JP2002157126A - Computer-readable medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a computer-readable medium allowing software to be distributed in such a form that objective users of distribution are not restricted by their nationality, or the like. SOLUTION: This computer-readable medium 10 stores the software (printer driver 11) to be distributed, several pieces of operating condition defining information for specifying the operating conditions of the software to be distributed, and software for setting up the software to be distributed in a computer 200 so that the software to be distributed operates on the operating conditions specified by operating condition defining information corresponding to information held by the computer 200 and indicating an area set by the user of the computer 200 as his/her own relevant area.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer-readable medium in which software for a computer using an OS that functions in a state where information indicating a region and a language is set is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a printer driver operates a so-called "printer property" dialog box to print a print condition when no special instruction is issued (hereinafter, a default print condition). It is a program that can be changed.

[0003] In general, a printer driver is created such that default printing conditions (hereinafter, referred to as initial printing conditions) immediately after completion of the setup (installation) become desirable for most users. ing. In other words, the printer driver is created so that most users do not have to change the default printing conditions after setting up the printer driver.

[0004]

However, the desired operation of the printer driver depends on the nationality of the user of the printer driver.

More specifically, if the user is an American, the paper generally used in the United States is letter-size paper, and the printer driver sets up the letter-size paper when the setup is completed. Is desirably used for printing (a state in which print job data instructing printing on letter-size paper is generated). On the other hand, in Europe, A4 size paper is generally used, so if the user is French, the printer driver will use the A4 size paper for printing when the setup is completed. It is desirable that In addition, if the user was American, a "Printer Properties" dialog box with English captions should be displayed, and if the user was French, a French caption would be displayed. The "Printer Properties" dialog box used should be displayed.

As described above, the desired operation of the printer driver differs depending on the nationality of the user of the printer driver. Therefore, when a printer is sold with the same printer driver attached in several countries, several operations are required. For a user who lives in such a country, a printer driver that does not consider the convenience of the user is provided.

In order to prevent such a problem, conventionally, the attached printer driver has been changed according to the region where the printer is sold. If the printer driver is provided to each user in such a manner, most users do not need to set print conditions after setting up the printer driver. There was a problem that several different types of computer readable media had to be prepared. In addition, a French or other resident of the United States is provided with a printer driver that does not consider the convenience of the user.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a computer-readable medium for distributing software to a user, and even perform setup of the distributed software. if,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer-readable medium that enables most users to use the software in a state suitable for the user regardless of nationality.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a computer-readable medium according to a first aspect of the present invention is configured such that any one of a plurality of types of region / language designation values indicating a region and a language is set. Software for a computer using an OS that functions in a specified state, the contents of which are defined so as to be particularly suitable for residents and residents of a specific area for defining operating conditions of the software. It includes a plurality of operating condition definition information, and in cooperation with the OS, the computer whose own setup has been performed is particularly suitable for residents and residents of a specific area for defining operating conditions of software. Initial operating condition definition information holding means for holding a plurality of initial operating condition definition information whose contents are appropriately determined, and data for defining operating conditions of software. Default operation condition definition information holding means that holds default operation condition definition information, and accepts the input of specification information that specifies software operation conditions, and holds the default operation condition so that it will be in accordance with the input specification information. Means for changing default operation condition instruction information held by the means, and processing for executing a specific process according to the operation condition indicated by the default operation condition definition information held by the default operation condition definition information holding means The computer is operated as an apparatus having an execution unit, and when the setup is performed, the computer is operated in cooperation with the OS from the plurality of initial operation condition definition information to the area indicated by the area / language designation value. And the initial operation condition definition information corresponding to the language and the selected initial operation condition definition information. Comprising records software to operate as an apparatus comprising a default operating condition definition information setting means for retaining the default operating condition definition information storage means as a default operating condition definition information, information corresponding to the.

