Patent Publication Number: US-2007115491-A1

Title: Image processing apparatus, preview data moving method, and computer program product

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      The present document incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese priority documents, 2005-334193 filed in Japan on Nov. 18, 2005 and 2006-205328 filed in Japan on Jul. 27, 2006.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a computer program product, and a preview data moving method.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Various devices have been widely used such as a scanner for reading data, a copier for copying the data read by the scanner, a printer and a facsimile machine for printing data input from outside, and a multifunction product (MFP) having the functions described above.  
      A user can set parameters related to image processing, for example, page margins, or parameters for stamping, stapling, punching, etc., for such a device.  
      With the conventional MFP, the user, who has set the parameters, cannot check a printed state of data before the data is actually printed. That is, the user cannot realize erroneous printing until the data is actually printed. For example, if a punch hole overlaps an output image, the resultant print is unacceptable, resulting in a waste of paper.  
      To solve the problems, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-67347 discloses an image processing apparatus capable of displaying, prior to actual printing, a preview of a prescanned original image processed with various functions. This allows a user to change print parameters, if required, while viewing the preview.  
      In the conventional technology, however, the user cannot directly update the parameters on the preview screen. Practically, to correct the parameter of the punch hole overlapping the image, the user cannot specify a position of the punch hole by directly pointing a desired position on the preview screen with, for example, a finger. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain a desired print result.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to at least partially solve the problems in the conventional technology.  
      According to an aspect of the present invention, an image processing apparatus includes a displaying unit that displays a preview including a data image corresponding to data input thereto and at least one of a function image corresponding to a selected function and a print-area image corresponding to a print area within which the data is to be printed, a movement specifying unit that specifies, in response to an input to move any image in the preview, a distance and a direction based on which the image is to be moved, and a moving unit that moves the image by the distance in the direction to rearrange layout of the preview to obtain a rearranged preview.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, an image processing apparatus includes a data creating unit that creates a preview including a data image corresponding to data input thereto and at least one of a function image corresponding to a selected function and a print-area image corresponding to a print area within which the data is to be printed, a displaying unit that displays the preview, a movement specifying unit that specifies, in response to an input to move any image in the preview, a distance and a direction based on which the image is to be moved, and a moving unit that moves the image by the distance in the direction to rearrange layout of the preview.  
      According to still another aspect of the present invention, a preview data moving method includes creating a preview including a data image corresponding to data input thereto and at least one of a function image corresponding to a selected function and a print-area image corresponding to a print area within which the data is to be printed, displaying the preview, receiving an input that specifies a distance and a direction to move any image in the preview, and moving the image by the distance in the direction to rearrange layout of the preview.  
      According to still another aspect of the present invention, a computer program product includes a computer usable medium having computer readable program codes embodied in the medium that when executed causes a computer to implement the above methods.  
      The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a multifunction product (MFP) according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is an example of a preview image displayed on a display section shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a table of a data structure of the preview image;  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic for explaining a position of data;  
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a data moving process performed by the MFP;  
       FIG. 6  is an example of a preview image after image data is moved downward not to overlap punch holes;  
       FIG. 7  is a table of a data structure of the preview image shown in  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 8  is an example of a preview image after a print area is moved upward;  
       FIG. 9  is a table of a data structure of the preview image shown in  FIG. 8 ;  
       FIG. 10  is an example of a preview image according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 11  is an example of a preview image according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 12  is a schematic block diagram of a print system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 13  is a schematic block diagram of a computer shown in  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIG. 14  is a schematic block diagram of a printer shown in  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIG. 15  is a block diagram of relevant parts of the computer; and  
       FIG. 16  is an example of a display screen displayed by a printer driver. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in details below with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
      In the embodiments described below, an MFP is applied as an example to an image processing apparatus. The MFP has combined functions of, for example, copying, faxing, printing, scanning, and a function of distributing an input image (an original data read by a scanner or input to a printer or a facsimile machine).  
       FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of an image processing apparatus  1 , i.e., an MFP  10  according to the first embodiment. The MFP  10  includes a scanner  11 , an auto document feeder (ADF)  111 , a scanner controller  112 , a storage section  12 , a data processing section  13 , a printer  14 , a printer controller  142 , a finishing section  141 , a display section  15 , a display controller  151 , a system controller  16 , and a communication controller  17 . The MFP  10  is connected to a network  18  via the communication controller  17 . After the MFP  10  reads data from an original  19  and processes the data, the MFP  10  outputs the data as a print  20 .  
      The system controller  16  is connected to the respective sections to control the entire MFP  10 . For example, the system controller  16  provides, to the scanner  11 , scanning area information suitable to a selected paper size. The system controller  16  includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM), all of them being not shown. The CPU loads computer programs from the ROM into a work area of the RAM and executes the programs to perform various processes.  
      The computer program executed by the MFP  10  can be provided in a form of an installable or executable file, which is stored in a computer-readable storage medium such as a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), a flexible disk (FD), a compact disk recordable (CD-R), and a digital versatile disk (DVD). In this case, the CPU of the system controller  16  reads the computer program from the storage medium and loads the program into a main storing device (not shown) to enable the MFP  10  to perform various functions. The computer program can be installed on a computer connected to the network  18  like the Internet and downloaded via the network  18 . The computer program can also be distributed via the network  18  like the Internet.  
      The communication controller  17  is connected to the network  18  such as a local area network (LAN) or the Internet to exchange, for example, image data and control data with another device connected to the network  18  according to a communication protocol.  
      The scanner controller  112  controls the scanner  11  according to an instruction from the system controller  16 .  
      The scanner  11 , which is controlled by the scanner controller  112 , converts data of the original  19  into digital format. The scanner  11  can automatically read a plurality of pages of the original  19  that the ADF  111  feeds one by one to a reading position of the scanner  11 . The scanner  11  can also automatically read the original  19  printed on both sides that the ADF  111  feeds to the scanner  11  while reversing the original  19  after one side thereof is read to make the scanner  11  read another side.  
      The storage section  12  is a buffer memory that temporarily stores data, for example, read by the scanner  11  and sent from an external device via the network  18  according to an instruction from the system controller  16 . The MFP  10  can form an image based on any data read by the scanner  11  or sent from an external device via the network  18 .  
      Following an instruction from the system controller  16 , the data processing section  13  performs gamma correction and modulation transfer function (MTF) correction, and adjusts tones by, for example, slicing or by dithering, of the data read by the scanner  11  and temporarily stored in the storage section  12  to obtain binary (multivalued) data. The data processing section  13  also performs various processes such as image processing (zooming up or down, density adjustment, and color adjustment), area edit processing (deleting, moving, and reversing of an area), and layout processing (duplex or single-side printing, intensive printing, and adjustment of page margins) based on parameters set by a user.  
      The data processing section  13  includes a coordinate obtaining section  131  and a data generating section  132 . The coordinate obtaining section  131  obtains coordinates of the data stored in the storage section  12 . The data generating section  132  processes the data according to various setting items selected for the data, thereby generating screen data. The screen data includes preview data to be printed and information for displaying menu items for specifying parameters related to the preview data.  
      The printer controller  142  controls the printer  14  according to an instruction from the system controller  16 .  
      The printer  14  employs electrophotographic printing. The printer  14 , which is controlled by the printer controller  142 , scans a deflected light beam based on the data processed by the data processing section  13  to form a latent image formed on a photoconductor, develops the latent image into a toner image, transfers the toner image onto transfer paper, and fixes the image. Besides the electrophotographic printing, examples of printing methods applicable to the printer  14  include inkjet printing, dye sublimation thermal-transfer printing, silver halide photography printing, direct thermal recording, and fusion thermal-transfer printing.  
      The finishing section  141  is mounted on the printer  14 . The finishing section  141  performs various finishing functions according to automatic settings or user settings such as sorting the prints  20  by unit or by page, stamping a predefined mark on a printed medium, stapling a plurality of the printed media, or punching holes in the printed media for binding or filing.  
