Application program, storage medium, control method and information processing device

Abstract

To solve a problem that no consideration is given to a method in which an extended application to extend a function of a printer driver is appropriately started and printing processing is performed.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus including printing data generation software acquired at a first timing and printing software acquired at a second timing different from the first timing and different from the printing data generation software starts the printing software when setting information corresponding to a start condition of the printing software is included in printing setting information using a setting screen provided by the printing software.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to Application Program , storage medium, Control method and Information processing device Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] In Windows (registered trademark), it is possible to provide a dedicated application for expanding the functions of the printer driver. This application is called Windows Store Device App (WSDA). By providing WSDA, vendors who provide printing devices can customize the print setting screen when printing from a specific application (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-16480 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, there has been a demand for further improvements in convenience in printing processes.

[0005] In view of the above problem, the present invention provides an application program that generates print data that can be printed by printing devices of multiple vendors, receives print data generated by print data generation software that can transmit the print data to the printing devices of multiple vendors, and detects that a specific instruction has been issued when a print instruction is received. NoThe object of the present invention is to have a computer execute a process for displaying a print preview based on the print data on a display unit when a predetermined instruction is given at the time of receiving a print instruction, and execute a process for displaying a print preview based on the print data on a display unit in which at least a part of the settings received by a setting screen is reflected, if a predetermined instruction is given when a print instruction is received. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an application program that generates print data that can be printed by printing devices of multiple vendors, receives print data generated by print data generation software that can transmit the print data to the printing devices of the multiple vendors, and, when a print instruction is received, a predetermined instruction is given. No If the specified instruction is given when a print instruction is received, the computer does not execute a process for displaying a print preview based on the print data on the display unit, and if the specified instruction is given when a print instruction is received, the computer executes a process for displaying a print preview based on the print data on the display unit that reflects at least some of the settings received via a setting screen. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, an application program is provided, which generates print data that can be printed by printing devices of multiple vendors, receives print data generated by print data generation software capable of transmitting the print data to printing devices of multiple vendors, and performs a predetermined instruction when a print instruction is received. No If a predetermined instruction is given when the print instruction is received, the computer is made to execute a process for displaying on the display a print preview based on the print data, and if a predetermined instruction is given when the print instruction is received, the computer is made to execute a process for displaying on the display a print preview based on the print data that reflects at least a part of the settings received by the setting screen. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] Block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the printing system [Diagram 2] Block diagram for explaining data flow during printing [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a screen for setting print settings. [Figure 4] Schematic diagram for explaining layout printing [Diagram 5] Schematic diagram of the print preview function user interface [Figure 6] An example of registration information for start conditions [Figure 7] Flowchart of startup process of an extension application in the first embodiment [Figure 8] Flowchart of extended application launch setting process [Figure 9] Flowchart of startup process of an extension application in the second embodiment [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen provided by an extension application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

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

[0010] <Embodiment 1> 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a printing system. In this diagram, a host computer 101 is an example of an information processing device, and has 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. In addition, 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.

[0011] An initialization program is stored in the ROM 112, and application programs, an operating system (OS), a print data generation application, 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.

[0012] In this embodiment, the CPU 111 executes processes according to the procedures of the program stored in the ROM 112, thereby executing functions of the host computer 101 described below and processes related to the flowcharts described below. The printing device 102, which is a device, is connected to the host computer 101 via an 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, electrophotography). The host computer 101 may be a desktop personal computer, a smartphone, or a notebook computer.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data flow in printing. FIG. 2(a) is a diagram showing a data flow in the case where the extended application 203 is not associated with the application 201, the print data generation software 202, and the printing device 102. The user instructs printing from the application 201. The application 201 is software that creates the content to be printed, and corresponds to, for example, a word processing application or a spreadsheet application. When instructing printing, the user performs a setting process using a print setting screen provided by the OS or the print data generation software 202. This setting process causes the print data generation software to generate print setting information. The print setting information includes setting information corresponding to the setting value set using the print setting screen. The print setting information is also called PrintTciket. The OS generates intermediate data (also called input data) based on the application data output from the application based on the print instruction, and passes it to the print data generation software 202. The data output by the application for printing is data in the Graphic Device Interface format (GDI format data) or data in the XML Paper Specification format (XPS format data). The print data generation software 202 generates print data that can be interpreted by a printing device from the intermediate data based on print setting information set by the user, and sends the print data to the printing device 102. The print data generation software 202 generates print data that can be used by printing devices of multiple vendors. In other words, a printing device of vendor A can print using the print data generated by the print data generation software 202. Also, a printing device of vendor B can print using the print data generated by the print data generation software 202. The printing device 102 prints on paper based on the print data sent from the print data generation software 202.

