JP4259670B2 - Multi-font printing system, printing method, and recording medium on which unified character code-compatible fonts used therein are recorded - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multi-font printing system and printing method for printing with a single font type printing apparatus, and a recording medium on which a unified character code-compatible font used therein is recorded.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, use of high-performance printing apparatuses capable of performing a large amount of printing with a predetermined font format and excellent printing quality and printing speed has become widespread. Such a printing apparatus has a single font format and cannot print based on print data of other font formats. Therefore, it is desired that such a single font format printing apparatus can be printed in other font formats.
[0003]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer that prints in a postscript font format, for example, is known as a single font format printing apparatus. Postscript (hereinafter referred to as PS) is a page description language advocated by Adobe Systems Incorporated, and a font format handled by the PS language is a PS font. Since such PS printers can use only the above-mentioned PS fonts and the character code system is intended to print personal computer data, it is standardized by so-called Shift JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards). Only the coding system.
[0004]
That is, in the PS printer, print data corresponding to the character code system and print data of attribute data are input as a PS file composed of PS format commands. A large amount of high-quality printing using PS fonts is performed by being executed by a CPU (central processing unit) in the printer based on the PS file.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in Japan, the fonts are managed by the mainframe Kanji codes in the computer system independently by each company, and the current situation is that the character code systems are different for each company. In addition, characters other than JIS codes (characters other than JIS Level 1 and JIS Level 2) have been expanded by each company, and the current character code system is also organized by each company. is there. Therefore, print data created by a character code system unique to each company can be used only for a printer having the character code system, and cannot be printed by a high-performance printer such as the PS printer. There's a problem.
[0006]
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a multi-font compatible printing system and printing method capable of printing in a single font format printing apparatus in another font format with expanded characters, and these An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium on which a font corresponding to the unified character code used for the recording is recorded.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention of claim 1 is a multi-font compatible printing system comprising printing means for storing and printing a single font font.
Uniform character management means that creates character forms as needed, manages all necessary character forms, and the unified character codes assigned to each of the character forms, and is used in other font formats other than the single font format A table storing means for storing a table in which a code system of individual character codes attached to a font and a code system of the unified character code associated with each other is stored as a code conversion table for each of the other font formats; Refer to the code conversion table of one of the tables, extract the corresponding character shape managed by the unified character management means by the unified character code corresponding to each individual character code, and extract the unified character of the extracted character shape A code conversion means for converting the codes into the individual character codes, and for each of the code conversion tables; The extracted character form to which each individual character code in each conversion table is attached is converted into a font of the single font form to create an individual code-corresponding font, and the print is assumed to correspond to each code conversion table. A fontizing means to be stored in the means and a condition setting means for setting attribute conditions in printing, and based on the input print data in the other font format, the individualized fontified into a single font format stored in the printing means A print data file corresponding to the single font format is created using a code-corresponding font, and printing is performed by selecting the individual code-corresponding font specified from the created print data file in the printing means. And a file creation means .
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the multi-font compatible printing system according to the first aspect, the single font font is a font corresponding to a page description language.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing method in which a font in a single font format is stored in a printing means and printing is performed, and a glyph is created as necessary, and all necessary glyphs, and each of the glyphs A unified character code and a unified character management means, and a code system of individual character codes attached to a font used in a font format other than the single font format and the unified character code A predetermined number of tables associated with the code system are stored in the table storage means as code conversion tables for each of the other font formats, and each individual character code is referred to with reference to one code conversion table. The corresponding character form managed by the unified character management means is extracted by the corresponding unified character code, and the extracted unified character code of the character form is Converting into code for each code conversion table and creating an individual code-corresponding font by converting the extracted character form with each individual character code in each code conversion table into the single font format And a step of storing these in the printing means as corresponding to each code conversion table.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing method according to the third aspect , the single font font is a font corresponding to a page description language.
[0013]
In the invention of claim 5, a claim 3 or 4 printing method described-out based on the print data by the other font format that is input, by setting the attribute conditions in the printing of the single font format corresponding A print data file is created, and the printing means selects and prints the individual code-corresponding font specified from the created print data file.
[0015]
The invention of claim 6 is a recording medium used in the multi-font compatible printing system according to claim 1 or 2 and the printing method according to claims 3 to 5 , and a character shape is created as necessary. All the character shapes and the unified character code assigned to each of the character shapes are recorded at least.
