JP2010049343A - Document processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform an imposition for inline case bookbinding even to a printer capable of performing the inline case bookbinding, not allowing acquisition of an apparatus configuration. <P>SOLUTION: A document processor capable of instructing the printer capable of performing the inline case bookbinding to perform the case bookbinding has: a document arrangement change means for changing a position wherein document data are arranged in a paper sheet; an apparatus configuration acquisition means for acquiring capability of the printer; and an inline case setting means capable of setting whether to make an instruction to perform the case bookbinding ineffective to make document arrangement for the inline case bookbinding ineffective or to leave it when the instruction to perform the case bookbinding to the printer decided that it cannot perform the case bookbinding by the apparatus configuration acquisition means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a document processing method and a document processing apparatus, and more particularly to a document processing method and a document processing apparatus in a system including information processing such as a personal computer and a printer.

  Conventionally, there is a commercial printing industry in which a third party (customer, client) receives a request for creating a printed matter (magazine, newspaper, catalog, advertisement, etc.) and receives a reward for creating the desired printed matter of the client. . Even in the commercial printing industry, a large-scale printing apparatus such as an offset plate-making printing machine is still in use today. In the printing industry, submission, design and layout, comp (presentation by printer output), proofreading (layout correction and color correction), proof printing (proof print), block printing, printing, post-processing, shipping, etc. We have been working through various processes. This is because it is indispensable to create a block for the use of a printing press as described above. Once a block is created, it is not easy to modify the block and it is very disadvantageous in terms of cost. That is, this is because the layout check and the color confirmation work are essential. As described above, in this type of industry, a large-scale apparatus is required, and a certain amount of time is required for a client to create a desired printed matter. Moreover, each of these operations requires specialized knowledge, so to speak, it requires the know-how of a skilled worker called a craftsman.

  On the other hand, recently, with the increase in speed and image quality of electrophotographic printing devices and inkjet printing devices, the print on demand (hereinafter referred to as Print On Demand) is described below. Large-scale printing as described above, with the aim of handling jobs with a relatively small lot compared to jobs handled by a printing device, called POD, with a short delivery time without using a large-scale device or system. For example, a market that uses digital image forming devices such as digital copiers and digital multifunction devices to realize digital printing using electronic data and conducts business using it. Is also appearing. In such a POD market, digitization has been integrated as compared with the conventional printing industry, and management and control using a computer have permeated, and the computer is being used to approach the level of the printing industry to some extent. Against this background, the POD market includes PFP (Print For Pay), which is called a printing service of a copy / print shop printing company, and CRD (Centralized Production Division), which is called a printing service for in-house use. .

  When post-processing is performed after printing on a printing press, in the case of offset printing, post-processing (finishing) processes such as cutting, saddle stitching, case binding, paper folding, punching, etc., have an offline finisher. Done using. On-demand printing, on the other hand, often uses an inline finisher connected to a digital multifunction peripheral and an offline finisher depending on the delivery date and the number of copies. For example, even for the same content, in-line is often used for quick delivery and small copies, and offline for large copies. However, the printing company must use the same method as required by the client. Therefore, the printing company may have to change the imposition method between inline and offline.

In a document processing system capable of performing post-processing processing setting and imposition, as a method of changing imposition between inline and offline, there is a method of acquiring and switching the device configuration of a printing machine that instructs printing. For example, when the setting for performing case binding is performed, if there is an ability to perform case binding to acquire the device configuration of the printing machine instructed to perform printing, imposition for case binding is performed and printing is performed. As a result of acquiring the device configuration, if there was no ability to perform case binding, printing was performed without imposition for case binding.
JP 2003-091384 A

  However, there may be a printing machine that has the ability to perform case binding inline but cannot obtain the device configuration. In this case, as a result of acquiring the device configuration of the printing machine that issues the print instruction in the document processing system, it is determined that there is no ability to perform case binding inline, and therefore imposition for offline is performed and printed. Become. In this situation, when the setting for performing the case binding is performed by the setting of the printing press, the post-processing is performed using the inline finisher even though the imposition for offline is performed. For this reason, the finished product may not have the result intended by the creator, such as the position of the document being shifted.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a document processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an original arrangement changing unit that changes a position where original data is arranged on a sheet, an apparatus configuration acquisition unit that acquires the capability of a printing apparatus, and an inline case. A document processing apparatus capable of instructing case-binding for a printing apparatus capable of bookbinding, and for a printing apparatus that has been determined by the device configuration acquisition means that case-binding cannot be performed. It is characterized by having an inline case setting means which can set whether to disable or leave the document placement for inline case binding when an instruction to perform bookbinding is invalidated. And

  Imprinting for inline case binding can also be performed for a printing machine that can perform inline case binding for which the device configuration cannot be obtained.

  Next, details of the present invention will be described in accordance with the description of the embodiments.

