Information processing device, method, and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing device that increase the convenience of a user in expanding functions of a printer driver.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes: acquisition means that obtains print function information that allows a user to specify a function of a printer; first edit means that edits the print function information obtained by the acquisition means; and generation means that generates print setting information for executing the function specified by the user, based on the print function information which is edited by the first edit means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, method, and program. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a known configuration in which a printer driver installed on a host computer is used as control software for the printing device to issue print instructions to a printing device connected to the host computer. An operating system (OS), which is the basic software, is installed on the host computer, and the printer driver is configured according to the specifications defined by the OS and runs when called by the OS. By providing a printer driver that conforms to the OS specifications, a vendor that provides a printing device can provide a configuration in which the OS is used to instruct the printing device to print.

[0003] In recent years, Windows (registered trademark) has provided standard class drivers (hereinafter also referred to as "standard drivers") that can be commonly used by printing devices provided by multiple vendors. Such standard drivers are included in the OS package and can be easily used by connecting any printing device to the host computer. This makes it unnecessary to separately install a model-specific printer driver suitable for the printing device, which is highly convenient. In addition, the standard driver is configured to be able to specify printing functions based on PrintDeviceCapabilities (hereinafter "PDC") generated based on information obtained from the connected printing device. This allows a user who uses the standard driver to specify printing functions according to the capabilities of the connected printing device, even though the user is using one standard driver.

[0004] A standard driver can be associated with an application for function extension (hereinafter also referred to as an "extension application"). The extension application can be provided by a vendor that supplies a printing device. The extension application can provide functions (extension functions) that cannot be realized by the standard driver alone by editing the PDC generated by the standard driver. Patent Document 1 describes a technology in which an extension application compares paper information acquired from a printer with paper information at the time of print settings to determine whether the paper is suitable. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-100565 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] There is a demand for improved user convenience in terms of functions for expanding the functions of printer drivers.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, method, and program that improves user convenience when expanding the functions of a printer driver. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the information processing device of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises an acquisition means for acquiring printing function information to enable a user to specify functions of a printing device, a first editing means for editing the printing function information acquired by the acquisition means, and a generation means for generating printing setting information for executing the functions specified by the user based on the printing function information edited by the first editing means. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve user convenience when expanding the functions of a printer driver. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the printing system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the printing system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a format of data handled in the printing system. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing a process performed by a print function expansion unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a PDC. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a PDC. [Figure 7] 13 is a diagram showing roll paper width information provided in the extension application. FIG. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart showing a process performed by a print setting screen expansion unit. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display by a print setting screen expansion unit. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display by a print setting screen expansion unit. [Figure 11] 13 is a flowchart showing a process performed by a print setting screen expansion unit. [Figure 12] 13 is a flowchart showing a process performed by a print setting screen expansion unit. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display by a print setting screen expansion unit. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display by a print setting screen expansion unit. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart showing a process performed by a print data editing unit. [Figure 16] 10 is a flowchart showing a process performed by a print data editing unit. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display by a print data editing unit. [Figure 18] 10 is a flowchart showing a process performed by a print data editing unit. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display by a print data editing unit. [Figure 20] 13 is a flowchart showing a process performed by a skip control unit. [Figure 21] 13 is a flowchart showing a process performed by a print setting screen expansion unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0012] [First embodiment] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a printing system. In Fig. 1, a host computer 101 is an example of an information processing device, and includes an input interface 110, a CPU 111, a ROM 112, a RAM 113, an external storage device 114, an output interface 115, and an input / output interface 116. Input devices such as a keyboard 118 and a pointing device 117 are connected to the input interface 110, and a display device such as a display unit 119 is connected to the output interface 115. A NETIF 120 is a network interface, and performs control for transferring data between the host computer 101 and an external device via a network.

[0013] An initialization program is stored in the ROM 112. Application programs, an operating system (OS), print data generation software, and various other data are stored in the external storage device 114. The RAM 113 is used as a work memory or the like when the various programs stored in the external storage device 114 are executed, and the various programs can run within the host computer 101.

[0014] In this embodiment, the CPU 111 executes the processes according to the procedures of the program stored in the ROM 112, thereby executing the functions of the host computer 101 described below and the processes related to the flowcharts described below. The printing device 102, which is a device, is connected to the host computer 101 via the input / output interface 116. Here, the host computer 101 and the printing device 102 are configured separately, but they may be configured as one information processing device. The printing device will be described as an inkjet printer that prints by ejecting ink onto a paper surface, but printing may be performed by other methods (for example, electrophotographic method). The host computer 101 may be a desktop personal computer, a smartphone, or a notebook computer. When the host computer 101 and the printing device 102 are connected via a network, the network may be a wired network, a wireless network, or a network including both. The network may also include a device other than the host computer 101 and the printing device 102, such as a router that operates as an access point.

[0015] 2(a) and 2(b) are diagrams showing a schematic configuration of a software-centered printing system. Here, the printing system will be described on the premise that a host computer 101 is equipped with Microsoft Windows 10 as the OS. FIG. 2(a) is a diagram showing a general configuration in the case where an extension application 204 is not associated with print data generation software 202 and the printing device 102.

[0016] The drawing application 201 is software that creates content (drawing data) to be printed. For example, this corresponds to a word processing application or a spreadsheet application. When the drawing application 201 receives a print request from a user, it issues a print instruction to the OS. The print instruction includes print setting information for instructing the operation of the print data generation software 202 and the printing device 102. The print setting information is also called a PrintTicket (hereinafter, "PT").

[0017] In order to output print setting information, the drawing application 201 can display a print setting screen provided by the print data generation software 202, the OS, or the drawing application 201. The print setting screen includes setting items (hereinafter also referred to as "control items") indicating print functions that can be set and control items indicating their setting values ​​according to capability information (information that can be set as print settings) acquired from the print data generation software 202. The capability information is also called PrintCapabilities (hereinafter "PC"). The print data generation software 202 determines the PC based on the print function information 203. The print function information 203 is data indicating all print functions that can be set, their setting values, and the exclusive relationship between the setting values. The print function information 203 is also called PDC (Print Device Capabilities). The print function information 203 is included in a configuration file of the print data generation software 202 and is arranged in the external storage device 114 as an unchangeable file. Alternatively, the print data generation software 202 can dynamically generate the print function information 203. Specifically, the print data generation software 202 or the OS can be configured to acquire printing device attribute data from the printing device 102, and generate printing capability information 203 according to the attribute information in the acquired attribute data. When the printing capability information 203 is dynamically generated, the generated printing capability information 203 can be edited. The printing device attribute data acquired from the printing device 102 is a response acquired by issuing a Get-Printer-Attributes operation of IPP (Internet Print Protocol) to the printing device 102. The response includes attribute information indicating functions (printing device capabilities) that can be specified by the printing device 102, and setting values ​​related to that attribute information. This response is saved in the RAM 113.

