JP2012076393A - Printer, print controller, print control method and program for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To customize print processing depending on the customer's needs with less effort and at a low cost.SOLUTION: The printer 10 which generates print data by using a format and performs printing of the same comprises an indication information acquisition unit 110 which acquires indication information indicating the location of a format to be used, an indication information storage unit 120 which stores the indication information, an input data acquisition unit 130 which acquires the input data that is input by an input device, a format acquisition unit 140 which acquires a rendered format from the location of format according to the indication information stored in the indication information storage unit 120 when the input data is acquired, a print data generation unit 150 which generates print data by inserting the input data to the format thus acquired, and a printing unit 160 which prints the print data thus generated on a print medium.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that generates print data using a format and performs printing, a print control apparatus, a printer print control method, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing system including a host device and a printer that performs printing based on a print command from the host device is known (for example, Patent Document 1). In this type of printing system, generally, image data and document data created by a host device cannot be printed as they are by a printer, so printing is performed by converting them into print data (printer control code) suitable for the printer. . Such conversion processing to print data is called rendering processing. In a general inkjet printer, processing is executed by a printer driver incorporated in a host device. In general laser printers, the host device once converts it into an intermediate language such as PDL (Page Description Language), and then the printer executes the processing.

  However, such a rendering process has the disadvantage that the processing load is large and the printing process takes time. In particular, in the case of print data having a large data capacity, such as a color image, or when the processing capability of the printer is low, such inconvenience is remarkable. Therefore, frequently used formats (formats such as ruled lines and logos, templates) are stored in the printer in advance, and the format is specified from the host device, reducing the data transfer amount and shortening the print processing time. A method is known (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2005-144994 A JP-A-9-39312

  However, as in Patent Document 2, in order to store the format in the printer in advance, it is necessary to mount a memory having a large storage capacity. For this reason, the number of formats that can be stored is limited, and there are also inconveniences that various print results cannot be obtained. Even when the format is stored in the printer, rendering processing is required for each printing, and therefore the effect of shortening the printing processing time is insufficient.

  In recent years, receipt printers used in stores such as retail stores have not only diversified formats but also customer demands such as inserting various information into the formats. For example, a request to issue a coupon with a customer name or discount amount, a tag (price tag) with a product amount or product name, or a printed matter with the remaining number of coupons It is. However, in order to respond to such a demand, there is a problem that it takes a lot of man-hours and a large cost, such as attaching a host device to the printer separately or developing a specially customized printer.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer, a printing control apparatus, a printing control method for a printer, and a program capable of realizing customization of printing processing according to customer requests at low man-hours and at low cost. And

  The printer of the present invention is a printer that generates print data using a format and performs printing, and stores an instruction information acquisition unit that acquires instruction information indicating the location of a format to be used, and stores the instruction information. An instruction information storage unit, an input data acquisition unit for acquiring input data input by the input device, and, when the input data is acquired, rendering from the location of the format according to the instruction information stored in the instruction information storage unit A format acquisition unit that acquires a processed format, a print data generation unit that generates print data by inserting input data into the acquired format, a printing unit that prints the generated print data on a print medium, It is provided with.

  A printing control method for a printer according to the present invention is a printing control method for a printer that generates and prints print data using a format, and the printer acquires instruction information for instructing the location of the format to be used. , Storing the instruction information in the instruction information storage unit, acquiring the input data input by the input device, and when the input data is acquired, according to the instruction information stored in the instruction information storage unit , A step of acquiring a rendering-processed format from the location of the format to be used, a step of generating print data by inserting input data into the acquired format, and the generated print data on a print medium And a step of printing.

According to these configurations, since the instruction information indicating the location of the format to be used (URL of the Web server, address of the storage device, etc.) is stored in the printer, the format can be appropriately acquired from the outside. It is not necessary to store all formats in the printer. In addition, since various formats can be used by rewriting instruction information stored in the printer, various printing can be performed without requiring a host device such as a personal computer. In addition, since the rendered format is acquired from the location of the format, the processing load required for the rendering process can be reduced. Furthermore, since the print data is generated as the input data is acquired, there is no need for a print instruction means for instructing the start of printing, and the input data is inserted into the format to generate the print data. High prints can be obtained.
The “location of the format to be used” may be inside the printer as well as outside the printer. That is, a predetermined storage area inside the printer may be designated as “location of the format to be used”.
The format that has been subjected to rendering processing refers to a format expressed in a printer-specific print format. In general, print data (printer control code) differs depending on the manufacturer and model, but in the present invention, print data is generated by acquiring a converted (semi-processed) format up to a printer-specific print format. Because of the configuration, the processing load required for the printing process can be greatly reduced.