  The outline of the document processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this document processing system, a data file created by a general application is converted into an electronic document file by an electronic document writer. The bookbinding application provides a function for editing the electronic manuscript file. In this example, the general application, the electronic document writer, the bookbinding application, and the electronic document despooler are separated from each other so that the functions are clear, but the package provided to the user is not limited to these. These may be provided as a combined application or graphic engine. Details will be described below.

<Software Configuration Example of Document Processing System According to this Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a software configuration of the document processing system according to the present embodiment.

  The document processing system is realized by a digital computer 100 (hereinafter also referred to as a host computer) which is a preferred embodiment of a document processing apparatus (information processing apparatus) according to the present invention. The general application 101 is an application program that provides functions such as word processing, spreadsheet, photo retouching, drawing or painting, presentation, and text editing, and has a printing function for the OS. These applications use a predetermined interface (generally called GDI) provided by an operating system (OS) when printing application data such as created document data and image data. That is, the application 101 transmits an output command (referred to as a GDI function) in a predetermined format depending on the OS to the output module of the OS that provides the interface in order to print the created data. Upon receiving the output command, the output module converts the command into a format that can be processed by an output device such as a printer, and outputs the converted command (called a DDI function). Since the format that can be processed by the output device varies depending on the device type, manufacturer, model, etc., a device driver is provided for each device. The OS uses the device driver to convert commands and print data. A print job is generated by generating and enclosing in JL (Job Language). When using Microsoft Windows (registered trademark) as an OS, a module called GDI (Graphic Device Interface) corresponds to the output module described above.

  The electronic manuscript writer 102 is an improvement of the above-described device driver and is a software module provided for realizing the document processing system. However, the electronic document writer 102 is not intended for a specific output device, and converts the output command into a format that can be processed by the bookbinding application 104 and the printer driver 106 described later. The format after conversion by the electronic document writer 102 (hereinafter referred to as “electronic document format”) is not particularly limited as long as a document in units of pages can be expressed in a detailed format. Among substantial standard formats, for example, a PDF format by Adobe Systems, an SVG format, or the like can be adopted as an electronic document format.

  When the application 101 uses the electronic document writer 102, the electronic document writer 102 is designated as a device driver used for output, and printing is executed. However, the electronic document file as created by the electronic document writer 102 does not have a complete format as the electronic document file. Therefore, the bookbinding application 104 designates the electronic document writer 102 as a device driver, and conversion of application data into an electronic document file is executed under the management of the bookbinding application 104. The bookbinding application 104 completes the new incomplete electronic document file generated by the electronic document writer 102 as an electronic document file having a format to be described later. Hereinafter, when it is necessary to clearly identify this point, a file created by the electronic manuscript writer 102 is called an electronic manuscript file, and an electronic manuscript file given a structure by the bookbinding application is called a book file. If there is no need to distinguish between them, a document file, an electronic manuscript file, and a book file generated by an application are all referred to as a document file (or document data).

  In this way, by specifying the electronic document writer 102 as a device driver and printing the data by the general application 101, the application data is referred to as a page defined by the application 101 (hereinafter referred to as “logical page” or “document page”). .) Is converted into an electronic document format and stored as an electronic document file 103 in a storage medium such as a hard disk. The hard disk may be a local drive included in a computer that implements the document processing system of the present embodiment, or may be a drive provided on the network when connected to the network. .

  The bookbinding application 104 provides a user with a function for reading an electronic document file or book file 103 and editing it.

  When the book file 103 edited by the bookbinding application 104 is printed, the bookbinding application 104 activates the electronic document despooler 105. The electronic document despooler 105 is a program module installed in the computer together with the bookbinding application, and is a module used to output drawing data to the printer driver when printing a document (book file) used in the bookbinding application. It is. The electronic manuscript despooler 105 reads out a designated book file from the hard disk and generates an output command suitable for the OS output module described above to print each page in the format described in the book file. Output to the output module. At that time, the driver 106 of the printer 107 used as an output device is designated as a device driver. The output module converts the output command received using the printer driver 106 of the designated printer 107 into a device command that can be interpreted and executed by the printer 107. The device command is transmitted to the printer 107, and an image corresponding to the command is printed by the printer 107.

<Hardware Configuration Example of Document Processing System of this Embodiment>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the document processing system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, the host computer 100 performs document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets), etc. are mixed based on a document processing program stored in the ROM 203 or the external memory 211. The CPU 201 generally controls each device connected to the system bus 204. In addition, an operating system program, which is a control program for the CPU 201, is stored in the program ROM or the external memory 211 in the ROM 203, and the font ROM or the external memory 211 in the ROM 203 is used for the document processing. Font data and the like are stored, and various data used when performing the document processing and the like are stored in the data ROM in the ROM 203 or the external memory 211. The RAM 202 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201.

