Program, information processing apparatus, and information processing method

Abstract

To reduce a print error.SOLUTION: Provided is a program for causing a computer of an information processing apparatus to function as: acquisition means that acquires print data including first print setting information indicating information on the settings of printing, second print setting information indicating the current print settings in a printer that is to print the print data, and third print setting information set to a hot folder corresponding to the printer; determination means that determines whether or not printing based on the print data in the printer is suitable on the basis of the first print setting information, second print setting information, and third print setting information; and notification means that, when the determination means determines that the printing is not suitable, performs notification that the printing is not suitable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technique for notifying whether printing is appropriate. [Background technology]

[0002] A mechanism called a hot folder has been used in printing devices in the commercial printing field. A hot folder has a function whereby, when a print job file is input into a specific folder, an instruction to execute printing is sent to a printing device using the print settings set in that folder. When inputting a print job file into a hot folder, a user cannot know whether the printing device corresponding to that hot folder can print with the print settings set in that hot folder.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a method of comparing print settings set in a hot folder with status information of a printing device corresponding to the hot folder, determining whether printing is possible, and notifying the user. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-114203 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the method of Patent Document 1 has the problem that the user cannot recognize that the print settings set in the hot folder and the state of the printing device corresponding to the hot folder are not suitable for printing the print job file. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A program according to one embodiment of the present disclosure causes a computer of an information processing device to function as: an acquisition means for acquiring print data including first print setting information indicating print setting information, second print setting information indicating current print settings in a printing device that is to print the print data, and third print setting information set in a hot folder corresponding to the printing device; a determination means for determining whether or not printing based on the print data in the printing device is appropriate based on the first print setting information, the second print setting information, and the third print setting information; and a notification means for notifying the user that the print data is not appropriate for printing if the determination means determines that the print data is not appropriate for printing. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, printing errors can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the printing system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a printing apparatus. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a configuration of a print application. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a user interface of a print application. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a printer information folder registration screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a hot folder list registration screen. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a printing suitability determination process. [Figure 8] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of a dialog box for notifying a result of a print suitability determination process. [Figure 9] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of items to be determined in a print suitability determination process. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a central process of a print suitability determination process. [Figure 11] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of display items for notifying a result of a print suitability determination process. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a hot folder registration screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the subject matter of the present disclosure, and not all of the combinations of features described in the present embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the present disclosure. Note that the same components are given the same reference numbers and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0010] (First embodiment) <Hardware configuration of label printing system> In this embodiment, an example of a printing system used in a printing process for commercial printing will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the printing system. The configuration of a host computer 101 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The host computer 101 is an example of an information processing device, and has an input interface 110, a central processing unit (CPU) 111, and a read only memory (ROM) 112. The host computer 101 has a random access memory (RAM) 113, an external storage device 114, an output interface 115, and an input / output interface 116. Input devices such as a pointing device 117 and a keyboard 118 are connected to the input interface 110. A display device such as a display unit 119 is connected to the output interface 115.

[0011] The host computer 101 accepts input of control data from a pointing device 117 and / or a keyboard 118 via an input interface 110. The ROM 112 is a non-volatile storage medium, and stores fixed data such as a control program executed by the CPU 111, an initialization program, and an operating system (OS). The external storage device 114 stores various programs acquired from the outside, such as application programs and design applications, and various other data. The RAM 113 is the main storage memory of the CPU 111, and is used as a temporary storage area for developing the programs stored in the ROM 112 and the external storage device 114. In this embodiment, the CPU 111 performs processing according to the procedures of the programs stored in the ROM 112, thereby performing functions of the host computer 101 described below and processing related to flowcharts described below.

[0012] The printing device 201 is connected to the host computer 101 via an input / output interface 116. The host computer 101 transmits a print job file (described later) or other setting information related to printing to the printing device 201 via the input / output interface 116. Note that a plurality of printing devices 201 may be connected to the host computer 101. In this embodiment, an example in which the host computer 101 is configured separately from the printing device 201 will be described, but this is not limiting. For example, the host computer 101 and the printing device 201 may be configured as one information processing device. The host computer 101 may be a desktop personal computer, a smartphone, or a notebook computer.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the printing device 201. The configuration of the printing device 201 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The printing device 201 has an input interface 210, a CPU 211, a ROM 212, and a RAM 213. The printing device 201 has a print engine 214, an output interface 215, an input / output interface 216, a key input unit 217, a display unit 218, and an external storage device 219. The key input unit 217 includes a numeric input key, a mode setting key, a decision key, a cancel key, and the like. The printing device 201 accepts user operations from the key input unit 217 via the input interface 210. The display unit 218 is composed of an LCD (liquid crystal display) and the like, and displays details of the received print data and the state of the device as image data via the output interface 215. The CPU 211 is a system control unit, and controls the entire printing device 201. The ROM 212 stores fixed data such as a control program executed by the CPU 211 and a data table. The external storage device 219 stores print job files and print job tickets received from the host computer 101. The RAM 213 is used as a work memory for the CPU 211, and is also used as a buffer for temporarily storing print jobs. The printing device 201 may also transmit a folder to be provided to the host computer 101 to a server via the input / output interface 216. Then, when a folder stored on the server is in a shared state with the printing device 201, the host computer 101 may obtain information required for a printing suitability determination process, which will be described later, from the folder.

