Folder Tree Display for Printable File Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in identifying and selecting printable files when browsing hierarchical structures in external systems, such as clouds and servers, for printing purposes, as existing technologies do not effectively differentiate between folders containing printable files and those that do not.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a display device that displays a folder tree screen, where folders with printable files are distinctly shown in a normal state and those without are grayed out, allowing users to easily recognize and select printable files with fewer procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hierarchical structure is displayed in an external system for printing, then the user can browse folders, but the user cannot easily recognize which folders contain printable files
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by displaying folders in different colors based on whether they contain printable files. Folders containing printable files are displayed in one color (e.g., normal color), while folders without printable files are displayed in another color (e.g., grayed out). This visual differentiation allows users to quickly identify and locate printable files without browsing through every folder, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and information visibility.
2Productivity
If all folders are displayed uniformly, then the display is simple, but the user requires more steps to find printable files
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the display appearance of folders based on their content characteristics. Instead of uniform display, folders are displayed with different properties (colors, icons, or markers) depending on whether they contain printable files. This localized differentiation enhances file selection speed by guiding users directly to relevant folders while maintaining relatively simple display mechanisms.
3Loss of time
If the user browses through all folders manually, then the system remains simple, but the time required to find printable files increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-identifying and marking folders that contain printable files before the user needs to search. The system automatically detects which folders contain printable files and applies visual indicators in advance, so when the user browses the hierarchical structure, the information is already prepared and visible. This eliminates the need for manual browsing through all folders, significantly reducing search time while maintaining system simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a display device that displays information and an image forming device that forms an image on a sheet. The image forming apparatus can cause the image forming device to form an image on the basis of a file acquired from an external system that manages files in a directory having a hierarchical structure. The image forming apparatus includes at least one controller that functions as a unit that acquires information which is information of a printable file of files managed by the external system and which includes at least storage directory information of the printable file, a unit that causes the display device to display a folder tree screen based on the storage directory information, and a unit that causes the image forming device to perform image formation based on a file selected on the folder tree screen.