JP2001256007A - Printer, printing method, print system and computer readable medium adaptable to printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and promptly reprint the print data created and once printed by application. SOLUTION: In this printer to print data created by application software to be operated on a host computer by transferring the data to the printer, print history data regarding a print job are stored when printing is executed, a list of the stored print history data is displayed, the print data are selected from the displayed list of the print history data and the selected print data are printed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a printing technique for printing output information from application software (such as a word processor) operating on a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printing system, when printing print data (a data file created by an application) stored in a secondary storage device or the like of a computer, a user executes printing in the following procedure. I was

For example, WindowsNT and Windows are used as basic software (OS) of a host computer.
ows98 (both are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States) will be described.

[0004] On these basic software, print data is stored in a file format. First, the user must use a file management application such as Explorer to search for a target print data file. For this reason, when the number of data files is increasing or the data files are arranged in a deep hierarchical structure, searching for a target data file is also a difficult task.

[0005] When a data file to be printed is found, the application that created the data file (eg, word processing software, spreadsheet software, etc.) is executed to open the print data file.
By executing a print command provided as a service of the application, printing can be performed.

[0006]

As described above, when printing data created by an application, the user needs to perform the above-mentioned complicated work each time. The same applies to data that was printed just a few minutes ago, and the burden on the user becomes very large especially when printing is performed frequently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and has as its object to enable simple and quick reprinting of print data created and printed once by an application.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printing apparatus for transferring data created by application software running on a host computer to a printer for printing. Storage means for storing print history data relating to the print job, display control means for displaying a list of print history data stored by the storage means, and print history displayed by the display control means. There is provided a selection unit for selecting print data from a list of data, and a print control unit for printing the print data selected by the selection unit.

In the present invention, the storage unit stores, as the print history data, a document name or a file name, an application name, a user name, a print date and time, etc. relating to the print job.

In the present invention, there is provided a change guide means for displaying a guide to change the print set value of the print data selected by the selection means.

According to the present invention, the display control means includes:
The print history data is arranged and displayed in descending order of printing frequency.

In the present invention, the storage means is activated when the computer is activated.

[0013] In the present invention, the display control means includes:
It is started when the computer is started.

In the present invention, the selection means is constituted by a check button displayed together with a list of print history data in a dialog box by the display control means.

Further, in the present invention, the selection means is constituted by radio buttons displayed together with a list of print history data in a dialog box by the display control means.

Further, in the present invention, the print control means includes:
When the print data is selected by the selection means, the application that created the print data is activated, and the print data is developed and printed on the application.

Further, in the present invention, the printing control means includes:
If there is no application that created the print data selected by the selection unit, the print data is developed and printed on another application. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing is performed.

The computer-readable medium applicable to the printing method, the printing system, and the printing apparatus according to the present invention are each configured to realize exactly the same functions as those of the printing apparatus.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment] <Description of Printing System Configuration> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The printing system includes a host computer 3000 as a host device and a printer 10 as a printing device.
00 is connected via a bidirectional interface 21. If the functions of the present invention are executed, a single device, a system including a plurality of devices, or a LAN (LocalArch) may be used.
It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a system in which print processing is performed via a network such as ea Network.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer (external device). A computer main body 2000 stores figures, images, characters, and tables (tables) based on a document processing program and the like stored in a program ROM of a ROM 3. C that executes document processing that includes calculations, etc.)
The PU 1 is provided, and each device connected to the system bus 4 is generally controlled by the CPU 1.

The program ROM of the ROM 3
Stores a control program of the CPU 1 and the like. The program ROM of the ROM 13 includes FIGS.
A control program for the CPU 12 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11 is also stored.

The font ROM of the ROM 3 stores font data and the like used in the above document processing.
The data ROM of No. 3 stores various data used when performing the above document processing and the like. 2 is a RAM, and a CPU 1
Function as a main memory, work area, etc.

A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key inputs from the keyboard 9 and a pointing device (see the mouse 220 in FIG. 2). 6 is C
An RT controller (CRTC) controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10. Reference numeral 7 denotes a memory controller (MC), which is an external memory 1 such as a hard disk (HD) for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, and editing files, and a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD).
1 is controlled.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a printer controller (PRTC) which is connected to the printer 1000 via a predetermined bidirectional interface 21 and
001 is controlled. Note that the CPU 1
For example, a process of developing (rasterizing) the outline font on the display information RAM set on the RAM 2 is executed, and WYSIWYG on the CRT 10 is enabled. Further, the CPU 1 opens various registered windows based on commands specified by a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing.