[0014] The print engine 214 forms an image on a recording medium such as paper using a recording agent such as ink based on the data stored in the RAM 213, the print job file received from the host computer 101, and the print job ticket, and outputs the print result. In this embodiment, a PDF (Portable Document Format) file is used as the format of the print job file, but the file format is not limited to this. By connecting the input / output interface 116 of the host computer 101 and the input / output interface 216 of the printing device 201, the host computer 101 and the printing device 201 can communicate with each other. For example, a network connection is given as a connection method, but is not limited to this. In this embodiment, the printing device 201 is described as an inkjet printer that prints by ejecting ink onto a paper surface, but printing may be performed by other methods (for example, electrophotography).

[0015] <Print application configuration> FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a print application that runs on the host computer 101. The configuration of the print application will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The print application 301 includes a label data reading unit 302, a design editing unit 303, a printing device management unit 304, a hot folder management unit 305, an output unit 306, and a display unit 308. The label data reading unit 302 reads selected label data in response to an instruction from a user. The design editing unit 303 accepts an editing process that determines the arrangement of the label data read by the label data reading unit 302 on a recording medium and the color scheme of the label. The printing device management unit 304 acquires information (hereinafter referred to as printer information) indicating the current state of the printing device. In this embodiment, the printing device management unit 304 accepts the setting of a shared folder (hereinafter referred to as printer information folder) registered in the printing device 201. Then, the printing device management unit 304 reads a file (hereinafter referred to as printer information file) in which printer information is described in the set printer information folder to acquire the printer information. In this embodiment, the printer information includes status information indicating that an error has occurred in the printing device 201 or that the printing device 201 is undergoing maintenance, whether a recording medium is set in the printing device 201, and whether ink is set. The printer information also includes the width of the recording medium set, the type of ink set, and the date and time when the printer information was updated by the printing device 201, but may also include other information. The printer information may also be acquired by the host computer 101, which accepts the designation of information indicating the printing device itself (for example, an IP address, etc.) and communicates directly with the printing device. The printing device management unit 304 also has a registration function that stores the location of the printer information folder that has been designated, together with the name of the printing device in which the printer information folder exists, in the printing application 301, and makes it reusable. Hereinafter, the printer information folder refers to the printer information folder from which the printing application 301 acquires the printer information.

[0016] The hot folder management unit 305 accepts registration of a hot folder provided by the printing device 201 and acquires print settings (hereinafter referred to as hot folder information) associated with the hot folder. A user can select a hot folder shared between the host computer 101 and the printing device 201 and register the selected hot folder in a hot folder list held by the hot folder management unit 305. The output unit 306 has a print suitability determination unit 307. The output unit 306 outputs print data edited by the design editing unit 303 to a hot folder registered in the hot folder management unit 305 or to the external storage device 114. The print suitability determination unit 307 determines whether the print data is printable based on the hot folder information of the hot folder set as the save destination of the print data and the acquired printer information, and notifies the user of the suitability. The display unit 308 displays a display screen such as a user interface of the print application 301 on the display unit 119.

[0017] <About Print Application 301> Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface of the print application 301. The user interface of the print application 301 (hereinafter referred to as the print application screen) will be described with reference to Fig. 4, but the screen configuration, design, setting items, etc. of the print application 301 are not limited to this. Furthermore, the print application 301 accepts editing of label data and designation of the placement of the label on the recording medium from the print application screen by user operation, and outputs print data (first print setting information). However, the functions of the print application 301 are not limited to this.

[0018] First, the print application screen has a label data management area 401, a preview area 407, a label edit tab 408, and a layout edit tab 409. The label data management area 401 has a read button 405 and a delete button 406. In the label data management area 401, label data 403 and 404 and a selection frame 402 indicating that the label data 403 is selected are displayed. When the user presses the read button 405, the label data reading unit 302 accepts an instruction to read the label data. Then, the label data reading unit 302 displays a thumbnail of the read label data in the label data management area 401. In this embodiment, the format of the label data to be read is, for example, a PDF file or an Illustrator file, but is not limited to these. The label data 403 and 404 are examples of label data read by the label data reading unit 302 and displayed in the label data management area 401. The user can select label data displayed in the label data management area 401 by operating an input device such as the pointing device 117. A selection frame 402 is then displayed for the selected label data. A preview area 407 is an area for displaying the label data. When the delete button 406 is pressed by the user while label data is selected (the selection frame 402 is displayed), a process for removing the selected label data from the label data management area 401 is accepted.

[0019] FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example of a print application screen displayed when the label edit tab 408 is selected. As shown in FIG. 4A, the print application screen displays a rotation setting control 410, a variable setting control 411, a target object selection control 412, and a conversion data selection control 413. The rotation setting control 410 can accept the selection of a rotation angle from 0 degrees to 45 degrees increments from a drop-down list, and rotates the label data displayed in the preview area 407 according to the selection. The variable setting control 411 accepts the selection of whether or not to use a variable printing function, which is a function for replacing a specific object in label data with specific content every time one is printed. When the variable setting control 411 is set to use the variable printing function, the target object selection control 412 and the conversion data selection control 413 become active. The target object selection control 412 accepts the input of characters for the name of an object whose content is to be replaced using the variable printing function, among the label data selected in the label data management area 401. For example, if the whitened object "1" in the label data 403 is defined as an object named "Text A", the user can specify the object whose contents are to be replaced by inputting "Text A" in the target object selection control 412. The conversion data selection control 413 can receive data used to replace the object specified in the target object selection control 412. When the selection button of the conversion data selection control 413 is pressed, a file selection dialog of the OS is displayed. From the displayed file selection dialog, the user can select any data that can be used for replacement (for example, a CSV file in which the replacement contents are written as one record per sheet). The editing results after setting each of the setting items 410 to 413 are reflected in the label data selected in the label data management area 401. The label data with the editing results reflected is displayed in the preview area 407.

