Abstract:
A printing control apparatus includes: an accepting unit that accepts a setting regarding layout printing for laying out multiple document pages in order on a sheet-by-sheet basis; a selection unit that, in the case where the layout printing setting has been accepted by the accepting unit, displays graphic images of the multiple document pages and allows a specific page for which layout printing is not to be carried out to be selected from among the graphic images; a layout processing unit that does not perform the layout for the specific page selected through the selection unit and does perform the layout for the document pages aside from the specific page; and a print data generation unit that generates print data of the multiple document pages based on a result of the processing performed by the layout processing unit.

Description:
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 
       [0001]    The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-052823, filed Mar. 10, 2010 is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to printing control apparatuses and printing control methods. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Some image forming apparatuses, such as printers, copy machines, and so on, have layout printing functions for laying out multiple pages on a single sheet and printing those pages. In such layout printing, for example, A4-size originals are shrunk and multiple pages (for example, two pages, four pages, or the like) are printed onto a single A4 sheet. Such layout printing conserves paper, and is being widely used in today&#39;s climate of increased awareness of environmental issues. 
         [0006]    JP-A-2008-257563, for example, discloses a printer driver that, when carrying out layout printing of document data in which different paper sizes are intermixed, carries out the layout according to the paper size and executes printing. 
         [0007]    However, because the layout printing settings are carried out according to the paper size, the printing is executed using an uniform layout that has been set for all of the data, even in the case where text, graphics, and the like are intermixed throughout pages of the same paper size. Accordingly, pages that include small graphics, pictures, or the like are also laid out and printed, and because the graphics, pictures, or the like are shrunk, it is difficult to see the details in those graphics, pictures, or the like. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to make it easy to set layout printing on a page-by-page basis. Having been conceived in order to solve at least some of the aforementioned problems, the invention can be implemented as the following aspects or application examples. 
       First Application Example 
       [0009]    A printing control apparatus according to a first application example of the invention includes: an accepting unit that accepts a setting regarding layout printing for laying out multiple document pages in order on a sheet-by-sheet basis; a selection unit that, in the case where the layout printing setting has been accepted by the accepting unit, displays graphic images of the multiple document pages and allows a specific page for which layout printing is not to be carried out to be selected from among the graphic images; a layout processing unit that does not perform the layout for the specific page selected through the selection unit and does perform the layout for the document pages aside from the specific page; and a print data generation unit that generates print data of the multiple document pages based on a result of the processing performed by the layout processing unit. 
         [0010]    According to this configuration, in the case where print data for layout printing is generated, the printing control apparatus displays the graphic images of the multiple document pages, allows the selection of a specific page to which the layout printing is not to be applied from among the displayed graphic images, and carries out settings so that the layout is not carried out on the selected specific page but is carried out on the document pages aside from the specific page. Accordingly, because the specific page to which the layout printing is not to be applied can be selected while visually confirming the graphic images of the multiple document pages, it is easy to carry out layout printing settings on a page-by-page basis. 
       Second Application Example 
       [0011]    In the printing control apparatus according to the stated first application example, in the case where the multiple document pages include a page of a size that differs from the size of the sheet, the selection unit further allows a selection of whether or not to fit the size of the page to the size of the sheet, and the apparatus further includes a scaling processing unit that fits the size of the page to the size of the sheet by enlarging or shrinking the page based on a result selected through the selection unit. 
         [0012]    According to this configuration, in the case where a page of a different size than the size of the sheet is included in the multiple document pages, the size of the page can be fit to the size of the sheet as necessary by enlarging or shrinking the page. 
       Third Application Example 
       [0013]    In the printing control apparatus according to the above stated application examples, it is preferable that the selection unit classifies the graphic images into groups based on attributes of the graphic images and allows the selection of a group created through the classification. 
       Fourth Application Example 
       [0014]    A printing control method according to a fourth application example of the invention includes: accepting a setting regarding layout printing for laying out multiple document pages in order on a sheet-by-sheet basis; allowing, in the case where the layout printing setting has been accepted in the accepting, a specific page for which layout printing is not to be carried out to be selected from among the graphic images by displaying graphic images of the multiple documents pages; performing the layout for the document pages aside from the specific page, not performing the layout for the specific page selected in the selecting; and generating print data of the multiple document pages based on a result of the processing performed in the layout performing. 
         [0015]    According to this method, in the case where print data for layout printing is generated, the graphic images of the multiple document pages are displayed respectively, the selection of a specific page to which the layout printing is not to be applied is allowed from among the displayed graphic images, and settings are carried out so that the layout is not carried out on the selected specific page but is carried out on the document pages aside from the specific page. Accordingly, because the specific page to which the layout printing is not to be applied can be selected while visually confirming the graphic images of the multiple document pages, it is easy to carry out layout printing settings on a page-by-page basis. 
