JP2020149380A - Programs, storage programs and information processing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

Kind Code: A1 A program for an information processing apparatus capable of selecting a paper size, and providing a technique for improving usability when selecting a paper size. Kind Code: A1 A PC registers setting data including a paper size in a registration DB in advance. Setting data corresponding to the same paper size as the paper size acquired from the printer 2 is extracted from the data, and print settings indicated by the extracted setting data are displayed on the display 19 . [Selection drawing] Fig. 1

Description

The technical fields disclosed herein relate to programs and information processing devices that make settings used for printing on printers.

In an information processing device such as a personal computer, there is known a technique of accepting a user's selection of a paper size and instructing a printer to print based on the selected paper size. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of selecting an appropriate printer paper by a management server when a user-defined paper size is specified in the print data output from the information processing apparatus.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-63386

When a user selects a paper size from an information processor, he or she is not always near the printer. Therefore, it may not be possible to check the paper loaded in the printer and select an appropriate paper size, which may result in wasted consumables. Also, if you are not near the printer, moving to the printer to check the paper can be a hassle for the user. Patent Document 1 does not disclose a technique relating to details when selecting a paper size.

This specification is a program of an information processing device capable of selecting a paper size, and discloses a technique for improving usability when selecting a paper size.

The program of the present invention made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems is a program that can be executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus and executes a process for setting a paper size used for printing by a printer. A plurality of setting data are stored in the memory of the information processing device, and the setting data is data indicating print settings including a paper size, and is stored in the computer via a communication interface of the information processing device. , The acquisition process for acquiring the paper size set in the printer from the printer, and the setting data corresponding to the same paper size as the paper size acquired in the acquisition process is extracted from the plurality of setting data. It is characterized in that the extraction process and the display process of displaying the print settings indicated by the setting data extracted by the extraction process on the display device of the information processing apparatus are executed.

The program having the above configuration causes the display device to display the print settings indicated by the setting data when the setting data stored in the memory includes the setting data for the paper size set in the printer. As a result, the program is more likely to avoid printing when an inappropriate paper size is selected, and the user can reduce the trouble of checking the paper size.

A control method for realizing the functions of the above device, a computer program, and a computer-readable storage medium for storing the computer program are also new and useful.

According to the technique disclosed in the present specification, a program of an information processing device capable of selecting a paper size, and a technique for improving usability at the time of selecting a paper size is realized.

It is a schematic block diagram of the printing system which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the internal structure of a printer. It is a figure explaining the outline of crop printing. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of a registration database. It is a figure which shows an example of a screen transition. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of print setting processing. It is a figure which shows an example of the basic setting screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the crop print setting screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the registration process, (a) is a float chart which shows the procedure of a registration process, and (b) is a figure which shows an example of the additional registration confirmation screen. It is a flowchart which shows the modification of the print setting process.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying a printing system including a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) and a printer will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present embodiment discloses a printing system including a printer that prints on a continuous strip-shaped printing medium.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system of this embodiment has a PC 1, a printer 2, and a server 3, and is connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via the Internet 4. The PC 1 is a device that executes various processes for printing on the printer 2. PC1 is an example of an information processing device. Specifically, the PC 1 acquires image data from the server 3, accepts various print settings including a paper size setting, sends a print command to the printer 2, and the like. For example, a smartphone or a tablet computer can be used instead of the PC1.

The PC 1 includes a control board 10 including a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, and a non-volatile memory 14. Further, the PC 1 includes a network interface (hereinafter referred to as "network IF") 16, a USB interface (hereinafter referred to as "USB-IF") 17, and a user interface (hereinafter referred to as "user IF") 18. , Display 19, which are electrically connected to the control board 10. Note that the control board 10 in FIG. 1 is a general term for hardware and software used for controlling the PC 1, and does not necessarily represent a single hardware that actually exists in the PC 1.

The CPU 11 executes various processes according to a program read from the ROM 12 or the non-volatile memory 14 and based on a user's operation. The CPU 11 is an example of a computer. The ROM 12 stores a startup program or the like for starting the PC1. The RAM 13 is used as a work area when various processes are executed, or as a storage area for temporarily storing data. The non-volatile memory 14 is, for example, an HDD or a flash memory, and is used as an area for storing programs such as various application programs (hereinafter referred to as “applications”), data such as image data and document data, and various settings. To. The ROM 12, the RAM 13, and the non-volatile memory 14 are all examples of the memory. Further, if the CPU 11 includes a CPU buffer, the CPU buffer is also an example of the memory.

Any example of memory may be a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium. In addition to the above examples, the non-transitory medium also includes recording media such as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM. The non-transitory medium is also a tangible medium. On the other hand, an electric signal that carries a program downloaded from a server on the Internet is a computer-readable signal medium, which is a kind of computer-readable medium, but is a storage that can be read by a non-transitory computer. Not included in the medium.

The network IF16 includes hardware for communicating with an external device via a network such as a LAN or the Internet 4. The communication method of the network IF16 may be wireless or wired, and may be any standard method. The USB-IF17 includes hardware for performing communication based on the USB standard. The communication between the PC 1 and the printer 2 may be performed by using the network IF16 or by using the USB-IF17. The network IF16 or USB-IF17 is an example of a communication interface.

The user IF18 includes hardware such as a keyboard and a mouse that accepts input operations by the user. The display 19 includes hardware for displaying information on the screen. The display 19 is an example of a display device. The PC 1 may have a touch panel or the like having the functions of both the user IF 18 and the display 19.