[0020] FIG. 4B is a diagram showing an example of a print application screen displayed when the layout edit tab 409 is selected. As shown in FIG. 4B, the print application screen displays a paper width control 414, a horizontal layout number control 415, a vertical layout number control 416, a horizontal label spacing control 417, and a vertical label spacing control 418. The setting items 414 to 418 accept input of setting values ​​for setting the layout on a recording medium of the label data selected in the label data management area 401. The print application screen also displays a printing device selection control 419, a save destination selection control 420, and a save button 421. The setting items 419 and 420 accept the designation of a printing device that shares a folder with the host computer 101, and a hot folder that is shared with the printing device, respectively. When the layout edit tab 409 is in a selected state, a preview of the print result of printing the label data selected in the label data management area 401 on a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as paper) based on the input layout value is displayed in the preview area 407. The display of setting items 410 to 413, setting items 419 and 420, and a save button 421 changes in response to the selection of a label edit tab 408 and a layout edit tab 409. Each setting item will be described in detail below.

[0021] The paper width control 414 accepts input of the width of the paper as a setting in the print application 301. However, if the printer information acquired by the printing device management unit 304 exists in the print application 301, the paper width control 414 reflects the paper width described in the printer information. The horizontal arrangement number control 415 accepts input of the number of labels arranged in the width direction of the paper. The vertical arrangement number control 416 accepts input of the number of labels arranged in the length direction of the paper. At this time, the preview area 407 displays a visually recognizable display of multiple label data arranged in the length direction of the paper. For example, the arranged label data may be displayed one after another in the preview area 407 by scrolling with the pointing device 117 or the like. The horizontal label spacing control 417 accepts input of the spacing between adjacent labels arranged in the width direction of the paper. Furthermore, the vertical label spacing control 418 accepts input of the spacing between adjacent labels arranged in the length direction of the paper.

[0022] The printing device selection control 419 accepts the designation of the printer information folder from which the printer information is acquired. However, the printing device selection control 419 displays the name of the printing device having the printer information folder shared with the host computer 101. The user designates the printer information folder by pressing the printing device selection control 419 and selecting the name of the printing device to be used. If the printer information folder is not designated, the user can register a new printer information folder in the list or designate a printer information folder from the registered printer information folder list held by the printing device management unit 304. The printing device selection control 419 displays, as a single drop-down list, the registered printer information folder list held by the printing device management unit 304 and a button for displaying a screen for registering a new printer information folder. Furthermore, when a folder is selected from the registered printer information folder list, the printing device selection control 419 sets the selected folder as the printer information folder. When the button for displaying a screen for registering the printer information folder of the printing device is pressed, the printing device selection control 419 displays a printer information folder registration screen 501 as shown in FIG. 5.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a printer information folder registration screen 501. With reference to FIG. 5, the printer information folder list registration will be described. The printer information folder registration screen 501 has a root folder display section 502, a folder display area 503, a confirm button 504, a cancel button 505, and a folder name display section 506. In this embodiment, the host computer 101 shares a folder that stores the printer information of the printing device 201 by the SMB protocol. For example, when the IP address of the printing device 201 connected to the network is "192.168.0.100", the root folder display section 502 displays "smb: / / 192.168.0.100", which is a URI that describes the protocol in a scheme format. In other words, the root folder display section 502 specifies the printer information folder shared by the host computer 101 and the printing device 201 and the root folder in which other shared folders are stored, by the URI. When a folder is shared with the printing device 201 by a server, the root folder display section 502 displays a URI including the IP address of the server in which the printer information folder is stored.

[0024] When a root folder is set in the root folder display section 502, accessible folders below the root folder, including the printer information folder, are displayed in a list in the folder display area 503. When the user selects a printer information folder from among the folders displayed in the folder display area 503, the name of the selected printer information folder is displayed in the folder name display section 506. When the user presses the Confirm button 504, the printing device management section 304 sets the selected printer information folder as the printer information acquisition source and adds it to the printer information folder list held by the printing application 301. After that, the printing application 301 closes this screen and performs a display process to return to the previous screen. On the other hand, when the Cancel button 505 is pressed, the printing device management section 304 does not register the printer information folder in the list. After that, the printing application 301 performs the same display process as when the Confirm button 504 is pressed.

[0025] Returning to FIG. 4B, the save destination selection control 420 accepts the designation of a hot folder in which print data edited on the print application screen is saved. The save destination selection control 420 displays, as one drop-down list, a hot folder list held by the hot folder management unit 305 and a button for displaying a screen for registering a new hot folder. When a registered hot folder is selected, the save destination selection control 420 sets the hot folder as a save destination for print data. When the button for displaying a screen for registering a new hot folder is pressed, a hot folder list registration screen 601 is displayed as shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the hot folder list registration screen 601. The hot folder list registration screen 601 has a root folder display section 602, a folder display area 603, a folder name display section 604, a confirm button 605, and a cancel button 606. In the root folder display section 602, in this embodiment, the host computer 101 shares a plurality of hot folders registered in the printing device 201 by the SMB protocol. For example, if the IP address of the printing device 201 connected to the network is "192.168.0.100", the URI "smb: / / 192.168.0.100" in which the protocol is written in a scheme format is displayed in the root folder display area 602. In other words, the root folder in which the hot folder shared by the host computer 101 and the printing device 201 and other shared folders are stored is specified by the URI in the root folder display area 602. Note that, if a folder is shared with the printing device 201 by a server, the root folder display area 602 displays a URI including the IP address of the server in which the hot folder is stored.