[0018] By configuring in this way, the print data generation software 202 can be configured so that the user can specify the print functions available in each printing device 102 according to the connected printing device 102. That is, even if printing devices with different functions or printing devices developed by different vendors are connected, the print data generation software 202 can be configured so that the user can specify the print functions available in accordance with the connected printing device. Note that here, as an example of the print data generation software 202, a configuration using an IPP Class Driver installed in Windows (registered trademark) 10 will be described. The IPP Class Driver is a printer driver that executes print processing according to the specifications of a standard printing protocol called IPP (Internet Print Protocol), and is included in the OS package. The IPP Class Driver is not a specific printer driver according to the model of the printing device 102, but a standard class driver that can be commonly used by multiple printing devices. In addition, the IPP Class Driver acquires capability information of the connected printing device 102 so that the user can specify the print functions supported by the connected printing device 102, and generates print function information 203 based on the information.

[0019] The OS generates intermediate data (also called input data) based on the print instruction output from the drawing application 201, and passes it to the print data generation software 202. The data output by the drawing application 201 for printing is data in Graphic Device Interface format (GDI format data) or data in XML Paper Specification format (XPS format data). Assume that an IPP Class Driver is used as the print data generation software 202. In this case, if the data output by the drawing application 201 is data in GDI format, the OS converts the data in GDI format output from the drawing application 201 into data in XPS format. Then, passes the converted data in XPS format to the print data generation software 202 as intermediate data. If the data output by the drawing application 201 is data in XPS format, the OS passes the data in XPS format to the print data generation software 202 as intermediate data. The intermediate data includes drawing data, which is information on a picture to be formed on a paper surface, which is a recording medium, and print setting information set by a user. In this embodiment, a printing paper is taken as an example of a recording medium for explanation.

[0020] The print data generation software 202 converts the acquired intermediate data into print data that can be interpreted by the printing device 102, and transmits it to the printing device 102. The print data includes drawing data, which is information about a picture to be formed on paper, and print setting attribute information (attribute information that specifies print settings) generated based on print setting information set by the user. The print setting attribute information includes attribute information that indicates functions that can be specified by the printing device 102 (capabilities of the printing device) and setting values ​​related to that attribute information.

[0021] The printing device 102 prints on paper based on the print data sent from the print data generation software 202. At this time, the printing device 102 forms the drawing data included in the print data on paper in accordance with the print setting attribute information included in the print data. The print setting attribute information includes attribute information and its setting value for specifying print quality (priority on image quality, priority on speed, etc.) and double-sided printing. For example, if the print setting attribute information includes attribute information specifying double-sided printing, the printing device 102 executes double-sided printing.

[0022] 2B is a diagram showing a configuration when the extension application 204 is associated with the print data generation software 202 and the printing device 102. Note that configurations and processes not specifically mentioned below are the same as those in FIG. 2A.

[0023] The extension application 204 is software for extending the functions of the print data generation software 202, and is software that is not included (bundled) in advance in the OS. Therefore, the user operates the host computer 101 to download the extension application 204 from a server via the Internet and install it. Alternatively, the extension application 204 may be automatically installed based on the connection of the printing device 102 to the host computer 101. Specifically, when the printing device 102 is connected to the host computer 101, the OS acquires device identification information from the printing device 102. The OS may download the extension application 204 corresponding to the acquired device identification information from a server via the Internet and install it. In other words, the print data generation software 202 and the extension application 204 are held in the host computer 101 as separate files.

[0024] Note that the print data generation software 202 and the extension application 204 may be updated and upgraded, but these update processes are also performed at different times. That is, the timing at which the host computer 101 acquires the print data generation software 202 is different from the timing at which the extension application 204 is acquired. In addition, the trigger at which the host computer 101 acquires the print data generation software 202 is different from the trigger at which the extension application 204 is acquired. Note that when the extension application 204 is installed, the OS associates the extension application 204 with the print data generation software 202 and the printing device 102.

[0025] The extension application 204 in this embodiment includes a print setting screen extension unit 205, a skip control unit 206, a print function extension unit 207, a print data editing unit 208, and a notification unit 209. The extension application 204 also includes shared information 210 that can be commonly accessed by each unit. The shared information 210 is, for example, a file saved in the external storage device 114, or information stored in the RAM 113. The extension application 204 writes and reads information to the shared information 210 by using an API (Application Program Interface) provided by the OS. The extension application 204 also includes roll paper width information 211. The roll paper width information 211 is information on the roll paper widths of all printers that the extension application 204 supports. The extension application 204 also holds a printer printable length 212. The printer printable length 212 is the length in the transport direction of the roll paper. In this embodiment, the length is 18,000 mm as an example. In addition, if the printing function information 203 obtained from the printing device 102 contains information indicating the printable length, the extended application 204 can use the information contained in the printing function information 203 as is without using the printable length 212.

[0026] 7 is a diagram showing an example of roll paper width information 211 provided in the extension application 204. The extension application 204 in this embodiment holds information on multiple roll paper widths up to a maximum of 60in roll (60 inch wide roll paper). Other roll paper width information such as 54in roll (54 inch wide roll paper) is held. The roll paper width name 701 is used on the print setting screen displayed by the extension application 204. The name 702 is the name of the roll paper width used in the PDC or PC. In this embodiment, the roll paper width is shown in units of 1 / 1000 mm.

[0027] Although the details will be described later, when the extension application 204 operates in association with the printing device 102, it can determine the roll paper width that the printing device 102 supports from the print function information 203 and roll paper width information 211 acquired from the printing device 102. Note that when the extension application 204 operates in association with the printing device 102, the print function information 203 acquired from the printing device 102 may already contain information on the roll paper width. In that case, it is possible to use the information contained in the print function information 203 as is without using the roll paper width information 211. Note that the extension application 204 may end its operation each time the processing of each unit ends. In that case, the OS will start the extension application 204 each time a request to use each unit is received. Alternatively, another form may be used. For example, when the processing of the print setting screen extension unit 205 ends, the OS ends the operation of the extension application 204, but even if the processing of the skip control unit 206 ends, the OS may leave the extension application 204 running. Furthermore, the extension application 204 may cancel processing during the processing of each unit. If you cancel, the job being processed in the print queue will be deleted by the OS.

[0028] When the drawing application 201 receives a print request from a user, it issues a print instruction to the OS. In this configuration, as in the configuration of FIG. 2(a), the drawing application 204 can display a print setting screen. In this configuration, the print setting screen provided by the extension application 204 is displayed. Specifically, the print setting screen provided by the print setting screen extension unit 205 included in the extension application 204 is displayed. Note that whether or not the print setting screen provided by the print setting screen extension unit 205 is displayed may depend on the user's operation.

