Patent Publication Number: US-2022229609-A1

Title: Information processing apparatus, method of controlling information processing apparatus, and storage medium

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a technique for performing printing. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     There has heretofore been a technique which does not require printer-specific software provided by a printer vender (specific printer driver) and has an operating system (OS) provide a standard printing function (OS-standard printing function) (International Publication No. WO2013/116704). 
     However, printing using the OS-standard printing function cannot take individual printers&#39; specifications into account. For this reason, guide dialogues corresponding to print settings configured by a user are not displayed, which may cause inconvenience. 
     SUMMARY 
     An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing apparatus having printing control software capable of generating print data of a first format, and being capable of communicating with a printing apparatus, the information processing apparatus including: a first obtaining unit configured to obtain print data of a second format containing print setting information from OS-standard printing software which runs in the information processing apparatus, the second format being different from the first format; and a display control unit configured to display a predetermined screen in a case where the print setting information contained in the print data meets a predetermined condition. 
     Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are diagrams each illustrating an entire configuration of a printing system; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating information on paper feed methods supported by a printer; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating information on paper sizes supported by the printer; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams illustrating a print setting screen in a case of setting disc printing with an OS-standard printing function; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a guide screen displayed by a print conversion utility; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a flow of a process of displaying a guide screen by the print conversion utility; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating print data based on IPP, which is a standard printing protocol; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating information on display units supported by printers; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating a notification target setting screen set by the print conversion utility; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a flow of a process of displaying a guide screen by the print conversion utility; 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a flow of a process of displaying a guide screen by the print conversion utility; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating a guide screen displayed by a vender driver in a case of executing printing; 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating a guide screen displayed by the print conversion utility in a case of executing printing; 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating a print setting re-configuration screen displayed by the print conversion utility; 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram illustrating a flow of a process of displaying the print setting re-configuration screen by the print conversion utility; 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram illustrating a flow of a process of displaying the print setting re-configuration screen by the print conversion utility; 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram illustrating a setting screen for setting items to be displayed with the print conversion utility; 
         FIG. 18  is a diagram illustrating a print setting re-configuration screen displayed by the print conversion utility; 
         FIG. 19  is a diagram illustrating a flow of a process of displaying the print setting re-configuration screen by the print conversion utility; and 
         FIG. 20  is a diagram illustrating a flow of a process of displaying the print setting re-configuration screen by the print conversion utility. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the present disclosure according to the claims, and not all the combinations of the features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solving means of the present disclosure. 
     Embodiment 1 
     Printers not compatible with (not supporting) an OS-standard printing function cannot use the OS-standard printing function. Specifically, printers not compatible with an OS-standard printing function cannot interpret print data of a predetermined format designated for the OS-standard printing function (hereinafter also referred to as “standard format”). Thus, in the present embodiment, printing control software is used which is called a print conversion utility for making a printer without an OS-standard printing function appear as a printer compatible with the OS-standard printing function and enabling the printer to process a print instruction using the OS-standard printing function. The print conversion utility is installed and used in a personal computer (PC) in which an OS is installed. Note that the print conversion utility may be included in a computer other than the PC in which the OS is installed. 
     In response to a query for ability information from the OS, the print conversion utility replies the ability of the printer not compatible with the OS-standard printing function by proxy. Moreover, the print conversion utility converts print data (command) of the standard format (print data of a second format) into print data (command) of a format supported by the printer (e.g., a format specific to the printer vender) (print data of a first format) and sends it. With the print conversion utility incorporated in the PC, the print conversion utility converts an interaction (communication) with the printer based on a protocol specific to the printer into an interaction based on the OS-standard printing function. Thus, by using the OS-standard printing function, the PC can cause a printer not compatible with the OS-standard printing function to process a print instruction. Note that in a case where a printer-specific driver is installed in the PC instead of a vender driver  107  in  FIG. 1B  to be mentioned later, a printer not compatible with the OS-standard printing function can also interpret print data as long as it is generated by the specific printer driver. Thus, in a case where the user issues a print instruction via a print execution user interface provided by the specific printer driver, the printing can be done without using the OS-standard printing function. 
