JP2013254462A - Information processor and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To preliminarily confirm whether or not a print setting file to be used in the case of newly creating a fixed type of hot folder is a setting file which can be correctly printed.SOLUTION: When a print job is processed by a hot folder, print setting information and print result information are stored as history information, and the stored history information is displayed in accordance with the creation instruction of the hot folder. An operator can select the history information of the arbitrary print job which has succeeded from the display of the history information. Information relating to the print job and information relating to the print job which has failed although the same print setting as the selected print job is used are displayed. The information processor includes: creation confirmation means for, when the operator performs a confirmation input, confirming whether to create the hot folder associated with the selected print job; and hot folder creation means for creating the hot folder on the basis of the history information selected by the selection means of the history information.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method for creating a hot folder or the like in a hot folder application that prints job data to be printed placed in a folder, for example.

  As a system for printing a photograph taken, a photo processing system is known that inputs image data to be printed, prints an image using the image data, performs post-printing processing, and creates a photo print such as an album. In this system, when image data to be printed is instructed, the image data and the setting information file are stored in a folder called a hot folder.

  A hot folder is an electronic folder set in a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk, and stores image data to be printed. The hot folder has a folder monitoring function. When new image data is stored in the hot folder, the data is detected and image data is printed.

  A hot folder application differs from a normal printing application in that when using it from another system such as a photo processing system, the printing function is realized simply by inputting an image file into the folder without using a special API. It can be done. A major feature of hot folders is the ease of cooperation with other systems.

  There are two types of hot folders, called a flexible type and a fixed type. The flexible type is a hot folder that does not have a folder-specific print setting. Content data and print setting data related to the data need to be input to the folder for each job. The fixed type is a hot folder having print settings specific to the folder, and can be printed only by inputting content data.

  In the flexible type hot folder, it is necessary to input the print setting together with the content data to the hot folder every time, and a fixed type hot folder exists in order to reduce the load. When creating a fixed type hot folder, in order to avoid setting mistakes, the print setting file that has been used conventionally is used as it is or is used with some modifications based on it.

  In addition, although not a hot folder, Patent Document 1 proposes a printer driver that can use settings from setting information that has been used for printing before printing.

JP 2008-140244 JP

However, the conventional example has the following problems.
(1) It is necessary to check in advance whether a print setting file used when creating a new fixed type hot folder is a setting file that can be printed correctly. Even for a configuration file that has been confirmed to be printed normally, it was necessary to manage the configuration file so that it could be used easily when creating a fixed type hot folder or when submitting a job to a flexible type hot folder.
(2) Also, when the print setting information used in the previous printing is used as in the conventional example of the printer driver described in Patent Document 1, the labor of managing the print setting information can be reduced. However, if the setting information is a failed setting history, there is a problem that a hot folder with a high possibility of causing a printing error is created.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said prior art example, and is provided with the following structures.

History information storage means for storing print setting information and print result information of the print job as history information when a print job submitted to a hot folder is executed;
A history information display means for displaying the history information in response to an instruction to create a new hot folder;
Information having creation means for creating a new hot folder in which print setting information of a print job selected from the history information displayed by the display means is associated as print setting information applied to the input print job Processing equipment.

  According to the present invention, the setting information is acquired from the print history, and the fixed type hot folder is created from the acquired setting information. Therefore, the hot folder can be easily created, and the load on the user can be reduced. Furthermore, since the history information to be used is limited to successful histories, the probability of printing failure can be reduced. In addition, since the hot folder can be created after confirming the successful printing case and the unsuccessful printing case, it is possible to check the data and print settings that succeed in printing before creating the hot folder.

It is a block diagram of a system in the present embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information processing apparatus 101 in this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the personal computer 201 in this Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the structural example of the hot folder program in this Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the folder file structure of the hot folder in this Embodiment. It is a figure of the display method of the job history information in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the confirmation screen at the time of creating a hot folder from a job history in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the input screen of hot folder information in this Embodiment. It is a table | surface which shows the structure of the job history information in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart regarding the operation | movement of a hot folder creation process in this Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart relating to a display operation of successful print history information of a hot folder in the present embodiment. 10 is a flowchart relating to an operation of storing successful print history information of a hot folder in the present embodiment. It is a flowchart regarding the operation | movement which changes a flexible hot folder to a fixed hot folder based on historical information in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart regarding the operation | movement which produces | generates hot folder information from hot folder history information in this Embodiment.