[0029] Also, when the drawing application 201 accepts a print request from a user and issues a print instruction to the OS, the OS starts the skip control unit 206. The skip control unit 206 controls whether or not to skip the processing of the print data generation software 202. The skip control unit 206 does not acquire intermediate data or print setting information. After the skip control processing of the skip control unit 206, the OS generates intermediate data based on the print instruction output from the drawing application 201, and the intermediate data is passed to the print data generation software 202. Here, if the skip control is not performed by the skip control unit 206, the intermediate data is processed by the print data generation software 202 into print data that can be interpreted by the printing device 102, and passed to the print data editing unit 208. On the other hand, if the print data generation software 202 is skipped, the intermediate data is passed to the print data editing unit 208 without being processed by the print data generation software 202. This makes it possible to process the intermediate data in the print data editing unit 208. An example of a case where the print data generation software 202 is skipped is when the print data editing unit 208 is to perform the enlargement / reduction process. The intermediate data can hold data as vector data, and there is little degradation during enlargement / reduction. Therefore, in a form in which the print data generation software 202 outputs an image as raster data, the process of the print data generation software 202 may be skipped and the intermediate data may be processed by the print data editing unit 208. The print data editing unit 208 edits the intermediate data passed from the print data generation software 202 or the print data processed by the print data generation software 202. Taking "enlargement to roll paper width" as an example of the editing content, the print data editing unit 208 changes the enlargement / reduction based on the print setting information of "enlargement to roll paper width" received from the OS and the information on the width of the roll paper actually being fed obtained from the printing device 102. The print data editing unit 208 is also capable of displaying a UI screen on the display unit 119, and can display the layout result of the intermediate data or the print data as a preview screen.After the print data editing unit 208 edits the print data, the print data is passed to the printing device 102 via the OS. The printing device 102 prints on paper based on the accepted print data. Note that if the print data generation software 202 is skipped by the skip control unit 206, the print data editing unit 208 may convert the received intermediate data into print data that can be interpreted by the printing device 102.

[0030] The extension application 204 also has a print function extension unit 207. The print function extension unit 207 can edit the print function information 203 (PDC) generated by the print data generation software 202 or the OS. This allows the print function extension unit 207 to add functions provided by the extension application 204, add functions supported by the printing device 102 but not supported by the print data generation software 202, and the like. The print function extension unit 207 can also add exclusive relationships between setting values ​​of print functions, and the like. The OS starts the print function extension unit 207 when the extension application 204 is first associated with the printing device 102 and the print data generation software 202. Furthermore, the OS may start the print function extension unit 207 at other times, for example, when the OS is started. In this way, in a case where an optional device is added to the printing device 102 later and functions related to printing are extended, the print function extension unit 207 can detect the extended function and add it to the print function information 203. The optional devices include, for example, a two-stage roll unit and a finisher.

[0031] The extension application 204 also has a notification unit 209. The notification unit 209 can display a notification to the user in response to an error occurring in the printing device 102. For example, when an out-of-paper error occurs in the printing device 102, the print data software 202 detects it, and the OS uses a notification function of the OS called a toast notification to display a message on the display unit 119. When the user presses this toast notification, the notification unit 209 of the extension application 204 is called by the OS, and the UI screen of the notification unit 209 is displayed. The UI screen of the notification unit 209 can display, for example, a detailed message of the out-of-paper error, a method for loading paper, and the like.

[0032] The configuration of the extended application 204 for implementing this embodiment is not limited to having all of the above-mentioned functions (units), and may have only some of the functions or other functions. The extended application 204 may also be simply called printing software. As described above, the extended application 204 can be said to have at least one of the following: - Function to display the setting screen (Print setting screen extension unit 205) A function for controlling whether or not to skip the processing of the print data generation software 202 (skip control unit 206) A function for editing print data to be sent to the printing device 102 (print data editing unit 208) A function for extending the functions that can be specified in the print data generation software 202 (print function extension unit 207) A function to display a screen when an error occurs in the printing device 102 (notification unit 209) The print data generation software 202 acquires capability information from the printing device 102 and determines the print data format supported by the printing device 102. This enables the print data generation software 202 to generate print data that can be interpreted by the printing device 102. Note that hereinafter, the term "print data format" may actually refer to the format of the drawing data included in the print data.

[0033] 3(a) to 3(c) are diagrams showing the format of data handled by each part of the printing system of this embodiment. FIG. 3(a) is a diagram showing the data format handled by each part of the printing system when the extended application 204 is not associated. When a print instruction is received from the drawing application 201, the OS generates XPS data 302, which is intermediate data. The print data generation software 202 converts the XPS data 302 into print data that can be interpreted by the printer. The print data generation software 202 determines the format of print data supported from the attribute data acquired from the printing device 102, and generates the corresponding print data that can be interpreted by the printing device 102. The print data format may be PDF, PWGRaster, etc., but is not limited to these. In this embodiment, PWGRaster is used as the format of print data supported by the printing device 102. Therefore, the print data generation software 202 converts the XPS data 302 into PWGRaster data 303 and transmits it to the printing device 102. The printing device 102 performs printing based on the received PWGRaster data 303 .

[0034] FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the format of data handled by each part of the printing system when the extension application 204 is associated and the print data generation software 202 does not issue a skip instruction for the print data generation process. When a print instruction is received from the drawing application 201, the skip control unit 206 of the extension application 204 is called. However, in FIG. 3B, the skip control unit 206 does not issue an instruction to skip the print data generation software 202's process. As a result, the print data generation software 202 converts the XPS data 302 into PWGRaster data 303, as in the case of FIG. 3A. The print data editing unit 208 receives the PWGRaster data 303 as input data. Since the PWGRaster data 303 is print data that the printing device 102 can interpret, the print data editing unit 208 sends the input data, the PWGRaster data 303, to the printing device 102 as is. The printing device 102 performs printing based on the received PWGRaster data 303.

[0035] FIG. 3C is a diagram showing a data format that is handled when the extension application 204 is associated and a skip instruction is given to the print data generation process by the print data generation software 202. When a print instruction is received from the drawing application 201, the skip control unit 206 of the extension application 204 is called. The skip control unit 206 instructs the OS or the print data generation software 202 not to convert the intermediate data into print data. When a skip instruction is received from the skip control unit 206, the print data generation software 202 passes the intermediate data to the print data editing unit 208 of the extension application 204 without converting the intermediate data into print data. The print data editing unit 208 performs necessary editing on the XPS data based on the print setting information, converts it into PWGRaster data 303, and sends it to the printing device 102. The printing device 102 prints based on the received data. However, if XPS is included in the format of the print data that can be interpreted by the printing device 102, the print data editing unit 208 may send the XPS data to the printing device 102 for printing without converting it into another format.

[0036] 4 is a diagram showing the main process flow of the editing process of the print function information 203 by the print function extension unit 207 in this printing system. Hereinafter, the print function extension unit 207 may be described as the subject of each process, but in reality, the corresponding function is realized by the CPU 111 executing the corresponding program.

[0037] 4 starts when the OS starts the print function extension unit 207, for example, when the extension application 204 is associated for the first time. In S401, the print function extension unit 207 acquires the roll paper width information 211 held by the extension application 204, and proceeds to S402. In S402, the print function extension unit 207 acquires a PDC as the print function information 203 from the print data generation software 202, and proceeds to S403. At this time, although not shown, the print function extension unit 207 may end the process if the PDC already contains roll paper width information. For example, if the print data software 202 supports the roll paper width as a standard function of IPP, it is possible to use the roll paper width as it is as the roll paper width supported by the printing device 201, and unnecessary processing is not required.

[0038] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a PDC. PDC 501 includes information on features supported by the printing device 102 and information on setting values ​​(options) for certain features. For example, information 502 indicates that ISOA4 and Poster44x64 can be set as PageMediaSize (paper size). Information 503 indicates that Plain (plain paper) and Photographic (photo paper) can be set as PageMediaType (paper type). Information 503 also indicates that Portrait and Landscape can be set as PageOrientation (print orientation). The PDC in Fig. 5 does not include information indicating that roll paper width can be set.