[0014] FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a data flow when the extended application 203 is associated with the print data generation software 202. The print data generation software 202 is software that is included in the OS beforehand. That is, the print data generation software can be used when the OS is installed in the device. On the other hand, the extended application 203 is software that is not included in the OS beforehand. Therefore, the user needs to operate the host computer to download the extended application 203 from a server via a network and install it. When the printing device 102 is connected to the host computer 101, the CPU 111 acquires device identification information from the printing device 102. Then, the CPU 111 may acquire the extended application 203 corresponding to the acquired device identification information from the server via the network and install it. That is, the print data generation software 202 and the extended application 203 are held in the host computer 101 as separate files. The print data generation software 202 and the extended application 203 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 extended application 203 is acquired. Furthermore, the trigger at which the host computer 101 acquires the print data generation software 202 is different from the trigger at which the extended application 203 is acquired. When the extended application 203 is installed, the OS associates the print data generation software 202 with the extended application 203. The extended application 203 described in this embodiment includes a print setting screen extension unit 204, a layout extension unit 205, and a preview unit 206.

[0015] The operation of the extension application 203 may be terminated each time the processing of each unit is completed. In that case, the OS will launch the extension application 203 each time a request to use each unit is received. Other configurations are also possible. For example, when the processing of the print setting screen extension unit 204 is completed, the OS will terminate the operation of the extension application 203, but the OS may keep the extension application 203 running even after the processing of the layout extension unit 205 is completed.

[0016] Next, the layout extension unit 205 and the preview unit 206 will be described. The layout extension unit 205 performs layout processing based on intermediate data before processing by the print data generation software 202. For example, the layout extension unit 205 provides a layout printing function (also called Nin1 printing) that arranges and prints multiple pages on one surface of a sheet of paper. The preview unit 206 can execute at least one of displaying and editing the print data generated by the print data generation software 202. Although each unit of the extension application 203 can display a UI, it is not necessary to display the UI. For example, the layout extension unit 205 may only edit the intermediate data without displaying the UI, and output the edited intermediate data to the print data generation software 202. If the layout extension unit 205 can display a UI, for example, a preview screen including a setting area for changing a preview image and print setting information based on the intermediate data may be displayed. It goes without saying that the configuration of the extension application 203 for realizing the present invention is not limited to one having all of the above-mentioned functions, and may have only a part of the functions or other functions. The extended application 203 may also be simply called print software. As described above, the extended application 203 has at least one of the following functions: a function for displaying a setting screen, a function for editing input data input to the print data generation software, and a function for displaying print data.

[0017] A user issues a print instruction from an application 201. At that time, the user performs a setting process using a print setting screen provided by a print setting screen extension unit 204 provided by an extension application 203. Through this setting process, the print setting screen extension unit 204 generates print setting information. Details of the print setting function will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.

[0018] The OS generates intermediate data based on application data and print setting information based on a print instruction, and starts the layout extension unit 205 of the extension application 203. The intermediate data includes drawing data and print setting information corresponding to the content to be printed. The OS generates XPS format data as intermediate data based on, for example, GDI data output from the application 201. When the application 201 outputs XPS format data as application data, the OS may pass the XPS format data as it is to the layout extension unit 205. When the application 201 outputs XPS format data as application data, the OS may generate XPS format data by modifying the XPS format data that is the application data. The layout extension unit 205 edits the drawing data based on the drawing data included in the generated intermediate data and the print setting information generated using, for example, the screen of FIG. 3. The layout extension unit 205 outputs the edited drawing data to the print data generation software 202. The print data generation software 202 generates and outputs print data that can be interpreted by a printing device based on the print setting information generated based on a setting operation by a user and the edited drawing data. Next, the OS starts the preview unit 206 of the extension application 203. The preview unit 206 acquires the print data generated by the print data generation software 202 and displays a print preview. After the user confirms that the print result is the desired one through the print preview, the user instructs the start of printing using the print preview UI. When the preview unit 206 receives a print start instruction from the user, it outputs the print data. The print data output from the preview unit 206 is sent to the printing device 102. The printing device 102 prints on paper based on the print data sent from the host computer 101. With the above configuration, the user can use the layout function and print preview function that the print data generation software 202 does not have by using the extension application.

