JP2002023985A - Device and method for controlling distributed printing and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to obtain printed results of which the sizes and positions of printing areas coincide completely from a plurality of printers being distribution destinations. SOLUTION: The information of the upper, lower, left and right inhibition width sizes on a paper area is fetched, and a common printable area that can be printed by any printer is calculated on the basis of the data of the inhibition width sized about the plurality of printers being the distribution destinations. In this calculation, a range on a paper area P obtained by excluding a common printing inhibition area is defined as a common printable area by comparing the respective upper, lower, left and right inhibition width sizes of the respective printers and defining the largest value as the common printing inhibition area as illustrated. When a margin designated by an application program is located outside the common printable area, the value of the margin is corrected into the value of a size coinciding with the common printable area. As a result, the printing area of each page for the final print data prepared by rendering turns out to be within the common printable area.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention distributes print data to be printed, which is input from the outside, to a plurality of printers, and distributes the distributed print data via a printer driver provided for each printer. It relates to the technology provided to each printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, it has become possible to easily connect a plurality of printers to one information processing apparatus such as a personal computer by using a computer network. With such a configuration in which a plurality of printers are connected to one information processing apparatus, print data created by the information processing apparatus can be distributed and output to each printer, and the overall printing time can be reduced. For example, when three copies of a document created by an application program are to be printed from an information processing apparatus, printing is performed by distributing one copy at a time to three printers, thereby theoretically reducing the time required for printing one copy. Three copies can be printed.

[0003]

In the above prior art,
If the printers that are the distribution destinations are of different types, even if printing is performed on paper of the same size, it is not possible to obtain a drawing of a print area of exactly the same size on paper, and the print result will be There was a problem of subtle irregularities. This is because some printers have a print-prohibited area on a paper area, and the size differs depending on the model, so that the printable area differs for each model. Here, the print-prohibited area corresponds to an area where printing cannot be performed at the lower end or right end of the sheet due to the relation of the sheet feeding mechanism to the sheet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to be able to obtain, from a plurality of printers as distribution destinations, a print result in which the size and position of a print area completely match.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems and Actions and Effects Thereof, the following structure is adopted as means for solving at least a part of the above-mentioned problems.

A distributed printing control apparatus according to the present invention includes a first setting unit for setting a plurality of printers to be distributed, a second setting unit for setting sheet information relating to a sheet on which printing is to be performed, The print data is processed on the basis of both information set by the first and second setting means, and a plurality of print data distributed for a distribution destination printer is output while conforming to the paper information. A distributed control means for providing a plurality of print data output from the distributed control means to each printer via a printer driver provided for each printer. Information capturing means for capturing information about a print-inhibited area in a paper area in each printer set by the means, and information of each printer captured by the information capturing means A printable area calculation unit that calculates a printable area in a paper area printable by any of the plurality of printers, wherein the distribution control unit calculates the printable area by calculating the printable area. And an area matching unit adapted to match the printable area calculated by the unit.

[0007] According to the distributed printing control apparatus having the above-described configuration, information about a print-inhibited area in a paper area on which printing is performed is fetched for each of a plurality of printers as distribution destinations. The printable area in the paper area printable by any of these printers is calculated. Then, the print data from the outside is distributed and output as data adapted to the printable area. For this reason, the print data occupies the same range of print area in any of the plurality of printers as distribution destinations. Therefore, there is an effect that a print result in which the size and the position of the print area completely match can be obtained from the plurality of printers as the distribution destinations.

In the distributed printing control apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration, the area adapting means adjusts a margin on a sheet determined by the print data based on the printable area calculated by the printable area calculating means. A configuration including a correction unit can be adopted. According to this configuration, the print data is adapted to the printable area only by correcting the margin on the paper determined by the print data based on the printable area. Therefore, there is an effect that the configuration in the computer program is easy.

In the distributed printing control apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration, the information fetching means may be configured to fetch the information from a printer driver provided for each of the printers. According to this configuration, it is possible to easily capture information on the print prohibited area on the paper area of the size to be printed in each printer.

According to the distributed printing control method of the present invention, there are provided (a) a step of setting a plurality of printers as distribution destinations, and (b) a step of setting sheet information relating to sheets to be printed.
(C) The print data from the outside is processed based on both the information set from the steps (a) and (b), and is distributed for the printer of the distribution destination while conforming to the paper information. Outputting a plurality of print data, wherein the plurality of print data output from the step (c) is provided to each printer via a printer driver provided for each printer.
(D) an information capturing step of capturing information on a print-inhibited area in the paper area of each printer set in the step (a); and (e) information of each printer captured in the step (d). Calculating a printable area in a paper area printable by any of the plurality of printers, wherein the step (c) comprises: (c1)
A step of adapting the plurality of print data to the printable area calculated in the step (e).

The computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention includes: (a) a function for setting a plurality of printers to be distributed, (b) a function for setting sheet information relating to sheets on which printing is performed, and (c) A plurality of print data that are processed from external print data based on both information set from the functions (a) and (b) and are distributed to the distribution destination printer while conforming to the paper information. A computer program for causing a computer to realize a function of outputting data and providing a plurality of print data output from the function (c) to each printer via a printer driver provided for each printer. A recorded computer-readable recording medium, further comprising:
(D) a function of acquiring information on a print-inhibited area in a paper area of each printer set by the function (a); and (e) information of each printer acquired by the function (d). The computer realizes a function of calculating a printable area in a paper area printable by any of the printers, and in the function (c), (c1) converts the plurality of print data by the function (e). The gist is to record a computer program for causing a computer to realize a function adapted to the calculated printable area.

The distributed printing control method and the computer-readable recording medium having the above configuration have the same operation and effects as those of the distributed printing control apparatus of the present invention described above. It is possible to obtain a printed product whose size and position are completely matched.

[0013]

Other Embodiments of the Invention The present invention includes the following other embodiments. The first aspect is an aspect as a computer program having the same function as that of the recording medium of the present invention. The second aspect is an aspect as a program supply device that supplies a computer program via a communication path. In the second aspect, the above-described apparatus and method are realized by placing a computer program on a server or the like on a computer network, downloading a necessary program to a computer via a communication path, and executing the program. Can be.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to further clarify the configuration and operation of the present invention described above, embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on examples.

1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of hardware of a computer system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, the computer system of this embodiment includes a computer 10 and a computer 1
., A plurality of printers 70, 80,... Substantially having a computer function are connected via a computer network 90 constructed by a local area network (LAN). It should be noted that the computer network 90 may be replaced with the Internet,
Intranet or wide area network (WA
N) can be replaced with various networks.