       FIG. 1A  is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a printing system according to the present embodiment. An entire configuration of the printing system in the present embodiment will be described using  FIGS. 1A and 1B .  FIG. 1A  is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a PC  100  and a printer  110 . In the present embodiment, an example of a printing system will be shown in which the PC  100  serving as a host computer and the printer  110  can communicate with each other via a communication bus  30  (network), such as a local area network (LAN). In this example, the network is assumed to be a LAN but may be a wide area network (WAN). Moreover, the form of the network connection is not limited to wired or wireless, and a combination of these may be employed. Furthermore, a universal serial bus (USB) may be employed as the form of connection between the PC  100  and the printer  110 . Note that only one printer is illustrated in  FIG. 1A  but any number of printers can be connected via the communication bus  30 . Also, the printer  110  is illustrated in  FIG. 1A  as an example, and other prints (printers  130  and  140 ) have a similar configuration as well. 
     The PC  100  is an example of an information processing apparatus. An OS is installed in the PC  100 . The OS includes an OS printing system  102  being OS-standard printing software to be described later. 
     The PC  100  has an interface (I/F) unit  17 , a CPU  11 , a ROM  12 , a RAM  13 , a display  14 , an input unit  15 , and an external storage device  16 . The PC  100  in the present embodiment is not limited to a desktop PC and may be a portable terminal, such as a laptop PC, a tablet PC, or a smartphone. 
     The PC  100  sends instructions for controlling the printer  110 , print data, setting commands, and the like to the printer  110 . The CPU  11  is a central processing unit that controls elements in the PC  100 , and executes control programs, such as the OS. The ROM  12  is controls the system operation of the OS stored therein with the OS. The RAM  13  is a random access memory in which a work area for the CPU  11  is loaded. The external storage device  16  stores various control programs, such as applications. 
     The input unit  15  is a set of input devices for operating the PC  100 , such as a keyboard and a mouse. The display  14  is a display device for the presentation of a display for checking information input from the input unit  15 , the displaying of user interface screens of the OS and applications, the displaying of screens for notification of messages and the like, and so on. The I/F unit  17  is a communication module that sends and receives data to and from the printer  110 . 
     The printer  110  as a printing apparatus is an inkjet printer, for example. The printer  110  has an I/F unit  27 , a CPU  21 , a ROM  22 , a RAM  23 , a display unit  24 , an input unit  25 , and a print engine  26 . The CPU  21  is a central processing unit that controls the following elements. The ROM  22  is a read-only memory and stores a program that controls the print engine  26 . The RAM  23  is a dynamic random access memory, and temporarily stores a program necessary for the operation of the print engine  26 , setting values received from the PC  100 , and so on. The input unit  25  is a set of buttons and the like for operating the printer  110 . The display unit  24  is a display device for the presentation of a display for checking information input from the input unit  25 , the displaying of a message on the status of the printer  110 , and so on. 
     The print engine  26  performs printing on a print medium based on print data sent from the PC  100 . The I/F unit  27  is a communication module that receives print data from the PC  100 , and has a function of sending information on the current status of the printer  110  from the printer  110  to the PC  100 , and the like. The status information mentioned here is status data which indicates the state of the printer  110  and which the printer  110  can return in response to a request from the PC  100  connected thereto via the I/F unit  27 . The status data is information for notification of an operation state of the printer  110  such as “printing” or “standby” and an error state of the printer  110  such as “out of paper”, “cover is open”, or “out of ink”. 
       FIG. 1B  is a diagram illustrating an entire configuration of the printing system in the present embodiment. First, a software configuration of the PC  100  will be described. The PC  100  includes an application  101 , the OS printing system  102 , a network (NW) communication control component  104 , and a print conversion utility  106 . The OS printing system  102  includes an OS-standard printing control component  103 . The print conversion utility  106  includes a virtual printer  105 , the vender driver  107 , a storage component  108 , a display component  109 , and a printing control component  150 . The print conversion utility  106  is for using a printer not compatible with OS-standard printing by means of the OS-standard printing function, and is installed in the PC  100  as required. The application  101  is drawing software that can run on the OS, which is basic software of the PC  100 . Examples of the application  101  include word processing software for creating documents, image editing software, a web browser, and so on. Drawing data that can be generated with the application  101  is, for example, data of the Portable Document Format (PDF). 