The PC 1 of this embodiment has a non-volatile memory 14, a general-purpose application program (hereinafter referred to as “general-purpose application”) 40, an operating system (hereinafter referred to as “OS”) 41, and a registration database (hereinafter referred to as “registration DB””. ) 42 and.

The general-purpose application 40 is a program for viewing, printing, or the like of a file in a predetermined format, for example, a PDF format, and specifically, Adobe Reader (registered trademark). The printer driver 411 that controls the printer 2 is incorporated in the OS 41. The processing of each program will be described later. The printer driver 411 is an example of a program.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the printer 2 of this embodiment incorporates a print head 21 and a print medium 22 wound up in a roll shape, and prints on the print medium 22 and conveys the print medium 22. This is a so-called label printer that performs the above in parallel. The print head 21 of the printer 2 is, for example, a thermal transfer type, and includes a row of a plurality of print pins which are heat generating elements. The printer 2 selectively heats each print pin of the print head 21 to print on the print medium 22.

The printing medium 22 used for printing in the printer 2 includes a continuous strip-shaped base material 221 and a paper to be printed 222 attached to one side of the base material 221. The printer 2 prints on paper 222 with the print head 21 while unwinding the print medium 22. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the printed portion of the print medium 22 is projected from the discharge port 23 to the outside of the machine. The printer 2 includes, for example, a manual cutter 24 in the vicinity of the discharge port 23. When the cutter 24 is operated by the user, the portion protruding outside the machine is cut out from the remaining print medium 22 and discharged.

The print medium 22 used in the printer 2 has a plurality of paper types depending on the shape of the paper 222 to be printed. The paper type is, for example, an indefinite length tape, a die-cut label, or a marked medium. The non-fixed length tape is a continuous strip-shaped paper 222 similar to the base material 221 attached to the base material 221. For example, a label having a predetermined length is created from an indefinite length tape by cutting a printed portion with a cutter 24 or the like. The die-cut label is formed by attaching a plurality of sheets 222 previously formed in a predetermined shape to a base material 221 at a predetermined interval. The marked media is those in which marks are provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the print medium 22, and each paper 222 is set in a range including one mark. The print medium 22 may be genuine paper provided by the printer manufacturer or non-genuine paper made by a third party such as general roll paper.

The printer 2 of this embodiment may have a size measurement function of measuring the paper size of the set print medium 22 and outputting the measurement result. For example, the printer 2 is provided with an optical sensor in the transport path, detects the presence / absence of the paper 222 on the base material 221 and the presence / absence of a mark by the optical sensor while transporting the print medium 22, and the length in the transport direction based on the detection result. May be calculated. Further, for example, when the print medium 22 is genuine paper, the printer 2 may detect the paper size from an identifier such as a hole in the paper cassette. The printer 2 can store the set value of the paper size set by the user operation in the memory.

Further, the printer 2 of this embodiment may be capable of mounting the option unit 25 on the outside of the discharge port 23. The option unit 25 is a unit that processes the print medium 22 after printing, and is, for example, a cutter option. The cutter option automatically cuts the printed medium 22 that has been printed and is ejected from the discharge port 23. For example, it is possible to set cutting for each label and cutting at the rear end of all labels. In addition, the cutter option can be set to cut for each label and to make a cut for each label. The cutter option is used, for example, to cut roll paper to a predetermined length to create a label.

The printer 2 prints an image on the print medium 22 based on the print settings included in the print command received from the PC 2. The printer driver 411 has a function of displaying a print setting screen in response to a request from another program such as the general-purpose application 40 and accepting print settings.

The printer driver 411 of this embodiment is compatible with the printer 2, and is used in a crop print setting mode in which a crop print setting screen is displayed and settings used for crop printing are set, and a crop print setting mode in which a basic setting screen is displayed and used in addition to crop printing. It has a basic print setting mode for making settings. In the present specification, crop printing is defined as extracting a part of an image to be printed and printing the extracted image on a label. Crop printing is an example of unique printing. The crop print setting mode is an example of the first mode, and the basic print setting mode is an example of the second mode.

In this embodiment, crop printing is used for printing product labels or shipping labels. For example, in the case of crop printing a product label, as shown in FIG. 3, from the image data of the image 8 including one or two or more images 7 of the bar code 71, the image data of the image 7 including the bar code (hereinafter, “bar code”). In the case of printing on a die-cut label, in which the extracted image 7 is individually extracted and the extracted image 7 is printed on the paper 222, usually one image 7 is printed on one sheet of paper 222. Will be done. In addition to the barcode 71, the image 7 includes images such as a product name and a condition.

Also, for example, when crop printing a shipping label, from A4 size image data including an image to be printed on the product label and an image to be printed on the shipping label, image data of an image to be printed on the product label and an image to be printed on the shipping label. The image data of each of the above is extracted and printed on the label of the paper 222. The image data of the image printed on the shipping label also has the barcode image data.

The barcode printed on the product label or shipping label must be accurately readable by the barcode reader. In addition, the size of the product label and the shipping label may be specified by the service provider that provides the image of the barcode. In addition, the specified size may differ between the product label and the shipping label. In addition, the size of the label may be limited by the size of the product, the standard of the delivery company, the position where the barcode is printed, and the like. Therefore, the paper 222 used for crop printing of product labels and shipping labels needs to have a paper size suitable for the above restrictions. When performing basic printing, the paper size of the paper 222 does not have to be a paper size suitable for the above limitation.