[0026] When a root folder is set in the root folder display section 602, folders below the accessible root folder, including a plurality of hot folders, are displayed in a folder display area 603 in a list. When a user selects a hot folder to be registered from among the folders displayed in the folder display area 603, the name of the selected hot folder is displayed in the folder name display section 604. When the Confirm button 605 is pressed, the hot folder management section 305 sets the selected hot folder as a hot folder to save print data, and registers it in the hot folder list held by the hot folder management section 305. After that, the print application 301 performs a display process to close this screen and return to the previous screen. On the other hand, when the Cancel button 606 is pressed, the hot folder management section 305 does not register the hot folder in the hot folder list. After that, the print application 301 performs the same display process as when the Confirm button 605 is pressed. The save destination selection control 420 may be capable of setting a folder other than a hot folder (for example, a folder on the external storage device 114) as a save destination.

[0027] Returning to FIG. 4B, the save button 421 accepts output of the print data reflecting the editing performed on the print application screen to the hot folder designated as the save destination by the save destination selection control 420. Here, in this embodiment, the save button 421 is in an active state when a folder is set in the save destination selection control 420. On the other hand, when a folder is not set in the save destination selection control 420 or a hot folder is not registered in the list, the save button 421 is in an inactive state and does not accept output processing, but is not limited to this. For example, when a folder is not set in the save destination selection control 420 or a hot folder is not registered in the list, a folder in the external storage device 114 of the host computer 101 may be set as the save destination folder. When the save button 421 is pressed in a state where a folder is set in the save destination selection control 420, the print suitability determination unit 307 performs print suitability determination processing.

[0028] <About the print suitability determination process> FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of print suitability determination processing performed by the print suitability determination unit 307. The print suitability determination processing will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The processing shown in FIG. 7 is realized by the CPU 111 of the host computer 101 reading a program stored in the ROM 112 or the like into the RAM 113 and executing it. Note that some or all of the functions of the steps in FIG. 7 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC or an electronic circuit. The symbol "S" in the description of each process means that it is a step in the flowchart (the same applies to the flowcharts in the following specification). The print suitability determination processing is started by pressing the save button 421 in S701.

[0029] Here, the print suitability determination process is divided into pre-processing in S702 to S711 for determining whether information necessary for print suitability determination is available, and main processing for print suitability determination in S712. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of items to be determined in the print suitability determination process. The items to be determined in the print suitability determination process will be described with reference to FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the determination items are classified into four categories: "pre-processing," "printing device status," "spot color setting," and "variable printing." "Pre-processing" is a group of determination items intended to notify that information necessary for the print suitability determination process is not available. "Printing device status" is a group of determination items intended to notify that the printing device 201 is not in a state where it can print. "Spot color setting" is a group of determination items intended to notify that the printing device 201, the hot folder selected in the save destination selection control 420, and / or the print data being determined for print suitability are not in a state suitable for printing using spot colors. "Variable printing" is a group of judgment items intended to notify that the printing device 201, the hot folder selected in the save destination selection control 420, and / or the print data being judged for print suitability are not suitable for printing using the variable printing function. In the pre-processing of S702 to S711, the four items of "pre-processing" in FIG. 9 are judged. In the main processing of the print suitability judgment of S712, the ten items of "printing device status," "spot color setting," and "variable printing" in FIG. 9 are judged. Note that, depending on the functions installed in the connected printing device 201, the items that can be set in the hot folder provided by the printing device 201, and the items that can be set in the print application 301, the suitability judgment may be performed for other items. Also, the suitability judgment may not be performed for some of the judgment items shown in FIG. 9.

[0030] Returning to FIG. 7, in S702, the CPU 111 determines whether or not a hot folder is set in the save destination selection control 420. If the CPU 111 determines that a hot folder is set in the save destination selection control 420 (Yes), the process proceeds to S703, and if the CPU 111 determines that a hot folder is not set (No), the process proceeds to S717. In other words, if the CPU 111 determines that the folder set in the save destination selection control 420 is not a hot folder, the process proceeds to the save process in S717 without performing the subsequent determination process, and ends the print suitability determination process. For example, if a folder stored in the external storage device 114 of the host computer 101 is set in the save destination selection control 420, the CPU 111 saves the print data in that folder in S717, and ends the flow shown in FIG. 7.

[0031] In S703, CPU 111 determines whether or not a printer information folder is set. If CPU 111 determines that a printer information folder is set (Yes), the process proceeds to S704, and if CPU 111 determines that a printer information folder is not set (No), the process proceeds to S719. In S719, CPU 111 saves a notification in a notification list that the suitability determination process cannot be performed because a printer information folder is not set. Here, the notification list is a list in which all results determined to be unsuitable in the print suitability determination process are temporarily and internally saved. The form of the notification list is, for example, a structure, an array, or the like, and any form is acceptable as long as it is possible to hold multiple values ​​together. Then, CPU 111 proceeds to the process of S714. In S704, CPU 111 reads the printer information file in the printer information folder to obtain printer information (second print setting information). Then, CPU 111 proceeds to the process of S705. In S705, CPU 111 determines whether the read printer information file is missing or has failed to read. If the CPU 111 determines that the printer information file is missing or that a read failure has occurred (Yes), the process proceeds to step S706, and if it determines that this is not the case (No), the process proceeds to step S707.

