JP2010181927A - System and method for setting print - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To facilitate maintenance and management of a file for managing a print setting function of a printer driver.
A print setting change tool of a printing system includes a setting item change instruction unit that outputs print setting change information to a print setting file, and prints when the change information is output to the print setting file. An authentication key generation unit 24 that reads the authentication key of the setting file 30, generates a next effective authentication key by applying a predetermined rule, and rewrites the authentication key of the print setting file 30 to the next effective authentication key. When the printer driver 10 acquires the change information of the print setting file 30 based on the authentication key of the print setting file 30 and a predetermined rule, and the authentication key determination unit 12 that determines whether or not to acquire the change information of the print setting file 30 The setting item reading unit 14 that acquires the change information of the print setting file 30 and the print information related to the print settings are rewritten based on the acquired change information. And a DevMode setting unit 16 that.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a print setting system and a print setting method.

When a printer is connected to a computer and print data created by the computer is to be printed on the printer, software called a printer driver prepared for each printer model needs to be incorporated into the computer. By using the built-in printer driver to perform processing for setting various information such as paper to be printed and layout on the computer, printing can be performed under conditions set by the printer.
Such printer settings are realized by the user performing a predetermined operation to display the printer property window on the computer screen and the user operating it through the user interface displayed in the printer property. Is done. In addition, the printer settings are not limited to printer properties, but information related to print settings is written in an external file, and the print settings can be written to a file from an application such as an editor to make the print settings more flexible. Can do.
Normally, writing to such a file is limited to a user having a predetermined authority such as an administrator. As a method for avoiding malicious tampering, an authentication key is provided to the file as shown in Patent Document 1 below. There are widely known methods for restricting access.

JP-A-7-160547

  However, when the authentication key is fixed and cannot be changed, if there are a plurality of similar files, the time order in which they were created is not known, and therefore, an old print setting file may be adopted. Furthermore, access restrictions can be easily disabled by copying and pasting the authentication key as it is without understanding the authentication key rules. Even if the authentication key is changed each time, the time sequence of the authentication keys is not known, and thus an old print setting file may be adopted.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

[Application Example 1]
The print setting system according to this application example is a print setting system in which a print setting tool performs print settings for a printer driver via a print setting file to which an authentication key is added. A change instruction unit that receives change information related to a change in settings and outputs the received change information to the print setting file; and the change information that is added to the print setting file when the change information is output to the print setting file. An authentication key is read, and by applying a predetermined rule to the read authentication key, an authentication key that is effective next to the read authentication key is generated based on the read authentication key, and the print setting file includes An authentication key rewriting unit for rewriting the authentication key with the next effective authentication key, and the printer driver Determining whether to read the authentication key added to the print setting file and obtain the change information included in the print setting file based on the read authentication key and the predetermined rule And a change information acquisition unit that acquires the change information included in the print setting file, and print information that rewrites print information related to print settings based on the acquired change information when it is determined to acquire the change information And a setting unit.

  According to such a configuration, the print setting tool generates a next valid authentication key by applying a predetermined rule to the authentication key read from the print setting file. It is generated based on a valid authentication key and generated only when the print setting tool outputs change information to the print setting file. In addition, the printer driver determines whether or not to obtain the change information included in the print setting file based on the authentication key read from the print setting file and the same predetermined rule as the print setting tool. Is acquired, the print information related to the print settings is rewritten based on the change information included in the print setting file. Therefore, only when the print setting is changed with the print setting tool, the next valid authentication key is generated. The printer driver confirms the validity of the generated authentication key, obtains the change information, and relates to the print setting. Rewrite print information. Thereby, it is possible to invalidate the alteration of the third party print setting file and to avoid adopting print settings that are not the latest in the print information.

[Application Example 2]
In the print setting system according to the application example, the printer driver holds the authentication key corresponding to the print information, and the determination unit reads by applying the predetermined rule to the authentication key held. However, it is preferable to determine that the change information included in the print setting file is acquired when the authentication key matches.