[First Embodiment]
The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. <Information processing system>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of the entire system in the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an information processing apparatus main body installed in a laboratory for developing a photograph. The information processing apparatus may be a PC or a dedicated terminal, but in the present embodiment, it will be described as a general-purpose personal computer (PC). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a hot folder is created in the information processing apparatus 101, but a hot folder may be created separately in a large-capacity external storage device or the like. A printer apparatus 102 is connected to the information processing apparatus 101. Examples of the printer apparatus 102 include a laser printer, an ink jet printer, and a thermal printer. The printer 102 is used for printing data input to the hot folder. Reference numeral 103 denotes a PC for inputting print data to the hot folder. The hot folder of the information processing apparatus 101 shared via the network can be referred to, and the user can print to the printing apparatus 102 simply by storing data from the PC 103 into the hot folder. Reference numeral 110 denotes a network, which is realized by using a wired and wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or the like.

  The hot folder will be described again. The hot folder is an electronic storage area for storing an electronic file (content data, print ticket, etc.) secured in a computer storage or the like. This is an area having a function of monitoring the writing of the data file and printing out the written data file according to individually designated or preset print settings (that is, a print ticket). This area may be a physical area, but may be information logically indicated by association (such as a link) with the folder. The storage area itself may be referred to as a hot folder, or may be referred to as a hot folder including a monitoring function and a printing function. The monitoring function periodically monitors the presence of a new file or monitors writing to a hot folder. Note that the print ticket is print setting data described in XML in this example, and is defined as a file independent of the content data to be printed. Also, logically moving content data to be printed in the hot folder is called “throwing”.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment. A main component device of the information processing apparatus is a personal computer main body 201. Further, the mouse 202, the keyboard 203, and the display 204 are connected to input / output terminals corresponding to the respective devices provided in the personal computer main body 201. In this embodiment, the client PC 103 is described as having the same PC configuration as the information processing apparatus 101.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the information processing apparatus 101 in the present embodiment. The hot folder printing function operates on the computer according to hot folder program data. Specifically, a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, an external storage device 304, a network I / F 305, an input / output device I / F 306, a display I / F 307, a system bus 308, a display 202, a keyboard 203, and a mouse 204 are provided.

  The CPU 301 performs control processing for the entire information processing apparatus. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 302 is a read-only memory. The ROM 302 includes a PROM (Programmable ROM) in which a user can electrically write a program and a mask ROM in which contents are written at the time of manufacture. However, any ROM may be used in this embodiment. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 303 is a memory that can be freely written and read. The RAM 303 has a function of temporarily storing data when performing the processing of the present embodiment. The external storage device 304 is a nonvolatile storage device. Examples of the external storage device 305 include an HD drive, an FD drive, an MO drive, a CD-RW drive, a DVD-RW drive, and a Blu-ray drive. In 304, hot folder program data is stored, and data necessary for the operation of the hot folder program data is stored. The network I / F 305 processes communication control for connecting to a network such as an intranet, but various communication interfaces are applied depending on the user environment. It consists of a wireless LAN or Ethernet interface. The input / output device I / F 306 processes input / output from the keyboard 203, the mouse 202, and the printer apparatus 102 included in the information processing apparatus 101, and is used for operation of the information processing apparatus and data input / output. . The display I / F 307 and the display device 204 are display units. This display device is realized using a CRT, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, a rear projection television or a front projector, and a control circuit thereof. A system bus 308 exchanges various data between blocks in the information processing apparatus and supplies power. The system bus 309 includes an address line, a data line, a control line, a power supply / ground line, and the like.

<Hot folder program>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration form of the hot folder program of the information processing apparatus 101 of this embodiment. This program runs on the personal computer 201. In the figure, reference numeral 401 denotes a hot folder monitoring unit that performs hot folder monitoring and print data detection. A hot folder user interface (UI) unit 402 controls information displayed on the display in the hot folder. A hot folder control unit 403 controls the hot folder. The hot folder program includes a hot folder monitoring unit 401, a hot folder UI unit 402, and a hot folder control unit 403.