  In the printer described above, the instruction information is preferably text data.

  According to this configuration, since the instruction information is not an executable file, rewriting can be performed while the printer is in an activated state, and business interruption associated with the rewriting operation is not required. In general, printer software developers need to receive a special development environment from the printer manufacturer to create executable files. However, since the instruction information is text data, a special tool is required. Without needing, it is possible to easily customize the printing process according to customer requirements.

  In the printer described above, it is preferable that the instruction information includes information instructing editing contents of the input data, and the print data generation unit edits the input data according to the instruction information to generate print data.

  According to this configuration, editing contents of input data (format, font change, deletion of corresponding data, etc.) can be customized by rewriting instruction information.

  In the printer described above, when a plurality of input devices are connected, the instruction information includes information indicating the input device to be used, and the input data acquisition unit is stored in the instruction information storage unit It is preferable to obtain input data from the input device indicated by the instruction information.

  According to this configuration, the input device for inputting input data can also be changed according to customer demands.

  In the printer described above, when the input device can input a plurality of types of input data, the instruction information includes information indicating the input data to be acquired from the plurality of types of input data. The data acquisition unit preferably extracts and acquires the input data indicated by the instruction information stored in the instruction information storage unit from the plurality of types of input data that have been input.

  According to this configuration, even when a plurality of types of input data are input from the input device, only necessary data can be extracted from the input device and inserted into the format. Examples of the multiple types of input data include “membership number”, “name”, “number of points”, “expiration date”, etc. read from the membership card when the input device is a membership card reader. As an extraction method, extraction from the XX character to the XX character may be extracted as “name” data.

  In the printer described above, the instruction information includes information for instructing at least one of format combination, format selection method, insertion of predetermined information other than input data, and repetition condition of print data generation processing. The format acquisition unit and the print data generation unit preferably perform format acquisition and print data generation according to the instruction information.

  According to this configuration, by rewriting instruction information, format combination, format selection method, insertion of predetermined information other than input data (sequential number, date / time information, accounting process result information, etc.), repetition conditions for print data generation processing (For example, the format acquisition process and the print data generation process are repeated by the number of input data corresponding to the condition).

  The print control apparatus of the present invention includes an instruction information acquisition unit, an instruction information storage unit, an input data acquisition unit, a format acquisition unit, and a print data generation unit in the printer described above, and is connected to a printer main body including a printing unit. It is characterized by being used.

  According to this configuration, the present invention can be realized by connecting the print control apparatus without changing the printer body. The print control device may be realized by an interface device that can be attached to and detached from the printer main body.

  A program according to the present invention causes a computer to execute each step in the printing control method for a printer described above.

  By executing this program, it is possible to provide a print control method for a printer that can realize customization of print processing according to customer requirements at low man-hours and at low cost.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a functional block diagram of a printer. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating printing processing of a printer. It is a figure which shows an example of instruction information. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the production | generation process of print data. It is explanatory drawing of the information which can be instruct | indicated by instruction information. It is a system block diagram which shows the modification of a printing system. FIG. 8 is a system configuration diagram showing a modified example of the printing system different from FIG. 7.

  Hereinafter, a printer, a print control apparatus, a printer print control method, and a program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, a printer used in an accounting cash register of a retail store is exemplified. The printer according to the present embodiment can issue various printed materials such as coupons by a simple process of inserting input data into a format (template) prepared in advance.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system SY to which a printer of the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, the printing system SY includes a printer 10, a barcode reader 21 and a magnetic card reader 22 connected as peripheral devices of the printer 10, and rewriting instruction information connected to the printer 10 only when necessary. PC 30 and a format server 40 and an XML server 50 connected to the printer 10 via the network NT.

  The instruction information rewriting PC 30 is used by a printer software developer for setting change (rewriting instruction information), and is realized by a personal computer or a dedicated device. Here, the “instruction information” is information indicating the contents of the instruction relating to the print data generation process, and by rewriting the instruction information, the print process can be customized according to the request of the customer (retail store). Yes. Although details will be described later, for example, by rewriting “instruction information”, the format to be used (location of the format), the editing content of the input data, the input device to be used, the input data to be acquired, etc. can be customized. Is possible.