  According to such a configuration, the printer driver generates an authentication key by applying a predetermined rule to the held authentication key in the same manner as the print setting tool generates the next valid authentication key, Since it is determined whether or not the two authentication keys match, the validity of the authentication key can be confirmed more reliably.

[Application Example 3]
In the print setting system according to the application example, the predetermined rule may generate the next effective authentication key uniquely and in order based on the read authentication key.

[Application Example 4]
The print setting method according to this application example is a print setting method in which the print setting tool performs print settings for the printer driver via a print setting file to which an authentication key is added. Receiving the change information regarding the change of the output, and outputting the received change information to the print setting file; and when the change information is output to the print setting file, the print setting tool is added to the print setting file. By reading the authentication key and applying a predetermined rule to the read authentication key, an authentication key that is effective next to the read authentication key is generated based on the read authentication key, and the print setting file Rewriting the authentication key to the next valid authentication key, and the printer driver A step of reading the authentication key added to the print file, determining whether or not to obtain the change information included in the print setting file based on the read authentication key and the predetermined rule, and the printer A step of acquiring the change information included in the print setting file when the driver determines to acquire the change information, and a step of rewriting the print information related to the print setting by the printer driver based on the acquired change information; It is characterized by providing.

  According to such a method, the print setting tool generates a next effective authentication key by applying a predetermined rule to the authentication key read from the print setting file. It is generated based on a valid authentication key and generated only when the print setting tool outputs change information to the print setting file. In addition, the printer driver determines whether or not to obtain the change information included in the print setting file based on the authentication key read from the print setting file and the same predetermined rule as the print setting tool. Is acquired, the print information related to the print settings is rewritten based on the change information included in the print setting file. Therefore, only when the print setting is changed with the print setting tool, the next valid authentication key is generated. The printer driver confirms the validity of the generated authentication key, obtains the change information, and relates to the print setting. Rewrite print information. Thereby, it is possible to invalidate the alteration of the third party print setting file and to avoid adopting print settings that are not the latest in the print information.

  Hereinafter, a printing system will be described as an example of a print setting system with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the printing system 5. The printing system 5 includes a computer 200 and a printer 300.
The computer 200 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 220, a memory 210, an I / O unit 225, an input device 215, a monitor 230, and a storage device 235, which are connected to be able to exchange information via a bus 240. Has been.
The CPU 220 performs various processes and controls according to the computer program. The memory 210 stores or temporarily stores computer programs and data. An I / O (Input Output) unit 225 exchanges data and the like with various peripheral devices. The input device 215 includes a keyboard, a pointing device, and the like, and receives instructions from the user. The monitor 230 includes a CRT, a liquid crystal display, and the like, and displays an image. The storage device 235 includes a hard disk device, an SSD (Solid State Drive), and the like, and stores image data and various computer programs.
The printing method of the printer 300 is not limited, and an ink jet method or a laser method is assumed. The printer 300 is connected to the computer 200 via the I / O unit 225. In this case, the connection method is not limited, and may be connected via a serial bus such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), or may be connected via a network such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network).

  The computer 200 realizes management of each hardware and interface with a user by a predetermined operating system 40. The operating system 40 is constructed on the computer 200 by the CPU 220 executing an operating system program. In the present embodiment, Windows (registered trademark) is assumed as the operating system 40, but is not limited to this.