[0039] In S403, the print function extension unit 207 refers to the PageMediaSize (paper size) information 502 of the PDC acquired in S402. Then, the largest value among the MediaSizeWidth values ​​is held as the width (maximum width) X of the maximum paper size supported by the printing device 102. Specifically, in FIG. 5, among the paper sizes supported by the printing device 102, the MediaSizeWidth of ISOA4 is 210000, and that of Poster44x64 is 1117600. The unit is 1 / 1000 mm. Although some paper sizes are omitted in FIG. 5, other paper sizes are also compared. In this example, the largest paper size width among these is Poster44x64, 1117600, which is determined as the width X of the maximum paper size. The following steps S404 to S406 will be specifically described using the roll paper width information 211 shown in FIG. 7. The print function expansion unit 207 compares the roll paper widths obtained in S404 from the roll paper width information 211, starting from the top. First, the roll paper width of 1,524,000 for the first 60-inch roll is compared.

[0040] In S404, the printing function extension unit 207 compares the paper size width X acquired in S403 with the roll paper width information 211 acquired in S401, and if the roll paper width is smaller than the paper size width X, the process proceeds to S405. The printing function extension unit 207 adds the roll paper width to the PDC in S405 and proceeds to S406. On the other hand, if the roll paper width is larger than the paper size width X, no process is performed and the process proceeds to S406. In S406, the printing function extension unit 207 determines whether or not checking of all roll paper widths has been completed. If checking of all roll paper widths has been completed, the process of FIG. 4 ends. On the other hand, if there are still roll paper widths to be processed, the process repeats from S404.

[0041] For example, first, the print function expansion unit 207 compares the roll paper width of 1,524,000 for a 60-inch roll obtained in S404 from the roll paper width information 211 with the paper size width X of 1,117,600. In this case, X is smaller, so the process proceeds to S406.

[0042] In S406, the printing function extension unit 207 determines whether checking of all roll paper widths in the roll paper width information 211 is complete. According to FIG. 7, the roll paper width information 211 has the next roll paper width, so the process proceeds to S404. Next, in S404, the printing function extension unit 207 compares the roll paper width of the 54-inch roll, 1371600, obtained from the roll paper width information 211, with the paper size width X of 1117600. In this case, X is smaller, so the process proceeds to S406. According to FIG. 7, in S406, it is determined that the roll paper width information 211 has the next roll paper width, so the process proceeds to S404. Next, in S404, the printing function extension unit 207 compares the roll paper width of the 44-inch roll, 1117600, obtained from the roll paper width information 211, with the paper size width X of 1117600. In this case, it is the same size as X, so the process proceeds to S405. In S405, the print function extension unit 207 adds the name Roll44inch, which is the name used in the PDC for the 44-inch roll obtained from the roll paper width information 211, according to the description rules of the PDC. <psk:jobrollwidth psf2:psftype=""Feature”">Then add the following as an option: <ns0000:roll44inch psf2:psftype=""Option”" psf2:default=""false" / ">In this way, the print function extension unit 207 continues the processes from S404 to S406 until it has finished checking all roll paper widths obtained from the roll paper width information 211, and ends the process in Fig. 4 when all roll paper widths have been checked. By performing this type of processing, it is possible to add roll paper width information compatible with the printing device 201 to the PDC even if the print data software 202 does not support the roll paper width.

[0043] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a PDC after editing according to the flowchart in Fig. 4. Information 602 indicating the roll paper width has been added to the edited PDC 601 by the processing of S405. The information 602 indicates that Roll44inch (44 inch wide roll paper), Roll42inch (42 inch wide roll paper), and Roll24inch (24 inch wide roll paper) can be set as JobRollWidth (roll paper width). Note that other added information has been omitted for the sake of illustration in Fig. 6.

[0044] The print setting screen expansion unit 205 is called via the OS when the user instructs the drawing application 201 to display the print setting screen. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of item generation processing of the roll paper width dropdown list displayed by the print setting screen expansion unit 205. Hereinafter, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 may be described as the subject of each process, but in reality, the corresponding function is realized by the CPU 111 executing the corresponding program. First, in S801, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 acquires information 602 indicating the roll paper width as PrintCapabilities (PC), which is printer capability information generated based on the PDC information after editing in the flowchart of FIG. 4. Then, the process proceeds to S802. In S802, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 adds the roll paper width described in the information 602 indicating the roll paper width acquired in S801 to the roll paper width dropdown list. At this time, if information corresponding to the custom roll paper width can be acquired in addition to the roll paper width information, it may be added to the dropdown list so that the custom roll paper width can be set.

[0045] 9(a) and 9(b) are diagrams showing examples of the roll paper width drop-down list displayed by the print setting screen expansion unit 205 in roll paper width 1008 in Fig. 10. Fig. 9(a) is a diagram showing an example of the roll paper width drop-down list displayed by the print setting screen expansion unit 205, where the printer supports up to 60in rolls (roll paper with a width of 60 inches). Fig. 9(b) is a diagram showing an example of the roll paper width drop-down list displayed by the print setting screen expansion unit 205, where the printer supports up to 44in rolls (roll paper with a width of 44 inches). In Fig. 9(b), because information corresponding to the roll paper width of the custom size was obtained in S801, a control for setting the custom size has been added.

[0046] 10(a) and 10(b) are diagrams showing an example of a print setting screen displayed by the print setting screen extension unit 205. FIG. 10(a) is a diagram showing an example of a case where normal enlargement / reduction is performed on the print setting screen displayed by the print setting screen extension unit 205. The print setting screen 1000 displays a screen on which the print function can be specified by the print data generation software 202 based on the above-mentioned PDC (or PC). The control items 1001 to 1013 are control items for the user to set each print function. The control item 1003 is a "Enlargement / Reduction Print" group box, and the user can set the desired enlargement / reduction printing method by selecting a radio button in the group box. The control item 1004 is a "Match to Output Paper Size" setting, which is a setting for enlarging / reducing according to the output paper size selected by the "Output Paper Size" drop-down list of the control item 1007. The extension application 204 instructs the drawing application 201 to set a print area of ​​exactly the same size as the paper size set in the "Paper Size" of the control item 1001. The expansion application 204 further instructs the print data generation software 202 to enlarge or reduce the image to fit the output paper size selected in the "Output Paper Size" drop-down list.

[0047] Also, the control item 1006 is set to "specify magnification", which is a setting for enlarging / reducing according to a magnification specified by the user. The extension application 204 instructs the drawing application 201 to set a print area of ​​exactly the same size as the paper size set in the "paper size" of the control item 1001. The extension application 204 further instructs the print data generation software 202 to enlarge / reduce according to the specified magnification.

