JP6357957B2 - Print data transmission apparatus, program, and print data generation method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a program for generating print data for causing a printing apparatus to perform direct printing, a print data transmission apparatus, and a print data generation method.

  When printing is performed by transmitting data from a PC (Personal Computer) terminal to a printer, there are roughly two printing methods: “printing by a printer driver” and “direct printing”.

  In printing using a printer driver, a printer driver installed on a PC terminal converts a file such as an electronic document into data that the printer can recognize, such as PDL (Page Description Language) data, and then sends the data to the printer. Run.

  In direct printing, a direct print application installed in a PC terminal directly transmits a file to a printer without converting it into PDL data. Then, the printer interprets the received file and executes printing. Examples of direct printing include Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, for example.

  In Patent Document 1, the direct print application includes a UI (User Interface) and a module corresponding to a printer that is a file transmission destination. Even when direct printing is performed, the direct print application can satisfy the printing conditions desired by the user. A method capable of executing printing is described (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-4183 A JP 2008-269157 A

  In Patent Document 1, when setting the printing conditions for direct printing, a program (for example, UI or the like) or a module corresponding to the model of the printing apparatus desired by the user as a file transmission destination is required. In other words, direct printing cannot be executed under the printing conditions desired by the user unless a program or module for direct printing corresponding to the model of the printer that is the file transmission destination is prepared for each model of printer. .

  In addition, when a manufacturer develops a new type of printer, a direct print application including a UI and a module corresponding to the model must be developed, which causes a problem that the development cost increases.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problem. When direct printing is performed, a print data transmission device, a program, and a print that can be set for different models without corresponding to each model. It aims to provide a data generation method.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] A program for sending a file to an information processing apparatus connectable to a printing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus;
Start the user I / F of the printer driver separate from the program,
Print setting information indicating the contents of the print settings received by the user I / F of the printer driver is acquired from the printer driver;
Accepts the specification of the file to be printed from the user, obtains the specified file,
Generate a dummy print job based on the print setting information acquired from the printer driver,
Causing the printer driver to generate a print file corresponding to the generated print job;
Extract PJL data from the print file,
Program for causing operated to transmit Previous Symbol printing apparatus adds the PJL data to the acquired file.

In the inventions [1] and [ 5 ] and [ 9 ] below, the program calls and activates a user I / F of a printer driver different from the program, and the user sets print settings to the user I / F. To accept. Then, print setting information indicating the contents of the print setting accepted by the user I / F is acquired, a dummy print job is generated based on the print setting information, and a print file corresponding to the print job is generated in the printer driver. Let Then, PJL data is extracted from the generated print file, added to the file to be printed, and transmitted to the printing apparatus.
Since the print settings are received using the user interface of the existing printer driver, the detailed print settings of the model for which the printer driver has already been prepared without the user preparing the user interface by itself. Can be printed directly.
Further, since the PJL data corresponding to the print setting information is generated by the printer driver, the program does not need to have a function for converting the print setting information into the PJL data, and the program can be simplified and reduced in size. Note that the dummy print job may be a print job that has no drawing data or does not matter the contents of the drawing data.

  The printer driver may be installed in advance in the information processing apparatus, may be acquired from the outside as necessary, or may be remotely used from a server.

[2] The program according to [1], wherein selection of the printer driver is received from a user.

  In the above invention, when there are a plurality of available printer drivers, the user can select a printer of a model corresponding to any of them as a print destination for direct printing with print settings.

[3] The program according to [1] or [2], wherein the printer driver is a printer driver installed in the information processing apparatus.

[ 4 ] The program according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the dummy print job is a job without drawing data.

  In the above invention, it is possible to reduce the processing load on the printer driver that generates the print file. In addition, the size of the generated print file can be minimized.

[ 5 ] A print setting information acquisition unit that activates the user I / F of the printer driver and acquires print setting information indicating the contents of the print setting received by the user I / F from the printer driver;
A file specification section for accepting designation of a file to be printed from a user;
A file acquisition unit for acquiring the specified file;
A pseudo file generation unit that generates a dummy print job based on print setting information acquired from the printer driver, and causes the printer driver to generate a print file corresponding to the generated print job;
A coupling unit that extracts PJL data from the print file and adds the PJL data to the acquired file;
A data output unit for transmitting the file to which the PJL data has been added by the combining unit to a printing apparatus;
A print data transmitting apparatus comprising:

[ 6 ] The print data transmitting apparatus according to [ 5 ], further including a selection unit that receives selection of the printer driver from a user.