That is, the software recorded on the computer-readable medium according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a resident and a resident of a specific area for defining operating conditions of the software (operating conditions of the processing executing means). A plurality of pieces of initial operating condition definition information whose contents are determined so as to be particularly suitable for a person from home are included. Then, when the software is set up, the region / language designation value managed by the OS of the computer, in other words, the region where the user of the computer lives or the hometown of the user is used there. By referring to the information indicated with the language, the initial operation condition definition information corresponding to the region and language indicated by the region / language designation value is selected from a plurality of prepared initial operation condition definition information. The information according to the selected initial operation condition definition information is
This is default operation condition definition information that specifies the operation conditions of the processing execution unit.

Thus, according to the computer-readable medium of the first aspect of the present invention, when the software recorded on the medium is set up, the default operating condition definition information for defining the default operating condition of the software is set. Is set according to the user's place of residence or place of birth, so that most users can use the set-up software as it is (without causing the default operating condition instruction information changing means to function). Become. Therefore, according to this computer-readable medium, software can be distributed without restricting users to be distributed.

The computer-readable medium according to the first aspect of the present invention may be configured such that all of the software recorded therein is stored in the computer.
It can also be arranged that only part of the software is stored in the computer. Specifically, the computer readable medium (software) may be configured such that a plurality of pieces of initial operating condition definition information are copied to the HDD of the computer, or the plurality of pieces of initial operating condition definition information may be stored in the HDD.
(The initial operation condition designation information is referred to only during setup.)

[0013] The computer-readable medium according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of types of regions and languages indicating regions and languages, respectively.
An OS that operates with any of the language specification values set
Is computer software that uses
In cooperation with the OS, a plurality of computers, each of which has been set up, are defined in such a manner that the content of the computer is particularly suitable for a resident and a resident of a specific area for defining operating conditions of the software. Initial operating condition definition information holding means holding initial operating condition definition information, default operating condition definition information holding means holding default operating condition definition information defining software operating conditions, and specification for specifying software operating conditions A default operating condition instruction information changing unit for changing the default operating condition instruction information held in the default operating condition holding unit so as to accept the input of the information and to correspond to the input specification information; According to the operation condition indicated by the default operation condition definition information held in the definition information holding means. Operating as an apparatus having processing execution means for executing a specific processing, and when the setup is performed and when a predetermined instruction is given after the completion of the setup, the computer is operated in cooperation with the OS. From the plurality of initial operation condition definition information held in the initial operation condition definition information holding means, select initial operation condition definition information according to the region and language indicated by the region / language designation value, Software for operating as a device including default operation condition definition information setting means for holding information according to the selected initial operation condition definition information as default operation condition definition information in the default operation condition definition information holding means is recorded.

That is, the computer readable medium of the second aspect of the present invention is a modification of the computer readable medium of the first aspect, in which the initial operation condition definition information is used other than during setup. By adopting the configuration of the computer-readable medium according to the second aspect, for example, when the area / language designation value is changed for some reason, the default operating condition definition information can be obtained without resetting the software. Can be set again according to the user's place of residence or place of origin.

In implementing the computer readable medium of the present invention, the processing executing means may be a means for executing processing for creating print job data to be supplied to the printer. That is, the computer-readable medium of the present invention can be realized as a medium for distributing a so-called printer driver.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

As schematically shown in FIG. 1, a computer-readable medium 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a medium for distributing a printer driver 11, and includes a printer driver 11. 11, a setup program and the like are recorded. Further, the computer-readable medium 10 stores the OS of the computer 200.
(Operating Systems) is sold in the United States, etc. (non-Japanese version) Windows 95/98 / Me / NT / 2000 (US
Microsoft Corporation is a registered trademark of the United States and other countries: hereinafter, simply referred to as Windows).

Hereinafter, the configuration and functions of software recorded on the computer-readable medium 10 will be specifically described.

The setup program recorded on the computer readable medium 10 is a program to be started by a user when setting up the printer driver 11 in the computer 200. The activated setup program executes a process of copying the printer driver 11 recorded on the computer-readable medium 10 to the HDD 212 and an initialization module (details described later) included in the printer driver 11 copied to the HDD 212 by the process. The activation process is executed by the computer 200
(CPU 211).

