JP2010049376A - Installation system and installation program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an installation system and an installation program, allowing both an installing person of a program and a user of the program to perform work in an optimum environment. <P>SOLUTION: First, a language (an installer language) displayed by an installer is selected (S101). Next, an installation mode is selected (S102). When custom installation is selected (S103: NO), a language (a driver language) displayed by a printer driver is selected (S121). Next, when the driver language is different from the installer language (S122: NO), resource files of the installer language and the driver language are extracted (S123), and installation is performed (S105). When standard installation is selected (S103: YES), the resource file of the installer language is extracted (S104), and the installation is performed (S105). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an installation system for installing a program and an installation program. More specifically, the present invention relates to an installation system and an installation program that can handle a plurality of languages.

  In an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer (PC), a device driver that controls devices such as a printer and a scanner is incorporated. Generally, an installation program (installer) is used when a new device driver is incorporated into a PC.

In addition, printer drivers are available in language versions suitable for each country's market. As an installation technique corresponding to a plurality of languages, for example, there is a driver installation method disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this installation method, a user selects a display language of the installer at the time of installation, and a device driver of the display language is installed according to the display language.
JP 2004-102623 A

  However, the conventional installation technique described above has the following problems. That is, in the conventional installation technology, the display language selected by the installer is inherited as the language of the device driver to be installed as it is. Therefore, for example, when a device manager installs a device driver on the device user's PC, it is assumed that the language desired by the device manager is different from the language desired by the device user. In this case, at least one of them is forced to work in an unfamiliar language. As a result, work efficiency is reduced. Such a problem occurs not only in the device driver but also in a general program.

  The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the conventional installation techniques described above. That is, the problem is to provide an installation system and an installation program in which both the program installer and the program user can work in an optimum environment.

  An installation system for solving this problem is an installation system in which a program is incorporated into an information processing apparatus, and the program uses first selection means for selecting a first language that is a display language used during the installation process. Second selection means for selecting a second language as a display language, an installation procedure is displayed in the first language, a component corresponding to the second language of the program is installed, and the program displays in the second language And an installation means for setting.

  The installation system of the present invention incorporates a program into an information processing apparatus and supports a plurality of languages. “Programs” to be incorporated include application software such as an Internet browser and document creation software, and device drivers for controlling peripheral devices. In this installation system, the language (first language) displayed by the installer and the language (second language) displayed by the program are selected separately. Then, the installation procedure displays the installation procedure in the first language during the installation. Further, the installation means is set so that the component corresponding to the second language is installed and the program is displayed in the second language. As a setting for displaying in the second language, for example, language information is registered in a database (for example, registry) in the system area. Further, the INI file stored in the user area may be updated without being limited to the system area such as the registry.

  That is, in the installation system of the present invention, during the installation work, the installer displays the installation procedure in the first language suitable for the installation worker. On the other hand, when using the program, the program displays in the second language suitable for the program user. In other words, during installation, you can work in an environment that is optimal for both by selecting the most appropriate language for each.

  In addition, the installation system of the present invention includes a mode selection means for selecting one of a standard mode for installing standard components of a program and a custom mode for allowing a user to select a component to be installed. A standard installation means for installing a component corresponding to the first language and setting the program to display in the first language. When the custom mode is selected, the program is installed by the installation means, and the standard is installed. If the mode is selected, it is better to install the program by standard installation means.

  In other words, it is said that the installation work is easier to use if the number of user selection items is as small as possible. Therefore, a standard mode and a custom mode are prepared and the user selects them. In the custom mode, the second language is selected, and a program of a language different from the language being installed can be installed. On the other hand, in the standard mode, the program of the language being installed is automatically installed without selecting the second language. Thereby, the trouble of a general user does not increase and the installation work is avoided.

  Further, the installation means of the installation system of the present invention further preferably installs a component corresponding to the first language, and the program can switch the display language between the first language and the second language. That is, it is assumed that the installation work is performed by an administrator. In that case, the administrator may operate the program later. Therefore, it is convenient if the display in the first language is possible.

  Moreover, the program of the installation system has a function of recording a log, and the log is better recorded in the first language. That is, the administrator often checks the log. Therefore, the maintenance work is particularly facilitated by recording the log in the first language.