The printer driver 411 has a function of communicating with the printer 2 and acquiring the paper size set in the printer 2 from the printer 2. In the following, among the paper sizes, the size of the print medium 22 in the transport direction is referred to as “paper length”, and the size in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction is referred to as “paper width”. The paper width is determined by the set print medium 22. For example, when the width of the paper 222 is smaller than the width of the base material 221 the paper width is the width of the paper 222.

The paper length differs depending on the paper type and print data. When the paper type is an indefinite length tape, the paper length is a range to be printed for each print data, and is a length protruding from the ejection port 23 after printing. When the paper type is a die-cut label, the paper length is one length of the cut paper 222 attached on the base material 221. When the paper type is marked media, the paper length is the interval between marks in the transport direction.

The printer driver 411 has a function of registering frequently used print settings in the registration DB 42. The printer driver 411 has a function of storing the setting data including the paper size in the registration DB 42 when the paper size acquired from the printer 2 is not registered in the registration DB 42.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the registration DB 42 stores setting data 44 associated with setting values such as registration number 441, paper size 442, mode 443, use 444, paper type 445, and auto cut 446.

The registration number 441 is information for identifying the setting data. The paper size 442 is information regarding the paper size of the paper 222, and includes a paper width and a paper length. The mode 443 is information indicating whether the setting data is for the basic print setting mode or the crop print setting mode. Use 444 is information indicating the use of the printed matter, and for example, a product label and a shipping label are stored. In this embodiment, when the product label or the shipping label is stored in the usage 444, the crop print setting mode is stored in the mode 443, and when the product label or the shipping label is not stored in the usage 444, the basic print setting mode is stored in the mode 443. It will be remembered. Use 444 is an example of a setting used for specific printing.

The paper type 445 is information indicating the paper type, and stores any value of "indefinite length tape", "die-cut label", and "marked media". The auto cut 446 is information indicating whether or not to automatically cut the paper, and indicates "cut" indicating that the paper is automatically separated, and "cut" indicating that the paper is cut halfway in the width direction to make a cut. A value of either "half cut" or "none" indicating that the paper is not cut is stored.

The setting data 44 may be automatically registered in the registration DB 42 at the time of installation or update of the printer driver 411, or may be registered in the registration DB 42 by using the user IF18. For example, genuine paper can be registered in the registration DB 42 by the former method, and non-genuine paper can be registered in the registration DB 42 by the latter method.

Next, the operation of the printing system will be described. For example, the user inputs product information for each product into the PC 1 and transmits the product information to the server 3. The server 3 creates barcode image data based on the product information, and returns A4 size image data including one or two or more barcode image data to the PC 1. When the user inputs 10 product information, A4 size image data in which 10 barcode image data are arranged is transmitted from the server 3 to the PC1.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the PC 1 receives the image data from the server 3, the general-purpose application 40 is used to display the label image display screen D1 on the display 19. The label image display screen D1 displays a list of images 7 including a barcode. Further, the print button A1 is displayed on the label image display screen D1. When the print button A1 is pressed using the user IF18, the PC1 uses the general-purpose application 40 to display the print setting dialog DL1 on the display 19. The preview image PR1, the property button A2, and the print button A3 are displayed in the dialog DL1.

When the property button A2 is pressed via the user IF18, the general-purpose application 40 calls the printer driver 411 via the API (abbreviation of Application Programming Interface) of the OS. In the PC 1, the CPU 11 activates the printer driver 411 with this call as an opportunity to execute the print setting process shown in FIG.

In addition, each processing step of the following processing and flowchart basically shows the processing of CPU 11 according to the instruction described in each program. That is, the processing of "judgment", "extraction", "selection", "calculation", "determination", "specification", "acquisition", "acceptance", "control", etc. in the following description is the processing of the CPU 11. Represents. The processing by the CPU 11 also includes hardware control using the API of the OS 41 of the PC1. In this specification, the operation of each program will be described by omitting the description of OS 41. That is, in the following description, the description to the effect that "program B controls hardware C" may refer to "program B controls hardware C using the API of OS41". Further, the processing of the CPU 11 according to the instruction described in the program may be described in abbreviated wording. For example, it may be described as "performed by the CPU 11" or "performed by the program".

Note that "acquisition" is used in a concept that does not require a request. That is, the process of receiving data without the CPU 11 requesting is also included in the concept of "the CPU 11 acquires the data". Further, the "data" in the present specification is represented by a computer-readable bit string. Then, data having the same substantial meaning and content but different formats are treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in the present specification. Further, "requesting" and "instructing" are concepts indicating that information indicating that a request is being made or information indicating that an instruction is being given is output to the other party. Further, the information indicating that the request is made or the information indicating that the instruction is given is simply described as "request" or "instruction".

Further, the process of determining whether or not the information A indicates that it is the matter B by the CPU 11 is conceptually described as "determining whether or not the information A is the matter B from the information A". There is. The process of determining whether the information A indicates that it is the matter B or the matter C by the CPU 11 is "determined from the information A whether it is the matter B or the matter C". It may be described conceptually as ".

First, the CPU 11 reads the current print setting value stored in the registry and temporarily stores it in the RAM 13 (S12). The current print setting value may be the default setting value set when the printer driver 411 is installed. For example, the change operation is accepted in FIGS. 7 and 8, and is stored in the registry. It may be a set value. The print setting values stored in this registry include print data in the printer driver 411 and all setting items used for creating commands to the printer. The registry is a storage area for the printer driver 411 provided in the non-volatile memory 14.