  A flexible type hot folder monitoring unit 404 monitors a folder whose settings can be changed for each printing. Reference numeral 405 denotes a fix type hot folder monitoring unit which monitors a folder whose setting is not changed for each printing. A hot folder monitoring interface (I / F) unit 406 makes a print request to the hot folder control unit 403 via this I / F unit when a new print request is generated. The folder monitoring unit 401 includes a flexible hot folder monitoring unit 404, a fix type hot folder monitoring unit 405, and a hot folder monitoring I / F unit 406. A job management UI unit 407 is a UI display unit for managing print jobs. Reference numeral 408 denotes a printer management UI unit that displays information related to the printer managed by the hot folder. Reference numeral 409 denotes a hot folder management UI unit that displays managed hot folder information. A job ticket management UI unit 410 displays print data and setting information called a job ticket passed to the printer. Reference numeral 411 denotes an event history management UI unit that displays a history of various event information such as the end of printing and the absence of paper from the printer. 412 is a configuration (setting) management UI unit, and is a display unit for setting information of a hot folder program. Reference numeral 413 denotes a hot folder UI I / F unit, which is an I / F portion with the hot folder control unit. The hot folder UI unit 402 includes a job management UI unit 407, a printer management UI unit 408, a hot folder management UI unit 409, a job ticket management UI unit 410, an event history management UI unit 411, a configuration management UI unit 412, and a hot folder UII / An F unit 413 is included.

  A hot folder control I / F unit 414 is connected to the hot folder monitoring I / F unit 406 and the hot folder UI I / F unit 413. A job management unit 415 manages print jobs. Reference numeral 416 denotes a printer management unit that manages printers managed in the hot folder. Reference numeral 417 denotes a hot folder management unit that manages hot folder information. A job ticket management unit 418 manages job tickets. Reference numeral 419 denotes an event history management unit which manages a history of various event information such as the end of printing and the absence of paper from the printer. A configuration management unit 420 manages setting information of the hot folder program. A device control I / F unit 421 is an interface unit with the printer device. The hot folder control unit 403 includes a hot folder control I / F unit 414, a job management unit 415, a printer management unit 416, a hot folder management unit 417, a job ticket management unit 418, an event history management unit 419, a configuration management unit 420, and a device. The control I / F unit 421 is configured.

<Hot folder>
FIG. 5 shows an example of the folder structure of the hot folder in the information processing apparatus of this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 501 denotes a root folder of the hot folder. Reference numeral 502 denotes a job folder for each job created in the hot folder. Reference numeral 503 denotes job data stored in the job folder 502. The job data is composed of print content data and a job ticket which is print setting information in a flexible type hot folder, and only print content data in a fixed type hot folder. Since the fixed type hot folder is associated with the print setting information, it is not necessary to input a job ticket. Whether the hot folder is a fixed type or a flexible type can be determined, for example, by adding an identification code as a part of the folder name, or by providing an attribute area for identifying another. Alternatively, as the association information for associating the folder with the print setting information, if it is a flexible type, for example, it is possible to make a determination based on the information even if empty information is filled. Reference numeral 504 denotes a trigger file. When this file is placed, a print job for a folder having the same name as the trigger file is started. Reference numeral 505 denotes a folder in which completed jobs are stored.

<Job history display>
FIG. 6 shows an example of a display method when job history information is displayed on the display 204 in the information processing apparatus of this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 601 represents the entire print job history information display of the hot folder. This display is displayed on the whole or a part of the display 204. Reference numeral 602 denotes an area for displaying the name assigned to the job. The name uses the job folder name 502 or the like. Reference numeral 603 denotes an area for displaying a name assigned to the hot folder. The hot folder name is a name determined when the hot folder is created. Reference numeral 604 denotes an area for displaying the job status, and is an area for displaying the status of the job such as end, processing, and error. Reference numeral 605 denotes a printer name, which is an area for displaying the name of the printer set in the hot folder. Reference numeral 606 denotes the number of copies, which is an area for displaying the number of copies of the job. Reference numeral 607 denotes an input date and time, which is an area for displaying the date and time when the print job is input to the hot folder, specifically the date and time from the hot folder monitoring unit to the hot folder control unit. Reference numeral 608 denotes an end date and time, which is an area for displaying the date and time when the print job ends. Reference numeral 609 denotes a job number, which is an area for displaying a unique number managed in the information processing apparatus. The user can select any item in the history information list.

  The job history information is displayed in the hot folder creation process described with reference to FIG.

