Abstract:
A print-image forming apparatus which forms a print image for printing on a print sheet a two-dimensional code whose size is defined based on an error correction rate, the apparatus including: a storage device which stores a plurality of levels of error correction rates; a setting device which sets an arbitrary error correction rate from among the plurality of error correction rates; an image forming device which forms the print image based on the error correction rate thus set; a determining device which determines whether or not the formed print image lies off a code printing area of the print sheet where the two-dimensional code is printed; and a setting changing device which changes the setting of the error correction rate such that the print image can lie in the code printing area when it is determined that the print image lies off the code printing area.

Description:
[0001]     The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-207521, filed Jul. 15, 2005, is expressly incorporated by reference herein.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Technical Field  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a print-image forming apparatus, a print-image forming method, and a program, which form a print image for printing a two-dimensional code on a print sheet.  
         [0004]     2. Related Art  
         [0005]     A known print-image forming apparatus (host apparatus) is of a type which is connected to a printer and forms a print image for printing a two-dimensional code on a print sheet. Prior to a printing process, the apparatus determines whether or not a print image lies off a code printing area where the print image is printed. When the print image is determined to lie off the code printing area, it is likely to reduce a whole print image in size by making a cell (module), the minimum unit of codeword constituting a two-dimensional code, smaller so that the print image can lie in the code printing area. Reference is made to JP-A-2001-293909 (paragraph [0058] or the like) as an example of related art.  
         [0006]     However, the reduction of the cell size causes deterioration in quality of print image and reading accuracy. Therefore, the reduction of the whole print image in size by making the cell smaller is not practical and causes problems.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     It is an advantage of the invention to provide a print-image forming apparatus, a print-image forming method, and a program, capable of reducing the print image of a two-dimensional code in size so as to lie in a code printing area without making the size of a plurality of cells constituting the two-dimensional code smaller.  
         [0008]     According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a print-image forming apparatus which forms a print image for printing on a print sheet a two-dimensional code whose size is defined based on an error correction rate. The apparatus comprises: a storage device which stores a plurality of levels of error correction rates; a setting device which sets an arbitrary error correction rate from among the plurality of error correction rates; an image forming device which forms the print image based on the error correction rate thus set; a determining device which determines whether or not the formed print image lies off a code printing area of the print sheet where the two-dimensional code is printed; and a setting changing device which changes the setting of the error correction rate such that the print image can lie in the code printing area when it is determined that the print image lies off the code printing area.  
         [0009]     According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a print-image forming method for forming a print image for printing on a print sheet a two-dimensional code whose size is defined based on an error correction rate. The method comprises: setting an arbitrary error correction rate from among a plurality of levels of error correction rates stored in advance; forming the print image based on the error correction rate thus set; determining whether or not the formed print image lies off a code printing area of the print sheet where the print image is printed; and changing the setting of the error correction rate such that the print image can lie in the code printing area when it is determined that the print image lies off the code printing area.  
         [0010]     According to these configurations, a low error correction rate is set such that a print image can lie in the code printing area, and the print image is formed based on the error correction rate after the setting change is performed. As a result, the print image can lie in the code printing area. It is thus possible to reduce the print image of the two-dimensional code in size so as to lie in the code printing area by lowering the error correction rate without making the size of the plurality of cells constituting the two-dimensional code smaller. Accordingly, it is possible to form good print images of the two-dimensional code without deterioration in quality of the print image and reading accuracy.  
         [0011]     According to the print-image forming apparatus, it is preferable that the setting changing device change the error correction rate for the maximum one from among the error correction rates at which the print image can lie in the code printing area.  
         [0012]     According to this configuration, if there are a plurality of error correction rates at which a print image can lie in the code printing area, the maximum error correction rate can be set. Therefore, it is possible to provide the two-dimensional code to be printed with as high an error correction function as possible.  
         [0013]     In these cases, it is preferable that the print-image forming apparatus further comprise a setting-change determining device which determines whether or not the setting change is performed by the setting changing device.  
         [0014]     According to this configuration, the setting-change determining device makes it impossible to change the setting of the error correction rate. As a result, the setting of the error correction rate cannot be changed even if a print image lies off the code printing area. Accordingly, it is useful in cases in which the user wishes to adjust the size of the two-dimensional code by himself/herself and print the two-dimensional code just for an designing purpose (without considering the reading thereof).  