       Fifth Application Example 
       [0016]    A printing control apparatus according to a fifth application example of the invention includes: an accepting unit that accepts a setting regarding layout printing for laying out multiple document pages in order on a sheet-by-sheet basis; a layout processing unit that, in the case where the layout printing setting has been accepted by the accepting unit, determines whether or not to perform the layout on the document pages based on attribute information of the document pages, and performs the layout on the document pages based on a result of the determination; and a print data generation unit that generates print data of the multiple document pages based on a result of the processing performed by the layout processing unit. 
         [0017]    According to this configuration, in the case where print data for layout printing is generated, the printing control apparatus determines whether or not to carry out the layout on the document pages based on attribute information of the document pages, and carries out the layout on the document pages based on the result of the determination. Accordingly, the layout printing settings for the document pages can be carried out easily on a page-by-page basis. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a computer in which a printer driver according to an embodiment of the invention has been installed. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the module configuration of a printer driver according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a printing conditions setting window. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a layout printing settings input window. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a layout exclusions setting window. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a layout exclusions setting window. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a result of printing excluded from layout. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processes performed by a layout processing module. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    Hereinafter, a printing control apparatus that controls a printer will be described with reference to the drawings. 
       Embodiment 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a computer  10 , in which a printer driver  50  has been installed, functioning as a printing control apparatus. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the computer  10  includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  11  that functions as the center of computational processes, and the CPU  11  is capable of accessing a ROM (Read-Only Memory)  13 , a RAM (Random Access Memory)  14 , and the like via a system bus  12 . A hard disk drive  15 , a CD-ROM drive  16 , and a Floppy® disk drive  17 , serving as external storage units, are connected to the system bus  12 ; an operating system, an application program capable of creating document information, image information, and so on (not shown) and the like are stored as software in a hard disk  22  that is connected to the hard disk drive  15  and that stores data. The software is transferred to the RAM  14  as appropriate by the CPU  11  when the software is to be executed. The CPU  11  accesses the RAM  14  as appropriate and executes the software. In other words, various programs are executed using the RAM  14  as a temporary work area. 
         [0029]    An input interface  18  is connected to the stated system bus  12 , and a keyboard  27 , a mouse  28 , or the like are connected to the input interface  18  as operation input devices. In addition, a CRT interface  19  is connected to the system bus  12 , and a display  29  is connected via this CRT interface  19 . Furthermore, a printer interface  20  is connected to the system bus  12 , and a printer  30  that prints predetermined print jobs is connected via this printer interface  20 . In this embodiment, the configuration of the computer  10  is described in a simplified manner, but it goes without saying that a typically-configured personal computer can be employed as the computer  10 . 
         [0030]    However, the computer  10  applied in this embodiment is not intended to be limited to a personal computer. The computer  10  is also not limited to a desktop computer, and may instead be a laptop computer or another type of mobile computer. Furthermore, the connection interface between the computer  10  and the printer  30  need not be limited to a parallel connection, and various types of connections, such as a serial interface, SCSI (Small Computer System Interface), USB (Universal Serial Bus), or the like, can be used. 
         [0031]    In addition, although the various types of software mentioned above are stored in the hard disk  22 , the recording medium capable of storing the various pieces of software is not limited to the hard disk  22 . For example, the recording medium may be a CD-ROM  23 , a Floppy® disk  24 , or the like. The software recorded on these recording media are thus loaded into the computer  10  via the CD-ROM drive  16 , the Floppy® disk drive  17 , or the like, and are then installed in the hard disk  22 . The software is loaded into the RAM  14  from the hard disk  22  by the CPU  11  as mentioned above, and the various processes are then executed. The recording medium is not limited to the aforementioned examples, however, and a magneto-optical disk or the like may be used as well. Furthermore, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory serving as a semiconductor device may also be employed. Alternatively, a predetermined communication line  25  can be connected to through a communication interface  21  such as a modem connected to the system bus  12 , and the various types of software can then be downloaded by accessing a file server  26  located on the communication line  25  that is capable of storing such program types. 
         [0032]    The printer  30  includes a CPU, firmware, and the like (not shown), and, in accordance with a program denoted in the firmware, receives print job data configured of CMYK data, page description language, or the like sent by the computer  10  through the printer interface  20 . Then, the printer  30  executes printing while driving a print head, a print paper transport mechanism, and so on using a predetermined driving device, based on the print job data. 