  A keyboard controller (KBC) 205 controls key input from a keyboard 209 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 206 controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 210. A disk controller (DKC) 207 is a hard disk (HD), a flexible disk (FD), etc. that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, a printer control command generation program (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver), and the like. The access to the external memory 211 is controlled. A printer controller (PRTC) 208 is connected to the printer 107 via a bidirectional interface (interface) 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 107. The NC 212 is connected to the network and executes communication control processing with other devices connected to the network.

  Note that the CPU 201 executes, for example, outline font development (rasterization) processing on the display information RAM set on the RAM 202 to enable WYSIWYG on the CRT 210. The CPU 201 opens various windows registered based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 210 and executes various data processing. When executing printing, the user opens a window related to print settings, and can set the print processing method for the printer driver, including printer settings and print mode selection.

  The printer 107 is controlled by the CPU 312. The CPU 312 of the printer outputs as output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 317 connected to the system bus 315 based on a control program stored in the program ROM in the ROM 313 or a control program stored in the external memory 314. The image signal is output. The program ROM in the ROM 313 stores a control program for the CPU 312 and the like. The font ROM in the ROM 313 stores font data used when generating the output information, and the data ROM in the ROM 313 is a host computer in the case of a printer without the external memory 314 such as a hard disk. Information used above is stored.

  The CPU 312 can communicate with the host computer via the input unit 318 and can notify the host computer 100 of information in the printer. The RAM 319 is a RAM that functions as a main memory of the CPU 312, a work area, and the like, and is configured such that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 319 is used for an output information expansion area, an environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like. Access to the external memory 314 such as the hard disk (HD) and the IC card described above is controlled by the memory controller (MC) 20. The external memory 314 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. Reference numeral 321 denotes the above-described operation panel, on which switches for operation, LED indicators, and the like are arranged.

  The external memory 314 is not limited to one, and a plurality of external memories 314 are provided, and a plurality of external memories storing an option card and a program for interpreting a printer control language having a different language system in addition to the built-in font can be connected. May be. Furthermore, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided, and printer mode setting information from the operation panel 321 may be stored.

<Example format of electronic manuscript data>
Before referring to details of the bookbinding application 104, the data format of the book file will be described. The book file has a three-layer structure imitating a paper medium book. The upper layer is called a “book”, imitating one book, and attributes related to the whole book are defined. The middle layer below it corresponds to the chapter in the book and is also called “chapter”. For each chapter, attributes for each chapter can be defined. The lower layer is a “page” and corresponds to each page defined by the application program. You can define attributes for each page. A book may contain multiple chapters, and a chapter may contain multiple pages.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a book file format. The book, chapter, and page in the book file of this example are indicated by corresponding nodes. One book file contains one book. Since the book and chapter are concepts for defining the structure of the book, they include defined attribute values and links to lower layers as entities. The page has data for each page output by the application program as an entity. Therefore, the page includes an original page entity (original page data) and a link to each original page data in addition to the attribute value. Note that a print page when outputting to a paper medium or the like may include a plurality of document pages. This structure is not displayed by a link, but is displayed as an attribute in each hierarchy of a book, chapter, and page.

  In FIG. 3, since the book file does not have to be one complete book, “book” is generalized as “document”.

  First, the document information 401 is held at the top. The document information 401 can be roughly divided into three parts 402 to 404. The document control information 402 holds information such as a path name in the file system of the document file. The document setting information 403 holds layout information such as page layout and printing device function setting information such as stapling and bookbinding binding, and corresponds to a book attribute. The chapter information list 404 holds a set of chapters constituting a document in a list format. The list holds chapter information 405.

  The chapter information 405 can be roughly divided into three parts 406 to 408. The chapter control information 406 holds information such as a chapter name. The chapter setting information 407 holds page layout information and stapling information unique to the chapter, and corresponds to chapter attributes. By having setting information for each chapter, it is possible to create a document having a complicated layout such that the first chapter has a 2UP layout and the other chapters have a 4UP layout. The page information list 408 is held in the form of a collection list of manuscript pages constituting each chapter. The page information list 408 indicates page information data 409.

  The page information data 409 is also roughly divided into three parts 410 to 412. The page control information 410 holds information such as page numbers to be displayed on the tree. The page setting information 411 holds information such as page rotation angle and page layout position information, and corresponds to an original page attribute. The page data link information 412 is document data corresponding to a page. In this example, the page information 409 does not directly have document data, but has only page data link information 412, and actual document data is held in the page data list 413.

  FIG. 4 is a list showing an example of book attributes (document setting information 403). Normally, for items that can be defined overlapping with the lower layer, the attribute value of the lower layer is preferentially adopted. Therefore, for items included only in the book attribute, the value defined in the book attribute becomes a valid value throughout the book. However, items that overlap the lower layer have meanings as default values when they are not defined in the lower layer. However, in this example, as described later, it is possible to select whether to give priority to the attribute value of the lower layer. Each item illustrated does not specifically correspond to one item, but may include a plurality of related items.