      The display controller  151  controls input from or output to the display section  15  according to an instruction from the system controller  16 . For example, the display controller  151  outputs the data processed by the data processing section  13  on a touch panel  15   a  and a display panel  15   b  in the display section  15 . More practically, the display controller  151  displays the preview data on the display panel  15   b  according to the screen data, and also controls input from the touch panel  15   a . Although the display panel  15   b  and the touch panel  15   a  are illustrated independently in  FIG. 1 , they are integrated in the embodiments.  
      The touch panel  15   a  electrically or magnetically detects a position where an input device (hereinafter “pointer”) touches on the panel. As the pointer (not shown) for the touch panel  15   a  can be used a fingertip, a stylus pen, and other tools for entering input by touching the panel. The user selects desired items and parameters for print settings by touching the touch panel  15   a  with the pointer.  
      Although only the touch input is described as a method for entering input via the touch panel  15   a , another method can be allowable. With a hard key provided at the display section  15  in addition to the touch panel  15   a , the user can push the key to send an instruction such as print command. The MFP  10  can include a dedicated display device as the display panel  15   b.    
      The display section  15 , which is controlled by the display controller  151 , displays the preview data and the menu items selected by the user via the touch panel  15   a  to specify settings or parameters for data to be printed.  
      The display section  15  displays the functions selectable on the MFP  10  in a form of menu and receives input when the user selects one of the menu items. When the pointer touches a point on the touch panel  15   a , the display controller  151  detects coordinates of the point. If the point corresponds to an item, the display controller  151  determines the item is selected. The display section  15  can receive various types of setting input or parameters. Examples of parameters include one relating to scanning conditions under which the scanner  11  scans the original  19 , one relating to processing of the scanned data performed by the data processing section  13 , one relating to printing conditions for the printer  11 , and one relating to finishing process such as sorting, stapling, and hole punching performed by the finishing section  141 .  
      The system controller  16  includes a preview creating section  16   a , a preview displaying section  16   b , a data-move specifying section  16   c , and a data moving section  16   d . After the system controller  16  receives parameters as described above via the display controller  151 , the preview creating section  16   a  creates preview data (image) based on the parameters and setting request for the data processing section  13  from the original data stored in the storage section  12 . The preview displaying section  16   b  sends the preview data to the display section  15  to display the preview image.  
       FIG. 2  is an example of a preview image created by the MFP  10 . Preview data  402  and a function menu  403  are displayed within a display area  401  on the touch panel  15   a . When the user touches the touch panel  15   a  with the pointer while viewing the preview data  402  displayed on the display panel  15   b , the touch panel  15   a  receives positional information indicating a spatial position on the finished print of the preview data. The coordinate obtaining section  131  analyzes the positional information received by the touch panel  15   a  and obtains coordinates of the position touched by the pointer.  
      The MFP  10  displays the preview data (image) on the display panel  15   b  of the display section  15  so that the user can check the preview data before the data is actually printed.  
      The preview data  402  includes image data  404 , print area data  405 , and function display data  406 . The image data  404  is obtained from data either read by the scanner  11  or input from an external device via the network  18 . Although the image data  404  shown in the drawings is surrounded by a black frame for convenience of the description, usually, no such a black frame exists around the image data  404 . The print area data  405  represents a print area. The function display data  406  indicates an image corresponding to an item selected from the function menu  403  (for example, punching) on the display section  15 . A shaded rectangle represents the print area data  405 . The user can check a position of the image data  404  on a sheet to be printed. Because an item, punch, in the function menu  403  is selected in  FIG. 2 , two black circles are displayed as the function display data  406  at an upper end, which indicates that paper has two punch holes at the upper end when printed.  
      Known techniques can be used for positioning the punch holes (for example, punching at the left end or the upper end), for example, when the user touches the punch item, a related menu is displayed to enabling the user to select a position of the punch holes. Therefore, the details thereof are not described herein.  
       FIG. 3  is a table of the preview data stored in the display controller  151 .  FIG. 4  is a schematic for explaining a position of the data.  
