JP2005242781A - Information processor and printing control method and computer-readable program-stored storage medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output a printing file by using printing functions differing from each other for every folder even if no printing conditions are specified in the printing file with a simple operation, storing the printing file obtained from application on the configuration file-reserved folder. <P>SOLUTION: A constitution comprises: preparing a configuration file for the printing file stored on the folder by Hot Folder Application 104; reserving the prepared configuration file in the folder; monitoring the printing file imported to the file folder; detecting the import of the printing file; and adding the configuration file reserved in the folder to the printing file for transfer to a printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention manages information in a hierarchical folder via a predetermined operating system, accepts that a print file from an application is stored in the folder, and transfers the accepted print file to a printing apparatus The present invention relates to an apparatus, a printing control method, a storage medium storing a computer-readable program, and a program.

  Conventionally, apart from a method of printing from application software on a computer via a printer driver, a file of a predetermined format such as a postscript can be directly sent to a printer and printed using software called a downloader. It is common.

  Recently, a resident-type software called a hot folder is installed on a computer, a set folder is constantly monitored, and when a new file is thrown into the folder, a mechanism is used to download it to a printer.

  Then, for each folder, settings such as selection of image processing during printing and designation of sorting can be performed. Some Postscript printers have the ability to directly print PDF files that are widely used on the Internet in addition to Postscript files, so the above hot folders can be printed easily without using applications or printer drivers. It is attracting attention as a possible method.

In addition, since the hot folder is basically the same as the folder provided by the operating system (OS), the hot folder can also be shared by file sharing via the network. Conventionally, the following Patent Document 1 has already been published as this type of technology.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-075524

  However, in the above-described system called a hot folder, settings for specifying a transfer destination printer and processing at the time of printing must be performed for each created hot folder. When sharing a hot folder using file sharing, it is only necessary to set the original hot folder.

  However, in recent years, printing using IPP, E-mail, and HTTP has become possible via the Internet, and there is an increasing chance of printing beyond the range where file sharing is possible. is there. In that case, there is a problem that it is troublesome to make the same setting for each hot folder.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. The object of the present invention is to manage a hierarchical folder through a predetermined operating system, and a print file from an application is stored in the folder. In the information processing apparatus that transfers the received print file to the printing apparatus, a setting file for the print file stored in the folder is created, and the created setting file is imported into the folder. When the setting file import is detected while monitoring whether the setting file is imported, the print file from the application is specified in the folder in which the setting file is specified. A simple operation of storing in the print file Even if no print conditions are specified in the file, the information processing apparatus, print control method, and computer that can freely customize the print processing environment that can output print files by using different print functions for each folder To provide a storage medium storing a possible program and a program.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, management is performed in a hierarchical folder through a predetermined operating system, and it is accepted that a print file from an application is stored in the folder, and the received print file is printed An information processing apparatus to be transferred to a device, comprising: a creation unit (Hot Folder Application 104 shown in FIG. 1) for creating a setting file for a print file stored in the folder; and the setting file created by the creation unit. Setting means for setting in the folder, and control means for adding and transferring the setting file to the print file imported to the folder when it is detected that the print file is imported to the folder (Hot Folder) Application It characterized by having a 04) and.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the setting file is a file that specifies printing conditions that can be processed by the printing apparatus.

  A third invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the setting file can designate an attribute for validating or invalidating the setting.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means determines whether or not to add the setting file to the print file based on a specified state of an attribute specified in the setting file. To do.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the print file is a file conforming to an electronic document format.

  The sixth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the creating means can create a different setting file for each folder.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the setting file includes information for specifying a printing device that is a transfer destination of the print file, and processing designation information for the print file in the printing device.

  The eighth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the control means transfers a print file to the printing apparatus via a network.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the control means transfers the print file to a printing device via a print server device.

  A tenth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the control means transfers the print file to a printing apparatus using any one of LPR protocol, E-mail, Internet Printing Protocol, and Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. To do.

