Computer program for a terminal device, computer-readable recording medium storing the computer program, and method executed by a terminal device

Abstract

To provide a technology that improves convenience of a user for generating a database file for a label printer to execute printing.SOLUTION: A computer program may cause a computer of a terminal device to function as: a first label file generation unit which generates a first label file under the presence of a specific label file, on the basis of the specific label file; a first database file generation unit; a first print data generation unit which generates first print data using the first label file and a first database file associated with the first label file; and a first transmission unit which transmits the first print data to a label printer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a technology for causing a label printer to perform printing using a database file.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses database printing of labels. In database printing, data read from a database is arranged and printed at a predetermined position.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In order to create the above database, the user has to input various texts into the database, for example. This specification provides a technology capable of improving the convenience of the user for generating a database file for causing a label printer to perform printing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] This specification discloses a computer program for a terminal device. When a print preparation instruction using a database file is obtained in a state where a specific label file exists, which includes one or more object areas where print target objects should be placed and first text information described in a first object area among the one or more object areas, the computer program causes the computer of the terminal device to function as a first label file generation unit that generates a first label file based on the specific label file. The first label file includes the one or more object areas and does not include the first text information. When the preparation instruction is obtained in a state where the specific label file exists, the computer program causes the computer of the terminal device to function as a first database file generation unit that generates a first database file associated with the first label file. The first database file stores, in association with each other, a first field name corresponding to the first object area and a first text obtained using the first text information. After the first label file and the first database file are generated, when a first print instruction, which is an instruction to print using the first label file, is obtained, the computer program causes the computer of the terminal device to function as a first print data generation unit that generates first print data using the first label file and the first database file associated with the first label file. In the first print data, the first text information obtained using the first text stored in the first database file is described in the first object area corresponding to the first field name associated with the first text. The computer program may also cause the computer of the terminal device to function as a first transmission unit that transmits the first print data to a label printer.

[0006] According to the above configuration, when the terminal device acquires a preparation instruction, it generates a first label file based on a specific label file. When the terminal device acquires a preparation instruction, it further generates a first database file including a first field name corresponding to a first object area and a first text obtained by using the first text information included in the specific label file. Therefore, when the user desires to generate a database file for causing the label printer to execute printing, the user can easily generate the first database file without inputting the first text. For this reason, the convenience of the user can be improved.

[0007] A computer-readable recording medium storing the above computer program, the terminal device itself realized by the above computer program, and the method executed by the above terminal device are also novel and useful.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] (Configuration of Communication System 2; FIG. 1) As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 2 includes a mobile terminal 10 and a label printer 50. The mobile terminal 10 and the label printer 50 have established a wireless connection with an AP (abbreviation for Access Point) 6. Therefore, the mobile terminal 10 and the label printer 50 can communicate with each other via the AP 6.

[0010] In this embodiment, it is realized that the user uses each device 10, 50 to generate a label to be attached to the object to be managed. The label is generated by the label printer 50 printing a label image on an adhesive seal. The mobile terminal 10 generates a label file, which is a data file representing the label image, and transmits the print data obtained from the label file to the label printer 50. In particular, in this embodiment, the mobile terminal 10 can generate a new label file and a csv (abbreviation for Comma Separated Value) file based on one label file. Then, the mobile terminal 10 can cause the label printer 50 to perform printing using the label file and the csv file.

[0011] (Configuration of the mobile terminal 10; FIG. 1) The mobile terminal 10 is a portable terminal device such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a PDA, a notebook PC, or a tablet PC. The mobile terminal 10 includes a display unit 12, a wireless LAN interface 14, a camera 16, and a control unit 20. Hereinafter, the interface will be referred to as "I / F".

[0012] The display unit 12 is a display for displaying various information. The display unit 12 also functions as a so-called touch panel. Therefore, the user can input various instructions to the mobile terminal 10 by operating a plurality of keys displayed on the display unit 12. That is, the display unit 12 also functions as an operation unit.

[0013] The wireless LAN I / F 14 is an I / F for executing Wi-Fi communication according to the Wi-Fi method, and has established a wireless connection with the AP 6. The Wi-Fi method is a wireless communication method based on, for example, the IEEE (abbreviation for The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) 802.11 standard and standards conforming thereto (for example, 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, etc.).

[0014] The control unit 20 includes a CPU 22 and a memory 24. The CPU 22 executes various processes according to the OS (abbreviation for Operating System) program 28, print application 30, etc. stored in the memory 24. The memory 24 is composed of a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, etc. Hereinafter, the OS program 28 and the print application 30 will be described as "OS 28" and "print app 30", respectively.

[0015] The OS 28 is a program for controlling various basic operations of the mobile terminal 10. The print app 30 is an application for causing the label printer 50 to print labels using the mobile terminal 10. The print app 30 is, for example, an application provided by the vendor of the label printer 50 and is installed in the mobile terminal 10 from a server (not shown) on the Internet.