[0019] FIG. 3 is an example of a print setting screen provided by the print setting screen extension unit 204 of the extension application 203. When printing from an application, the user sets print setting information using this screen. If the extension application 203 is not associated with the print data generation software 202, a standard print setting screen provided by the OS or the print data generation software 202 is generally used. In the standard print setting screen, only print setting information corresponding to the functions provided by the print data generation software 202 can be set. In contrast, in the print setting screen provided by the extension application 203, print setting information corresponding to the extended functions provided by the extension application 203 can also be set. In the example of FIG. 3, it is possible to set layout printing provided by the layout extension unit 205 and print preview function provided by the preview unit 206.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of a layout printing function provided by the layout extension unit 205 of the extension application 203. In layout printing, a layout is performed so that multiple pages in intermediate data based on application data are arranged on one surface of a sheet of paper. In the example of FIG. 4, two-page printing (2in1) is set, and the layout extension unit 205 generates drawing data 403 in which two consecutive pages 401 and 402 are arranged on one surface of a sheet of paper. In addition to two-page printing, there is also a setting for arranging even more pages on one surface of a sheet of paper. The following description will be given assuming that the layout extension unit 205 in this embodiment has layout functions for two-page printing and four-page printing as layout functions for layout printing.

[0021] FIG. 5 is an example of a print preview screen provided by the preview unit 206 of the extended application 203. A display item 501 is used to change the page to be displayed on the print preview. By operating this display item 501, the user can change the page to be displayed, and can also check the total number of pages to be printed with the current print data and print settings. A display item 502 is a print preview screen that shows an image of the print result of the specified page. A display item 503 is a button for starting printing. A display item 504 is a cancel button, and when the user presses this button, the subsequent print process is canceled. Note that the preview image displayed in FIG. 5 corresponds to the content generated by the application.

[0022] A vendor that provides a printing device can extend the functions of the print data generation software 202 by using the extension application 203. However, there is a concern that the time required for the entire printing process will increase if the extension application 203 is started every time printing is performed because the extension application 203 is associated with the print data generation software 202. Therefore, the user can set the start of the extension application 203 to switch whether or not to start the extension application 203, thereby executing appropriate printing processing.

[0023] That is, the user sets the startup setting of the extended application 203 to ON / OFF. For example, the startup setting of the extended application 203 may be set to ON / OFF using the screen of FIG. 3. Also, the user may set the startup setting of the extended application 203 to ON / OFF using another application before using the extended application 203. The OS checks the startup setting of the extended application 203 and starts it only if it is ON. This allows the user to select whether or not to use the extended application 203. With this mechanism, if the user does not need the function extension provided by the extended application 203, the user can suppress an increase in the overall time required for printing by setting it to OFF.

[0024] Moreover, it is desirable that the extended application 203 is started only when the user wants to use a function provided by the extended application 203. For example, if the extended application 203 provides a print preview function, the extended application 203 should be started only when the user issues a print instruction with the print preview setting turned on in the screen of FIG. 3. For this purpose, the source of the activation of the extended application 203 needs to recognize what print setting information is set when the extended application should be activated (hereinafter, the activation source of the extended application will be described as the OS). Therefore, a configuration will be described in which the extended application 203 registers activation conditions, and the OS activates the extended application 203 when the registered activation conditions are met.

[0025] To realize this configuration, first, a CUSTOM setting that determines whether or not to start the extension application based on print setting information is added to the start conditions of the extension application 203. When CUSTOM is selected in the start setting, the OS determines whether or not to start the extension application based on the registered start conditions.

[0026] 6 is a diagram showing an example of registration information of start conditions. In this embodiment, the extension application 203 provides layout printing by a layout extension unit 205 and a print preview function by a preview unit 206. In addition, the user can set layout printing and print preview for print settings associated with a print job in a print setting screen extension unit 204.