[0048] Furthermore, control item 1005 is set to "Enlarge / reduce to fit roll paper width", which is a setting for enlarging / reducing to fit the roll paper width selected in the "Roll paper width" drop-down list of control item 1008. The extension application 204 instructs the drawing application 201 to set a print area of ​​exactly the same size as the paper size set in the "Paper size" of control item 1001. The extension application 204 further instructs the print data generation software 202 to enlarge / reduce to fit the roll paper width selected in the "Roll paper width" drop-down list of control item 1008. The method of calculating the enlargement / reduction ratio will be described later. Control item 1008 is the "Roll paper width" drop-down list and was generated by the processing of FIG. 8.

[0049] FIG. 10B is a diagram showing an example of borderless printing on the print setting screen displayed by the print setting screen extension unit 205. The control item 1002 is a "borderless printing" checkbox. When the user checks the control item 1002, the "borderless setting" button of the control item 1009 is enabled. Furthermore, the label of the "enlarged / reduced printing" group box of the control item 1003 in FIG. 10A changes to "borderless printing method", and the user can set the borderless printing method by selecting a radio button in the group box. Borderless printing is a technique in which the printing device 102 receives print data slightly larger than the installed paper size from the extension application 204, and ejects ink based on this print data. Then, the ink that does not hit the edge of the paper is received by an ink receiving hole or sponge-like absorbent provided at a specific width on the platen, so that printing can be performed without soiling the platen and without white borders due to paper feeding errors or cutting errors. The control item 1009 is a "borderless setting" button. The "borderless setting" of the control item 1009 allows the user to set the amount of overhang required for borderless printing. This overhang is set to generate print data that is slightly larger than the paper size described above. In this embodiment, as an example, the overhang amount is explained as adding 3 mm to the circumference of the paper size. The control item 1010 is set to "fit to output paper size." In the case of borderless printing, the extension application 204 instructs the drawing application 201 to set a print area that is exactly the same size as the paper size set in the "paper size" of the control item 1001. The extension application 204 further instructs the print data generation software 202 to scale the print area to the size obtained by adding the borderless overhang amount set in the "borderless setting" of the control item 1009 to the output paper size selected in the "output paper size" drop-down list.In other words, the print data generation software 202 creates data larger than the actual paper size, including the amount of overflow required for borderless printing, by enlarging or reducing the data generated by the drawing application 201. Next, the extension application 204 sends the print data to the printing device 102, making it possible to perform borderless printing that matches the output paper size.

[0050] Furthermore, "Print image at original size" in control item 1012 is a setting for borderless printing without enlarging or reducing the manuscript paper. In the case of borderless printing, the extension application 204 instructs the drawing application 201 to specify a print area that is the paper size set in "Paper size" in control item 1001 plus the borderless overflow amount set in "Borderless settings" in control item 1009. In other words, the drawing application 201 creates data that is larger than the actual paper size and includes the overflow amount required for borderless printing. In this way, the extension application 204 can print images at original size by sending print data to the printing device 102 without instructing the print data generation software 202 to enlarge or reduce the data.

[0051] Also, "Enlarge / reduce to fit roll paper width" in the control item 1011 is a setting for performing borderless printing to fit the roll paper width selected in the "Roll paper width" drop-down list. In the case of borderless printing, the extension application 204 instructs the drawing application 201 to set a print area of ​​exactly the same size as the paper size set in the "Paper size" in the control item 1001. The extension application 204 further instructs the print data generation software 202 to enlarge or reduce to a size obtained by adding the borderless overhang amount set in the "Borderless setting" in the control item 1009 to the roll paper width selected in the "Roll paper width" drop-down list in the control item 1008. The method of calculating the enlargement / reduction ratio will be described later. In other words, the print data generation software 202 creates data larger than the actual paper size including the overhang amount required for borderless printing by enlarging or reducing the data generated by the drawing application 201 to fit the roll paper width. Next, the extension application 204 sends the print data to the printing device 102, which enables borderless printing to be performed to fit the roll paper width.

[0052] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the print setting screen expansion unit 205. Hereinafter, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 may be described as the subject of each process, but in reality, the corresponding function is realized by the CPU 111 executing the corresponding program. The description will be given in a state where borderless printing is not specified in the control item 1002, but unless otherwise specified, the same processing will be performed when borderless printing is performed. First, in S1101, if the "Enlarge / reduce according to roll paper width" radio button of the control item 1005 or control item 1011 is selected, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 advances the processing to S1102. On the other hand, if it is not selected, the processing advances to S1108. In S1102, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 acquires the roll paper width of the control item 1008 and the paper size of the control item 1001 that are set. Next, in S1103, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 calculates the enlargement / reduction ratio and the output paper size according to the width of the roll paper.

[0053] 12(a) and 12(b) are diagrams for explaining an example of calculating the enlargement / reduction ratio and output paper size in the process of S1103 of the print setting screen expansion unit 205 when "Enlarge / reduce to fit roll paper width" is selected. FIG. 12(a) is a diagram showing an image of enlarging / reducing the paper size to fit the roll paper width. In this example, the paper size set in the print setting screen expansion unit 205 is A4, the roll paper width is 24in roll (roll paper with a width of 24 inches), and the margins of the printing device 102 are 5mm all around. FIG. 12(b) is a diagram showing the flow of calculation processing when enlarging / reducing the paper size to fit the roll paper width.

[0054] First, in S1201, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 calculates the enlargement / reduction ratio from the roll paper width (effective print area) ÷ paper size width (effective print area). In this example, it is (609.6 mm-(5+5) mm) ÷ (210.0 mm-(5+5) mm) × 100 = 299.8%. Next, in S1202, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 calculates the output paper size length (effective print area) from the paper size length (effective print area) × enlargement / reduction ratio. In this example, it is 287.0 mm × 299.8% = 860.4 mm.

[0055] Next, in S1203, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 calculates the output paper size (width, length). In this example, the output paper size length (effective print area) calculated in S1202 plus a margin is (609.6 mm, 860.4 + (5 + 5) mm) = (609.6 mm, 870.4 mm).

[0056] When borderless printing is specified, the process described in the control item 1011 of FIG. 10 is performed to calculate the enlargement / reduction ratio and the output paper size. In this example, the explanation will be given assuming that the overhang amount is 3 mm all around. First, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 calculates the enlargement / reduction ratio from (roll paper width + overhang amount) ÷ paper size width. In this example, it is (609.6 mm + (3 + 3) mm) ÷ 210.0 mm × 100 = 293%. From this, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 calculates the output paper size length from output paper size length × enlargement / reduction ratio - overhang amount. In this case, it is 297.0 × 293% - (3 + 3) = 864.21 mm. Therefore, the output paper size (width, length) is (609.6 mm, 864.21 mm). After S1203, the process proceeds to S1104 of FIG. 11.

[0057] Next, in S1104, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 determines whether or not the length of the output paper size (output length) exceeds the printable length of the printing device 102. If it is determined that the length of the output paper size exceeds the printable length of the printing device 102, the process proceeds to S1105. On the other hand, if it is determined in S1104 that the printable length is not exceeded, the process proceeds to S1107. In S1105, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 displays a warning message indicating that the printable length will be exceeded, and the process proceeds to S1106.