[0016] Also, the memory 24 stores two label files LF1 and LF2. In this embodiment, first, assume a situation where the user creates the label file LF1 and the label file LF2 is generated based on the label file LF1.

[0017] The label file LF1 includes the object table OT1. Also, the label file LF2 includes the object table OT2 and the csv information CI. Details regarding the object tables OT1 and OT2 will be described later. The csv information CI is information for specifying a csv file associated with the label file LF2 (for example, information indicating the file path of the csv file).

[0018] (Configuration of the label printer 50; FIG. 1) The label printer 50 is a peripheral device (for example, a peripheral device of the mobile terminal 10) having a printing function of printing a label image on a sticker to generate a label. The label printer 50 includes a display unit 52, a printing execution unit 54, a wireless LAN I / F 56, and a control unit 60.

[0019] The display unit 52 is a display for displaying various information. The printing execution unit 54 is a so-called thermal transfer printing mechanism that generates a label by transferring a label image to a sticker. In a modified example, the printing execution unit 54 may be a printing mechanism such as an inkjet method or a laser method. The wireless LAN I / F 56 is the same as the wireless LAN I / F 14 described above.

[0020] The control unit 60 includes a CPU 62 and a memory 64. The CPU 62 executes various processes according to the program 70 stored in the memory 64. The memory 64 is composed of a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, etc.

[0021] (Case A; FIGS. 2 to 5) Subsequently, the content of the process executed by the CPU 22 according to the printing application 30 will be described. First, referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, Case A will be described. In Case A, the label file LF1 is generated by the user, and the label file LF2 and the csv file CF1 are generated based on the label file LF1.

[0022] When the printing application 30 (i.e., the CPU 22) receives an operation from the user to newly generate a label file, it newly generates a label file LF1 representing a blank label image. Then, the printing application 30 causes the display unit 12 to display a preview screen (the upper left screen in FIG. 2) corresponding to the label file LF1. The preview screen includes a preview area PA showing a preview of the label image (which is blank at the current time) and a plurality of buttons B1 to B5. The user can edit the label image in the preview area PA.

[0023] The plurality of buttons B1 to B5 include a close button B1, a save button B2, a print button B3, a database button B4, and a menu button B5. The close button B1 is a button for closing the preview screen. The save button B2 is a button for saving the edited label image (i.e., the edited label file). The print button B3 is a button for causing the label printer 50 to print the label image. The database button B4 is a button for generating a new label file and a csv file based on the label file LF1. The menu button B5 is a button for selecting various menus related to the label file LF1.

[0024] At T10, the printing application 30 receives the selection of the menu button B5 from the user. In this case, the printing application 30 causes a menu screen MS to be displayed on the displayed preview screen (the lower left screen in FIG. 2). The menu screen MS includes a generation button (i.e., the character string "Generate") for newly generating an object area for arranging printing target objects (e.g., text, images, etc.) and a setting button (i.e., the character string "Settings") for changing settings related to the object table OT1. Hereinafter, an object will be referred to as "OB".

[0025] The printing application 30 accepts, at T12, the selection of the generation button within the menu screen MS from the user. Although not shown in the figure, after accepting the selection of the generation button at T12, the printing application 30 accepts from the user an instruction indicating that an OB area (hereinafter referred to as "text OB area") where text is to be placed should be generated. In this case, the printing application 30 generates a new OB area OB1 in the preview area PA (the upper right screen in FIG. 2). In the OB area OB1, text (i.e., "Text1") indicating that the OB area is a text OB area is described (the upper right screen in FIG. 2).

[0026] When the printing application 30 generates the text OB area OB1, it further generates an OB table OT1 in the label file LF1. The OB table OT1 is a table that stores, in association with each other, an OB name (in this embodiment, "Text1") indicating the OB area included in the label file LF1 and field names included in a csv file described later. At this stage, since no csv file is associated with the label file LF1, the field name associated with the OB name "Text1" indicates a blank.

[0027] At T14, after accepting the selection of the menu button B5 again, the printing application 30 accepts the selection of the generation button within the menu screen MS. Although not shown in the figure, after the generation button is selected, the printing application 30 accepts from the user an instruction indicating that a text OB area should be generated. In this case, the printing application 30 generates a new OB area OB2 (the lower right screen in FIG. 2) in the preview area PA. In the OB area OB2, text (i.e., "Text2") indicating that the OB area is a text OB area is described. The printing application 30 adds the OB name "Text2" to the OB table OT1 in the label file LF1. The field name associated with the OB name "Text2" also indicates a blank.

[0028] In the printing application 30, at T20, after accepting the selection of the menu button B5 again, the printing application 30 accepts the selection of the generation button within the menu screen MS. Although not shown in the figure, the printing application 30 accepts an instruction from the user to generate an OB area (hereinafter referred to as "image OB area") where an image is to be placed after the generation button is selected at T20.