A CRT display 12 as a peripheral device is connected to the computer 10, and another printer 60 is connected locally. Also,
The computer 10 includes a computer main body 16, a keyboard 18, and a mouse 20. This computer body 1
6 is provided with a floppy disk drive 24 for reading the contents of the floppy disk 22.

The computer body 16 includes a ROM 31, a RAM 32, a display image memory 33, a mouse interface 34, and a keyboard interface 3, which are interconnected by a bus around a CPU 30 as a central processing unit.
5, an FDC 36, an HDC 37, a CRTC 38, a printer interface 39, and a network control circuit 40.

The ROM 31 is a read-only memory for storing various built-in programs and the like. RAM
Reference numeral 32 denotes a readable / writable memory for storing various data and the like. The display image memory 33 is a memory for storing image data of an image to be displayed on the CRT display 12. The mouse interface 34 is an interface that controls exchange of data and the like with the mouse 20. The keyboard interface 35 is an interface that manages key input from the keyboard 18. The FDC 36 is a floppy disk controller that controls the floppy disk drive (FDD) 24. HDC37,
A hard disk controller that controls a hard disk drive (HDD) 41. The CRTC 38 is a CRT controller that controls display of an image on the CRT display 12 based on display image data stored in the display image memory 33. Printer interface 3
An interface 9 controls output of data to the printer 14 connected locally. The network control circuit 40 includes a network card or the like, and is connected to the computer network 90.

In this computer system, the operating system is stored in the HDD 41, and when the computer main unit 16 is powered on, the RAM 32 is operated according to the loader written in the boot block of the HDD 41.
Is loaded in a predetermined area. Also, the printers 60 and 7
The actual printer driver prepared for each model of 0,80 is
It is stored in the floppy disk 22 in advance, and is installed in the computer 10 from the floppy disk drive 24 by activating a predetermined installation program. The installed printer driver is stored in the HDD 41, incorporated into the operating system when the computer 10 is powered on, and loaded into a predetermined area of the RAM 32.

The computer system further includes a virtual printer driver (virtual printer driver) 110 for determining information about a virtual printer. This virtual printer driver 110 is stored in the floppy disk 22 in advance similarly to the actual printer driver, and is installed in the computer 10 from the floppy disk drive 24 by activating a predetermined installation program. The installed virtual printer driver 110 is stored in the HDD 41, is incorporated in the operating system when the computer 10 is powered on, and is stored in the RAM 3.
2 is loaded into a predetermined area. It should be noted that the computer program of the virtual printer driver 110 is a CD-RO
It may be configured to be stored in another portable recording medium (portable recording medium) such as an M, a magneto-optical disk, and an IC card.
This computer program downloads program data provided via a computer network from a specific server connected to an external computer network (for example, the Internet), and
It can also be obtained by transferring to the AM 32 or the HDD 41.

The printers 60, 70, and 80 are so-called laser printers that irradiate a drum with laser light to form an image, develop the image with toner, and transfer the image to paper. The printer 60,
Various printers such as an ink jet printer and a thermal transfer printer can be applied as 70 and 80.
Here, the printers 60, 70, and 80 are assumed to be different models.

2. State of Distributed Printing Processing According to the computer system having such a configuration, roughly, the print data to be printed is created by the computer main body 16 and the print data is transferred to the printers 60, 70, 80 connected to the computer main body 16. And a distributed printing process for printing in a distributed manner. The state of such distributed printing processing will be described in detail below.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the whole state of the distributed printing process. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a state of processing of the virtual printer driver 110 used for the distributed printing processing. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a state of processing of a distributed printing utility program (hereinafter, simply referred to as “distributed printing utility”) 120 that realizes a part of the distributed printing processing.

As shown in FIG.
Application program 10 running inside
No. 0 performs image processing to generate image data, and issues a print command to print this image data. When a print command is issued from the application program 100,
Upon receiving the print command, the virtual printer driver 110 returns performance information on the performance of the virtual printer assumed by the virtual printer driver 110 to the application program 100. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the virtual printer driver 110 receives a print command issued from the application program 100 by the print command receiving unit 111, and notifies the print command receiving unit 111 that the print command has been received. The performance information return unit 112 received from the server 111 returns performance information on the performance of the virtual printer to the application program 100.

Here, the performance of the virtual printer is the performance of the printer with the highest performance among all the printers that can be the distribution destination. In general, a high-performance printer performs drawing using a high-level programming language. For example, the one that expresses a figure by an advanced drawing command using a mathematical expression or the like is a high-level programming language,
A low-level programming language is used to represent a figure by a drawing command with a low degree using a bitmap. Therefore, in this embodiment, by defining the performance of the virtual printer as the performance of the highest printer among all the possible printers as described above, the virtual printer driver 110 follows a high-level programming language. Data conversion processing (rendering processing) is enabled. That is, as described above, since a high-level programming language uses an advanced drawing command, the virtual printer driver 110 is designed to realize efficient rendering processing in accordance with the highest-performance printer. ing.

The printers that can be distribution destinations are printers belonging to a printer group set by the property setting unit 113 among all printers connected to the computer main body 16 locally or via a network. Printers 60, 70, 80
Shall apply.

More specifically, the printers 60, 70, 80
From a printer driver (hereinafter referred to as an actual printer driver) prepared for each model
0, the performance information of each of the printers 60, 70, 80 captured by the performance information input unit 114, and the
The highest performance information is selected from the performance information 70 and 80, and this is used as virtual printer performance information. The performance information returning unit 112 returns the performance information of the virtual printer to the application program 100.

The virtual printer driver 11
The performance information defined by 0 is replaced with the configuration of the highest performance printer as in this embodiment,
Any information selected from the performance information of 0, 70, and 80 can be used. Further, each of the printers 60, 70, 80
The performance information may be predetermined performance information that does not depend on the performance information.

The virtual printer driver 110 uses the property setting unit 113 to set the user interface 1
16 is operated to set and store various information for printing. Some of the various information for printing are returned to the application program 100 via the performance information return unit 112 together with the performance information. . Various types of information for printing include information on basic printing settings such as print quality, color correction, and halftone type, information on paper settings such as paper size and printing direction, and a printer for specifying a printer that can be a distribution destination. There are, for example, those relating to groups and those relating to the distribution mode in the case of distributed printing. In this case, information excluding those relating to the printer group and the distribution mode is sent to the application program 100.

The application program 100 receives the performance information and the information, converts the generated image data into print data suitable for a printer (here, a virtual printer) based on the performance information and the information, The converted print data is transferred to the virtual printer driver 1
Send to 10. This conversion process of print data realizes efficient rendering processing as described above, and processing such as color conversion and halftone realized by an actual printer driver is not performed here.