  In addition, it is better that the installation means of the installation system of the present invention installs only the components necessary for the second language. As a result, a language environment suitable for each program installer and each program user can be realized, and the burden on the memory is small.

  The installation system program of the present invention is a device driver for controlling a device, and outputs to the device controlled by the program a signal for setting the display language of the display unit of the device to the second language. It is better to have That is, by automatically setting the device display to the second language that is the language of the user of the device, it is possible to unify the language of the usage environment.

  Further, the above installation system has an obtaining means for obtaining data indicating whether or not the display language of the device has been set, and the output means outputs a signal when data indicating that the display language is not set is obtained by the obtaining means. Then better. That is, when the display setting of the device is already set, it is preferable to give priority to the state. Therefore, a more appropriate environment can be realized by setting the language when the display setting is not set.

  In addition, the present invention provides a first selection unit that selects a first language that is a display language used during an installation process, and a second language that selects a second language that is a display language used by the program. 2 selection means and an installation procedure for displaying an installation procedure in the first language, installing a component corresponding to the second language of the program, and setting the program to display in the second language. Includes installation program to do.

  According to the present invention, an installation system and an installation program are realized in which both a program installer and a program user can work in an optimum environment.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments embodying an installation system and an installation program (installer) according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to an installation system and an installer for installing a printer driver in a PC.

[System configuration]
The installation system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a PC 10 and a printer 20 as shown in FIG. In the system 100, a PC 10 and a printer 20 are connected via a network 4 such as a LAN. A printer driver is incorporated in the PC 10 for available printers, and a print instruction can be output to each printer. The printer 20 may be directly connected to the PC 10 via a USB cable or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the PC 10 includes a CPU 11 that executes various arithmetic processes, a ROM 12 that stores a startup process program (BIOS) executed by the CPU 11 when the PC 10 is started, and a temporary process when the CPU 11 performs various processes. A RAM 13 used as a general storage area, and a hard disk drive (HDD) 14 storing various programs and data.

  In addition, the PC 10 includes an operation unit 15 including a keyboard and a mouse, a display unit 16 including a liquid crystal display, a serial interface 17 that exchanges signals with other information devices such as a CD-ROM drive, And a network interface 18 for exchanging signals via a network such as a LAN or the Internet.

  The HDD 14 of the PC 10 incorporates various applications such as an operating system (OS), a printer driver for controlling the printer 20, a word processor, and spreadsheet software. In addition, as one of the functions of the installed OS, a default printer and a language can be set.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the printer 20 includes an image reading unit 21 that reads an original image using an image sensor or the like, an image forming unit 22 that forms an image on a sheet, and an operation panel that includes a liquid crystal screen and operation buttons. 23, a network interface 24 for exchanging signals via a network such as a LAN or the Internet, and a control unit 30 for controlling them.

  Further, the control unit 30 includes a CPU 31 that executes various arithmetic processes, a ROM 32 that stores a program (BIOS) of a startup process performed by the CPU 31 when the PC 10 is started up, and a temporary storage when the CPU 31 performs various processes. A RAM 33 used as an area, an NVRAM 34 for storing various programs and data, and an ASIC 35 for electrically connecting them to the image reading unit 21 and the like are provided.

[installer]
Next, an installation operation of an installer (an example of a first selection unit, a second selection unit, an installation unit, a mode selection unit, and a standard installation unit) that incorporates a printer driver (an example of a program) for the printer 20 into the PC 10 will be described with reference to FIG. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The installer is stored in the CD-ROM 5 (see FIG. 2) and is executed via the serial interface 17 of the PC 10. The installer may be downloaded from the manufacturer's server via the Internet, or may be stored in a recording medium other than the CD-ROM 5. Further, it may be stored in the HDD 14.

  First, the language displayed by the installer (hereinafter referred to as “installer language”, an example of the first language) is selected (S101). The installer of this embodiment supports a plurality of languages, and the display language of the installation procedure can be switched. For example, a selection screen 80 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, and one language is selected from languages supported by the installer. In this embodiment, it is assumed that Japanese and English are supported. When a language different from the language displayed on the selection screen 80 is selected, the screen is switched from the next screen of the selection screen 80 to the display in the selected language.

  Note that the selection screen 80 is displayed in a language set by default in the installer. Alternatively, the installer may acquire the language of the OS installed in the PC 10, and the OS language may be used as the display language of the selection screen 80.