  The format server 40 is a server for providing the printer 10 with various formats. The format server 40 stores a format that has been rendered. Here, the “rendered format” refers to a format expressed in a printing format unique to the printer, that is, a format including a control code corresponding to the manufacturer and model of the printer 10. As described above, by preparing a format that has been subjected to rendering processing, when the printer 10 generates print data, processing required for rendering processing is not required, and thus the time required for printing processing is significantly reduced. it can. Although FIG. 1 illustrates a printing system SY that includes only one format server 40, a configuration including a plurality of format servers 40 may be employed. Further, each format server 40 may be connected to a plurality of printers 10 via the network NT, and a format may be provided to the plurality of printers 10.

  The XML server 50 functions as an input device for inputting input data. The XML server 50 inputs a keyword expressed in an XML (Extensible Markup Language) language which is a kind of markup language. Note that a portable information processing terminal may be employed as an input device for inputting XML language keywords. In addition, input data may be input from the portable information processing terminal by Bluetooth or infrared communication. The XML server 50 may be a portable information processing terminal.

  The printer 10 includes, as main hardware configurations, a first communication unit 11, a second communication unit 12, a CPU 13, a RAM 14, a flash ROM 15, a peripheral device I / F 16, a format DB (Data Base) 17, a printing mechanism 18, and A bus 19 for connecting these components is provided.

  The 1st communication part 11 is a communication means for communicating with PC30 for instruction information rewriting, and functions as a receptacle of a setting tool. The second communication unit 12 is a communication unit for communicating with the various servers 40 and 50 via the network NT such as the Internet or an intranet. The communication units 11 and 12 may employ communication means such as a wireless LAN, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, a parallel interface, Bluetooth, and infrared communication.

  The CPU 13, RAM 14 and flash ROM 15 function as control means. The CPU 13 is a central processing unit, and the RAM 14 is used as a work area. The flash ROM 15 stores control programs and control data in a nonvolatile manner. As the control program, a rewrite program for rewriting (setting) instruction information, a print data generating program for generating print data, a print execution program for performing printing, and the like are stored. Further, the flash ROM 15 has a storage area 15 a for storing instruction information acquired from the instruction information rewriting PC 30.

  The peripheral device I / F 16 is an interface for connecting an input device such as the barcode reader 21 or the magnetic card reader 22, and actually an independent interface is provided for each device. Note that various communication means may be employed as the peripheral device I / F 16 in the same manner as the communication units 11 and 12 described above. Here, the barcode reader 21 is a device for reading a product barcode attached or printed on a product. The magnetic card reader 22 is a device for reading a member-dedicated magnetic card (hereinafter simply referred to as “member card”) presented by a customer at the time of payment. The product barcode and magnetic data read by these input devices are input to the printer 10 as input data for insertion into the format.

  The format DB 17 stores various formats that have been subjected to rendering processing, as with the format server 40 described above. In the present embodiment, the format is acquired from either the format DB 17 or the format server 40 in accordance with the instruction information stored in the storage area 15a.

  The printing mechanism 18 includes a paper feed mechanism, a print head, a paper cutting mechanism, and the like, and performs a printing operation under the control of the CPU 13. In the present embodiment, a long receipt paper is assumed as a printing medium, but a paper cut into a strip shape may be used, and a printing layer, an adhesive layer, and a release layer are laminated. Label paper or the like may be used. Also, the printing method may be any type such as an inkjet method or a laser method (electrophotographic method).

  Next, the functional configuration of the printer 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The printer 10 includes an instruction information acquisition unit 110, an instruction information storage unit 120, an input data acquisition unit 130, a format acquisition unit 140, a print data generation unit 150, and a printing unit 160 as main functional configurations.

  The instruction information acquisition unit 110 acquires instruction information, and the CPU 13 and the first communication unit 11 are main parts. In the present embodiment, text data is acquired as instruction information (see FIG. 3). Thus, a printer software developer that rewrites the instruction information can easily customize the printing process without requiring a special tool.

  The instruction information storage unit 120 stores the instruction information acquired by the instruction information acquisition unit 110 in a nonvolatile manner, and the storage area 15a of the flash ROM 15 is a main part. Note that the instruction information may be stored in a volatile memory. In this case, since the memory is initialized every time the power is turned on, a server for setting instruction information is connected via the network NT, and the instruction information is automatically downloaded from the server when the power is turned on. It is preferable to store the data in a volatile memory. Further, the instruction information storage unit 120 may be realized by an external storage medium that can be attached to and detached from the printer 10 such as a USB memory or an SD card.

