Patent Publication Number: US-11036443-B2

Title: Image forming apparatus having test printing function, control method for the image forming apparatus, storage medium, and image forming system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method for the image forming apparatus, a storage medium, and an image forming system. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     When print data comprised of a plurality of sections is to be printed on recording sheets, a user may set different numbers of print copies for respective ones of the plurality sections constituting the print data. In this case, an image forming apparatus prints the sections of the print data on recording sheets based on the numbers of print copies set by the user. 
     There are known image forming apparatuses which have a test printing function of, when printing multiple copies of print data comprised of one section, printing only one copy of print data on recording sheets first (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-341361). When a user has obtained a desired printing result by test printing, the image forming apparatus described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-341361 prints the same number of copies of print data as a number obtained by subtracting one from the number of print copies originally intended. 
     However, when a user orders test printing for print data which is comprised of a plurality of sections and for which different numbers of print copies are set for the respective sections, the user may be confused. 
     Assume, for example, that the number of print copies for the first section is set to 1, and the number of print copies for the second section is set to 10. Conventionally, for print data comprised of one section, an instruction to perform test printing is not accepted because it is useless to perform test printing when the number of print copies is set to 1. 
     For print data comprised of a plurality of sections mentioned above, the number of print copies set for the second section is plural, and hence it is useful to perform test printing for the second section, but it is useless to perform test printing for the first sections. If test printing is performed only for the second section, a user may be perplexed by test printing being not performed for the first section. 
     Further, when results of test printing can be seen only after both printed matter of the first section and printed matter of the second section are available, it is useless to perform test printing only for the second section. Moreover, if test printing is performed for the first section, the first section is not printed at the time of normal printing after test printing, and hence a user may be perplexed by this after all. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an image forming apparatus and a control method therefor, which are capable of preventing a user from being confused when print data comprised of a plurality of sections is printed by the image forming apparatus having a test printing function, a storage medium, and an image forming system. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus which is capable of performing test printing of print data for which a plurality of copies are to be printed, comprising a determination unit configured to determine whether a plurality of sections are included in selected print data, and a restriction unit configured to, when said determination unit determines that a plurality of sections are included in selected print data, restrict execution of the test printing. 
     According to the present invention, whether or not a plurality of sections is included in print data is determined, and when a plurality of sections is included in the print data, execution of test printing is restricted. This prevents a user from being confused when print data comprised of a plurality of sections is printed using the image forming apparatus having the test printing function. 
     Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically showing an arrangement of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram schematically showing an internal arrangement of the image forming apparatus in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram schematically showing an internal arrangement of system software of the image forming apparatus, which is executed by a CPU of the image forming apparatus in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram schematically showing an internal arrangement of a PC in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram schematically showing an internal arrangement of system software of the PC, which is executed by a CPU of the PC in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a job sending process which is carried out by a printer driver in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a storage process in which a print job sent to the image forming apparatus in step S 602  in  FIG. 6  is stored in the image forming apparatus. 
         FIG. 8  is a view useful in explaining a bibliographical information list stored in an HDD in step S 706  in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a display process in which a print job list which is a list of print jobs stored in the HDD in the storage process in  FIG. 7  is displayed. 
         FIG. 10  is a view useful in explaining the print job list which is generated in step S 903  in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a view useful in explaining a number-of-copies designation screen which is displayed on an operating unit when a number-of-copies designation button in  FIG. 10  is depressed. 
         FIG. 12  is a view useful in explaining a test printing in-execution screen which is displayed on the operating unit when a test print button in  FIG. 10  is depressed. 
         FIG. 13  is a view useful in explaining a test printing completion screen which is displayed on the operating unit when test printing performed in response to depression of the test print button in  FIG. 10  is completed. 
         FIG. 14  is a view useful in explaining an exemplary structure of a print job which is executed by a job control unit in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 15  is a view useful in explaining an exemplary structure of a banner print job which is an example of the print job in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a test printing process in which test printing is performed for the print job in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 17  is a view showing a first variation of the test printing process in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a second variation of the test printing process in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 19  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a third variation of the test printing process in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 20  is a view useful in explaining a warning screen which is displayed on the operating unit in step S 1901  in  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 21  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a variation of the test printing process in  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 22  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a fourth variation of the test printing process in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 23  is a view useful in explaining a mode selection screen which is displayed on the operating unit in step S 2201  in  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 24  is a view useful in explaining a test print mode determination screen for use in determining in advance in step S 1605  in  FIG. 22  a mode in which test printing is performed. 