The printer driver 11 recorded on the computer readable medium 10 is composed of a plurality of files including an operating environment information file. The operating environment information file includes a plurality of pieces of initial operating condition definition information defining values of various items that define printing conditions (conditions indicating the form of print job data to be generated by the printer driver 11).
This is the file that was retained. The contents of each of the initial operation condition definition information included in the operation environment information file are determined so as to represent printing conditions suitable for persons resident in some specific areas. The operating environment information file is
It is also a file in which the definition information specification value and the language specification value are stored. Details of each specified value will be described later.

In the computer 200 in which the printer driver 11 has been set up (the operation of the initialization module has been completed), when generation of print job data is instructed, the printer driver 1 stored in the registry is
Processing for generating print job data is performed in accordance with print conditions defined by a plurality of item values related to one.

Further, in the computer 200 in which the printer driver 11 has been set up, when the display of the "Printer Properties" dialog box is instructed, a dialog box display related process whose procedure is shown in FIG. 2 is executed. In FIG. 2 and the following description, the setting dialog box is a “printer property” dialog box or another dialog box that can be displayed from the “printer property” dialog box.

That is, in the computer 200 in which the printer driver 11 has been set up, the display of the "Printer Properties" dialog box is instructed ("Start" in FIG. 2) or the display of another dialog box is instructed. (Step S104; display instruction of another dialog box), the language (in this embodiment, English,
A setting dialog box is displayed in which the caption of either French or German is used and the value stored in the registry as the value of each item is displayed (steps S101 to S104).

Thereafter, a process according to the user's instruction is performed. For example, when the user changes the values of some items using the displayed setting dialog box (step S105; others), the process proceeds to step S10.
At 6, the values in the registry for those items are rewritten with the values changed by the user. If the user instructs to close a setting dialog box other than the “Printer Properties” dialog box (step S105; other), the setting dialog box is closed in step S106.

When the user instructs to close the "Printer Properties" dialog box (Step S105; end instruction), the "Printer Properties" dialog box is closed (Step S107) and the dialog box is closed. The display-related processing ends.

That is, the printer driver 11 according to the present embodiment is created so that the computer 200 can display three types of setting dialog boxes having different caption languages. The language specification value stored in the operating environment information file is information for specifying the type of a setting dialog box to be displayed on the printer driver 11. Note that some of the setting dialog boxes that the printer driver 11 can display on the computer 200 include those having an “initialize” button. If the “set to initial value” button in the setting dialog box is pressed, processing using the definition information specification value stored in the operating environment information file (details will be described later) is performed in step S
This is executed at 106.

Then, it is included in the printer driver 11,
The initialization module executed during the setup is
The module is a module that sets a language specification value and a definition information specification value suitable for the user of the computer 200 in the operating environment information file used by the printer driver 11 as described above.

More specifically, the initialization module started by the setup program firstly sends, to the computer 200, the operating language designation value representing the language indicated by the language / region designation value registered in Windows. Store it in the environment information file. Here, the language / region designation value refers to the region where the user lives (where the computer 200 is installed) in a dialog box shown (or intentionally displayed) when setting up Windows. Alternatively, it is data registered in Windows as a result of selecting and inputting a region of origin.
In other words, when the OS of the computer 200 is Windows 98, the user may input “English (Australian)”, “Eng
lish (Canada) ”and the information stored in the registry and Win.ini, representing the choices selected from
It is treated as an area specification value.

Next, the initialization module causes the computer 200 to store, in the operating environment information file, the definition information designation value indicating the initial operation condition definition information created for the region indicated by the language / region designation value. . Further, the initialization module performs processing (initial operation) for setting the default printing conditions of the printer driver 11 according to the initial operation condition definition information created for the area indicated by the language / area designation value. A process of setting the value of each item defined in the condition definition information in the registry as a value defining a default printing condition)
00 is executed.

When the “set to initial value” button of the setting dialog box having the “set to initial value” button is pressed, the value is set in the setting dialog box under the control of the printer driver 11. Is performed to make the value of each item that can be changed be defined in the initial operation condition definition information indicated by the definition information specification value in the operation environment information file. That is, in this case, the values of some items relating to the printing conditions stored in the registry are changed to those according to the initial operation condition definition information created for the region indicated by the language / region designation value. You.