      In  FIG. 3 , attributes of the preview data are shown in KIND_ID column, and PRINT_AREA represents the print area data  405 , INPUT_IMAGE represents the image data  404 , and FUNC_DISP represents the function display data  406 . Attributes of items for the function display data  406  are shown in ITEM_ID column, and, for example, PUNCH_TOP represents an attribute of the item for punching two holes at the upper end as shown in  FIG. 2 . Data file names corresponding to the preview data or the items are shown in DATA column.  
      A position at which each of the preview data is displayed is shown in AREA column. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the position data in the AREA column represents X-Y Cartesian coordinates (x, y) at the upper left corner of the data in the DATA column. Data pic 0004  corresponding to the PUNCH_TOP is shown in  FIG. 4 . DATA pic 0004  is a transparent rectangle with two black circles therein (for easy understanding, the rectangle is surrounded by a dotted line). Coordinates (x, y) represent a position of the upper left corner of the rectangle. A value starting from # represents a variable obtained from another configuration block.  
      The display controller  151  refers to the data structure shown in  FIG. 3  to display the preview data  402  of  FIG. 2  including the image data  404 , the print area data  405 , and the function display data  406 .  
      Specifically, the display controller  151  positions Data pic 001  (the print area data  405 ) at coordinates ( 50 ,  10 ) referring to DATA and AREA in the PRINT_AREA row. The origin of the coordinate system is the upper left corner of the display area  401  (i.e., outer black frame in  FIG. 2 ) in the display section  15 .  
      Next, referring to #INPUT in the INPUT_IMAGE row, the display controller  151  positions data either read by the scanner  11  or input from an external device via the network  18  (the image data  404 ) at coordinates ( 50 ,  17 ), such that the data is adjusted to a selected paper size.  
      Then, because the user selects the punch item, with reference to PUNCH_TOP (in the ITEM_ID column) in one of FUNC_DISP rows, the display controller  151  positions Data pic 0004  (the function display data  406 ) at coordinates ( 95 ,  15 ).  
      To simplify the description, the AREA column contains only the coordinates of the display position and the data is located without any process. However, the AREA column can also contain area information for the data such as width w and height h in addition to x and y, i.e., (x, y, w, h). When the MFP  10  has the area information of (x, y, w, h) and a process step corresponding to the area information, the MFP  10  can display the preview data after zooming up or down.  
      With the processes described above, in the example shown in  FIG. 2 , the MFP  10  displays the preview data in which two black circles (punch holes) of the function display data  406  overlap the image data  404 . The user can thereby notice the problem before the data is actually printed, and rearrange the data to solve the overlap problem.  
      Data moving process, a characteristic operation of the image processing apparatus  1 , is described below. The data moving process is realized by a computer program stored in the ROM and executed by the CPU of the system controller  16 . Shortly, the image data  404 , the print area data  405 , or the function display data  406  can be moved, when the user drags the data (the image data  404 , the print area data  405 , or the function display data  406 ) with the pointer on the touch panel  15   a.    
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of the data moving process. Upon receiving a touch signal (equivalent to a button press by a mouse) indicating that the pointer touches the touch panel  15   a  (Yes at step S 1 ) through the display section  15 , the data-move specifying section  16   c  obtains the coordinates of the point on the touch panel  15   a  at which the pointer has touched via the coordinate obtaining section  131 . Based on the coordinates, the data-move specifying section  16   c  identifies which data (the image data  404 , the print area data  405 , or the function display data  406 ) is to be moved (step S 2 ).  
      When the data-move specifying section  16   c  receives a button release signal indicating an end of data moving, e.g., the pointer is released from the touch panel  15   a  (Yes at step S 3 ), the data moving section  16   d  updates the data structure of the preview data  402  (the image data  404 , the print area data  405 , or the function display data  406 ) according to the type of the data to be moved (step S 4 ). Then, the preview displaying section  16   b  displays the preview data  402  including the moved data on the display panel  15   b . The data structure of the preview data  402  is updated by the data generating section  132 .  
