Abstract:
There is provided a computer-readable record medium storing computer-readable instructions that cause a computer to execute a developing step of developing slide data representing transitions of display states into multiple pieces of display data each of which represents each display state corresponding to each transition and a print data generating step of generating print data to be used for printing based on the multiple pieces of display data corresponding to transitions obtained by the developing step.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-172528 filed on Jun. 29, 2007. The entire subject matter of the application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a computer-readable record medium storing a printer driver program for generating print data (data to be used for printing) based on electronic data created by use of application software, etc., and a print data generating device. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    In a technique described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 2001-265378, a printout for allowing the user to easily grasp the contents of audio data and video data is automatically generated by extracting sampling data from the audio data and the video data (by sampling the audio and video data at regular time intervals), generating character data (text data) from the sampling data regarding the audio data, and generating still image data from the sampling data regarding the video data. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]    Meanwhile, a variety of application software for creating presentation documents (hereinafter referred to simply as “creation software”) is available today (e.g. Microsoft® PowerPoint®). The user of such creation software can change (cause transition to) the display state on the display, screen, etc. (display contents) by operating a pointing device such as a mouse (hereinafter referred to as a “pointer”). 
         [0007]    The above creation software implements the changes (transitions) of the display state on the display/screen in response to the user&#39;s pointer operations by prestoring information on the background of the display, display contents (contents of information displayed on the display/screen) and a scenario (relationship between the pointer operations and the changes (transitions) of the display contents) while managing a series of transitions as a piece of slide data. 
         [0008]    Thus, the above creation software, generating each piece of display data each time based on the stored scenario and the user&#39;s pointer operation (without originally having display data representing each display state corresponding to (i.e. after) each transition), is incapable at present of printing out each piece of display data (each display data) corresponding to each transition. 
         [0009]    The present invention, which has been made in consideration of the above problem, is advantageous in that a computer-readable record medium (storing a printer driver program) and a print data generating device, realizing the printing of display data corresponding to each transition in slide data created by use of creation software, can be provided. 
         [0010]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable record medium storing computer-readable instructions that cause a computer to execute a developing step of developing slide data representing transitions of display states into multiple pieces of display data each of which represents each display state corresponding to each transition and a print data generating step of generating print data to be used for printing based on the multiple pieces of display data corresponding to transitions obtained by the developing step. 
         [0011]    By making a computer operate according to the computer-readable instructions obtained (loaded, installed, etc.) from the record medium, the slide data (representing transitions of display states) is developed into multiple pieces of display data (each representing each display state corresponding to each transition) and the print data is generated based on the multiple pieces of display data, by which the printing of the display data corresponding to each transition is realized. 
         [0012]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print data generating device for generating print data to be used for printing, comprising a developing unit which develops slide data representing transitions of display states into multiple pieces of display data each of which represents each display state corresponding to each transition and a print data generating unit which generates print data to be used for printing based on the multiple pieces of display data corresponding to transitions obtained by the developing unit. 
         [0013]    Also with the print data generating device, developing the slide data (representing transitions of display states) into multiple pieces of display data (each representing each display state corresponding to each transition) and generating the print data based on the multiple pieces of display data, the printing of the display data corresponding to each transition is realized. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a conceptual diagram of a printing system including a printer and a computer in which a printer driver (printing program) in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention has been installed. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing control by (characteristic operation of) the printer driver of the first embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 3A-3D  are schematic diagrams showing an example of display state transitions of slide data created by use of presentation document creation software. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 4A-4D  are schematic diagrams showing examples of printouts (corresponding to  FIGS. 3A - 3D ) obtained by use of the printer driver of the first embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printout (of the slide data representing the display state transitions of  FIGS. 3A-3D ) obtained by use of a printer driver in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing control by the printer driver of the second embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing an example of brief display (of the slide data representing the display state transitions of  FIGS. 3A-3D  on a display of the computer) implemented by a preview function of a printer driver in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printout of display data selected by the user from multiple pieces of display data briefly displayed by the preview function. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are flowcharts showing control by the printer driver of the third embodiment. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram showing a modification of the third embodiment. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printout (of the slide data representing the display state transitions of  FIGS. 3A-3D ) obtained by use of a printer driver in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing control by the printer driver of the fourth embodiment. 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printout (of the slide data representing the display state transitions of  FIGS. 3A-3D ) obtained by use of a printer driver in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a flowchart showing control by the printer driver of the fifth embodiment. 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is a flowchart showing control by a printer driver in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printout (of the slide data representing the display state transitions of  FIGS. 3A-3D ) obtained by use of a printer driver in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  is a flowchart showing control by the printer driver of the seventh embodiment. 
           [0031]      FIG. 19  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printout (of the slide data representing the display state transitions of  FIGS. 3A-3D ) obtained by use of a printer driver in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 20  is a flowchart showing control by the printer driver of the eighth embodiment. 
           [0033]      FIGS. 21A and 21B  are schematic diagrams showing an example of a printout (of the slide data representing the display state transitions of  FIGS. 3A-3D ) obtained by use of a printer driver in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 22  is a flowchart showing control by the printer driver of the ninth embodiment. 
           [0035]      FIGS. 23A-23E  are schematic diagrams showing another example of display state transitions of slide data created by use of presentation document creation software and 
           [0036]      FIG. 24  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printout (of the slide data representing the display state transitions of  FIGS. 23A-23E ) obtained by use of a printer driver in accordance with a tenth embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0037]    Referring now to the drawings, a description will be given in detail of preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention. 