  An eleventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a desired setting file can be acquired from a server apparatus or database that manages a plurality of setting files for a plurality of printing apparatuses.

  A twelfth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a desired setting file can be acquired from a server apparatus or database that manages a plurality of different setting files for the same printing apparatus.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, management is performed in a hierarchical folder through a predetermined operating system, and it is accepted that a print file from an application is stored in the folder, and the received print file is printed A printing control method in an information processing apparatus for transferring to an apparatus, comprising: a creation step (not shown) for creating a setting file for a print file stored in the folder; and the setting file created by the creation step Setting step (step (903) shown in FIG. 8), and when it is detected that the print file is imported into the folder, the setting file is added to the print file imported into the folder. Control step (step (90 shown in FIG. ) And having a - (907)).

  A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a program for executing the printing control method of the thirteenth aspect is stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

  A fifteenth aspect of the present invention is a program for executing the print control method of the thirteenth aspect.

  According to the present invention, a simple operation of storing a print file from an application in a folder in which a setting file is designated, and even if no print conditions are designated in the print file, a different print function for each folder. The print processing environment that can output print files using can be freely customized.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
[System configuration]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of an image processing system including an information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 102 denotes a network composed of 100BaseT Ethernet (registered trademark), and a personal computer (PC) 101 using Windows (registered trademark (hereinafter referred to as a predetermined OS)) 98 as an OS, color A copier 103 is connected. Other devices are also connected to the network 102, but are omitted. The color copying machine 103 functions as a postscript printer compatible with the network, and can print a color image from the PC 101.

[Outline]
Printing on the PC 101 is possible from application software via a printer driver (not shown). In this system, it is possible to perform printing using a hot folder application (hereinafter referred to as “Hot Folder Application”) 104 without using a printer driver. The Hot Folder Application 104 is a resident program that constantly monitors one or more preset folders as a hot folder (hereinafter referred to as “Hot Folder”) 105. When a PostScript (registered trademark) or PDF file is thrown into the Hot Folder 105, the file is downloaded to the color copying machine 103 associated with the Hot Folder 105 via the network 102 in advance.

  The Hot Folder Application 104 can set a folder to be monitored, a transfer destination printer, a print option at the time of transfer, and the like. Among them, the feature of the present invention is that the transfer destination printer, the print option at the time of transfer, and the like can be imported / exported as the setting file 107.

  The PC 101 includes a controller unit including a so-called CPU, RAM, ROM, an external storage device such as a hard disk, a pointing device such as a keyboard, a display device, a network controller (NIC) that communicates with an external device via a network, and the like. And an OS stored in a hard disk or the like is loaded onto the RAM so that various applications can be executed.

  In addition, it is assumed that a setting file, which will be described later, imported to the Hot Folder 105 is configured so that an attribute for enabling or disabling the setting can be specified.

[Color copier internal block]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the color copier 103 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a scanner which optically reads a document, converts it into an electrical signal, and generates RGB (Red, Green, Blue) digital data in which one pixel has 8-bit luminance information. The raster data has a resolution of 400 dpi in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

  An image processing unit 202 includes processes such as input masking, log conversion from RGB to CMYK (Cyan Magenta, Yellow, blackK), and output masking.

  A printer 203 forms a color image by electrophotography based on the received frame sequential CMYK data. A frame buffer 204 is a synchronous DRAM having a size of 139 MB. Raster image data fetched from the scanner is stored or written by the CPU 206. Reference numeral 205 denotes a CPU bus. A CPU 206 controls the color copying machine, and uses Intel Pentium (trade name) III, 1 GHz.

  An I / O port 212 connected to the CPU bus 205 controls the scanner 201 and the printer 203 and inputs sensor signals. Reference numeral 208 denotes a ROM, which contains software that operates when the system is booted, and is connected to the CPU bus 205.

