JP3979067B2 - Printing instruction device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print instruction to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to setting of a print instruction.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as printers and copiers have become high-performance and multifunctional, have many setting items such as printing method, image quality, and layout, and can be changed by the user himself so that a desired image can be obtained during printing. Became.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, while it has become multifunctional, the printer driver and copier user interfaces that issue print instructions to the printer have become complicated, and the user has to find and set the items he / she wants to set from among a large number of setting items. It took time and effort.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily set print instruction information in accordance with a file to be printed.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, a print instruction apparatus according to the present invention acquires type information of a file for which a print request has been made, displays a print setting screen corresponding to this type, and sets print instruction information. . By displaying the print screen corresponding to the file type, for example, the main setting items that differ depending on the type can be preferentially displayed, so that the convenience of the user can be achieved. The setting screen information includes, for each corresponding file type information, information that associates a plurality of tabs on the setting screen with setting items displayed on each tab, and the frequency of setting operations is assumed to be high for that file type. Setting items with a high setting frequency are associated with the first tab.
[0006]
Also, a general print setting screen can be prepared for a case where a print setting screen corresponding to the type information of the file requested for printing has not been registered. Also, the print setting screen associated with the file type information can be added or deleted. Also, the setting items on the individual print setting screens can be changed.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image output system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image output system 10 has a configuration in which a host PC (personal computer) 12 and a printer 200 are connected by a parallel cable 40. The host PC 12 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 20, ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, RAM (Random Access Memory) 24, Hard Disk Drive (HDD) 26, Display Interface 28, Keyboard Interface 30, Mouse Interface 32, Parallel Interface 34. Are connected to each other via a bus line 42. The display interface 28 is connected to the display 14 via a display cable 44, the keyboard interface 30 is connected to the keyboard 16 via a keyboard cable 46, and the mouse interface 32 is connected to the mouse 18 via a mouse cable 48. Further, one end of the parallel cable 40 is connected to the parallel interface 34, and the other end is connected to the printer 200.
[0008]
The hard disk drive 26 stores a predetermined operation system and various application programs. Each application program is executed via an operating system. Further, the hard disk drive 26 stores a printer driver 50 corresponding to the printer 200. The printer driver 50 is control software that is read into the RAM 24 at a predetermined timing under the control of the operating system. The printer driver 50 allows the user to set various print information via the display 14, the keyboard 16, and the mouse 18, and instructs the printer 200 to print a document based on image data provided by the application.
[0009]
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the printer driver 50. The control unit 51 controls the operation of the printer driver 50. The type information of the file requested to be printed is an extension attached to each file name in the present embodiment, and the extension acquisition unit 52 acquires the extension of the document file 60 requested to be printed. The setting screen storage unit 54 stores information indicating a print form, for example, information on a print setting screen used when setting image quality, layout, output method, and the like. Information on individual setting screens is stored as a table in which file types, that is, extensions are associated with each other. The search unit 53 searches the setting screen storage unit 54 for setting screen information corresponding to the extension of the document file 60 acquired by the extension acquisition unit 52, reads it, and sends it to the user interface unit 56. The user interface unit 56 displays on the display 14 based on the sent information, receives input information from the keyboard 16 and the mouse 18, and sets print information. The set print setting information is stored in the print information storage unit 55. Based on the stored print setting information, the printing condition of the document file 60 received from the control unit 51 is determined and sent to the printer 200 via the data communication unit 59.
[0010]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation until print setting is performed. In the host PC 12, when the user instructs print settings by operating the keyboard 16 or the mouse 18, the printer driver 50 corresponding to the currently selected printer is activated, and the control of the host PC 12 is controlled by the control unit 51 of the printer driver 50. Move on. The control unit 51 calls the extension acquisition unit 52 to acquire the extension of the original document file, and passes the acquired extension data to the search unit 53, and the setting screen in which the extension and the setting screen information are stored in association with each other. The table in the storage unit 54 is searched (401).
[0011]
As a result of the search, if setting screen information corresponding to the current extension exists (402), the user interface unit 56 displays the setting screen on the display 14 based on the corresponding setting screen information (404). If there is no setting screen information as a result of the search (402), the user interface unit 56 displays the setting screen based on the default setting screen information in the setting screen information storage unit (403). On the setting screen, the user can change various settings via the keyboard 16 and the mouse 18 (405). After all the settings are completed, the “OK” button or the “Cancel” button is pressed. The user interface unit 56 checks whether or not the button is pressed (406). If the “OK” button is pressed, the current print setting information is stored in the print information storage unit 55 (407), and the operation ends. . If the “Cancel” button is pressed, the process ends without doing anything.
[0012]
When the user instructs execution of printing of the document file 60 created by the application software 61 or the like, the control unit 51 transmits a part of various print information stored in the print information storage unit 55 to the application, and also the application 61. Print data corresponding to the printer 200 is created based on the image data given from the image data and various print information stored in the print information storage unit 55, and transmitted to the printer 200 via the data communication unit 59.
[0013]
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of the print setting information table 70 stored in the setting screen storage unit 54. The print setting screen information table 70 has an area for holding extension information such as “.txt” and a plurality of “item name”, “tab / dialog No.”, “display coordinates in tab / dialog” information corresponding thereto. One table is provided with an area for storing a plurality of tables. Here, “item name” indicates the name of an item that can be set by the printer driver, and “tab / dialog No.” is a unique number indicating in which tab or dialog the item is displayed. For example, “1” is displayed when displayed on the first tab, and “2” is displayed when displayed on the second tab. “Display coordinates in tab / dialog” is coordinate information indicating where the item is displayed in the tab.
[0014]
The print setting screen information table always holds the default print setting screen information table. If the extension of the file requested to be printed does not exist in the extension information column of the print setting screen information table, Displays the user interface screen based on the default print setting screen information table.
[0015]
Regarding the print setting screen information table 70 of FIG. 4, three tables described as examples will be described. The default table 71 is information that associates setting items-coordinates for constructing a default setting screen used when there is no extension of a document file to be printed in another table. When a user interface is constructed and displayed from this information, a safe setting screen without features is obtained.
[0016]
The “.txt” table 72 is used when printing a file whose extension is “txt”. Since the file with the extension “txt” indicates that it is a text file, it is arranged so that settings for one sheet and setting items related to fonts are displayed together on the first tab. Information is described.
[0017]
The “.bmp” table 73 is used when printing a file whose extension is “bmp”. Since the file with the extension “bmp” indicates that it is a bitmap file, it is arranged so that settings related to image quality such as resolution, color mode, and image quality adjustment are displayed together on the first tab. Information is described.
[0018]
Each print setting screen information table can be edited, added, and deleted by the editing unit 57 in the printer driver 50. For example, a table with a new extension can be added or an unnecessary table can be deleted. It is also possible to change the setting items of an existing table.
[0019]
As described above, in the present embodiment, frequently set items that differ depending on the file type are displayed in accordance with the type so that the user can quickly make print settings. For example, when a print request for a certain type of file is made, the frequently set items of that type are grouped in the first tab. As a result, setting items are distributed over many tabs, and the user is prevented from making settings while opening many tabs.
[0020]
As can be understood from the above description, the host PC operates as a print instruction apparatus by functioning in accordance with the printer driver program. Then, a print setting screen suitable for the type of the document file for which the print request is made is displayed to the user, and the user's input is accepted for setting. Then, a print instruction is given based on the set information.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an image output system.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a printer driver of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a chart showing a flow of print settings according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table of print setting information.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image output system, 12 Host PC (printing instruction apparatus), 14 Display (display means), 51 Control part (setting means), 52 Extension acquisition part (type information acquisition means), 53 Search part (setting screen reading means) , 54 setting screen storage unit (setting screen storage unit), 55 print information storage unit, 56 user interface unit, 57 editing unit (addition / deletion unit, change unit), 58 print processing unit, 59 data communication unit, 200 printer.