  Next, an installation mode is selected (S102). In this installer, as the installation mode, a “standard installation” mode (an example of the standard mode) in which installation is performed according to preset contents, and a “custom installation” mode (an example of the custom mode) in which content to be installed by the user is selected in detail. ) And are provided. Typically, standard installation is recommended for general users, and custom mode is recommended for administrators who prefer advanced settings.

  When selecting the installation mode, for example, a selection screen 81 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, and one mode is selected from the modes supported by the installer. FIG. 6 shows the display contents when “Japanese” is selected as the installer language. When “English” is selected as the installer language, an English display selection screen 81E as shown in FIG. Is displayed.

  Next, it is determined whether or not standard installation is selected as the installation mode (S103). When the standard installation is not selected (S103: NO), that is, when the custom installation is selected, the language displayed by the printer driver (hereinafter referred to as “driver language”, an example of the second language) is selected. (S121). For example, a selection screen 82 as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed, and one language is selected from languages supported by the installer. By default, the same language as the installer language is selected.

  Examples of screens displayed by the printer driver include a screen for displaying printer utilities and properties. When “English” is selected as the driver language, a property setting screen 83 in English is displayed as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when “Japanese” is selected as the driver language, a Japanese-style property setting screen 83J is displayed as shown in FIG.

  Further, when a language different from the installer language is selected as the driver language on the selection screen 82, it is possible to select whether or not to output the error log in the installer language. In other words, the error log is assumed to be used by an administrator, and may be inconvenient in a language corresponding to the printer driver user. Therefore, it is possible to select whether the error log is a driver language or an installer language. This reduces the inconvenience of the administrator.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the driver language selected in the process of S121 is the same as the installer language selected in the process of S101 (S122). If the two languages are different (S122: NO), a language resource file is extracted so as to be compatible with both languages (S123). For example, a DLL file that stores installer language resources and a DLL file that stores device language resources are extracted. On the other hand, if both languages are the same (S122: YES), only the DLL file that stores the installer language resource is extracted (S104). Then, the extracted resource file is installed in the PC 10 together with the printer driver and utility program (S105).

  After incorporating the program in the process of S105, the selected language is set (S106). In this embodiment, a language setting file is created, and the language displayed by the printer driver is recorded in the language setting file. If an error log is output in the installation language, record that fact. When displaying, the printer driver refers to the language setting file and selects a resource file. Details of the display operation of the printer driver will be described later. After the process of S106, this process ends.

  On the other hand, when the standard installation is selected (S103: YES), the same language as the installer language is selected as the driver language. That is, in the standard installation, it is preferable that the user's selection work is small, and the driver language is automatically selected. Then, a DLL file that stores installer language resources is extracted (S104), and the extracted resource file is installed in the PC 10 together with the printer driver and utility program (S105).

  After incorporating the program in the process of S105, the selected language is set (S106). In a standard installation, the language recorded in the language settings file is the installer language. The error log language is not recorded. After the process of S106, this process ends.

  That is, in the installer of this embodiment, the language for the installation work (installer language) and the language for the printer setting work (driver language) can be set. Therefore, even if the installation worker and the printer user have different native languages, a language environment suitable for each worker can be realized.

[Printer Driver]
Next, printer driver display processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is executed every time a display request is received. The printer driver refers to the language setting file at the time of activation, and acquires information on the language (driver language) displayed by the printer driver and the language (error log language) for outputting the error log.

  First, the content of the display request is determined (S201). Display requests include utility and property display requests as well as error log output requests. Then, it is determined whether or not the display request is an error log output request (S202).

  If it is not an error log output request (S202: NO), the language resource corresponding to the display request is acquired from the driver language resource file (S211), and the normal display process is performed (S212). That is, display processing in the driver language is performed.

  If it is an error log output request (S202: YES), it is determined whether or not an error log language has been set (S203). The error log language setting is included in the language settings file. That is, when the driver language is selected by the installer and the error log is selected to be output in the installer language, the error log language is set in the language setting file.