[0029] (Continuation of Figure 2; Figure 3) When the printing application 30 accepts an instruction from the user to generate an image OB area (at T20 in Figure 2), the printing application 30 generates a new OB area OB3 in the preview area PA (the upper left screen in Figure 3). In the OB area OB3, text indicating that the OB area is an image OB area (i.e., "Img") is described. The printing application 30 adds the OB name "Img" to the OB table OT1 in the label file LF1. The field name associated with the OB name "Img" also indicates a blank.

[0030] At T22, the printing application 30 accepts a data editing operation from the user. Specifically, first, the printing application 30 accepts an operation to input the text "AAA" into the text OB area OB1. Next, the printing application 30 accepts an operation to input the text "BBB" into the text OB area OB2. Next, the printing application 30 accepts an operation to place the image Im in the image OB area. As a result, a preview of the label image with the text "AAA" described in the text OB area OB1, the text "BBB" described in the text OB area OB2, and the image Im placed in the image OB area OB3 is displayed (the lower left screen in Figure 3).

[0031] After that, when the printing application 30 receives the selection of the database button B4 from the user at T24, it executes the following process. First, the printing application 30 copies the label file LF1 and generates a label file identical to the label file LF1. Hereinafter, this label file will be referred to as the "intermediate label file". The printing application 30 identifies two text OB regions OB1 and OB2 other than the image OB region from the intermediate label file. Then, the printing application 30 deletes the text (i.e., "AAA" and "BBB") described in each of the two text OB regions from the intermediate label file. As a result, the printing application 30 generates a label file LF2 including the two text OB regions OB1 and OB2 and the image OB region OB3 where the image Im is arranged. Note that in each of the two text OB regions from which the text has been deleted, the text "Text1" or "Text2" indicating that the OB region is a text OB region is described.

[0032] When the printing application 30 receives the selection of the database button B4 from the user, it further generates a csv file CF1. The csv file CF1 is generated as follows. First, the printing application 30 describes a record for one line including the above two texts "AAA" and "BBB" deleted from the intermediate label file in the csv file CF1.

[0033] Then, the printing application 30 adds the field name F1 to the column where the text "AAA" is described and adds the field name F2 to the column where the text "BBB" is described. In this way, a csv file CF1 is generated in which the field name F1 and the text "AAA" are stored in association with each other, and the field name F2 and the text "BBB" are stored in association with each other.

[0034] In addition, the printing application 30 generates an OB table OT2 in the label file LF2. The OB table OT2 stores, while associating, an OB name "Text1" corresponding to a text OB area OB1 from which the text "AAA" has been deleted with a field name F1, and stores, while associating, an OB name "Text2" corresponding to a text OB area OB2 from which the text "BBB" has been deleted with a field name F2. Also in the OB table OT2, the field name associated with the OB name "Img" indicates a blank. The printing application 30 further generates csv information CI in the label file LF2.

[0035] When the label file LF2 and the csv file CF1 are generated, as shown in the upper right of FIG. 3, the printing application 30 causes the display unit 12 to display a preview screen corresponding to the label file LF2. The preview screen is the same as the preview screen displayed in the upper left of FIG. 2, except that the information displayed in the preview area PA is different, the information included in the csv file CF1 is displayed, and the database editing button B6 is included. The database editing button B6 is a button for editing the csv file CF1. The csv file CF1 in the preview screen includes check boxes corresponding to the rows in which the texts "AAA" and "BBB" are described. In the initial state, the check boxes are checked.

[0036] The printing application 30 accepts the selection of the print button B3 from the user at T30. In this case, the printing application 30 generates one piece of print data as follows. The printing application 30 generates the first print data based on the information in the first line (i.e., "AAA" and "BBB") included in the csv file CF1. Specifically, the printing application 30 identifies the text "AAA" associated with the field name F1 from the csv file CF1. Then, the printing application 30 identifies the OB name "Text1" associated with the field name F1 from the OB table OT2. Then, the printing application 30 describes the identified text "AAA" in the OB area OB1 corresponding to the identified OB name "Text1". Similarly, the printing application 30 identifies the text "BBB" associated with the field name F2 from the csv file CF1, and identifies the OB name "Text2" associated with the field name F2 from the OB table OT2. Then, the printing application 30 describes the identified text "BBB" in the OB area OB2 corresponding to the identified OB name "Text2". In this way, the first print data is generated. The printing application 30 transmits the first print data to the label printer 50 via the wireless LAN I / F14.

[0037] The label printer 50 receives the first print data from the mobile terminal 10 via the wireless LAN I / F56. The label printer 50 prints the label image represented by the first print data on the sticker to generate the label LB1. In this way, the printing application 30 can cause the label printer 50 to execute printing using the csv file CF1 generated based on the label file LF1.

[0038] (Continuation of FIG. 3; FIG. 4) In T110 of FIG. 4, the printing application 30 accepts the user's selection of the database editing button B6. In this case, as shown in the lower left of FIG. 4, the printing application 30 causes the display unit 12 to display an editing screen for editing the csv file CF1. The user can edit the csv file CF1 (for example, add text to the csv file CF1) on this screen.