       Embodiment 1  
       [0038]      FIG. 1  is a conceptual diagram of a printing system including a printer  20  and a computer  10  in which a printer driver (printing program) in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention has been installed.  FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing control by (characteristic operation of) the printer driver of the first embodiment. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 3A-3D  are schematic diagrams showing an example of display state transitions of slide data created by use of presentation document creation software (creation software) such as Microsoft® PowerPoint®.  FIGS. 4A-4D  are schematic diagrams showing examples of printouts (corresponding to  FIGS. 3A-3D ) obtained by use of the printer driver of the first embodiment. 
         [0040]    The computer  10 , which is implemented by a PC (Personal Computer) for example, comprises a computation unit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  11 , a ROM (Read Only Memory)  12  and a RAM (Random Access Memory)  13 , a high-capacity storage unit such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive)  14 , a keyboard  15 , a pointing device (pointer)  16  (e.g. mouse) and a display  17  (LCD, CRT, etc.), like widely known computers. The printer  20  is connected to the computer  10 . 
         [0041]    The printer driver, which is usually stored in the HDD  14 , is read out and activated by the CPU  11  as needed. 
         [0042]    The flowchart of  FIG. 2  shows a process for generating printouts like those shown in  FIGS. 4A-4D  by developing slide data (representing display state transitions FIG.  3 A→FIG.  3 B→FIG.  3 C→ FIG. 3D , for example) into multiple pieces of display data each of which represents each display state corresponding to (after) each transition. 
         [0043]    Incidentally, the printouts of the four pieces of slide data of  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  3 C and  3 D are shown in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  4 C and  4 D, respectively. 
         [0044]    In the following, characteristic operation of the printer driver of the first embodiment will be described referring to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0045]    The printer driver implementing the process shown in  FIG. 2  is activated by the CPU  11  when a print instruction is issued by the user by operating the keyboard  15  or the pointing device  16  of the computer  10 . First, the CPU  11  executing the printer driver accepts the instruction for printing a presentation file (S 1 ) and counts the total number of pieces of slide data included in the presentation file (S 5 ). 
         [0046]    The “slide data” is data containing information on the display background, the display contents (contents of information displayed) and the scenario (relationship between the pointer operations and the changes (transitions) of the display contents) as mentioned above. Thus, a series of transitions like that shown in  FIG. 3  is represented by a piece of slide data. 
         [0047]    After counting the total number of pieces of slide data (S 5 ), the CPU  11  acquires a piece of slide data (one of the counted pieces of slide data) (S  10 ), and analyzes the structure of the acquired slide data (S 15 ). The “structure” is defined by the “creation software” and contains information on how to display the state transition. The CPU  11  then generates print data by developing the slide data into display data (e.g. bitmap data developed in the RAM  13 ) representing each display state corresponding to (after) each transition (S 20 ) which reflects the state transition realized by the “creation software”. 
         [0048]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether there exists the next transition (next display state) or not (S 25 ). If there exists the next transition (S 25 : YES), the CPU  11  carries the state transition to the next state (S 30 ) and returns to the step S 20  to generate the next piece of print data. 
         [0049]    On the other hand, if there exists no next transition (S 25 : NO), the CPU  11  judges whether the currently developed slide data is the last slide data or not, that is, whether there remains no other slide data or not (S 35 ). If not the last slide data (S 35 :NO), the CPU  11  returns to the step S 10  to repeat the steps S 10 -S 30  for the next piece of slide data. 
         [0050]    If the currently developed slide data is the last slide data in S 35  (S 35 : YES), the CPU  11  generates a print job based on the print data generated in S 20  (S 40 ) and outputs the generated print job to the printer  20  (S 45 ). 
         [0051]    As described above, the printer driver of the first embodiment generates the print data by developing the slide data (representing successive transitions of display states) into multiple pieces of display data (e.g. bitmap data developed in the RAM  13 ) each representing each display state corresponding to (after) each transition (S 15 , S 20 ), by which the printing of the display data corresponding to each transition is realized. 
       Embodiment 2  
       [0052]    A printer driver in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The printer driver of the second embodiment generates the print data so that multiple pieces of display data regarding (obtained from) a piece of slide data are printed on one sheet as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printout (of the slide data representing the display state transitions of  FIGS. 3A-3D ) obtained by use of the printer driver of the second embodiment.  FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing control by the printer driver of the second embodiment. 
         [0054]    In the following, characteristic operation of the printer driver of the second embodiment will be described referring to  FIG. 6 . 
         [0055]    The printer driver implementing the process shown in  FIG. 6  is activated by the CPU  11  when a print instruction is issued by the user by operating the keyboard  15  or the pointing device  16 . First, the CPU  11  executing the printer driver accepts the instruction for printing a presentation file (S 50 ) and counts the total number of pieces of slide data included in the presentation file (S 55 ). 
         [0056]    After counting the total number of pieces of slide data (S 55 ), the CPU  11  acquires one of the counted pieces of slide data (S 60 ), analyzes the structure of the acquired slide data (S 65 ), and generates temporary data for printing by developing the slide data into display data representing each display state corresponding to (after) each transition (S 70 ). 
         [0057]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether there exists the next transition (next display state) or not (S 75 ). If there exists the next transition (S 75 : YES), the CPU  11  carries the state transition to the next state (S 80 ) and returns to the step S 70  to generate the next piece of temporary data corresponding to the next display state. 