[ 7 ] The print data transmission apparatus according to [ 5 ] or [ 6 ], wherein the printer driver is a printer driver installed in the print data transmission apparatus.

[ 8 ] The print data transmitting apparatus according to any one of [5] to [7], wherein the dummy print job is a job without drawing data.

[ 9 ] a starting step of starting the user I / F of the printer driver;
A print setting information acquisition step for acquiring, from the printer driver, print setting information indicating the contents of the print settings received by the user I / F of the printer driver;
A file acquisition step for accepting designation of a file to be printed from a user and obtaining the designated file;
A conversion step of generating a dummy print job based on the print setting information acquired from the printer driver, causing the printer driver to generate a print file corresponding to the generated print job, and extracting PJL data from the print file When,
Extracting PJL data from the print file and adding it to the acquired file;
A transmission step of transmitting the file with the PJL data added thereto to a printing apparatus;
A print data generation method characterized by comprising:

[ 10 ] The print data generation method according to [ 9 ], further including a selection step of accepting selection of the printer driver from a user.

[ 11 ] The print data generation method according to [9] or [10] , wherein the dummy print job is a job without drawing data.

  According to the print data transmission device, the program, and the print data generation method according to the present invention, when direct printing is executed, print settings can be made for different models without corresponding to each model.

1 is an overall view showing a printing system of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of a client terminal It is a figure which shows the function structure of a client terminal. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen which a direct print application displays. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user I / F of a printer driver. FIG. It is a figure which shows the data structure of Print Ticket. It is a figure which shows the example of a Prn file. It is a figure which shows the example of PDL data. It is a figure which shows the example of the PDF file to which print setting information was provided. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed when a client terminal performs direct printing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a printing system 5 including a client terminal 40 that serves as a print data transmission apparatus of the present invention. The printing system 5 is configured by connecting a client terminal 40 and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 10 (10A, 10B) serving as printing apparatuses (printers) through a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) 3. . Hereinafter, the image forming apparatuses 10 </ b> A and 10 </ b> B will be collectively referred to as “image forming apparatus 10 (printer)”.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes a copy job that optically reads a document and prints a duplicate image on a recording sheet, a scan job that stores image data of the read document as a file, and transmits the file to an external device, a client terminal This is a so-called multi-function machine having a function of executing a job such as a print job for printing an image related to print data received from 40 on a recording sheet and outputting the image.

  The client terminal 40 is a so-called PC terminal including a display unit 46 (see FIG. 2) such as a display, an operation unit 47 (see FIG. 2) such as a keyboard and a mouse, and the like. The client terminal 40 functions as a print data transmission apparatus that transmits print data to a printer (the image forming apparatus 10 in the embodiment of the present invention) in accordance with an operation received from a user.

  The client terminal 40 can perform both “printing by the printer driver 60 (see FIG. 3)” and “direct printing”, and the user can select which printing is performed.

  Printing by the printer driver 60 (see FIG. 3) is so-called general printing, and is based on the contents of print settings received by the user I / F (Interface) of the printer driver 60 corresponding to the printer as the transmission destination. The file to be printed is converted into print data described in PDL (Page Description Language) such as Postscript (registered trademark), and then sent to the printer for printing.

  Direct printing is to send a file to be printed to a printer for printing. In the present embodiment, various print settings are received from the user, and information indicating the contents of the print settings added to a file is transmitted to the printer.

  FIG. 2 shows an electrical schematic configuration of the client terminal 40. The client terminal 40 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41 that controls the operation of the client terminal 40, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42 connected to the CPU 41, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43, and a nonvolatile memory 44. A hard disk device 45, a display unit 46, an operation unit 47, and a network I / F unit 48.

  The CPU 41 is based on an OS program, on which middleware and application programs are executed. Various programs are stored in the ROM 42, and each function of the client terminal 40 such as transmission of print data is realized by the CPU 41 executing processes according to these programs. The RAM 43 is used as a work memory for temporarily storing various data when the CPU 41 executes a program.