[0058] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a warning message displayed by the print setting screen expansion unit 205, indicating that the printable length will be exceeded. In this example, the printable length is 18 m, but this printable length is model-dependent information that differs depending on the connected printing device 102. Therefore, when the extension application 204 is first associated with the printing device 102, the print function expansion unit 207 may add information about the printable length to the print function information 203. This allows the print setting screen expansion unit 205 to determine whether or not to display a warning message based on information about the printable length on that printing device 102. In this case, the warning message is displayed using information about the printable length on that printing device 102.

[0059] Next, in S1106, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 recalculates the enlargement / reduction ratio and the output paper size, and the process proceeds to S1107.

[0060] FIG. 14B is a flow chart showing the process of recalculating the enlargement / reduction ratio and the output paper size in the process of S1103 of the print setting screen expansion unit 205 because the printable length of the printing device 102 has been exceeded. FIG. 14A is a diagram showing an image of this process. If the length of the output paper size after enlargement exceeds the upper limit of the paper length, the enlargement ratio is adjusted so that the length does not exceed the upper limit, and the effective print area is placed in the upper left corner in the paper transport direction. Here, the paper size width and length set in the print setting screen expansion unit 205 are (100 mm, 3000 mm), the roll paper width is 24in roll (24-inch wide roll paper), and the margin of the printing device 102 is 5 mm all around. In this example, when the process of FIG. 12B is performed, the enlargement / reduction ratio is (609.6-(5+5))÷(100-(5+5))=666%. Additionally, the length of the output paper size (effective print area) is 3000 x 6.66 = 19980. As a result, the output paper size becomes (609.6, 19980 + (5 + 5)), which exceeds 18 m.

[0061] 14B is a diagram showing the flow of the calculation process for recalculating the enlargement / reduction ratio and the output paper size in S1106. First, in S1401, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 calculates the enlargement / reduction ratio from the printable length (effective print area) ÷ the paper size length (effective print area). In this example, it is (18000 mm-(5+5) mm) ÷ (3000 mm-(5+5) mm) × 100 = 602%.

[0062] Next, in S1402, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 calculates the output paper size width (effective print area) from the paper size width (effective print area) x the enlargement / reduction ratio. In this example, it is (100-(5+5)) x 6.02 = 541.8. As a result, the effective print area width and length are (541.8 mm, 2990 mm x 6.02), respectively.

[0063] Next, in step S1403, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 sets the output paper size length to the printable length and the output paper size width to the roll paper width. In this example, the output paper size is (609.6 mm, 18000 mm).

[0064] If borderless printing is specified, the recalculation process of the enlargement / reduction ratio and output paper size in S1106 is not performed so that borderless printing can be performed reliably. Therefore, the data is sent as is to the printing device 102 as print data. As a result, print data beyond 18 m from the beginning in the transport direction is cut by the printer and is not printed. Note that, although recalculation is not performed in this example, the enlargement / reduction ratio and output paper size may be adjusted by the print setting screen expansion unit 205, or an error may be generated in the printing device 102 to stop printing.

[0065] Next, in S1107, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 sets the enlargement / reduction ratio and output paper size calculated in S1103 and S1106 as print setting information (PT). Next, in S1108, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 determines whether or not the OK button of the control item 1013 has been pressed. If it is determined that the OK button of the control item 1013 has been pressed, the process of FIG. 11 ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that the OK button of the control item 1013 has not been pressed, the process from S1101 is repeated. By performing the process as shown in FIG. 11, it is possible to set the enlargement / reduction to match the roll paper width added to the PDC, and further, it is possible to reset so as not to exceed the printable length of the printing device 102.

[0066] 15 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by print data editing unit 208. Hereinafter, print data editing unit 208 may be described as the subject of each process, but in reality, the corresponding function is realized by CPU 111 executing the corresponding program.

[0067] The flow of FIG. 15 is executed when the output data from the print data generation software 202 becomes ready for processing. First, in S1501, the print data editing unit 208 acquires PT, which is print setting information included in the print data, which is input data. Next, in S1502, the print data editing unit 208 acquires information on the width of the roll paper currently being fed from the printing device 102. Next, in S1503, the print data editing unit 208 determines whether the roll paper width setting of the PT acquired in S1501 matches the roll paper width acquired in S1502. If it is determined that they match, the process proceeds to S1508. In S1508, the print data editing unit 208 sends the print data to the printer as is, and the process of FIG. 15 ends, since it is now possible to print correctly on the roll paper installed in the printing device 102 according to the roll paper width. On the other hand, if it is determined that they do not match in S1503, the process proceeds to S1504. In S1504, the print data editing unit 208 acquires the data format of the print data using the API of the OS. In this example, the API of the OS is used, but the print data editing unit 208 may analyze the print data to make a determination, or the print data generation software 202 may add information to the output data, and the print data editing unit 208 may refer to that information to make a determination.

[0068] Next, in S1505, the print data editing unit 208 determines whether the acquired input data format is XPS. If it is determined that the input data format is not XPS, the print data editing unit 208 advances the process to S1506. On the other hand, if it is determined that the input data format is XPS, the process advances to S1507. After S1506 and S1507, the process in FIG. 15 ends. The process of S1506 and S1507 will be described in detail later.

[0069] By performing this type of processing, it is possible to compare the roll paper width actually set in the printing device 102 with the roll paper width of the print data, and to distinguish between processing for when they match and processing for when they do not. Also, by checking the format of the print data, it is also possible to switch processing depending on the format.

[0070] 16 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of message display processing (for PDL) of the print data editing unit 208 in S1506. In this example, PWGRaster is used as an example of the PDL. First, in S1601, the print data editing unit 208 displays the message screen in FIG.

[0071] 17 is a diagram showing an example of a message screen (for PDL) displayed by the print data editing unit 208 in S1601. The message screen displays a message indicating that roll paper with a roll paper width different from the print settings has been installed in the printing device 102, and that the roll paper width cannot be expanded correctly to match the roll paper width as is. Information 1701 displays information about the roll paper width installed in the printing device 102. Information 1701 is displayed based on the information acquired by the print data editing unit 208 in S1502. Information 1702 displays information about the roll paper width in the print settings. Information 1702 is displayed based on the information acquired by the print data editing unit 208 in S1501. Control item 1703 is a print cancel button. Control item 1704 is a print start button.

[0072] Next, in S1602, the print data editing unit 208 determines whether the print cancel button 1703 or the print start button 1704 has been pressed. If it is determined that the print cancel button 1703 has been pressed, the process in Fig. 16 ends without doing anything. On the other hand, if it is determined that the print start button 1704 has been pressed, the print data editing unit 208 transmits the print data to the printing device 102 and ends the process in Fig. 16.

[0073] By performing this process, the user can change the roll paper installed in printing device 102 to roll paper with the roll paper width set in the print settings and continue printing while the message is displayed. Also, if the settings are incorrect, the user can stop printing and change the print settings.

[0074] 18 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of message display processing (for XPS) in S1507 by the print data editing unit 208. First, in S1801, the print data editing unit 208 displays the message screen in FIG.