  The input data acquisition unit 130 acquires various types of input data, and includes the CPU 13, the second communication unit 12, and the peripheral device I / F 16 as main parts. As described above, in this embodiment, an XML language keyword input from the XML server 50, a product barcode input from the barcode reader 21, and magnetic data input from the magnetic card reader 22 can be acquired as input data. It is. The input data acquisition unit 130 is configured to acquire input data from the input device designated by the instruction information stored in the instruction information storage unit 120. Therefore, when the instruction information indicates the XML server 50 as an input device to be used, input data input from other input devices (barcode reader 21 and magnetic card reader 22) is invalid. In addition, when a plurality of types of input data is input, the input data acquisition unit 130 is configured to extract and acquire only the input data instructed by the instruction information from the plurality of types of input data. . Therefore, when “membership number”, “name”, “number of points”, and “expiration date” are input from the magnetic card reader 22 as information on the member card, information indicated by the instruction information (for example, “name”) Only data).

  The format acquisition unit 140 acquires a format that has been subjected to rendering processing, and includes the CPU 13 and the second communication unit 12 as main parts. As described above, the format acquisition unit 140 acquires a format from either the format DB 17 or the format server 40 according to the instruction information stored in the instruction information storage unit 120. It should be noted that the format may be acquired only from the format DB 17 when executing the printing process. In this case, when the instruction information is set (when the instruction information is recorded in the instruction information storage unit 120), the format indicated by the instruction information is downloaded from the format server 40 and stored in the format DB 17 in advance. . The format acquisition unit 140 may be configured to acquire the format only from the format DB 17 when the input data is acquired.

  The print data generation unit 150 generates print data by inserting the input data acquired by the input data acquisition unit 130 into the format acquired by the format acquisition unit 140. Further, when the instruction information includes contents for instructing editing contents of the input data, the input data is edited and the edited input data is inserted into the format. As described above, since the format acquired by the format acquisition unit 140 is data that has been subjected to rendering processing, the print data generation unit 150 does not perform rendering processing. On the other hand, the printing unit 160 prints the print data generated by the print data generation unit 150 on a receipt sheet and issues a printed matter such as a coupon.

  Next, the printing process of the printer 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The printer 10 (CPU 13) reads the instruction information from the storage area 15a of the flash ROM 15 using a power ON operation or an instruction information read / read command from the instruction information rewriting PC as a trigger (S01). Further, according to the read instruction information, the input device to be used (in this embodiment, one or more devices among the XML server 50, the barcode reader 21, and the magnetic card reader 22) is validated (S02).

  Thereafter, the printer 10 determines whether or not input data has been acquired from the validated input device (S03). If not acquired (S03: No), the determination of S03 is repeated. If acquired (S03: Yes), input data to be acquired (hereinafter referred to as "acquisition target data") is extracted according to the instruction information (S04). Note that if the instruction information does not include information related to the acquisition target data, S04 is omitted. Further, the printer 10 acquires a format to be used (hereinafter referred to as “use target format”) according to the instruction information (S05). Here, the format is acquired from either the format DB 17 or the format server 40 based on the information indicating the location of the format included in the instruction information.

  Further, the printer 10 edits the input data according to the instruction information, inserts the input data into the acquired format, and generates print data (S06). A specific example of S06 will be described later. Thereafter, the generated print data is printed on the receipt paper, and a printed matter such as a coupon is issued by cutting the rear end of the printed area in the width direction of the receipt paper (S07).

Next, a specific example of print data generation processing by the printer 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the instruction information. As shown in the figure, the instruction information is described in a text format, not an execution format. Further, in the example of the figure, the following contents are described as the instruction information.
“Acquire input data from magnetic card reader 22 (information 201). Acquire format A from format server 40 (Web server) (information 202). Insert input data into format A and generate part A (information 203) The format B is acquired from the format server 40 (Web server) (information 204), the date information is inserted into the format B, and part B is generated (information 205). Data (job data) is generated (information 206). Print data is printed (information 207). "

  FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing print data generation processing based on the instruction information shown in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 211 denotes a format A. Reference numeral 212 denotes an insertion result (part A generation result) in which input data (“Taro Yamada”) is inserted into the format A. On the other hand, reference numeral 221 indicates the format B. Reference numeral 222 denotes an insertion result (part B generation result) in which date information (“2010/8/10”) is inserted into the format B. The date information is information obtained from the time measurement result of an RTC (Real Time Clock, not shown) provided in the printer 10. Further, reference numeral 230 indicates a print data generation result obtained by combining part A and part B. Thus, in this embodiment, according to the instruction information described in the text format, the format to be used is acquired, the input data to be acquired is acquired, the input data is inserted into the acquired format, and the like. As a result, it is possible to easily issue a printed matter according to the customer's request simply by rewriting the instruction information.

