining means for determining the number of layouts to be applied for each logical paper size of each logical page based on the number of layouts and the output paper size in the print setting information;
Layout position calculating means for calculating a position for laying out each logical page in an area obtained by dividing the output paper by the number of layouts corresponding to the logical paper size of the logical page based on the logical paper size and orientation of the logical page; With
2. The layout pattern according to claim 1, wherein the layout pattern is calculated based on the layout position calculated by the layout position calculation means so as to variably lay out logical pages having different sizes and orientations in a uniform orientation. Print control device. The layout pattern calculation means includes
The print control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an output sheet determination unit that determines, based on the logical page information, a logical sheet having a minimum logical sheet size as an output sheet. The layout position calculating means includes
4. The print control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a layout pattern is calculated so that each logical page is enlarged and reduced at the same enlargement / reduction ratio and laid out on output paper in logical pages having different sizes and orientations. . The layout position calculating means includes
For logical pages with different paper series, sizes, and orientations, for output pages and logical pages with different paper series, the output paper and paper series are laid out on the output paper at a different scaling ratio than the same logical page. The print control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the layout pattern is calculated as follows. A margin ratio calculating means for calculating a margin ratio indicating a ratio of a region to be a margin based on the layout pattern calculated by the layout pattern calculating means;
The generation unit changes the number of layouts to a predetermined number of layouts, causes the layout pattern calculation unit to calculate a layout pattern for each changed layout number, and the margin rate calculated by the margin rate calculation unit is minimum. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein print data is generated based on a layout pattern. A margin ratio calculating means for calculating a margin ratio indicating a ratio of a region to be a margin based on the layout pattern calculated by the layout pattern calculating means;
The generation unit changes the number of layouts until the margin rate calculated by the margin rate calculation unit falls below a predetermined threshold, and causes the layout pattern calculation unit to calculate a layout pattern for each changed layout number, 6. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein print data is generated based on a layout pattern having a minimum margin ratio calculated by the margin ratio calculation unit. The layout position calculating means includes
8. If a margin occurs in a logical page having different sizes and orientations, a layout pattern is calculated so that the page order is changed to fill the margin and the layout pattern is calculated. The printing control apparatus according to item 1. In a print control method in a print control apparatus having a print data, a number of layouts that specify the number of logical pages of print data to be laid out on output paper, and print data setting information for the print data including the output paper size,
A logical page information acquisition step of acquiring each logical page information of the print data;
A layout pattern calculating step for calculating a layout pattern based on the logical page information and the print setting information;
A generating step for generating print data based on the layout pattern calculated by the layout pattern calculating means;
A printing control method characterized by comprising:   A program for causing a computer to function as the print control apparatus according to claim 1 or causing a computer to execute the print control method according to claim 9.   A recording medium storing a computer-readable program for causing a computer to function as the print control apparatus according to claim 1 or causing the computer to execute the print control method according to claim 9.

Images