     The OS printing system  102  is an element of the OS that performs printing control, and processes print requests from the application  101  one by one as jobs. The OS-standard printing control component  103  included in the OS printing system  102  is software having a standard function necessary for the generation of print data (OS-standard printing function). The OS-standard printing control component  103  performs a spool process on drawing data generated by the application  101  to generate print data of a predetermined format (standard format). Further, the OS-standard printing control component  103  performs a process of outputting the print data of the standard format thus generated to the NW communication control component  104 , in order to send the print data of the standard format to the printer  110 . Note that the OS-standard printing control component  103  in the present embodiment communicates with the printer  110  via the NW communication control component  104  by using the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), which is a standard printing protocol. The OS-standard printing control component  103  also obtains ability information on the printer  110  via the NW communication control component  104  in order to determine whether the printer  110  supports the OS-standard printing function. 
     A procedure for a print instruction will be described below. First, a procedure for a print instruction addressed to the printer  110  supporting the OS-standard function will be described. After generating drawing data, the application  101  issues a print request to the OS printing system  102  based on a user instruction. The print request is introduced as a print job into a print queue of the OS printing system  102 . Note that in the case of issuing a print request, a setting instruction from the user regarding the print settings can be received from a setting screen provided by the OS-standard printing function. 
     In the case where the print request is issued, a print job (print data) containing print setting information and the drawing data generated by the drawing application  101  is passed from the drawing application  101  to the OS printing system  102 . The print setting information contains information such as the paper size, the paper feed method, or the print queue to be used perform the printing. 
     In response to receiving the print job, the OS-standard printing control component  103  of the OS printing system  102  generates print data of the predetermined format based on the OS-standard printing function. 
     The printer  110  compatible with the OS-standard printing function is capable of interpreting print data of the format based on the OS-standard printing function. The OS printing system  102  sends the generated print data to the printer  110  compatible with the OS-standard printing via the NW communication control component  104 . 
     On the other hand, the printer  130  not compatible with the OS-standard printing is incapable of interpreting print data of the format based on the OS-standard printing function. Thus, to perform the printing, the print conversion utility  106  needs to be used. In a case of a print job for the printer  130  not compatible with the OS-standard printing function (a print job for which the virtual printer  105  is designated as the output target printer), the OS printing system  102  sends the generated print data to the virtual printer  105  launched by the print conversion utility  106 . Then, the print conversion utility  106  converts the print data of the format based on the OS-standard printing function received by the virtual printer  105  into print data of a vender-specific format with the vender driver  107 . The converted print data is sent to the printer  130  not compatible with the OS-standard printing function via the NW communication control component. The present embodiment assumes that the virtual printer  105  has been launched in the PC  100 . 
     Note that, in order to issue a print instruction via the print conversion utility  106 , both a print queue for the OS printing system  102  for receiving the print request from the application  101  and a print queue for the print conversion utility  106  need to be registered in advance. Here, the print queue for the print conversion utility  106  is a queue in which to introduce the print data sent to the virtual printer  105 . In the case of registering settings, the print queue for the print conversion utility  106  is registered first. In response, the print conversion utility  106  launches the virtual printer  105 . Thereafter, the print conversion utility  106  designates the virtual printer  105  and causes it to automatically register a print queue for the OS printing system  102 . 
     The printer  110 , the printer  130 , and the printer  140  each include a NW communication control component  111 , a printing control component  112 , and a printing component  113 . The printing control component  112  receives print data from the PC  100  via the NW communication control component  111  and controls the printing component  113  based on the print data to thereby execute printing. The printer  110  is a printer compatible with the OS printing system, and the printer  130  is a printer not compatible with the OS printing system. The printers  110  and  130  are printers that have executed printing before by using the print conversion utility  106 . The printer  140 , on the other hand, is a printer which is not compatible with the OS printing system and has never executed printing before by using the print conversion utility  106  and for which a print queue for the print conversion utility  106  has not been registered. 
     The storage component  108  included in the print conversion utility  106  holds settable lists supported by a printer (e.g., printer  130 ). The settable lists will be described later with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . These settable lists may be held in the storage component  108  of the print conversion utility  106  in advance or obtained via communication with the printer. 