[0027] When the extension application 203 is associated with the print data generation software 202, it registers print setting information that serves as a startup trigger for the extension application 203 itself. The timing for registering the information is not limited to the timing when the extension application 203 is associated with the print data generation software 202. The user can also change the information at any timing through the extension application 203, and the timing for registering the startup condition information is not limited.

[0028] The registration information includes three pieces of information: Feature, which indicates the target function; Options, which is a list of setting items to be started if set; and Timing, which indicates the start timing. Timing is associated with a numerical value and a start timing, and if it is 1, the extension application 203 starts before the print data generation software 202 starts, and if it is 2, the extension application 203 starts after the print data generation software 202 starts. In the example of FIG. 6, when the JobPreview setting corresponding to the print preview function is ON, the extension application 203 is registered to start after the print data generation software 202 starts. In addition, when 2-page printing (PagesPerSheet_2) or 4-page printing (PagesPerSheet_4) is set in a Feature called JobNUpAllDocumentsContiguously, which corresponds to the layout print setting, the extension application 203 is registered to start before the print data generation software 202 starts.

[0029] The registration information of the start conditions described in this embodiment is an example for realizing this configuration, and the contents of the registration information are not limited to the information described above. For example, if there is a setting that needs to be started either before or after the print data generation software 202, in addition to the above-mentioned setting, it is also possible to provide a setting for the Timing that is the target for starting both before and after the print data generation software 202. Also, if the extension application 203 is started only before or after the print data generation software 202, it is also possible that the Timing setting itself is not necessary.

[0030] Fig. 7 is a flowchart relating to control of the startup process of the extension application 203 in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the startup of the extension application is described as being performed by the OS, but in reality, a startup module contained in the OS may be included. The flowchart in Fig. 7 is started, for example, when the user sets print setting information using Fig. 3 and then issues a print instruction using an application (i.e., an instruction to generate intermediate data in the OS). The flowchart in Fig. 7 is also started when the print data generation software 202 outputs print data.

[0031] First, the OS checks the startup setting of the extension application 203 (S701). The startup setting of the extension application 203 can be set to one of three settings: ON / OFF / CUSTOM. For example, the options for "extended application startup" on the setting screen of FIG. 3 include ON, OFF, and AUTO. When ON is selected as "extended application startup" using FIG. 3, S701 is determined to be ON, and when OFF is selected, S701 is determined to be OFF. On the other hand, when AUTO is selected, CUSTOM is determined. When the startup setting of the extension application 203 is ON, the process proceeds to S702, and the OS starts the extension application 203. When the startup setting of the extension application 203 is OFF, the startup process is terminated without starting the extension application 203. When the extension application 203 is not started, the OS inputs intermediate data to the print data generation software 202 and outputs print data to the printing device 102, as in FIG. 2(a).

[0032] If the start setting of the extension application 203 is CUSTOM, it is determined whether the start timing is before processing by the print data generation software 202 (S703), and a numerical value corresponding to the Timing to be checked in the start condition information is stored in the variable n. Note that S703 is realized by determining whether the flowchart in Fig. 7 was started based on the user issuing a print instruction using an application, or based on the print data generation software 202 outputting print data.

[0033] 7 is started based on the user's instruction to print using an application, the OS determines that the start timing is before the processing of the print data generation software 202, and stores 1 in the variable n (S704). On the other hand, when the flowchart of FIG. 7 is started based on the print data generation software 202 outputting print data, the OS determines that the start timing is after the processing of the print data generation software 202, and stores 2 in the variable n (S705). Next, the OS acquires information whose Timing matches the value of n stored in S704 and S705 from the start condition information (S706). For example, when it is determined in S703 that the start timing is before the processing of the print data generation software 202, 1 is stored in the variable n in S704. Then, in S706, an item whose Timing is 1 is acquired from the registration information of the start condition in FIG. 6. That is, "JobNUpAllDocumentsContiguously" and "PagesPerSheet_2 / 4" are acquired.