As is apparent from the above description, when the printer driver 11 is set up from the computer-readable medium 10 according to the present embodiment, the printer driver 1
The first default printing condition corresponds to the initial operation condition definition information associated with the language / region designation value stored in the computer 200. And
The contents of the initial operation condition definition information associated with a certain language / region designation value are determined so as to be suitable for the resident (or former) of the region indicated by the language / region designation value. When setting up the printer driver 11 using the computer-readable medium 11, the print conditions suitable for the user are set as default print conditions (various item values representing the print conditions suitable for the user are stored in the registry). Become. Further, in the computer 200 in which the printer driver 11 is set up by the computer readable medium 10, a setting dialog box using a caption in a language suitable for the user is displayed.

For example, if the printer driver 11 reads “Engl
It is assumed that the computer 200 is set up in a computer 200 in which a language / region designation value equivalent to "ish (United States)" is set. In this case, the computer 200 first sets (the default printing conditions are not changed after the setup. The “Printer Properties” dialog box 50 _{US that} is displayed sometimes uses English captions and prints on letter-size paper, as shown in FIG. (In the paper size list box 51, "LT 8.
5x11 in "is shown).

[0033] Then, the dialog box 50 a predetermined operation on the _US "printer properties" is operated button provided on the right end of the case has been made (paper size list box 51, is displayed as a result of the operation If “User Defined Papar Size ...” is selected from the list, the dialog box 60 _US for user-defined sizes as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. In other words, English captions are used,
It has been shown that data is displayed and entered in inches commonly used in the United States (the radio button with the caption "0.01 inch" is
A dialog box 60 _US for user-defined size is displayed.

If the computer 200 on which the printer driver 11 is set up has a language / region designation value equivalent to “French (France)”, the “printer” displayed first by the printer driver 11 Properties dialog box 50
_FR indicates that, as shown in FIG. 5, a caption in French is used and printing on A4 size paper is performed (“A4 210x297 mm” is displayed in the paper size list box 51). Shown).

The "Printer Properties" dialog box _50FR paper size list box 5
When a predetermined operation is performed on No. 1, as shown in FIG. 6, it is indicated that a French caption is used and data is displayed and input in metric units. (Caption "0.1 mm"
(The radio button having the symbol "ON") is displayed. A dialog box _60FR for the user-defined size is displayed.

The computer 200 in which the printer driver 11 has been set up is called "French (Canada)".
If the corresponding language / region designation values have been set, the printer driver 11 uses FIG.
The “Printer Properties” dialog box 50 _CA and the user-defined size dialog box 60 _CA as shown in FIG. 8 are displayed. In other words, the dialog box displayed in this case uses a French caption, as in the case where the language / region designation value is “French (France)” (see FIGS. 5 and 6). However, in Canada, letter size paper and inch units are generally used, and the initial operating condition definition information for Canada was created in consideration of such situations. The box 50 _CA indicates “LT 8.5x11 in” in the paper size list box 51, and the dialog box 60 _CA for the user-defined size includes the caption “
The radio button having "0.1 mm" is ON.

As described above, if the printer driver 11 is set up using the computer readable medium 11, the computer 200 is in a state where the printing conditions suitable for the user are the default printing conditions. May be displayed as a dialog box in which a caption in a language suitable for the user is used as the dialog box for each setting. Therefore, the computer-readable medium 1 according to the present embodiment
If 0 is used, the printer driver 11 is provided to users in various regions in a form in which there is no difference in usability depending on the region where each user lives (a user to whom the printer driver 11 is distributed is not limited by nationality or the like). Can be distributed.

<Modification> In the computer-readable medium 10 according to the embodiment, all the initial operation condition definition information is copied to the HDD 212 during setup. With such a configuration, when the region / language designation value is changed, the user simply activates the initialization module (by setting the computer-readable medium 10 in the CD-ROM drive 213 and again (Even without running the setup program). Therefore, when the change of the region / language designation value is dealt with by the re-setup, the initialization module and the unnecessary initial operation condition definition information are stored in the HDD 212.
The computer-readable medium 10 may be configured so that the image is not copied to the computer.