As shown in FIG. 2, the virtual printer driver 110 uses the print data sent from the application program 100 as intermediate print data, and temporarily stores a data set in which the intermediate print data is collected into the HDD 41 as an intermediate print file MF. Store. For details, see FIG.
As shown in the figure, the print data sent from the application program 100 is received by the print data receiving unit 117, and then, the print data is used as intermediate print data, and a data set in which the intermediate print data is put together is
The data is output to the HDD 41 by the intermediate print data output unit 118. The intermediate print data of the intermediate print file MF is thereafter read by the distributed print utility 120. The intermediate print file MF may be stored in the RAM 32 instead of the HDD 41, or may be stored in the floppy disk 22, or may be another external storage device. Further, the virtual printer driver 110 has a property setting unit 113
Also, a process of transmitting the various information set in the step (1) as printer property data to the distributed printing utility 120 via the property data output unit 119 is performed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the distributed print utility 120 receives intermediate print data and printer property data constituting the intermediate print file MF, and distributes the intermediate print data to a printer group included in the printer property data. Each printer 60, 70, 80 is distributed according to the information on the form, and each printer 6
0, 70, and 80 are sent to actual printer drivers 130, 140, and 150 provided. Such processing by the distributed printing utility 120 will be described in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 4, the distributed printing utility 120 first takes in the intermediate print data constituting the intermediate print file MF by the intermediate print data input unit 121, and the virtual printer driver by the property data input unit 122. The printer property data sent from 110 is received. Next, the allocation determining unit 123 determines the allocation of the intermediate print data based on the information on the printer group and the distribution mode included in the printer property data. The allocation here means that the intermediate print data is divided into pages, and each of the printers 60, 70,
80 is to determine the pages to be undertaken respectively.

The information on the allocation thus determined is sent to the output data control unit 124. Output data control unit 12
Reference numeral 4 denotes the actual printer drivers 130, 1 of the printers 60, 70, 80 based on the allocation information based on the intermediate print data fetched by the intermediate print data input unit 121.
The data is output while being distributed to 40 and 150, respectively. The actual printer drivers 130, 140, 1
Specifically, the data output to 50 is performed through the following operations.

First, the printer setting unit 125 performs a process of instructing the printer to which the data is to be assigned to change the setting via a printer driver. Next, an output command is issued by the output command output unit 126, and the performance information on the performance of the printers 60, 70, and 80 returned from the actual printer drivers 130, 140, and 150 that have received the output command is described. It is received by the performance information input unit 127. The performance information received from the real printer drivers 130, 140, 150
0, 150 indicates the performance of the corresponding printer 60, 70, 80, and corresponds to information such as a printable paper size, a prohibited width size indicating a print prohibited area in the paper area, and whether or not double-sided printing is possible. Here, the prohibited width size refers to the four directions of up, down, left, and right of the sheet. In general, in a printer, there is a print-prohibited area where printing cannot be performed for various reasons such as a roller of a paper feed mechanism coming off the paper at the edge of the paper. The size of such a print prohibited area differs depending on the model of each of the printers 60, 70, and 80. The performance information input unit 127 receives such various information from the actual printer drivers 130, 140, and 150.

The output data control unit 124 includes the performance information received from the performance information input unit 127, the information on the basic printing setting included in the printer property data received from the property data input unit 122, the information on the paper setting, etc. Based on the information related to the group and the distribution form, the pages to be allocated of the intermediate print data are converted into data suitable for the printers 60, 70, 80 to which the intermediate print data is allocated. The output data control unit 12
4 includes a printable area calculation unit 124a and an area matching unit 12
4b. The printable area calculation unit 124a prints a printable area that can be printed by any of the allocation destination printers 60, 70, and 80 based on the value of the prohibited width size in the performance information input by the performance information input unit 127. (Hereinafter, referred to as a common printable area). When converting the intermediate print data into data suitable for the printers 60, 70, and 80, the area matching unit 124b
When the print area defined by the intermediate print data extends outside the common printable area calculated by the printable area calculation unit 124a, the print area of the intermediate print data is limited to the common printable area.

The output data control unit 124 uses the converted print data as final print data via the final print data output unit 128 to output the actual printer drivers 130 and 14.
Send to 0,150. Actual printer drivers 130, 14
Reference numerals 0 and 150 perform processing such as color conversion and halftone corresponding to each printer, which is not performed by the virtual printer driver, on the final print data, and transmits the final print data to each of the printers 60, 70, and 80.

Further, the distributed printing utility 120
Has a printer monitoring unit 129 that monitors the status of each of the printers 60, 70, 80 based on signals from the actual printer drivers 130, 140, 150. The printer monitoring unit 129 monitors the degree of congestion of each printer and the error state of the printer (including not only a failure but also a paper jam, a paper out condition, etc.). The output data control unit 124 receives the signal from the printer monitoring unit 129 and, when outputting the distributed print data, changes the output destination or interrupts the output destination of a congested or error printer. Is performed.

The actual printer drivers 130 and 14
Printers 60, 70, 8 sent from printers 0, 150
0 is used by the distributed printing utility 120 as described above, and the performance information output unit 12a
Via the virtual printer driver 110.

3. The following describes how the operating system changes when the virtual printer driver 110 is installed in the computer 10. In this description, Windows is used as an operating system on which the virtual printer driver 110 operates.
95 (a trademark of Microsoft Corporation) as an example.

The user (operator) operates the computer 10 as follows to open a dialog box for setting various information for printing on the screen of the CRT display 12. That is, the "Printer" window is opened by performing [Start] → [Settings] → [Printer]. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the “Printer” window. When the virtual printer driver 110 is installed in the computer 10, as shown in the figure, the printers 60, 70,
A real printer driver 130 prepared for each of the 80 models,
In addition to the icons IC1, IC2, and IC3 of 140 and 150, an icon IC4 described as, for example, "distributed printing" corresponding to the virtual printer driver 110 is displayed. That is, like the real printer driver, when the virtual printer driver 110 is installed, the icon IC4 corresponding to the virtual printer driver 110 is installed.
Is displayed in the “Printer” window WN1.

Incidentally, by double-clicking the "distributed printing" icon IC4 corresponding to the virtual printer driver 110 on the "printer" window, a window for the virtual printer driver 110 is opened. Printer] → [Properties]
Is performed, a "distributed print property" dialog box for setting various information about the virtual printer is displayed. The operator can input various setting information by operating the mouse 20 and the keyboard 18 in accordance with the “distributed printing property” dialog box. Note that the “distributed print property” dialog box corresponds to the user interface 116 described above.