  Reference numeral 209 denotes a work RAM, which is a 117 MB synchronous DRAM. In practice, the frame buffer 204 and the 256 MB synchronous DRAM memory module are connected to the CPU bus 205. A SCSI controller 210 is connected to the CPU bus 205.

  Reference numeral 211 denotes a 3.5 inch 40 GB hard disk drive connected to the SCSI controller 210. A network I / F 207 is connected to the CPU bus 205. It is connected to an external 10BaseT or 100BaseT Ethernet (registered trademark) network to exchange data. Reference numeral 213 denotes an operation unit of the color copying machine, which includes an LCD panel, a touch panel, and buttons.

[Copy operation]
The copy operation will be described with reference to FIG. When copying is performed, the scanner 201 reads an original and generates RGB raster image data. The image processing unit 202 converts it into one of CMYK, develops it with the printer 203, and outputs it to paper. Then, this operation is repeated in the order of MCYK to form a color image.

[Print operation]
The printing operation will be described with reference to FIG. When the user executes printing from the PC 101 to the color copying machine 103 using a printer driver or hot folder, the color copying machine 103 receives a job described in Postscript or PDF via the network I / F 207, and the work RAM 209. Save to. Then, the CPU 206 interprets the description of the postscript, generates a raster image, and stores it in the frame buffer 204. The raster image is developed by the printer 203 and output to paper. Then, this operation is repeated in the order of MCYK to form a color image.

[Hot Folder Control Panel]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a hot folder control panel screen displayed on the display device of the PC 101 shown in FIG. 1. When the Hot Folder Application 104 is installed in the PC 101, an application for setting the Hot Folder Control Panel is also available. At the same time, it is installed on a hard disk or the like and corresponds to a screen displayed by the application.

  In FIG. 3, a window with a title bar 301 has a minimize button 302 and a close button 303 on the upper right as in a normal OS window. Also, the set Hot Folder is listed in the list area 310. In the Name column 304, the name assigned to the Hot Folder, the Printer column 305, the printer name of the connection destination, and the Path column 306, the folder location (path) assigned as the Hot Folder are displayed.

  A new hot folder can be added by using the add button 307, and the hot folder can be deleted by selecting an arbitrary hot folder in the list area 310 and then pressing the remove button 308. In addition, after selecting an arbitrary Hot Folder in the list area 310, the Properties. . . By pressing a button 309, the Hot Folder Properties screen can be displayed, and the Hot Folder can be set. Any one Hot Folder can be selected in the list area 310, and the selected Hot Folder is highlighted. Remove button 308 and Properties. . . The button 309 can be selected only when the Hot Folder is selected. When the Hot Folder is not selected, these two buttons are dimmed and cannot be pressed.

[Properties for Hot Folder]
In FIG. 3, any one Hot Folder is selected in the list area 310 and Properties. . . The Properties window that appears when the button 309 is pressed is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a Properties window called by the button 309 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes a title bar, and a close button 402 is present on the upper right like a normal predetermined OS window.

  In the Path field 403, the path of the folder assigned as Hot Folder is displayed. This is Select Folder. . . By pressing a button 404 and browsing and selecting a folder in the PC 101, an arbitrary folder on the PC 101 can be assigned. Select Folder. . . Since the dialog box displayed by the button 404 is a general UI for selecting a folder in the PC 101, the description thereof is omitted here.

  A printer column 405 displays a transfer destination printer. This is Select Printer. . . This can be defined by a printer selection screen displayed by a button.

  When the Job Settings check box 407 is checked, it is possible to specify print settings when downloading a PostScript (registered trademark) / PDF file thrown into the Hot Folder to a printer. The contents of this print setting are defined in “Define. . . It can be defined by a Job Settings window (described later) displayed by the button 408.

  Export. . . The setting contents of the Printer and Job Settings can be saved as a Hot Folder Config file (described later) using the button 410. Import. . . With the button 409, Printer and Job Settings can be set according to the setting file. Import. . . Button 409, Export. . . The dialog box displayed by the button 410 is a general UI for selecting a file to be imported in the PC 101 or selecting a destination folder for export, and a description thereof will be omitted here.