  In addition, various information can be included as instruction information. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a list of information that can be instructed by the instruction information. For example, “A1. Format to be used” indicates the format ID and the location of the format, and corresponds to the information 202 and the information 204 shown in FIG. “A2. Edited contents of input data” includes input data conversion (decoding of product barcode, conversion from XML language to text data, etc.), format (underlined, enclosed in a square frame, etc.), font Designation (font size, bold, italic, character color designation, etc.), deletion of the corresponding data (acquisition target data when acquiring multiple input data), etc.

  “A3. Input device to be used” refers to an identification code of the input device, an input port to which the input device is connected, and the like, and corresponds to the information 201 shown in FIG. Further, “A4. Input data to be acquired” refers to information for specifying input data to be acquired when a plurality of input data is input from the input device. For example, information on the number of characters to the number of characters of all input data, information with a tag, information registered in a previously prepared table, and the like.

  Further, “A5. Insertion of predetermined information other than input data” refers to insertion of information or date / time information prepared in advance, and corresponds to the information 205 shown in FIG. It should be noted that a serial number (a number or character that is incremented by 1 for each insertion) may be inserted as the predetermined information. Further, “A6. Format binding” indicates the presence / absence of format binding and its binding pattern, and corresponds to the information 206 shown in FIG. Examples of the coupling pattern include upper and lower couplings, left and right couplings, and matrix couplings, and any one of these previously prepared coupling patterns is designated.

  In addition, “A7. Format selection method” refers to a method of automatically selecting a format when the format to be used is not directly designated as in the example shown in A1. Examples of a method for automatically selecting a format include random selection and selection according to order (format ID order, etc.). Further, “A8. Repeat condition for print data generation process” refers to a condition for repeating print data (issuing a plurality of coupons continuously). As an example of repeating the print data generation process, when a plurality of acquisition target data is included in the input data, a coupon is issued for the number of data, and when the acquisition target data satisfies a predetermined standard, a plurality of coupons are issued. , Etc. In these cases, the repetition conditions are “a plurality of acquisition target data has been acquired” and “the acquisition target data satisfy a predetermined standard”. Also, a different format may be acquired for each print data generation. That is, the format acquisition and the print data generation may be repeated a plurality of times according to the acquired input data.

  As described above, the printing system SY according to the present embodiment stores the instruction information for instructing the location of the format to be used in the printer 10, and accordingly obtains the format as appropriate from an external server or the like. To do. Thereby, since it is not always necessary to store all the formats in the printer 10, the storage capacity of the format DB 17 can be reduced. Further, since the editing contents of input data and the combination pattern of the format are changed by rewriting instruction information stored in the printer 10, various printing can be performed without a host device such as a personal computer. In addition, since the rendered format is acquired from the location of the format indicated by the instruction information, the processing load required for the rendering process can be reduced. Furthermore, since the print data is generated with the acquisition of the input data, a print instruction unit for instructing the start of printing is not necessary, and the user's labor can be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is realized by the printer 10 is illustrated (see FIG. 1). However, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the present invention may be realized by a print control device 60 that can be connected to the printer 70. . In this case, the print control device 60 is connected to the printer 70 via the print control device side I / F 68 and the printer side I / F 71. The peripheral devices 21 and 22, the instruction information rewriting PC 30 and the servers 40 and 50 are also connected to the print control device 60. On the other hand, the printer 70 acquires print data via the printer-side I / F 71, and controls the print mechanism 73 by the print control unit 72. In FIG. 7, reference numerals 61 to 67 and 69 function as reference numerals 11 to 17 and 19 in FIG. 1. In this way, by realizing the present invention by the print control device 60, customization of the printing process can be realized at low cost without introducing a new printer 70 or changing the printer 70.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the print control device 60 may be configured as an interface board 80 that can be attached to and detached from the printer main body 90. In this case, the printer 100 is configured by the interface board 80 and the printer main body 90. Reference numerals 81 to 87 and 89 in the interface board 80 function as reference numerals 11 to 17 and 19 in FIG. Further, reference numerals 91 to 93 of the printer main body 90 function as reference numerals 71 to 73 in FIG. Thus, by realizing the present invention with the interface board 80 that can be attached to and detached from the printer main body 90, the installation place of the print control device 60 becomes unnecessary, and space saving can be achieved.