[0034] Next, the OS identifies the print setting information set by the user, compares it with the start condition information acquired in S706, and checks whether there is matching print setting information (S707). If the start condition in FIG. 6 is registered, the OS checks whether the setting value of JobNUpAllDocumentsContiguously in the print setting information is PagesPerSheet_2 or PagesPerSheet_4. If it is determined that there is matching print setting information, the process proceeds to S702, and the OS starts the extended application 203. In the example of FIG. 6, there is only one setting with Timing set to 1, but it is also possible that the layout extension unit has multiple layout settings, and each of them has a setting. In that case, the OS checks against all registered information, and if there is even one matching information, the process proceeds to S702, and starts the extended application 203. If there is no matching print setting information after checking all the start condition information, the OS ends the start process without starting the extended application 203. That is, in this embodiment, if the extension application 203 is started before the print data generation software 202 generates print data, the extension application 203 executes an editing process on the intermediate data (input data).

[0035] Also, for example, if it is determined that the start timing is after the processing of the print data generation software 202, 2 is stored in the variable n in S705. Then, in S706, an item with Timing 2 is acquired from the registration information of the start condition in FIG. 6. That is, "JobPreview" and "ON" are acquired. Next, the OS checks the print setting information set by the user, compares it with the start condition information acquired in S706, and checks whether matching print setting information exists (S707). If the start condition in FIG. 6 is registered, the OS checks whether the setting value of Preview in the print setting information is ON. If it is determined that matching print setting information exists, the process proceeds to S702, and the OS starts the extended application 203. That is, in this embodiment, if the extended application 203 is started after the print data generation software 202 generates print data, the extended application 203 executes a preview image display process using the print data.

[0036] As described above, in this embodiment, the OS can start the extension application 203 based on the registered start condition information only when the function provided by the extension application 203 is used. This makes it possible to reduce the performance degradation caused by the association of the extension application 203 for printing in which the user does not use the extended function provided by the extension application 203.

[0037] In the process of FIG. 7, a case has been described in which the startup setting of the extended application 203 can be set to one of three options, ON / OFF / CUSTOM, but the option for "Extended application startup" in FIG. 3 may be only ON / OFF. In this case, the OS does not execute S703-S707. On the other hand, in the process of FIG. 7, a case may be considered in which only CUSTOM can be set as the startup setting of the extended application 203. In this case, the option for "Extended application startup" does not need to be present on the screen of FIG. 3, and the OS executes S702 and S703-S707 but does not execute S701.

[0038] In this embodiment, the screen in FIG. 3 is used to set the start of the extended application 203, but other methods may be used. For example, the screen 1000 in FIG. 10A may be displayed by starting the extended application 203 alone. The display item 1001 accepts the selection of the target printing device. The display item 1002 is used to display FIG. 10B. The user may specify the method of starting the extended application 203 using the display item 1003 in FIG. 10B. Also, FIG. 3 may be displayed when the display item 1002 is selected in FIG. 10A. Note that the display item 1001 in FIG. 10A displays the printing device registered in the associated print data generation software 202. If multiple printing devices are registered in the print data generation software 202, multiple printing devices are displayed as options. Also, when printer information is selected on the screen in FIG. 10A, status information (such as the status of the printing device and the amount of ink remaining in the printing device) of the printing device selected in the display item 1001 is displayed. The status information of the printing device may be obtained via the print data generation software 202. Alternatively, address information of the printing device selected in the display item 1001 may be obtained from the print data generation software 202, and the extension application 203 may use the obtained address information to obtain the status information of the printing device. Alternatively, when an ink order is selected, a web browser may be started and a web page for print orders may be displayed. Alternatively, when an ink model is selected, information on inks available for the printing device selected in the display item 1001 may be displayed.

[0039] <Embodiment 2> In the first embodiment, the print setting information as the start condition is registered, and the OS starts the extended application 203 only when the corresponding print setting information is set, so that the extended application 203 is started only when the user requires the extended function. However, in the first embodiment, since it is necessary to compare the registered start condition with the print setting information set by the user at each start timing, there is a problem that it takes time to check the settings. In particular, the more start conditions are set, the longer it takes for the OS to determine whether the print setting information matches the start condition. Therefore, in this embodiment, a method is proposed for reducing the time required to determine whether the extended application 203 is started. In this embodiment, a common extended application start setting that is a trigger to start the extended application 203 is provided in the print setting information. Then, the print setting screen extension unit 204 of the extended application 203 instructs the start by changing the extended application start setting based on the print setting information set by the user. Although the extended application 203 is provided by each vendor, the above-mentioned extended application start setting is set commonly by the extended application 203 of any vendor. This allows the OS that starts the extension application 203 to refer only to the extension application startup setting in the print setting information, for example. As a result, the amount of information that the OS refers to can be reduced, and the time it takes to determine whether to start the extension application 203 can be shortened.