<Confirmation display>
FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen for confirming the user's intention of creation when creating a hot folder from the job history in the information processing apparatus of this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 701 represents the entire confirmation screen. This display is displayed on a part of the display 204. A success information area 702 displays job information that has been successfully printed. The display information of the job information displays the print data file type and data size, the printing method such as double-sided / single-sided, and the paper size and type. Reference numeral 703 denotes a failure information area for displaying job information for which printing has failed. In the job information display information, the same information as the successful job information 702, the reason for failure, and the like are displayed. Reference numeral 704 denotes an OK button display area. Reference numeral 705 denotes a cancel button display area. The confirmation screen 701 is displayed in the hot folder creation process described with reference to FIG.

<Hot folder creation screen display>
FIG. 8 shows an example of a screen for inputting hot folder information in the information processing apparatus of this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 801 represents the entire input screen. This display is displayed on a part of the display 204. Reference numeral 802 denotes an area for inputting a name of the hot folder. Reference numeral 803 denotes an area for inputting a hot folder path. Reference numeral 804 denotes an area for displaying print ticket file information set in the fixed hot folder. Reference numeral 805 denotes an area for displaying a printer name in which the printer is designated as a hot folder. This is a check box for confirming whether or not to create a shortcut on the desktop when creating the 806 hot folder. Reference numeral 807 denotes a radio button for designating a folder monitoring method, and a combination of a method for checking the presence / absence of a file and a method for waiting for a notification from the OS can be selected. Reference numeral 808 denotes an OK button display area. Reference numeral 809 denotes a cancel button display area. The hot folder creation screen 801 is displayed in the hot folder creation process described with reference to FIG.

<Job history information>
FIG. 9 is an example of a table showing the configuration of job history information related to one print job in the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the print history information is stored in a text file described in the CSV format, but a database may be used. The print history information mainly includes print setting information, print content information, and print result information. In the drawing, reference numeral 901 denotes an item representing a job name. In this embodiment, the job folder name or print content data name input to the hot folder is used. Reference numeral 902 denotes an item representing the name of the hot folder. Reference numeral 903 denotes an item representing the job status, such as processing, end (normal end), or error. Reference numeral 904 denotes a printer name representing the printer that executed the job. Reference numeral 905 denotes an item representing the number of copies of the print job. The input acceptance time 906 is an item representing the time from the hot folder monitoring unit to the hot folder control unit. Reference numeral 907 denotes an item representing the time when printing is finished or the time when job processing is finished for some reason. Reference numeral 908 denotes an item representing a job number for uniquely identifying a job. Reference numeral 909 denotes an item representing a path to a print ticket (print setting) file. The pass to this ticket may be actual ticket information instead of a pass. Hereinafter, this is called a print ticket pass. An item 910 stores an error factor when an error occurs. Reference numeral 911 denotes an item representing a path to a print result (detailed information) file. The path to the result file may be actual result information instead of a path. Reference numeral 912 denotes an item representing the type of print data file such as PDF, JPEG, or TIFF. Reference numeral 913 denotes an item representing the data size of the print data file. The printing method 914 is an item representing print settings such as double-sided or single-sided. The paper size 915 is an item representing the paper size. A paper type 916 is an item representing a paper type such as gloss or plain paper. Among the items of the job history information, the printing method 914, the paper size 915, and the paper type 916 may be included in the print setting information. In this case, these items are extracted from the print setting information, and the job history information is extracted. Record as part of

  Note that the job history information is recorded, for example, at the start of the job, and is updated according to the transition of the job state. Specifically, a job history area of the job is additionally reserved in the job history information at the start of the job, and information that is known at that time is recorded. The information is, for example, information obtained by removing the print end time 907 and the error cause 910 from the information in FIG. The result file 911 can be recorded at the time when the file is secured at the start of the job. In the status 903, the job status is recorded as “processing in progress” at the start, “finished” at the normal end, “error” at the end of error, and the like. Alternatively, the job history can be recorded when a file is input to the hot folder. In that case, a value corresponding to the state 903 is initially recorded. Since the job history information is searched with the value of the print ticket path as described above, if the database is configured as a searchable database using the status 903 and the print ticket path 907 as keys, a faster search can be performed. It becomes possible.

<Hot folder creation process>
FIG. 10 is an example of a flowchart regarding the operation of the hot folder creation process of the information processing apparatus 101 in this embodiment. The procedure in FIG. 10 is executed by the information processing apparatus 101. Further, the procedure of FIG. 10 is executed, for example, triggered by an operator input instructing display of a print job history by a hot folder. First, when started, the process proceeds to step S1001.