         FIG. 25  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a variation of the test printing process in  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 26  is a view useful in explaining a number-of-copies setting screen which is displayed on the operating unit in step S 2503  in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 27  is a view useful in explaining a test printing advanced setting screen for use in designating an object for which test printing is to be performed before test printing is started after the number of print copies is set for each of batches in the step S 2503  in  FIG. 25 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment thereof. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically showing an arrangement of an image forming system  100  including an image forming apparatus  101  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     The image forming system  100  has the image forming apparatus  101  and a PC  102 , and the image forming apparatus  101  and the PC  102  are connected together via a LAN  103 . Print data is sent from the PC  102  to the image forming apparatus  101 , which in turn prints the print data. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram schematically showing an internal arrangement of the image forming apparatus  101  in  FIG. 1 . 
     The image forming apparatus  101  in  FIG. 2  has a controller unit  201 , an operating unit  202 , a scanner  203 , and a printer  204 . The controller unit  201  has a CPU  205 , a RAM  206 , a ROM  207 , an HDD  208 , an operating unit I/F  209 , a network I/F  210 , and a device I/F  211 , and these component elements are connected to one another via a system bus  212 . 
     The CPU  205  controls the component elements of the image forming apparatus  101 . The RAM  206  is a system work memory for the CPU  205  and stores programs and various data such as image data, an operating system, system software, and application software. The ROM  207  stores a boot program for the image forming apparatus  101 . The HDD  208  stores an operating system, system software, application software, image data, setting data, and so on. The operating unit I/F  209  connects the controller unit  201  and the operating unit  202  together, the network unit I/F  210  connects the controller unit  201  and the LAN  103  together, and the device I/F  211  connects the controller unit  201  and the scanner  203  and the printer  204  together. 
     The operating unit  202  has hardware keys, an operating panel, and so on, and a user inputs instructions to the image forming apparatus  101  through the hardware keys and the operating panel. It should be noted that the operating panel may have, for example, a liquid crystal monitor, and for example, information on the image forming apparatus  101  is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor. The scanner  203  reads an image and generates image data based on the read image. The generated image data is stored in, for example, the HDD  208 . The printer  204  prints, for example, print data stored in the HDD  208 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram schematically showing an internal arrangement of system software  300  of the image forming apparatus  101 , which is executed by the CPU  205  of the image forming apparatus  101  in  FIG. 2 . 
     The system software  300  in  FIG. 3  has a user interface control unit  301 , a data management unit  302 , a storage control unit  303 , a network control unit  304 , a job management unit  305 , and a job control unit  306 , and these component elements are connected to one another via a bus  307 . 
     The user interface control unit  301  receives information input by a user via the operating unit  202  and sends the received information to the data management unit  302  and the job management unit  305 . The user interface control unit  301  also displays, on the operating unit  202 , information received from the data management unit  302  and the job management unit  305 . 
     The data management unit  302  receives a request relating to writing of data or readout of data from the user interface control unit  301 , the network control unit  304 , or the job management unit  305  and sends this request to the storage control unit  303 . The data management unit  302  also receives a response to this request from the storage control unit  303  and sends this response to the user interface control unit  301 , the network control unit  304 , or the job management unit  305 . 
     The storage control unit  303  receives a request relating to writing of data or readout of data from the data management unit  302 , and for example, writes data into the HDD  208  or reads out data from the HDD  208 . The storage control unit  303  then notifies the data management unit  302  of whether or not the writing or readout is successful. The network control unit  304  receives a request relating to processing from the PC  102  and sends this request to the data management unit  302  and the job management unit  305 . The network control unit  304  also receives a response to this request from the data management unit  302  and the job management unit  305  and sends this response to the PC  102 . 
     The job management unit  305  receives, for example, job execution requests from the user interface control unit  301  and the network control unit  304  and manages received jobs. The job management unit  305  also requests the job control unit  306  to execute the received jobs. Further, when, for example, a print job list, to be described later, is requested by the job control unit  306 , the job management unit  305  requests the print job list from the user interface control unit  301 . The job control unit  306  receives requests relating to job execution from the job management unit  305  and controls operation of the scanner  203  and the printer  204 . The job control unit  306  also receives information on operating statuses of the scanner  203  and the printer  203  and sends the information on the operating statuses to the job management unit  305 . 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram schematically showing an internal arrangement of the PC  102  in  FIG. 1 . 