     The display component  109  included in the print conversion utility  106  controls the displaying of status information on the virtual printer  105  such as “out of paper”, “cover is open”, or “out of ink” and status information on a print job such as “printing” or “standby”. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a settable list containing information on the paper feed methods supported by the printer  130  (information on holding units that feed paper).  FIG. 2  exemplarily illustrates information on three holding units of a tray  1 , a tray  2 , and a disc tray representing the paper feed methods supported by the printer  130 . Note that the disc tray technically is not a holding unit that “feeds paper” but is a holding unit that “holds” a “disc” such as a CD, which is a non-paper print medium. Nonetheless, the expression “feed paper” is used here for form&#39;s sake. Moreover, “disc” is also a non-paper print medium but may be expressed as a type of “paper” for form&#39;s sake. Tray 1 , Tray 2 , and DiscTray in  FIG. 2  correspond to the tray  1 , the tray  2 , and the disc tray, respectively. The settable list contains a name  201 , a maximum paper width  202 , a maximum paper height  203 , a minimum paper width  204 , a minimum paper height  205 , and a paper feed method guide dialogue  206  of each paper feed method (holding unit) which the printer  130  is compatible with. The maximum paper width  202 , the maximum paper height  203 , the minimum paper width  204 , and the minimum paper height  205  are represented in units of 1/100 mm. The paper feed method guide dialogue  206  is information indicating whether the corresponding setting item (in  FIG. 2 , “Tray 1 ”, “Tray 2 ”, or “DiscTray”) has a guide dialogue which is a specific notification screen. For a paper feed method that involves displaying a guide dialogue in a case of executing printing, the corresponding paper feed method guide dialogue&#39;s name is indicated. For a paper feed method that does not involve displaying a guide dialogue, “None” is indicated. Alternatively, for a paper feed method that does not involve displaying a guide dialogue, the paper feed method guide dialogue  206  does not have to be indicated. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a settable list containing information on the paper sizes supported by the printer  130 .  FIG. 3  exemplarily illustrates five sizes of A4, A5, disc, postcard, and envelope as the paper sizes supported by the printer  130 . The settable list contains a name  301 , a paper width  302 , a paper height  303 , a paper size guide dialogue  304 , borderless printing information  305 , and duplex printing information  306  of each paper size which the printer  130  is compatible with. The paper width  302  and the paper height  303  are represented in units of 1/100 mm. The paper size guide dialogue  304  is information indicating whether the corresponding setting item (in  FIG. 3 , “A4”, “A5”, “Disc”, “Postcard”, or “Envelope”) has a guide dialogue which is a specific notification screen. For a paper size that involves displaying a guide dialogue in a case of executing printing, the corresponding guide dialogue&#39;s name is indicated. For a paper size that does not involve displaying a guide dialogue, “None” is indicated. Alternatively, for a paper size that does not involve displaying a guide dialogue, the paper size guide dialogue  304  does not have to be indicated. As the borderless printing information  305 , “Support” is indicated in a case of a paper size capable of borderless printing. For paper sizes other than that capable of borderless printing, the borderless printing information  305  is not indicated or information other than “Support” is indicated. As the duplex printing information  306 , “Support” is indicated in a case of a paper size capable of duplex printing. For paper sizes other than that capable of duplex printing, the duplex printing information  306  is not indicated or information other than “Support” is indicated. In  FIG. 3 , the printer  130  exemplarily supports borderless printing and duplex printing only for the A4 size. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams illustrating a print setting screen in a case of setting disc printing under an environment with the OS-standard printing function.  FIG. 4A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a print setting screen  400  provided by the OS-standard printing function.  FIG. 4B  will be described in Embodiment 4 to be set forth later. 