  Items unique to the book attributes are printing method, finished size, imposition method, registration mark / dobble, bookbinding details, front / back cover, index paper, slip sheet, and chapter break. These are items defined throughout the book. As the printing method attribute, values for single-sided printing and double-sided printing can be designated. The imposition method attribute is used when imprinting multiple pages on one output sheet and printing it on the premise that the output sheet is cut and bound by an inline finisher or offline finisher. This is an item for specifying. Examples of imposition methods that can be specified include “Pella, Saddle Stitch, Walnut, Quadruple Fold”. “Saddle binding” is a method of printing by imposing in a format that allows bookbinding by bundling a separately designated number of sheets into two and folding the bundle. The “case” is a method for imposing and printing a case cover and an inner sheet in a format that enables case binding by an inline finisher or an offline finisher. “Folding in four” is a method of imposing and printing a print page in a format that enables wireless binding when the output paper is folded in four and bundled.

  The register mark / dove attribute is an item for specifying when register mark printing and bleed are specified for a print page when printing an electronic document file.

  The N-up print designation attribute is an item for designating the number of document pages included in one print page. Examples of arrangements that can be specified include 1 × 1, 1 × 2, 2 × 2, 3 × 3, and 4 × 4.

  As the bookbinding detailed attributes, when an imposition method such as “saddle stitch, case, and fold in four” is designated, a spread direction, the number of sheets to be bundled, a binding width, a gutter shift, and the like can be designated.

  The finishing attribute is an item for designating whether the discharged paper is subjected to processing such as saddle stitch binding, case binding (binding), or three-way cutting. The validity of this attribute is determined by the printing apparatus to be used. It depends on whether or not it has a function.

  The front cover / back cover attribute includes designation of adding sheets as a front cover and a back cover when printing an electronic document file to be collected as a book, and designation of print contents on the added sheet. The index sheet attribute includes designation of insertion of index sheets with ears separately prepared in the printing apparatus as chapter breaks and designation of print contents in the index (ear) portion. This attribute can be used when a printing device used by an inserter having an insert function for inserting a sheet prepared separately from the printing sheet into a desired position, or a plurality of paper cassettes can be used. Effective in some cases. The same applies to the slip sheet attribute.

  The slip sheet attribute includes designation of insertion of a sheet supplied from an inserter or a sheet feed cassette as a chapter break, and designation of a sheet feed source when a slip sheet is inserted.

  The chapter break attribute includes designation of whether to use a new sheet, use a new print page, or do nothing in particular at the chapter break. During single-sided printing, the use of new paper and the use of a new print page have the same meaning. In double-sided printing, if “use new paper” is specified, consecutive chapters will not be printed on one sheet, but if “use new print page” is specified, 1 successive chapter will be printed. It may be printed on the front and back of a sheet of paper.

  FIG. 5 is a list showing chapter attributes (chapter setting information 407), and FIG. 6 is a list showing page attributes (page setting information 411). The relationship between chapter attributes and page attributes is the same as the relationship between book attributes and lower layer attributes.

  As for chapter attributes, there are no items specific to chapters, and all items overlap with book attributes. Therefore, normally, if the definition in the chapter attribute is different from the definition in the book attribute, the value defined in the chapter attribute has priority. However, in this example, as described later, it is possible to select whether to give priority to the attribute value of the lower layer.

  Items common only to the book attribute and chapter attribute are five items: paper size, paper orientation, N-up printing designation, enlargement / reduction, and paper discharge method. Among these, the N-up print designation attribute is an item for designating the number of document pages included in one print page. Examples of arrangements that can be specified include 1 × 1, 1 × 2, 2 × 2, 3 × 3, and 4 × 4. The paper discharge method attribute is an item for designating whether or not stapling is performed on the discharged paper, and the validity of this attribute depends on whether the printing apparatus to be used has a stapling function.

  Items unique to the page attribute include a page rotation attribute, zoom, layout designation, annotation, and page division. The page rotation attribute is an item for designating a rotation angle when placing an original page on a print page. The zoom attribute is an item for designating the scaling factor of the original page. The scaling factor is specified with the size of the virtual logical page area as 100%. The virtual logical page area is an area occupied by one manuscript page when the manuscript page is arranged in accordance with designation of N-up or the like. For example, if it is 1 × 1, the virtual logical page area is an area corresponding to one print page, and if it is 1 × 2, each side of one print page is an area reduced to about 70%.