         [0058]    On the other hand, if there exists no next transition (S 75 : NO), the CPU  11  counts the number of display states included in the current slide data (S 85 ) and sets the layout (positions of arrangement of the pieces of temporary data on a page) based on the counted number of display states (S 90 ). Subsequently, the CPU  11  generates print data for a page by arranging the pieces of temporary data (corresponding to the display states) on the page based on the layout set in S 90  (S 95 ). 
         [0059]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether the currently developed slide data is the last slide data or not (S 100 ). If not the last slide data (S 100 : NO), the CPU  11  returns to the step S 60  to repeat the steps S 60 -S 95  for the next piece of slide data. 
         [0060]    If the currently developed slide data is the last slide data in S 100  (S 100 : YES), the CPU  11  generates a print job based on the print data generated in S 95  (S 105 ) and outputs the generated print job to the printer  20  (S 110 ). 
         [0061]    As described above, the printer driver of the second embodiment generates the multiple pieces of temporary data corresponding to the display states (represented by a piece of slide data), as the print data for one page (S 95 ). Therefore, the user viewing each page (printout of the print data) can easily recognize the transitions of display states in units of slide data (recognize the transitions of display states included in each piece of slide data) at a glance. 
       Embodiment 3  
       [0062]    A printer driver in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the printer driver of the third embodiment has a “preview function” of briefly displaying multiple pieces of display data at once and a “selection function” of letting the user select display data to be printed out from the multiple pieces of display data briefly displayed by the preview function. 
         [0063]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing an example of the brief display (of the slide data representing the display state transitions of  FIGS. 3A-3D  on the display  17 ) implemented by the printer driver of the third embodiment.  FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printout of display data selected by the user from the multiple pieces of display data briefly displayed by the preview function.  FIGS. 9 and 10  are flowcharts showing control by the printer driver of the third embodiment.  FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram showing a modification of the third embodiment. 
         [0064]    In the following, characteristic operation of the printer driver of the third embodiment will be described referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
         [0065]    The printer driver implementing the process shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  is activated by the CPU  11  when a print instruction is issued by the user by operating the keyboard  15  or the pointing device  16 . First, the CPU  11  executing the printer driver accepts the instruction for printing a presentation file (S 120 ) and counts the total number of pieces of slide data included in the presentation file (S 125 ). 
         [0066]    After counting the total number of pieces of slide data (S 125 ), the CPU  11  acquires one of the counted pieces of slide data (S 130 ), analyzes the structure of the acquired slide data (S 135 ), and generates temporary data for printing by developing the slide data into display data representing each display state corresponding to (after) each transition (S 140 ). 
         [0067]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether there exists the next transition (next display state) or not (S 145 ). If there exists the next transition (S 145 : YES), the CPU  11  carries the state transition to the next state (S 150 ) and returns to the step S 140  to generate the next piece of temporary data from the display data representing the next display state. 
         [0068]    On the other hand, if there exists no next transition (S 145 : NO), the CPU  11  counts the number of display states included in the current slide data (S 155 ) and sets the layout of the pieces of temporary data on a page based on the counted number of display states (S 160 ). 
         [0069]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  generates print data for a page by arranging the pieces of temporary data (corresponding to the display states) on the page based on the layout set in S 160  (S 165 ) and generates thumbnail images for preview based on the generated print data (S 170 ). The thumbnail images mean images that have been reduced (scaled down) in order to display a plurality of images in list display. 
         [0070]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether the currently developed slide data is the last slide data or not (S 175 ). If not the last slide data (S 175 : NO), the CPU  11  returns to the step S 130  to repeat the steps S 130 -S 170  for the next piece of slide data. 
         [0071]    If the currently developed slide data is the last slide data in S 175  (S 175 : YES), the CPU  11  displays the thumbnail images for preview, which have been generated in S 170 , on the display  17  (S 180 ) and receives the user&#39;s selection from the thumbnail images in regard to which piece(s) of display data should be printed out (S 185 ). 
         [0072]    In this embodiment, each piece of display data selected by the user with the pointer  16  and thereby marked with the check mark as shown in  FIG. 7  is recognized as data that should be printed out. 
         [0073]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  counts the number of pieces of slide data to be printed out (S 190 ), acquires one of the pieces of slide data counted in S 190  (S 195 ), counts the total number of display states in regard to the acquired piece of slide data (S 200 ), and initializes a display state counter (S 205 ). The display state counter is a counter used for counting the number of pieces of display data that should be printed out. 
         [0074]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether the current display state (current display data) should be printed out or not based on the information (user&#39;s selection) received in S 185  (S 210 ). If the current display state should be printed out (S 210 :YES), the CPU  11  acquires one of the pieces of temporary data (generated in S 140 ) that represents the current display state (S 215 ) and thereafter increments the display state counter by  1  (S 220 ). 
         [0075]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether there exists the next transition (next display state) or not (S 225 ). If there exists the next transition (S 225 : YES), the CPU  11  carries the state transition to the next state (S 230 ) and returns to the step S 210  to judge whether the next display state (next display data) should be printed out or not. 
         [0076]    If the current display state should not be printed out in S 210  (S 210 : NO), the CPU  11  advances to the step S 225  judgment on whether there exists the next transition) without executing the step S 215  (acquisition of the temporary data) or the step S 220  (incrementation of the display state counter). 