Then, the CPU 11 displays the basic setting screen D3 shown in FIG. 7 on the display 19 (S14). The basic setting screen D3 is displayed when the printer driver 411 is in the basic print setting mode. The basic setting screen D3 is a screen that accepts settings used for printing other than crop printing, that is, basic settings shared by crop printing and other printing. The printer driver 411 is programmed to start as the basic print setting mode at the start of the print setting process.

The basic setting screen D3 includes a basic setting tab TB31 and a crop printing tab TB32. The basic setting tab TB31 is an object that receives an instruction to set the printer driver 411 as the basic print setting mode. The crop print tab TB32 is an object that receives an instruction to set the printer driver 411 to the crop print setting mode. When the crop print tab TB32 is selected in the basic print setting mode, the printer driver 411 enters the crop print setting mode and displays the crop print setting screen D4 shown in FIG. 8 on the display 19.

The crop print setting screen D4 is a screen that accepts print settings used in crop printing. The crop print setting screen D4 is provided with a crop print setting area DA42 instead of the basic setting area DA32. Among the print setting values stored in the RAM 13, the setting values related to crop printing are reflected in the radio buttons R41 to R43 provided in the crop setting field SA41 of the crop print setting screen D4. The crop print setting screen D4 is also provided with a basic setting tab TB31 and a crop print tab TB32. When the basic setting tab TB31 is selected in the crop print setting mode, the printer driver 411 enters the basic print setting mode and displays the basic setting screen D3 shown in FIG. 7 on the display 19.

Even if the basic setting tab TB31 is selected or the crop printing tab TB32 is selected, the setting value of the RAM 13 is not changed. The set value of the RAM 13 is reflected in the newly displayed setting screen.

For example, the paper type setting included in the print setting values stored in the registry is "unfixed length tape", the paper size setting values are paper width 103 mm and paper length 164 mm, and the auto cut setting values. Is a cut and the crop print setting is off. In this case, the basic setting screen D3 displayed immediately after the start of the print setting process is set in the setting display area DA31, the paper selection field SA31, the paper size field SA32, and the option field SA34, as shown in FIG. Is reflected. When the crop print tab TB32 is selected on the basic setting screen D3, the CPU 11 displays the crop print setting screen D4 shown in FIG. 8 and selects the radio button R41 for setting not to perform the crop print process. Then, the CPU 11 displays the same paper size as the paper size displayed on the basic setting screen D3 in the paper size column SA42, and displays the image image of the basic printing in the image column SA43. A confirmation button A32 is provided on both the basic setting screen D3 and the crop print setting screen D4.

The basic setting screen D3 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 7. In the basic setting screen D3, in addition to the basic setting tab TB31 and the crop printing tab TB32, the setting display area DA31, the basic setting area DA32, and the OK button A31 And. The OK button A31 is a button for instructing confirmation of the print setting.

The setting display area DA31 is an area for displaying the print setting value temporarily stored in the RAM 13. The basic setting area DA32 is an area in which standard setting items are displayed. In the basic setting area DA32, a paper selection field SA31, a paper size field SA32, a number of copies field SA33, and an option field SA34 are displayed.

The paper selection field SA31 is a field for accepting selection of a paper size name. In the paper selection field SA31, the names of a plurality of general paper sizes and the names of the print media 22 registered in the registration DB 42 and associated with the basic print setting mode are displayed as options. For example, when the name of the print medium 22 registered in the registration DB is selected, the CPU 11 displays the paper size of the print medium 22 stored corresponding to the selected paper name in the paper size column SA32. A confirmation button A32 is provided in the paper selection field SA31. The confirmation button A32 is a button that receives an instruction to acquire the paper size from the printer 2. The confirmation button A32 is an example of an input object.

The paper size column SA32 is a column for accepting the paper size. The number of copies column SA33 is a column for accepting input of the number of copies for creating the same label. The option column SA34 is a column that accepts input of information indicating whether or not to use the option unit 25 at the time of label creation. In the option column SA34, for example, a check box for "cut every specified number of sheets" for specifying the number of sheets to be cut, a check box for "cut at the end" for separating the paper, and a "half cut" for making a cut in the paper. Check box is provided.

Returning to FIG. 6, the process of S16 is a process common to both when displaying the basic setting screen D3 and when displaying the crop print setting screen D4. The CPU 11 uses the user IF 18 to determine whether or not the confirmation button A32 has been pressed (S16). When the CPU 11 determines that the confirmation button A32 has been pressed (S16: YES), the CPU 11 acquires the paper size set in the printer 2 from the printer 2 (S18). The process of S18 is an example of the acquisition process.

The acquisition of the paper size may be performed, for example, by the printer driver 411 transmitting a paper size measurement instruction to the printer 2 and receiving the measurement result. The printer 2 may perform calibration to detect the paper size, or may detect the paper size from the identifier of the cassette accommodating the print medium 22. According to this, since the printer 2 actually measures the paper size, the PC 1 can automatically acquire the paper size of the print medium 22 currently set in the printer 2.

The paper size acquired by the PC 1 from the printer 2 is not strictly limited to the paper size currently set in the printer 2. That is, when the printer driver 411 requests the printer 2 to transmit the paper size set in the printer 2, the paper size stored in the memory of the printer 2 may be responded. The printer driver 411 may acquire the paper size by receiving the response from the printer 2. Further, for example, when the paper cassette is removed, the printer 2 may return the paper size corresponding to the cassette set immediately before to the PC 1.

The CPU 11 that has acquired the paper size determines whether or not the setting data corresponding to the acquired paper size is in the registration DB 42 (S20). That is, the CPU 11 compares the acquired paper size with the paper size 442 stored in the registration DB 42 shown in FIG. 4, and reads out the paper size 442 closest to the acquired paper size. Then, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the read paper size 442 is within a predetermined error range with the acquired paper size.