  The nonvolatile memory 44 is a rewritable memory (flash memory) that can retain memory even when the power is turned off. The nonvolatile memory 44 stores device-specific information and various setting information. The hard disk device 45 is a large-capacity nonvolatile storage device, and is an OS program, various application programs, a PDF (Portable Document Format) file 70 (see FIG. 3) and other files to be printed, information history regarding jobs , Etc. are saved.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the printer driver 60 that is a program for performing “printing by the printer driver 60” and the direct print application 50 that is a program for performing “direct printing” are stored in the hard disk device 45 (FIG. 3). Reference) is stored. In the embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of types of printer driver programs with different corresponding models are installed as the printer driver 60.

  The display unit 46 is configured by a liquid crystal display (LCD) and the like, and fulfills a function of displaying contents related to various operations and settings. The operation unit 47 has a function of accepting various operations such as a job input from a user and a setting change. The operation unit 47 includes a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse.

  The network I / F unit 48 communicates with an external apparatus (image forming apparatus 10) through the LAN 3.

  The direct print application 50 of the present invention activates the user I / F of the printer driver 60 corresponding to the model of the printer that is the transmission destination of the print data, causes the user I / F to accept print settings from the user, and accepts the print settings. The print setting information indicating the contents of the print settings (print conditions) is acquired from the printer driver 60, and the file to which the print setting information is added is transmitted to the printer, so that the print setting instructed by the user is reflected. , Let the printer run.

  The operation of the direct print application 50 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration of the direct print application 50 and the printer driver 60 and a data flow when direct printing is performed using the direct application 50. The direct print application 50 includes a UI management unit 51, a job generation unit 52, and a direct print processing unit 53. The printer driver 60 includes a UI unit 61 and a drawing unit 62.

  The direct print application 50 accepts selection of a printer as a printing destination. Here, one of the image forming apparatuses 10A and 10B is designated. The UI management unit 51 activates the user I / F of the printer driver 60 corresponding to the selected printer model using the OS library (S1). When the user I / F of the printer driver 60 is activated, a user I / F (print setting screen) for receiving various print settings from the user is displayed on the display unit 46. This user I / F is the same as that displayed when printing using the printer driver 60.

  The UI unit 61 of the printer driver 60 receives various print settings from the user through the user I / F displayed on the display unit 46. The UI management unit 51 of the direct print application 50 acquires, from the UI unit 61 of the printer driver 60, print setting information 80 indicating the contents of the print settings (printing conditions) received by the user I / F of the printer driver 60 (S2). . The print setting information 80 is described in a data structure such as DevMode and PrintTicket (denoted as DM / PT in the figure).

  Next, the job generation unit 52 generates a dummy print job based on the print setting information 80 (DM / PT). The dummy print job is a print job instructed to be printed with the contents of the print setting indicated by the print setting information 80, and is a dummy drawing to which drawing data (image data) is not given or regardless of the drawing contents. A print job with data attached. In the embodiment of the present invention, a print job to which drawing data is not assigned is generated as a dummy print job. The job generation unit 52 transmits the generated dummy print job to the printer driver 60 together with an instruction to output print data to be transmitted to the printing apparatus based on the print job as a file (specifying “output to file”). (S3).

  The drawing unit 62 of the printer driver creates and outputs a Prn file 71 based on the dummy print job received from the direct print application 50 (S4). The output destination folder and file name of the Prn file 71 are in accordance with those specified by the job generation unit 52.

  When the Prn file 71 created by the printer driver 60 is output to the designated folder, the job generation unit 52 extracts PJL (Printer Job Language) data 81 from the Prn file 71 (S5). The PJL data 81 is data obtained by converting the format of the print setting information 80 (DM / PT), and describes the same print conditions as the print setting information 80 (DM / PT) before conversion. Note that the job generation unit 52 deletes the extraction source Prn file 71 after the extraction.

  The direct print processing unit 53 receives designation of a file to be printed, obtains the file, adds the PJL data 81 to the file, and prints the printer (in this case, the image forming apparatuses 10A and 10B). To any). Here, the file to be printed is a PDF file 70. The PDF file 70 may be stored in the hard disk device 45 or may be stored outside. The direct print processing unit 53 acquires the PDF file 70 designated by the user from the storage location.