  Further, the functions of the printer 10 (the print control device 60 and the interface board 80) shown in the above embodiment may be mounted on a receipt printer for accounting receipt printing. Generally, a receipt printer obtains print data from a host device (POS (Point Of Sales) terminal) and prints an accounting receipt. Therefore, the receipt printer equipped with the function of the present invention prints a receipt when printing data is acquired from the host device, and issues a coupon or the like based on the instruction information when the input data is acquired from the input device. It becomes the composition.

  Furthermore, a function of transferring the product barcode read by the barcode reader 21 to the host device may be added to the receipt printer. In this case, the host device generates print data for issuing an accounting receipt based on the product barcode transferred from the receipt printer, and returns the print data to the receipt printer. The receipt printer prints an accounting receipt based on the returned print data and issues a coupon using the acquired product barcode as input data. Furthermore, as a modification, the host device may be regarded as an input device, and a coupon may be issued by acquiring information (customer name, membership number, accounting amount, etc.) included in the accounting receipt as acquisition target data.

  Further, each component of the printing system SY (printer 10, print control device 60, interface board 80) described above can be provided as a program. Further, the program can be provided by being stored in various recording media (CD-ROM, flash memory, etc.). That is, a program for causing a computer to function as each component of the printing system SY and a recording medium on which the program is recorded are also included in the scope of rights of the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printing system SY introduced into the retail store is exemplified, but may be used in an environment other than the retail store. Further, as the input device, other information input devices such as an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reading device, a scanner device, and a keyboard device may be used. Other modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printer 11 ... 1st communication part 12 ... 2nd communication part 13 ... CPU 14 ... RAM 15 ... Flash ROM 15a ... Memory area 17 ... Format DB 18 ... Printing mechanism 19 ... Bus 21 ... Bar code reader 22 ... Magnetic card reader DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 40 ... Format server 50 ... XML server 60 ... Print control apparatus 70 ... Printer 72 ... Print control part 73 ... Printing mechanism 80 ... Interface board 90 ... Printer main body 100 ... Printer NT ... Network SY ... Printing system

Claims (9)

A printer that generates print data using a format and performs printing,
An instruction information acquisition unit for acquiring instruction information for instructing the location of the format to be used;
An instruction information storage unit for storing the instruction information;
An input data acquisition unit for acquiring input data input by the input device;
When the input data is acquired, according to the instruction information stored in the instruction information storage unit, from the location of the format to be used, a format acquisition unit that acquires the format that has been subjected to the rendering process;
A print data generation unit that generates print data by inserting the input data into the acquired format;
A printer comprising: a printing unit that prints the generated print data on a print medium.   The printer according to claim 1, wherein the instruction information is text data. The instruction information includes information that instructs editing contents of the input data,
The printer according to claim 1, wherein the print data generation unit edits the input data according to the instruction information to generate the print data. When a plurality of the input devices are connected,
The instruction information includes information indicating the input device to be used,
4. The input data acquisition unit according to claim 1, wherein the input data acquisition unit acquires the input data from the input device instructed by the instruction information stored in the instruction information storage unit. 5. The printer described. When the input device can input a plurality of types of input data,
The instruction information includes information indicating input data to be acquired from the plurality of types of input data,
The input data acquisition unit extracts and acquires the input data instructed by the instruction information stored in the instruction information storage unit from a plurality of types of input data that have been input. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The instruction information includes information for indicating at least one of the combination of the formats, the format selection method, the insertion of predetermined information other than the input data, and the repetition condition of the print data generation process,
The printer according to claim 1, wherein the format acquisition unit and the print data generation unit acquire the format and generate the print data according to the instruction information.   The printer according to claim 1, comprising: the instruction information acquisition unit, the instruction information storage unit, the input data acquisition unit, the format acquisition unit, and the print data generation unit. A printing control apparatus characterized by being connected to a printer main body provided. A print control method for a printer that generates print data using a format and performs printing.
The printer is
Obtaining instruction information for instructing the location of the format to be used, and storing the instruction information in an instruction information storage unit;
Obtaining input data input by an input device;
When the input data is acquired, according to the instruction information stored in the instruction information storage unit, from the location of the format to be used, to acquire the rendered format,
Generating print data by inserting the input data into the acquired format;
And a step of printing the generated print data on a print medium.   A program for causing a computer to execute each step in the printing control method for a printer according to claim 8.

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