[0040] Fig. 8 is an example of a flowchart showing a setting process of the extended application start setting by the print setting screen extension unit 204. Note that Fig. 8 may be executed when the OK button is pressed on the screen of Fig. 3, or may be executed every time the print setting information is changed on the screen of Fig. 3.

[0041] Here, two extended application launch settings are provided: LaunchExtendAppBefore, which indicates that the extended application 203 is launched before the print data generation software 202, and LaunchExtendAppLater, which indicates that the extended application 203 is launched after the print data generation software 202. The extended application launch settings can be set to ON or OFF, and setting ON indicates that the extended application 203 is launched at the corresponding timing. In this embodiment, there are two settings, and it is determined whether the extended application 203 is launched before or after the print data generation software 202. However, a configuration in which a single setting is used to determine whether the extended application 203 is launched before or after the print data generation software 202 based on a setting value is also conceivable. In that case, the setting value needs to be set to three values: launch before the print data generation software 202, launch after the print data generation software 202, and do not launch. In addition, when the extended application 203 is launched only before or after the print data generation software 202, it is possible to determine the timing based on a single setting value, ON or OFF.

[0042] First, the print setting screen expansion unit 204 checks whether the print setting information set by the user includes a setting for using the layout expansion unit 205 (S801). If it is desired to start up under the same conditions as the registered information shown in Fig. 6, the print setting screen expansion unit 204 checks whether 2-page printing or 4-page printing is set in the layout setting.

[0043] If it is determined that print setting information that uses the layout extension unit 205 exists, the print setting screen extension unit 204 sets the LaunchExtendAppBefore setting to ON (S802).

[0044] Next, the print setting screen extension unit 204 checks whether the print setting information set by the user includes a setting for using the preview unit 206 (S803). If it is desired to launch under the same conditions as the registration information shown in FIG. 6, the print setting screen extension unit 204 checks whether the print preview setting is set to ON. If it is determined that print setting information using the preview unit 206 exists, the print setting screen extension unit 204 sets the LaunchExtendAppLater setting to ON (S804). This allows appropriate extended application launch settings to be made according to the print setting information set by the user.

[0045] 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a startup process of the extended application 203 in the second embodiment. The OS starts the extended application 203 at an appropriate timing based on the extended application startup setting set by the print setting screen extension unit 204. In the present embodiment, the OS is described as being responsible for starting the extended application, but in reality, a configuration in which a startup module included in the OS exists is conceivable.

[0046] Note that the process when it is determined in S901 in FIG. 9 that the setting is ON or OFF is the same as that in FIG. 7, so the description will be omitted and only the process from S903 onwards when CUSTOM is set will be described.

[0047] If the launch setting of the extension application 203 is CUSTOM, the OS determines whether the launch timing is before processing of the print data generation software 202 (S703), and if it is before processing, proceeds to S904, and if it is after processing, proceeds to S905. In S904, it is confirmed whether the LaunchExtendAppBefore setting, which indicates whether the extension application 203 is to be launched before the print data generation software 202, is set to ON. If it is set to ON, the OS launches the extension application 203. If it is set to OFF, the OS ends the launch process without launching the extension application 203.

[0048] In S905, it is confirmed whether the LaunchExtendAppLater setting, which indicates whether to launch the extended application 203 after the print data generation software 202, is set to ON. If ON is set, the OS launches the extended application 203. If OFF is set, the OS ends the launch process without launching the extended application 203. Note that, as in the first embodiment, the OS outputs intermediate data to the print data generation software 202 and outputs print data to the printing device 102.

[0049] In this embodiment, a part of the start determination of the extended application 203 based on the print setting is performed at the time of printing, and the load of the start possibility determination process performed by the start module can be reduced by setting the extended application start setting. As a result, a part of the determination process is handled at the time of the print setting, and the time from the user's print start instruction to the completion of printing can be shortened compared to the first embodiment.