In the printer 1000, reference numeral 12 denotes a printer CPU, and a system bus 2 based on a control program and the like stored in a program ROM of a ROM 13.
The printer controller 10 controls the access to various devices connected to the printer 0 in general, and outputs an image signal as print data to a printing mechanism (printer engine) 17 connected via the printing unit interface 16.

The CPU 12 is capable of communicating with the host computer 3000 via the input / output unit 15, and is configured to notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer 1000 and the like.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 12, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). Note that RA
M14 is a drawing memory for storing print data and image bitmap data received from the host computer 3000, a video signal ON / OFF information storage area,
It is used for other work areas. Reference numeral 18 denotes an operation panel on which various switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged.

FIG. 2 shows a computer main body 2000 of the host computer 3000 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a processing configuration related to a printing function in a printer controller unit 1001 of FIG. 1, and the same components as those in FIG. However, the same components may be referred to by different names.

Referring to FIG. 2, a computer main body 2000
Functions as, for example, a server or a client, and outputs print information including print data and a control code to the printer 1000.

The printer 1000 is roughly divided into functions, and includes a printer controller 1001, an operation panel 18,
The printing mechanism 17 is provided. In this embodiment,
Specifically, a laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as LBP) is assumed as the printer 1000. It should be noted that the printer to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the LBP, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to other printers such as an ink jet printer and a thermal (thermal transfer) printer.

In the printer 1000, a printer controller 1001 has an interface (I / F) 1 that functions as a connection to the computer main body 2000.
5. A reception buffer 101 for temporarily holding and managing received data, etc., a transmission buffer 102 for temporarily holding and managing transmission data, etc., a command analysis unit 104 for analyzing print data, a print control processing execution unit. 105, an image processing analysis execution unit 103, a page memory 106, an output control unit 107, and the like. Interface (I /
The F) unit 15 is a communication unit that transmits and receives print data to and from the computer main body 2000. The print data received via the interface (I / F) unit 15 is successively accumulated in a reception buffer 101 for temporarily storing the print data, and the command analysis unit 104 or the image processing analysis execution is performed as necessary. The information is read and processed by the unit 103.

The command analysis unit 104 is constituted by a control program conforming to each print control command system and print job control language. Among the commands analyzed by the command analysis unit 104, commands relating to print data such as character printing, graphics, and images are stored in the image processing analysis execution unit 1.
The commands other than the drawing, such as the paper feed selection and the reset command, are supplied to the print control processing execution unit 105 and executed.
And executed.

The image processing analysis execution unit 103 sequentially develops each object of characters and images in the page memory 106. When decompressing the compressed image data, the image processing analysis execution unit 103 performs decompression processing. The page memory 106 performs a chase competition between the development processing and the output of the video signal to the printing mechanism 17,
That is, even if the area is managed by banding control or if there is a sufficient memory capacity, an area where one page can be expanded may be secured.

The operation panel 18 is a panel for setting and displaying various states of the printer 1000. The output control unit 107 performs control of converting the contents of the page memory 106 into a video signal and transferring the video signal to the printing mechanism unit 17.
The printing mechanism 17 is a mechanism for forming the received video signal as a permanent visible image on recording paper.

The printer 1000 has been described above. Next, the configuration of the computer main body 2000 will be described. Note that OS is written on the rectangular broken line because:
This does not mean that each component in the rectangle is a component of the OS (basic software), but it means that the component in the rectangle operates on the OS.

A keyboard 9 as an input device, a mouse 220 as a pointing device, and a display monitor 10 as a display device are connected to the computer main body 2000, thereby realizing one computer system. Computer body 20
00 is Windows, UNIX (registered trademark), Ma
It is assumed that it operates under a basic OS such as cOS (registered trademark).

The functions of the computer 2000 on the basic OS can be roughly classified by focusing only on the functional parts related to the present invention.
Device interface (hereinafter referred to as GDI) 20
2, printer driver 203, printer driver 203
And a print history monitor 205 that temporarily displays print history data specific to the present invention and reprints print data selected from the list. .