     The PC  102  in  FIG. 4  has a CPU  401 , a ROM  402 , a RAM  403 , an HDD  404 , an input device  405 , a display device  406 , and a network I/F  407 , and these component elements are connected to one another via a system bus  408 . 
     The CPU  401  is a computation device which controls the overall system of the PC  102 . The ROM  402  stores programs and data. The RAM  403  is a system work memory for the CPU  401  and stores, for example, image data. The HDD  404  stores programs, image data, application data, and so on. The input device  405  is, for example, a keyboard or a pointing device and used for a user to input instructions to the PC  102 . The display device  406  displays an operating condition of the PC  102  and information on programs running on the PC  102 . The network I/F  407  connects the PC  102  and the LAN  103  together, and the PC  102  and the image forming apparatus  101  communicate with each other via the LAN  103 . 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram schematically showing an internal arrangement of system software  500  of the PC  102 , which is executed by the CPU  401  of the PC  102  in  FIG. 4 . 
     The system software  500  has an application  501  and a printer driver  502 , which is connected to the application  501 . The application  501  is, for example, software which creates or edits image data and document data. For example, a user creates document data using the application  501  and sends the created document data as a print job to the image forming apparatus  101  via the printer driver  502 . The printer driver  502  allows designation of the number of print copies and banner printing. It should be noted that banner printing is designated, a recording sheet on which a job name of a print job, the date and time at which the print job was sent to the image forming apparatus  101 , a user name of a user who sent the print job to the image forming apparatus  101 , and so on are written (hereafter referred to as “a banner sheet”) is printed when the print job is executed. 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a job sending process which is carried out by the printer driver  502  in  FIG. 5 . The process in  FIG. 6  is carried out when the printer driver  502  sends a print job from the PC  102  to the image forming apparatus  101 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , first, the printer driver  502  generates PDL (page description language) data from print data which has been designated by a user as data to be printed (step S 601 ), sends the PDL data as a print job to the image forming apparatus  101  (step S 602 ), and terminates the present process. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a storage process in which a print job sent to the image forming apparatus  101  in the step S 602  in  FIG. 6  is stored in the image forming apparatus  101 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , first, the network control unit  304  receives a print job from the PC  102  and sends the received print job to the job management unit  305  (step S 701 ). The job management unit  305  receives the print job and determines whether or not the print job needs to be stored in the HDD  208  (hereafter referred to as “a job to be stored”) (step S 702 ). It should be noted that whether or not the print job is a job to be stored is determined based on, for example, at least one of the following: a print job name, a user name of a user who sent the print job from the PC  102 , and identification information on the PC  102 . 
     As a result of the determination in the step S 702 , when the print job is a job to be stored, the job management unit  305  sends the print job to the data management unit  302  (step S 703 ). The data management unit  302  analyzes the received print job and extracts bibliographical information on the print job (step S 704 ) and sends the print job and the extracted bibliographical information to the storage control unit  303  (step S 705 ). The storage control unit  303  stores the received print job and bibliographical information as a bibliographical information list  800 , to be described later, in the HDD  208  (step S 706 ) and terminates the present process. 
     As a result of the determination in the step S 702 , when the print job is not a job to be stored, the job management unit  305  requests the job control unit  306  to execute the print job, and the job control unit  306  controls the printer  204  to execute the print job (step S 707 ) and terminates the present process. 
       FIG. 8  is a view useful in explaining the bibliographical information list  800  stored in the HDD  208  in the step S 706  in  FIG. 7 . 
     Bibliographical information  806  corresponding to print jobs is recorded in the bibliographical information list  800  in  FIG. 8 . The bibliographical information  806  includes dates and times  801 , user names  802 , storage locations  803 , a print job names  804 , and print settings  805 . At the dates and times  801 , users indicated as the user names  802  issue instructions to send print jobs corresponding to respective pieces of the bibliographical information  806  from the PC  102  to the image forming apparatus  101 , and the print jobs are stored in the storage locations  803 . The print job names  804  and the print settings  805  in the bibliographical information  806  are names of and print settings on print jobs concerned. 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a display process in which a print job list which is a list of print jobs stored in the HDD  208  in the storage process in  FIG. 7  is displayed. The process in  FIG. 9  is carried out by the user interface control unit  301 . 