  If the error log language has been set (S203: YES), the language resource corresponding to the display request is acquired from the error log language resource file, that is, the installation language resource file (S204). Output processing is performed (S205). For example, if an error log is displayed by an OS application, the error log is output to a database in a system area such as a registry. In addition, if there is a dedicated program that displays the error log, it is output to the database managed by that program. On the other hand, when the error log language is not used (S203: NO), the driver language resource is acquired (S211), and the error log is output in the driver language (S212).

  That is, the printer driver of this embodiment can output an error log in an error log language that is also an installer language. As a result, when the administrator performs printer driver installation work or maintenance work, the error log is displayed in the installation language, so that a reduction in work efficiency can be suppressed.

[First application example]
Next, an application example of the installer of the installation system 100 will be described. The installer of the first application example (an example of output means and acquisition means) performs display settings for the printer 20 to be controlled by the printer driver, in addition to display settings for the printer driver. In the installation processing of this application example, the processing up to S106 in FIG. 4 is the same as the previous embodiment, and the processing after S106 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the initial stage of shipment, the printer 20 does not set the language (printer language) used by the printer 20, and performs display in the language set as the default language. The language can be set by the user. Further, the printer 20 has a set flag for storing the fact that the language has been set. When the language is set, the set flag is updated.

  In the installation process of this application example, the printer 20 is searched after the process of S106 (S131). If the printer 20 is not searched (S132: NO), the printer 20 cannot be instructed to set the language. Therefore, this process ends. When the printer 20 is searched (S132: YES), the printer 20 is inquired as to whether or not language setting has been made (S133).

  The printer 20 inquired about the language setting performs response processing of the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, the state of the set flag is acquired (S301). If the set flag has been set (S302: YES), a signal indicating that the set flag has been set is returned (S303). On the other hand, if the set flag is not set (S302: NO), a signal indicating that it is not set is returned (S311).

  Returning to the explanation of the installation process, it is determined whether or not the language of the printer 20 has been set (S134). If the language has not been set (S134: NO), a signal for instructing the printer 20 to set the printer language in the driver language is output to the printer 20 (S141). That is, when the language setting of the printer 20 is not set, the language setting of the printer 20 is automatically performed by the installer. Thereby, the trouble of setting the language of the printer 20 can be saved.

  Note that the printer 20 instructed to set the language performs the procedure setting process shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, a language setting instruction is received, and a language to be a printer language is acquired (S351). Then, the acquired language is set as the printer language (S352). Thereafter, the set flag is updated (S353). A program for realizing the processes of FIGS. 13 and 14 is stored in the ROM 32 of the printer 20 and executed by the control unit 30.

  On the other hand, if the language has been set (S134: YES), this process is terminated. That is, if the language information is updated for the printer 20 for which the language has been set, the user who has set the language for the printer 20 will be confused. Therefore, priority is given to the existing state, and nothing is done if the language is already set.

[Second application example]
In the second application example, when a device language different from the installer language is set, only the device language display setting is performed on the printer device. This installation process is an application example of FIG. 4, and the same process is given the same step number and will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the installer of this application example, when the standard installation is not selected (S103: NO), the language (driver language) displayed by the printer driver is selected (S120). At this time, unlike the previous embodiment, even if a language different from the installer language is selected, the error log language is not selected.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the driver language selected in the process of S120 is the same as the installer language selected in the process of S101 (S122). If the two languages are different (S122: NO), only the resource file is extracted so as to be compatible with the driver language (S125). This is different from the previous form in which both the driver language and the installer language resource files are extracted. Then, only the resource file corresponding to the driver language is installed in the PC 10 together with the printer driver and the utility program (S105).

  That is, in the installer of this application example, when the installer language and the driver language are different, only the resource file corresponding to the driver language is installed. Therefore, the number of components to be installed is smaller than in the previous embodiment. Therefore, the memory load is small.

  As described above in detail, in the installation system 100 of the present embodiment, different languages can be selected for the printer driver installer and the printer driver user during the installation operation. For this reason, during the installation process, the installation procedure is displayed in an installer language suitable for the installer. On the other hand, when a program is used, properties and the like are displayed in a device language suitable for the program user. Therefore, by selecting the optimal language for each, it is possible to perform work in an optimal environment.

  In the present embodiment, a standard mode and a custom mode are provided for the user to select. In the custom mode, the driver language is selected as described above, and the driver language can be displayed to improve the work environment. On the other hand, in the standard mode, the driver language is automatically set in the same language as the installer language without selecting the driver language. Thereby, a general user's effort does not increase and the complication of installation work can be avoided.