      First, the process of moving the image data  404  is described. The user touches a part of the image data  404  on the touch panel  15   a  with the pointer, moves the image data  404  with the pointer touching the part, and then releases the image data  404  at a desired point. The data stops moving when the pointer is separated from the touch panel  15   a  or when the user cancels the data moving with the pointer touching the touch panel  15   a . The data generating section  132  updates data in the INPUT_IMAGE row of the AREA column of the table shown in  FIG. 3  to coordinates corresponding to the position where the data stops moving. The image data  404  is displayed on the display panel  15   b  based on the updated coordinates.  
       FIG. 6  is an example of a preview image after the image data  404  is moved downward not to overlap the punch holes.  FIG. 7  is a table of a data structure of the preview data. Referring to  FIG. 7 , data in the INPUT_IMAGE row of the AREA column has been updated from the one shown in  FIG. 3 .  
      Second, the process of moving the print area data  405  is described. The user touches a part of the print area data  405  on the touch panel  15   a  with the pointer, moves the print area data  405  with the pointer touching the part, and then releases the print area data  405  at a desired point. The data stops moving when the pointer is separated from the touch panel  15   a . The data generating section  132  updates data in the PRINT_AREA row of the AREA column of the table shown in  FIG. 3  to coordinates corresponding to the position where the data stops moving and also updates data in the FUNC_DISP row of the AREA column to values increased by the distance traveled by the print area data  405 . The print area data  405  and the function display data  406  are displayed on the display panel  15   b  based on the updated coordinates. It means that the print area data  405  is moved together with the function display data  406  without any change in the positional relationship between them.  
       FIG. 8  is an example of a preview image after the print area data  405  is moved upward so that the image data  404  does not overlap the punch holes. Referring to  FIG. 8 , the preview data  402  (the image data  404 , the print area data  405 , and the function display data  406 ) has been moved upward compared to that in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 9  is a table of a data structure of the preview image shown in  FIG. 8 . Values in the PRING_AREA row and the FUNC_DISP row of the AREA column have been updated.  
      Similarly, the function display data  406  is moved together with the print area data  405  without a change in the positional relationship between them, and the same result is obtained as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . That is, by dragging the function display data  406 , the user can visually rearrange the layout of a preview image, for example, move the punch holes upward, which improves the operability of the MFP  10 .  
      Because the function display data  406  is moved together with the print area data  405  while maintaining the positional relationship therebetween, there is no need to replace hardware even if positions of punch holes and staples on paper are fixed in the hardware. Therefore, the production cost can be reduced.  
      A modification of the process for moving the function display data  406  is described below. In the example described above, when the function display data  406  is moved, the image data  404  remains at the original position. However, the image data  404  can be moved in an opposite direction by a distance the function display data  406  moves. Specifically, when the pointer touches and drags the function display data  406  upward and then releases it, the image data  404  moves downward by a distance the function display data  406  is moved. This achieves the same result as in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , and avoids the problem that the pointer that touches the function display data  406  (punch holes) interferes with user&#39;s view of the preview data  402 . Therefore, the user can easily check the preview data  402 .  
      The preview data  402  after the data moving process is sent to the data processing section  13  where the printed position of the original data stored in the storage section  12  is adjusted based on the preview data  402 . Thus, the data processing section  13  serves as a printing position adjusting section.  
      According to the first embodiment, the preview data  402  (the image data  404 , and at least one of the function display data  406  and the print area data  405 ) is displayed on the display panel  15   b . Based on a distance and a direction specified for each data of the preview data  402 , the data is moved by the distance in the direction. After the data is moved, the preview data  402  is displayed again on the display panel  15   b . That is, with the preview data  402  displayed on the display panel  15   b , a distance and a direction to move each data constituting the preview data  402  can be directly specified via the display panel  15   b . Thus, the user can rearrange the preview data  402  into a desired state, which reduces printing errors.  
      The function display data  406  can be moved by a distance in a direction specified to move it. In response to an input to move the print area data  405 , the image data  404  can be moved together with the print area data  405  in the same direction. Further, in response to an input to move the image data  404 , the print area data  405  can be moved together with the image data  404  in the same direction. In this case, however, the finishing section  141 , which processes the function display data  406  according to an item selected from the function menu  403 , should be able to shift a position to perform the finishing process (for example, stamping, stapling, and punching).  