     In the process in  FIG. 9 , first, the user interface control unit  301  requests a print job list from the job management unit  305 . The job management unit  305  obtains the bibliographical information list  800  from the data management unit  302  and sends the obtained bibliographical information list  800  to the user interface control unit  301  (step S 901 ). The user interface control unit  301  analyzes the received bibliographical information list  800  (step S 902 ), generates a print job list  1000 , to be described below (step S 903 ), displays the print job list  1000  on the operating unit  202  (step S 904 ), and terminates the present process. 
       FIG. 10  is a view useful in explaining the print job list  1000  which is generated in the step S 903  in  FIG. 9 . 
     The print job list  1000  in  FIG. 10  has a bibliographical information display area  1001 , a delete button  1003 , a number-of-copies designation button  1004 , a test print button  1005 , a print button  1006 , and a scroll button  1007 . Bibliographical information  1002  corresponding to print jobs is displayed in the bibliographical information display area  1001 . The delete button  1003  is depressed to delete the bibliographical information  1002  selected by a user, and the number-of-copies designation button  1004  is depressed to change the number of print copies in the bibliographical information  1002  selected by a user. 
     The test print button  1005  is depressed to perform test printing for a print job relating to the bibliographical information  1002  selected by a user (executing instruction accepted). The print button  1006  is depressed to execute a print job, and the scroll button  1007  is depressed to display the bibliographical information  1002  which is not being displayed in the bibliographical information display area  1001 . 
     When the number-of-copies designation button  1004  is depressed, the user interface control unit  301  displays a number-of-copies designation screen  1100  in  FIG. 11 . The number-of-copies designation screen  1100  has an input area  1101 , a confirm button  1102 , and a cancel button  1103 . When a user desires to change the number of print copies in the bibliographical information  1002 , he or she enters the number of print copies desired in the input area  1101  and depresses the confirm button  1102  to thus change the number of print copies. When the user depresses the cancel button  1103 , the print job list  1000  is displayed again on the operating unit  202  with the number of print copies in the bibliographical information  1002  unchanged. 
     When the test print button  1005  is depressed, the user interface control unit  301  displays a test printing in-execution screen  1200  ( FIG. 12 ), by which a user recognizes that test printing is being in execution, on the operating unit  202 , and when test printing is completed, displays a test printing completion screen  1300  ( FIG. 13 ) on the operating unit  202 . The test print completion screen  1300  has a main print button  1301  and a cancel button  1302 . A user depresses the main print button  1301  when a desired printing result has been obtained as a result of test printing, for example, when a printing result of which characters and figures match a user&#39;s expectation has been obtained, and the user depresses the cancel button  1302  when a desired printing result has not been obtained. 
     When the main print button  1301  is depressed, the user interface control unit  301  requests the job control unit  306  to perform main printing via the job management unit  305 , and the job control unit  306  controls the printer  204  to perform main printing. When the cancel button  1302  is depressed, the print job list  1000  is displayed again on the operating unit  202 . 
       FIG. 14  is a view useful in explaining an exemplary structure of a print job  1401  which is executed by the job control unit  306  in  FIG. 3 . 
     The print job  1401  is comprised of a plurality of sections displayed as binders  1402  to  1404  in  FIG. 14 . The binder  1402  has a page  1405 , the binder  1403  has pages  1406  to  1408 , and the binder  1404  has a page  1409 . 
     Printing results corresponding to the respective binders  1402  to  1404  are subjected to a finishing process such as a stapling process, a punching process, a double-sided printing process, or a number of print copies printing process. Also, for example, the binder  1402  is subjected to one-sided printing, and the binders  1403  and  1404  are subjected to double-sided printing. Further, the binders  1402  to  1404  have the number of binder copies  1410  to  1412 , respectively, which show the number of print copies to be made from themselves, and the number of binder copies  1410  to  1412  define the number of print copies to be made from the binders  1402  to  1404 , respectively. The pages  1405  to  1409  are subjected to printing control such as a color printing process and a number of print copies printing process on a page-by-page basis. 