[0032] In S706, the CPU 111 saves a notification in the notification list that the suitability determination process cannot be performed because the acquisition of the printer information has failed. After that, the CPU 111 proceeds to the process of S714. In S707, the CPU 111 reads the hot folder information file stored in the hot folder set in the save destination selection control 420 in order to acquire hot folder information (third print setting information). After that, the CPU 111 proceeds to the process of S708. In S708, the CPU 111 determines whether the hot folder information file is missing or a read failure has occurred. If the CPU 111 determines that the hot folder information file is missing or a read failure has occurred (Yes), the CPU 111 proceeds to the process of S709, and if the CPU 111 determines that this is not the case (No), the CPU 111 proceeds to the process of S710. In S709, the CPU 111 saves a notification in the notification list that the acquisition of the hot folder information has failed and the suitability determination process cannot be performed. After that, the CPU 111 proceeds to the process of S714.

[0033] In S710, CPU 111 determines whether the hot folder set as the save destination of the print data is provided by the same printing device as the printer information folder. If CPU 111 determines that the hot folder is provided by the same printing device (Yes), it proceeds to processing of S712, and if it determines that the hot folder is not provided by the same printing device (No), it proceeds to processing of S711. In this embodiment, the IP address of each root folder is used to determine the printing device that provided the hot folder and the printer information folder, but the determination method is not limited to IP addresses. For example, a determination method such as embedding identification information unique to the printing device in the hot folder information and the printer information and comparing them may be used.

[0034] In S711, the CPU 111 saves a notification in the notification list to the effect that the suitability judgment cannot be performed because the set hot folder and the set printer information file do not match. After that, the CPU 111 proceeds to processing of S714. In S712, the CPU 111 performs the main processing of the print suitability judgment. When the print suitability judgment processing for all items is completed, the CPU 111 proceeds to processing of S713. In S713, the CPU 111 checks whether the judgment result of the judgment of inappropriateness is saved in the notification list. If the CPU 111 judges that the contents of the notification list are one or more (Yes), the CPU 111 proceeds to processing of S714, and if the CPU 111 judges that the contents of the notification list are not one or more (No), the CPU 111 proceeds to processing of S717. If the notification list is zero and there is no item judged to be inappropriate, the CPU 111 performs the save processing in S717 and ends the print suitability judgment processing. That is, the CPU 111 saves the print data as a print job file in the set hot folder.

[0035] In S714, the CPU 111 displays all the determination results on a notification screen (hereinafter, referred to as a notification dialog). Specifically, the CPU 111 displays all the contents in the notification list in the notification dialog, as shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a dialog for notifying the result of the print suitability determination process. The notification dialog will be described with reference to FIG. 8. The notification dialog 801 has a notification display area 802, a cancel button 803, a scroll bar 804, and an OK button 805. The notification dialog 801 is a dialog for displaying a message corresponding to the determination result in the notification list. The notification display area 802 displays a message corresponding to the determination result in the notification list. At this time, if there are multiple messages to be displayed, the messages are displayed in the same notification display area after displaying the boundaries of the messages in such a way that the boundaries between the messages are clearly distinguishable. If the messages cannot be displayed in the notification display area 802, the messages can be confirmed by operating the scroll bar 804. The cancel button 803 and the OK button 805 can accept a selection of whether to save the messages.

[0036] Returning to FIG. 7, in S715, CPU 111 accepts a user's input to notification dialog 801. If CPU 111 determines that OK button 805 has been pressed (Yes), the process proceeds to S716, and if CPU 111 determines that Cancel button 803 has been pressed (No), the process proceeds to S718. In S716, CPU 111 closes notification dialog 801, transitions to save processing, and ends the print suitability determination processing. In this case as well, CPU 111 saves the print data as a print job file in the set hot folder. In S718, CPU 111 closes notification dialog 801, and ends the print suitability determination processing without performing save processing. In both the processes of S716 and S718, the contents of the notification list are discarded when notification dialog 801 is closed.

[0037] <About the central process for determining whether printing is appropriate or not> The main process of determining whether printing is appropriate, which is performed in S712, will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Determinations are made in parallel for each of the items "printing device status," "spot color setting," and "variable printing" in Fig. 9.

[0038] For the four items classified as "printing device status" in FIG. 9, the CPU 111 refers to the printer information file acquired in S704 to determine whether printing is appropriate. Specifically, for item (5) in FIG. 9, the CPU 111 refers to the status information described in the printer information file, and if an error is described, saves in the notification list a notification that the input job will not be printed immediately because an error is occurring in the printing device. For item (6) in FIG. 9, if the status information describes maintenance, saves in the notification list a notification that the input job will not be printed immediately because the printing device is in a maintenance state. For item (7) in FIG. 9, the CPU 111 refers to the ink usage settings described in the hot folder information file and the ink information described in the printer information file. Then, if the CPU 111 determines that the process color described in the ink usage settings is not set in the printing device 201, it saves in the notification list a notification that the ink is not set in the printing device. 9, the CPU 111 refers to the settings of the paper set in the printing device 201, which are described in the printer information file. If the CPU 111 determines that there is no description of the setting value for the paper setting, or that there is a description that the paper has not been set, the CPU 111 saves in the notification list a notification that no print paper is set in the printing device 201. Once all of the above determinations have been made, the determination of whether printing is appropriate for the printing device status is completed.

[0039] Next, items (13) and (14) will be described. Items (9) to (12) classified as "spot color settings" will be described later. For the two items classified as "variable printing" in FIG. 9, the CPU 111 refers to the hot folder information file acquired in S707 and the contents of the print data currently to be saved to determine whether printing is appropriate. For item (13) in FIG. 9, the CPU 111 determines whether the print data to be saved does not have a variable printing setting and whether the variable printing setting in the hot folder information file contains a description of using variable printing. If the CPU 111 determines that this is the case, it saves a notification in the notification list that print data without a variable printing setting will be input into a hot folder with a variable printing setting. For item (14) in FIG. 9, the CPU 111 determines whether the print data to be saved has a variable printing setting and whether the variable printing setting in the hot folder information file contains a description of not using variable printing. If it is determined that the print data has variable printing settings, the CPU 111 saves a notification in the notification list to the effect that the print data with variable printing settings will be input to a hot folder without variable printing settings. After all of the above determinations have been made, the print suitability determination for variable printing is completed.

