JP2010003216A - Printer control device and printer control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To absorb a difference in a printing capability of a printer such as a print start position. <P>SOLUTION: A driver management control part 44 calculates a deviation (correction information) of a print start position on the basis of print capabilities of a reference printer 14S (printer 14A) and a regular printer 14P (printer B) acquired from respective printer drivers. The printing is performed by making a print start position of the regular printer 14P coincident with a print start position of the reference printer 14S based on the correction information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer control apparatus and a printer control program.

  For each printer, information related to the printing paper such as the width and length of the printing paper, the print start position, the number of fonts compatible with the printer, the information related to the drawing ability such as the number of color planes, etc. Is determined as a printing capability. These printing capabilities are stored as essential information for each printer driver.

  In general, a program (such as an application program) that instructs execution of print processing acquires print capability from a printer driver via GDI (Graphic Device Interface).

  Further, the printer driver notifies the printing capability to a program (application program or the like) that instructs execution of the printing process via the GDI. That is, a communication protocol is realized between the program and the printer driver via GDI.

Here, there is Patent Document 1 as a technique for a program to acquire the size of a blank area that cannot be printed vertically and horizontally from a printer driver.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-070455

  In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a printer control device and a printer control program that can absorb a difference in printing ability such as a printing start position of a printer.

  The invention described in claim 1 receives at least print instruction information for designating a printer at the time of executing print processing based on a predetermined program, and from the printer driver of the designated printer based on the print instruction information. Print capability information including at least a printable area based on a paper size and a print start position is received, print capability information is returned in response to an inquiry about the program being executed, and printing is performed based on the program being executed The print execution control means for transmitting the attribute and the print data to the printer driver of the designated printer, and when the reference printer registration information is included in the print instruction information inputted at the time of executing the print processing, the designated printer is Replace the registered reference printer with the print from the printer driver of the reference printer Print capability information acquisition means for acquiring print information, and reference printer registration information acquired by the print capability information acquisition means when the reference printer registration information is included in the print instruction information input when the print process is executed. If the reference printer registration information is included in the print instruction information input at the time of execution of the print process, the reference printer print capability information return means for returning to the program at the time of execution of the print process When the print capability information is returned, when the received print attribute and print data are sent to the specified printer, the print capability of the specified printer is corrected to the print capability of the reference printer for the print attribute. And a correcting means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the printing capability of the designated printer is corrected, the judging means judges whether or not the capability of the designated printer is exceeded. And a notification means for notifying that the printer designated under the printing capability of the reference printer cannot be printed when it is determined that the capacity is exceeded as a result of the determination by the determination means. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the determination means prints the determination time when correcting the print capability of the designated printer or printing to the printer driver of the designated printer. It is any time when the attribute and the print data are transmitted.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when reference printer registration information is included in at least print instruction information for designating a printer, which is input when executing a printing process based on a predetermined program, the designated printer is selected. In place of the registered reference printer, a printing capability information acquisition unit that acquires the printing capability information from a printer driver of the reference printer; and when the printing instruction information includes reference printer registration information, the printing capability Reference printer print capability information return means for returning the print capability information of the reference printer acquired by the information acquisition means to the program at the time of execution of the print process, and reference printer registration information is included in the print instruction information If the print capability information of the reference printer is returned, the received print attribute and print data are designated. In sending the printer, as a target the print attribute has a correcting means for correcting the printing capability of the designated printer in the printing capabilities of the standard printer, the.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the correction of the printing capability of the designated printer, the judging means for judging whether or not the capability of the designated printer is exceeded. And a notification means for notifying that the printer designated under the printing ability of the reference printer cannot be printed when it is determined that the capacity is exceeded as a result of the determination by the determination means. Yes.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the determination unit is configured to determine a determination time when correcting the print capability of the designated printer, or a print attribute to the designated printer. It is any time when print data is transmitted.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, at the time of executing a printing process based on a predetermined program, at least print instruction information for designating a printer is received, and based on the print instruction information, a printer driver of the designated printer is received. Print capability information including at least a printable area based on a paper size and a print start position is received, print capability information is returned in response to an inquiry about the program being executed, and printing is performed based on the program being executed The print execution control process for transmitting the attribute and the print data to the printer driver of the designated printer, and the reference printer registration information included in the print instruction information input when the print process is executed, the designated printer is Replace the registered reference printer with the print from the printer driver of the reference printer Print capability information acquisition step for acquiring print information, and when the reference printer registration information is included in the print instruction information input when the print process is executed, the print capability information of the reference printer acquired by the print capability information acquisition means If the reference printer registration information is included in the print instruction information input at the time of executing the print processing, the reference printer print capability information return step for returning the print processing information to the program at the time of executing the print processing. A correction step of correcting the printing capability of the designated printer to the printing capability of the reference printer for the printing attribute when sending the received printing attribute and print data to the designated printer when information is returned Is a printer control program for causing a computer to execute.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the seventh aspect, a determination step of determining whether or not the capacity of the designated printer is exceeded when correcting the printing capacity of the designated printer. And a notification step for notifying the computer that the printer designated under the printing capability of the reference printer cannot be printed when it is determined that the capability is exceeded as a result of the determination in the determination step. This is a printer control program to be executed.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 8, wherein in the determination step, the determination attribute is a print attribute when correcting the print capability of the specified printer, or to a printer driver of the specified printer. And any time when print data is transmitted.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to absorb the difference in printing ability such as the printing start position of the printer.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to determine the printing capability in advance as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to make a determination before sending print data or the like, or at any time when correcting the printing capability of the designated printer.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to absorb the difference in printing ability such as the printing start position of the printer.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to determine the printing capability in advance as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to make a determination before transmitting print data or the like, or at any time when correcting the printing capability of the designated printer.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, it is possible to absorb a difference in printing ability such as a printing start position of the printer.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to determine the printing capability in advance as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to make a determination before transmitting print data or the like, or at any time when correcting the printing capability of the designated printer.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in a printing system 10, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 12, a printer 14 </ b> A, and a printer 14 </ b> B are connected via a network 16. Hereinafter, the printers 14A and 14B are collectively referred to as “printer 14”. In the present embodiment, the two printers 14 (printers 14A and 14B), which are the minimum necessary number, are shown, but three or more printers 14 may be connected to the network 16.