         [0077]    If there exists no next transition in S 225  (S 225 : NO), the CPU  11  acquires the current value of the display state counter (S 235 ) and sets the layout of the pieces of temporary data on a page based on the acquired current value of the display state counter (i.e. the number of pieces of display data to be printed out in regard to the current slide data) (S 240 ). 
         [0078]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  generates print data for a page by arranging the pieces of temporary data (corresponding to the display states that should be printed out) on the page based on the layout set in S 240  (S 245 ) and thereafter judges whether the currently developed slide data is the last slide data (in the pieces of slide data to be printed out) or not (S 250 ). 
         [0079]    If not the last slide data (S 250 : NO), the CPU  11  returns to the step S 195  to repeat the steps S 195 -S 245  for the next piece of slide data to be printed out. If the currently developed slide data is the last slide data (S 250 : YES), the CPU  11  generates a print job based on the print data generated in S 245  (S 255 ) and outputs the generated print job to the printer  20  (S 260 ). 
         [0080]    As described above, the printer driver of the third embodiment has the preview function of briefly displaying multiple pieces of display data at once, by which the user is allowed to grasp the display state transitions prior to the execution of the printing. 
         [0081]    Further, thanks to the selection function letting the user select display data to be printed out from the preview display (multiple pieces of display data briefly displayed by the preview function), unnecessary printing of unintended display data can be prevented. 
         [0082]    Incidentally, while multiple pieces of display data regarding a piece of slide data are printed on a sheet as shown in  FIG. 8  in this embodiment, the printer driver of this embodiment is not to be restricted to such “list printing”; the printer driver may also be designed to print a piece of display data on a sheet like the printer driver of the first embodiment. 
         [0083]    While the selection function of the printer driver of this embodiment lets the user select display data to be printed out from the multiple pieces of display data displayed in the preview display (regarding a piece of slide data), the selection function is not to be restricted to this type of selection. For example, it is also possible to leave out the sequence from S 185  and just let the user select whether or not to print all the pieces of display data displayed in the preview display, as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
       Embodiment 4  
       [0084]    A printer driver in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the printer driver of the fourth embodiment generates print data in which multiple pieces of display data are arranged in one direction in the order of transitions. 
         [0085]      FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printout (of the slide data representing the display state transitions of  FIGS. 3A-3D ) obtained by use of the printer driver of the fourth embodiment.  FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing control by the printer driver of the fourth embodiment. 
         [0086]    In the following, characteristic operation of the printer driver of the fourth embodiment will be described referring to  FIG. 13 . 
         [0087]    The printer driver implementing the process shown in  FIG. 13  is activated by the CPU  11  when a print instruction is issued by the user by operating the keyboard  15  or the pointing device  16 . First, the CPU  11  executing the printer driver accepts the instruction for printing a presentation file (S 270 ) and counts the total number of pieces of slide data included in the presentation file (S 275 ). 
         [0088]    After counting the total number of pieces of slide data (S 275 ), the CPU  11  acquires one of the counted pieces of slide data (S 280 ), analyzes the structure of the acquired slide data (S 285 ), generates temporary data for printing by developing the slide data into display data representing each display state corresponding to each transition (S 290 ), and adds a counter value (indicating the number of display states which has been counted so far) to the temporary data (S 295 ). 
         [0089]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether there exists the next transition (next display state) or not (S 300 ). If there exists the next transition (S 300 : YES), the CPU  11  carries the state transition to the next state (S 305 ) and returns to the step S 290  to generate the next piece of temporary data corresponding to the next display state. 
         [0090]    On the other hand, if there exists no next transition (S 300 : NO), the CPU  11  counts (recognizes) the total number of display states in regard to the current slide data based on the counter value (S 310 ) and sets the layout of the pieces of temporary data on a page based on the counted total number of display states (S 315 ). 
         [0091]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  generates print data for a page by sorting the pieces of temporary data (corresponding to the display states) in order of the counter values which have been added thereto (S 320 ) and arranging (aligning) the sorted pieces of temporary data in one direction on the page based on the layout set in S 315  (S 325 ). 
         [0092]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether the currently developed slide data is the last slide data or not (S 330 ). If not the last slide data (S 330 : NO), the CPU  11  returns to the step S 280  to repeat the steps S 280 -S 325  for the next piece of slide data. 
         [0093]    If the currently developed slide data is the last slide data (S 330 : YES), the CPU  11  generates a print job based on the print data generated in S 325  (S 335 ) and outputs the generated print job to the printer  20  (S 340 ). 
         [0094]    As described above, the printer driver of the fourth embodiment generates print data in which multiple pieces of print data are arranged in one direction in the order of transitions (S 320 , S 325 ). Therefore, the user viewing the printout of the print data can grasp the display state transitions with greater ease. 
       Embodiment 5  
       [0095]    A printer driver in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. As shown in  FIG. 14 , the printer driver of the fifth embodiment lets the user set the size of each piece of display data printed on a sheet. 
         [0096]      FIG. 14  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printout (of the slide data representing the display state transitions of  FIGS. 3A-3D ) obtained by use of the printer driver of the fifth embodiment.  FIG. 15  is a flowchart showing control by the printer driver of the fifth embodiment. 
         [0097]    In the following, characteristic operation of the printer driver of the fifth embodiment will be described referring to  FIG. 15 . 