4. User Interface FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a dialog box WN2 of “distributed print property”. As shown in the figure, the dialog box WN2 of “Distributed print properties” includes
"Distribution setting", two kinds of card CD1 of "printer"
CD2 is prepared. "Distributed setting" card CD1
Is for setting information and the like relating to the distribution mode in the case of distributed printing. "Printer" card CD2
Contains information about printer groups that can be distribution destinations,
This is for setting information on basic printing settings, information on paper settings, and the like. Both cards CD1, C
D2 is selected by the operator by operating the mouse 20, and a dialog box WN2 is selected.
Will be displayed. FIG. 6 shows the “distribution setting” card CD1.
Is illustrated as an example. In addition, card CD
The combination of the contents of 1, CD2 is not limited to the above example, and may be configured to include all the contents in one card, or may be configured to be divided more finely into three or more cards. .

As shown in FIG.
D1 is provided with three fields fd1, fd2, fd3 of "document", "recovery", and "specified date and time". The “document” field fd1 is
This is for setting the print mode of the document. A data input column id1 for "number of copies", a check box id2 for "print by copy", and "collect by copy and page"
A check box id3, a data input column id4 for "how to group jobs", and a data input column id5 for "separator page" are provided. Each data entry field (including check box, the same applies hereinafter) id1 to id
5 is designed according to the following specifications.

1) Data input field id1 of "number of copies": The number of copies to be printed is input. Application program 10
The content set at 0 is input as a default. 2) Check box id2 of "Print by copy":
When the check box id2 is on, collation printing is performed, and when the check box id2 is off, stack printing is performed. Here, collated printing is to output each copy in the order of pages in units of copies, and stack printing is to output the same pages as many as the number of copies in page units. 3) Check box id3 of "Combine in sets and pages": When this check box id3 is in the ON state, a set of the set or page unit is prohibited from being passed to a plurality of printers. Allow the set to span multiple printers.

4) Data entry column id4 of "How to organize jobs": When the "Printer unit" radio button in this data entry column id4 is selected, all pages output from one printer are treated as one unit. . When this radio button is selected, the shared printers 70 and 80 connected to the network do not mix with the print results of other users. On the other hand, when the radio button of “unit of copy, page number” is selected, each set of the above unit of copy or page is handled as one unit. It is used when distributed to the local printer 60 or when there is no problem if it is mixed with print results of other users.

5) Data input column id of "separation page"
5: The separator page is a page provided at the beginning or end of the group so that it can be determined when the print result of another user is mixed with the group in the group. "lead"
When the check box is clicked, a separator page is printed at the head position of the group. When the “end” check box is clicked, a separator page is printed at the end position of the group. Note that the name of the document to be printed, the number of copies, the number of pages, the user name, and the like are printed on the separator page.

In the field fd1 of "document", in addition to the data input fields id1 to id5,
There is provided a distribution mode display field dd indicating a distribution mode determined by the setting contents of the data input fields id1 to id5. This distribution mode display column dd is a data input column i
An illustration image shows what the distribution form determined by the setting contents of d1 to id5 is.

Next, how the illustration image in the distribution form display section dd is determined by the contents of the settings in the data input sections id1 to id5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. First, how the illustration image is determined by the “number of copies” data input field id1, the “print by copy” check box id2, and the “collect by copy and page unit” check box id3 will be described.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing how the illustration image in the distribution form display section dd changes depending on the settings of the data input section id1 and the two check boxes id2 and id3. In the illustrated table, the columns are determined by whether or not to print in sets, that is, whether the check box id2 of “Print in sets” is on or off. This is determined depending on whether or not the data is to be collected in units, that is, whether the check box id3 of “collect in units of pages and pages” is in an off state or an on state. This table is an example in which the number of copies set from the “number of copies” data input field id1 is four.

In the case of “print by copy” and “not collated by copy and page”, as shown in the cell C11 in the first row and first column of the table, the first printer 60 The first page of the first copy and the second page of the first copy are printed, and then the first page of the second copy is printed. The second printer 70 prints the second page of the second copy and the third copy. Are printed, and the third printer 80 displays an illustration image indicating that the first and second pages of the fourth copy are to be printed.

In the case of “do not print in copies” and “do not combine in copies or pages”, the first row and the second
As shown in the cell C12 in the column, since the stack printing is performed, the first printer 60 prints three copies of the first page, and the second printer 70 prints the required number of copies of the first page. The remaining image and the second page are printed in two copies, and the third printer 80 displays an illustration image indicating that the remaining number of copies of the second copy is to be printed.

In the case of “print by copy” and “collect by copy and page”, as shown in the cell C21 in the second row and first column in the table, the first printer 60 , 1
By prohibiting units from crossing multiple printers,
From the first page of the first copy to the second page of the second copy, the second printer 70 prints the first and second pages of the third copy, and the third printer 80 prints the first and second pages. Displays an illustration image indicating that the first page and the second page of the fourth copy are to be printed.

In the case of "do not print by copy" and "collect by copy and page", as shown in the cell C22 in the second row and second column in the table, the first printer 60 Shows an illustration image indicating that the first page is printed for the required number of copies and the second printer 70 prints the second page for the required number of copies.

Next, the illustration image determined by the setting contents of the data input fields id1 to id3 is "Job grouping method".
The description will be made as to how the data input field id4 of FIG. 4 and the data input field id5 of "separation page" change. FIG.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing how the illustration images in the distributed form display field dd are determined by the data input fields id4 and id5. One example of the illustration image shown in FIG. 8 is the cell C1 in FIG. 7 according to the contents of the data input fields id1 to id3.
When the illustration image is determined as shown in FIG. 1, it shows how the illustration image is further changed according to the setting contents of the data input fields id4 and id5.

In the table of FIG. 8, the columns are determined by which of the "printer unit" and "copy / page number unit" radio buttons has been selected in the data entry field id4 of "how to organize jobs". , "Header", "tail" in the data input column id5 of "separator page"
Is determined by how the two check boxes are indicated.

Data entry column id of "How to organize jobs"
In FIG. 4, when the “printer unit” radio button is clicked, the cell CE1 in the first row and first column in the table is displayed.
As shown in FIG. 1, the cell C11 in FIG. 7 and its illustration image do not change, and all pages printed by one printer are in a combined form. On the other hand, if the radio button of “Department, page number unit” is clicked, the first line,
As shown in the cell CE12 in the second column, sets in units of units or pages are put together, and they are once separated from the next set. Actually, the same print result is obtained regardless of whether the “printer unit” radio button is clicked or the “copy, page number unit” radio button, because there is no separator page.