[0040] For the four items classified as "spot color settings" in Fig. 9, CPU 111 refers to the printer information file acquired in S704, the hot folder information file acquired in S707, and the contents of the print data currently being saved, and performs a print suitability determination. Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of print suitability determination processing. The print suitability determination for spot color settings will be described with reference to Fig. 10.

[0041] In S1001, CPU 111 determines whether spot color is used in the print data to be currently saved. If CPU 111 determines that spot color is used in the print data (Yes), it proceeds to processing of S1003, and if it determines that spot color is not used in the print data (No), it proceeds to processing of S1002. In this embodiment, by analyzing the file structure of the PDF file, it is determined whether spot color is used in the print data from objects and analysis information extracted from the PDF file, but the method is not limited to this. In other words, the determination method may be any method that can determine that spot color is used.

[0042] In S1002, CPU 111 determines whether the spot color use setting described in the hot folder information file is set to not use spot colors. If CPU 111 determines that the spot color non-use setting is set to not use spot colors (Yes), it proceeds to processing of S1011, and if it determines that this is not the case (No), it proceeds to processing of S1007. In S1011, CPU 111 ends the print suitability determination processing for the spot color setting. In S1007, CPU 111 saves in the notification list a notice that print data set to not use spot colors will be input to a hot folder set to use spot colors (corresponding to item (10) in FIG. 9), and ends the print suitability determination processing for the spot color setting.

[0043] In S1003, the CPU 111 acquires the name of the spot color (hereinafter, called the spot color name) included in the print data to be saved. This is because the printing device 201 in this embodiment determines the spot color use location in the print data by using an object in which a spot color is specified and the spot color name set to the object. Then, the CPU 111 proceeds to the process of S1004.

[0044] In S1004, CPU 111 refers to the item of the spot color name set in printing device 201 described in the printer information file, and determines whether it matches the spot color name acquired in S1003. If CPU 111 determines that the spot color name set in printing device 201 matches the spot color name acquired in S1003 (Yes), it proceeds to processing of S1005, and if it determines that this is not the case (No), it proceeds to processing of S1010. In S1010, CPU 111 saves in the notification list a notice that the spot color name of the spot color used in the print data does not match the spot color name being set in printing device 201 (corresponding to item (12) in FIG. 9). After this, CPU 111 continues the printing suitability determination process, and proceeds to S1005.

[0045] In S1005, CPU 111 determines whether or not the spot color usage setting described in the hot folder information file indicates that a spot color is used. If CPU 111 determines that the spot color usage setting indicates that a spot color is used (Yes), it proceeds to processing of S1006, and if it determines that this is not the case (No), it proceeds to processing of S1008. In S1008, CPU 111 saves in the notification list a notice that print data using a spot color is to be input to a hot folder that is set not to use a spot color (corresponding to item (9) in FIG. 9). Thereafter, CPU 111 continues the printing suitability determination processing, and proceeds to processing of S1006.

[0046] In S1006, the CPU 111 determines whether the spot color ink described in the ink setting in the hot folder information file is set in the ink setting described in the printer information file. If the CPU 111 determines that the spot color ink in the hot folder information file is set in the ink setting in the printer information file (Yes), the process proceeds to S1011, and if the CPU 111 determines that the spot color ink is not set (No), the process proceeds to S1009. In S1009, the CPU 111 saves in the notification list a message indicating that the print data using the spot color will not be printed because the spot color ink has not been set (corresponding to item (11) in FIG. 9), and ends the print suitability determination process for the spot color setting. After the CPU 111 has performed all of the print suitability determinations for the above-mentioned "printing device status," "spot color setting," and "variable printing," it performs the processes from S713 in FIG. 7 onward.

[0047] As described above, according to this embodiment, the user is notified that there is a high possibility that the print data to be printed cannot be printed as expected in the current state of the hot folder to which the print data is to be input and the printing device corresponding to the hot folder, thereby reducing printing errors made by the user.

[0048] Second embodiment As a second embodiment, a form in which the result of the print suitability determination can be confirmed on the print application screen even after the notification dialog 801 is closed will be described. The configuration and the process up to S715 are the same as those of the above-mentioned embodiment, and therefore will be omitted. In the above-mentioned embodiment, when the user tries to resolve the part that may be the cause of the print failure notified in the notification dialog 801 on the print application screen, the notification dialog 801 is already closed. That is, when the user wants to recheck the part that may be the cause of the print failure, the print application 301 needs to press the save button 421 again with the same settings after the print suitability determination process is performed. Therefore, in this embodiment, the print application 301 accepts the input of the cancel button 803 in S715, and when the notification dialog 801 is closed in S718, the content of the notification list is retained without being discarded. Then, the display unit 308 displays the notification dialog showing the content of the notification list and the display items at the part corresponding to the content of the notification list on the print application screen, as shown in FIG. 11.

[0049] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display item for notifying the result of the print suitability determination process. With reference to FIG. 11, a case where a notification that printing paper is not set in the printing device 201 is stored in the notification list will be described as an example. FIG. 11 shows a notification icon 1101, which is a display item displayed on the printing application screen, and a notification details dialog 1102, which is a display screen for displaying the contents of the notification list. The notification icon 1101 is displayed around a setting item on the printing application screen related to the contents of the notification stored in the notification list. Specifically, in FIG. 11, the notification icon 1101 is displayed next to the printing device selection control 419 related to the contents of the notification that printing paper is not set in the printing device 201. When the notification icon 1101 is pressed, a notification details dialog 1102 is displayed, and the details of the notification are displayed. The message displayed in the notification details dialog 1102 is the same as the corresponding message displayed in the notification dialog 801 in S714.