         [0098]    The printer driver implementing the process shown in  FIG. 15  is activated by the CPU  11  when a print instruction is issued by the user by operating the keyboard  15  or the pointing device  16 . First, the CPU  11  executing the printer driver accepts the instruction for printing a presentation file (S 350 ) and counts the total number of pieces of slide data included in the presentation file (S 355 ). 
         [0099]    After counting the total number of pieces of slide data (S 355 ), the CPU  11  acquires one of the counted pieces of slide data (S 360 ), analyzes the structure of the acquired slide data (S 365 ), and generates temporary data for printing by developing the slide data into display data representing each display state corresponding to each transition (S 370 ). 
         [0100]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether the size of the temporary data (display data) printed on the sheet (print size) has been specified (set) by the user (S 375 ). 
         [0101]    Incidentally, the print size of each piece of display state can be specified by the user as needed, by operating the keyboard  15 , the pointer (mouse)  16 , etc. 
         [0102]    If the print size has been specified by the user (S 375 : YES), the CPU  11  adds information indicating the print size (print size information) to the temporary data (S 380 ) and thereafter judges whether there exists the next transition (next display state) or not (S 385 ). 
         [0103]    On the other hand, if the print size has not been specified by the user (S 375 : NO), the CPU  11  advances to the step S 385  without adding the print size information to the temporary data. 
         [0104]    If there exists the next transition in S 385  (S 385 : YES), the CPU  11  carries the state transition to the next state (S 390 ) and returns to the step S 370  to generate the next piece of temporary data corresponding to the next display state. 
         [0105]    On the other hand, if there exists no next transition (S 385 : NO), the CPU  11  acquires the total number of display states in regard to the current slide data and the print size of each piece of temporary data (S 395 , S 400 ) and sets the layout of the pieces of temporary data on a page based on the total number of display states and the print sizes acquired in S 395  and S 400  (S 405 ). 
         [0106]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  generates print data for a page by enlarging/reducing (scaling up/down) each piece of temporary data according to the acquired print size (S 410 ) and arranging the enlarged/reduced pieces of temporary data on the page based on the layout set in S 405  (S 415 ). 
         [0107]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether the currently developed slide data is the last slide data or not (S 420 ). If not the last slide data (S 420 : NO), the CPU  11  returns to the step S 360  to repeat the steps S 360 -S 415  for the next piece of slide data. 
         [0108]    If the currently developed slide data is the last slide data (S 420 : YES), the CPU  11  generates a print job based on the print data generated in S 415  (S 425 ) and outputs the generated print job to the printer  20  (S 430 ). 
         [0109]    As described above, the printer driver of the fifth embodiment implements the printing of multiple pieces of display data on a sheet while also changing the print size of each piece of display data according to the user&#39;s intention, by which greater convenience is realized. 
       Embodiment 6  
       [0110]    A printer driver in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The printer driver of the sixth embodiment sets the print size of at least one selected from the display data representing the first display state and the display data representing the last display state at a size different from (larger than, in this embodiment) that of the other pieces of display data according to the intention of the user. 
         [0111]    In the following, characteristic operation of the printer driver of the sixth embodiment will be described referring to  FIG. 16 .  FIG. 16  is a flowchart showing control by the printer driver of the sixth embodiment. 
         [0112]    The printer driver implementing the process shown in  FIG. 16  is activated by the CPU  11  when a print instruction is issued by the user by operating the keyboard  15  or the pointing device  16 . First, the CPU  11  executing the printer driver accepts the instruction for printing a presentation file (S 440 ) and counts the total number of pieces of slide data included in the presentation file (S 445 ). 
         [0113]    After counting the total number of pieces of slide data (S 445 ), the CPU  11  acquires one of the counted pieces of slide data (S 450 ), analyzes the structure of the acquired slide data (S 455 ), generates temporary data for printing by developing the slide data into display data representing each display state corresponding to each transition (S 460 ), and adds a counter value (for the identification of the temporary data (display state)) to the temporary data (S 465 ). 
         [0114]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether there exists the next transition (next display state) or not (S 470 ). If there exists the next transition (S 470 : YES), the CPU  11  carries the state transition to the next state (S 475 ) and returns to the step S 460  to generate the next piece of temporary data corresponding to the next display state. 
         [0115]    On the other hand, if there exists no next transition (S 470 : NO), the CPU  11  acquires the total number of display states in regard to the current slide data (S 480 ) and thereafter inquires of the user whether the first display state (temporary data having the smallest counter value) should be printed in a larger size than other display states (other pieces of temporary data) (S 485 ). 
         [0116]    If the user specifies that the first display state should be printed in a larger size (S 485 : YES), the CPU  11  specifies enlargement (larger size) of the first display state as style information to be used for setting the print layout (S 490 ) and thereafter advances to step S 495 . 
         [0117]    If the user does not specify that the first display state should be printed in a larger size (S 485 : NO), the CPU  11  advances to the step S 495  while skipping S 490 . In the step S 495 , the CPU  11  inquires of the user whether the last display state (temporary data having the largest counter value) should be printed in a larger size than other display states (other pieces of temporary data). 
         [0118]    If the user specifies that the last display state should be printed in a larger size (S 495 : YES), the CPU  11  specifies enlargement (larger size) of the last display state as style information to be used for setting the print layout (S 500 ) and thereafter advances to step S 505 . 