  The print setting information 80 (DM / PT) and the PJL data 81 are stored in association with the printer designated as the print destination at the time of acquisition, and then the printer is designated as the print destination. Reuse when performing direct printing. Specifically, when the user I / F is displayed on the display unit 46 with the print condition indicated by the print setting information 80 (DM / PT) as a default value, or when the user selects to print with the same setting as the previous time. The stored PJL data 81 is added to the file as it is and transmitted.

  FIG. 4 shows a printer setting screen 110 that is an example of a screen that the direct print application 50 displays on the display unit 46 when direct printing is performed. A printer list 111 provided on the printer setting screen 110 displays a list of printers registered as transmission destinations. The user selects one of the printers from the list as the transmission destination of the print data. In the figure, the selected printer displays the printer name surrounded by a dotted line. Here, a printer in which the printer driver 60 is installed in the client terminal 40 is displayed in the printer list 111.

  The printer addition button 112 is a button for registering a new printer in the printer list 111. The printer edit button 113 is a button for editing information related to a printer registered in the printer list 111.

  The print condition setting button 114 is a button for transitioning to a screen for performing print settings. When the print condition setting button 114 is selected, the user I / F of the printer driver 60 corresponding to the selected printer is activated, and the screen is displayed on the display unit 46.

  The file selection button 115 is a button for making a transition to a screen for selecting a file to be printed.

  The print condition details field 116 displays the print conditions that have been set for the selected printer (the print conditions that were used in the previous printing for the printer until a new setting condition was set). . The print condition is displayed based on the PJL data 81 and the print setting information 80 (DM / PT).

  FIG. 5 shows a printing condition setting screen 100 as an example of a user I / F displayed on the display unit 46 when the printing condition setting button 114 is selected. The print condition setting screen 100 is a user I / F included in the printer driver 60, and the direct print application 50 is activated using an OS library. The user performs print settings on the print condition setting screen 100 which is the user I / F of the printer driver 60.

  When the OK button 101 is selected, the printer driver 60 determines the print condition setting and closes the print condition setting screen 100. When the cancel button 102 is selected, the print condition being set is invalidated and the print condition setting screen 100 is closed.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the data structure of the Print Ticket that is the print setting information 80.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the Prn file 71. The Prn file 71 includes PJL data 81 and image information 82 (drawing data). In FIG. 7, the dummy print job that is the basis of the Prn file 71 is a job without drawing data, and therefore there is no information indicating drawing data in the area of the image information 82.

  FIG. 8 shows PJL data 81 extracted from the Prn file 71 of FIG.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of print data (transmission data 90) generated by the direct print application 50 and transmitted to the printer. The transmission data 90 is obtained by adding the PJL data 81 extracted in S5 of FIG. 3 to the PDF file 70 that is a file to be printed. In the figure, the upper part (header part) of the transmission data 90 is PJL data 81, and the PDF file 70 is connected to the lower part thereof.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of processing performed by the direct print application 50 of the client terminal 40. The CPU 41 implements the process shown in FIG. 10 by executing a program stored in the ROM 42. First, the client terminal 40 accepts selection of a printer to which print data is to be transmitted from the user (step S101). Specifically, one of the printers displayed in the printer list 111 is selected on the printer setting screen 110 in FIG.

  When the print condition setting button 114 is selected on the printer setting screen 110, that is, when the user sets the print condition (step S102; Yes), the stored print setting information 80 (DM / PT) is stored. It is checked whether there is a printer corresponding to the printer selected in step S101 (step S103).

  If the print setting information 80 (DM / PT) corresponding to the selected printer is stored (step S103; Yes), the print setting information 80 (DM / PT) is selected as an argument. The user I / F of the printer driver 60 corresponding to the printer is activated (step S104), and the process proceeds to step S106.

  When the user I / F of the printer driver 60 is activated in step S105, the user interface screen of the printer driver 60 is in a state where the printing conditions indicated by the print setting information 80 (DM / PT) passed as an argument are set. It is displayed on the display unit 46. The user uses this user I / F screen to set various printing conditions. Since the user I / F screen of the printer driver 60 is displayed with the same print conditions as when the direct print was previously executed on the selected printer being initialized, the user only has to change the necessary part. Convenience is improved.