  In this embodiment, the printer 14 is connected to the network 16 and the PC 12 can output an image from any of the printers 14.

  The PC 12 is installed with an application program 18 for creating data to be printed and software such as a printer driver 20A and printer driver 20B corresponding to the printers 14A-B. Hereinafter, the printer driver 20A and the printer driver 20B are collectively referred to as “printer driver 20”.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the PC 12 includes a PC main body 31 having a CPU 22, a RAM 24, a ROM 26, an I / O (input / output unit) 28, and a bus 30 such as a data bus and a control bus for connecting them.

  The CPU 22 that controls the overall operation of the PC 12 reads various programs such as an application program 18 (software) and a printer driver 20 stored in the ROM 26, and executes print processing and the like to be described later. It is also possible to provide software such as the application program by storing it in a removable storage medium such as a CD-ROM or IC memory.

  Input / output devices such as a monitor 32, a keyboard 34, and a mouse 36 are connected to the I / O 28. These are collectively referred to as “UI37”. In the present embodiment, the monitor 32, the keyboard 34, and the mouse 36 are cited as the UI 37, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, the monitor 32 has a function of displaying a processing screen and an instruction screen during execution of the application program 18 and informing a user of information related to printing processing.

  The user makes print settings and print instructions using the keyboard 34 and mouse 36 while viewing the display content of the monitor 32.

  Also, the printer 14A and the printer 14B are connected to the I / O 28 via a communication interface (I / F) 38.

  FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment. This functional block diagram does not limit the hardware configuration, but is classified according to function.

  The printing system 10 according to the present embodiment includes an application program execution unit 40, a GDI (Graphic Device Interface) 42, a driver management control unit 44, and a printer driver 20 as a control system for controlling printing. .

  The application program execution unit 40 is connected to the GDI 42. The printer driver 20 is connected to the GDI 42. That is, the application program execution unit 40 communicates with the printer driver 20 via the GDI 42.

  In the application program execution unit 40, based on the application program 18, the user creates document data and the like using the mouse 36 and the keyboard 34 while being displayed on the monitor 32. Examples of application programs include word processing software, spreadsheet software, and graphics software.

  The GDI 42 is a program that performs graphics processing, for example, installed in Windows (registered trademark), and has a role of connecting an application and a device driver. When there is an output instruction such as printing from the application program execution unit 40, the GDI 42 converts the instruction into a format that can be processed by the printer driver 20A (or 20B), and activates the printer driver 20A (or 20B). Printing is executed by the printer driver 20A (or 20B) performing processing according to the activation of the GDI 42.