  In step S1001, the information of the hot folder print job history information display 601 is displayed on the display 204, and the process advances to step S1002. The print job history information is stored in the information processing apparatus 101 in the format shown in FIG. In step S1001, the print job history information is read and displayed as shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the job number 609 (corresponding to the job number 908 in FIG. 9) is displayed. Of course, all items up to the paper type 916 may be displayed. In FIG. 6, jobs are displayed in order from jobs with the latest submission time. However, for example, when the user selects an appropriate item, a list sorted according to the selected item can be displayed. .

  In step S1002, it is determined whether or not the job history of the job that has been successfully selected from the list items in the print job history information display 601 is selected and right-clicked. If the successful job is selected and right-clicked, step S1003 is performed. Proceed to For example, with reference to the status 903 of the selected job and an “end” code indicating successful completion, the job can be determined as a successful job.

  In step S1003, a context menu related to new hot folder creation is displayed on the display 204, and the flow advances to step S1004. This context menu includes, for example, an item for instructing creation of a new hot folder.

  In step S1004, it is determined whether or not an item for creating a new hot folder has been clicked from the context menu. If clicked, the process proceeds to step S1005. In FIG. 10, the process returns to step S <b> 1002 with No, but the process returns to the process after the processing of the specified item (omitted here) is performed.

  In step S1005, information on the ticket and content information in the history information shown in FIG. 9 is acquired from the history selected in the print job history information display 601 of the hot folder. In the present embodiment, a print ticket path 909, a file type 912, a data size 913, a printing method 914, a paper size 915, and a paper type 916 are acquired as information relating to content information. After obtaining the information, the process proceeds to step S1006.

  In step S1006, the history information is searched for the same print ticket path as the print ticket path 909 that is the information acquired in step S1005, and the job history information of the job that failed to print is acquired from the corresponding jobs. The common print ticket path means that the print settings are the same. In this embodiment, a file type 912, a data size 913, a printing method 914, a paper size 915, and a paper type 916 are acquired as a job history that has failed in printing. After obtaining the information, the process proceeds to step S1007.

  In step S1007, a hot folder creation confirmation screen in which the information acquired in S1005 (except for the print ticket path 909 in this example) is placed in the window 702 in FIG. 7 and the history information obtained in S1006 is placed in the window 703 in FIG. (FIG. 7) is displayed on the display 204, and the process advances to step S1008. In FIG. 7, the selected print job and the failed print job having the same print ticket path are displayed one by one. On the other hand, when there are a plurality of corresponding failed print jobs, all of them may be displayed, or one of them may be selected and displayed. In any case, the user can refer to the job related information of the selected print job that is the candidate and the job related information of the failed print job before setting the print setting of the fixed hot folder. The displayed job-related information includes, for example, the file type, data size, printing method, paper size, paper type, and error cause, and the user can determine whether the print settings are appropriate by referring to the information. . For this reason, the name of the used printer may be displayed as job related information.

  In step S1008, it is determined whether the OK button 704 or the cancel button 705 on the confirmation screen 701 is clicked. If the OK button is clicked, the process proceeds to step 1009.

  In step S1009, the hot folder creation screen 801 of FIG. 8 is displayed, and the process proceeds to step 1010.

  In step S1010, input of necessary information on the hot folder creation screen 801, for example, a hot folder name 802, a folder path 803, a monitoring method 807, and the like is received, and the click of the OK button 808 on the hot folder creation screen 801 is determined. If the OK button is clicked, the process proceeds to step 1011. As the print ticket 804 (that is, print setting information), a print ticket linked by the print ticket path 909 included in the job history of the selected print job is employed. That is, the print ticket is associated with the hot folder. The association is performed, for example, by copying a print ticket file to the hot folder.

  In step S1011, a fixed type hot folder having the specified attributes and print settings is newly created, and the process ends.

  If there is no job history selection and right click in step S1002, the process proceeds to step S1002.

  If generation of a new hot folder is not selected from the context menu in step S1004, the process proceeds to step S1002.

  If a cancel button 705 on the confirmation screen 701 is clicked in step S1008, the process proceeds to step S1002.

  If a cancel button 809 on the hot folder creation screen 801 is clicked in step S1010, the process proceeds to step S1002.

  The above is the flowchart regarding the hot folder creation processing in the information processing apparatus 101 based on the history information.