  If there is no print setting information 80 (DM / PT) corresponding to the selected printer (step S103; No), the user I / F of the printer driver 60 corresponding to the selected printer is started without an argument. (Step S105), the process proceeds to step S106. As a result, the user I / F screen of the printer driver 60 corresponding to the selected printer is displayed on the display unit 46 in a default state (step S105). The user uses the user I / F screen to set necessary printing conditions from scratch.

  When the setting is accepted on the user I / F screen of the printer driver 60, specifically, when the OK button 101 is selected on the printing condition setting screen 100 in FIG. 5, the direct print application 50 indicates the determined printing condition. The print setting information 80 (DM / PT) is acquired using the OS library, and the acquired print setting information 80 (DM / PT) is stored in association with the selected printer (step S106). If the previous print setting information 80 (DM / PT) corresponding to the selected printer exists, the new print setting information 80 (DM / PT) is overwritten and saved in the print setting information 80 (DM / PT). .

  Next, a dummy print job is created using the print setting information 80 (DM / PT) acquired in step S106 as an argument, and the job is transmitted to the printer driver 60 by designating “output to file”. As a result, the printer driver 60 generates a Prn file 71 corresponding to the dummy print job and stores it in the designated location (step S107).

  The direct print application 50 reads the Prn file 71, extracts PJL data 81 from the Prn file 71, and stores it in association with the selected printer (step S108). If the previous PJL data 81 corresponding to the selected printer exists, the new PJL data 81 is overwritten and saved on the PJL data 81.

  When the PJL data 81 is stored, the corresponding printing conditions are displayed in the printing condition details column 116. The user can set the printing conditions again by selecting the printing condition setting button 114.

  Next, selection of a file to be used for printing (PDF file 70) is received (step S109). When receiving a selection of a file to be used for printing, the direct print application 50 acquires the substance of the file. Then, the PJL data 81 saved in step S108 is added to the file, and this is transmitted to the selected printer (step S110), and this process is terminated.

  If PJL data 81 corresponding to the printer selected in step S101 has already been saved, if printing is performed under the same printing conditions as indicated by the PJL data 81, a print condition setting operation is received. Instead, the PJL data 81 can be reused to perform direct printing.

  When the printer is selected in step S101, if the PJL data 81 corresponding to the printer has already been saved, the corresponding print condition is displayed in the print condition detail column 116. The user determines whether or not to change the printing condition by looking at this display, and if the change is unnecessary, the setting of the printing condition can be skipped.

  Specifically, after selecting the printer, the file selection button 115 is pressed without pressing the print condition setting button 114. When the direct print application 50 receives this operation from the user, that is, when new printing conditions are not set and direct printing is executed under the printing conditions displayed in the printing condition detail field 116 (step S102; No) ), The process proceeds to step S109.

  When a file to be printed (PDF file 70) is selected in step S109, the file is acquired and PJL data 81 corresponding to the printer selected in step S101 is read from the storage destination and acquired. Then, the PJL data 81 added to the file is transmitted to the selected printer (step S110), and this process is terminated. When direct printing is performed again with a printer that has already performed direct printing, direct printing can be performed under the same printing conditions as before without receiving the setting again, which increases user convenience.

  When a printer is selected in step S101, if there is no PJL data 81 corresponding to the printer, that is, if direct printing is performed for the first time with the printer, setting of new printing conditions is forced. , PJL data 81 is created. Specifically, for example, the file selection button 115 cannot be selected until a new printing condition is set.

  As described above, since the direct print application 50 receives the setting of the printing condition using the user I / F of the printer driver 60, the user I / F for receiving the printing setting does not need to correspond to the model. That is, it is possible to execute direct printing under printing conditions desired by the user without preparing a program or module for direct printing corresponding to the printer model as a transmission destination and making it correspond to each printer model.

  The manufacturer does not need to develop the direct print application 50 for each printer model, and the development man-hour is reduced. Further, since the user does not have to install the direct print application 50 for each model, convenience is improved.