  Here, when printing the created data, the application program execution unit 40 designates one of the printers 14 that executes printing by the user. This designation is output from the application program execution unit 40 to the printer driver 20 of the target printer 14 via the GDI 42.

  The printer driver 20 designated as the GDI 42 returns information for displaying the print attribute setting screen 46 (see FIG. 4A) of the printer 14 controlled by the printer driver 20 to the GDI 42. The GDI 42 outputs information for displaying the print attribute setting screen 46 to the application program execution unit 44. As a result, the print attribute setting screen 46 can be displayed on the monitor 32.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the print attribute setting screen 46 displays items such as paper size, print direction, output resolution, and duplex / single side (print designation) attributes, and a designation box 54 is displayed on the right side of each display. Is arranged. In each designation box 54, contents appropriately selected by the user using the keyboard 34, the mouse 36, or the like are displayed. For example, in FIG. 4A, “A4 (210 mm × 29 mm)” size is selected as the paper size, “Vertical” direction is selected as the printing direction, “600 dpi” is selected as the output resolution, and both sides / single side are selected. A state in which “one side” is selected is shown.

  In addition, although the paper size, the printing direction, the output resolution, and the duplex / single side have been described as examples as the print attributes, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, output paper size, color mode, tray / discharge, etc. may be used.

  When print execution processing is performed in the application program execution unit 40, a print attribute setting screen 46 is displayed on the monitor 32 of the PC 12, and the user can set print attributes.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the application program execution unit 40 outputs the print attributes set by the user on the print attribute setting screen 46 to the GDI 42. The GDI 42 outputs print attributes to the printer driver 20.

  The printer driver 20 outputs the printing capability to the GDI 42 according to the printing attribute. The GDI 42 returns the printing capability of the printer 14 in response to an inquiry from the application program execution unit 40.

  Specifically, the printing capability includes the width of the paper, the length of the paper, the printing start position (printing origin coordinates (X, Y)), the width of the printable area, the length of the printable area, and the width direction. Information related to the printing paper, such as resolution and resolution in the length direction, information related to the printer and drawing ability, such as the number of fonts installed in the printer, the number of color planes, support for curves, support for painting, etc. include.

  The application program execution unit 40 performs print data layout based on the acquired printing capability of the printer 14. Here, if the application program execution unit 40 can consider all of the acquired printing capabilities, the application only has to correct the print start position, so the present invention is not necessary. However, when the print data is created according to the reference printer 14S without acquiring the print capability from the printer driver 20, only a part of the acquired print capability is considered, and the print start position is not considered. If the print data is already created and the print start position according to the acquired ability cannot be changed, the effect of the present invention can be sufficiently exhibited.

  The application program execution unit 40 outputs print instruction information including print data to the printer driver 20 via the GDI 42.

  Each printer driver 20 is connected to a spooler 50. The printer driver 20 of the printer 14 converts print instruction information including print data into the printer language of the printer 14. The printer driver 20 outputs the converted print instruction information to the spooler 50 and is temporarily stored in the spooler 50.

  The spooler 50 is connected to each printer 14 via the port 52. The spooler 50 outputs print instruction information to the printer 14 according to the printing status of the printer 14, and printing is performed.

  By the way, in this embodiment, the driver management control unit 44 adds a new item to the print attribute setting screen 46 (see FIG. 4A).

  This new item is a reference printer, and a reference printer designation box 48 for selecting the reference printer 14S is provided in the same manner as the existing items.

  The reference printer 14S is arbitrarily determined by the user among the plurality of printers 14 connected on the network 16, and in the present embodiment, the reference printer 14S is hereinafter referred to as the printer 14A, and the designated printer (hereinafter referred to as the reference printer 14S). The printer 14B will be described as “this printer 14P”.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the driver management control unit 44 is connected to the printer driver 20 </ b> B and the GDI 42. When the printer driver 20 </ b> B communicates with the application program execution unit 40, the driver management control unit 44 intervenes between the two and performs processing, and then transmits it to the application program execution unit 40 via the GDI 42.

  In this embodiment, when the printer 14B is designated (this printer 14P), the GDI 42 activates the printer driver 20B of the printer 14P (printer 14B), and the printer driver 20B activates the driver management control unit 44.

  When the printer A is selected and registered in the reference printer designation box 48, a pull-down menu screen 56 as shown in FIG. 4B is displayed.