  By executing this procedure, according to the present embodiment, when a new fixed type hot folder is generated, the print setting information adopted for the folder is changed to the print setting information of the print job that has been successfully completed. You can choose from. In addition, if there is a print job executed using the print setting information that has ended due to an error, the user can also refer to it. Therefore, the user can confirm in advance what print job has succeeded or failed among the print jobs using the print setting information to be set, and can set it after confirmation.

  Thereby, according to this embodiment, the failure probability of printing using the fixed hot folder can be reduced.

  Note that FIG. 10 illustrates the procedure for creating a new fixed hot folder. However, it is allowed to change the print settings of an existing fixed hot folder, and the procedure of FIG. 10 is executed as the procedure at that time. You can also

[Second Embodiment]
In this embodiment, S1001 in FIG. 10 is realized by the procedure in FIG. 11, and printing is limited to job history information of a print job that has been successfully completed. Other configurations and processes are the same as those in the first embodiment.

<Print history information display procedure>
FIG. 11 is an example of a flowchart relating to the successful print history information display operation of the hot folder of the information processing apparatus 101 in this embodiment. The procedure of FIG. 11 is also executed by the information processing apparatus 101.

  First, when started, the process proceeds to step S1101.

  In step S1101, the presence / absence of job history data is determined on the job history display screen 601. If job history data exists, the process advances to step S1102.

  In step S1102, one print job history data is acquired, and the process advances to step S1103.

  In step S1103, it is determined whether the job history data acquired in step S1102 is a history of a successful job. If the history is a success history, the process proceeds to step S1104.

  In step S1104, the job history data is displayed on the print job history information display screen on the display 204, and the process advances to step S1101.

  If it is determined in step S1101 that there is no job history data, the process ends.

  If it is determined in step S1103 that the print history data is not a successful job, the process advances to step S1101.

  The above is a flowchart relating to the print history information display process that was successful when creating a hot folder in the information processing apparatus 101.

  By displaying the job history in this way, it becomes easy to select the print setting information from the print setting information of a successful print job.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 12 is an example of a flowchart relating to the operation of storing the successful print history information of the hot folder of the information processing apparatus 101 in this embodiment. In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, regardless of whether the result is successful or unsuccessful, print job history information is stored and referred to when a new fixed hot folder is created. In this embodiment, when recording job history information, only successful print jobs are recorded. Processing at the time of creating a hot folder is the same as in the first embodiment. First, when started, the process proceeds to step S1201.

  In step S1201, the end of the print job is determined. If the print job is ended, the process proceeds to step S1202.

  In step S1202, it is determined whether the completed print job data is a successful job. If it is successful job data, the process advances to step S1203.

  In step S1203, the status 903 of the job history information data of the completed job is updated to end, and the process ends.

  If the job is not finished in step S1201, the process proceeds to step S1201.

  If it is determined in step S1202 that a successful job has not been issued, the process advances to step S1204.

  In step S1204, the history information data of the completed job is deleted, and the process ends.

  The above is a flowchart regarding the process of storing the successful print history information of the hot folder in the information processing apparatus 101.

  By recording job history information in this way, it becomes easy to select print setting information from print setting information of a successful print job when creating a fixed hot folder.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, a procedure for changing a flexible hot folder to a fixed hot folder will be described. At that time, the print setting information is set in the fixed hot folder by referring to the job history as described in the first embodiment. This embodiment can be additionally combined with the first to third embodiments. FIG. 13 is an example of a flowchart regarding the operation of changing the flexible hot folder to the fixed hot folder based on the history information of the information processing apparatus 101 in the present embodiment. The job history information is the same as that in the first embodiment. First, when started, the process proceeds to step S1301.

  In step S1301, the information of the hot folder print job history information display 601 is displayed on the display 204, and the process advances to step S1302. This is the same as S1001 of the first embodiment.

  In step S1302, it is determined whether or not a successful history has been selected and right-clicked in the list items of the print job history information display 601, and if selected and right-clicked, the process advances to step S1303.

  In step S1303, it is determined whether the selected print job history information is history information of a flexible type hot folder. If the history information is flexible type hot folder history information, the process advances to step S1304. This determination can be made with reference to information indicating whether the hot folder is a flexible type or a fixed type given as the name of the hot folder or other attributes.

  In step S1304, a context menu for changing the flexible hot folder to the fixed type is displayed on the display 204, and the process advances to step S1305.