[0039] In T120, the printing application 30 accepts the user's editing operation on the csv file CF1. Specifically, the printing application 30 first accepts an operation to add the text "XXX" to the second row in the column of the field name F1 (that is, the cell one cell below the cell in which "AAA" is described). Next, the printing application 30 accepts an operation to add the text "YYY" to the second row in the column of the field name F2 (that is, the cell one cell below the cell in which "BBB" is described).

[0040] Thereafter, when the printing application 30 accepts the selection of an edit completion button (not shown), as shown in the upper right of FIG. 4, the printing application 30 causes the display unit 12 to display a preview screen corresponding to the label file LF2. The preview screen displayed here is the same as the preview screen in the upper left of FIG. 4, except that the texts "XXX" and "YYY" are added as information included in the csv file CF1. At this point, all check boxes corresponding to all rows are checked.

[0041] The printing application 30 accepts the selection of the print button B3 at T130. In this case, the printing application 30 generates two pieces of print data as follows. That is, the printing application 30 first generates the first print data in the same manner as above. Next, the printing application 30 generates additional print data based on the information in the second row (i.e., "XXX" and "YYY") included in the csv file CF1. The method of generating the additional print data is the same as the method of generating the first print data, except that the two texts "XXX" and "YYY" are used. The printing application 30 sequentially transmits the first print data and the additional print data to the label printer 50 via the wireless LAN I / F14.

[0042] The label printer 50 sequentially receives the first print data and the additional print data from the mobile terminal 10 via the wireless LAN I / F56. The label printer 50 prints the label image represented by the first print data on the sticker to generate a label LB1. The label printer 50 prints the label image represented by the additional print data on the sticker to generate a label LB2. In this way, the printing application 30 can cause the label printer 50 to perform printing using the csv file CF1 edited by the user.

[0043] (Continuation of FIG. 4; FIG. 5) Thereafter, at T140, the printing application 30 accepts from the user an operation of unchecking the checkbox corresponding to the first row of the csv file CF1 on the preview screen (refer to the upper right screen of FIG. 4) (refer to the preview screen at the lower left of FIG. 5).

[0044] Next, the printing application 30 receives a selection of the print button B3 from the user at T150. In this case, the printing application 30 does not generate the first print data based on the information in the first line (i.e., the texts "AAA" and "BBB") that was not selected from the csv file CF1, but only generates the above additional print data based on the information in the second line (i.e., the texts "XXX" and "YYY"), and transmits the additional print data to the label printer 50 via the wireless LAN I / F14. As a result, only the label LB2 is generated in the label printer 50. In this way, the user can cause the label printer 50 to generate only the label LB2 in which the desired information contained in the csv file CF1 is described.

[0045] (Case B; FIGS. 6 to 8) Subsequently, referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, Case B will be described. In Case B, the type of the OB area included in the label file LF1 is different from that in Case A. The screen shown in the upper left of FIG. 6 is the same as the screen shown in the upper left of FIG. 2. Also, the processing of T210 is the same as the processing of T10 in FIG. 2.

[0046] After the printing application 30 receives a selection of the generation button at T212, it receives an instruction from the user to generate an OB area (hereinafter referred to as "code OB area") in which a code image with the text encoded is arranged. In this case, the printing application 30 generates a new OB area OB4 in the preview area PA. In the OB area OB4, a text (i.e., "Code") indicating that the OB area is a code OB area is described (the upper right screen in FIG. 6).

[0047] When the code OB area OB4 is generated, the printing application 30 further generates an OB table OT1 in the label file LF1. The OB table OT1 is a table that stores in association the OB name (in this embodiment, "Code") indicating the code OB area and the field names included in a csv file described later. At this stage, the field name associated with the OB name "Code" indicates a blank.

[0048] The process of T214 is the same as the process of T14 in FIG. 2, except that an instruction to generate an OB area (hereinafter referred to as "text graphic OB area") where the text-graphed text graphic is to be arranged is received. As a result, the printing application 30 generates a new text graphic OB area OB5 in the preview area PA. In the OB area OB5, text (i.e., "Textfig") indicating that the OB area is a text graphic OB area is described (the lower right screen in FIG. 6). The printing application 30 adds the OB name "Textfig" to the OB table OT1. The field name associated with the OB name "Textfig" also indicates a blank. The process of T220 is the same as the process of T20 in FIG. 2.

[0049] (Continuation of FIG. 6; FIG. 7) In T222, the printing application 30 receives a data editing operation from the user. Specifically, first, the printing application 30 receives an operation of inputting the text "AAA" with the code OB area OB4 specified. In this case, the printing application 30 generates a QR code (registered trademark) QR1 by encoding the text "AAA". Then, the printing application 30 arranges the QR code QR1 in the code OB area OB4. Next, the printing application 30 receives an operation of inputting the text "BBB" with the text graphic OB area OB5 specified. In this case, the printing application 30 generates a text graphic "BBB" by graphing the text "BBB". Then, the printing application 30 arranges the text graphic "BBB" in the text graphic OB area OB5. Here, the "text graphic" is a graphic obtained using text, and in this embodiment, it is a graphic in which the size of the characters increases as going to the right side of the text.