  Attributes common to the book, chapter, and page include a watermark attribute and a header / footer attribute. A watermark is a separately designated image or character string that is printed over data created by an application. The header / footer is a watermark printed on the upper margin and the lower margin of each page. However, items that can be specified by variables, such as page numbers and date / time, are prepared in the header / footer. The contents that can be specified in the watermark attribute and the header / footer attribute are common to the chapter and the page, but the book is different from them. In the book, the contents of the watermark and header / footer can be set, and how the watermark, header and footer are printed throughout the book can be specified. On the other hand, for a chapter or page, whether or not to print a watermark or header / footer set in the book can be specified for the chapter or page.

<Example of Operation Procedure of Document Processing System of Present Embodiment>
(Book file generation procedure example)
The book file has the structure and contents as described above. Next, a procedure for creating a book file by the bookbinding application 104 and the electronic document writer 102 will be described. Creation of the book file is realized as part of the book file editing operation by the bookbinding application 104.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for opening a book file by the bookbinding application 104.

  First, it is determined whether the book file to be opened is to be newly created or is an existing one (step S701). In the case of new creation, a new book file not including a chapter is created (step S702). In the example of FIG. 3, the newly created book file is a book node having only book nodes and no links to chapter nodes. As the book attribute, a set of attributes prepared in advance for new creation is applied. Then, a user interface (UI) screen for editing the new book file is displayed (step S704). FIG. 8 shows an example of a UI screen when a book file is newly created. In this case, since the book file has no substantial content, nothing is displayed on the UI screen 800.

  On the other hand, if there is an existing book file, the designated book file is opened (step S703), and a user interface (UI) screen is displayed according to the structure, attributes, and contents of the book file. FIG. 9 shows an example of this UI screen. The UI screen 900 includes a tree portion 901 that shows the structure of the book and a preview portion 902 that displays the printed state. The tree portion 901 displays chapters included in the book and pages included in each chapter so that a tree structure as shown in FIG. 3 can be seen. A page displayed in the tree portion 901 is a manuscript page. In preview portion 902, the contents of the print page are reduced and displayed. The display order reflects the structure of the book.

  In the opened book file, application data converted into an electronic manuscript file by the electronic manuscript writer 102 can be added as a new chapter. This function is called an electronic document import function. By importing an electronic manuscript into a book file newly created by the procedure of FIG. 7, an entity is given to the book file. This function is activated by dragging and dropping application data on the screen of FIG. 8 or FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for electronic document import.

  First, the application program that generated the specified application data is activated, the electronic document writer 102 is specified as a device driver, and the application data is printed out to be converted into electronic document data (step S801). When the conversion is completed, it is determined whether or not the converted data is image data (step S802). This determination can be made based on the file extension of the application data under the Windows (registered trademark) OS. For example, if the extension is “bmp”, it is Windows (registered trademark) bitmap data, if it is “jpg”, it is determined to be JPEG compressed image data, and if it is “tiff”, it is determined to be image data in the tif format. it can. In the case of such image data, it is possible to generate an electronic document file directly from the image data without starting an application.

  If it is not image data, the electronic document file generated in step S801 is added as a new chapter to the book of the currently opened book file (step S803). Normally, as the chapter attribute, the value of the book attribute is copied for those that are common to the book attribute, and for those that are not, the default value prepared in advance is set, but in this example, as described later, It is possible to select whether to give priority to the attribute value of the lower layer.

  In the case of image data, in principle, no new chapter is added, and each original page included in the electronic original file generated in step S801 is added to the designated chapter (step S804). However, if the book file is a newly created file, a new chapter is created, and each page of the electronic document file is added as a page belonging to the chapter. Normally, the page attribute is given an attribute value for an attribute common to the upper layer attribute, and is given for an attribute that inherits the attribute defined in the application data in the electronic document file. For example, when N-up designation or the like is made in the application data, the attribute value is taken over. In this way, a new book file is created or a new chapter is added. However, in this example, as described later, it is possible to select whether to give priority to the attribute value of the lower layer.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for generating an electronic document file by the electronic document writer 102 in step S801 of FIG.

  First, a new electronic document file is created and opened (step S901). An application corresponding to the designated application data is started, and an output command is transmitted to the output module of the OS using the electronic document writer 102 as a device driver. The output module converts the received output command into electronic document format data by the electronic document writer and outputs the converted data (step S902). The output destination is the electronic document file opened in step S901. It is determined whether or not conversion has been completed for all designated data (step S903), and if completed, the electronic document file is closed (step S904). The electronic manuscript file generated by the electronic manuscript writer 102 is a file including the substance of the manuscript page data shown in FIG.

(Book file editing example)
As described above, a book file can be created from application data. With respect to the generated book file, the following editing operations are possible for chapters and pages.

(1) New addition (2) Delete (3) Copy (4) Cut (5) Paste (6) Move (7) Rename chapter (8) Rename page number (9) Insert cover (10) Insert paper Insert (11) Insert index sheet (12) Page layout for each document page.