Note that these names and functional frameworks may be slightly different depending on the basic OS. However, as long as the modules can realize the technical functions referred to in the present invention, the names and frameworks of the present invention are different. Not a big problem for The names of modules called GDI and printer driver are Windows 98 and Windows N
T is a name unique to T, and equivalent functions in other basic OSs are realized by a module called a graphic kernel or a print filter, for example. The print spooler 204 can also be realized by incorporating processing in a module called a print queue.

Generally, a computer main body 2000 composed of these components is provided with a CPU shown in FIG.
Under the hardware such as 1, RAM2, ROM3 and external memory 11, software (B
IOS) controls the control, and the application software operates under the basic software.

The printer driver 203 and the print history monitor 205 are also positioned as one of the application software. The application software 201 indicates application software that operates on basic software such as a word processor or a spreadsheet. Further, a plurality of application softwares 201 can be started at an arbitrary timing (mainly fluctuates depending on a memory capacity), and are shown as applications 206.

Next, an example in which an arbitrary image editing software is used as the application software 201 will be described.

When the image editing work is mainly performed by the application software 201 and the image is printed, a print menu displayed on the display monitor 10 is selected with the mouse 220 or the like, and printing is executed. Next, the application software 201 calls the GDI 202 which is a part of the basic software. The GDI 202 is a basic function group that controls display devices such as screen display and print output and a print device. Application software of various companies depends on a model (hardware) by using the basic function group. It is possible to operate application software without being conscious of the parts.

Next, the GDI 202 sends a print device (in this case, the printer 100) from the printer driver 203 which manages information depending on the model of each printing apparatus.
0), the information such as the drawing ability and the print resolution is fetched, and A
PI (Application Program In)
(terface) function is processed, and a function provided by the printer driver to the GDI 202 is called according to the processing content. This function has a predetermined interface (Device Driver interface).
e, commonly referred to as DDI), and the creator of the printer driver creates the printer driver with a focus on data conversion for outputting data from this interface to an actual printing device.

The printer driver 203 is a GDI 202
Print data (drawing data) generation processing 207 and printer control command generation processing based on the DDI information received from the printer and the print environment settings set by its own graphical user interface (GUI). In step 208, the generated data and command are sent to the print spooler 204. Further, these data and commands are sent from the print spooler 204 to the printer 1000 via the interface 8.

Next, the print history monitor 2 according to the present embodiment
05 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the print history monitor 205. Portions common to the above-described drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the print history monitor 205
Are mainly a print history data generation unit 300, a print history UI control unit 301, a print execution unit 302, and a print history database 303 stored in a secondary storage device such as an HDD.
Of each module.

The print history database 303 stores print history data. FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the print history data. As shown in FIG. 4, each print data has a print history 1
D, and is accompanied by file names, application names, user names, and the like.

The print history data generation unit 300 generates print history data every time printing is performed,
03, and saves the information to the print history UI control unit 301. The print history UI control unit 301 is a module that mainly controls a user interface of the print history monitor 205, displays a print history list in a dialog box, allows the user to select print data, and starts reprinting. Or let it.

The print execution unit 302 is a module that manages print execution of print data.

[Explanation of Operation of Print History Monitor 205] FIG.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of the print history data generation unit 300 of the print history monitor 205 according to the present embodiment. The print history data generation unit 300 exists as a resident program, and is executed simultaneously with the activation of the computer main body 2000.

The print history data generation unit 300 first monitors in step S11 whether or not printing has been executed.
If any printing is executed, in step S12,
Print information is acquired from the printer driver 203, and print history data is generated in step S13 based on the information. In step S14, a search is made to determine whether the same document name already exists in the print history database 303. If not, the process proceeds to step 15, where the created print history data is additionally registered in the print history database 303. Then, the process returns to step S11 and waits for the next print job to be executed.

On the other hand, if the same document name already exists in the print history database 303, the print date and time are updated in step S16 (only the overwriting may be executed), and the process returns to step S11. . That is, the above processing is performed every time one print job is executed, print history data is created, and the print history data is accumulated in the print history database 303.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the print history UI control unit 301 of the print history monitor 205 according to the present embodiment.