When it is determined from the data input column id5 of "separation page" that there is a delimiter page, as shown in the second, third and fourth rows of the table, the first line The illustration image is determined in such a manner that a division page (the black portion in the figure) is inserted at the beginning, the end, or both of the sections grouped by the eyes. The illustration image determined by this table is displayed in the distribution form display column dd.

Referring back to FIG. 6, the field f of "recovery"
d2 is for designating a recovery destination when an error occurs in a printer to be subjected to distributed printing and recovery is performed by another printer. The "recovery" field fd2 is provided with three radio buttons of "do not recover", "designate an output destination", and "select a recovery destination automatically". If the “do not recover” radio button is selected, recovery is not performed even if an error occurs in a printer that performs distributed printing. When the “designate output destination” radio button is selected, the output destination input from the data input field of “printer” is set as the recovery destination. If the radio button "Select recovery destination automatically" is selected, a printer of the same model as the printer in which the error has occurred is set as the recovery destination. If there is no printer of the same model, an empty printer is set as the recovery destination.

The “designated date and time” field fd3 is for designating a print time. When the “designate print date and time” check box is designated, the time entered in the “designated date and time” field is set. Printing starts.

The "printer" card CD2 displayed in the "distributed print property" dialog box WN2 will be described next with reference to FIG. As shown
The “printer” card CD2 is provided with a “printer group” field fd4, a “paper setting” field fd5, and a content display field fd6.

"Printer group" field fd4
Is used to specify a group of printers for printing documents in a distributed manner.
11 and a display column id12 of "printer" and a button id13 of "group setting" are provided. The “group name” data input field id11 is for setting the name of the group, and a preset group name is prepared as an option. Display column id of "Printer"
Reference numeral 12 denotes a printer name belonging to the group set from the data input column id1 of "group name". The button “id” of “group setting” opens and opens a new window (not shown) and accepts data input from an operator to add or delete an option prepared in the data input field id11 of “group name”. "Printer Group"
All printers belonging to the group specified by the field fd4, that is, the display column i of "printer"
The computer 10 performs distributed printing for each printer displayed in d12. In other words, among all the printers connected to the computer main body 16 locally or via the computer network 90, only the printer group of the group specified by the “printer group” field fd4 is the distribution destination of printing.

The “paper setting” field fd5 is used to set the paper and print quality.
Data input fields id14, id15, id for setting "paper direction", "paper type", "color", and "resolution" respectively
16, id17 are provided.

"Paper size" data input field id14
Is used to set the paper size to be used together with the paper type. For example, “A4 210 × 297 mm”, “A4
210 x 297 mm width "," Western envelope 120 x 23
5 "," Postcard 100 × 147 mm ", etc. are prepared as options. "Paper direction" data input field id1
Reference numeral 5 denotes a direction in which paper is set in the printer, and "vertical" and "horizontal" can be selected. The "paper type" data input field id16 is used to set the type of paper, and "plain paper", "superfine special paper", and "special glossy paper" are prepared as options.
The “color” data input field id17 is for setting the type of ink used in the printer 14, and “color” and “monochrome” are prepared as options. The “resolution fixed” data input field id18 is for setting the printing resolution, and two types of “fast” and “fine” are prepared as options. Here, “fast” and “clean” are, for example, 360 × 360 (dot), 72
This indicates a resolution of 0 × 720 (dot).

The content display field fd6 includes a field fd1 of “printer group” and a field fd of “paper setting”.
Desired data among the contents set from d5 is displayed.

The operator operates the mouse 20 and the keyboard 18 in accordance with the "distributed printing property" dialog box WN2 configured as described above, whereby various setting information is input to the computer main body 16. . It should be noted that, at the time of this data input, the capture of the input data is restricted depending on the performance information of each of the printers 60, 70, and 80. For example, based on the performance information of each of the printers 60, 70, and 80, if all of the printers 60, 70, and 80 can print only a paper size up to A4, the "distributed print property"
In the dialog box WN2, the "paper size" data input field id14 has a configuration in which paper sizes larger than A4 are excluded from options, and input data for paper sizes larger than A4 cannot be imported.

5. Computer Program Each unit 111 to 119 realized by the virtual printer driver 110 shown in FIG. 3 is actually realized by a virtual printer driver 110 which is a computer program and various processes executed by the CPU 30 according to the virtual printer driver 110. ing. Each unit 1 realized by the distributed printing utility 120 shown in FIG.
21 to 129 are actually realized by a distributed printing utility 120 which is a computer program and various processes executed by the CPU 30 according to the distributed printing utility 120.

The distributed printing utility 120 is stored in the floppy disk 22 in advance, like the virtual printer driver 110, and is installed in the computer 10 from the floppy disk drive 24 by activating a predetermined installation program. This installed distributed printing utility 120 is
The information is stored in the HDD 41, is incorporated in the operating system when the computer 10 is powered on, and is loaded into a predetermined area of the RAM 32. In addition,
Like the virtual printer driver 110, the distributed printing utility 120 replaces the one stored in the floppy disk 22 with a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk,
It may be configured to be stored in another portable recording medium (portable recording medium) such as a card. The distributed printing utility 120 downloads program data provided via a computer network from a specific server connected to an external computer network (for example, the Internet), and downloads the RAM 32 or H
It can also be obtained by transferring to DD41.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing routine described by the virtual printer driver 110 together with the processing routine described by the application program 100. As shown in the figure, the CPU 30 of the computer main body 16 first shifts the processing to the application program 100 to perform processing of an image to create image data (step S210). The application program 100 is a general-purpose application program for creating a document, a picture, and the like.
Image data is created using functions unique to each application program.

Next, CPU 30 performs a process of issuing a print command for performing distributed printing by executing a [print] command included in the created application program (step S220). More specifically, when a print command is operated, a dialog box (not shown) of “print” is displayed on the CRT display 12, and in response to the click of the “OK” button, The application program performs a process of issuing a print command to the virtual printer driver 110. When the “Properties” button is clicked in the “Print” dialog box, the “Distributed Print Properties” dialog box is displayed by a processing routine according to the virtual printer driver 110, and the keyboard 18 and the mouse 20 are used. By reading the input data, a process for setting various information related to the distributed printing is performed, and then a print command is issued. The printing instruction may be issued from an application program via an operating system.

When a print command is issued by a process according to the application program 100, the CPU 30 shifts the process to the virtual printer driver 110 and determines whether or not the print command is fetched from the process by the application program 100 (step S310). . Here, if it is determined that the print command has not been captured, the determination process of step S310 is repeatedly executed, and the process waits until the print command from the application program 100 is captured. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S310 that the print command has been fetched, the following processing is executed.