In addition, an application program and a printer driver program are installed in the computer 200 in advance and stored in the storage device 235. These application programs and printer driver programs are read from the storage device 235 according to instructions of the CPU 220, transferred to the memory 210, and then executed, thereby executing the printer driver 10 and printing that is one of the application programs. A setting change tool 20 is constructed on the computer 200.
The print setting change tool 20 is activated by a user and can make various settings relating to printing via a user interface (not shown). Information set by the print setting change tool 20 is written in the print setting file 30. The print setting file 30 is normally stored in the storage device 235, and is expanded on the memory 210 as necessary.
The printer driver 10 expands the print setting file 30 stored in the storage device 235 on the memory 210, and controls the printer 300 connected to the computer 200 based on the information written in the print setting file 30. Then, print data corresponding to the function of the printer 300 is generated.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating details of the printer driver 10, the print setting change tool 20, and the print setting file 30. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the rewriting process of the print setting file 30 and will be described with reference to it as appropriate.
The printer driver 10 includes an authentication key determination unit 12, a setting item reading unit 14, a DevMode setting unit 16, and a print job generation unit 18. The print setting change tool 20 includes a setting item change instruction unit 22 and an authentication key generation unit 24. These functional units are realized by organic cooperation between the hardware of the computer 200 described above and each software. The print setting file 30 includes an authentication key description part 32 and a setting item description part 34.
First, the print setting file 30 will be described. In the present embodiment, the print setting file 30 is described in an XML (extensible markup language) language. In the authentication key description part 32, an authentication key indicating the validity of the print setting file 30 is described. In the present embodiment, a numerical value having a predetermined numerical value as an initial value is adopted as the authentication key. The setting item description section 34 describes information that can be set by the printer driver 10. For example, in the print setting file 30A of FIG. 3, “123” is described in the authentication key description part 32A, and “double-sided printing = OFF” indicating that the double-sided printing function is invalidated in the setting item description part 34A. Is described.

Next, the print setting change tool 20 will be described. The setting item change instructing unit 22 receives a message instructing to change the print setting from the user via the operating system 40, and receives this message to rewrite the information of the corresponding part described in the setting item description unit 34. It is a change instruction unit. When the contents of the setting item description unit 34 are changed, the authentication key generation unit 24 generates an authentication key that is effective next to the current authentication key, and writes the generated authentication key in the authentication key description unit 32. Part.
The generation rule for generating the next effective authentication key after the current authentication key is shared with the authentication key determination unit 12 of the printer driver 10 described later. In the present embodiment, the authentication key that is effective next to the current authentication key is a numerical value obtained by adding the numerical value of each digit to the numerical value of the current authentication key. For example, when the setting item description part 34A of the print setting file 30A in FIG. 3 is rewritten by the print setting change tool 20, the authentication key that is valid next to the current authentication key is the authentication key description part 32B of the print setting file 30B. As shown in FIG. 5, “123” is obtained by adding “1”, “2”, and “3” to “123”. That is, the authentication key generation rule is applied to the current authentication key to generate the next authentication key uniquely and in order. In the present embodiment, an ascending numerical value that is always larger than the current numerical value is uniquely determined.

Note that the authentication key generation rule is not limited to this, and may be any numerical value or character as long as it is shared with the authentication key determination unit 12 of the printer driver 10. May be generated. Further, a special authentication key may be defined so as to return the setting of the printer driver 10 to the initial value at the time of installation regardless of the description of the setting item description unit 34.
Next, the printer driver 10 will be described. Upon receiving an instruction from the operating system 40, the authentication key determination unit 12 reads the authentication key of the print setting file 30, and determines the validity of the read authentication key based on the read authentication key and the authentication key generation rule. And a determination unit that determines acquisition of the setting item description unit 34 included in the print setting file 30.
More specifically, the authentication key corresponding to the current print setting is stored in an extended area of the DevMode structure that is a database in which information related to the print setting is stored. The authentication key determination unit 12 generates the next effective authentication key based on the generation rule shared with the print setting change tool 20 based on the current authentication key acquired from the DevMode structure. The generated authentication key and the authentication key read from the print setting file 30 are compared to determine whether or not they match, and the determination result is sent to the setting item reading unit 14. If the generated authentication key and the authentication key read from the print setting file 30 are different, the authentication key determination unit 12 further continues until the authentication key read from the print setting file 30 matches within a predetermined range. A valid authentication key may be generated and the determination may be made again.