     The print setting screen  400  includes a printer selection item  401  for selecting a printer to be caused to execute printing, a paper size selection item  402 , a duplex printing selection item  403 , a quantity selection item  404 , and a paper type selection item  405 . The print setting screen  400  also includes a paper feed method selection item  406 , a print preview region  407 , a cancel button  408 , and a print button  409 . 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates print settings in a case where the user performs printing on a disc. In the paper feed method selection item  406  in  FIG. 4A , “disc tray”, which is a paper feed method that involves displaying a guide dialogue, is selected. Also, in the paper size selection item  402 , “disc”, which is a paper size that involves displaying a guide dialogue, is selected. Note that selecting the paper feed method means selecting the holding unit holding the printing-target print medium. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a disc printing guide dialogue  500  displayed by the print conversion utility  106 . Note that this disc printing guide dialogue  500  is a dialogue equivalent to a dialogue displayed in a case of printing control using a conventional specific printer driver. The disc printing guide dialogue  500  includes an operation method message  501 , an operation guide diagram  502 , and an OK button  503 . Under an environment where the conventional specific printer driver is used, control is performed such that the specific printer driver displays the disc printing guide dialogue  500  as illustrated in  FIG. 5  on the PC screen in a case of setting a paper feed method in which the paper feed position and paper setting method are complicated, such as disc printing, and executing printing with that paper feed method. In this way, the user can check the operation method message  501  and the operation guide diagram  502  and set a disc in the printer. Control is performed such that the printer driver starts the printing in response to pressing the OK button  503 . Also, in a case of setting a size with which the paper is fed with its top and bottom oriented in certain respective directions, such as postcard or envelope, and executing printing with the size, the driver displays a guide dialogue indicating a paper setting method according to the printer&#39;s specifications. 
     On the other hand, with the OS-standard printing function, individual printers&#39; specifications cannot be taken into account. Thus, in a case of executing printing, the print data is sent to the printer with no guide dialogue displayed on the PC screen. In response to receiving the print data, the printer starts printing according to the print setting values in the print data. In the case of using the OS-standard printing function to perform printing with a printer not compatible with the OS-standard printing function, it is also possible to send the print data to the printer by using a functional component like the above-described print conversion utility. In the case of executing printing, however, control to display a guide dialogue on the PC screen is performed. 
     As a result, under the environment where the OS-standard printing function is used, the disc printing guide dialogue displayed in the case of using the specific printer driver is not displayed, which lowers the operability for the user. 
     To address this, in the present embodiment, in the case of using the OS-standard printing function to perform printing with a printer not compatible with the OS-standard printing function, the print conversion utility  106  performs a process of displaying a corresponding guide dialogue on the PC screen. Control in the present embodiment will be described below in detail. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a flowchart of a process executed by the print conversion utility  106 . More specifically,  FIG. 6  illustrates a flow of a process in which the printing control component  150  of the print conversion utility  106  causes the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  to display the disc printing guide dialogue  500 . In the following, the description will be given with the print conversion utility  106  as the actor of each process. In reality, however, the CPU  11  executes the program of the print conversion utility  106  stored in the ROM  12  or the external storage device  16  to implement the corresponding function. The same applies also to the flowcharts in Embodiment 2 and the subsequent embodiments. 
     Note that the process flow in  FIG. 6  starts in a case where the user selects the print button  409  in the print setting screen  400  and the print conversion utility  106  obtains print data. Note that the user has selected a printer to be used in the printer selection item  401  in the print setting screen  400 , and the OS printing system  102  sends the print data to the selected printer. For example, in a case where “printer  110 ” is selected in the printer selection item  401 , the OS printing system  102  sends the print data directly to the printer  110  and, in a case where “printer  130 ” is selected, the OS printing system  102  sends the print data to the virtual printer  105  associated with the printer  130 . That is, in the present embodiment, in the case where the printer  130  is selected in the printer selection item  401 , the print conversion utility can obtain the print data via the NW communication control component of the virtual printer  105 , and the process flow in  FIG. 6  therefore starts. 
     In the present embodiment, a flow of the process by the print conversion utility  106  will be described using the flowchart in  FIG. 6 . Meanwhile, the symbol “S” in the description of each process means a step in the flowchart (the same applies below herein). 
     In S 600 , the print conversion utility  106  obtains a print job (obtains print data  700 ) from the OS printing system  102 , and proceeds to S 601 . The print data obtained by the print conversion utility  106  from the OS printing system  102  is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating part of print data (in particular, print setting information) based on IPP, which is a standard printing protocol. The print data  700  contains address information  701  on the sender PC, printing execution printer information  702 , paper size information  703 , paper feed method information  706 , paper type information  707 , and duplex printing setting information  708 . The paper size information  703  includes horizontal size information  704  and vertical size information  705 .  FIG. 7  exemplarily illustrates print data in a case of executing printing with print settings selected by the user in the print setting screen  400 . 