  The registered printer display area 58 of the pull-down menu screen 56 displays the printers 14 (here, A to D) connected to the network 16. The printers 14C and 14D are not shown in FIGS.

  By selecting any printer 14 from the registered printer display area 58 of the pull-down menu screen 56, the selected printer 14A is displayed in the decision display area 60. The determination display area 60 may be the same as the reference printer designation box 48 of FIG. 4A (a form in which a registered printer display area 58 is displayed below the reference printer designation box 48). Further, the printer 14 used last time may be displayed in the determination display area 60 in advance.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the driver management control unit 44 receives print attributes set by the user from the application program execution unit 40 via the GDI 42. When the reference printer 14S (printer 14A) is selected as the reference printer registration information among the print attribute items, the driver management control unit 44 inquires about the print capability of the reference printer 14S (printer 14A) via the GDI 42. The driver management control unit 44 acquires the printing capability of the reference printer 14S (printer 14A) from the printer driver 20A of the reference printer 14S (printer 14A).

  The printer driver 20B of the printer 14P (printer 14B) returns the printing capability of the reference printer 14S (printer 14A) acquired by the driver management control unit 44 to the GDI 42 as the printing capability of the printer 14P (printer 14B). As a result, the reference printer 14S (printer 14A) is temporarily designated.

  Further, when the GDI 42 receives print instruction information including print data from the application program execution unit 40 in response to the reply, the print attribute and print data are transmitted to the printer driver 20 of the printer 14P (printer 14B). Has a role to play.

  In other words, the printer driver 20B of the printer 14P (printer 14B) performs regular arbitration by the driver management control unit 44 when the printer 14P (printer 14B) for which the reference printer 14S (printer 14A) is selected is designated. Unsteady arbitration control (replacement control) different from the control is executed.

  The purpose of replacing the main printer 14P with the reference printer 14S is mainly to adjust the printing start position of the printing paper 62.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the printing start position (printing origin PGA) of the printer 14A (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is A4 size (vertical) horizontal X: 7 mm × vertical Y: When the ruled line 64 is preliminarily printed on the printing paper 62 as shown in FIG. 5C, the printing start position is an important printing attribute element.

  That is, if the printing start position is deviated, there is a possibility that characters are not printed at a predetermined position within the frame of the ruled line 64, or in the worst case, characters or the like may protrude from the ruled line 64.

  When the printing paper 62 on which the ruled lines 64 are printed in advance is used, printing can be performed without deviation from the ruled lines 64 as long as the printer 14A is used.

  However, when the printer 14A becomes unusable due to some trouble, the printer 14B may be used instead. Alternatively, a printer other than the printer 14A (for example, the printer 14B) may be processed in parallel based on the same print instruction.

  At this time, if the print start positions of the printer 14A and the printer 14B are different, the print information (print data) may not be printed correctly within the frame of the ruled line 64 of the print paper 62.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5B, the printing start position (printing origin PGB) of the printer 14B (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is A4 size (vertical) from the upper left corner of the horizontal X: 5 mm × vertical Y: 5 mm, which is shifted by 2 mm in each of the vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the printer 14A. This shift becomes a factor that the ruled line is not printed correctly.

  Therefore, the driver management control unit 44 cancels out the relative difference between the print start positions of the printer 14A and the printer 14B.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the application program execution unit 40 designates the printer 14P (printer 14B), the printer driver 20B (for the printer 14B) of the printer 14P (printer 14B) is activated in the GDI 42. When the reference printer 14S (printer 14A) is registered in the print attributes transmitted from the application program execution unit 40, the driver management control unit 44 sends the printer driver 20A (for the printer 14A) via the GDI 42. Is instructed to transmit the printing capability based on the print instruction information.

  As a result, the printer driver 20B returns the printing capability based on the printer driver 20A to the GDI 42, and the GDI 42 sends the printing capability of the printer 14A based on the received printer driver 20A in response to an inquiry from the application program execution unit 40.

  The application program execution unit 40 lays out print data based on the print capability of the received printer 14A (reference printer 14S).

  As a result, the application program execution unit 40 should “have the same layout as that of the designated printer 14B as the reference printer 14A”.

  That is, “the layout of the print data does not need to be changed”.

  Next, the application program execution unit 40 transmits a print instruction command including print data to the printer driver 20 </ b> B that executes printing via the GDI 42.

  The driver management control unit 44 calculates the deviation of the print start position among the printing capabilities of the printer 14B and the printer 14A.