         [0015]     In these cases, it is preferable that the code printing area be a printable area excluding top-and-bottom margins in the sheet width direction of the print sheet formed into a tape, and the determining device include a print-area identifying unit which acquires a sheet width of the print sheet and identifies the printable area based on the acquired sheet width.  
         [0016]     According to this configuration, it is possible to form a print image so as to lie in the printable area of the print sheet formed into a tape. Therefore, the print image is prevented from being printed with the parts thereof (both ends in the sheet width direction) lacked when it is printed.  
         [0017]     In these cases, it is preferable that the two-dimensional code be composed of a data area and a margin area which is a margin surrounding the data area, and the determining device determine whether or not the print image of the data area lies off the printable area.  
         [0018]     According to this configuration, when only the margin area lies off the printable area, the setting change of the error correction rate is not performed, and the data area is printed over the whole printable area. In this case, even if the margin area lies off the printable area, the area surrounding the printable area may be used as a margin area without causing no problem on the reading. As a result, it is possible to print the data area as large as possible without making the error correction rate smaller than necessary.  
         [0019]     According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a program which causes a computer to function as each of the devices of the print-image forming apparatus described above.  
         [0020]     According to this configuration, it is possible to provide the program such that the print image of the two-dimensional code can lie in the code printable area without making the size of a plurality of cells constituting the two-dimensional code smaller. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]     The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows an explanatory drawing of a configuration example of a printing system according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a configuration diagram of a data generating apparatus of the printing system.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a diagram of an input and edit screen in the data generating apparatus.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows an external perspective view of the tape printer of the printing system with its cover closed.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  shows an external perspective view of the tape printer of the printing system with its cover opened.  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  shows an explanatory drawing of a QR code as one of the two-dimensional codes.  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  shows a diagram of a bar-code forming screen of the input and edit screen in the data generating apparatus.  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  shows an flow chart of the editing process of the QR code in the data generating apparatus.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 9A  to  9 D show diagrams describing the confirmation processes of the size of the data area when the setting change of the error correction rate is performed. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]     Hereinafter, description will be made about a printing system to which the invention is applied, referring to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG.  1 , the printing system  1  of the present embodiment includes a data generating apparatus  2  (print-image forming apparatus), a printing apparatus  3 , and a cable  4  which connects the data generating apparatus  2  and the printing apparatus  3  with USB (Universal Serial Bus). The printing system  1  sends the print data generated by the data generating apparatus  2  to the printing apparatus  3  and causes the printing apparatus  3  to print a print image based on the print data.  
         [0032]     Although the data generating apparatus  2  and the printing apparatus  3  are directly connected together through the cable  4  in the present embodiment, they may be connected via networks (the Internet or Local Area Network) using an interface. Furthermore, instead of such a connection as wire communication, it is possible to use wireless communication.  
         [0033]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the data generating apparatus  2  is of a type such as a personal computer or the like and includes a USB interface  11 , a RAM  12 , a hard disk  13 , a CPU  14 , and a bus  15 . The USB interface  11  is used to connect the data generating apparatus  2  to the printing apparatus  3  through the cable  4 . The RAM  12  has a storage area enabling a temporary storage and is used as a work area for control processes. The hard disk  13  has various storage areas and stores generated print data and model information of the printing apparatus  3  in addition to control programs and various data. The CPU  14  calculates various data based on programs or the like stored in the hard disk  13 . The bus  15  connects the USB interface  11 , the RAM  12 , the hard disk  13 , and the CPU  14  one another. The data generating apparatus  2  is furthermore equipped with input devices  16  such as a keyboard and a mouse (see  FIG. 1 ), various drives such as a FD drive  17  and a CD-ROM drive  18 , and a monitor display  19  to display various data such as inputted print data, messages, or the like (see  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0034]     On the hard disk  13  is installed a software (print-data generating application  20 ) to generate print data. With the data generating apparatus  2 , the user is allowed to generate print data by inputting/editing input data on an input and edit screen  21  (see  FIG. 3 ) displayed on a monitor display  19  when the print-data generating application  20  is activated. Note that input data is used as print data when it is not edited.  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , on the input and edit screen  21  are displayed an input and edit window  22  where input data is inputted and edited, an image display window  23  where a print image  28  of the print data generated based on the result of an input and edit is displayed, a basic operation tool bar  24  by which a basic operation such as the execution of printing is performed, an input tool bar  25  by which a character string as input data and various figures such as a bar code and an outer frame are inputted, and a label forming tool bar  26  by which forming of a label by the printing apparatus  3  (tape printer  101  as described below) is performed. Accordingly, it is made possible, by a mouse operation, to select and set instructions for inputting input data and edit functions for use, in addition to the inputting and editing of input data with a keyboard. As described in detail below, when a bar-code forming button  46  of the input tool bar  25  is clicked, a bar-code forming screen  170  (see  FIG. 7 ) is displayed.  