  Furthermore, since the print driver 60 also performs processing for generating the PJL data 81 from the print setting information 80 (DM / PT), the direct print application 50 has a function of converting the print setting information into the PJL data 81 by itself. There is no need, and the program can be simplified and miniaturized. In particular, when a dummy print job without drawing data is thrown to the printer driver 60 to generate the Prn file 71, the processing load on the printer driver 60 that generates the Prn file 71 can be reduced. Further, the size of the generated Prn file 71 can be minimized.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  In the embodiment, there are two image forming apparatuses 10, but the number of printers is not limited to this. One may be sufficient and three or more may be sufficient. Even in the case of a single printer, the direct print application 50 does not need to be dedicated to the model, and can be used regardless of the model.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the client terminal 40 serving as a print data transmission device is a PC terminal. However, the print data transmission device is not limited to a PC terminal, and may be another device. For example, it may be a smartphone. The present invention may also be a program for causing an information processing apparatus to operate as a print data transmission apparatus, or a print data generation method.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the printer driver 60 is installed in the client terminal 40, but may be acquired from the outside as necessary.

  In the embodiment, a dummy print job is generated and the PJL data 81 is generated by the print driver 60. However, the direct print application 50 uses the PJL data 81 from the print setting information 80 (DM / PT) with its own program. May be configured to generate.

3 ... LAN
5 ... Printing system 10 (10A, 10B) ... Image forming apparatus 40 ... Client terminal 41 ... CPU
42 ... ROM
43 ... RAM
44 ... Non-volatile memory 45 ... Hard disk device 46 ... Display unit 47 ... Operation unit 48 ... Network I / F unit 50 ... Direct print application 51 ... UI management unit 52 ... Job generation unit 53 ... Direct print processing unit 60 ... Printer driver 61 ... UI unit 62 ... drawing unit 70 ... PDF file 71 ... Prn file 80 ... print setting information (DM / PT)
81 ... PJL data 82 ... Image information 90 ... Transmission data 100 ... Print condition setting screen 101 ... OK button 102 ... Cancel button 110 ... Printer setting screen 111 ... Printer list 112 ... Printer add button 113 ... Printer edit button 114 ... Print conditions Setting button 115 ... File selection button 116 ... Print condition details column

Claims (11)

A program for sending a file to an information processing device connectable to a printing device,
The information processing apparatus;
Start the user I / F of the printer driver separate from the program,
Print setting information indicating the contents of the print settings received by the user I / F of the printer driver is acquired from the printer driver;
Accepts the specification of the file to be printed from the user, obtains the specified file,
Generate a dummy print job based on the print setting information acquired from the printer driver,
Causing the printer driver to generate a print file corresponding to the generated print job;
Extract PJL data from the print file,
Program for causing operated to transmit Previous Symbol printing apparatus adds the PJL data to the acquired file. The program according to claim 1, wherein selection of the printer driver is received from a user. The program according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver is a printer driver installed in the information processing apparatus. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the dummy print job is a job without drawing data. A print setting information acquisition unit that activates a user I / F of the printer driver and acquires print setting information indicating the contents of the print setting received by the user I / F from the printer driver;
A file specification section for accepting designation of a file to be printed from a user;
A file acquisition unit for acquiring the specified file;
A pseudo file generation unit that generates a dummy print job based on print setting information acquired from the printer driver, and causes the printer driver to generate a print file corresponding to the generated print job;
A coupling unit that extracts PJL data from the print file and adds the PJL data to the acquired file;
A data output unit for transmitting the file to which the PJL data has been added by the combining unit to a printing apparatus;
A print data transmitting apparatus comprising: The print data transmission apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising a selection unit that receives a selection of the printer driver from a user. The print data transmission apparatus according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein the printer driver is a printer driver installed in the print data transmission apparatus. The print data transmission apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the dummy print job is a job without drawing data. An activation step for activating the user I / F of the printer driver;
A print setting information acquisition step for acquiring, from the printer driver, print setting information indicating the contents of the print settings received by the user I / F of the printer driver;
A file acquisition step for accepting designation of a file to be printed from a user and obtaining the designated file;
A conversion step of generating a dummy print job based on the print setting information acquired from the printer driver, causing the printer driver to generate a print file corresponding to the generated print job, and extracting PJL data from the print file When,
Extracting PJL data from the print file and adding it to the acquired file;
A transmission step of transmitting the file with the PJL data added thereto to a printing apparatus;
A print data generation method characterized by comprising: The print data generation method according to claim 9 , further comprising a selection step of accepting selection of the printer driver from a user. The print data generation method according to claim 9 or 10 , wherein the dummy print job is a job without drawing data.