       FIG. 15  s a view useful in explaining an exemplary structure of a banner print job which is an example of the print job  1401  in  FIG. 14 . 
     The banner print job  1501  is comprised of two sections which are displayed as binders  1502  and  1503  in  FIG. 15 . The binder  1502  has a page  1504 , and the binder  1503  has pages  1505  to  1507 . The page  1504  is a banner sheet, and the pages  1505  to  1507  are, for example, documents created by a user. 
     In the present embodiment, each of the pages  1504  to  1507  is comprised of one document, and the number of binder copies (the number of print copies) for the binder  1502  is one, and the number of print copies for the binder  1503  is three. Thus, when the banner print job  1501  is executed, one printing result is obtained for the page  1504 , and about three printing results are obtained for each of the pages  1505  to  1507 . It should be noted that to perform test printing for the banner print job  1501 , a user does not have to check a printing result for the page  1504 , which is a banner sheet, in many cases. In this case, test printing for the page  1504  may be dispensed with. 
       FIG. 16  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a test printing process in which test printing is performed for the print job  1401  in  FIG. 14 . The process in  FIG. 16  is started when the test print button  1005  is depressed with any one of print jobs selected on the print job list in  FIG. 10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , first, the user interface control unit  301  analyzes the print job  1401  selected by a user and determines whether or not the number of binders constituting the print job  1401  is one (step S 1601 ). As a result of the determination in the step S 1601 , when the number of binders constituting the print job  1401  is not one, the user interface control unit  301  grasps the numbers of binder copies (the number of print copies) for respective binders (step S 1602 ) and determines whether or not the grasped numbers of binder copies for the respective binders are the same (step S 1603 ). 
     As a result of the determination in the step S 1601 , when the number of binders constituting the print job  1401  is one, the user interface control unit  301  requests the job management unit  305  to perform test printing for the print job  1401  (step S 1605 ), and when test printing is completed, the user interface control unit  301  displays the test printing completion screen  1300  on the operating unit  202  (step S 1606 ). The user then depresses the main print button  1301  or the cancel button  1302  (step S 1607 ), and the user interface control unit  301  determines whether or not the button depressed by the user is the main print button  1301  (step S 1608 ). 
     As a result of the determination in the step S 1608 , when the main print button  1301  is depressed, the user interface control unit  301  performs main printing (step S 1609 ) and terminate the present process. As a result of the determination in the step S 1608 , when the cancel button  1302  is depressed, the present process is terminated with the step S 1609  skipped. 
     As a result of the determination in the step S 1603 , when the numbers of binder copies for the respective binders are not the same, test printing is canceled (restricted) (step S 1604 ), followed by termination of the present process. As a result of the determination in the step S 1603 , when the numbers of binder copies for the respective binders are the same, the process proceeds to the step S 1605 . 
     It should be noted that when the processes in the steps S 1602  and S 1603  are skipped, and it is determined in the step S 1601  that the number of binder copies is not one, the process may proceed to the step S 1604 . 
       FIG. 17  is a view showing a first variation of the test printing process in  FIG. 16 . According to the flowchart in  FIG. 16 , the processes in the step S 1601  and the subsequent steps are carried out after the test print button  1005  is depressed, whereas according to the first variation, the processes in the steps S 1601  to S 1603  are carried out in response to any one of print jobs being selected on the print job list in  FIG. 10 . 
     When it is determined in the step S 1601  that the number of binders is one, or when it is determined in the step S 1603  that the numbers of binder copies are the same, the number-of-copies designation button  1004  and the test print button  1005  are displayed in an operable state as shown in  FIG. 10 . On the other hand, when it is determined in the step S 1603  that the numbers of binder copies for the respective binders are not the same, a print job list  1700  is displayed with a number-of-copies designation button  1701  and a test print button  1702  in an inoperable state (shaded state) as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
     It should be noted here that when the processes in the steps S 1602  and S 1603  are skipped, and it is determined in the step S 1601  that the number of binders is not one, the number-of-copies designation button  1701  and the test print button  1005  may be displayed in an inoperable state (shaded state) as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
       FIG. 18  is a flowchart showing a second variation of the test printing process in  FIG. 16 . The process in  FIG. 18  differs from the process in  FIG. 16  in that test printing is canceled when the numbers of print copies for respective pages which each binder has are not the same. It should be noted that processes in steps S 1601  to S 1602  and S 1604  to S 1609  in  FIG. 18  are the same as those in the steps S 1601  to S 1602  and S 1604  to S 1609  in  FIG. 16 , and therefore, only features different from the process in  FIG. 16  will be described below. 