The setting item reading unit 14 is a change information acquisition unit that reads the setting item description unit 34 of the print setting file 30 according to the determination result sent from the authentication key determination unit 12. That is, as in the case of the print setting file 30B in FIG. 3, when the generated authentication key matches the authentication key read from the print setting file 30B, the setting item reading unit 14 sets the setting item description in the print setting file 30B. The unit 34B is read, and the read print setting information is sent to the DevMode setting unit 16. On the other hand, if the two authentication keys do not match, it is determined that the print setting file 30 has not been updated correctly, and the process ends without reading the setting item description part 34B. At this time, some message may be shown to the user.
The DevMode setting unit 16 is a print information setting unit that rewrites the information of the DevMode structure based on the print setting information sent from the setting item reading unit 14. For example, in the case of the print setting file 30B in FIG. 3, since “double-sided printing = ON” indicating that the double-sided printing function is enabled is described, the DevMode structure held in a predetermined position in the memory 210 is described. Rewrite a predetermined member area and enable double-sided printing.
The print job generation unit 18 generates a print job with reference to information on the DevMode structure held at a predetermined position in the memory 210 in accordance with a print instruction from the user, and sends the generated print job to the printer 50. . At this time, when the information of the DevMode structure is rewritten by the DevMode setting unit 16, a print job is generated based on the rewritten print setting. On the other hand, when the information of the DevMode structure is not rewritten by the DevMode setting unit 16, a print job is generated based on the conventional print settings.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, a case where the print setting file 30 is rewritten by a tool other than the print setting change tool 20 such as a text editor 90 will be described. Rewriting by the text editor 90 is assumed when only the setting item description part 34C is rewritten as in the print setting file 30C, or when the authentication key description part 32D and the setting item description part 34D are rewritten as in the print setting file 30D. it can.
In the former case, the authentication key determination unit 12 determines that the authentication key described in the authentication key description unit 32C matches the current authentication key, and in response to this, the setting item reading unit 14 of the printer driver 10 sets the setting. It is determined that the item description portion 34C has not been updated, and the process ends without making a transition to the reading operation.
In the latter case, the authentication key determination unit 12 determines that the authentication key described in the authentication key description unit 32D is not the next effective authentication key after the current authentication key, and receives the setting to set the printer driver 10 Since the two authentication keys do not match, the item reading unit 14 ends without making a transition to the read operation of the rewritten setting item description unit 34D.
As described above, when the print setting file 30 is rewritten by a tool other than the print setting change tool 20, the changed print setting information is ignored in any case, and the DevMode structure is not updated.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing of the print setting change tool 20. First, the CPU 220 opens the print setting file 30 stored in the storage device 235 (step S100). Next, in accordance with an instruction from the user, the CPU 220 overwrites and rewrites the print setting item described in the setting item description unit 34 on the setting item description unit 34 (step S102). Next, the CPU 220 determines whether or not the user instructs to overwrite the print setting file 30 (step S104).
If it is determined that the print setting file 30 is not overwritten (No in step S104), the CPU 220 closes the print setting file 30 without reflecting the rewriting of the print setting items (step S112), and a series of processes Exit.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the overwriting of the print setting file 30 has been instructed (Yes in step S104), the CPU 220 generates an authentication key that is valid next to the current authentication key in accordance with the generation rule (step S106). Next, the CPU 220 rewrites the generated authentication key by overwriting the authentication key description unit 32 (step S108). Next, the CPU 220 registers the print setting file 30 with the contents reflecting the rewriting of the authentication key and the print setting item (step S110). Next, the CPU 220 closes the registered print setting file 30 (step S112), and ends a series of processing.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing for checking rewriting of the print setting file 30 in the printer driver 10. When the printer driver 10 is built on the computer 200, the processing is instructed by the operating system 40 at predetermined time intervals.
First, the CPU 220 opens the print setting file 30 stored in the storage device 235 (step S120). Next, the CPU 220 reads an authentication key from the authentication key description part 32 of the print setting file 30 (step S122). Next, the CPU 220 determines the validity of whether or not the read authentication key has been correctly updated according to the generation rule from the held authentication key (step S124).
If it is not determined that the read authentication key has been updated correctly (No in step S126), the CPU 220 closes the print setting file 30 (step S132) and ends the series of processing.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the read authentication key has been correctly updated (Yes in step S126), the CPU 220 reads the print setting item from the setting item description part 34 of the print setting file 30 (step S128). Next, the CPU 220 sets a DevMode structure reflecting the read print setting item (step S130). Finally, the CPU 220 closes the print setting file 30 (step S132) and ends a series of processing.