         [0033]    Next,  FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the configuration of modules in the printer driver  50 . The printer driver  50  includes a print settings obtainment module  54 , a layout processing module  56 , an image processing module  60 , a halftone processing module  62 , a print image data formation module  64 , and a function control module  52  that controls the various functional units; the modules  54  to  64  generate print job data by operating together while realizing predetermined functions based on the control of the function control module  52 . 
         [0034]    The print settings obtainment module  54  obtains various types of print settings. In this embodiment, print settings set through a UI (User Interface) window of the printer driver  50  are stored in a storage region called “Devmode”. The print settings obtainment module  54  obtains print setting information from the Devmode storage region. 
         [0035]    The layout processing module  56  is a layout processing unit, and arranges, upon a single sheet, the bitmaps of multiple pages expanded based on the print settings when the print image data formation module  64  forms print image data. This layout processing module  56  includes a scaling processing unit  58  (a scaling processing unit) that carries out a process for enlarging or shrinking the bitmaps. 
         [0036]    Here, in, for example, the case in which two pages of an A4 original (in portrait orientation) are laid out on A4 paper (in landscape orientation) (2-up), the scaling processing unit  58  shrinks to develop the bitmaps of the originals to an A5 portrait region by communicating a resolution that is lower than the resolution of the originals to a GDI (Graphical Device Interface). The layout processing module  56  then arranges the bitmap of the first page in a printing start position on the A4 paper (in landscape orientation) and cancels a page break control command. Next, the layout processing module  56  arranges the bitmap of the next page in a position located one A5 page&#39;s worth of space from the printing start position on the A4 paper (in landscape orientation), and adds the page break control command; through this, the layout process can be executed. 
         [0037]    Meanwhile, for specified pages, the layout processing module  56  allocates a single original to a single page without carrying out the layout process (1-up). In this embodiment, pages for which the layout process is not to be carried out (excluded pages) are specified through a UI window, mentioned later. In this case, the scaling processing unit  58  can carry out only enlargement or shrinking processes for the pages to be excluded from the layout process by communicating a resolution that differs from the resolution of the original to the GDI. These settings are defined in an extension region of the Devmode storage region. 
         [0038]    The image processing module  60  carries out image processes such as color correction processes or the like. Meanwhile, the halftone processing module  62  carries out a halftone process on the print data on which the image process such as the color correction process or the like has been carried out. The print image data formation module  64  is a print data generation unit, and creates print job data by forming the print image data created by the layout processing module  56 , the image processing module  60 , and the halftone processing module  62  on a page-by-page basis. The created print job data is sent to the printer  30  via a spooler, where printing is executed based on the print job data. 
         [0039]    Here, in this embodiment, when a user prints a document or the like by selecting printing in an application program, predetermined print settings are carried out in the printer driver  50  that is launched when printing is selected. At this time, the user calls a printing conditions setting window  100 , shown in  FIG. 3 , in order to select printing functions in the application program. 
         [0040]    The printing conditions setting window  100  accepts the input of print settings specified by the user. The printing conditions setting window  100  includes regions for accepting specifications of items, such as paper size  101 , orientation  102 , paper source  103 , paper type  104 , color  105 , dual-sided printing  106 , layout  108 , and so on. The user can set his or her desired conditions in the respective regions. 
         [0041]    The printing conditions setting window  100  also includes a layout settings button  110 . The layout settings button  110  can be pressed in the case where layout  108  is checked. When the layout settings button  110  is pressed, a layout settings input window  200 , shown in  FIG. 4 , is displayed. 
         [0042]    The layout settings input window  200  is an accepting unit for accepting the input of layout settings specified by the user for layout printing. The layout settings input window  200  includes a layout number of pages setting region  210 , a layout order setting region  220 , and a layout exclusions setting button  230  for setting pages to be excluded from layout. 
         [0043]    The layout number of pages setting region  210  accepts settings for the number of pages to allocate to a single page. In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , two pages or four pages can be selected. Meanwhile, the layout order setting region  220  accepts the selection of an order by which to allocate multiple pages to a sheet. 
         [0044]    When the layout exclusions setting button  230  is pressed, a selection unit, or in other words, a first layout exclusions setting window  250 , shown in  FIG. 5 , or a second layout exclusions setting window  270 , shown in  FIG. 6 , is displayed. Which of the windows to display may be set by the user in advance. Alternatively, the printer driver  50  may analyze the document information to be printed and determine which window to display based on, for example, whether document data and image data are intermixed. Furthermore, in the case where automatic processing has been set in advance and the layout exclusions setting button  230  has been pressed, predetermined layouts may be excluded according to the automatic processing settings, instead of displaying the setting windows. In this case, the layout exclusions may be determined based on the attribute information, the data type, and so on for the respective pages. In other words, the layout exclusions may be determined automatically in the case where graphics, photographs, and so on have been allocated to the page. 