  That is, the driver management control unit 44 sets the print start position (print origin PGB) of the printer 14B (this printer 14P) to the print start position (print origin) of the printer 14A (reference printer 14S) based on the calculated deviation of the print start position. Correction information to be matched with (PGA) is calculated and sent to the printer driver 20B. The printer driver 20 </ b> B transmits to the spooler 50 a print command in which the correction information calculated by the driver management control unit 44 is added to the print instruction command including the print data acquired from the application program execution unit 40. Thereafter, the data is sent from the spooler 50 via the port 52 to the printer 14B. Printing is executed in accordance with a printing command taking correction information into account, and the process ends.

  As a result, the application program execution unit 40 “can obtain a print result equivalent to that of the printer 14 </ b> A serving as a reference by the designated printer 14 </ b> B”.

  That is, the driver management control unit 44 causes the printer driver 20B to behave as if it is the printing capability of the printer (printer 14A) designated by the application program execution unit 40 with respect to the GDI 42. The print start position deviation between the printers is corrected without changing the application program 18 executed by the application program execution unit 40.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence diagram showing the printing process of FIG.

  In the following description, the reference printer 14S is referred to as a printer 14A, and the main printer 14P is referred to as a printer 14B.

  In step 200, a printing process is started according to a user instruction.

  In step 202, the application program execution unit 40 designates the printer 14P (printer 14B). This designation is executed while the user views the print instruction screen displayed on the monitor 32, and the printer 14P (printer 14A, 14B) connected to the network 16 is to execute printing. Specifies the printer 14B). The designation of the printer 14P (printer 14B) is notified to the printer driver 20B of the printer 14P (printer 14B) via the GDI 42 (step 203).

  In the next step 204, information for displaying the print attribute setting screen 46 of the printer 14B for transmission to the GDI 42 is transmitted from the printer driver 20B of the printer 14P (printer 14B) to the driver management control unit 44.

  The driver management control unit 44 installs a reference printer designation box 48 in the information for displaying the received print attribute setting screen 46 (step 206).

  At the same time, the driver management control unit 44 acquires a list of printers on the network 16 via the GDI 42, and transmits the GDI 42 (step 207). This is a printer list to be displayed in the registered printer display area 58, and becomes a part of information for displaying the print attribute setting screen 46 of the printer 14B.

  The GDI 42 adds a list of printers on the network 16 to the information for displaying the print attribute setting screen 46 provided with the reference printer designation box 48, and transmits it to the application program execution unit 40 (step 208).

  When the application program execution unit 40 acquires information for displaying the print attribute setting screen 46 of the printer 14P (printer 14B), the application program execution unit 40 displays the print attribute setting screen 46 on the monitor 32 of the PC 12 (step 210).

  The user sets print attributes while viewing the print attribute setting screen 46 displayed on the monitor 32 (step 211). Here, the user may select the reference printer 14 </ b> S (printer 14 </ b> A) as a reference from the printer list displayed in the registered printer display area 58.

  The application program execution unit 40 transmits print attributes including selection information of the reference printer 14S (printer 14A) to the driver management control unit 44 via the GDI 42 (step 212).

  The driver management control unit 44 reads selection information of the reference printer 14S (printer 14A) from the print attributes acquired from the GDI 42 (step 214). In this embodiment, since the printer 14A is selected as the reference printer 14S, the driver management control unit 44 inquires of the printer driver 20A about the printing capability via the GDI 42 (step 216).

  Based on the inquiry from the driver management control unit 44, the printer driver 20A sends the printing capability (for example, information on the paper size, print prohibited area, printable area, etc.) of the printer 14A to the driver management control unit 44 via the GDI 42. Transmit (step 217).

  At this time, the driver management control unit 44 determines whether or not the acquired printing capability of the reference printer 14S (printer 14A) can be handled by the printer 14P (printer 14B) (step 218). Etc. are output and notified to the user.

  In order to determine the printing capability, the printable area and the print prohibited area of each printer 14 are important. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, printing is performed with the print start position of the printer 14B (the main printer 14P) as the print start position (print origin PGA) of the printer 14A (reference printer 14S). Even if it is started, the printable area of the printer 14A is within the printable area of the printer 14B. In other words, since the printable area of the printer 14A does not overlap the print prohibition area of the printer 14B, the printer 14B (reference printer 14S) can cope with the printing capability of the printer 14B (this printer 14P).