[0016]
The character form of the individual character code system is extracted as a character form specified by the unified character code system from the table in which the individual character code system and the unified character code system of other font formats are associated, and the unified character code of the extracted character form is applicable individually. Font converted to character code and fontized into a single font format, stored in the printing means for each other font format for each font format, and converted to the stored single font format based on the print data in the other font format by Rukoto is printed using, even print data of other font formats becomes possible multi font corresponding printed by the printing means with a single font format. In addition, when using the individual character code system, it is possible to manage the character shape centrally by assigning a unified character code to all necessary character shapes corresponding to a plurality of other font formats.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration diagram of a font creation system in a multi-font printing system of the present invention. A font creation system 11 shown in FIG. 1 is an example applied to the above-described PS printer. A font shape creation means 12 and a character management DB (database) 13 constituting a unified character management means, and a table storage means. A code conversion table storage means 14, a code assignment means 15, a PS font conversion means 16 as a font conversion means, and a print means 17 having a PS font storage section 17A.
[0018]
The character shape creating means 12 creates a character shape in, for example, an outline format or a bitmap format. For example, when the character shape (character) specified by the existing JIS code system is used as it is, each of the other companies (Company A, Company B, Company C,...) That has been used in the mainframe is expanded. Create a glyph. Then, a unified character code is assigned to each of the created character shape and the character shape specified by the used JIS code system. These are stored in the character management DB 13. (This will be explained with reference to FIG. 2). Note that the character shape creating means 12 may separately create a character shape specified by the JIS code system.
[0019]
That is, the unified character code and all character data to which it is attached are stored (recorded) in the character management DB 13 defined as one of the recording media, but other storage devices, hard disks, disks, etc. You may make it record on a recording medium. As a result, the character shapes can be managed centrally and can be transported, and can also be applied to existing printing means compatible with a single font format.
[0020]
The code conversion table storage means 14 is one code conversion table (for example, A company code conversion table, A company code conversion table, etc.) associated with the individual character code system of each company main frame and the unified character code system stored in the character management DB 13. (Described in FIG. 2) is stored for each company. Further, the code assigning means 15 identifies the unified character code corresponding to the individual character code from the one code conversion table, extracts the corresponding character shape from the character management DB 13, and converts the unified character code of each character shape to the individual character code. These are converted into corresponding character codes of the code system, and these are performed for each company code conversion table (described in FIG. 3).
[0021]
The PS font converting means 16 formats the extracted character shape for each individual character code for each company code conversion table into the above PS font format (font conversion), and generates PS fonts 16A, 16B, 16C,. These are created and stored in the PS font storage unit 17A of the printing means 17 as those corresponding to each company code conversion table (described in FIG. 3).
[0022]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the character management DB and code conversion table storage means of FIG. FIG. 2A is a conceptual diagram of the contents of the character management DB 13 in which the character shape created by the character shape creation means 12 and the unified character code assigned to the character shape specified by the JIS code system used are stored. It consists of a character shape (not shown) such as a symbol, and a unified character code assigned to them. Although the above-mentioned character shape is not illustrated, it is a character, symbol, or the like that can be used or can be used, and is stored as, for example, so-called outline data.
[0023]
The unified character code is a code assigned to all the above-mentioned character shapes by, for example, 2 bytes. For the characters corresponding to the JIS code system, each company (A company, B company, C company,. .., N company) is provided with a unified code in addition to the extended characters independently created in addition to the above JIS code compatible characters. Therefore, at least the existing mainframe Kanji code system character shapes and the unified character codes assigned to the character shapes are stored in the character management DB (or recording medium) 13. Of course, the stored character shapes may include those that will be used in the future.
[0024]
In this way, by assigning a unified character code to a JIS code compatible character and a corresponding character unique to each company, the character shape of each character and its character code system can be managed in an integrated manner.
[0025]
FIG. 2B shows a conceptual diagram of the code conversion table storage means 14, and a code conversion table in which each company's individual character code system and the unified character code system are associated is stored for each company. It is a thing. In this case, it goes without saying that the contents of the code conversion table can be changed and the code conversion table can be increased or decreased as necessary.
[0026]
Next, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the code applying unit and the printing unit of FIG. FIG. 3A shows a basic configuration diagram of the code assigning means 15. The code conversion table fetching unit 21 fetches the conversion table designated from the code conversion table storage means 14 and the character form from the character management DB 13. A unified font data fetching unit 22 is provided. In addition, a character extraction unit 23 that extracts a character form from data from the unified font data acquisition unit 22 with reference to the code conversion table acquired by the code conversion table acquisition unit 21 is provided. The character conversion unit 24 includes a code conversion unit 24 that converts the unified character code of the character shape into individual character codes from the code conversion table fetch unit 21. Then, each of the character shapes to which the individual character codes are assigned is created as a file, and is provided with a font file creation means 25 for temporarily storing the file.
[0027]
FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of the printing means 17, and PS fonts 16A, 16B, 16C,. 16N is stored in the PS font storage means 17A as PS fonts 17A-1, 17A-2, 17A-3,.