  Note that this embodiment is merely an example, and does not limit the present invention. Therefore, the present invention can naturally be improved and modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. For example, in the embodiment, the program is installed on the PC, but the present invention is not limited to the PC. For example, it may be a workstation or a portable information terminal.

  In this embodiment, the printer driver is installed, but the present invention is not limited to the printer driver. That is, the program may be a program incorporated in an information device such as a PC, and may be a device driver for a scanner, a copier, or a digital camera, for example. Further, the application program is not limited to a device driver, and may be document creation software, spreadsheet software, an Internet browser, or the like.

  In this embodiment, the language setting of the printer driver is stored in the language setting file in the user area, but this information is recorded in a database in the system area (for example, a registry of a Windows (registered trademark) OS). The database may be used if possible.

  In this embodiment, when a language different from the installer language is registered as the driver language, resource files of two types of languages are installed. Therefore, the display setting of the device driver may be switched between the device language and the installer language by a utility or the like.

  In this embodiment, a DLL file in which a language resource is recorded is applied as a component corresponding to the driver language. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a file using a markup language such as an XML file or an HTML file, or a text file having only a character code.

  In this embodiment, the language of the error log can be selected, but the log type is not limited to the error log. For example, operation logs that record user operations and phenomena and actions can be similarly applied to event logs. Furthermore, in addition to recording these logs, the administrator may be configured to send an e-mail or fax in a language intended for the administrator.

  In the present embodiment, two types of languages are described as examples. However, three or more types may be used. In the case of three or more types, the component corresponding to the required language is installed as in the case of the two types.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the installation system which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detail of PC which comprises the installation system which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detail of the printer which comprises the installation system which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the installer which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the selection screen which selects the installer language at the time of installation. It is a figure which shows an example of the selection screen (at the time of Japanese selection) which selects the installation mode at the time of installation. It is a figure which shows an example of the selection screen (at the time of English selection) which selects the installation mode at the time of installation. It is a figure which shows an example of the selection screen which selects the driver language at the time of installation. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen (when English is selected) that displays printer properties displayed by a printer driver. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen (when Japanese is selected) that displays printer properties displayed by the printer driver. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a display operation procedure of the printer driver according to the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the installer which concerns on a 1st application example. It is a flowchart which shows the response processing procedure of the printer which concerns on a 1st application example. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a setting process procedure of a printer according to a first application example. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the installer which concerns on a 2nd application example.

Explanation of symbols

10 PC
20 Printer 5 CD-ROM
100 installation system

Claims (8)

In an installation system that incorporates a program into an information processing device,
First selection means for selecting a first language which is a display language used during the installation process;
Second selection means for selecting a second language which is a display language used by the program;
Installation means for displaying an installation procedure in the first language, installing a component corresponding to the second language of the program, and setting the program to display in the second language. To install system. In the installation system according to claim 1,
A mode selection means for selecting one of a standard mode for installing standard components of the program and a custom mode for allowing the user to select a component to be installed; and
A standard installation unit that installs a component corresponding to the first language of the program and sets the program to display in the first language;
An installation system, wherein the program is installed by the installation unit when the custom mode is selected, and the program is installed by the standard installation unit when the standard mode is selected. In the installation system according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The installation means further installs a component corresponding to the first language,
An installation system wherein the display language of the program can be switched between the first language and the second language. In the installation system according to claim 3,
The program has a function of recording a log, and the log is recorded in the first language. In the installation system according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The installation system is characterized in that only the components necessary for the second language are installed. In the installation system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The program is a device driver that controls a device,
An installation system, comprising: an output unit configured to output a signal for setting a display language of a display unit of the device to the second language for a device to be controlled by the program. In the installation system according to claim 6,
Obtaining means for obtaining data indicating whether or not the display language of the device has been set;
The output system outputs the signal when data indicating that the output means is not set is obtained by the obtaining means. An information processing device that incorporates the program
First selection means for selecting a first language which is a display language used during the installation process;
Second selection means for selecting a second language which is a display language used by the program;
An installation procedure is displayed in the first language, a component corresponding to the second language of the program is installed, and the program functions as an installation unit configured to set the program to display in the second language. Installation program to be.

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