  According to the two flowcharts described above, the printer driver 10 allows the print setting from the setting item description part 34 described in the print setting file 30 only when the authentication key described in the print setting file 30 is correctly updated according to the generation rule. The item is read, and the DevMode structure is set based on the read print setting item. Therefore, version management of the printer driver 10 is facilitated by the printing system 5, and confusion and troubles caused by reading an old version of the print setting file 30 can be avoided. In addition, the burden on the administrator who manages the printer driver 10 can be reduced.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes design changes and the like within a scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the printer driver 10, the print setting change tool 20, and the print setting file 30 function on the same computer 200, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, unlike the computer (client computer) 200 in which the printer driver 10 is incorporated, the print setting file 30 may be on another computer (for example, server computer) connected via a network. In this case, the print setting change tool 20 may be on the client computer 200 side or the server computer side. Further, the authentication key described in the authentication key description unit 32 is not limited to the text format, and may be described in a binary format.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram explaining the detail of a printer driver, a print setting change tool, and a print setting file. The figure explaining the rewriting process of a print setting file. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a processing flow of a print setting change tool. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of processing for checking rewriting of a print setting file in a printer driver.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 ... Printing system, 10 ... Printer driver, 12 ... Authentication key determination part, 14 ... Setting item reading part, 16 ... DevMode setting part, 18 ... Print job generation part, 20 ... Print setting change tool, 22 ... Setting item change instruction , 24 ... authentication key generation unit, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D ... print setting file, 32, 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D ... authentication key description part, 34, 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D ... setting items Description unit, 40 ... operating system, 50 ... printer, 90 ... text editor, 200 ... computer, 210 ... memory, 215 ... input device, 220 ... CPU, 225 ... I / O unit, 230 ... monitor, 235 ... storage device, 240 ... bus, 300 ... printer.

Claims (4)

A print setting system in which a print setting tool performs print settings for a printer driver via a print setting file to which an authentication key is added.
The print setting tool is
A change instruction unit that receives change information related to a change in print settings, and outputs the received change information to the print setting file;
When the change information is output to the print setting file, the authentication key added to the print setting file is read, and a predetermined rule is applied to the read authentication key, thereby succeeding the read authentication key. An authentication key rewriting unit that generates a valid authentication key based on the read authentication key and rewrites the authentication key of the print setting file with the next valid authentication key,
The printer driver is
A determination unit that reads the authentication key added to the print setting file and determines whether or not to acquire the change information included in the print setting file based on the read authentication key and the predetermined rule When,
When it is determined that the change information is acquired, a change information acquisition unit that acquires the change information included in the print setting file;
A print setting system comprising: a print information setting unit that rewrites print information related to print settings based on the acquired change information. The print setting system according to claim 1,
The printer driver holds the authentication key corresponding to the print information,
The determination unit determines that the change information included in the print setting file is acquired when the predetermined rule matches the read authentication key by applying the predetermined rule to the authentication key held. Print setting system to do. The print setting system according to claim 1,
The print setting system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined rule generates the next effective authentication key uniquely and in order based on the read authentication key. A print setting method in which a print setting tool performs print settings for a printer driver via a print setting file to which an authentication key is added,
The print setting tool receiving change information relating to a change in print settings, and outputting the received change information to the print setting file;
When the change information is output to the print setting file, the print setting tool reads the authentication key added to the print setting file, and reads the authentication key by applying a predetermined rule. Generating an authentication key that is effective next to the authentication key based on the read authentication key, and rewriting the authentication key of the print setting file with the next effective authentication key;
Whether the printer driver reads the authentication key added to the print setting file and acquires the change information included in the print setting file based on the read authentication key and the predetermined rule. A determining step;
When the printer driver determines to acquire the change information, acquiring the change information included in the print setting file;
And a step of rewriting print information related to print settings based on the acquired change information.

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