[0050] The position at which the notification icon 1011 is displayed is determined for each of the judgment items shown in FIG. 9, and the position is not dynamically determined. Also, even if there are multiple notifications corresponding to one setting item on the print application screen, one notification icon 1101 is displayed, and multiple messages are displayed on the notification details dialog 1102. The notification list that is held is discarded the next time the save button 421 is pressed and immediately before the print suitability judgment process is executed. As described above, according to this embodiment, in addition to the effects described in the first embodiment, the user can check the points that may be the cause of printing failure even after closing the notification dialog, and therefore the convenience of the user who performs the work to resolve the cause of printing failure can be improved.

[0051] (Third embodiment) As a third embodiment, a printing suitability determination process in a case where the printing device 201 does not provide a hot folder information file will be described. Note that the same contents as those in the above-mentioned embodiment will be omitted. Here, a case is assumed where the printing application 301 of the host computer 101 sharing the folder provided by the printing device 201 can obtain printer information from the printer information folder, but cannot obtain hot folder information from the hot folder. For example, in a printing device, a technology for updating one printer information file and providing printer information and a technology for updating a large number of hot folder information files and providing hot folder information may have different technical difficulties. That is, a case where the printer information folder is provided in a format that the printing application 301 of the host computer 101 can interpret, but the hot folder information is not provided in a format that the application can interpret. In this way, there are cases where the hot folder information file cannot be obtained from the hot folder due to the performance of the printing application 301 or the function of the printing device 201. In this case, it is difficult for the printing application 301 to obtain the hot folder information. Therefore, in this embodiment, the hot folder registration process of the hot folder management unit 305 has a function of accepting input of print settings to be set in the hot folder to be registered.

[0052] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a hot folder registration screen 1201 displayed by the hot folder management unit 305 in this embodiment. Registration of a hot folder performed by a user on the print application 301 will be described with reference to Fig. 12. The hot folder registration screen 1201 has a hot folder selection control 1202, a name setting control 1203, a print setting control group 1204, a cancel button 1205, and a registration button 1206. The hot folder registration screen 1201 is a dialog displayed in response to pressing a button for registering a hot folder on the print application 301 (for example, the hot folder registration button in the save destination selection control 420).

[0053] The hot folder selection control 1202 is an item for selecting a folder to be registered from among the hot folders provided by the printing apparatus 201. Here, even if the printing application 301 cannot obtain hot folder information from the hot folders provided by the printing apparatus 201, it can obtain a network path (hereinafter, referred to as a path) associated with the selected hot folder. In response to pressing a selection button of the hot folder selection control 1202, the hot folder management unit 305 displays a hot folder selection screen as shown in FIG. 6 and accepts the user's selection. Then, when a hot folder is selected and the confirm button is pressed, the selection screen is closed and the printing application 301 obtains the path associated with the selected hot folder. The name setting control 1203 accepts input of an arbitrary name for the hot folder to be registered. The print setting control group 1204 accepts print settings associated with the hot folder selected by the hot folder selection control 1202. The setting controls included in the print setting control group 1204 are not limited to those shown in FIG. 12. For example, the setting control includes setting controls for all items that can be set in a hot folder based on the specifications of the printing device 201. When a cancel button 1205 is pressed, the hot folder management unit 305 does not register a hot folder. Then, the hot folder management unit 305 performs processing to close the hot folder registration screen 1201. When a registration button 1206 is pressed, the hot folder management unit 305 registers a new hot folder. At this time, the print settings accepted by the print setting control group 1204 are saved in the print application 301 in association with information on the location and name of the hot folder. As a storage format of the print settings, the print settings may be saved as a single file, and the path may be registered in association with the location and name of the hot folder. As a storage format of the print settings, the location, landmarks, and contents of each print setting of the hot folder may be saved as a single information group.

[0054] The print suitability determination process in this embodiment follows the same flow as that in Fig. 7 of the first embodiment, and so a description thereof will be omitted. However, when reading hot folder information in S707, the hot folder information file stored in the hot folder on the printing device 201 is not acquired, but the print settings saved in the print application 301 registered on the hot folder registration screen 1201 are referenced. In the processes from S708 onwards and the flow in Fig. 10, the print settings acquired in S707 are treated as hot folder information, and the print suitability determination process is performed. As described above, according to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained even if the printing device does not provide a hot folder information file.

[0055] (Other embodiments) The present disclosure can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more 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. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

[0056] The disclosure of the present embodiment includes configurations typified by the following program examples, information processing device examples, and information processing method examples.