[0028]
FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for explaining the font creation of FIG. In FIG. 4, first, as an existing JIS code system character shape (outline format character shape) is used, the character shape creation means 12 creates a character shape of an extended character used in each company mainframe as described above, for example, in an outline format, Each character is assigned a unified character code and stored in the character management DB (FIG. 2A, step (S) 1). The code assigning means 15 takes in the predetermined code conversion table from the code conversion table 14, extracts the corresponding character from the character management DB 13, and assigns the predetermined character code (S2).
[0029]
That is, as shown in FIG. 3 (A), the code conversion table fetching unit 21 fetches the corresponding code conversion table from the code conversion table storage unit 14, for example, the company A code conversion table. On the other hand, the unified font data fetching unit 22 fetches the character shape to which the unified character code stored from the character management DB 13 is assigned. Then, the character extraction unit 23 obtains a unified character code for each of the individual character code systems corresponding to each character form of Company A with reference to the Company A code conversion table, and unifies the character form corresponding to the unified character code. Extracted from the font data fetching unit 22 and sent to the code converting unit 24.
[0030]
On the other hand, the corresponding A company individual character code is sent from the code conversion table fetch unit 21 to the code conversion unit 24. In the code conversion unit 24, the unified character code of the character shape extracted by the character extraction unit 23 is converted into an individual character code from the code conversion table fetching unit 21 and sent to the font file creation means 25. By performing these operations for all the individual character codes attached to the A company code conversion table, the font file creating means 25 creates a font file of the A company individual character code system, and this file is converted into the PS font converting means 16. Is sent out. Thereafter, the code conversion table corresponding to Company B, Company C... Company N is processed in the same manner, and all the font files are sent to the PS font converting means 16 (S3).
[0031]
The font converting means 16 converts the font file of company A sent from the code assigning means 15 into a font format corresponding to the PS font and creates a PS font 16A corresponding to the company A code (S4). Corresponding PS fonts 16B, 16C... 16N corresponding to the code conversion tables for other companies are created by the same processing, and these are sent to the printing means 17 (S5).
[0032]
In the printing means 17, as shown in FIG. 3B, the corresponding PS fonts corresponding to each company sent are sent to the PS font storage means 17A and PS fonts 17A-1, 17A-2, 17A-3 corresponding to the respective company codes. ... is stored as 17A-N (S6, S7). FIG. 4 shows a case where font files are created for all code conversion tables, converted to PS fonts, and stored in the printing unit 17. However, the font files are created and printed for each company (for each code conversion table). 17 may be stored. In this case, in FIG. 4, the flow is S1, S2, S4, and S6 for each company (each code conversion table).
[0033]
Next, FIG. 5 shows a basic configuration diagram of an embodiment of a printing system in the multi-font printing system of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the printing system 31 is roughly composed of a PS file creation means 33 having a condition setting means 33A and a printing means 17, and the printing means 17 corresponds to the PS font storage means 17A as described above. Code PS fonts 17A-1, 17A-2, 17A-3,... 17A-N are stored. The PS file creation means 33 may be provided in the printing means 17.
[0034]
Then, the print data file 32 is input to the PS file creation 33, and attribute conditions such as layout, character size, and typeface are set by the condition setting means 33A, and the PS file is created. Is performed (described in FIG. 6). In this case, the print data file 32 includes at least data of a predetermined destination (Company X) and individual character code print data.
[0035]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining printing according to FIG. In FIG. 6, for example, a print data file 32 of company A is taken into the PS file creation means 33 (S11). The PS file creation unit 33 identifies which font format the captured print data file 32 is in, and attaches an identification mark of the identified font format name (Company A) to the print data. A PS file is created by setting the above conditions by the setting means 33A and sent to the printing means 17 (S12). That is, the created PS file for company A is created in a command format in the page description language for the PS font including the font name based on the print data file and sent to the printing means 17.
[0036]
The printing means 17 fetches the sent PS file for company A, and selects the PS font 17A-1 corresponding to the company A code from the PS font storage unit 17A based on the font name included in the PS file (S13). The content of the print data file is printed using the PS font 17A-1 corresponding to the A company code (S14). Note that print data files other than company A are also printed by performing the same processing.
[0037]
In this way, PS fonts corresponding to each company are stored in the PS font storage unit 17A of the printing means 17, so even print data (individual character code system) created other than PS fonts can be operated at high speed and with high functionality. It can be printed with any PS printer. By the way, a conventional PS font may be stored in the PS font storage unit 17A of the printing unit 17, or a print using PS font print data may be made possible.