First, in step S21, the print history UI control unit 301 executes a print history list window (print history U
I, or print history dialog box). In the present invention, the method of activating the print history list window is not limited. For example, a UI (user interface) of the printer driver 203 may be provided with a activating button and activated by a user operation. Any activation method may be used, such as automatic activation in response to activation of the 2000.

When the print history list window is activated,
In step S22, a list of print history data is acquired from the print history database 303, and in step S23, a print history list window is displayed on the display monitor 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the print history list window (dialog box) has a graphical user interface, and displays the past print history in an easily understandable manner. In the example of FIG. 5, the print document name (file name), the application name, the user name, and the print date and time are displayed as a list. However, the display contents are not limited to this, and the past print history can be easily understood. Any display contents may be used as long as they are contents.

Next, in step S24, it is monitored whether or not the print history database 303 has been updated. Here, it may be directly monitored whether the print history database 303 has been updated, or the print history database 30 may be monitored.
3 may be monitored by receiving an update notification from the print history data generation unit 300.

When the print history database 303 has been updated, the flow returns to step S22, and the print history list window is updated. On the other hand, the print history database 303
If has not been updated, in step S25, it is monitored whether or not the user has selected print data to be reprinted on the print history UI and pressed the print execution button.

That is, the print history UI control unit 301
A function of selecting print data to be reprinted is provided. In the example of FIG. 5, each check box in the column “Print” on the leftmost side of the print history UI corresponds to this. Means that the document "Company Guide Map" marked with is selected as print data. Of course, the selection method is not limited to this, and may be a list box format or a radio button. In this way, print data is selected, and a print execution instruction is given by pressing a print execution button below the print history UI.

If the print execution button has been pressed, the flow advances to step S26 to pass the print execution instruction and the print history 1D of the print data to be reprinted to the print execution unit 302, thereby notifying the print execution. It returns to step S24. In addition, even when the print execution button is not pressed, the process returns to step S24.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the print execution unit 302 of the print history monitor 205 according to the present embodiment.

First, the print execution unit 302 determines in step S3
In step 1, the process waits until a print execution command is issued from the print history UI control unit 301. If you receive a print execution instruction,
Proceeding to step S32, the print history 1D received at the same time
, The print history data corresponding to the print data according to the print instruction is extracted from the print history database 303. Then, in a step 33, it is confirmed whether or not there is an application indicated by the print history data, that is, an application which has created the print data according to the print instruction.

If the application exists,
The process proceeds to step S34 to check whether a print data file (print data according to the print instruction) having the document name indicated by the print history data exists. Here, if the application and the print data file indicated by the print history data do not exist, the process proceeds to step S37, a printing impossible error is displayed, and the process returns to step S31.

On the other hand, if the application and the print data file exist, the process proceeds to step S35.
Start the application and open the print data file. Then, printing is performed in step S36, and the process returns to step S31.

When printing is performed, various settings of the printer relating to printing (the number of copies, a picture paper tray, etc.) include setting values stored as various printer setting information (see FIG. 4) of print history data. That is, it is assumed that the set value at the time of printing in the past is used.

As described above, in the present embodiment, print data that has been printed in the past is
Reprinting can be performed only by selecting print data from the print history list display and pressing a print execution button.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment,
Various settings of the printer at the time of reprinting use the setting values at the time of printing in the past, but in the second embodiment, after selecting the print data in the print history list display, the various setting values of the printer are changed And print it.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a print history list display UI according to the second embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that a print setting button is provided.

The control procedure of the print history UI control unit 301 when the print setting button is pressed after the print data is selected will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the print setting button is pressed, the print history UI control unit 301 determines in step S41 that the print setting UI
Is displayed. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, a print setting UI that can change various print setting items such as a paper size, a paper feed tray and the number of print copies, and a paper direction is displayed. However, not limited to these setting values, character type, line type, character size, number of characters per line, number of lines per page, editing direction, enlargement /
A print setting UI that can change setting values such as a reduced printing magnification, single-sided printing / double-sided printing, single-sided multiple-page printing / double-sided multiple-page printing, monochrome printing / color printing, and the like may be displayed.

Next, in step S42, it is monitored whether or not the print setting value has been changed, and if it has been changed, in step S43, the change input by the user is reflected on the print setting UI. In step S44, it is monitored whether or not the return button has been pressed. If the return button has been pressed, in step S47, the print setting UI ends and the print history UI returns to the print history UI, so that the changed content is Put it back.
If the print setting value has not been changed in step S42, step S43 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S44.