The CPU 30 first sets the printers 60 and 7
Actual printer driver 13 prepared for each model of 0,80
0, 140, 150 to distributed printing utility 120
The performance information of each of the printers 60, 70, and 80 that has been captured is captured from the distributed printing utility 120 (step S320). Thereafter, the CPU 30 extracts the highest performance information from the performance information of each of the printers 60, 70, and 80 and determines this as performance information of the virtual printer (step S330). Thereafter, the CPU 30 transmits the performance information of the virtual printer to the application program 100.
(Step S340).

When the performance information of the virtual printer is sent from the virtual printer driver 110, the CPU 30 shifts the processing to the application program 100 and fetches the performance information of the virtual printer (step S24).
0). Next, the CPU 30 obtains the performance information, information on basic printing settings, information on paper settings, etc. (excluding information on printer groups and distribution forms) among various types of information on distributed printing set by the virtual printer driver 110. , The image data created in step S210 is converted into print data suitable for the virtual printer (step S250). Note that, as described above, this print data conversion processing realizes efficient rendering processing, and does not include processing such as color conversion and halftone realized by an actual printer driver. After that, the converted print data is transferred to the virtual printer driver 1.
10 (step S260). Upon ending the processing of step S260, the CPU 30 ends the processing routine of the application program 100.

When print data suitable for the virtual printer is sent from the application program 100, C
The PU 30 shifts the processing to the virtual printer driver 110 and takes in the print data (step S350).
Subsequently, the CPU 30 sets the acquired print data as intermediate print data and stores the intermediate print data in the HDD 41.
(Step S360). As a result, a data set that summarizes the intermediate print data is stored in the HDD 41 as an intermediate print file MF. Upon ending the processing of step S360, the CPU 30 ends the processing routine of the virtual printer driver 110.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are flowcharts showing a processing routine described in the distributed printing utility 120. This processing routine is started after the processing routine of the virtual printer driver 110 ends. When the process is started, as shown in FIG.
U30 first receives the intermediate print file MF from the HDD 41.
(Step S410). Next, the CPU 30 takes in printer property data, which is various information set by the virtual printer driver 110 (step S420).

Subsequently, the CPU 30 controls each of the printers 60,
70, 80 real printer drivers 130, 140, 15
A control signal is sent to the printer driver 0, and performance information on the performance of the printers 60, 70, and 80 is fetched from the actual printer drivers 130, 140, and 150 that have received the control signal (step S422). Next, the CPU 30 extracts, from the performance information, data of the prohibited widths of the upper, lower, left and right in the paper area of each printer, and prints the common printable area that can be printed by any of the printers 60, 70, and 80 that are the distribution destinations. Is calculated based on the data of the prohibited width size (step S424).

This calculation is performed for each of the printers 60, 70, 80.
The maximum value of the forbidden widths in the upper, lower, left, and right of the paper area is compared, and the largest value is set as the common print prohibited area, and the range on the paper area excluding the common print prohibited area is set as the common printable area. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of this calculation. For example, as shown, the prohibited width size of the printer 60 is left = 4 mm, right = 5 mm, upper = 3 mm, lower = 3 mm, and the prohibited width size of the printer 70 and the printer 80 is left = 3 mm, right = 8mm, top =
When 3 mm and bottom = 8 mm, the common print prohibited area is left = 4 mm, right = 8 mm, top = 3 mm, bottom = 8 mm
The area on the paper area P (the hatched portion in the figure) excluding the print prohibited area is determined as the common printable area. Step S424 corresponds to the printable area calculation unit 124a described above.

Subsequently, the CPU 30 performs a process of correcting the margin defined by the intermediate print data based on the common printable area calculated in step S424 (step S426). Here, the margin is the size of the top, bottom, left, and right margins specified by the operator from the [Page Setup] dialog box when creating print data in the application program 100. In step S426, if the margin is outside the common printable area, a process of correcting the value of the margin to a size that matches the common printable area is performed. For example, when the common printable area has the size illustrated in FIG. 14 and the values of the upper, lower, left, and right margins set in the application are all 5 mm, the values of the upper, lower, left, and right margins are 5 mm, 8 mm, It is corrected to 5 mm and 8 mm. Note that step S426 corresponds to the above-described region matching unit 124b.

Subsequently, the CPU 30 proceeds to step S420
Based on the information on the printer group and the information on the distribution form included in the printer property data fetched at step S 426, a process of determining the allocation of the intermediate print data with the margin corrected at step S 426 is performed (step S 426)
430). In this allocation, each page constituting the intermediate print data is assigned to each printer 60 belonging to the printer group.
This defines how to allocate the data 70 and 80. That is, the distribution mode illustrated in FIG. 8 displayed in the distribution mode display column dd of the card CD1 of “distribution setting” is realized so that the distribution mode set in the dialog box WN2 of “distribution print property” is realized. (To be realized), it is determined how each page constituting the intermediate print data is allocated to each of the printers 60, 70, and 80. The data indicating the output destination of the printer for each page determined in this manner is stored in the RAM as output destination list data.
32.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the output destination list data. The illustrated example shows a case where a document including three pages is printed one by one on three printers 60, 70, and 80. As shown in the figure, pages 1 to 3 are determined as page numbers to be printed for the three printers 60, 70, and 80, respectively.

When the assignment of the output destination of each page is determined in step S430, the following processing is executed so that printing is actually performed according to this assignment. First, as shown in FIG. 12, the CPU 30 sets a printer counter C1 indicating a printer to be printed to a value of 1 (step S440). Here, the printer counter C1 indicates that the first printer 60 when the value is 1, the second printer 70 when the value is 2, the third printer 70 when the value is 3, and so on. Shall be shown.

Next, CPU 30 performs a process of instructing the printer corresponding to the value of printer counter C1 to change the setting (step S450). This processing prompts the printer to be printed to prepare for printing via the printer driver. The information on the basic printing setting and the information on the paper setting included in the printer property data acquired in step S420 are described below. , The necessary setting information is instructed to the printer driver. For example, by notifying the printer driver that the type of paper is “special glossy paper”, the printer is determined so that printing suitable for the paper can be performed.

Subsequently, the CPU 30 sets a page counter C2 indicating the number of pages to be printed to a value of 1 (step S460). Thereafter, the CPU 30 determines whether or not the output destination list data obtained in step S430 includes the page specified by the printer counter C1 and the page counter C2 (step S470).
Here, if it is determined that the data is included in the output destination list data, the following processing is performed. First, the printer counter C1
In order to execute printing on the printer corresponding to the value of the printer, the actual printer driver 130 (14
(0, 150) (step S)
480). The real printer driver 130 (140, 150) receiving the output command issues the printer 60.
Since the performance information on the performance of (70, 80) is returned, the CPU 30 then fetches the performance information (step S490).

