Patent ID: 9131180
Filing Date: 2015-09-08
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus provided with an aggregate printing function configured to print a plurality of pages of document data on a single sheet of recording medium, the image forming apparatus comprising: a controller comprising a processor; a storage device comprising a document data storing unit and an aggregate condition unit; and an operation panel, wherein the processor is configured to: store a plurality of document data together with a hierarchical attribute thereof to the document data storing unit; display a document data list for the plurality of document data stored in the document data storing unit along with the hierarchical attribute on the operation panel; accept a selection of document data to be subjected to aggregate printing from the document data list through the operation panel; accept setting of hierarchical range and direction to be compared such that an aggregate condition that defines the attribute is established through the operation panel, the direction comprising a direction of upper level and a direction of lower level with respect to the hierarchical attribute; store the aggregate condition to the aggregate condition unit; extract document data to be aggregated as a document group from the selected document data based on the aggregate condition, by sorting the selected document data from a lower hierarchy to an upper hierarchy when the direction is set in the direction of upper level and sorting the selected document data from an upper hierarchy to a lower hierarchy when the direction is set in the direction of lower level; and execute aggregate printing of the document group according to an order of being extracted, and generate a notation indicating a boundary between different document data when a plurality of document data is printed as a single group of continuous print data on a single sheet of recording medium.