         [0119]    If the user does not specify that the last display state should be printed in a larger size (S 495 : NO), the CPU  11  advances to the step S 505  while skipping S 500 . In the step S 505 , the CPU  11  sets the layout of the pieces of temporary data on a page based on the total number of display states acquired in S 480  and the print sizes specified in S 485 -S 500 . 
         [0120]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  generates print data for a page by arranging the pieces of temporary data (corresponding to the display states) on the page based on the layout set in S 505  (S 510 ). 
         [0121]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether the currently developed slide data is the last slide data ornot (S 515 ). If not the last slide data (S 515 :NO), the CPU  11  returns to the step S 450  to repeat the steps S 450 -S 510  for the next piece of slide data. 
         [0122]    If the currently developed slide data is the last slide data (S 515 : YES), the CPU  11  generates a print job based on the print data generated in S 510  (S 520 ) and outputs the generated print job to the printer  20  (S 525 ). 
         [0123]    As described above, the printer driver of the sixth embodiment sets the print size of the display data representing the first display state and/or the display data representing the last display state at a size different from that of other pieces of display data (according to the intention of the user). Therefore, the user viewing the display state printed in the different size (the first display state or the last display state) can easily discriminate it from other display states (intermediate display states), that is, easily recognize that the display state is the first display state or the last display state at a glance. 
       Embodiment 7  
       [0124]    A printer driver in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described below. As shown in  FIG. 17 , the printer driver of the seventh embodiment generates the print data so that only display contents (contents of information displayed on the display/screen) changing in each transition (selected from all the display contents of each piece of display data) are printed. 
         [0125]      FIG. 17  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printout (of the slide data representing the display state transitions of  FIGS. 3A-3D ) obtained by use of the printer driver of the seventh embodiment.  FIG. 18  is a flowchart showing control by the printer driver of the seventh embodiment. 
         [0126]    In the following, characteristic operation of the printer driver of the seventh embodiment will be described referring to  FIG. 18 . 
         [0127]    The printer driver implementing the process shown in  FIG. 18  is activated by the CPU  11  when a print instruction is issued by the user by operating the keyboard  15  or the pointing device  16 . First, the CPU  11  executing the printer driver accepts the instruction for printing a presentation file (S 530 ) and counts the total number of pieces of slide data included in the presentation file (S 535 ). 
         [0128]    After counting the total number of pieces of slide data (S 535 ), the CPU  11  acquires one of the counted pieces of slide data (S 540 ), analyzes the structure of the acquired slide data (S 545 ), and initializes a counter value indicating the number of display states (S 550 ). 
         [0129]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether there exists temporary data regarding the previous display state or not, that is, whether the display state currently being acquired is not the first display state (S 555 ). If the current display state is the first display state (S 555 : NO), the CPU  11  acquires all the display contents (contents of information displayed) of the current display state (S 565 ). 
         [0130]    On the other hand, if not the first display state (S 555 : YES), the CPU  11  acquires only display contents of the current display state that have changed (that are different) from those of the previous display state (previous temporary data) (S 560 ). 
         [0131]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  generates temporary data for printing by use of the display contents acquired in S 560  or S 565  (S 570 ), increments the counter value by  1  (S 575 ), and judges whether there exists the next transition (next display state) or not (S 580 ). If there exists the next transition (S 580 : YES), the CPU  11  carries the state transition to the next state (S 585 ) and returns to the step S 555 . 
         [0132]    If there exists no next transition in S 580  (S 580 : NO), the CPU  11  acquires the counter value indicating the number of display states (S 590 ) and sets the layout of the pieces of temporary data on a page based on the acquired number of display states (S 595 ). Subsequently, the CPU  11  generates print data for a page by arranging the pieces of temporary data (corresponding to the display states) on the page based on the layout set in S 595  (S 600 ). 
         [0133]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether the currently developed slide data is the last slide data or not (S 605 ). If not the last slide data (S 605 : NO), the CPU  11  returns to the step S 540  to repeat the steps S 540 -S 600  for the next piece of slide data. 
         [0134]    If the currently developed slide data is the last slide data (S 605 : YES), the CPU  11  generates a print job based on the print data generated in S 600  (S 610 ) and outputs the generated print job to the printer  20  (S 615 ). 
         [0135]    As described above, the printer driver of the seventh embodiment generates the print data so that only display contents changing in each transition (selected from all the display contents of each piece of display data) are printed (S 555 -S 570 ), by which the user is allowed to grasp the details of the display state transitions at a glance. 
       Embodiment 8  
       [0136]    A printer driver in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. As shown in  FIG. 19 , the printer driver of the eighth embodiment generates the print data so that display contents changing in each transition (selected from all the display contents of each piece of display data) are printed in an emphasized state in comparison with the other display contents. 
         [0137]      FIG. 19  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printout (of the slide data representing the display state transitions of  FIGS. 3A-3D ) obtained by use of the printer driver of the eighth embodiment.  FIG. 20  is a flowchart showing control by the printer driver of the eighth embodiment. 
         [0138]    In the following, characteristic operation of the printer driver of the eighth embodiment will be described referring to  FIG. 20 . 
         [0139]    The printer driver implementing the process shown in  FIG. 20  is activated by the CPU  11  when a print instruction is issued by the user by operating the keyboard  15  or the pointing device  16 . First, the CPU  11  executing the printer driver accepts the instruction for printing a presentation file (S 620 ) and counts the total number of pieces of slide data included in the presentation file (S 625 ). 