[0038]
In the above embodiment, the case where the character form stored in the character management DB 13 is the outline form is shown, but a bitmap form or the like may be used, and in any case, the data form corresponds to the final single font form. Convert it. In the above embodiment, the single font format has been described as the PS font format. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that font formats in other page description languages can also be applied.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first and third aspects of the invention, the character form of the individual character code system is specified by the unified character code system from the table in which the individual character code system of the other font format and the unified character code system are associated with each other. Is extracted as a character form, the unified character code of the extracted character form is converted into the corresponding individual character code, and the font is converted into a single font form, stored in the printing means for each other font form, and printed in another font form the Rukoto was printed using a font of fonts to the stored single font format based on the data, even a single font format corresponding printing means can handle multi-font format, other font formats It is possible to print with an individual character code system.
[0040]
According to the second and fourth aspects of the present invention, the font of the single font format is made to correspond to the font of the page description language, so that even the print data of other font formats can be applied to high-speed and high-functional printing means. can do.
[0041]
According to the invention of claim 5,-out based on the print data by the other font format, to create a single font format corresponding print data file by setting an attribute condition in printing, individual code corresponding font specified in this By selecting and printing, it is possible to print with an individual character code system of another font format even with a printing means corresponding to a single font format as described above.
[0042]
According to the invention of claim 6 , by assigning a unified character code to all necessary character shapes corresponding to a plurality of other font formats, the character shapes can be managed in a unified manner and can be transported. It can be applied to existing printing means compatible with a single font format.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of an embodiment of a font creation system in a multi-font compatible printing system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a character management DB and a code conversion table storage unit in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a code providing unit and a printing unit in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining font creation in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a basic configuration diagram of an embodiment of a printing system in a multi-font compatible printing system of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart for explaining printing according to FIG. 5. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Font creation system 12 Character form creation means 13 Character management database 14 Code conversion table storage means 15 Code provision means 16 PS font conversion means 17 Printing means 17A PS font storage part 21 Code conversion table taking part 22 Unified font data taking part 23 Character extraction unit 24 Code conversion unit 25 Font file creation means 31 Printing system 32 Print data file 33 PS file creation means

Claims (6)

A multi-font compatible printing system comprising printing means for storing and printing a font in a single font format,
Uniform character management means for creating glyphs as necessary and managing all necessary glyphs and the unified character codes assigned to each of the glyphs,
A table in which a code system of individual character codes attached to a font used in a font format other than the single font format and a code system of the unified character code are associated with each other font format. Table storage means for storing a predetermined number of code conversion tables;
Refer to the code conversion table of one of the tables, extract the corresponding character shape managed by the unified character management means by the unified character code corresponding to each individual character code, and extract the unified character of the extracted character shape A code for converting the code into the individual character code, and a code providing unit that performs the code for each code conversion table;
The extracted character form to which each individual character code in each code conversion table is attached is converted into a font for the single font format to create individual code-corresponding fonts, and these are associated with each code conversion table. Fontification means stored in the printing means;
Condition setting means for setting attribute conditions in printing is used, and based on the input print data in the other font format, the single code-corresponding font fontified into a single font format stored in the printing means is used for the single Creating a print data file corresponding to the font format, a file creation means for causing the printing means to select the individual code-corresponding font specified from the created print data file and to perform printing;
A multi-font compatible printing system. 2. The multi-font printing system according to claim 1, wherein the single font font is a font corresponding to a page description language. A printing method in which a font in a single font format is stored in a printing means to perform printing,
Creating glyphs as needed, assigning all necessary glyphs and a unified character code to each of the glyphs, and managing them with a unified character management means ;
A table in which a code system of individual character codes attached to a font used in a font format other than the single font format and a code system of the unified character code are associated with each other font format. A predetermined number is stored in the table storage means as a code conversion table, and the corresponding one managed by the unified character management means by referring to one code conversion table by the corresponding unified character code for each individual character code Extracting a character form and converting the unified character code of the extracted character form into the individual character code for each code conversion table;
Creating an individual code-corresponding font by converting the extracted character form to which each individual character code in each code conversion table is attached into the single font format;
Storing these in the printing means as corresponding to each code conversion table;
A printing method comprising: 4. The printing method according to claim 3 , wherein the font in the single font format is a font corresponding to a page description language. The printing method according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein
Said other fonts based-out the print data in the form, by setting the attribute condition in the printing to create the single font format corresponding print data file to be inputted,
The printing method, wherein the printing unit selects and prints the individual code-corresponding font specified from the created print data file. A recording medium for use in the printing system according to claim 1 or 2 and the printing method according to claims 3 to 5 ,
A recording medium characterized in that a character shape is created as necessary, and all necessary character shapes and a unified character code assigned to each of the character shapes are recorded.

Images