On the other hand, if the return button has not been pressed, it is monitored in step 45 whether the print execution button has been pressed. As a result, when the print execution button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S46, in which the changed various print setting values are set in the printer driver 203 and printing is performed. If the print execution button has not been pressed, the process returns to step S42, and the same processing is repeated.

As described above, in this embodiment, various print settings of the printer can be changed even when print data is selected from the print history list display and printing is performed.

[Third Embodiment] In each of the above-described embodiments, when print history data is displayed, printing is performed in the order of print frequency, that is, in the order of the number of past print executions, so that printing is performed frequently. When there is a plurality of data to be executed, print data may be found more efficiently.

[Application Modification] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, when there is no application that created print data, the print data can be processed without error processing. If there is another application that can be opened, by configuring to open and print on the other application, for example, even if there is not enough time to uninstall the original application and install it again ,
It is also possible to enable reprinting. In such a configuration, the original print setting values and the like may be destroyed. Therefore, after displaying the information to that effect, the user is asked whether to open and print with the other application. It is desirable to ask.

Further, a plurality of documents are selected and executed on the UI of one print history list display as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and the documents are set as separate documents.
By printing continuously on different papers, it is possible to save the trouble of displaying the UI of the print history list display many times. Further, a plurality of documents may be selected and executed, and the documents may be printed as one combined document, so that the trouble of combining documents on the editing screen may be omitted.

In this case, it is a matter of course that new print history data is created for the combined document, but data indicating that the document is a combined document may be added as one of the items of the history data. desirable. In addition, it is desirable to ask the user whether or not a plurality of documents before synthesis are left as print history data as they are.

[0080]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a printing apparatus for transferring data created by application software running on a host computer to a printer and printing the data, when printing is performed, storage means for storing print history data related to the print job, and the storage Display control means for displaying a list of print history data stored by the means, selection means for selecting print data from the list of print history data displayed by the display control means, and print data selected by the selection means Is provided, the print data created by the application and once printed can be easily and quickly printed again.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a processing configuration of a printing function in the printing system.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print history monitor.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a data structure of print history data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a dialog box for displaying a print history list according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a dialog box for displaying a print history list according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a print setting dialog box according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of a printing history data generation unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating control processing of a print history UI control unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of a print execution unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating control processing of various print setting UIs according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,12 CPU 2,14 RAM 3,13 ROM 10 CRT 11 external memory 18 operation panel 201 application software 203 printer driver 204 print spooler 205 print history monitor 300 print history data generation unit 301 print history UI control unit 302 print execution unit 303 print history database 1000 printer 1001 printer controller unit 2000 computer body 3000 host computer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP02 AQ04 AQ05 AQ06 AS02 HJ06 HN05 HN15 2C087 AA02 AB01 AB05 AC05 AC07 AC08 BA03 BA06 BC07 BD46 CB05 CB16 5B021 AA01 BB05 DD03 9A001 BZ03 HH34 JJ07 JJ07

Claims (40)