If the read paper size 442 is not within a predetermined error range with the acquired paper size, the CPU 11 determines that there is no setting data corresponding to the acquired paper size (S20: NO), executes the registration process, and acquires the data. The paper size is additionally registered in the registration DB 42 (S46). The CPU 11 returns to S16 after the registration process. The registration process is an example of a storage process. The registration process will be described later.

On the other hand, when the CPU 11 determines that the read paper size 442 is within a predetermined error range with the acquired paper size, it determines that the setting data corresponding to the acquired paper size is in the registration DB 42 (S20: YES). In this case, the CPU 11 reads the record including the read paper size 442 from the registration DB 42 (S22). As a result, the CPU 11 can extract the setting data 44 corresponding to the same paper size as the acquired paper size from the registration DB 42. The processing of S20 and S22 is an example of the extraction processing.

The CPU 11 overwrites the print setting value temporarily stored in the RAM 13 with the setting value of the setting data 44 extracted from the registration DB 42 for the setting item included in the setting data 44 extracted from the registration DB 42 (S24). For the setting items not included in the extracted setting data 44, the current setting values are maintained.

After that, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the mode included in the print setting value stored in the RAM 13 is the crop print setting mode (S26). When the mode is the crop print setting mode (S26: YES), the CPU 11 displays the crop print setting screen D4 shown in FIG. 8 (S28). The CPU 11 switches to the display of the crop print setting screen D4 when the basic setting screen D3 is displayed, and maintains the display of the crop print setting screen D4 when the crop print setting screen D4 is displayed. The crop print setting screen reflects the print setting value stored in the RAM 13, that is, the print setting setting value indicated by the extracted setting data. The process of S28 is an example of the display process. The processing of S26 and S28 performed from the state where the basic setting screen D3 is displayed is an example of the switching processing.

For example, when the paper size acquired from the printer 2 by the PC 1 is 60 mm in the paper width and 30 mm in the paper length in the state where the basic setting screen D3 is displayed (S18), the CPU 11 is from the registration DB 42 shown in FIG. The setting data 44 of the registration number “2” is extracted (S20: YES, S22). For the setting data of the registration number "2", for example, set values are set for the paper size 442, the mode 443, the usage 444, the paper type 445, and the auto cut 446. Therefore, the CPU 11 changes the paper size, mode, application, paper type, and auto cut setting values of the print settings stored in the RAM 13 with the setting values included in the setting data 44 of the registration number "2". (S24).

In this case, the mode included in the print setting value stored in the RAM 13 is set to the "crop print setting mode" by the mode 443 associated with the setting data 44 of the registration number "2". Therefore, the CPU 11 switches the basic setting screen D3 shown in FIG. 7 to the crop print setting screen D4 shown in FIG. 8 (S26: YES, S28). At this time, the CPU 11 causes the crop print setting screen D4 to display the setting value reflecting the setting data 44 of the registration number “2”.

That is, the usage and the paper size stored in the RAM 13 are the "product label" and the "60 mm", respectively, depending on the usage 444 and the paper size 442 of the setting data 44 of the registration number "2" extracted from the registration DB 42 shown in FIG. × 30 mm ”is set. Therefore, the CPU 11 automatically selects the radio button R42 for setting the crop printing process of the product label, and displays "60 mm x 30 mm" in the paper size column SA42. Further, the CPU 11 causes the image field SA43 to display an image image reminiscent of crop printing of the product label. Then, the CPU 11 causes the setting display area DA31 to display the print setting reflecting the setting value indicated by the setting data 44 of the registration number “2”. For example, the setting display area DA31 displayed a print schematic diagram in an indefinite length tape format before the operation of the confirmation button A32, but when the crop print setting screen D4 is switched to, the registration number "2" is set. A print schematic in the die-cut label format is displayed corresponding to the paper type 445 of the data 44. The same applies to the paper size. For the setting items not included in the setting data 44 of the registration number "2", the setting values before overwriting the setting values of the RAM 13 with the setting data 44 are displayed.

Returning to FIG. 6, the CPU 11 uses the user IF18 to determine whether or not the tab selection has been changed (S30). If the tab selection is not changed (S30: NO), the CPU 11 proceeds to S36.

On the other hand, the CPU 11 determines that the tab selection has been changed when the basic setting tab TB31 is selected on the crop print setting screen D4 or when the crop print tab TB32 is selected on the basic setting screen D3 (S30). : YES). In this case, the CPU 11 switches the setting screen. Specifically, the crop print setting screen D4 is switched to the basic setting screen D3, or the basic setting screen D3 is switched to the crop print setting screen D4 (S32). Then, the CPU 11 reflects the print setting value temporarily stored in the RAM 13 on the basic setting screen D3 after switching (S34).

For example, the CPU 11 extracts the setting data 44 of the registration number “2” from the registration DB 42 shown in FIG. 4, overwrites the print setting value of the RAM 13, and displays the crop print setting screen D4 (S24, S26: YES, S28). ). In this state, the CPU 11 switches the screen display to the basic setting screen D3 in response to the operation of selecting the basic setting tab TB31 (S30: YES, S32). In this case, the print setting value stored in the RAM 13 is "None" for the auto-cut setting value, so that the option column SA34 has "cut for each specified number of sheets", "cut at the end", and "half-cut". The check box is automatically unchecked. Similarly, in the paper selection field SA31, the paper size field SA32, and the setting display area DA31, the setting value reflecting the print setting indicated by the setting data 44 of the registration number "2" is displayed (S34).