         [0036]     In the label forming tool bar  26  are included an automatic setting button  81  by which a label length to be formed is automatically set according to input data inputted, a fixed-length setting button  83  by which a label length to be formed is set to an arbitrary length, a margin setting list box  84  by which margin lengths (front-and-rear margin areas) placed before and after a print image to be printed are selected and set, a margin setting box  86  in which front-and-rear margin areas are set to an arbitrary length by the use of an up-and-down arrow button  85 , and a tape-width acquiring button  88  by which a tape width of a print tape T (see  FIG. 5 ) mounted on the printing apparatus  3  is acquired (as will be described in detail later) and displayed on a tape-width displaying box  87 . Note that it is also possible to input a tape width in the tape-width displaying box  87  by a keyboard operation or a mouse operation of the up-and-down arrow button  89 .  
         [0037]     Next, the printing apparatus  3  will be described. The printing apparatus  3  may be of any type of a thermal printer, an ink jet printer, a laser printer, or the like, and description will now be made about a thermal printer (tape printer) which is to print on a print tape. The tape printer performs printing of a print image on the print tape T based on the print data sent from the data generating apparatus  2  and then cuts off the printed print tape T to form a label (tape piece). Note that the tape printer of the present embodiment is of a type making it possible to form print images such as a character string and a simple figure by itself (although forming and editing of a two-dimensional code described below is not possible) and print the same. Alternatively, a type which is exclusively connected to personal computers and has only a printing function may be used.  
         [0038]     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the tape printer  101  includes an apparatus main body  102  in which a printing process is performed on the print tape T and a tape cartridge C in which the print tape T (e.g., white in color) and an ink ribbon R (e.g., black in color) are accommodated and which is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body  102 .  
         [0039]     The apparatus main body  102  has an outer shell formed by an apparatus casing  103  and a keyboard  105  including various keys  104  arranged at the front half part on the top surface of the apparatus casing  103 . At the rear half part on the left top surface of the apparatus casing  103  is widely provided an opening and closing cover  106 . On the top surface of the opening and closing cover  106  is formed a check window  107  through which mounting/non-mounting states of the tape cartridge C are visually recognized. On the front side of the opening and closing cover  106  is provided a cover-body opening button  108  to open the same. On the right top surface at the rear half part of the apparatus casing  103  is formed a rectangular display  109  which displays input results from the keyboard  105  or the like.  
         [0040]     Inside the opening and closing cover  106  is formed a cartridge mounting section  111  with a recess on which the tape cartridge C is mounted. The cartridge mounting section  111  has a tape identification sensor (not shown) composed of a plurality of micro switches disposed at its corner.  
         [0041]     The cartridge mounting section  111  is furthermore provided with a thermal head  121  (e.g., 360 dpi) having a heater element. When the tape cartridge C is mounted, the thermal head  121  is brought into contact with a platen roller  135  provided in the tape cartridge C, sandwiching the print tape T and the ink ribbon R therebetween, thereby creating a print standby state. Then, while a tape feeding mechanism (not shown) composed of a motor, a gear train, or the like feeds the print tape T and the ink ribbon R, a printing process (thermal transfer of ink from the ink ribbon R to the print tape T) is performed on the print tape T.  
         [0042]     On the left side of the apparatus casing  103  is formed a tape ejecting slot  112  through which the cartridge mounting section  111  is communicated with the outside of the apparatus. Facing the tape ejecting slot  112 , a cutter unit  114  which cuts off the print tape T subjected to the printing process to obtain the tape piece is built in the apparatus casing  103 .  
         [0043]     On the right side of the apparatus casing  103  are formed a power supply port through which electric power is supplied and a connector  113  (see  FIG. 2 ) to which external apparatuses such as a personal computer (not shown) are connected, although omitted in the figures. The connector  113  can be thus connected to the data generating apparatus  2  through the cable  4 , thereby making it possible to perform a printing process based on the print data generated by the data generating apparatus  2 . Furthermore, although omitted in the figures, inside the apparatus casing  103  is mounted a circuit board constituting a control section (described below) which comprehensively controls the apparatus main body  102 .  