  The OK button 411 applies the changed contents and closes the Properties window, and the Cancel button 412 discards the changed contents and closes the Properties window.

[Select Printer]
FIG. 5 illustrates the Select Printer. . . FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer selection screen called up by a button 406.

  In FIG. 5, there is a title bar 501, and a close button 502 is present in the upper right like a normal predetermined OS window. Also, the IP address column 503 is used to input the printer IP address, and the queue name column 504 is used to specify a queue name. This color copying machine 103 uses LPR and can use three types of queue names: print, hold, and direct. “print” is a queue for normal printing, “hold” is a queue held in a print standby state, and “direct” is a direct connection.

  The OK button 505 applies the changed contents and closes the Properties window, and the Cancel button 506 discards the changed contents and closes the Properties window.

[Job Settings]
FIG. 6 illustrates the Define. . . It is a figure which shows an example of the Job Settings screen called by the button 408. FIG.

  In FIG. 6, there is a title bar 601, and a close button 602 is present on the upper right like a normal predetermined OS window. In this window, several setting items at the time of printing that can be used in the color copying machine 103 are arranged. The Copies column 603 displays the number of copies, the Page Size column 604 displays the paper size, the Paper Source column 605 displays the paper feed stage, the Media Type column 606 displays the media type, and the Duplex column 607 displays duplex settings. Some setting items are not displayed, and can be displayed by scrolling with a scroll bar 609 and scroll buttons 608 and 610. In this embodiment, the following setting items can be used.

  As setting items, for example, “Copies = 1 to 999”, “Page Size = A4 / A3 / B4 / Letter / 11 × 17 / Legal”, “Paper Source = Auto Select / Tray1 to Tray3 / ManualFeed”, “Media Type = Plain Pain”. / Transparency / Thick Paper ”,“ Duplex = No / Top-Top / Top-Bottom ”,“ Sort Mode = None / Collate / Sort / Group ”,“ Staple Mode = None / Corner / Single ”, etc.

  Right-click each entry field to enter the input mode, and you can select from the pull-down list.

  Then, the changed contents are applied by the OK button 611 and the Job Settings window is closed, and the changed contents are discarded by the Cancel button 612 and the Job Settings window is closed.

[Hot Folder Config file]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a Hot Folder Config file set on the Job Settings screen illustrated in FIG. 6.

  In FIG. 7, the Hot Folder Config file uses the extension “.hfc”. The content of the file is a simple text file and has a format generally used for a predetermined OS, for example, the same format as an ini file.

  As shown in FIG. 7, it consists of two groups, [Printer] and [Job Settings]. The [Printer] group includes two items, IPAddress and QueueName, and contains the value of Select Printer described in FIG. “Enabled” in the [Job Settings] group corresponds to the Job Settings check box 407 in FIG. 4, and “Yes” is entered if it is checked, and “No” is entered. The other items in the [Job Settings] group contain the contents of Job Settings described in FIG.

[Drag & Drop of Hot Folder Config file]
As shown in FIG. 1, the Hot Folder Application 104 monitors the set Hot Folder, and when a PostScript (registered trademark) or PDF file is thrown in, the Job Setting information is added according to the setting, and the set transfer destination is set. To the color copier 103.

  On the other hand, when the thrown-in file is a Hot Folder Config file, the file is not transferred to the printer but is taken in as a Hot Folder Application setting. This is the result of Import. Properties of Hot Folder Properties shown in FIG. . . The same thing as importing a Hot Folder Config file with the button 409 is possible with a simple operation.

[Operation of Hot Folder]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the data processing procedure of the Hot Folder Application 104 shown in FIG. Reference numerals (901) to (907) denote steps, and each step is realized by the CPU (not shown) of the client PC 101 loading and executing the Hot Folder Application 104 on the RAM.

