Print Data Generation Templates for Variable-Length API Calls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional print data generation APIs require repetitive calls and loop descriptions in program code, leading to unintuitive and complex code for generating print data with a variable number of elements.
Innovation Solution
Generate print data using a template with API call commands of the smallest unit, specifying a repeat range to insert print elements, and create a print data generation API that executes these commands multiple times based on the variable number of elements, eliminating the need for repetitive calls in the program code.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the print data generation API is repeatedly executed a plurality of times to generate print data with a variable number of print elements, then the print data can be generated correctly, but the program code becomes complex and difficult to understand due to required loop descriptions and conditional branches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the print data generation process into two distinct parts: a template containing the API call commands with placeholders, and field data containing the actual print elements. This segmentation allows the template to be executed once while automatically generating print data for multiple elements without requiring loop descriptions in the application code, thus maintaining accuracy while reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares the template with all necessary API call commands and placeholders in advance. The template is designed to contain the complete structure of print data generation, with merge fields that will be automatically replaced by field data. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for runtime loop logic in the application code, as the repetition is handled by the template processing mechanism itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the print data generation API is called repeatedly with loop descriptions in the application code, then print data with variable elements can be generated, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to unintuitive and difficult-to-understand code
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a template as an intermediary between the application code and the print data generation API. The template serves as a mediator that contains the repetition logic and placeholders, allowing the application code to simply invoke the template once with field data. This intermediary handles the adaptability to variable elements while keeping the application code simple and readable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses template copying and substitution mechanisms where the template is copied and field data is substituted into merge fields. This allows the same template structure to be reused for generating print data with any number of elements, maintaining code readability while achieving versatility. The field data acts as a parameter set that can vary without changing the template structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention makes it possible to execute merge printing by generating print data having a variable number of print elements without incorporating description required in order to repeatedly call a print data generation API in the program code of an application serving as the call source. Print data are generated using a template constituted by commands of the smallest unit not including repetitions, the number of which corresponds to a variable number of print elements, and field data including data of print elements to be inserted into merge fields of API call commands included in the template. A repeat range is specified from the template, a print data generation API is generated by replacing the merge fields, including repeat substitutions within the specified range, with the data of the print elements, and by executing the generated print data generation API, print data including print-related commands into which the data of the print elements have been inserted is generated.