         [0044]     The print tape T is composed of a record tape T 1  having an adhesive agent layer coated on its back surface and a peel tape T 2  attached to the record tape T 1  with the adhesive agent layer. The user is allowed to peel the peel tape T 2  from the tape piece of the print tape T separated after a printing process and attach the same to an object as a label.  
         [0045]     The print tape T has a plurality of (e.g., seven) types in tape width ranging from 6 mm to 36 mm. On the back surface of a cartridge casing  130  is formed a plurality of small detection holes (not shown). The above-described tape identification sensor identifies the plurality of detection holes so that the type (tape width) of the print tape T can be identified. In other words, it is made possible to identify the corresponding number of bits constituted of the plurality of detection holes and the plurality of switches.  
         [0046]     When the tape-width acquiring button  88  is clicked on the input and edit screen  21  of the data generating apparatus  2 , the tape width identified by the tape identification sensor is reported through the cable  4 . Note that it may be possible to report information on the type of the print tape T as it is and cause the data generating apparatus  2  to analyze the tape width based on the type thereof. The timing to report is set every time a new tape cartridge C is mounted on the tape printer  101 , and the data generating apparatus  2  may keep the information.  
         [0047]     In the present embodiment, the tape cartridge C with a tape width of 24 mm is mounted. On the print tape T with a tape width of 24 mm, it is possible to perform printing with a small amount (e.g., approximately 2 mm) of top-and-bottom margin areas (non-printable areas) provided at both ends in the tape-width direction. The margin areas are used to prevent the thermal head  121  from directly contacting the platen roller  13 , for example, when the print tape T is moved to the width direction at the time of the tape feeding.  
         [0048]     The control section is connected to respective sections of the tape printer  101  and includes, although not shown in the figures, a CPU, ROM, RAM, and IOC (Input Output Controller) all of which are connected to one another through an internal bus. The CPU causes the respective sections of the tape printer  101  to input various signals and data through the IOC in accordance with the control programs in the ROM. The CPU furthermore processes various data in the RAM based on the inputted various signals and data and outputs the various signals and data to the respective sections of the tape printer  101  through the IOC, thereby performing controlling of a printing process or the like. Note that the RAM includes a print buffer as an area in which a print image to be printed on the print tape T is formed based on the print data sent from the data generating apparatus  2 .  
         [0049]     Description will now be made about a case in which a print image of a two-dimensional code is printed on the print tape T according to the printing system  1  of the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, since a QR code is printed as a two-dimensional code, description will first be made about the QR code.  
         [0050]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the QR code  162  is composed of a square data area  164  made up of a plurality of cells  163  arranged in a matrix form, three segment symbols  165  (one in the below-described micro QR code) placed at corners of the data area  164 , and a margin area  166  (quiet zone) which is a margin surrounding the data area  164 .  
         [0051]     The data area  164  is composed of the plurality of cells  163  in a black and white pattern and stores input information such as a character string and an error correction code (Reed-Solomon code) formed by coding the below-described error correction function. Furthermore, the segment symbols  165  are position-detecting patterns, by which to detect the position of and to read the data area  164  from all directions. The margin area  166  is used to perform an accurate reading of the QR code  162  and provided for four cells for example vertically and horizontally in the data area  164 .  
         [0052]     The QR code  162  has an error correction function to restore data by itself even if the data area is somewhat stained or damaged. The error correction rates provided are four including 7%, 15%, 25%, and 30%. At the error correction rate of “15%,” for example, it is made possible to restore data even if approximately 15% of the data area  164  is damaged.  
         [0053]     The size of the QR code  162  is determined by the number (version) of the cells  163  as the minimum constitutional unit of the data area  164  and the size (length of one side) of each of the cells  163 . Moreover, a version is based on the amount of information (number of characters) to be stored and the error correction rate. With the error correction rate upgraded, the storable amount of data increases, which in turn increases the number of the cells involved (upgrading the version), with the result that the QR code  162  expands further.  
         [0054]     Note that the QR code  162  is mainly of three types including a type 1 as the basic type, a type 2 having a configuration in which an alignment pattern is added to the configuration of the type 1, and a micro QR code applied for space saving of the substrate or the like. All the three types of the QR code  162  have the above-described configuration, but the micro QR code has only one segment symbol  165  to improve the data storage efficiency.  