[0050] When the printing application 30 receives the selection of the database conversion button B4 at T224, it executes the following process. First, the printing application 30 copies the label file LF1 to generate an intermediate label file identical to the label file LF1. The printing application 30 identifies two OB regions other than the image OB region from the intermediate label file (i.e., the code OB region OB4 and the text graphic OB region OB5). Then, the printing application 30 deletes the QR code and the text graphic arranged in each of the two OB regions from the intermediate label file. As a result, the printing application 30 generates a label file LF2 including the code OB region OB4, the text graphic OB region OB5, and the image OB region OB3 where the image Im is arranged. Note that in the code OB region from which the QR code has been deleted, the text "Code" indicating that the OB region is a code OB region is described. Also, in the text OB region from which the text graphic has been deleted, the text "Textfig" indicating that the OB region is a text graphic OB region is described.

[0051] When the printing application 30 receives the selection of the database conversion button B4 from the user, it further generates a csv file CF1. The csv file CF1 is generated as follows. First, the printing application 30 identifies the text "AAA" by decoding the QR code QR1 deleted from the intermediate label file. Next, the printing application 30 identifies the text "BBB" from the text graphic "BBB" deleted from the intermediate label file. Then, the printing application 30 describes a record for one line including these texts "AAA" and "BBB" in the csv file CF1. And the printing application 30 adds the field name F1 to the column where the text "AAA" is described and adds the field name F2 to the column where the text "BBB" is described. In this way, a csv file CF1 is generated in which the field name F1 and the text "AAA" are stored in association with each other, and the field name F2 and the text "BBB" are stored in association with each other.

[0052] In addition, the printing application 30 generates an OB table OT2 in the label file LF2. The OB table OT2 is a table that stores the association between the OB name "Code" indicating the code OB area and the field name F1, and also stores the association between the OB name "Textfig" indicating the text graphic OB area and the field name F2. The printing application 30 further generates csv information CI in the label file LF2.

[0053] When the label file LF2 and the csv file CF1 are generated, as shown in the upper right of FIG. 7, the printing application 30 causes the display unit 12 to display a preview screen corresponding to the label file LF2. The preview screen is the same as the preview screen shown in the upper right of FIG. 3, except that the three OB areas included in the preview area PA are the code OB area OB4, the text graphic OB area OB5, and the image OB area OB3.

[0054] In T230, the printing application 30 accepts the selection of the print button B3 from the user. In this case, the printing application 30 generates one piece of print data as follows. The printing application 30 generates the first print data based on the information in the first row (i.e., "AAA" and "BBB") included in the csv file CF1. Specifically, the printing application 30 identifies the text "AAA" associated with the field name F1 from the csv file CF1. Then, the printing application 30 identifies the OB name "Code" associated with the field name F1 from the OB table OT2. Then, the printing application 30 places the QR code (i.e., QR1) obtained by encoding the identified text "AAA" in the OB area OB4 corresponding to the identified OB name "Code". Similarly, the printing application 30 identifies the text "BBB" associated with the field name F2 from the csv file CF1, and identifies the OB name "Textfig" associated with the field name F2 from the OB table OT2. Then, the printing application 30 places the text figure "BBB" obtained by graphing the identified text "BBB" in the OB area OB5 corresponding to the identified OB name "Textfig". In this way, the first print data is generated. The printing application 30 transmits the first print data to the label printer 50 via the wireless LAN I / F14.

[0055] The label printer 50 receives the first print data from the mobile terminal 10 via the wireless LAN I / F56. The label printer 50 prints the label image represented by the first print data on the sticker to generate the label LB11. In this way, the printing application 30 can cause the label printer 50 to perform printing using the csv file CF1 generated based on the label file LF1.

[0056] (Continuation of FIG. 7; FIG. 8) The processing of T310 and T320 in FIG. 8 is the same as the processing of T110 and T120 in FIG. 4. Thereafter, the printing application 30 receives the selection of the print button B3 at T330. In this case, the printing application 30 generates two pieces of print data as follows. That is, the printing application 30 first generates the first print data in the same manner as described above. Next, the printing application 30 generates additional print data based on the information in the second row (i.e., "XXX" and "YYY") included in the csv file CF1. The method of generating the additional print data is the same as the method of generating the first print data, except that the two texts "XXX" and "YYY" are used. The printing application 30 sequentially transmits the first print data and the additional print data to the label printer 50 via the wireless LAN I / F14.

