JP2007156631A - Printer driver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a highly convenient printer driver for enabling a user to grasp the whole image of the image of a product which the user himself or herself prints by automatically and temporarily switching all previews changed in the case of changing a certain setting in a printer driver. <P>SOLUTION: This printer driver is configured as an information processor connected to an external device for performing various settings for controlling the external device by a GUI having a plurality of sheets, and provided with a means in which the table of setting items to be reflected in each preview is stored for confirming whether setting changed in the case of a setting change exists in the table, and for, when any changed setting exists in the table, switching it to the preview section only in an arbitrary time for display. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for controlling a device capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium, a device setting method thereof, and a storage medium storing a device driver, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having means for performing various settings on a device setting screen to be provided, a device setting method thereof, or a medium on which the device driver is recorded.

  On the device setting screen in the conventional printing system, the setting items tend to increase as the functionality of the device increases, and multiple print setting screens (setting sheets) are provided to give a wide degree of freedom to the print settings. Have. This setting screen has a part for inputting various settings and a part (preview) for representing the currently input settings with pictures. In this preview part, the whole model is displayed in the main to express the paper feeding method and paper transport direction, and the product is displayed in the main to display the layout and enlargement / reduction. There are types.

  FIG. 1 is a user interface screen for print settings in the printer driver.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes a tab for switching the setting screen, and shows a plurality of sheet names for print settings. FIG. 1 shows a setting screen for “page setting”. As shown in FIG. 1, settings such as the paper size, the number of copies, the printing direction, and the page layout can be made. Reference numeral 3 denotes a preview screen, which displays a preview and a balloon in accordance with the setting items that can be set on the setting screen 2 that is currently open.

  In order to change each setting item, the user selects “page setting” with a pointing device such as a mouse using a tab for switching one setting screen, and switches the setting screen to the “page setting” screen. After switching, it can be realized by selecting a setting item as shown in 2. For example, when the setting of “page layout” is changed from “1 page / sheet (standard)” to “4 pages / sheet”, an example of the print setting screen immediately after the setting of “page layout” is shown in FIG. As shown, preview 3 and print setting item 2 indicate the contents of “4 pages / sheet”.

In addition, there is a mechanism for switching a preview screen of another setting screen to be displayed on a preview screen of an arbitrary setting screen so that the print setting on the other setting screen can be easily recognized. (See Patent Document 1)
JP 2000-250683 A

  However, in the conventional technology, because the preview that is most relevant to the currently displayed sheet is displayed due to restrictions such as the display area, if the preview on another sheet changes when a certain setting is made, other settings There is a problem that the user cannot receive all images at the same time unless the screen is intentionally switched.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and by automatically and temporarily switching all previews that have changed when a certain setting is changed, the user can change the output of the product to be printed. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer driver that can grasp the whole image and is more convenient to use.

  In order to solve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

  An information processing device that is connected to an external device and performs various settings for controlling the external device using a GUI with a plurality of sheets, and internally stores a table of setting items to be reflected in each preview. Means for confirming whether the setting changed when the setting is changed is present in the table, and means for switching to the preview portion and displaying it for an arbitrary time when the changed setting exists in the table.

  In addition, there is further provided means for allowing the user to select a time for automatically and temporarily switching the preview.

  Another invention according to the present application is to realize the above-described invention by a method and a program stored in a program storage medium.

  According to the present invention, in order to allow the user to grasp the entire image of the printed matter and to provide a more convenient printer driver, all previews that have changed when a certain setting is changed are automatically and temporarily displayed. Can provide a mechanism for automatic switching.

  Hereinafter, a printing system including an information processing apparatus suitable for applying the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of a system according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, a printing apparatus such as an ink jet printer is connected to a host computer such as a PC via an interface circuit.

  The host computer executes a document containing a mixture of graphics, images, characters, tables, etc. based on a document processing program or the like stored in a ROM or external memory, and comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus. Stores the CPU and operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS), which is the control program for the CPU, and functions as a ROM or external memory that stores various data used when performing the above document processing, and the main memory or work area of the CPU RAM, keyboard controller (KBC) that controls input from a keyboard or pointing device (not shown), display controller (DISPC) that controls display, boot program, various applications, user files, printer control commands Generation program (hereinafter printer driver), etc. Control processing for communication with the printer connected to the printer via a predetermined bi-directional interface and a disk controller (DKC) that controls access to external memory such as a hard disk (HDD) and flexible disk (FDD) A printer controller (PRTC).

  The printer is composed of a printing mechanism and a printing controller for controlling these. The print controller receives the print data from the CPU that executes various programs and the host computer, and stores programs and various data that control the print mechanism such as the head, carriage, and ink supply to achieve optimal printing. ROM, RAM for temporarily storing various data and various programs, and an interface (I / FC).

  The printing mechanism includes a print head (PHD), a carriage (CRG) that moves the print head, a platen disposed at a position facing the print head, and a roll paper holder that holds the roll paper so that it can be pulled out. (HRL), a paper feed roller (IRL) that pulls out the roll paper held in this roll paper holder and feeds it onto the platen, a paper discharge roller (ORL) that discharges the printed paper, and paper And a paper discharge tray (TRY) for receiving the rolled paper.

  6 rows that eject ink of each color, specifically C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), K (black), c (light cyan), m (light magenta) Nozzles are provided side by side in the scanning direction.

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of typical print processing in a host computer to which a printing apparatus such as a printer is directly connected or connected via a network.

  An application, a graphic engine, a printer driver, and a system spooler exist as files stored in an external memory, and are programs that are loaded into the RAM and executed by the OS and modules used when executed.