  On the other hand, if the printer 14B (this printer 14P) can cope, the driver management control unit 44 returns the acquired printing capability of the printer 14A (reference printer 14S) to the GDI 42. The GDI 42 transmits the acquired printing capability of the printer 14A (reference printer 14S) in response to an inquiry about the printing capability of the application program execution unit 40 (step 220).

  Further, the driver management control unit 44 calculates the deviation of the print start position among the printing capabilities of the printer 14B and the printer 14A (step 221).

  That is, the driver management control unit 44 sets the print start position (print origin PGB) of the printer 14B (this printer 14P) to the print start position (print origin) of the printer 14A (reference printer 14S) based on the calculated deviation of the print start position. Correction information to be matched with (PGA) is calculated and sent to the printer driver 20B (step 222).

  The application program execution unit 40 performs print data layout based on the print capability of the printer 14A (reference printer 14S) received in step 219 (step 224). Next, the application program execution unit 40 transmits a print instruction command including print data to the printer driver 20B that executes printing via the GDI 42 (step 226).

  The printer driver 20B transmits to the spooler 50 a print command in which the correction information calculated by the driver management control unit 44 is added to the print instruction command including the print data acquired from the application program execution unit 40 (step 228). Thereafter, the data is sent from the spooler 50 via the port 52 to the printer 14B. Printing is executed and finished.

  In this embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that there is a difference of 2 mm in length and width between the print start positions of the printer 14A and the printer 14B (see FIG. 5), but means for matching the positional deviations of the print start positions is generalized. Then it becomes as follows.

  As means for matching the print start positions calculated by the driver management control unit 44, there are a method for changing the print start position and a method for shifting the print data itself.

  As shown in FIG. 7, for example, there are a print prohibition area XA in the width direction and a print prohibition area YA in the length direction (print origin (XA, YA)) of the reference printer 14S (see FIG. 7A). It is assumed that the printing prohibited area XB in the width direction and the printing prohibited area YB in the length direction (printing origin (XB, YB)) of the printer 14P (see FIG. 7B).

  As a method of changing the print start position, the print start position of the printer 14P is moved by the difference (XA-XB, YA-YB) of the print origin at this time, thereby matching the print start position of the reference printer 14S. (See FIG. 7C). At this time, the execution conditions are XA ≧ XB and YA ≧ YB.

  On the other hand, as a method of shifting the print data itself, blank data is embedded in the shift position of the print start position, and the print data is shifted to the print start position of the reference printer 14S, thereby matching the print start position of the reference printer 14S. (See regions D1 and D2 in FIG. 7D).

  In the present embodiment, in the print control system, software that implements the driver management control unit 44 is installed later, but the function that implements the driver management control unit 44 in the printer driver 20B from the beginning. May be mounted (see FIG. 8). Accordingly, the driver management control unit 44 can generate and save information for displaying the print attribute setting screen 46 provided with the reference printer designation box 48 in advance.

  Further, in the driver management control unit 44, when the capability of the printer 14P is not compatible with the printing capability of the reference printer 14S, a message such as a warning is notified. However, the printing is temporarily stopped and there is a deviation in the print start position. However, it may be left to the user whether or not to print.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the printing system which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the printing system which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure showing the printing attribute setting screen of the printing system which concerns on this Embodiment. Printable area and print start position of printer A and printer B according to the present embodiment It is a sequence diagram which shows the printing process of the printing system which concerns on this Embodiment. FIG. In the printing system according to the present embodiment, (A) is a diagram showing the printable area and print start position of the reference printer 14S, (B) is a diagram showing the printable area and print start position of the printer 14P, (C ) Is a diagram for printing by changing the print start position, and (D) is a diagram for shifting the print data itself. It is a functional block diagram which shows the modification of the printing system which concerns on this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Printing system 12 PC
13 PC body 14 Printer 14A Printer A
14B Printer B
16 Network 18 Application Program 20 Printer Driver 20A Printer Driver A
20B Printer driver B
22 CPU
24 RAM
26 ROM
28 I / O
30 bus 32 monitor 34 keyboard 36 mouse 37 UI
38 I / F
40 Application program execution unit 42 GDI (print execution control means, print capability information acquisition means, reference printer print capability information return means)
44 Driver management control unit (printing capability information acquisition unit, reference printer printing capability information return unit, correction unit)
46 Print attribute setting screen 48 Reference printer specification box 50 Spooler 52 Port 54 Specification box 56 Pull-down menu screen 58 Registered printer display area 60 Determination display area 62 Printing paper 64 Ruled line