Subsequently, the performance information and step S42
The page specified by the printer counter C1 and the page counter C2 on the basis of the information on the basic print settings, the information on the paper settings, etc. (excluding the information on the printer group and the distribution mode) included in the property data captured at 0. (Step S500). Specifically, the page data of the page corresponding to the value of the page counter C2 is extracted from the intermediate print data subjected to the margin correction in step S426, and the extracted page data is used as the performance information, the information on the basic print setting, and The final print data is created by converting the data into data suitable for the printer 60 (70, 80) corresponding to the value of the printer counter C1 based on the information on the paper setting and the like. Since the margin correction of the intermediate print data in step S426, the print range of each page of the final print data created in step S500 is set to
In any of 0, 70, and 80, the common printable area that can be printed does not protrude.

Thereafter, the CPU 30 stores the final print data in the printer 60 corresponding to the value of the printer counter C1.
(70, 80) actual printer driver 130 (140,
150) (step S510). As described above, the real printer drivers 130, 140, and 150 perform processes such as color conversion and halftone corresponding to each printer, which are not performed by the virtual printer driver, on the final print data, and process the final print data. Printer 6
0, 70, 80.

Before executing printing in steps S480 to S510, the actual printer drivers 130, 1
Each of the printers 60, 7 based on signals from
A process for monitoring the status of 0, 80 is performed. If the monitoring result indicates that the output destination printer is in an error state, such as being crowded or in an error state, the output destination printer is output. The processing for changing the destination or stopping the output destination may be performed.

Thereafter, the CPU 30 sets the page counter C
The value of 2 is incremented by 1 (step S52).
0). If a negative determination is made in step S470, steps S480 to S510 are skipped, and the process immediately proceeds to step S520. After that, the CPU 30
It is determined whether or not the value of the page counter C2 has exceeded the value LC2 indicating the last page (step S530). Here, if it is determined that the value does not exceed the value LC2 indicating the last page, the process returns to step S470, and the process of creating and outputting the final print data for the page whose value 1 has been increased is performed. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S530 that the value of the page counter C2 has exceeded the value LC2 indicating the last page, the CPU 30 increments the value of the printer counter C1 by 1 (step S5).
40), it is determined whether or not the value of the printer counter C1 has exceeded the value LC1 indicating the last printer (step S550). If it is determined that the value does not exceed the value LC1 indicating the last printer, the process proceeds to step S450.
And the process of creating and outputting the final print data of each page for the next printer 70 (80, 60) indicated by the printer counter C1 with the value 1 increased. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S550 that the value of the printer counter C1 has exceeded the value LC1 indicating the last page, it is determined that the creation and output of the final print data of all the pages that need to be printed by all the printers have been completed. Then, the processing routine of the distributed printing utility ends.

As described above, the processing routine of the distributed printing utility performs the processing of creating and outputting the final print data from the first page to the last page in order from the first printer to the final printer in units of each printer. This is described for the sake of convenience in the description of the flowchart. In practice, the process of creating and outputting the final print data from one page to the last page is performed by each printer. It is configured to perform macro-parallel processing by time division every time.

FIG. 15 shows a procedure for performing distributed printing by the computer system configured as described above.
9 is a timing chart shown while comparing with a conventional example. The illustrated example shows a case where a document including three pages is printed one by one on three printers 60, 70, and 80. As shown, in this embodiment, first, the intermediate print data is created (), and then the page data of the first page of the intermediate print data is subjected to parallel processing by the printer 60, the printer 70, and the printer 70. The data is converted so as to be suitable for each printer in order of 80. The process of transmitting the data (final print data) converted for the printer 60 to the printer 60 is performed in parallel with the data conversion for the next printer 70. And the transmission to the printer 80 are performed in parallel with the next processing. Next, the page data of the second page of the intermediate print data is transferred to the printer
, And for the printer 80 are sequentially converted so as to be compatible with each printer (,,), and then the page data of the third page of the intermediate print data is converted into the data for the printer 60, the printer 70, Data conversion is performed in order to match each printer for 80
, ○ 10). Thus, all printing is completed.

On the other hand, in the conventional example, first, a process of converting the page data of the first page so as to be compatible with the first printer A is performed, and then the converted data is transferred to the printer A. Is transmitted. Next, a process of converting the page data of the second page so as to be compatible with the first printer A is performed, and then a process of transmitting the converted data to the printer A is performed. Subsequently, a process of converting the page data of the third page so as to be compatible with the first printer A is performed, and then a process of transmitting the converted data so as to be compatible with the printer A is performed. . Then, for the second printer B, 1
Like the first printer A, the first page, the second page,
Data conversion and transmission to the printer are performed in the order of the third page. Thereafter, similarly to the first printer A, the third printer C performs data conversion and transmission to the printer in the order of the first page, the second page, and the third page.

Therefore, in this embodiment, since the data conversion processing and the transmission processing to the printer are performed in parallel, the overall time required for printing can be reduced as compared with the conventional example. It has the effect of being able to.

According to this embodiment, the virtual printer driver 11 is transmitted from the application program 100.
Intermediate print data can be obtained only by issuing one print command to 0, and distributed printing to each of the printers 60, 70, and 80 is automatically performed from the intermediate print data. For this reason, the operator only needs to execute the [Print] command once on the application program, which is advantageous in that workability is excellent.

In this embodiment, for each of a plurality of printers 60, 70, and 80 serving as distribution destinations, information of a prohibited width size indicating a print prohibited area in a paper area is fetched. A common printable area in a paper area printable by any of the printers 80 is calculated. Then, the print data from the application program is distributed and output as adapted to the common printable area. For this reason, the print data occupies the same range of print area in each of the plurality of printers 60, 70, and 80 that are the distribution destinations. Therefore, there is an effect that a print result in which the size and the position of the print area completely match can be obtained from the plurality of printers 60, 70, and 80 that are the distribution destinations.

In particular, in this embodiment, the print data is adapted to the common printable area only by correcting the margin specified by the application program based on the common printable area. Therefore, there is an effect that the configuration in the computer program is easy.

In this embodiment, each printer 60,
Since the information of the prohibited width size is configured to be fetched from the printer driver provided for each of the printers 70 and 80, there is no need to provide a new fetching means, and the fetching is easy.