  In step S1305, it is determined whether or not an item for changing the flexible hot folder to the fixed type is clicked from the context menu. If the item is clicked, the process proceeds to step S1306.

  In step S1307, the hot folder creation screen 801 of FIG. 8 is displayed, and the process proceeds to step 1307.

  In step S1307, necessary information is input on the hot folder creation screen 801, and it is determined whether or not an OK button on the hot folder creation screen 801 is clicked. If the OK button is clicked, the process proceeds to step 1307.

  In step S1308, the flexible hot folder is changed to a fixed hot folder, and the process ends. This change is performed by rewriting the type information indicating the hot folder type to a fixed type. As the print ticket 804 (that is, print setting information) associated with the folder, a print ticket linked by a print ticket path 909 included in the job history of the selected print job is employed. That is, the print ticket is associated with the hot folder. The association is performed, for example, by copying a print ticket file to the hot folder.

  If it is determined in step S1302 that there is no job history selection and right click, the process advances to step S1302.

  If the print history information is not flexible type hot folder in step S1303, the process advances to step S1302.

  If generation of a new hot folder is not selected from the context menu in step S1305, the process proceeds to step S1302.

  If the cancel button on the hot folder creation screen 801 is clicked in step S1307, the process proceeds to step S1302.

  The above is a flowchart regarding the process of changing the flexible hot folder to the fixed hot folder based on the history information in the information processing apparatus 101.

  In the above procedure, S1301 may be executed in the procedure of FIG. 11 of the second embodiment. With this configuration, even when the flexible type hot folder is changed to the fixed type, it is easy to capture the print setting associated with the folder from a print job that has been successfully executed.

[Fifth Embodiment]
FIG. 14 is an example of a flowchart relating to an operation of generating hot folder information created from hot folder history information of the information processing apparatus 101 in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, an example of creating a hot folder name from hot folder history information will be described. This example can be implemented in combination with the first to fourth embodiments. First, when the process is started, the process proceeds to step S1401.

  In step S1401, job history information is acquired, and the process advances to step S1402.

  In step S1402, a hot folder name is generated from the job history information, and the process advances to step S1403. For example, a hot folder name such as A printer_double-sided_A3_gloss is generated from the printer name 904, the printing method 914, the paper size 915, and the paper type 916 of the print history information.

  In step S1403, the hot folder setting input screen 801 is displayed and the process ends.

  In step S1204, the history information data of the completed job is deleted, and the process ends.

  The above is a flowchart relating to processing for generating hot folder information created from hot folder history information in the information processing apparatus 101. By creating a hot folder name using this procedure, you can know the outline of the associated print settings by referring to the hot folder name, and the user can refer to the name of the hot folder where content data should be entered. You can just choose.

Claims (9)

History information storage means for storing print setting information and print result information of the print job as history information when a print job based on the print data input to the hot folder is executed;
A history information display means for displaying the history information in response to an instruction to create a new hot folder;
Creating means for creating a new hot folder in which the print setting information of the print job selected from the history information displayed by the display means is associated as the print setting information applied to the input print job; An information processing apparatus characterized by this. The creation means includes a selection means for allowing a user to select history information of a successful print job from the history information displayed by the display means;
Means for displaying information relating to the print job selected by the selection means and information relating to the failed print job executed using the same print setting information as the print job;
Means for accepting confirmation or cancellation input by the user,
When a confirmation by the user is input, a new hot folder is created in which the print setting information of the selected print job is associated as the print setting information applied to the input print data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit does not display print setting information of a failed print job.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the creation unit cannot select failed print setting information.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit does not store print setting information that has failed to be printed.   6. The creation of the new hot folder includes a change from a hot folder that is not associated with print setting information to a hot folder that is associated with print setting information. The information processing apparatus described.   The said creation means gives the value of the item contained in the print setting information linked | related with the newly created hot folder to the name of the said hot folder, The one characterized by the above-mentioned. Information processing device. A storage step of storing history information in a storage unit for storing print setting information and print result information of the print job as history information when executing a print job based on the print data input to the hot folder;
A history information display step for displaying the history information in response to an instruction to create a new hot folder;
A creation step of creating a new hot folder in which the print setting information of the print job selected from the history information displayed in the display step is associated as the print setting information applied to the input print job. Information processing method characterized by   The program for functioning a computer as an information processing apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 7.

Images