     As a result of the determination in the step S 1601 , when the number of binders constituting the print job  1401  is not one, the user interface control unit  301  grasps the numbers of binders for respective binders (step S 1602 ), grasps the numbers of print copies designated for respective pages which each binder has (step S 1801 ), and determines whether or not the numbers of print copies designated for the respective pages are the same (step S 1802 ). 
     As a result of the determination in the step S 1802 , when the numbers of print copies designated for the respective pages are the same, the process proceeds to the step S 1605 , and when the numbers of print copies designated for the respective pages are not the same, the process proceeds to the step S 1604 . It should be noted that the processes in the steps S 1802  and S 1604  to S 1609  are carried out on a binder-by-binder basis. 
     According to the processes in  FIGS. 16 to 18 , when the numbers of binder copies for respective binders constituting the print job  1401  are not the same, or when the numbers of print copies designated for respective pages which each binder has are not the same, test printing is canceled (step S 1604 ). When the numbers of binder copies set for respective binders constituting the print job  1401  or the numbers of print copies set for respective pages are the same, the number of print copies is counted with respect to a printing result of one binder or one page to estimate (grasp) the number of print copies of printing results of other binders or other pages, counting of the number of print copies does not require too much time and effort, and a user is unlikely to be confused. 
     On the other hand, when the numbers of binder copies set for respective binders or the number of print copies set for respective pages are different, a user needs to count the number of print copies with respect to printing results of the respective binders or the respective pages. Particularly if test printing and main printing are distinguished when there are a number of binders or pages, a user needs to count the number of print copies of printing results of test printing and printing results of main printing with respect to each binder or each page, and hence counting of the number of print copies requires greater time and effort, which may confuse the user. 
     On the other hand, in the processes in  FIGS. 16 to 18 , when the numbers of binder copies set for respective binders or the number of print copies set for respective pages are different, test printing is canceled to eliminate the need for a user to count the number of print copies of printing results of test printing and the number of print copies of printing results of main printing, and as a result, the user will not be confused when print data comprised of a plurality of sections is printed by the image forming apparatus having the test printing function. 
     Moreover, when the print job  1401  is selected on the print job list  1000  displayed on the operating unit  202 , and the numbers of binder copies set for respective binders constituting the print job  1401  or the numbers of print copies set for respective pages are different, the number-of-copies designation button  1701  and the test print button  1702  are rendered inoperable as shown in the job list  1700 . As a result, when the print job  1401  is selected, a user recognizes that test printing is not allowed to be performed, and this prevents the user from continuing operation while falsely recognizing that test printing is allowed to be performed. 
       FIG. 19  is a flowchart showing a third variation of the test printing process in  FIG. 16 . The process in  FIG. 19  differs from the process in  FIG. 16  in that test printing is not canceled when the numbers of binder copies for respective binders are not the same. Processes in steps S 1601  to S 1603  and S 1605  to S 1609  in  FIG. 19  are the same as those in the steps S 1601  to S 1603  and S 1605  to S 1609  in  FIG. 16 , and therefore, only features different from the processes in  FIG. 16  will be described below. 
     As a result of the determination in the step S 1603 , when the numbers of binder copies for respective binders are not the same, the user interface control unit  301  displays, on the operating unit  202 , a warning screen  2000  (predetermined confirmation screen) ( FIG. 20 ) to indicating that test printing is to be performed (step S 1901 ). The warning screen  2000  has a continue button  2001  and a cancel button  2002 , and when a user depresses the continue button  2001  or the cancel button  2002  (step S 1902 ), the user interface control unit  301  determines whether or not the button depressed by the user is the continue button  2001  (step S 1903 ). As a result of the determination in the step S 1903 , when the button depressed by the user is the continue button  2001 , the process proceeds to the step S 1605 , and when the button depressed by the user is the cancel button  2001 , the present process is terminated. 