  First, in step (901), the CPU of the PC 101 monitors and confirms whether there is a new file in the set folder. If there is no new file, the process returns without doing anything.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step (901) that there is a new file, the process proceeds to step (902) to determine whether the extension is “.hfc” (that is, whether it is a Hot Folder Configuration file). If it is determined that the file has the extension “.hfc”, the setting is imported in step (903), and the process returns to step (901).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step (902) that the extension is not “.hfc”, whether the extension is “.ps” or “.pdf” (that is, PostScript (registered trademark)) in step (904). If it is determined whether the extension is “.ps” or “.pdf”, the process returns to step (901) without doing anything.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step (904) that the extension is “.ps” or “.pdf”, whether or not the Job Settings of the Hot Folder is set to “Enable” in step (905). If it is determined that “Enable” is set, the process proceeds to step (906), and the content set in Job Settings is added to the PostScript (registered trademark) or PDF file, and step (907) is performed. Go to).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step (905) that "Enable" is not set, PostScript (registered trademark) or PDF file download is executed to the set printer in step (907), and step (905) is executed. Return to 901).

  In the above-described embodiment, the color copying machine 103 has a function of receiving LPR, but a system in which an external print server is provided and printing is performed via the print server may be used.

  According to the first embodiment, the hot folder can be easily set. Also, if the Hot Folder Config file with various print settings of various printers can be shared or easily obtained by a file server or a Web server, printing with an unusable printer can be performed quickly. It becomes possible.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, LPR is used to download a job to the color copying machine 103, but in the second embodiment, E-mail is used.

[System configuration]
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image processing system to which the information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is applicable.

  In FIG. 9, reference numeral 1002 denotes the Internet. A personal computer (PC) 1001 serving as a predetermined OS is connected to a LAN 1008 that is also connected to the Internet 1002, and is different from the LAN 1008. Similarly, a color copier 1003 is connected to a LAN 1009 connected to the Internet. It is connected. Other devices are also connected to the LANs 1008 and 1009, but are omitted.

  The color copier 1003 functions as an E-mail compatible postscript printer. The color copying machine 1003 has a mail receiving function, and has a function of receiving mail at an address registered in the E-mail Server 1011 and printing a PostScript (registered trademark) file or PDF file attached thereto.

  The Hot Folder Application of the PC 1001 has an E-mail transmission function, and a PostScript (registered trademark) file or PDF file thrown into the Hot Folder 1005 is sent to a pre-registered printer address via an E-mail Server 1010 registered in advance. It can be sent as an email with an attached file.

[Outline]
The Hot Folder Application 1004 is a resident program that constantly monitors one or more preset folders as a Hot Folder 1005. When a PostScript (registered trademark) or PDF file is thrown into the Hot Folder 1005, a PostScript (registered trademark) or PDF file is attached to the E-mail address of the color copier 1003 associated with the Hot Folder 1005 in advance. It is sent via the Internet 1002 as E-mail.

  The Hot Folder Application 1004 can set a folder to be monitored, a transfer destination printer, a print option at the time of transfer, and the like. Among these, it is a feature of the present invention that a transfer destination printer, a print option at the time of transfer, and the like can be imported / exported as a setting file 1007.

  In addition, a system that returns a Hot Folder Config file including settings for printing to the color copier 1003 when an E-mail including a specific command is transmitted from the color copier 1003 may be considered. Then, as long as the e-mail address of the color copying machine 1003 is known, the Hot Folder Config file can be obtained and printed by a simple operation.

  In the second embodiment, job transmission using E-mail attachment is performed. However, print job transmission using IPP or HTTP may be used.

[Third Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the case of importing the Hot Folder Config file to the Hot Folder Application 104 has been described. Control may be performed so that the dropped Hot Folder Config file is imported into the Hot Folder Application 104. The embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image processing system to which the information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention can be applied. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that by dragging and dropping the Hot Folder Config file 107 to the Hot Folder 105, the Hot Folder Application 104 monitors the Hot Folder Config and monitors the dropped Hot Folder Config file 107. It is a point to import into Hot Folder Application 104.