[Claims] In a printing apparatus for transferring data created by application software running on a host computer to a printer and printing the data, when printing is executed, storage for storing print history data relating to the print job is performed. Means, display control means for displaying a list of print history data stored by the storage means, selection means for selecting print data from the list of print history data displayed by the display control means, and the selection means A printing apparatus, comprising: printing control means for printing selected print data. 2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores, as the print history data, a document name or a file name, an application name, a user name, a print date and time, etc. relating to the print job. Printing device. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a change guide unit that displays a guide to change a print setting value of the print data selected by the selection unit. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays the print history data in the order of print frequency. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is started when the computer is started. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit is started when the computer is started. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selection means comprises a check button displayed together with a list of print history data in a dialog box by said display control means. Printing device. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selection means is constituted by radio buttons displayed together with a list of print history data in a dialog box by said display control means. Printing device. 9. The print control unit, when print data is selected by the selection unit, activates an application that created the print data, and develops and prints the print data on the application. The printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein 10. The printing control unit according to claim 1, wherein when there is no application that created the print data selected by the selection unit, the print control unit expands and prints the print data on another application. Item 1
10. The printing device according to any one of items 9. 11. A printing method for transferring data created by application software running on a host computer to a printer for printing, wherein when printing is executed, print history data relating to the print job is stored. A printing method characterized by displaying a list of stored print history data, selecting print data from the displayed list of print history data, and printing the selected print data. 12. The printing method according to claim 11, wherein as the print history data, a document name or a file name, an application name, a user name, a printing date and time, and the like relating to the print job are stored. 13. The printing method according to claim 11, wherein guidance is displayed to change a print setting value of the selected print data. 14. The printing method according to claim 11, wherein the print history data is arranged and displayed in descending order of printing frequency.
3. The printing method according to any one of 3. 15. The printing method according to claim 11, wherein the processing for storing the print history data is set to a processing waiting state when the computer is started. 16. The printing method according to claim 11, wherein the display control processing of the print history data is set to a processing waiting state when the computer is started. 17. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the print data selection process is performed using a check button displayed together with a list of print history data in a dialog box. Printing method. 18. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the print data selection process is performed using radio buttons displayed together with a list of print history data in a dialog box. Printing method. 19. The print data printing process is characterized in that when print data is selected, an application that created the print data is activated, and the print data is developed and printed on the application. Claims 11 to 1
8. The printing method according to any one of items 8. 20. The print data printing process according to claim 11, wherein when there is no application that created the selected print data, the print data is developed and printed on another application. 20. The printing method according to any one of claims 19 to 19, 21. A printing system for transferring data created by application software running on a host computer to a printer for printing, wherein when printing is executed, print history data related to the print job is saved. Means, display control means for displaying a list of print history data stored by the storage means, selection means for selecting print data from the list of print history data displayed by the display control means, and the selection means A printing system, comprising: printing control means for printing selected print data. 22. The printing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the storage unit stores, as the print history data, a document name or a file name, an application name, a user name, a print date and time, etc. relating to the print job. Printing system. 23. The printing system according to claim 21, further comprising change guidance means for displaying guidance to change the print setting value of the print data selected by said selection means. 24. The printing system according to claim 21, wherein the display control unit displays the print history data in a descending order of printing frequency. 25. The storage device according to claim 21, wherein said storage means is activated when said computer is activated.
The printing system according to any one of the above. 26. The computer-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein said display control means is started when said computer is started.
26. The printing system according to any one of 25. 27. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said selection means comprises a check button displayed together with a list of print history data in a dialog box by said display control means. Printing system. 28. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said selection means comprises a radio button displayed together with a list of print history data in a dialog box by said display control means. Printing system. 29. The print control means, when the print data is selected by the selection means, activates an application which created the print data, and develops and prints the print data on the application. The printing system according to any one of claims 21 to 28. 30. The method according to claim 30, wherein when there is no application that has created the print data selected by the selection unit, the print control unit expands and prints the print data on another application. Item 21
30. The printing system according to any one of claims to 29. 31. When printing is executed on a computer-readable medium applicable to a printing apparatus for transferring data created by application software running on a host computer to a printer and printing the data, the print job Storing print history data, displaying a list of the stored print history data, selecting print data from the displayed list of print history data, and printing the selected print data. The medium to be. 32. The medium according to claim 31, wherein a document name or a file name, an application name, a user name, a print date and time, and the like relating to the print job are stored as the print history data. 33. The medium according to claim 31, wherein guidance is displayed to change a print setting value of the selected print data. 34. The printing method according to claim 31, wherein the print history data is arranged and displayed in descending order of printing frequency.
4. The medium according to any one of 3. 35. The medium according to claim 31, wherein the print history data storage processing is set to a processing wait state when the computer is started. 36. The medium according to claim 31, wherein the display control processing of the print history data is set to a processing waiting state when the computer is started. 37. The print data selection process according to claim 31, wherein a check button displayed together with a list of print history data displayed in a dialog box is used. A medium according to claim 1. 38. The print data selection process according to claim 31, wherein the selection process is performed using a radio button displayed together with a list of print history data displayed in a dialog box. A medium according to claim 1. 39. The print data printing process is characterized in that when print data is selected, an application that created the print data is activated, and the print data is expanded and printed on the application. Claims 31 to 3
8. The medium according to any one of 8 above. 40. The print data printing process according to claim 31, wherein, when there is no application that created the selected print data, the print data is developed and printed on another application. 40. The medium according to any one of -39.