  In addition, an operation for canceling an editing operation once performed and an operation for redoing the canceled operation are possible. Using these editing functions, for example, integration of multiple book files, rearrangement of chapters and pages in the book file, deletion of chapters and pages in the book file, layout change of manuscript pages, insertion of slip sheets and index sheets Operation becomes possible. When these operations are performed, the operation results are reflected in the attributes shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 or the structure of the book file. For example, if a blank page new addition operation is performed, a blank page is inserted at a designated location. This blank page is treated as a manuscript page. If the layout of the original page is changed, the changed content is reflected in attributes such as a printing method, N-up printing, front / back cover, index paper, slip sheet, and chapter break.

  The display and operation example during editing in this example will be described in detail below.

(Book file output example)
The book file created and edited as described above has the final purpose of print output. When the user selects a file from the UI screen 900 of the bookbinding application shown in FIG. 9 and selects printing from the UI screen 900, printing is output by the designated output device. At this time, the bookbinding application 104 first creates a job ticket from the currently opened book file and passes it to the electronic document despooler 105. The electronic document despooler 105 converts the job ticket into an OS output command, for example, a Windows (registered trademark) GDI command, and transmits it to an output module, for example, GDI. The output module generates a command suitable for the device by the designated printer driver 106 and transmits the command to the device.

  That is, the graphic engine of the output module (not shown) loads the printer driver 106 prepared for each printing apparatus from the external memory 211 to the RAM 202 and sets the output to the printer driver 106. The output module converts the received GDI (Graphic Device Interface) function into a DDI (Device Driver Interface) function and outputs the DDI function to the printer driver 106. Based on the DDI function received from the output module, the printer driver 106 converts it into a control command that can be recognized by the printer, for example, PDL (Page Description Language). The converted printer control command is output as print data to the printer 107 via the interface 21 via the system spooler loaded into the RAM 202 by the OS.

  Here, the job ticket is data having a structure in which an original page is a minimum unit. The structure in the job ticket defines the layout of the manuscript page on the paper. One job ticket is issued per job. For this reason, there is a document node at the top, and attributes of the entire document, such as double-sided printing / single-sided printing, are defined. Below that, a paper node belongs, and includes attributes such as an identifier of a paper to be used and designation of a paper feed port in the printer. Each paper node includes a node of a sheet printed on the paper. One sheet corresponds to one sheet. A print page (physical page) belongs to each sheet. For single-sided printing, one physical page belongs to one sheet, and for double-sided printing, two physical pages belong to one sheet. Each physical page has an original page arranged thereon. The physical page attribute includes the layout of the original page.

  An example of the data structure of the job ticket is shown in FIG. In printing data, a document is composed of a set of sheets, and each sheet is composed of two sides, a front side and a back side. Each side has an area (physical page) for laying out a document, and each physical page. Is composed of a set of manuscript pages which is the minimum unit. Reference numeral 1101 denotes data corresponding to a document, which includes data relating to the entire document and a list of paper information constituting the document. The paper information 1102 includes information related to paper such as paper size and a list of surface information arranged on the paper. The surface information 1103 includes data specific to the surface and a list of physical pages arranged on the surface. The physical page information 1104 includes information such as the physical page size and header / footer, and a list of manuscript pages constituting the physical page.

  The electronic document despooler 105 converts the above-described job ticket into an output command to the output module.

(Example of preview display)
As described above, when the book file is opened by the bookbinding application, the user interface screen 900 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. In the tree portion 901, a tree showing the structure of an open book (hereinafter referred to as “target book”) is displayed. In the preview section, three display methods are prepared according to the user's designation. The first is a mode called a document view that displays a document page as it is. In the document view mode, the content of the document page belonging to the book of interest is reduced and displayed. The layout is not reflected in the preview display. The second is a print view mode. In the print view mode, the preview unit 902 displays the original page in a form that reflects the original page layout. The third is a simple print view mode. In the simple print view mode, the contents of each original page are not reflected in the display of the preview portion, but only the layout is reflected.

<Configuration example of other document processing system>
The document processing system of the above embodiment is a stand-alone system, but a book file is created and edited with substantially the same configuration and procedure even in a server client system to which this is extended. However, the book file and print processing are managed by the server.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a server client type document processing system.

  The client document processing system has a configuration in which a DOMS (Document Output Management Service) driver 109, a DOMS print service module 110, and a DS (Document Service) client module 108, which are client modules, are added to a stand-alone system. . A document management server 1201, a print central management server 1202, and a print server 1203 are connected to the client document processing system 1200. These servers are normally connected to the client document processing system via a network, but are connected by inter-process communication that simulates communication between networks when the server also functions as a client at the same time. In FIG. 13, both the document management server 1201 and the centralized printing management server 1202 are connected to the client, but only one of them may exist on the network. If the connected server is a document management server, the document management server client system 1201SC including the client module is the stand-alone print management server client system 1202SC including the client module. Added to document management system.