[0057] <Configuration 1> The computer of the information processing device, an acquisition means for acquiring print data including first print setting information indicating print setting information, second print setting information indicating current print settings in a printing device that is a target for printing the print data, and third print setting information set in a hot folder corresponding to the printing device; a determination unit that determines whether printing based on the print data in the printing device is appropriate based on the first print setting information, the second print setting information, and the third print setting information; a notification means for notifying the user that the image is not suitable for printing when the determination means determines that the image is not suitable for printing; A program characterized by causing a computer to function as described above. <Configuration 2> 2. The program according to configuration 1, wherein the acquiring means acquires the third print setting information when the hot folder is set as a destination folder. <Configuration 3> The program according to configuration 1 or 2, wherein the acquisition means acquires the second print setting information when a folder including the second print setting information provided by the printing device is set. <Configuration 4> The program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that when the determination means determines that there are multiple factors that make the printing unsuitable, the notification means includes the multiple factors in the notification. <Component 5> 5. The program according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the acquisition means acquires the third print setting information from a hot folder information file stored in the hot folder. <Component 6> a means for accepting input of print setting information to be set in the hot folder when the acquisition means cannot acquire the third print setting information from the hot folder, 6. The program according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, characterized in that it functions as a <Component 7> 7. The program according to configuration 6, wherein the determination means makes the determination based on the input print setting information. <Component 8> The notification means notifies the user that the image is not suitable for printing via a notification screen, a receiving unit for receiving, from the notification screen, a command to store the print data in the hot folder; and make it work. The program according to configuration 1, wherein the notification means displays a display item for notifying the user that the document is not suitable for printing if the acceptance means does not accept the save. <Component 9> 9. The program according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, wherein the first to third print setting information includes information relating to spot color settings. <Component 10> The program described in any one of configurations 1 to 8, characterized in that the acquisition means acquires information regarding the spot color setting of the first print setting information when a spot color setting is set in the first print setting information. <Component 11> The program described in any one of configurations 1 to 8, characterized in that when the determination means determines that the first print setting information does not have a spot color setting and the third print setting information has a spot color setting, the notification means notifies that the information is not suitable for printing. <Component 12> The program described in any one of configurations 1 to 8, characterized in that when the determination means determines that the information regarding the spot color included in the first printing setting information does not match the information regarding the spot color set in the second printing setting information, the notification means notifies that the information is not suitable for printing. <Component 13> an acquisition means for acquiring print data including first print setting information indicating print setting information, second print setting information indicating current print settings in a printing device that is a target for printing the print data, and third print setting information set in a hot folder corresponding to the printing device; a determination unit that determines whether printing based on the print data in the printing device is appropriate based on the first print setting information, the second print setting information, and the third print setting information; a notification means for notifying the user that the image is not suitable for printing when the determination means determines that the image is not suitable for printing; An information processing device comprising: <Component 14> an acquisition step of acquiring print data including first print setting information indicating print setting information, second print setting information indicating current print settings in a printing device that is a target for printing the print data, and third print setting information set in a hot folder corresponding to the printing device; a determination step of determining whether or not printing based on the print data in the printing device is appropriate based on the first print setting information, the second print setting information, and the third print setting information; a notification step of notifying the user that the recording medium is not suitable for printing when the recording medium is determined to be not suitable for printing in the determination step; 13. An information processing method comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 101 Host Computer 201 Printing device 301 Printing Application

Claims

1. The computer of the information processing device, an acquisition means for acquiring print data including first print setting information indicating print setting information, second print setting information indicating current print settings in a printing device that is a target for printing the print data, and third print setting information set in a hot folder corresponding to the printing device; a determination unit that determines whether printing based on the print data in the printing device is appropriate based on the first print setting information, the second print setting information, and the third print setting information; a notification means for notifying the user that the image is not suitable for printing when the determination means determines that the image is not suitable for printing; A program characterized by causing a computer to function as described above.

2. 2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring means acquires the third print setting information when the hot folder is set as a destination folder.

3. 2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition means acquires the second print setting information when a folder including the second print setting information provided by the printing device is set.

4. 2. The program according to claim 1, wherein, when the determining means determines that there are a plurality of factors that make the printing unsuitable, the notifying means includes the plurality of factors in the notification.

5. 2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring means acquires the third print setting information from a hot folder information file stored in the hot folder.

6. a means for receiving input of print setting information to be set in the hot folder when the acquisition means cannot acquire the third print setting information from the hot folder; 2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the program causes the program to function as a

7. 7. The program according to claim 6, wherein the determining means makes the determination based on the input print setting information.

8. The notification means notifies the user that the image is not suitable for printing via a notification screen, a receiving unit for receiving, from the notification screen, a command to store the print data in the hot folder; and make it work.

2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the notification means displays a display item for notifying the user that the document is not suitable for printing if the acceptance means does not accept the save.

9. 2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the first to third print setting information includes information relating to spot color settings.

10. 2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring means acquires information about the spot color setting of the first print setting information when a spot color setting is included in the first print setting information.

11. The program according to claim 1, characterized in that when the determination means determines that the first print setting information does not have a spot color setting and the third print setting information has a spot color setting, the notification means notifies that the information is not suitable for printing.

12. The program described in claim 1, characterized in that when the determination means determines that the information regarding spot colors contained in the first printing setting information does not match the information regarding spot colors set in the second printing setting information, the notification means notifies that the information is not suitable for printing.

13. an acquisition means for acquiring print data including first print setting information indicating print setting information, second print setting information indicating current print settings in a printing device that is a target for printing the print data, and third print setting information set in a hot folder corresponding to the printing device; a determination unit that determines whether printing based on the print data in the printing device is appropriate based on the first print setting information, the second print setting information, and the third print setting information; a notification means for notifying the user that the image is not suitable for printing when the determination means determines that the image is not suitable for printing; An information processing device comprising:

14. an acquisition step of acquiring print data including first print setting information indicating print setting information, second print setting information indicating current print settings in a printing device that is a target for printing the print data, and third print setting information set in a hot folder corresponding to the printing device; a determination step of determining whether or not printing based on the print data in the printing device is appropriate based on the first print setting information, the second print setting information, and the third print setting information; a notification step of notifying the user that the recording medium is not suitable for printing when the recording medium is determined to be not suitable for printing in the determination step; 13. An information processing method comprising:

Images