      In the first embodiment, the punch function is selected as an example for the function display data  406  that indicates the two black circles as punch holes. It is clear that the same is applied to the case where another function, such as staple function or stamp function, is selected for the function display data  406 .  
      A second embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to  FIG. 10 . The MFP  10  in the second embodiment is basically similar to that of the first embodiment; the same reference numerals are utilized in designating corresponding parts, and the same description is not repeated.  
      As shown in  FIG. 10 , the function display data  406  additionally includes data to display a tag  500 , which the user touches to move the function display data  406 .  
      By providing the tag  500  to the function display data  406 , the user can more easily trace the movement of data compared to the case where the user directly specifies the punch halls with the pointer via the touch panel  15   a.    
      The tag  500  can also be attached to either or both the image data  404  and the print area data  405  to move the data in a similar way.  
      A third embodiment is described below with reference to  FIG. 11 . Parts corresponding to those in the first embodiment are denoted with the same reference numerals, and the same description is not repeated.  
       FIG. 11  is an example of a preview image when the right hole of two punch holes (black circles) is to be moved via the touch panel  15   a  with the pointer. As shown in  FIG. 11 , an enlarged display area X is additionally provided to display around the function display data  406  when the data is being moved. Namely, in the enlarged display area X, magnified view of an area around a point where the pointer points via the touch panel  15   a  is displayed. When the pointer points the left punch hole of the two black circles, an area around the left punch hole is displayed in the enlarged display area X.  
      As described above, according to the third embodiment, while touching the function display data  406  to move the data, the user can check the movement of the data enlarged and displayed in the enlarged display area X. This enables the user to easily check the preview data.  
      The image processing apparatus  1  is explained above as the MFP  10 ; however, the present invention is not so limited and can be implemented otherwise. For example, a computer program stored in a storage device of a computer, such as hard disk drive (HDD), can be executed by CPU on the computer connected to a printer or the like to realize the same function as the image processing apparatus  1 .  
       FIG. 12  is a schematic block diagram of a print system  200  according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The print system  200  includes a computer  201  that sends a print job including print data and print conditions according to which the print data is printed, and a printer  202  that prints the print data. The computer  201  and the printer  202  are connected via a cable  203 .  
      The computer  201  sends the printer  202 , as a print job, print data for a created document or image and print conditions (e.g., sheet direction, duplex printing, intensive, binding, stapling, punching, zooming up/down) that have been set to print the document.  
      The printer  202  prints the print data based on the print job. Particularly, upon receiving the print job, the printer  202  prints the print data based on the print conditions ona medium such as paper.  
       FIG. 13  is a schematic block diagram of the computer  201 . The computer  201  includes an input section  211  that receives data, a displaying section  212 , a communicating section  213  for data communication, a CPU  214  that controls the enter apparatus, a RAM  215  that is used as a work area for the CPU  214 , a recording-medium access device  216  that reads and writes data to and from a recording medium  217 , and the recording medium  217  that stores various programs, etc., run by the CPU  214 .  
      The input section  211  is a user interface allowing a user to instruct the CPU  214  or to input data. The input section  211  includes a keyboard with cursor keys, a numeric keypad, and various function keys, and a mouse or a slide pad with which a key is selected on a display of the displaying section  212 .  
      The displaying section  212  includes a cathode ray tube (CRT) and a liquid crystal display (LCD) to display data sent from the CPU  214 . The communicating section  213  communicates data with an external device. For example, the communicating section  213  communicates data with the printer  202  via the cable  203 .  
      The CPU  214  controls the entire apparatus based on the programs stored in the recording medium  217 , and is connected to the input section  211 , the displaying section  212 , the communicating section  213 , the RAM  215 , and the recording-medium access device  216 . The CPU  214  controls data communications, reading of an application program by accessing a memory, reading and writing of various data, and receiving and displaying data and commands. In addition, the CPU  214  sends the printer  202 , via the communicating section  213 , print data and print conditions for the print data input through the input section  211  as a print job.  