On the other hand, when the crop print tab TB32 is operated on the basic setting screen D3 (S30: YES), the CPU 11 displays the crop print setting screen D4 (S32) and reflects the set value of the RAM 13 (S34). .. Therefore, the user can arbitrarily switch the mode of the printer driver 411 by selecting the tabs TB31 and TB32 of the basic setting screen D3 or the crop print setting screen D4 using the user IF18 (S42: NO, S16). : NO, S30: YES, S32, S34).

As shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 11 uses the user IF18 to determine whether or not there is a change operation for changing the setting value displayed on the display 19 on the crop print setting screen D4 or the basic setting screen D3 (S36). ). When the CPU 11 determines that the change operation has been performed (S36: YES), the CPU 11 changes the setting value displayed on the crop print setting screen D4 or the basic setting screen D3 according to the change operation (S38). Then, the CPU 11 changes the print setting value temporarily stored in the RAM 13 with the changed setting value (S40). If the CPU 11 determines that there is no change operation (S36: NO), the CPU 11 proceeds to S42 without performing the processes of S38 and S40.

The CPU 11 determines whether or not the OK button A31 on the crop print setting screen D4 or the basic setting screen D3 is pressed by using the user IF 18 (S42). If the OK button A31 is not pressed (S42: NO), the CPU 11 returns to the process of S16.

On the other hand, when the OK button A31 is pressed (S42: YES), the CPU 11 overwrites the print setting value stored in the registry with the print setting value temporarily stored in the RAM 13, and sets the current print setting value. Update (S44). After that, the CPU 11 ends the print setting process.

When the print setting process by the printer driver 411 is completed, the CPU 11 displays the dialog DL1 on the display 19. When the print button A3 is pressed, the CPU 11 accepts a print execution instruction and passes A4 size image data from the general-purpose application 40 to the printer driver 411.

The CPU 11 reads the print setting value from the registry and generates print data and a command. At this time, for example, when the crop print setting value included in the print setting value is on and the usage is "product label", the CPU 11 extracts the image data of the image 7 from the A4 size image data and prints the print data. Generate. Then, the CPU 11 uses the printer driver 411 to generate image data so that the print data is stored in the print area of the paper size included in the print setting value, and converts the image data into a format readable by the printer 2. Then, the PC 1 outputs a print command including the converted image data to the printer 2. The printer 2 prints images 7 one by one on one sheet of paper 222 according to a print command. If the intended use is a product label, "None" is set for the auto cut included in the print command. Therefore, the printer 2 does not cut the print medium 22 at the time of printing.

For example, when the paper size acquired from the printer 2 by pressing the confirmation button A32 is 105 mm in width and 50 mm in length, the CPU 11 has the registration number “4” from the registration DB 42 shown in FIG. The setting data 44 is extracted and overwritten with the print setting values temporarily stored in the RAM 13 (S16: YES, S18, S20: YES, S22, S24). Since the "crop print setting mode" is set for the print setting value temporarily stored in the RAM 13 by the mode 443 of the extracted setting data 44, the CPU 11 displays the crop print setting screen D4 (S26: YES, S28). In this case, the CPU 11 automatically selects the radio button R43 for crop printing the shipping label based on the application 444, and displays the crop print setting screen D4. Other than this, the CPU 11 displays the crop print setting screen D4 as in the product label.

On the other hand, when the paper size acquired from the printer 2 is, for example, a paper width of 30 mm and a paper length of 60 mm (S18), the CPU 11 has the setting data 44 of the registration number “1” from the registration DB 42 shown in FIG. Is extracted (S20: YES, S22). Then, the CPU 11 changes the paper size, mode, application, paper type, and auto cut setting values among the print settings stored in the RAM 13 with the setting values included in the setting data 44 of the registration number "1". (S24). Since the mode setting value stored in the RAM 13 is the "basic print setting mode", the CPU 11 displays the basic setting screen D3 (S48). At this time, the set value of the RAM 13 is displayed on the basic setting screen D3. That is, the CPU 11 causes the setting value of the print setting indicated by the setting data 44 of the registration number "1" to be displayed on the basic setting screen D3. The process of S48 is an example of the display process.

Therefore, while displaying the basic setting screen D3, the CPU 11 sets the setting values related to the paper size displayed in the setting display area DA31, the paper selection field SA31, and the paper size field SA32 by the paper size of the registration number "1". The width is changed according to the width of 30 mm and the paper length of 60 mm. Further, for example, the print schematic diagram displayed in the setting display area DA31 is changed from the print schematic diagram of the indefinite length tape format to the print schematic diagram of the marked media format according to the setting value of the paper type 445 of the registration number "1". Will be done. Further, in the option column SA34, the check box of "Cut last" is automatically unchecked and the check box of "Half cut" is automatically checked according to the setting value of the auto cut 446 of the registration number "1". Can be put in.

Returning to FIG. 6, the CPU 11 displaying the crop print setting screen D4 or the basic setting screen D3 as described above proceeds to S30. Since the processing after S30 has been described above, the description thereof will be omitted.

Therefore, in the printer driver 411 of the present embodiment, when the setting data 44 stored in the registration DB 42 includes the setting data 44 for the paper size of the print medium 22 currently set in the printer 2 (S18, S20: YES), the print setting indicated by the setting data 44 is displayed on the display 19 (S22, S24, S26, S28, S48). As a result, the printer driver 411 has a high possibility of avoiding printing in a state where an inappropriate paper size is selected, and can reduce the time and effort for the user to confirm the paper size. In addition, the time and effort for the user to input the set value according to the mode is reduced.