     According to the process in  FIG. 19 , when the numbers of binder copies for respective binders constituting the print job  1401  are not the same, the warning screen  2000  is displayed before test printing is performed (step S 1901 ), and hence the user recognizes that it is necessary to count the number of print copies of printing results of test printing and printing results of main printing with respect to each binder. As a result, before test printing is performed, the user estimates time and effort required later to count the number of print copies. Namely, greater time and effort than expected by the user is prevented from being required to count the number of print copies, and as a result, the user will not be confused when print data comprised of a plurality of sections is printed by the image forming apparatus having the test printing function. 
       FIG. 21  is a flowchart showing a variation of the test printing process in  FIG. 19 . Processes in steps S 1601  to S 1603 , S 1605  to S 1609 , and S 1901  to S 1903  in  FIG. 21  are the same as those in the steps S 1601  to S 1603 , S 1605  to S 1609 , and S 1901  to S 1903  in  FIG. 19 , and therefore, only features different from the processes in  FIG. 19  will be described below. 
     The user interface control unit  301  determines whether or not the button depressed by the user in the step S 1902  is the continue button  2001  in  FIG. 20  (step S 1903 ). As a result of the determination in the step S 1903 , when the button depressed by the user is the continue button  2001 , the number-of-copies designation screen  1100  is displayed on the operating unit  202 , and the user enters the number of print copies he or she desires into the input area  1101  and depresses the confirm button  1102 . When the confirm button  1102  is depressed, the number of print copies is changed to the number of print copies the user has input (step S 2101 ), and the changed number of print copies is reflected on the print setting  805  in the bibliographical information list  800  by way of the job management unit  305  and the data management unit  302  (step S 2102 ), followed by the process proceeding to the step S 1605 . 
     According to the process in  FIG. 21 , since the number of binder copies for each of a plurality for binders constituting print data is changed after it is indicated that test printing is to be performed (step S 2101 ), the user is allowed to change the number of print copies of printing results to be eventually obtained from the set number of print copies, and it is thus possible to flexibly respond to a user&#39;s request to change the number of print copies. Moreover, according to the process in  FIG. 21 , the user who has recognized that the numbers of binder copies for respective binders are not the same by looking at the warning screen  2000  changes the numbers of binder copies so that the numbers of binder copies for the respective binders can be the same. As a result, the user will not be confused when counting the number of print copies of printing results. 
       FIG. 22  is a flowchart showing a fourth variation of the test printing process in  FIG. 16 . Processes in steps S 1601  to S 1603  and S 1605  to S 1609  are the same as those in the steps S 1601  to S 1603  and S 1605  to S 1609  in  FIG. 16 , and therefore, only features different from the processes in  FIG. 16  will be described below. 
     As a result of the determination in the step S 1603 , when the numbers of binder copies for respective binders are not the same, the user interface control unit  301  displays, on the operating unit  202 , a mode selection screen  2300  ( FIG. 23 ) (step S 2201 ). The mode selection screen  2300  has a mode-1 button  2301 , a mode-2 button  2302 , and a cancel button  2303 . The user interface control unit  301  then determines whether the button depressed by the user is the mode-1 button  2301  or the mode-2 button  2302  (step S 2202 ). When the button depressed by the user is the mode-1 button  2301 , test printing is performed for only a binder from which a plurality of printing results will be obtained, and test printing is not performed for a binder of which only one copy will be made (first mode), and when the button depressed by the user is the mode-2 button  2302 , test printing is performed for all of a plurality of binders (second mode). 
     As a result of the determination in the step S 2202 , when the mode-1 button  2301  or the mode-2 button  2302  is depressed, the user interface control unit  301  notifies the job management unit  305  of the type of the depressed button, followed by the process proceeding to the step S 1605 . As a result, test printing is performed based on the type of the depressed button. On the other hand, when the cancel button  2303  is depressed, the present process is terminated. 
     According to the process in  FIG. 22 , when the number of binder copies for respective binders constituting the print job  1401  are not the same, the first mode or the second mode is selected (step S 2202 ). When the first mode is selected, test printing is not performed for a binder for which the designated number of print copies is one, and this prevents printing results from being obtained for a binder of which printing results do not have to be seen by going so far as performing test printing. This prevents printing results of test printing from unnecessarily increasing, and as a result, the user will not be confused when print data comprised of a plurality of sections is printed by the image forming apparatus having the test printing function. 