In this embodiment, when an error occurs in a printer that performs distributed printing, recovery is performed by another printer. Therefore, a common printable area including this recovery destination printer is obtained. Will be done. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a print result in which the size and position of the print area completely match from all the printers that perform printing, including the printer at the recovery destination.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. (1) In the above embodiment, information on the prohibited width size in the paper area is acquired from a plurality of printers at the distribution destination, and a printable area common to those printers is obtained from the information. A configuration may be adopted in which information indicating a printable area is fetched as information indicating a prohibited area, and a printable area is obtained from the information. Since the printable area is exclusive of the print prohibited area, such a configuration can be adopted.

(2) In the above embodiment, the print data is adapted to the common printable area only by correcting the margin specified by the application program based on the common printable area. , A stage of a rendering process for creating final print data using the actual printer drivers 130, 140, and 150,
In the process of step S500, data may be converted so that the print range of each page of the final print data does not exceed the common printable range.

(3) In the above embodiment, one computer 1 for performing printing is used as the distributed printing control apparatus of the present invention.
Although the configuration is such that print data is directly output from 0 to a plurality of printers 60, 70, and 80, instead of this,
Prepare a server on the computer network 90,
It is also possible to adopt a client / server system configuration in which a printer is managed on a server to perform distributed printing. In this configuration, a virtual printer driver may be built in each client, and a distributed printing utility may be built in the server.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and may be carried out in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course you can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of hardware of a computer system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an entire state of a distributed printing process.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a state of processing of a virtual printer driver 110 used for distributed printing processing.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a state of processing of a distributed printing utility 120 that realizes a part of the distributed printing processing.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a “printer” window WN1.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a card “distribution setting” card CD1 displayed in a “distribution printing property” dialog box WN2.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing how the illustration image in the distribution mode display column changes depending on the settings of the data input columns id1 to id3.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing how an illustration image in a distribution mode display column changes depending on the contents of settings in data input columns id4 and id5.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a “printer” card CD2 displayed in a “distributed print property” dialog box WN2.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing routine described in the application program 100 and a processing routine described in the virtual printer driver 110.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a first half of a processing routine described by the distributed printing utility 120;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a latter half of a processing routine described by the distributed printing utility 120;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of output destination list data.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of calculating a common printable area in a paper area P.

FIG. 15 is a timing chart showing a procedure for performing distributed printing according to this embodiment in comparison with a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Computer 12 ... CRT display 14 ... Printer 16 ... Computer body 18 ... Keyboard 20 ... Mouse 22 ... Floppy disk drive 24 ... Floppy disk drive 30 ... CPU 31 ... ROM 32 ... RAM 33 ... Display image memory 34 ... Mouse interface 35 ... Keyboard Interface 36 FDC 37 HDC 38 CRTC 39 Printer interface 40 Network control circuit 41 HDD 60, 70, 80 Printer 90 Computer network 100 Application program 110 Virtual printer driver 111 Print command receiving unit 112 Performance information return unit 113 Property setting unit 114 Performance information input unit 115 Virtual printer performance determination unit 116 User interface 1 7 Print data receiving unit 118 Intermediate print data output unit 119 Property data output unit 120 Distributed print utility 121 Intermediate print data input unit 122 Property data input unit 123 Allocation determination unit 124 Output data control unit 125 Output command output unit 126 ... Performance information input unit 127 ... Final print data output unit 128 ... Printer monitoring unit 129 ... Performance information output unit 130,140,150 ... Real printer driver IC1-IC4 ... Icon MF ... Intermediate print file PG ... Page Counter WN1: Window WN2: Dialog box of "Distributed printing properties"

Claims (10)

[Claims] A first setting unit for setting a plurality of printers as distribution destinations; a second setting unit for setting sheet information relating to a sheet on which printing is to be performed; And distribution control means for processing based on both information set from the second setting means, and outputting a plurality of print data distributed for the printer at the distribution destination while being adapted to the paper information. A distributed print control apparatus for providing a plurality of print data output from the distributed control means to each printer via a printer driver provided for each printer, wherein each printer set by the first setting means is provided. Information acquisition means for acquiring information about the print-inhibited area in the paper area, and information on each of the printers acquired by the information acquisition means. A printable area calculation unit that calculates a printable area in a paper area that can be printed even by the misaligned printer, wherein the distribution control unit prints the plurality of print data calculated by the printable area calculation unit. A distributed printing control device comprising an area adapting unit adapted to adapt to a possible area. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the area matching unit includes a margin correction unit configured to correct a margin on a sheet defined by the print data based on the printable area calculated by the printable area calculation unit. 3. The distributed printing control device according to 1. 3. The distributed printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information fetching means fetches said information from a printer driver provided for each of said printers. 4. The distributed printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of printers are connected by a computer network. 5. A process for setting a plurality of printers to be distributed, (b) a process for setting sheet information relating to a sheet on which printing is performed, and (c) a process for setting print data from the outside.
Processing based on both the information set from the step (a) and the step (b), and outputting a plurality of print data distributed for a distribution destination printer while conforming to the paper information. A distributed printing control method comprising: providing a plurality of print data output from the step (c) to each printer via a printer driver provided for each printer;
(D) an information capturing step of capturing information about a print-inhibited area in the paper area of each printer set in the step (a); and (e) information of each printer captured in the step (d). Calculating a printable area in a paper area printable by any one of the plurality of printers. The step (c) comprises: (c1) converting the plurality of print data in the step (e). A distributed printing control method, comprising a step of matching the calculated printable area. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step (c1) includes a step of correcting a margin on a sheet defined by the print data based on the printable area calculated in the step (e). Distributed printing control method. 7. The distributed printing control method according to claim 5, wherein the step (b) is configured to fetch the information from a printer driver provided for each of the printers. 8. A function of setting a plurality of printers to be distributed, (b) a function of setting sheet information relating to a sheet to be printed, and (c) a function of setting print data from outside.
A function of processing based on both information set from the functions (a) and (b), and outputting a plurality of print data distributed for a distribution destination printer while conforming to the paper information. A computer-readable recording which records a computer program for causing a computer to provide a plurality of print data output from the function (c) to each printer via a printer driver provided for each printer. Medium, and
(D) a function for acquiring information about a print-inhibited area in a paper area in each printer set by the function (a), and (e) information for each printer acquired by the function (d). The computer realizes a function of calculating a printable area in a paper area printable by any of the printers, and in the function (c), (c1) converts the plurality of print data by the function (e). A computer-readable recording medium on which a computer program for causing a computer to realize a function adapted to the calculated printable area is recorded. 9. The function (c1) is configured so that a computer realizes a function of correcting a margin on a sheet defined by the print data based on a printable area calculated by the function (e). The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 8. 10. The computer-readable computer according to claim 8, wherein the function (b) records a computer program configured to fetch the information from a printer driver provided for each of the printers. Recording medium.