  The document management server 1201 is a server that stores book files created and edited by the bookbinding application 104. When a book file is managed by the document management server 1201, the book file is stored in the database 1211 of the document management server 1201 instead of or in addition to the local HD of the client PC. Saving and reading of book files between the bookbinding application 104 and the document management server 1201 are performed via the DS client 108 and the DS core 1212.

  The print central management server 1202 is a server that manages printing of book files stored in the client document management system 1200 or stored in the document management server 1201. The print request in the client is transmitted to the DOMSWG server module 1221 of the print central management server 1202 via the DOMS driver 109 and the DOMS print service module 110. The centralized print management server 1202 passes the electronic document data to the electronic document despooler 105 via the client's DOMS print service module 110 when printing with the client printer, and when printing with the print server 1203, the print server 1203. To the DOMS print service module 1203. For example, the centralized print management server performs a security check on the qualification of the user who issued the print request to the saved book file, and saves a print processing log. As described above, the document processing system can be realized as a stand-alone or a client-server system.

[Example of editing operation of document processing system of this embodiment]
FIG. 9 is an operation screen of the bookbinding application 104. The bookbinding application can change the page order of the document, edit the copy, delete, imposition, add register marks, etc., and also set the functions of the printing device such as stapling, saddle stitching, case binding, and three-way trimming. It is possible to print on a designated printing device. In the left area of FIG. 9, a tree view showing the structure of the document is displayed. A document is composed of a set of chapters, and each chapter is composed of a set of manuscript pages. In the area on the right side of FIG. 9, a print preview of each page is displayed.

[Composition of case binding]
FIG. 14 illustrates a case binding procedure for case binding.

  In general, case binding is composed of a cover 1401 and a middle paper 1402. The case binding is a method in which the inner sheets are bundled together, glued to the back portion 1403 and glued to the cover, wrapped with the cover, and cut in three directions 1404 other than the back direction to bind the book. is there.

  FIG. 15 shows a user interface for setting the case binding.

  A user interface 1501 sets a book attribute imposition method. Here, by selecting case binding, setting is performed to perform case binding.

  Reference numeral 1502 denotes a user interface for setting book attribute finishing. In this setting, it is set whether to perform case binding with an inline finisher or case binding with an offline finisher. In this setting, when “case binding and cutting” is selected, imposition is performed so that case binding is performed by an inline finisher. When “case binding (without cutting)” is selected, imposition is performed so that case binding is performed by an offline finisher.

  Reference numeral 1503 denotes a user interface for setting a book attribute front / back cover. In this setting, the number of originals to be arranged on the cover sheet of case binding is set. In this setting, it is possible to set so that 0 to 2 originals are arranged separately on the back and front of the cover. If the number is 0, no document is placed. In the case of one sheet, one document is placed in the center of the sheet. In the case of two sheets, the two originals are arranged next to each other in the center of the sheet.

  Reference numeral 1504 denotes a user interface for setting an opening direction of a book that has been bound. If left is set, imposition is performed to create a left-open book. If right is set, imposition is performed to create a right-open book.

[Imposition of case binding]
The imposition method for case binding differs depending on whether an inline finisher is used or an offline finisher is used.

  FIG. 16 shows imposition when performing case binding using an inline finisher.

  FIG. 16 shows an imposition state when the imposition method is set to case binding, the finishing is set to case binding and trimming, the front cover / back cover is set to front 2 / back 2, and the opening direction is set to the left. Is shown.

  On the front cover 1601, the first and last sheets of the document are arranged adjacent to each other. On the back surface 1602 of the cover, the second page and the second page from the end are arranged next to each other in the document.

  The remaining originals are impositioned as medium paper. At this time, the document is arranged close to the back. In the case of the left opening, the front side 1603 of the paper is arranged so as to approach the left side of the paper, and the back side 1604 of the paper is arranged so as to approach the right side of the paper. In the case of right opening, the paper is arranged so that the front side of the paper is brought closer to the right side of the paper and the back side of the paper is brought closer to the left side of the paper. By imposing in this way, the document is placed at an appropriate position after cutting.

  FIG. 17 shows imposition when performing case binding using an off-line finisher.

  FIG. 17 shows the case where the imposition method is set to case binding, the finishing is set to case binding (no trimming), the front / back cover is set to front 2 / back 2, and the opening direction is set to the left. The attached state is shown.

  The front cover 1701 and the back surface 1702 of the front cover are the same as in the in-line binding shown in FIG.

  On the middle sheets 1703 and 1704, an original is placed in the center of the sheet. This is arranged in the center on the back / front side of the paper.