Computer readable medium 10 according to the embodiment
Was compatible with the English version of Windows, but the computer readable medium 10 may be compatible with the Japanese version of Windows and other operating systems. Of course, it may be used to perform

[0040]

According to the computer readable medium of the present invention, it is possible to provide users in various areas with no difference in usability depending on the area where each user lives (a form in which users to be distributed are not restricted by nationality, etc.). ), You can distribute the software.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a use form of a computer-readable medium according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a dialog box display-related process executed by a printer driver set up from a computer-readable medium according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a printer driver recorded on a computer-readable medium according to the embodiment, “English (United State)”.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a “Printer Properties” dialog box displayed on the display of the computer when the area / language designation value corresponding to “s)” is set up.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a user-defined size dialog box displayed on the display by operating the “Printer Properties” dialog box shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display of a computer when a printer driver recorded on a computer-readable medium according to the embodiment is set up on a computer in which a region / language designation value corresponding to “French (France)” is set. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a “Printer Properties” dialog box displayed in FIG.

6 is an explanatory diagram of a user-defined size dialog box displayed on the display by operating the “printer properties” dialog box shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display of the computer when a printer driver recorded on a computer-readable medium according to the embodiment is set up on a computer in which a region / language designation value corresponding to “French (Canada)” is set. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a “Printer Properties” dialog box displayed in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a user-defined size dialog box displayed on the display by operating the “printer property” dialog box shown in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Computer-readable medium (CD-ROM) 11 Printer driver 50 “Printer properties” dialog box 60 User-defined size dialog box 200 Computer 211 CPU 212 HDD 213 CD-ROM drive

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A computer-readable medium which records software for a computer using an OS that functions in a state where one of a plurality of types of region / language designation values indicating a region and a language is set, respectively. Each of the software includes a plurality of initial operating condition definition information whose contents are defined so as to be particularly suitable for residents and residents of a specific area, for defining operating conditions of the software, A default operating condition definition information holding unit that holds default operating condition definition information that specifies operating conditions of the software, in cooperation with the OS; While receiving the input of the specified information to be specified, it will be in accordance with the input specified information. A default operation condition instruction information changing unit for changing the default operation condition instruction information held in the default operation condition holding unit; and an operation indicated by the default operation condition definition information held in the default operation condition definition information holding unit. While operating as an apparatus including a process execution unit that executes a specific process according to conditions, when the software is set up,
In cooperation with the OS, the computer selects initial operation condition definition information corresponding to a region and language indicated by the region / language designation value from the plurality of initial operation condition definition information, and selects the computer. Computer-readable medium, characterized in that it operates as an apparatus including a default operation condition definition information setting unit that causes the default operation condition definition information holding unit to hold information corresponding to the obtained initial operation condition definition information as the default operation condition definition information. . 2. A computer-readable medium which records software for a computer using an OS functioning in a state where one of a plurality of types of region / language designation values indicating a region and a language is set, respectively. The software cooperates with the OS to set up the computer on which the software has been set up, so as to define the operating conditions of the software, respectively, so as to be particularly suitable for residents and residents of a specific area. An initial operating condition definition information holding unit that holds a plurality of initial operating condition definition information that is defined, a default operating condition definition information holding unit that holds default operating condition definition information that specifies operating conditions of the software, In addition to receiving input of specification information that specifies operating conditions for software, Default operating condition instruction information changing means for changing the default operating condition instruction information held in the default operating condition holding means, so that the default operating condition held in the default operating condition definition information holding means is changed. While operating as an apparatus including a process execution unit that executes a specific process according to the operation condition indicated by the definition information, the software, when setup is performed,
When a predetermined instruction is given after the setup is completed, in cooperation with the OS, the computer is linked to the initial operating condition definition information holding means, From the above,
The initial operation condition definition information corresponding to the region and the language indicated by the language designation value is selected, and information corresponding to the selected initial operation condition definition information is used as the default operation condition definition information in the default operation condition definition information holding means. A computer-readable medium operated as an apparatus including a default operation condition definition information setting unit to be held. 3. The computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein said processing execution means executes processing for creating print job data to be supplied to a printer.