         [0045]    The first layout exclusions setting window  250  displays graphic images  253  of the respective pages in page order, and displays layout exclusion checkboxes  255  in a selectable manner for each of the graphic images  253 . Meanwhile, in the case where a document size that is different from the output paper size set by the printer driver  50  is included, a setting checkbox  260  is displayed for the graphic image  253  of that page so as to be selectable, regardless of layout exclusion settings. 
         [0046]    In addition, in the lower portion of the first layout exclusions setting window  250 , all-set buttons  265  are displayed in a selectable manner so that the graphic images  253  for all pages can be set at once. 
         [0047]    The second layout exclusions setting window  270  displays graphic images  273  for the respective pages in page order, and furthermore displays the graphic images  273  in groups based on data type information  275  indicating attributes of the respective graphic images  273 ; further still, layout exclusion checkboxes  280  are displayed so that selections can be carried out by groups. In this embodiment, in the case where a page of a document size that differs from the output paper size set by the printer driver  50  is included in a group, a set checkbox  285  is displayed in a selectable manner for that group regardless of the settings for layout exclusion. Note that the data type of the graphic images  273 , information indicating whether or not objects are included, and so on are determined based on information exchanged between the GDI and the printer driver  50  (that is, font image information, pass rendering information, image rendering information, and so on). In this embodiment, the data type is either “document” or “image”, but the data type is not limited to these two. Furthermore, in the case where “document” data and “image” data are intermixed in the same page, the page is placed into an “image” group. 
         [0048]    In addition, in the lower portion of the second layout exclusions setting window  270 , all-set buttons  290  are displayed in a selectable manner so that the graphic images  273  for all pages can be set at once. 
         [0049]    The information set in the first layout exclusions setting window  250  shown in  FIG. 5  or the second layout exclusions setting window  270  illustrated in  FIG. 6  are written into a predetermined location in the Devmode storage region.  FIG. 7  illustrates examples of printing results in this embodiment in the case where A3 or L-sized originals are intermixed in an A4 document and the output paper is set to A4. 
         [0050]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processes performed by the layout processing module  56 . This process is called in the case where the printer driver  50  is to carry out a layout process. When this process is started, first, the CPU  11  of the computer  10  obtains the layout settings written into the Devmode storage region (step S 300 ). Then, the CPU  11  obtains information of a predetermined first page (step S 310 ). Next, the CPU  11  determines whether or not a shrinking or enlargement process has been instructed for that page (step S 315 ). 
         [0051]    In the case where it has been determined that a shrinking or enlargement process has been instructed for that page (Yes in step S 315 ), the CPU  11  carries out the enlargement or shrinking process on that page in accordance with the output paper that is set (step S 320 ), and the process advances to step S 325 . On the other hand, in the case where it has been determined that a shrinking or enlargement process has not been instructed for that page (No in step S 315 ), the process advances to step S 325 . 
         [0052]    In step S 325 , the CPU  11  determines whether or not that page has been excluded from layout. Here, in the case where it has been determined that that page has not been excluded from layout (No in step S 325 ), the CPU  11  carries out a layout process (step S 330 ), and the process advances to step S 335 . On the other hand, in the case where it has been determined that that page has been excluded from layout (Yes in step S 325 ), the process advances to step S 335 . 
         [0053]    In step S 335 , the CPU  11  forms the print image data for the first page. Then, the CPU  11  determines whether or not all of the pages have been processed (step S 340 ). 
         [0054]    Here, in the case where it has been determined that all of the pages have not yet been processed (No in step S 340 ), the CPU  11  obtains the information of the next page (step S 345 ), returns to the step of determining whether or not a shrinking or enlargement process has been instructed (step S 315 ), and processes the pages thereafter in order. On the other hand, in the case where it has been determined that all the pages have been processed (Yes in step S 340 ), the CPU  11  generates the print data (step S 350 ) and ends the series of processes. 
         [0055]    According to the embodiment described thus far, pages that are to be excluded from layout can be set through a UI window such as the first layout exclusions setting window  250  or the second layout exclusions setting window  270 , and thus it is possible to specify, visually and easily, which pages are to be excluded from layout. Furthermore, even in the case where a page of a document size that differs from the output paper size set by the printer driver  50  is included, such a page can be visually identified and laid out in accordance with the output paper size. 
         [0056]    Although an embodiment of the invention has been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration thereof is not intended to be limited to this embodiment, and various alterations, variations, and the like are possible without departing from the essential spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the apparatuses that execute the aforementioned methods may be realized by single, independent apparatuses, or may be realized by a combination of multiple apparatuses; all such forms are considered to fall within the scope of the invention.