[0057] The label printer 50 sequentially receives the first print data and the additional print data from the mobile terminal 10 via the wireless LAN I / F56. The label printer 50 prints the label image represented by the first print data on the sticker to generate a label LB11. The label printer 50 prints the label image represented by the additional print data on the sticker to generate a label LB12. In this way, the printing application 30 can cause the label printer 50 to perform printing using the csv file CF1 edited by the user.

[0058] (Effect of the First Embodiment) According to the above configuration, when the mobile terminal 10 receives the selection of the database button B4, it generates the label file LF2 based on the label file LF1. When the mobile terminal 10 receives the selection of the database button B4, it generates the csv file CF1. The csv file CF1 includes each field name F1, F2 and each text such as "AAA". Therefore, when the user desires to generate the csv file CF1 for causing the label printer 50 to execute printing, the csv file CF1 can be easily generated without inputting each text. For this reason, the convenience of the user can be improved. Then, the mobile terminal 10 can cause the label printer 50 to execute printing using the generated csv file CF1.

[0059] (Corresponding relationship) The mobile terminal 10 and the label printer 50 are examples of a "terminal device" and a "label printer", respectively. The printing application 30 is an example of a "computer program". The label file LF1 is an example of a "specific label file". The label file LF2 is an example of a "first label file". The text "AAA" is an example of a "print target object". The OB regions OB1, OB2, and OB3 are examples of a "first object region", a "second object region", and a "third object region", respectively. The csv file CF1 is an example of a "first database file". The first print data corresponding to the label LB1 and the additional print data corresponding to the label LB2 are examples of "first print data" and "additional print data", respectively. The texts "AAA", "BBB", and "XXX" are examples of a "first text", a "second text", and a "third text", respectively. In case A, the texts "AAA", "BBB", and "XXX" are examples of a "first text information", a "second text information", and a "third text information", respectively. In case B, the QR code QR1, the text graphic "BBB", and the QR code QR2 are examples of a "first text information", a "second text information", and a "third text information", respectively. The image Im is an example of a "specific image". The field names F1 and F2 are examples of a "first field name" and a "second field name", respectively. The selection of the database creation button B4, the selection of the print button B3, and the selection of the database edit button B6 are examples of a "preparation instruction", a "first print instruction", and an "additional instruction", respectively.

[0060] (Second Embodiment; FIG. 9) Subsequently, referring to FIG. 9, a second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the user can select a print target OB to be deleted from the intermediate label file for OB regions other than the image OB region. To implement this configuration, in the second embodiment, the OB table included in the label file stores a flag. FIG. 9 is a continuation of FIG. 2.

[0061] As described above, the OB table OT1 included in the label file LF1 stores a flag in association with the OB name and the field name. The flag indicates either "YES", which means that when the database creation button B4 is selected, the OB to be printed is deleted from the OB area corresponding to the OB name in the intermediate label file, or "NO", which means that the OB to be printed is not deleted from the OB area corresponding to the OB name. In the initial state, the flag "YES" is stored in association with the OB names corresponding to the OB areas other than the image OB area. On the other hand, the flag "NO" is stored in association with the OB names corresponding to the image OB area. In this embodiment, the user can set the flag associated with the OB names corresponding to the OB areas other than the image OB area.

[0062] After receiving the selection of the menu button B5 at T424, the printing application 30 receives the selection of the setting button within the menu screen MS. In this case, as shown in the lower left of FIG. 9, the printing application 30 causes the display unit 12 to display a setting screen for setting the above flag. The setting screen includes a message prompting the user to set the OB area that is not to be made into a database (i.e., the OB to be printed is not deleted from the intermediate label file), the OB names corresponding to the OB areas other than the image OB area (in this embodiment, "Text1" and "Text2"), check boxes corresponding to each OB name, and an OK button.

[0063] After receiving the operation of checking the check box corresponding to "Text2" in the setting screen at T426, the printing application 30 receives the selection of the OK button. As a result, in the OB table OT1 included in the label file LF1, the flag associated with the OB name "Text2" is changed to "NO" (see the upper right of FIG. 9).

[0064] After that, when the printing application 30 receives the selection of the database button B4 from the user at T428, it executes the following processing. First, the printing application 30 copies the label file LF1 to generate an intermediate label file identical to the label file LF1. The printing application 30 identifies the OB name "Text1" associated with the flag "YES" in the OB table OT1 from the intermediate label file, and identifies the text OB area OB1 corresponding to the OB name. Then, the printing application 30 deletes the text (i.e., "AAA") described in the identified text OB area OB1 from the intermediate label file. As a result, the printing application 30 generates a label file LF2 including one text OB area OB1, an OB area OB2 in which the text "BBB" is described, and an image OB area OB3 in which the image Im is arranged. Note that in the one text OB area OB1 from which the text has been deleted, the text "Text1" indicating that the OB area is a text OB area is described.

[0065] When the printing application 30 receives the selection of the database button B4 from the user, it further generates a csv file CF2. The csv file CF1 is generated as follows. First, the printing application 30 describes a record for one line including the above-mentioned one text "AAA" deleted from the intermediate label file in the csv file CF2.