      The RAM  215  includes a working memory that stores, for example, a specified program, an input command, input data, and a processing result, and a display memory that temporarily stores display data to be displayed on a screen of the displaying section  212 .  
      The recording medium  217  stores data and various programs executable by the CPU  214  such as an operating system (OS) program  217   a  (for example, Windows (trademark)), a word-processing application program  217   b , and a printer driver  217   c  compatible with the printer  202 . Examples of the recording medium  217  include optical, magnetic, and electronic recording media such as FD, hard disk, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk read only memory (DVD-ROM), magneto-optical disk (MO), and personal computer card (PC card). The programs are stored in the recording medium  217  in a form readable by the CPU  214 . The programs can be stored in the recording medium  217  in advance, or can be downloaded to the recording medium  217  via a communication line. The programs can also be distributed via the communication line.  
       FIG. 14  is a schematic block diagram of the printer  202 . The printer  202  includes a communicating section  221  for data communication, a CPU  222  that controls the entire printer  202 , a ROM  223  that stores various control programs run by the CPU  222 , a RAM  224  that temporarily stores a print job including print data and print conditions received from, for example, a work area of the control programs or the computer  201 , a printer engine  225  that prints the print data on transfer paper, a stapling section  226  that staples sheets printed with the print data, and a punching section  227  that punches holes in the sheets. It means that the printer  202  has functions of duplex printing, punching, and stapling.  
      The communicating section  221  communicates data with an external device, for example, the computer  201 .  
      The CPU  222  controls the entire printer  202  based on programs stored in the ROM  223  and is connected to the communicating section  221 , the ROM  223 , the RAM  224 , the printer engine  225 , the stapling section  226 , and the punching section  227 . The CPU  222  controls data communications, printer operations, or the like.  
      The ROM  223  stores therein various programs run by the CPU  222 , parameters required for the programs, and the like. The RAM  224  includes a working memory that stores a specified control program, a processing result, and the print data.  
      The printer engine  225  employs an electrophotographic system and is used for printing the print data on transfer paper. As examples of printing methods employed by the printer  202  are cited the inkjet printing, dye sublimation thermal-transfer printing, silver halide photography printing, direct thermal recording, and fusion thermal-transfer printing, besides the electrophotographic printing.  
      The printer driver  217   c  is a software program designed to operate programs in relation to a specific program free from hardware or a language in the printer  202 . The printer driver  217   c  controls the printer  202  and processes data for output or the like.  
      The CPU  214  of the computer  201  creates and displays preview data based on the print data and the print conditions input through the input section  211  according to the printer driver  217   c , and transfers the print data created with the word-processing application program  217   b  to the printer  202 .  
      With the programs executed by the CPU  214  according to the printer driver  217   c , the computer  201  implements the storage section  12 , the data processing section  13 , the display controller  151 , and the system controller  16 .  
      By such an operation of the CPU  214 , the computer  201  implements a system configuration equivalent to that of the image processing apparatus  1  shown in  FIG. 1 . Thus, the computer  201  can achieve the same effects as described previously in the first to third embodiments.  
       FIG. 16  is an example of a display screen displayed by the printer driver  217   c . The display appears when activation of the printer driver  217   c  is selected from a display screen of the word-processing application program  217   b  or a display screen to activate the OS program  217   a . On the display screen, the display area  401  (equivalent to the display area  401  of the image processing apparatus  1 ) for creating and displaying the preview data based on the print data and the print conditions input through the input section  211  is designed to be selectable in addition to a basic-condition selecting area, an edit-condition selecting area, and a finishing-condition selecting area.  
      Although in the fourth embodiment, the display area  401 , on which the preview data based on the print data and print conditions input through the input section  211 , is created and displayed by the CPU  214  of the computer  201  operated according to the printer driver  217   c , this is only an example. The CPU  214  can be operated according to the word-processing application program  217   b  or the OS program  217   a  to display the display area  401 .  
      Although the invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.