     It should be noted that although in the process in  FIG. 22 , when the numbers of binder copies for respective binders constituting the print job  1401  are not the same, the mode selection screen  2300  ( FIG. 23 ) is displayed on the operating unit  202 , and test printing is performed in the first mode or the second mode, a mode in which test printing is performed may be determined in advance. Specifically, before test printing is performed, a test print mode determination screen  2400  ( FIG. 24 ) is displayed on the operating unit  202 , and a mode in which test printing is performed is determined by way of the test print mode determination screen  2400 . The test print mode determination screen  2400  has an apply button  2401 , a cancel button  2402 , and checkboxes  2403  and  2404 . For example, when the checkbox  2403  is marked, and the apply button  2401  is depressed, test printing is performed in the first mode. 
       FIG. 25  is a flowchart showing a variation of the test printing process in  FIG. 18 . Processes in steps S 1601  to S 1602 , S 1604  to S 1609 , and S 1801  to S 1802  in  FIG. 25  are the same as those in the steps S 1601  to S 1602 , S 1604  to S 1609 , and S 1801  to S 1802  in  FIG. 18 , and therefore, only features different from the processes in  FIG. 18  will be described below. 
     As a result of the determination in the step S 1802 , when the numbers of print copies for respective pages are not the same, the user interface control unit  301  determines whether or not there are any consecutive pages for which the same number of print copies is designated (step S 2501 ). As a result of the determination in the step S 2501 , when there are any consecutive pages for which the same number of print copies is designated, the user interface control unit  301  generates a batch (batch generation) from these consecutive pages (step S 2502 ), and displays a number-of-copies setting screen  2600  ( FIG. 26 ) on the operating unit  202  to set the number of print copies for each batch (step S 2503 ), followed by the process proceeding to the step S 1605 . As a result of the determination in the step S 2501 , when there are no consecutive pages for which the same number of print copies is designated, the process proceeds to the step S 1604 . 
     The number-of-copies setting screen  2600  has a confirm button  2601 , a cancel button  2602 , and a number-of-copies input sections  2603  and  2604 , and for example, when two batches are generated in the step S 2502 ,  1  and  3  are entered as the numbers of print copies in the number-of-copies input sections  2603  and  2604 , and the confirm button  2601  is depressed to set the numbers of print copies for the respective batches. It should be noted that the steps S 1802 , S 1604  to S 1609 , and S 2501  to S 2503  are performed on a binder-by-binder basis. 
     According to the process in  FIG. 25 , when there are any consecutive pages for which the same number of print copies is designated, a batch is generated from these consecutive pages (step S 2502 ), and the number of print copies for each batch is set (step S 2503 ). Thus, test printing and main printing are performed on a batch-by-batch basis, and the number of print copies of printing results of test printing and the number of print copies of printing results of main printing are counted on a batch-by-batch basis. This reduces time and effort for the user compared to the case where the number of print copies of printing results of test printing and the number of print copies of printing results of main printing are counted on a page-by-page basis, and as a result, the user will not be confused when print data comprised of a plurality of sections is printed by the image forming apparatus having the test printing function. 
       FIG. 27  is a view useful in explaining a test printing advanced setting screen  2700  on which a batch to be test-printed is designated before test printing is started after the numbers of print copies for respective batches are set in the step S 2503  in  FIG. 25 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 27 , the test printing advanced setting screen  2700  has checkboxes  2701  and  2702  for the first batch and the second batch, respectively, an execution button  2702 , and a cancel button  2704 . For example, the checkbox  2702  is marked, and the execution button  2703  is depressed when two batches are generated in the step S 2503  in  FIGS. 25, 1 and 3  are set as the numbers of print copies for the first batch and the second batch, respectively, and the user desires to perform test printing and see printing results only for the second batch. 
     As a result, the user is allowed to perform test printing and see printing results only for the second batch. Namely, whether or not to perform test printing is determined with respect to each of a plurality of binders constituting print data, and hence the user is allowed to reliably recognize in advance a binder for which test printing will be performed. Thus, the user will not be confused by the presence or absence of printing results of test printing when he or she counts the number of print copies of printing results of test printing and the number of print copies of printing results of main printing with respect to each binder. 
     Other Embodiments 
     Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-153769, filed Jul. 29, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.