Next, the processing procedure of the above-mentioned registration process will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 9A, the CPU 11 displays an additional registration confirmation message confirming whether or not to add the paper size acquired from the printer 2 to the registration DB 42 (S62). For example, the CPU 11 causes the dialog DL5 shown in FIG. 9B to be displayed on the display 19. In the dialog DL5, an icon A51 that accepts an instruction to perform additional registration and an icon A52 that accepts an instruction not to perform additional registration are displayed. The CPU 11 that displays the confirmation message determines whether or not the additional registration instruction has been accepted (S64).

When the icon A51 is pressed by using the user IF18, the CPU 11 determines that the additional registration instruction has been accepted (S64: YES), and acquires print settings other than the paper size (S66). Print settings other than the paper size may be automatically set according to the paper size, or may be selected by the user using the user IF18. The CPU 11 registers the setting data 44 in which the print settings other than the paper size acquired in S66 and the paper size acquired from the printer 2 are associated with the registration DB 42 (S68), and ends the process. When the icon A52 is pressed by using the user IF18, the CPU 11 determines that the additional registration instruction is not accepted (S64: NO), and ends the process.

For example, the non-genuine paper may not be registered in the registration DB 42 shown in FIG. In this case, even if the CPU 11 acquires the paper size of non-genuine paper from the printer 2 in response to pressing the confirmation button A32, the CPU 11 cannot read the setting data corresponding to the acquired paper size from the registration DB 42 (FIG. 6). S16: YES, S18, S20: NO). In this case, when the icon A51 of the dialog DL5 is pressed, the CPU 11 acquires information such as print settings other than the paper size, for example, mode, application, paper type, auto cut, etc. via the user IF18 (S66). .. Then, the CPU 11 stores the setting data 44 in which the paper size acquired from the printer 2 and the information other than the acquired paper size are associated with each other in the registration DB 42 (S68). As a result, the newly detected non-genuine paper can be additionally registered in the registration DB 42.

Therefore, when the confirmation button A32 is pressed next time, the CPU 11 that executes the printer driver 411 reads the setting data corresponding to the paper size of the non-genuine paper from the registration DB 42, and temporarily stores the print setting value in the RAM 13. By overwriting with the set value of the extracted setting data, the print setting indicated by the additionally registered setting data can be displayed on the crop print setting screen D4 or the basic setting screen D3.

It should be noted that the present embodiment is merely an example and does not limit the present invention in any way. Therefore, as a matter of course, the present invention can be improved and modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the number of PCs and printers is not limited to the illustrated example. Further, the printing method of the printer 2 is not limited to the thermal transfer method, and may be, for example, an inkjet method, an electrophotographic method, or a thermal method. Further, the print medium 22 is not limited to the label, and may be, for example, a simple roll paper. Further, the crop print setting mode may be a mode for setting the print setting of the medicine notebook label.

In addition to the label printer, the present invention may be applied to a roll paper printer that prints on roll paper, or may be applied to a cut paper printer that prints on cut paper. It may be applied not only to a printer function but also to a multifunction device having a scanner function and the like.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the printer driver 411 may automatically acquire the paper size from the printer 2 after starting. That is, the processing shown in S14 and S16 of FIG. 6 may be omitted. In this case, the printer driver 411 displays the crop print setting screen D4 on the display (S28) when the mode 443 of the setting data 44 extracted from the registration DB 42 is the crop print setting mode (S26: YES), and basically In the print setting mode (S26: NO), the basic setting screen D3 is displayed on the display (S48). In this case, the print setting value of the RAM 13 is changed by the setting value indicated by the setting data 44 extracted from the registration DB 42 (S24). Therefore, the print settings indicated by the extracted setting data 44 are displayed on each screen, and the time and effort for the user to input the print settings is reduced. By automatically acquiring the paper size in this way, the possibility of avoiding printing with an inappropriate paper size selected increases. By acquiring the paper size at the timing of pressing the confirmation button A32, it is possible to consciously save the user the trouble of moving to the printer 2 and checking the paper size.

When the paper size is automatically detected as shown in FIG. 10, for example, a setting item for setting automatic detection of the paper size at startup is provided in the option field SA34 of the basic setting screen D3, and the paper size is automatically detected according to the setting. You may try to do.

The registration process of S46 shown in FIGS. 6 and 10 may not be performed. However, when a new paper size is detected, the registration process is executed and the setting data 44 corresponding to the paper size is newly stored. Therefore, in the next display, the appropriate print setting by the display process is set. Display becomes possible.

The printer driver 411 of this embodiment has a registration function in the registration DB 42 by performing S46 shown in FIGS. 6 and 10. However, registration in the registration DB 42 is not limited to the printer driver 411. For example, an application for registration in the registration DB 42 may be provided. In this case, the registration application, which is independent of the printer driver 411 and is not under the jurisdiction of OS41, performs the registration process shown in S46 of FIGS. 6 and 10. The registration application is started at any timing by the user, or is started from the printer driver 411 when the printer driver 411 determines that there is no setting data in the process of S20 shown in FIGS. 6 and 10. .. The registration application is an example of a memory program.

The confirmation button A32 may be provided on both the basic setting screen D3 and the crop print setting screen D4.