  The configuration of a data processing program that can be read by the image processing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs that can be read by the image processing system according to the present invention.

  Although not particularly illustrated, information for managing a program group stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons may also be stored.

  Further, data depending on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs in the computer, and a program for decompressing when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

  The functions shown in FIG. 8 in the present embodiment may be performed by the host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Is.

  As described above, a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the programmed program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  Therefore, as long as it has the function of the program, the form of the program such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS is not limited.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD, etc. Can be used.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As another program supply method, a browser of a client computer is used to connect to a homepage on the Internet, and the computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is stored on a recording medium such as a hard disk from the homepage. It can also be supplied by downloading. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server, an ftp server, and the like that allow a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer are also included in the claims of the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not.

  Although various examples and embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the spirit and scope of the present invention are not limited to the specific descriptions in the present specification by those skilled in the art.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  According to each of the embodiments described above, a job can be printed by a simple operation using a Hot Folder Configuration file for a desired printer in an environment where E-mail can be transmitted over the Internet. As a result, when printing processing is performed in a data processing environment different from usual, such as a hotel or conference venue, various printing requests can be quickly and easily handled.

It is a figure explaining the structure of the image processing system containing the information processing apparatus which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the color copying machine illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the hot folder control panel screen displayed on the display apparatus of PC shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of Properties window called by the button shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. . . It is a figure which shows an example of the printer selection screen called by a button. As shown in FIG. . . It is a figure which shows an example of the Job Settings screen called by a button. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a Hot Folder Config file set on the Job Settings screen illustrated in FIG. 6. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the image processing system which can apply the information processing apparatus which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the image processing system which can apply the information processing apparatus which shows 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the memory map of the storage medium which stores the various data processing program which can be read with the image processing apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 PC
102 Network 103 Color Copier 104 Hot Folder Application
105 Hot Folder
107 Hot Folder Config

Claims (15)

An information processing apparatus that manages a hierarchical folder through a predetermined operating system, accepts that a print file from an application is stored in the folder, and transfers the accepted print file to a printing apparatus. ,
Creating means for creating a setting file for the print file stored in the folder;
Setting means for setting the setting file created by the creating means in the folder;
Control means for adding and transferring the setting file to the print file imported into the folder when it is detected that the print file is imported into the folder;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting file is a file that specifies printing conditions that can be processed by the printing apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting file can specify an attribute that enables or disables the setting.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines whether or not to add the setting file to the print file based on a specified state of an attribute specified in the setting file.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print file is a file conforming to an electronic document format.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the creation unit can create a different setting file for each folder.   The information according to claim 1, wherein the setting file includes information for specifying a printing apparatus that is a transfer destination of the print file, and processing designation information for the print file in the printing apparatus. Processing equipment.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit transfers a print file to the printing apparatus via a network.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit transfers the print file to a printing apparatus via a print server apparatus.   9. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit transfers the print file to a printing apparatus using any one of LPR protocol, E-mail, Internet Printing Protocol, and Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. The information processing apparatus described.   9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a desired setting file can be acquired from a server apparatus or a database that manages a plurality of setting files for a plurality of printing apparatuses.   9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a desired setting file can be acquired from a server apparatus or a database that manages a plurality of different setting files for the same printing apparatus. Print control in an information processing apparatus that manages a hierarchical folder through a predetermined operating system, accepts that a print file from an application is stored in the folder, and transfers the accepted print file to a printing apparatus A method,
A creation step for creating a setting file for the print file stored in the folder;
A setting step for setting the setting file created in the creating step in the folder;
A control step of adding and transferring the setting file to the print file imported into the folder when it is detected that the print file is imported into the folder;
A printing control method characterized by comprising:   A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the printing control method according to claim 13.   A program for executing the printing control method according to claim 13.

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