Claims (9)

When print processing based on a predetermined program is executed, print instruction information for specifying at least a printer is received, and based on this print instruction information, a printable area based on at least the paper size from the printer driver of the specified printer, and Print capability information including a print start position is received, print capability information is returned in response to an inquiry about the program being executed, and print attributes and print data based on the program being executed are designated. Print execution control means for transmitting to the printer driver of the printer;
When the reference printer registration information is included in the print instruction information input when the print processing is executed, the designated printer is replaced with the registered reference printer, and the print capability information is obtained from the printer driver of the reference printer. Printing capability information acquisition means to acquire;
When reference printer registration information is included in the print instruction information input when the print process is executed, the print ability information of the reference printer acquired by the print ability information acquisition unit is returned to the program when the print process is executed. A reference printer printing capability information return means for,
In a case where reference printer registration information is included in the print instruction information input at the time of execution of the print processing, the printer in which the received print attribute and print data are specified when the print capability information of the reference printer is returned Correction means for correcting the printing capability of the designated printer to the printing capability of the reference printer for the print attribute,
A printer control device. Determining means for determining whether or not the specified printer capacity is exceeded when correcting the printing capability of the specified printer;
As a result of the determination by the determination means, when it is determined that the capacity is exceeded, a notification means for notifying that the printer designated under the printing capability of the reference printer cannot be printed;
The printer control device according to claim 1, further comprising:   3. The determination means according to claim 2, wherein the determination time is either when correcting the printing capability of the specified printer or when transmitting print attributes and print data to a printer driver of the specified printer. The printer control device described. When the reference printer registration information is included in at least the print instruction information for specifying the printer, which is input when executing the printing process based on the predetermined program, the specified printer is replaced with the registered reference printer. Printing capability information acquisition means for acquiring the printing capability information from a printer driver of the reference printer;
If the print instruction information includes reference printer registration information, the reference printer print capability for returning the print capability information of the reference printer acquired by the print capability information acquisition means to the program at the time of execution of the print processing Information return means,
When the print instruction information includes reference printer registration information, when the print capability information of the reference printer is returned, the print attribute and print data are sent to the designated printer when the print attribute is sent. Correction means for correcting the printing capability of the designated printer to the printing capability of the reference printer,
A printer driver. Determining means for determining whether or not the specified printer capacity is exceeded when correcting the printing capability of the specified printer;
As a result of the determination by the determination means, when it is determined that the capacity is exceeded, a notification means for notifying that the printer designated under the printing capability of the reference printer cannot be printed;
The printer driver according to claim 4, further comprising:   6. The determination means according to claim 5, wherein the determination means is one of a time when the print capability of the designated printer is corrected and a time when print attributes and print data are transmitted to the designated printer. Printer driver. When print processing based on a predetermined program is executed, print instruction information for specifying at least a printer is received, and based on this print instruction information, a printable area based on at least the paper size from the printer driver of the specified printer, and Print capability information including a print start position is received, print capability information is returned in response to an inquiry about the program being executed, and print attributes and print data based on the program being executed are designated. A print execution control process to be transmitted to the printer driver of the printer;
When the reference printer registration information is included in the print instruction information input when the print processing is executed, the designated printer is replaced with the registered reference printer, and the print capability information is obtained from the printer driver of the reference printer. A print capability information acquisition process to be acquired;
When reference printer registration information is included in the print instruction information input when the print process is executed, the print ability information of the reference printer acquired by the print ability information acquisition unit is returned to the program when the print process is executed. Reference printer printing capability information return process,
When the reference printer registration information is included in the print instruction information input when the print process is executed, when the print capability information of the reference printer is returned, the received print attribute and print data are sent to the designated printer. A correction step of correcting the printing capability of the designated printer to the printing capability of the reference printer for the printing attribute when sending,
A printer control program that causes a computer to execute. A determination step of determining whether or not the specified printer capacity is exceeded when correcting the printing capability of the specified printer;
As a result of the determination in the determination step, when it is determined that the capacity is exceeded, a notification step for notifying that the printer designated under the printing capability of the reference printer cannot be printed;
The printer control program according to claim 7, further comprising:   9. The determination step is a timing when the correction time of the specified printer is corrected or when the print attribute and the print data are transmitted to the printer driver of the specified printer. The printer control program described.

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