The switching process shown in S26 and S28 shown in FIG. 6 may be omitted. However, while the basic setting screen D3 is being displayed, for example, the setting value included in the setting data 44 of the registration number "2" is extracted, and the "crop print setting" of the mode 443 included in the setting data 44 of the registration number "2" is extracted. By switching to the crop print setting screen D4 (S26: YES, S28) by the switching process according to the "mode", the user can recognize that the print medium 22 suitable for crop printing is set in the printer 2.

Switching between the basic print setting mode and the crop print setting mode may be performed not by switching the screen but by whether or not each setting item can be input. For example, in the basic print setting mode, the standard setting items are displayed as selectable, the crop print setting items are displayed as non-selectable, and in the crop print setting mode, the crop print setting items are displayed as selectable. , Print setting items that are not used for crop printing may be displayed so as not to be selectable. In this case as well, the user may be asked to input whether or not the mode is switched.

In the above embodiment, the paper size including the width and length of the print medium 22 is acquired from the printer 2, but only the width may be acquired as the paper size.

After S12 in FIG. 6, the crop print setting value included in the print setting value temporarily stored in the RAM 13 is confirmed, and if the setting value is off, S14 is executed to enter the basic print setting mode and set. If the value is on, the crop print setting mode may be set by executing S28. Instead of the crop print setting value, check the usage, execute S28 when the usage is a product label or a shipping label, enter the crop printing mode, and set S14 when the usage is other than that. It may be executed to enter the basic print setting mode.

In S26 of FIG. 6, if the use 444 is a product label or a shipping label, it may be determined that the crop print setting mode is used (S26: YES). In this case, it is not necessary to provide the mode 443 in the registration DB 42 of FIG.

The basic setting screen D3 and the crop print setting screen D4 have tags of "extended setting" and "other settings", and these setting values may be included in the print setting.

Further, in any flowchart disclosed in the embodiment, the plurality of processes in the arbitrary plurality of steps can be arbitrarily changed in the execution order or executed in parallel as long as the processing contents do not conflict with each other.

Further, the process disclosed in the embodiment may be executed by a single CPU, a plurality of CPUs, hardware such as an ASIC, or a combination thereof. In addition, the process disclosed in the embodiment can be realized in various aspects such as a recording medium or a method in which a program for executing the process is recorded.

1 PC
2 Printer 11 CPU
14 Non-volatile memory 16 Network IF
17 USB-IF
18 User IF
19 Display 411 Printer driver

Claims (9)

It is a program that can be executed by the computer of the information processing device and executes a process for setting the paper size used for printing by the printer. A plurality of setting data are stored in the memory of the information processing device. The setting data is data indicating print settings including the paper size.
On the computer
An acquisition process for acquiring the paper size set in the printer from the printer via the communication interface of the information processing device, and
Extraction processing that extracts setting data corresponding to the same paper size as the paper size acquired in the acquisition process from the plurality of setting data, and
A display process for displaying the print settings indicated by the setting data extracted in the extraction process on the display device of the information processing device, and
To execute,
A program characterized by that. The program according to claim 1.
In the acquisition process,
A measurement instruction is transmitted to the printer via the communication interface, and the printer receives the measurement instruction to measure the size of the paper loaded in the printer and receives the result from the printer. ,
A program characterized by that. The program according to claim 1 or 2.
The program has a first mode for setting to be used for specific printing and a second mode for setting to be used for printing other than the specific printing.
On the computer
When the setting data extracted by the extraction process includes the setting used for the specific printing and the current mode is the second mode, the switching process for switching to the first mode is executed.
A program characterized by that. The program according to claim 3.
The specific printing is crop printing in which a part of an image to be printed is extracted and the extracted image is printed.
The first mode is a crop printing mode in which settings used for the crop printing are set.
In the switching process, when the setting data extracted by the extraction process includes the setting used for the crop printing and the current mode is the second mode, the setting screen not for the crop printing mode is displayed. , Switching to the setting screen for the crop print mode,
A program featuring. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
On the computer
When displaying the setting screen showing the current print setting on the display device, the acquisition process is executed.
A program characterized by that. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
On the computer
When the input object for the input object is accepted while the setting screen indicating the current print setting and the input object indicating the acquisition of the paper size is displayed on the display device. To execute the acquisition process,
A program characterized by that. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
On the computer
When the setting data is not extracted by the extraction process, a storage process of storing the setting data indicating the print setting including the paper size set in the printer acquired in the acquisition process in the memory is executed. Let,
A program characterized by that. It is a storage program that can be executed by the computer of the information processing device and executes a process for storing the setting of the paper size used for printing by the printer. The memory of the information processing device has a plurality of settings. Data is stored, and the setting data is data indicating print settings including paper size.
On the computer
The print setting including the paper size is acquired, and the storage process of storing the setting data indicating the acquired print setting in the memory is executed, and the information processing apparatus obtains the paper size set in the printer from the printer. It is possible to acquire, and when setting data corresponding to the same paper size as the paper size acquired from the printer is extracted from a plurality of setting data, the print setting indicated by the extracted setting data is set. , It is possible to display on the display device of the information processing device.
A program for memory that is characterized by that. With memory
Communication interface and
Display device and
With a computer
It is an information processing device equipped with
A plurality of setting data are stored in the memory.
The setting data is data indicating print settings including the paper size used for printing by the printer.
The computer
An acquisition process for acquiring the paper size set in the printer from the printer via the communication interface, and
An extraction process for extracting setting data corresponding to the same paper size as the paper size acquired in the acquisition process from a plurality of setting data stored in the memory.
A display process for displaying the print settings indicated by the setting data extracted by the extraction process on the display device, and
To execute,
An information processing device characterized by this.

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