[0075] 19 is a diagram showing an example of a message screen (for PDL) displayed by the print data editing unit 208 in S1801. The message screen displays that roll paper with a roll paper width different from the print settings has been installed in the printing device 102, and that the user should either resize the paper to fit the loaded roll paper and print, or that the roll paper width cannot be expanded to correctly match the roll paper width as is. Information 1901 and 1902 and control items 1903 and 1904 are similar to information 1701 and 1702 and control items 1703 and 1704 in FIG. 17, so their description will be omitted. Control item 1905 is a button that accepts an instruction to resize the paper to fit the roll paper installed in the printing device 102 and then start printing.

[0076] Next, in S1802, the print data editing unit 208 determines which button was pressed on the message screen in Fig. 19. If it is determined that the Cancel Print button 1903 was pressed, nothing is done and the processing in Fig. 18 ends. If it is determined that the Start Print button 1904 was pressed, the processing proceeds to S1805. In S1805, the print data editing unit 208 converts the XPS data into print data that can be interpreted by the printing device 102. Then, the processing proceeds to S1806, where the print data is sent to the printer and the processing in Fig. 18 ends. If the "Resize and Print button" 1905 was pressed in S1802, the processing proceeds to S1803.

[0077] In S1803, the print data editing unit 208 enlarges or reduces the XPS data to the roll paper width installed in the printing device 102 obtained in S1502. For example, assume that the original roll paper width is set to 24 in roll (24 inch wide roll paper), i.e., 609.6 mm, and the actual roll paper width obtained in S1502 is 36 in roll (36 inch wide roll paper), i.e., 914.4 mm. The enlargement or reduction ratio is calculated as (actual roll paper width) ÷ (original roll paper width) × 100. In this case, 914.4 mm ÷ 609.6 mm × 100 = 150%.

[0078] Next, in S1804, the print data editing unit 208 enlarges or reduces the XPS data, which is the input data, at the enlargement / reduction ratio calculated in S1803. In this example, if the original length is set to 1000 mm, the output paper size length is 1000 mm x 1.5 = 1500 mm, and the output paper size (width, length) is (914.400 mm, 15000 mm). Although not shown in this example, as in S1104 of FIG. 11, it may be determined whether or not the printable length is exceeded. Also, in this example, the print data editing unit 208 enlarges or reduces the XPS data itself using the API of the OS. However, the extension application 204 may perform processing again based on the enlargement / reduction ratio and paper size.

[0079] Next, in 1805, the print data editing unit 208 converts the XPS data into print data that can be interpreted by the printing device 102. Note that if the printing device 102 can interpret the XPS data, the print data editing unit 208 does not need to perform the process of S1805. Next, the print data editing unit 208 advances the process to S1806, where it transmits the print data to the printer and ends the process.

[0080] By performing this type of processing, when the input data to the print data editing unit 208 is XPS data, it is possible to re-enlarge or reduce the data even if the roll paper width in the print settings differs from the roll paper width of the currently installed roll paper. Also, similar to the processing in Figure 16, the user can change the roll paper installed in the printing device 102 to roll paper with the roll paper width set in the print settings and print while the message screen is displayed. Also, if the print settings are incorrect, the user can cancel printing and change the print settings.

[0081] [Second embodiment] The second embodiment will be described below with respect to the differences from the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the process was switched according to the format of the print data, but by switching the format of the print data according to the print settings, it is possible to further improve user convenience.

[0082] 20 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the skip control unit 206. Hereinafter, the skip control unit 206 may be described as the subject of each process, but in reality, the corresponding function is realized by the CPU 111 executing the corresponding program.

[0083] The flow in Fig. 20 is executed when a print instruction is issued from the drawing application 201. First, in S2001, the skip control unit 206 acquires a skip setting from the shared information 210. Next, in S2002, the skip control unit 206 determines whether or not a skip setting has been acquired. If it is determined in S2002 that a skip setting has not been acquired, the skip control unit 206 does not issue a skip instruction and ends the processing in Fig. 20. As a result, the print data generation software 202 performs a conversion process from the intermediate data to print data, and the input data handled by the print data editing unit 208 becomes print data.

[0084] If it is determined in S2002 that the skip setting has been acquired, the skip control unit 206 advances the process to S2003. In S2003, the skip control unit 206 determines whether the acquired skip setting is ON or not. If it is determined in S2003 that the setting is not ON, the skip control unit 206 does not issue a skip instruction and ends the process in Fig. 20. As a result, the print data generation software 202 converts the intermediate data into print data, and the input data handled by the print data editing unit 208 becomes print data.

[0085] If it is determined in S2003 that the setting is ON, the skip control unit 206 advances the process to S2004. In S2004, the skip control unit 206 instructs the print data generation software 202 to skip the process. Thereafter, the process of FIG. 20 ends. As a result, the print data generation software 202 does not convert the intermediate data into print data, and the input data handled by the print data editing unit 208 becomes intermediate data. Note that in FIG. 20, the default operation when the skip setting is not stored is to not instruct skip, but it may be to instruct skip. Through the above process, whether or not to skip the process of the print data generation software 202 is switched based on the skip setting of the shared information 210.

[0086] 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the process of the print setting screen expansion unit 205 in this embodiment. Hereinafter, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 may be described as the subject of each process, but in reality, the corresponding function is realized by the CPU 111 executing the corresponding program.

[0087] First, if "increase roll paper width" is selected in S2101, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 advances the process to S2103. In S2103, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 stores the skip setting as ON in the shared information 210. On the other hand, if "increase roll paper width" is not selected in S2101, the process advances to S2102. In S2102, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 stores the skip setting as OFF in the shared information 210. The processes in S2104 to S2110 are similar to the processes in S1102 to S1108 in FIG. 11, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0088] By carrying out this processing, when expanding the roll paper width is selected on the screens in Figures 10(a) and 10(b), the extension application 204 can receive intermediate data. This makes it possible to enlarge or reduce the width again if the current roll paper width and the print settings are different when printing is executed by the print data editing unit 208.

[0089] The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions.