[0050] <Other embodiments> The above-described embodiment can also be implemented by executing the following process. That is, a recording medium on which program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is recorded is supplied to a system or device. Then, a computer (or a CPU or MPU) of the system or device reads and executes the program code stored in the recording medium. This makes it possible to achieve the above-described object. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium on which the program code is stored constitutes the present invention.

[0051] Examples of storage media for supplying the program code include flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, ROMs, and DVDs.

[0052] In addition, the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments are not only realized by a computer reading and executing the program code, but also include cases where an OS running on a computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code, and the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments are realized by the processing.

[0053] Furthermore, the program code read from the storage medium may be written to a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Then, based on the instructions of the program code, a CPU or the like provided on the function expansion board or function expansion unit may perform part or all of the actual processing. The functions of the above-mentioned embodiments are realized by this processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 102 Printing device 202 Printing data generation software 203 Extended Applications 204 Print setting screen expansion unit 205 Layout Expansion Unit 206 Preview Unit

Claims

1. An application program, A process of generating print data printable by printing devices of multiple vendors and receiving print data generated by print data generation software capable of transmitting the print data to the printing devices of the multiple vendors; An application program characterized by causing a computer to execute processing for displaying on a display unit a print preview based on the print data if a specified instruction has not been given when a print instruction is received, and for displaying on the display unit a print preview based on the print data that reflects at least some of the settings received via a setting screen if the specified instruction has been given when a print instruction is received.

2. 2. The application program according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined instruction is an instruction for displaying the print preview on the display unit.

3. 3. The application program according to claim 1, wherein printing is executed by a printing device based on the print data and settings set using the setting screen.

4. 4. The application program according to claim 1, wherein the at least some of the settings include a setting for a print function for printing a plurality of pages on the same side of a single sheet of paper.

5. 5. The application program according to claim 1, wherein the print data generating software is software that is included in an OS in advance.

6. 6. The application program according to claim 5, wherein the application program is software that is not included in the OS in advance.

7. 7. The application program according to claim 1, wherein the application program is downloaded from a server via a network.

8. 8. The application program according to claim 7, wherein the application program corresponding to the identification information obtained from the printing device is downloaded.

9. 9. The application program according to claim 1, wherein the application program and the print data generating software are associated with each other by an OS.

10. 10. The application program according to claim 1, wherein the print data is data in an XPS format.

11. 10. The application program according to claim 1, wherein the print data is data in a GDI format.

12. 11. The application program according to claim 1, further causing the computer to execute a process for transmitting the print data.

13. 13. The application program according to claim 1, further causing the computer to execute a process for acquiring status information of a printing device using address information.

14. 14. The application program according to claim 1, further causing the computer to execute a process for changing the page to be print previewed.

15. 15. The application program according to claim 14, further causing the computer to execute a process for displaying, on the display unit, the print preview and an item for changing the page to be print previewed.

16. 16. The application program according to claim 1, further causing the computer to execute a process for displaying a button for starting printing based on the image data and the print preview on the display unit.

17. 17. The application program according to claim 1, further comprising a process for causing the computer to display, on the display unit, a button for canceling printing based on the image data and the print preview.

18. A computer readable storage medium storing an application program according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. A control method performed by executing an application program, comprising: generating print data printable by printing devices of multiple vendors and receiving print data generated by print data generating software capable of transmitting the print data to the printing devices of the multiple vendors; A control method characterized by comprising a step of not executing a process for displaying a print preview based on the print data on a display unit if a specified instruction has not been given when a print instruction is received, and executing a process for displaying a print preview based on the print data on the display unit, the print preview reflecting at least some of the settings received via a setting screen, if the specified instruction has been given when a print instruction is received.

20. An information processing device having an application program, a receiving means for receiving print data generated by a print data generating software capable of generating print data printable by printing devices of a plurality of vendors and transmitting the print data to the printing devices of the plurality of vendors by executing the application program; and a display control means for executing the application program to perform processing for displaying on the display unit a print preview based on the print data if a specified instruction has not been given when a print instruction is received, and for displaying on the display unit a print preview based on the print data that reflects at least some of the settings received via a setting screen if the specified instruction has been given when a print instruction is received.

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