[0066] Then, the printing application 30 adds the field name F1 to the column in which the text "AAA" is described. In this way, the csv file CF2 in which the field name F1 and the text "AAA" are stored in association with each other is generated.

[0067] In addition, the printing application 30 generates an OB table OT2 in the label file LF2. The OB table OT2 stores by associating an OB name "Text1" corresponding to a text OB area OB1 from which the text "AAA" has been deleted, a field name F1, and a flag. Note that also in the OB table OT2 included in the label file LF2, the field names associated with the OB names "Text2" and "Img" indicate blanks. The printing application 30 further generates csv information CI in the label file LF2.

[0068] In T30, the printing application 30 accepts the user's selection of the print button B3. In this case, the printing application 30 generates one piece of print data as follows. The printing application 30 generates first print data based on the information in the first row (i.e., "AAA") included in the csv file CF2. Specifically, the printing application 30 identifies the text "AAA" associated with the field name F1 from the csv file CF1. Then, the printing application 30 identifies the OB name "Text1" associated with the field name F1 from the OB table OT. Then, the printing application 30 describes the identified text "AAA" in the OB area OB1 corresponding to the identified OB name "Text1". In this way, the first print data is generated. The printing application 30 transmits the first print data to the label printer 50 via the wireless LAN I / F14.

[0069] The label printer 50 receives the first print data from the mobile terminal 10 via the wireless LAN I / F56. The label printer 50 prints the label image represented by the first print data on the sticker to generate a label LB1. In this way, the printing application 30 can cause the label printer 50 to perform printing using the csv file CF2 generated based on the label file LF1.

[0070] (Effect of the Second Embodiment) Also in the second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the user can easily generate the csv file CF2, thus improving the convenience for the user. Further, in the second embodiment, the user can select whether to fix or make variable the text described in each text OB region. For this purpose, for example, the user can select to fix the text OB region in which the text commonly described in a plurality of labels among the texts described in the text OB region. The label file LF2 and the csv file CF2 are examples of "the second label file" and "the second database file", respectively. The first print data corresponding to the label LB1 is an example of "the second print data". The selection of the print button B3 is an example of "the second print instruction".

[0071] As described above, specific examples of the technology disclosed in this specification have been described in detail, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples exemplified above. Modifications of the above embodiments are listed below.

[0072] (Modification 1) In Case A of the above embodiment, a label file including two text OB regions and one image OB region has been described, but the combination of OB regions included in the label file is not limited to the form of the above embodiment. For example, the label file may include one text OB region or three or more text OB regions, may not include an image OB region, or may include two or more image OB regions.

[0073] (Modification Example 2) The preview screen shown in the upper right of FIG. 3 may not include the database edit button B6. In this case, the user may use an application different from the printing application 30 (not shown) to edit the csv file CF1, and import the edited csv file CF1 into the printing application 30, so that the edited csv file CF1 may be used by the printing application 30. In this modification example, the "additional part" can be omitted.

[0074] (Modification Example 3) The printing application 30 may generate print data based on the information of all the rows in the csv file CF1 without receiving a selection of rows included in the csv file corresponding to the label that the user desires to print from the user. In another modification example, the printing application 30 may display a screen for selecting rows for which print data should be generated among the rows of the csv file CF1 when the print button B3 is selected at T30 in FIG. 3.

[0075] (Modification Example 4) The image obtained by encoding the text may not be a QR code, and may be, for example, a barcode. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the "text figure" was described by taking, as an example, a figure in which the size of the characters increases as it goes to the right of the text, but the text figure is not limited to this. For example, any figure obtained using text, such as a figure in which the text is arranged in a circular shape, may be used. Generally speaking, the "information obtained by graphically representing text" may be any information obtained by graphically representing text, such as the above-described QR code, text figure, etc.

[0076] (Modification Example 5) In the above-described embodiment, the case where a csv file CF1 having one row is generated and the csv file CF1 is edited to generate a csv file CF1 having two rows was described, but by applying this technology, it is also possible to generate a csv file having three or more rows.

[0077] (Modification Example 6) Although the various processes described above were realized by software (e.g., the printing application 30), at least one of these processes may be realized by hardware such as a logic circuit.