         [0055]     Next, description will be made about the editing process of the QR code  162 . First, when the print-data generating application  20  of the data generating apparatus  2  is activated to prepare the editing process, the input and edit screen  21  is displayed on the monitor display  19 . Then, when the tape-width acquiring button  88  is clicked, the tape width (24 mm) of the print tape T in the tape cartridge C mounted on the tape printer  101  is reported, and the tape width is displayed on the tape-width displaying box  87 . A fixed-length printing is performed here. The fixed-length setting button  83  is clicked to set a desired fixed-length (e.g., 50 mm) and the front-and-rear margin areas (margins on both sides in the tape-length direction) are set to a desired length (e.g., 5 mm for each margin area) with the margin setting box  86  (see FIG.  3 ).  
         [0056]     Based on the tape width thus reported and the fixed-length thus set, a printable area  30  (see  FIG. 3 ) which is a printable area is set in the print tape T. Specifically, the printable area  30  is formed to have a length of “20 mm” in the tape-width direction, which is obtained by subtracting the lengths of the top-and-bottom margin areas (2 mm for each margin area) from the tape width (24 mm) and to have a length of “40 mm” in the tape-length direction, which is obtained by subtracting those of the front-and-rear margin areas (5 mm for each margin area) set in the margin setting box  86  from the fixed length (50 mm). When the bar-code forming button  46  provided at the input tool bar  25  is clicked, the bar-code forming screen  170  is displayed.  
         [0057]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the bar-code forming screen  170  includes a type selection box  171  by which to select the type of bar code, a data input window  172  by which to input data (name, telephone number, or the like) to be coded, a correction rate setting box  173  by which to set an error correction rate, setting change radio buttons  174  by which to select (determine) whether or not to perform an automatic setting change of an error correction rate, a cell-size setting box  175  by which to set the size (symbol size) of each of the cells  163 , and a model radio box  176  by which to select a model of the QR code  162 .  
         [0058]     The correction rate setting box  173  is of a pull-down menu, in which the four levels of error correction rates (7%, 15%, 25%, and 30%) described above are provided to allow the user to select any one of them. Likewise, the cell-size setting box  175  is of a pull-down menu, which allows the user to select an error correction rate from between two levels of, for example, “LARGE/SMALL.” In the case of “LARGE” in cell size, one side of the cell is, for example, 0.42 mm in length (corresponding to 6 dots in the present embodiment). In the case of “SMALL” in cell size, one side of the cell is, for example, 0.28 mm in length (corresponding to 4 dots in the present embodiment). Note that, although MODEL 1 and MODEL 2 are selected in the model radio box  176 , it may be arranged such that a micro QR code is also selected.  
         [0059]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , description will now be made in detail about the editing process of the QR code  162 . The user first selects the “QR CODE” in the type selection box  171  to form the QR code  162  and then inputs in the data input window  172 , for example, the name “YAMADA TARO” and the telephone number “090-xxx-0000” as data to be stored in the QR code  162  (S 1  of  FIG. 8 ).  
         [0060]     Next, forming conditions for the QR code  162  are set (S 2 ). Specifically, an error correction rate is set to “30%” in the correction rate setting box  173 ; a cell size is set to “LARGE” in the cell-size setting box  175 ; and a model of the QR code  162  is set to “MODEL 2” in the model radio box  176 . Furthermore, “AUTOMATIC” is selected here from between the setting change radio buttons  174  so that the setting change of the below-described error correction rate is automatically performed.  
         [0061]     After setting the forming conditions, the user clicks the OK button  177  of the bar code forming screen  170  (S 3 ). The print data of the QR code  162  is thereby generated in the data generating apparatus  2 . Then, the size of the data area  164  is confirmed based on the print data thus generated (S 4 ). Here, one side of the data area  164  is, for example, 22 mm in length.  
         [0062]     It is then determined whether or not the data area  164  lies off the printable area  30  (S 5 ). Since the printable area  30  has a size of 20 mm×40 mm as described above, it is determined that the top and bottom areas of the data area  164  lie off the printable area  30  (S 5 ; Yes).  
         [0063]     Subsequently, it is determined whether or not “AUTOMATIC” is selected from between the setting change radio buttons, and “AUTOMATIC” is determined to be selected here (S 6 ; Yes). Note that, if the user selects “FIXATION” from between the setting change radio buttons  174  in advance, it is determined that “AUTOMATIC” is not selected (S 6 ; No), resulting in that the setting change process for the following error correction rate will not be performed and the QR code  162 , in which the top and bottom areas of the data area  164  lie off the printable area  30 , is inputted in the input and edit screen (S 11 ). Accordingly, selecting FIXATION is useful in cases in which the user wishes to adjust the size of the QR code  162  by himself/herself and print the QR code  162  just for an designing purpose (without considering the reading thereof).  