         [0140]    After counting the total number of pieces of slide data (S 625 ), the CPU  11  acquires one of the counted pieces of slide data (S 630 ), analyzes the structure of the acquired slide data (S 635 ), and initializes a counter value indicating the number of display states (S 640 ). 
         [0141]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether there exists temporary data regarding the previous display state or not, that is, whether the display state currently being acquired is not the first display state (S 645 ). If the current display state is not the first display state (S 645 : YES), the CPU  11  acquires only display contents of the current display state that have changed (that are different) from those of the previous display state (previous temporary data) (S 650 ). 
         [0142]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  gives an emphasizing effect to the display contents acquired in S 650  so that the acquired display contents will be printed in an emphasized state in comparison with the other display contents (S 655 ). The “emphasizing effect” can be any kind of effect as long as the particular display contents (i.e. the acquired display contents) are emphasized in comparison with the other display contents, such as changing the color, luminance, etc. of the particular display contents. 
         [0143]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  generates temporary data for printing from the display data representing the current display state (obtained by the development of the slide data) to which the emphasizing effect (to the acquired display contents) has been given (S 660 ). Incidentally, when the current display state is the first display state in S 645  (S 645 : NO), the CPU  11  generates the temporary data for printing from the display data representing the current (first) display state (obtained by the development of the slide data), without giving any emphasizing effect (S 660 ). 
         [0144]    After generating the temporary data (S 660 ), the CPU  11  increments the counter value by  1  (S 665 ) and thereafter judges whether there exists the next transition (next display state) or not (S 670 ). If there exists the next transition (S 670 : YES), the CPU  11  carries the state transition to the next state (S 675 ) and returns to the step S 645 . 
         [0145]    On the other hand, if there exists no next transition (S 670 : NO), the CPU  11  acquires the counter value indicating the number of display states (S 680 ), sets the layout of the pieces of temporary data on a page based on the acquired number of display states (S 685 ), and generates print data for a page by arranging the pieces of temporary data (corresponding to the display states) on the page based on the layout set in S 685  (S 690 ). 
         [0146]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether the currently developed slide data is the last slide data or not (S 695 ). If not the last slide data (S 695 : NO), the CPU  11  returns to the step S 630  to repeat the steps S 630 -S 690  for the next piece of slide data. 
         [0147]    If the currently developed slide data is the last slide data (S 695 : YES), the CPU  11  generates a print job based on the print data generated in S 690  (S 700 ) and outputs the generated print job to the printer  20  (S 705 ). 
         [0148]    As described above, the printer driver of the eighth embodiment generates the print data so that display contents changing in each transition (selected from all the display contents of each piece of display data) are printed in an emphasized state in comparison with the other display contents (S 645 -S 660 ), by which the user is allowed to grasp the details of the display state transitions at a glance. 
       Embodiment 9  
       [0149]    A printer driver in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. As shown in  FIG. 21 , the printer driver of the ninth embodiment generates the print data so that display data of the largest print size (i.e. display data for which the largest print size has been specified among the multiple pieces of display data) and display data of the smallest print size (i.e. display data for which the smallest print size has been specified among the multiple pieces of display data) are printed on different pages. 
         [0150]      FIGS. 21A and 211B  are schematic diagrams showing an example of a printout (of the slide data representing the display state transitions of  FIGS. 3A-3D ) obtained by use of the printer driver of the ninth embodiment.  FIG. 22  is a flowchart showing control by the printer driver of the ninth embodiment. 
         [0151]    In the following, characteristic operation of the printer driver of the ninth embodiment will be described referring to  FIG. 22 . 
         [0152]    The printer driver implementing the process shown in  FIG. 22  is activated by the CPU  11  when a print instruction is issued by the user by operating the keyboard  15  or the pointing device  16 . First, the CPU  11  executing the printer driver accepts the instruction for printing a presentation file (S 710 ) and counts the total number of pieces of slide data included in the presentation file (S 715 ). 
         [0153]    After counting the total number of pieces of slide data (S 715 ), the CPU  11  acquires one of the counted pieces of slide data (S 720 ), analyzes the structure of the acquired slide data (S 725 ), generates temporary data for printing by developing the slide data into display data representing each display state corresponding to each transition (S 730 ), and adds a counter value (for the identification of the temporary data (display state)) to the temporary data (S 735 ). 
         [0154]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  judges whether there exists the next transition (next display state) or not (S 740 ). If there exists the next transition (S 740 : YES), the CPU  11  carries the state transition to the next state (S 745 ) and returns to the step S 730  to generate the next piece of temporary data corresponding to the next display state. 
         [0155]    On the other hand, if there exists no next transition (S 740 : NO), the CPU  11  acquires the total number of display states in regard to the current slide data (S 750 ) and thereafter inquires of the user whether the first display state (temporary data having the smallest counter value for the identification) should be printed in a larger size than other display states (other pieces of temporary data) (S 755 ). 
         [0156]    If the user specifies that the first display state should be printed in a larger size (S 755 : YES), the CPU  11  specifies enlargement (larger size) of the first display state as style information to be used for setting the print layout (S 760 ) and thereafter advances to step S 765 . 
         [0157]    If the user does not specify that the first display state should be printed in a larger size (S 755 :NO), the CPU  11  advances to the step S 765  while skipping S 760 . In the step S 765 , the CPU  11  inquires of the user whether the last display state (temporary data having the largest counter value for the identification) should be printed in a larger size than other display states (other pieces of temporary data). 