Claims (7)

A print instruction apparatus that sets print setting information of an output image of an image forming apparatus and issues a print instruction to the image forming apparatus based on the print setting information,
A setting screen storage means for storing the file type information and setting screen information for setting the print setting information in association with each other;
Type information acquisition means for acquiring file type information of a file requested for printing;
A setting screen reading unit that reads the setting screen information associated with the acquired file type information from the setting screen storage unit;
Display means for displaying a setting screen based on the read setting screen information;
A setting means for accepting input made in accordance with the displayed setting screen and setting print setting information;
I have a,
The setting screen information includes information for associating a plurality of tabs on the setting screen with setting items to be displayed on individual tabs for each corresponding file type information, and the frequency of setting operations is assumed to be high for the file type. Is associated with the first tab,
Print instruction device.   The print instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting screen storage unit is configured to set the print setting information corresponding to file type information that is not associated with the setting screen storage unit. A print instruction device that stores setting screen information.   The print instruction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an addition / deletion unit that adds or deletes at least the setting screen information stored in the setting screen storage unit.   4. The print instruction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a changing unit that changes the content of the setting screen information stored in the setting screen storage unit.   5. The print instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the file type information is a file extension. A method for setting print setting information of an output image of an image forming apparatus,
The file type information and the setting screen information for setting the print setting information are stored in association with each other,
Of the stored setting screen information, read the setting screen information associated with the file type information of the file requested to be printed,
Display a setting screen based on the read setting screen information,
Accepts input made in accordance with the displayed setting screen, Set preferences of print setting information,
The setting screen information includes information for associating a plurality of tabs on the setting screen with setting items to be displayed on individual tabs for each corresponding file type information, and the frequency of setting operations is assumed to be high for the file type. Is associated with the first tab,
How to set print setting information.   A computer-readable program for causing a computer to function as the print instruction apparatus according to claim 1.

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