[0090] The disclosure of the present embodiment includes the following information processing device, method, and program. (Item 1) an acquisition means for acquiring print function information for enabling a user to specify functions of the printing device; a first editing means for editing the printing capability information acquired by the acquiring means; a generating means for generating print setting information for executing a function designated by the user based on the print function information edited by the first editing means; An information processing device comprising: (Item 2) Further comprising a storage means for storing information on the recording medium, 2. The information processing apparatus according to item 1, wherein the first editing means adds the information of the recording medium stored in the storage means to the printing function information acquired by the acquisition means. (Item 3) 3. The information processing device according to item 2, wherein the recording medium includes roll paper. (Item 4) The information processing device described in item 3, characterized in that the first editing means adds information about roll paper stored in the storage means that has a width shorter than the maximum width of the roll paper included in the printing function information acquired by the acquisition means to the printing function information acquired by the acquisition means. (Item 5) 5. The information processing apparatus according to item 3 or 4, further comprising a display unit that displays a setting screen on which the user can specify functions based on the printing function information edited by the first editing unit. (Item 6) 6. The information processing device according to item 5, wherein the setting screen displays the roll paper information added by the first editing unit in a specifiable manner. (Item 7) The information processing device described in item 6, further comprising a calculation means for calculating a scaling ratio when the function specified based on the printing function information edited by the first editing means is scaling to the roll paper specified by the user. (Item 8) a determination unit that determines whether an output length obtained by the enlargement / reduction ratio calculated by the calculation unit exceeds a printable length by the printing device, when the determining means determines that the length exceeds the length that can be printed by the printing device, the calculating means calculates a scaling ratio based on the length that can be printed by the printing device; the generating means generates the enlargement / reduction ratio calculated by the calculating means as the print setting information; 8. The information processing device according to item 7, (Item 9) 9. The information processing device according to item 7 or 8, wherein the print setting information generated by the generating means is passed to a printer driver. (Item 10) A second acquisition means for acquiring output data outputted from the printer driver; a second editing means for editing the output data acquired by the second acquisition means; 10. The information processing device according to item 9, further comprising: (Item 11) a determination unit that determines whether or not the roll paper used in the print settings specified based on the print function information edited by the first editing unit is different from the roll paper installed in the printing device, 11. The information processing device according to item 10, wherein the second editing means edits the output data when the determining means determines that the output data are different. (Item 12) 12. The information processing device according to item 11, wherein the editing by the second editing means is enlargement or reduction to roll paper installed in the printing device. (Item 13) The information processing device described in item 12 is characterized in that, if the determination means determines that they are different, it further comprises a notification means for notifying that the roll paper used in the print settings specified based on the print function information edited by the first editing means is different from the roll paper installed in the printing device. (Item 14) Item 14. The information processing device according to item 13, wherein the notification means changes the content of the notification depending on whether the format of the output data is a first format or a second format. (Item 15) The information processing device described in item 14, characterized in that the notification means does not display an instruction to accept an instruction to enlarge or reduce the output data when the format of the output data is the first format, and displays an instruction to accept an instruction to enlarge or reduce the roll paper installed in the printing device when the format of the output data is the second format. (Item 16) Item 16. The information processing device according to item 15, wherein the second editing means, when receiving the enlargement / reduction instruction, performs enlargement / reduction on roll paper installed in the printing device based on the output data. (Item 17) 17. The information processing apparatus according to any one of items 14 to 16, further comprising a switching unit that switches the format of the output data output from the printer driver between the first format and the second format. (Item 18) A conversion from the second format to the first format is performed in the printer driver; Item 18. The information processing device according to item 17, wherein the switching means switches the format of the output data output from the printer driver between the first format and the second format depending on whether or not the conversion is executed. (Item 19) 19. The information processing device according to any one of items 14 to 18, wherein the data in the second format is vector data. (Item 20) 20. The information processing device according to any one of items 14 to 19, wherein the data in the first format is raster data. (Item 21) 21. The information processing apparatus according to any one of items 10 to 20, further comprising a transmitting unit that transmits output data edited by the second editing unit to the printing device. (Item 22) 22. The information processing device according to any one of items 9 to 21, wherein the printer driver is a class driver. (Item 23) 23. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the information processing device according to any one of items 1 to 22. (Item 24) 24. The program according to item 23, wherein the program is an application program that extends the functionality of a printer driver. (Item 25) A method executed in an information processing device, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring print capability information for enabling a user to specify the capabilities of the printing device; an editing step of editing the printing capability information acquired in the acquiring step; a generating step of generating print setting information for executing a function designated by the user based on the print function information edited in the editing step; The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

[0091] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 101 Information processing device: 111 CPU: 112 ROM: 113 RAM < / psk:jobrollwidth>

Claims

1. an acquisition means for acquiring print function information for enabling a user to specify functions of the printing device; a first editing unit that edits the printing capability information acquired by the acquiring unit; a generating unit that generates print setting information for executing a function designated by the user based on the print function information edited by the first editing unit; Equipped with the printing function information includes information on a recording medium, the recording medium including roll paper; the first editing means adds information about roll paper having a width shorter than the maximum width of the roll paper included in the printing function information acquired by the acquisition means to the printing function information acquired by the acquisition means.

23. An information processing apparatus comprising:

2. Further comprising a storage means for storing information on the recording medium, The information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first editing means adds information about roll paper having a width shorter than the maximum width of the roll paper included in the printing function information acquired by the acquisition means, from the information about the roll paper stored in the memory means, to the printing function information acquired by the acquisition means.

3. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying a setting screen on which the user can specify a function based on the printing function information edited by the first editing unit.

4. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the roll paper information added by the first editing means is displayed on the setting screen in a manner that allows the roll paper information to be specified.

5. 5. The information processing device according to claim 4, further comprising a calculation means for calculating a scaling ratio when the function specified based on the printing function information edited by the first editing means is scaling to the roll paper specified by the user.

6. a determination unit that determines whether an output length obtained by the enlargement / reduction ratio calculated by the calculation unit exceeds a printable length by the printing device, when the determining means determines that the length exceeds the length that can be printed by the printing device, the calculating means calculates a scaling ratio based on the length that can be printed by the printing device; the generating means generates the enlargement / reduction ratio calculated by the calculating means as the print setting information; 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5,

7. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the print setting information generated by the generating means is passed to a printer driver.

8. A second acquisition means for acquiring output data outputted from the printer driver; a second editing means for editing the output data acquired by the second acquisition means; The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

9. a determination unit that determines whether or not the roll paper used in the print settings specified based on the print function information edited by the first editing unit is different from the roll paper installed in the printing device, 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second editing means edits the output data when the determining means determines that the output data are different.

10. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the editing by said second editing means is enlargement or reduction onto roll paper installed in said printing device.

11. The information processing device according to claim 10, further comprising a notification means for notifying, when the determination means determines that they are different, that the roll paper used in the print settings specified based on the printing function information edited by the first editing means is different from the roll paper installed in the printing device.

12. 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the notification means changes the content of the notification depending on whether the format of the output data is the first format or the second format.

13. The information processing device according to claim 12, characterized in that the notification means does not display an instruction to accept an instruction to enlarge or reduce the output data when the format of the output data is the first format, and displays an instruction to accept an instruction to enlarge or reduce the output data on roll paper installed in the printing device when the format of the output data is the second format.

14. 14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second editing means, when receiving the enlargement / reduction instruction, enlarges or reduces the image onto roll paper installed in the printing device based on the output data.

15. 13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a switching unit for switching the format of the output data output from the printer driver between the first format and the second format.

16. A conversion from the second format to the first format is performed in the printer driver; 16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the switching means switches the format of the output data output from the printer driver between the first format and the second format depending on whether or not the conversion is to be executed.

17. 13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the data in the second format is vector data.

18. 13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the data in the first format is raster data.

19. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a transmitting unit for transmitting the output data edited by said second editing unit to said printing device.

20. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the printer driver is a class driver.

21. 21. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

22. 22. The program according to claim 21, wherein the program is an application program for expanding the function of a printer driver.

23. A method executed in an information processing device, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring print capability information for enabling a user to specify the capabilities of the printing device; an editing step of editing the printing capability information acquired in the acquiring step; a generating step of generating print setting information for executing a function designated by the user based on the print function information edited in the editing step; having the printing function information includes information on a recording medium, the recording medium including roll paper; In the editing step, information about roll paper having a width shorter than the maximum width of the roll paper included in the printing function information acquired in the acquisition step is added to the printing function information acquired in the acquisition step. A method comprising:

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