         [0158]    If the user specifies that the last display state should be printed in a larger size (S 765 : YES), the CPU  11  specifies enlargement (larger size) of the last display state as style information to be used for setting the print layout (S 770 ) and thereafter advances to step S 775 . 
         [0159]    If the user does not specify that the last display state should be printed in a larger size (S 765 :NO), the CPU  11  advances to the step S 775  while skipping S 770 . In the step S 775 , the CPU  11  judges whether or not the available printer  20  is capable of automatic duplex printing. 
         [0160]    If the printer  20  is capable of automatic duplex printing (S 775 : YES), the CPU  11  judges whether there exists a piece of temporary data that should be printed in the larger size (the first display state, the last display state or none in this embodiment) (S 780 ). 
         [0161]    If there exists a piece of temporary data that should be printed in the larger size (S 780 : YES), the CPU  11  generates print data for the front page (front side of a sheet) so that only the temporary data that should be printed in the larger size will be printed on the front side (S 785 ) and thereafter deletes the temporary data (S 790 ). 
         [0162]    Subsequently, the CPU  11  sets the layout of the other pieces of temporary data (other than the deleted temporary data to be printed in the larger size) on the back page (back side of the sheet) based on the number of display states corresponding to the other pieces of temporary data and the style information (S 795 ), generates print data for the back page (back side) by arranging the other pieces of temporary data (corresponding to the display states) on the back page based on the layout set in S 795  (S 800 ), and thereafter advances to step S 815 . 
         [0163]    On the other hand, if the printer  20  is incapable of automatic duplex printing in S 775  (S 775 : NO) or if there exists no piece of temporary data that should be printed in the larger size in S 780  (S 780 : NO), the CPU  11  sets the layout of all pieces of temporary data on a page based on the total number of display states acquired in S 750  (S 805 ), generates print data for a page by arranging the pieces of temporary data (corresponding to the display states) on the page based on the layout set in S 805  (S 810 ), and thereafter advances to the step S 815 . 
         [0164]    In the step S 815 , the CPU  11  judges whether the currently developed slide data is the last slide data or not. If not the last slide data (S 815 : NO), the CPU  11  returns to the step S 720  to repeat the steps S 720 -S 810  for the next piece of slide data. 
         [0165]    If the currently developed slide data is the last slide data (S 815 : YES), the CPU  11  generates a print job based on the print data generated in S 800  and/or S 810  (S 820 ) and outputs the generated print job to the printer  20  (S 825 ). 
         [0166]    As described above, with the printer driver of the ninth embodiment, display data of the largest print size can be printed on one side (front side in this embodiment) of a sheet while printing display data of the other print sizes (small sizes) on the other side (back side in this embodiment) of the sheet (S 720 -S 810 ), by which the discrimination between the display data of the largest print size and the display data of the smallest print size (or the other print sizes) by the user is facilitated. 
         [0167]    Incidentally, while the largest display data (display data of the largest print size) and the other display data (display data of the other print sizes) are printed on different sides of a sheet (as different pages) when the automatic duplex printing is supported by the printer  20  in this embodiment, it is also possible to print the largest display data and the other display data on different sheets (as different pages) when the automatic duplex printing is not supported by the printer  20 . 
         [0168]    While the print size is variable only for the display data representing the first display state and the display data representing the last display state in the flowchart of  FIG. 22 , this embodiment is not to be restricted to the flow. For example, it is possible to print specified piece of display data (representing a display state specified by the user) on a different page than display data representing the other display states. 
       Embodiment 10  
       [0169]    A printer driver in accordance with a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described below.  FIGS. 23A-23E  are schematic diagrams showing another example of display state transitions of slide data created by use of presentation document creation software. In the transition between the display states of  FIGS. 23B and 23C  (in which only the size and thickness of characters change), the contents of information (information contents) obtained by the user do not change substantially. As shown in  FIG. 24 , the printer driver of the tenth embodiment generates the print data so that only display data representing display states corresponding to substantial change in the information contents obtained by the user are printed, without outputting display data representing display states corresponding to no substantial change in the information contents. 
         [0170]    In other words, the printer driver of the tenth embodiment generates the print data by the development of the slide data into multiple pieces of display data each representing each display state corresponding to each transition, by regarding a change in the display contents as the “transition” only when the information contents obtained by the user changes substantially. 
         [0171]    In this embodiment, the printer driver judges that a change in the information contents obtained by the user is not substantial when the change is one in display style (color, brightness, pattern, etc.) and includes no change in the semantic content. 
         [0172]    Incidentally, while the display state of  FIG. 23C  is printed without printing the display state of  FIG. 23B  in the example of  FIGS. 24A-24D , the selection from the two display states before and after the unsubstantial change in the information contents may be made differently; printing the display state of  FIG. 23B  without printing the display state of  FIG. 23C  is also possible. 
       Other Embodiments 
       [0173]    While the printer driver in each of the above embodiments was an independent program designed as a printer driver, the present invention is not to be restricted to such independent printer drivers. For example, the printer driver may be incorporated in presentation document creation software as a part of its print function. 
         [0174]    While the printer driver was implemented as a program (software) in the above embodiments, the printer driver may also be implemented by hardware in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0175]    While a description has been given above of preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention, the present invention is not to be restricted by the particular illustrative embodiments and a variety of modifications, design changes, etc. are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention described in the appended claims.