         [0064]     Then, at the time when an error correction rate is changed to another error correction rate, the size of the data area  164  is confirmed (S 7 ).  FIGS. 9A  to  9 D show diagrams conceptually describing the confirmation processes of the size of the data area  164  when the setting change of the error correction rate is performed. When the error correction rate is changed from 30% (see  FIG. 9A ) to 25%, one side of the data area  164  remains 22 mm (see  FIG. 9B ). When the error correction rate is changed to 15%, it becomes 18 mm (see  FIG. 9C ). When the error correction rate is changed to 7%, it also becomes 18 mm (see  FIG. 9D ). Note that the print image of the data area  164  after the setting change may be displayed on the input and edit screen  21 .  
         [0065]     It is then determined whether or not there is any of the data areas  164 , changed to the respective error correction rates, which can lie in the printable area  30 . When the error correction rate is changed to either 15% or 7%, the data area  164  can lie in the printable area  30 . Therefore, it is determined that there is a data area  164  lying in the printable area  30  (S 8 ; Yes).  
         [0066]     Then, a confirmation message, e.g., “CHANGE SETTING OF ERROR CORRECTION RATE?” is displayed on the input and edit screen  21 . When the user selects (clicks) “Yes” (S 9 ; Yes), the setting change of the error correction rate is performed. Here, the error correction rate is changed to the maximum one, i.e., “15%,” from among the error correction rates at which the data area  164  can lie in the printable area  30  to provide the QR code  162  to be printed with as high an error correction function as possible.  
         [0067]     Finally, the print data of the QR code  162  is generated based on the error correction rate after the setting change is performed (S 10 ). The print image of the print data is inputted on the input and edit screen  21  to complete the editing process of the QR code  162  (S 11 ).  
         [0068]     As described above, according to the data generating apparatus  2  of the present embodiment, the setting of “AUTOMATIC” from between the setting change radio buttons  174  makes it possible to automatically set a low error correction rate at which to cause the data area  164  lie in the printable area  30  and generate print data based on the error correction rate after the setting change is performed. As a result, the data area  164  can lie in the printable area  30 . For this reason, the low error correction rate allows the print image of the QR code  162  to be reduced in size so as to lie in the printable area  30  without making the cell size of the QR code  162  smaller. Accordingly, it is possible to form good images of the QR code  162  without deterioration in quality of a print image and reading accuracy. Moreover, the setting change of the error correction rate is automatically performed without causing any inconvenience to the user.  
         [0069]     As described above, it is determined whether or not the print data (print image) of the data area  164  lies off the printable area  30  in the present embodiment. It may also be determined whether or not the print image of the QR code  162  including the margin areas  166  lies off the printable area. It may further be determined whether or not the print image lies off any code printing area (e.g., in the outer frame) where the QR code  162  is printed. When it is determined that any such print image lies off the code printing area, a setting change of the error correction rate may be performed to make the print image lie in the code printing area.  
         [0070]     It is needless to say, according to the present embodiment, that the setting change of the error correction rate is not performed when only the margin areas  166  lie off the printable area  30 , and the data area is printed over the whole printable area  30 . In this case, even if the margin areas  166  lie off the printable area  30 , the area surrounding the printable area  30  may be used as a margin area without causing no problem on the reading. In other words, as described above, the top and bottom margins and the left and right margins in the printable area  30  are set to 2 mm and 5 mm, respectively, and one side of a cell is 0.42 mm in length even when a cell size is set to “LARGE” in the present embodiment. Therefore, margins of four or more cells are each provided vertically and horizontally in the printable area  30 . As a result, it is possible to print the data area  164  as large as possible without making the error correction rate smaller than necessary.  
         [0071]     A two-dimensional code may be of any type such as a Maxi code, a Veri code, a Data matrix, and PDF 417 in addition to the QR code  162  as long as their sizes are defined based on an error correction rate.  
         [0072]     Moreover, it is also possible to provide the print-data generating application  20  of the data generating apparatus  2  as a software. Furthermore, it is possible to store the software in a recording medium  5  (see  FIG. 1 ) when providing the same. A CD-ROM, flash ROM, memory card, magnetic optical disk, or the like can be used as a storage medium.  
         [0073]     Furthermore, although the present embodiment has the printing system  1  as its configuration, it may be possible that the tape printer  101  is provided with the function of the print-data generating application  20  to be used as a stand-alone type printer, thereby forming and editing a print image of the QR code  162 .