[0078] The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical utility either alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Further, the technologies illustrated in this specification or the drawings can achieve a plurality of purposes simultaneously, and achieving one of those purposes itself has technical utility.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0079] 2: Communication system, 6: AP, 10: Mobile terminal, 12: Display unit (operation unit), 14, 56: Wireless LAN I / F, 20, 60: Control unit, 22, 62: CPU, 24, 64: Memory, 28: OS program, 30: Printing application, 52: Display unit, 54: Printing execution unit, 70: Program

Claims

1. A computer program for a terminal device, wherein the computer of the terminal device is caused to: when a print preparation instruction using a database file is acquired in a state where a specific label file exists, the specific label file including one or more object areas where print target objects are to be arranged and first text information described in a first object area among the one or more object areas, generate a first label file based on the specific label file, the first label file including the one or more object areas and not including the first text information; a first label file generation unit; when the preparation instruction is acquired in a state where the specific label file exists, generate a first database file associated with the first label file, the first database file storing in association a first field name corresponding to the first object area and a first text obtained using the first text information; a first database file generation unit; when a first print instruction, which is an instruction to print using the first label file, is acquired after the first label file and the first database file are generated, generate first print data using the first label file and the first database file associated with the first label file, the first print data having the first text information obtained using the first text stored in the first database file described in the first object area corresponding to the first field name associated with the first text; a first print data generation unit; a first transmission unit that transmits the first print data to a label printer; A computer program that functions as such.

2. The specific label file further includes second text information described in a second object area different from the first object area among the one or more object areas. The first label file includes the one or more object regions and does not include any of the first text information and the second text information. The first database file stores the first field name and the first text in association with each other, and stores the second field name corresponding to the second object region and the second text obtained using the second text information in association with each other. In the first print data, the first text information is described in the first object region, and the second text information obtained using the second text stored in the first database file is described in the second object region corresponding to the second field name associated with the second text. The computer program according to claim 1.

3. In a state where the specific label file that has received a selection from the user to make variable the information to be described in the second object region exists, when the first case where the preparation instruction is acquired occurs, the first label file generation unit generates the first label file. In the first case, the first database file generation unit generates the first database file. After the first label file and the first database file are generated, when the first print instruction is acquired, the first print data generation unit generates the first print data. The computer program further causes the computer to a second label file generation unit that generates a second label file based on the specific label file in a second case where the preparation instruction is acquired in a state where the specific label file that has received a selection from the user to fix the information to be described in the second object region exists. The second label file includes the one or more object regions and the second text information described in the second object region, and does not include the first text information. In the second case, there is a second database file generation unit that generates a second database file associated with the second label file. The second database file stores the first field name and the first text in association with each other, and does not store in association with each other the second field name corresponding to the second object area and the second text obtained using the second text information. The second database file generation unit After the second label file and the second database file are generated, when a second print instruction, which is an instruction to print using the second label file, is acquired, a second print data generation unit that generates second print data using the second label file and the second database file associated with the second label file. In the second print data, the first text information obtained using the first text stored in the second database file is described in the first object area corresponding to the first field name associated with the first text. In the second print data, further, the second text information included in the second label file is described in the second object area. The second print data generation unit A second transmission unit that transmits the second print data to the label printer The computer program according to claim 2, which functions as

4. The specific label file further includes a specific image disposed in a third object area different from the first object area among the one or more object areas The first label file includes the one or more object areas and the specific image disposed in the third object area, and does not include the first text information The first database file stores the first field name and the first text in association with each other, and does not store in association with each other the third field name corresponding to the third object area and the specific image In the first print data, the first text information is described in the first object area, and the specific image included in the first label file is arranged in the third object area. The computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. After the first label file and the first database file are generated, and the third text associated with the first field name is added to the first database file, when the first print instruction is acquired, the first label file and the first database file are used to generate the first print data and additional print data. In the additional print data, third text information obtained by using the third text stored in the first database file is described in the first object area corresponding to the first field name associated with the third text. The first transmission unit transmits the first print data and the additional print data to the label printer. The computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The computer program further causes the computer to function as an additional unit that adds the third text associated with the first field name to the first database file when an additional instruction for adding the third text associated with the first field name to the first database file is acquired. The computer program according to claim 5.

7. The first print data generation unit generates the first print data and the additional print data when the first print instruction including selection of both the first text and the third text is acquired. When the first print instruction including selection of only one of the first text and the third text is acquired, only one of the first print data and the additional print data is generated according to the selection. The computer program according to claim 5 or 6.

8. The first text information is the first text. The computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first text information is information obtained by graphically representing the first text.

10. A computer-readable recording medium storing the computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A method executed by a terminal device, In a state where there exists a specific label file including one or more object regions where a print target object is to be arranged and first text information described in a first object region among the one or more object regions, when a print preparation instruction using a database file is acquired, a first label file generation step of generating a first label file based on the specific label file, wherein the first label file includes the one or more object regions and does not include the first text information, the first label file generation step; In a state where the specific label file exists, when the preparation instruction is acquired, a first database file generation step of generating a first database file associated with the first label file, wherein the first database file stores in association a first field name corresponding to the first object region and a first text obtained using the first text information, the first database file generation step; After the first label file and the first database file are generated, when a first print instruction which is an instruction to print using the first label file is acquired, a first print data generation step of generating first print data using the first label file and the first database file associated with the first label file, wherein in the first print data, the first text information obtained using the first text stored in the first database file is described in the first object region corresponding to the first field name associated with the first text, the first print data generation step; A first transmission step of transmitting the first print data to a label printer; A method comprising the above steps.

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