  The application and the printer driver can be added to the external disk HD via an external memory FD, a CD (not shown), or a network (not shown). Applications stored in external memory are loaded into RAM and executed, but when printing from this application to the printer, a graphic engine that is also loaded into RAM and executable is used. To output (draw). The data that the application launches to the graphic engine varies depending on the type of OS. For example, a GDI function is output to the GDI that is the graphic engine as a drawing command.

  Similarly, the graphic engine loads the printer driver prepared for each printing device from external memory into RAM, converts the GDI (Graphic Device Interface) function, which is the output of the application, into a DDI (Device Driver Interface) function, Output to the driver.

  Based on the DDI function received from the GDI, the printer driver converts the printer control command to PDL (Page Description Language) or low-level image data that can be interpreted by the printer. The converted printer control command is output to the printer via the interface via the system spooler loaded into the RAM by the OS.

  First, the system flow in this embodiment will be described. The printer driver in the external memory in the host computer displays a user interface as shown in FIG. 1 by a GUI using a display device such as a display, and the user uses various controls such as buttons and combo boxes on the sheet. You can change settings such as paper size and print mode. Then, rasterization is performed based on the changed print setting and a drawing command from the application, and then color conversion is performed according to the paper type and color setting selected by the user, and print data and a print command are transmitted to the printer. The printer executes printing of print data according to the received print command.

  5 to 11 are diagrams illustrating an example of setting change on the print setting screen according to the present exemplary embodiment. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  First, the print setting screen used in the present embodiment is as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, and has a plurality of setting screens. The setting screen includes a preview screen characteristic of the present embodiment and an actual print setting. The print setting items to perform are displayed. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, three sheets can be selected. FIG. 5 “Basic setting” screen, FIG. 6 “Page setting” screen, and FIG. Is the screen.

  In the preview of the “basic setting” screen, settings relating to the drawing contents such as “print quality” and “color mode” are mainly displayed. In the preview of the “page setting” screen, settings related to deliverables such as “page layout” and “printing direction” are mainly displayed. In the preview of the “page processing” screen, output from the printer such as “rotate 180 degrees” and “auto cut” is mainly displayed.

  In the present embodiment, a procedure for changing the following setting among a large number of print setting items on a plurality of setting screens will be described as an example.

<Operation>
1. Change the “Orientation” setting from “Vertical” to “Landscape”. ("Print orientation" is a setting to change the output print direction (image direction))
The user can change the “printing direction” on the “page setting” screen of FIG. 6 and is reflected in the previews of the “page setting” screen and the “page processing” screen. The preview of FIG. 6 represents a preview of the “page setting” screen when “print orientation” is set to “vertical”, and the preview of FIG. 8 has “print orientation” set to “horizontal”. Represents a preview of the “Page Setup” screen. Further, the preview of FIG. 7 represents a preview of the “page processing” screen when the “printing direction” is set to “vertical”, and the “printing direction” is set to “horizontal” in the preview of FIG. This represents a preview of the “page processing” screen when it is set.

  Here, when the “printing direction” setting on the “page setting” screen is changed from “vertical” to “horizontal”, only the preview of the “page setting” screen is “page processing” as shown in FIG. Switch to the screen temporarily.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the automatic preview switching means. First, in step 1, a table indicating which setting is reflected for each preview is acquired. Next, it is confirmed whether the setting changed in step 3 is reflected in the target preview. If so, add the preview to the display list. In step 5, the target preview is advanced to the next preview in the table. The processes in steps 3 to 5 are repeated until the end of the table.

  Then, pasting the preview of the display list created in steps 1 to 6 for a certain period of time completes the process of temporarily switching all previews that have changed when the setting is changed.

  In step 7 of the automatic preview switching means, there may be provided means for allowing the user to select how long to display.

  Note that the present invention may be applied to a device driver portion of a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a printer, etc.).

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium storing a program code of software such as a printer driver that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments, and a program stored in the recording medium by a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus. It can also be achieved by reading and executing the code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD, DVD, magnetic tape, MO, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like can be used.

  In addition, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code performs the actual processing. The case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing a part of the processing is also included.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically and temporarily switch and display all previews that have been changed when the setting is changed.

FIG. 10 is a user interface diagram of a print setting screen of a printer driver in the prior art. FIG. 10 is a user interface diagram of a print setting screen when changing page layout settings in a conventional printer driver. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system including an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a typical print data generation method in a host computer. FIG. 3 is an example of a user interface diagram of a printer driver in the present embodiment. (basic setting) FIG. 3 is an example of a user interface diagram of a printer driver in the present embodiment. (Page setting) FIG. 3 is an example of a user interface diagram of a printer driver in the present embodiment. (Page processing) 6 is an example of a user interface diagram in which the setting of the print direction is changed in the printer driver of the present embodiment. FIG. (Page setting) 6 is an example of a user interface diagram in which the setting of the print direction is changed in the printer driver of the present embodiment. FIG. (Page processing) FIG. 5 is an example of a user interface diagram immediately after changing the print orientation setting in the printer driver of the present embodiment. (Page setting) It is a flowchart which shows the preview automatic switching means in a print setting screen.

Claims (4)

  An information processing device that is connected to an external device and performs various settings for controlling the external device using a GUI with a plurality of sheets, and internally stores a table of setting items to be reflected in each preview. A means for confirming whether or not the setting changed when the setting is changed is included in the table; and a means for switching and displaying the preview portion for an arbitrary time when the setting changed in the table exists. Information processing apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for causing a user to select a switching time when the preview is switched.   An information processing device that is connected to an external device and performs various settings for controlling the external device using a GUI with a plurality of sheets, and internally stores a table of setting items to be reflected in each preview. A means for confirming whether or not the setting changed when the setting is changed is included in the table; and a means for switching and displaying the preview portion for an arbitrary time when the setting changed in the table exists. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program.   The storage medium according to claim 3, further comprising means for allowing a user to select a switching time when the preview is switched.

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