  In the case of an off-line finisher, after printing, the inner sheet is cut to a desired size and then bound by a case binding machine, so that it is placed at the center of the inner sheet.

[Case binding printing]
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a flow from when a user requests printing to display a user interface for performing printing until printing is executed.

  FIG. 19 shows a user interface for performing printing.

  In 1901, the user selects a printer to be printed from among printers registered in the computer.

  Then, an acquisition request for the device configuration is sent to the selected printer. (S1801) If an unusable function is set as a result of obtaining the device configuration, the setting is removed. (S1802) For example, if the setting for performing case binding is set, and the selected printer does not have the ability to perform case binding, the setting is changed so as not to perform case binding. In case of case binding, this means that the setting using the inline finisher is changed to the setting using the offline finisher. The changed contents can be explicitly communicated to the user through the user interface 1902.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the setting for performing the case binding is set in the print settings. (S1803) If the setting for performing case binding has been made, it is determined whether the next selected printer is a printer that cannot perform case binding. (S1804) If the selected printer is a printer that cannot perform case binding, it is checked whether inline case setting is set. (S1805) The inline case setting is for setting whether or not imposition is to be performed by an inline finisher when case binding is instructed to a printer that cannot perform case binding. An example of a user interface for performing inline case setting is shown in FIG.

Then, the inline imposition confirmation setting for confirming to the user to execute the inline case setting is validated. (S1806)
Thereafter, when the print instruction button 1903 is pressed by a user operation (S1807), imposition is performed with the print settings in a state where unusable functions are removed (S1808). Next, it is checked whether the inline imposition confirmation setting is valid (S1809). When the inline imposition check setting is valid, the user interface shown in FIG. 21 is displayed to the user to check whether or not the inline imposition is performed (S1810). When the button 2103 for instructing to cancel printing is pressed on the user interface shown in FIG. Next, when the button 2101 for instructing inline imposition is pressed (determined in S1812), a process of moving the original on the middle sheet to the binding side is performed (S1813), and printing is performed with the imposition (S1814). ). This makes it possible to perform case binding imposition when the inline finisher is used even for a printer that cannot perform case binding. When the button 2102 for instructing not to perform inline imposition is pressed, printing is performed without performing imposition for inline. This process allows you to select whether to perform inline case binding imposition again or off-line case binding imposition at the time of printing even if it is set to perform inline case setting. it can.

Further, the present invention can be applied to a system (copier, printer, facsimile machine, etc.) consisting of a single device even if it is applied to a system consisting of a plurality of devices (eg, host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.). You may apply.

  Another object of the present invention is to read a program code stored in a storage medium by a computer (or CPU or MPU) of a system or apparatus, which stores a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments. It is also achieved by executing. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, 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) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. A case where part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board is based on the instruction of the program code. The CPU of the function expansion unit or the like performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration example of a stand-alone document processing system according to the present exemplary embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example which implement | achieves the document processing system of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of a book file. It is a figure which shows the list of book attributes. It is a figure which shows the list of chapter attributes. It is a figure which shows the list of page attributes. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure which opens a book file. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface screen at the time of opening a new book file. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface screen at the time of opening the existing book file. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure which imports an electronic manuscript file into a book file. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for converting application data shown in Step 801 of FIG. 10 into an electronic document file. It is a figure which shows the example of the data structure used when performing printing and a display. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration example of a client server type document processing system. It is a figure which shows the bookbinding procedure of case binding. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface for setting a case binding. It is the figure which showed imposition in the case of performing case binding which uses an inline finisher. It is the figure which showed the imposition in the case of performing case binding using an offline finisher. It is the flowchart which showed the flow after printing is requested | required by the user and the user interface for performing printing is displayed until printing is performed. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface for performing printing. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface which performs inline case setting. It is an example of the user interface for confirming whether to perform inline case setting.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Host computer 107 Printer 2001 Inline case setting means 2100 Inline imposition confirmation means

Claims (5)

Case binding is performed for an original arrangement changing unit that changes the position of original data on a sheet, a device configuration acquisition unit that acquires the capability of the printing apparatus, and a printing apparatus that can perform inline case binding. A document processing apparatus capable of instructing
If the device configuration acquisition unit instructs the printing device that cannot perform case binding to perform case binding, the case binding instruction is invalidated, and the document layout for inline case binding is changed. A document processing apparatus having in-line case setting means capable of setting whether to invalidate or leave.   If the inline case setting means has been set to perform imposition for case binding even for printing devices that cannot perform case binding, an inline surface that asks the user whether to change the inline case setting before printing The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising attachment confirmation means. The inline imposition checking means is
The document processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a user interface for instructing a document arrangement for inline case binding. The inline imposition checking means is
The document processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a user interface for instructing a document arrangement for inline case binding. The inline imposition checking means is
The document processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a user interface that instructs not to perform printing.

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