     In S 601 , the print conversion utility  106  obtains the paper feed method information  706  (information on the holding unit) from the print data  700  obtained in S 600 . Further, the print conversion utility  106  obtains information on the paper feed method guide dialogue  206  corresponding to the paper feed method set in the print setting screen from the storage component  108 , and proceeds to S 602 . For example, in a case where the paper feed method selected by the user is “disc tray”, the paper feed method information  706  contained in the print data  700  is “disc tray”. The print conversion utility  106  calls the paper feed methods in  FIG. 2  out of the settable list stored in the storage component  108 , and refers to the item “DiscTray”, which is the name  201  of the paper feed method (holding unit) corresponding to the paper feed method information  706 . Then, the print conversion utility  106  obtains “PaperSettingDialog1”, which is information on the paper feed method guide dialogue  206  corresponding to the name  201  of the paper feed method thus referred to, from the storage component  108 . Note that the information on the paper feed method guide dialogue  206  may be obtained from the printer and stored in the storage component  108 . 
     In S 602 , the print conversion utility  106  determines whether a predetermined condition is met. Specifically, the print conversion utility  106  determines the information on the dialogue to be displayed obtained in S 601 . If the dialogue to be displayed is “None”, the print conversion utility  106  determines that there is no dialogue corresponding to the setting value selected by the user as a print setting, and proceeds to S 604  to execute printing. If the dialogue to be displayed is other than “None”, the print conversion utility  106  determines that there is a dialogue corresponding to the setting value selected by the user as a print setting, and proceeds to S 603 . In S 603 , the print conversion utility  106  causes the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  to display the disc printing guide dialogue  500 , which corresponds to the paper feed method guide dialogue  206  obtained in S 601 , on the display  14 . As mentioned earlier, the disc printing guide dialogue includes the operation method message  501 , the operation guide diagram  502 , and the OK button  503 . The user checks the operation method message  501  and the operation guide diagram  502 , sets a disc in the printer, and presses the OK button  503 . In response to this, the print conversion utility  106  proceeds to S 604  to execute printing. In S 604 , the print conversion utility  106  converts the print data  700  obtained in S 600  into print data compatible with the protocol specific to the printer  130 , sends the converted print data to the printer via the NW communication control component, and terminates the process. 
     As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the convenience of printing in the case of using a PC equipped with an OS-standard printing function to perform the printing. Specifically, by referring to print data sent from the OS printing system  102 , dialogue information corresponding to a paper feed method selected by the user is obtained. Based on the obtained dialogue information, the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  can then display a guide dialogue about usage such as the paper setting method on the display  14 . This improves convenience. 
     Note that the above description has been given by taking a case where the user selects “disc tray” as an example, but the present embodiment is not limited to this case. For example, the present embodiment is applicable also to a case where the paper size selected is “postcard” by obtaining the horizontal size information  704  and the vertical size information  705  from the print data  700  in S 601  and determining the information on the paper size guide dialogue  304 . In the case of executing printing with “postcard” selected as the paper size, the horizontal size information  704  and the vertical size information  705  contained in the print data  700  are “10000” and “14800”, respectively. Then, from the horizontal size information  704  and the vertical size information  705 , the item “Postcard” in the list in  FIG. 3  stored in the storage component  108  is referred to. As a result of the reference, “PaperSettingDialog2”, which is the information on the paper size guide dialogue  304 , is obtained from the storage component  108 , and the corresponding dialogue is displayed. 
     Also, “PaperSettingDialog1” indicated as the guide dialogue for “DiscTray” in the paper feed method information in  FIG. 2  is also indicated as the guide dialogue for “Disc” in the paper size information in  FIG. 3 . Thus, the guide dialogue of “PaperSettingDialog1” is displayed in a case where “printable disc” is selected in the paper type selection item  405  or in a case where “disc” is selected in the paper size selection item  402 . Here, in the case where the paper type is “printable disc”, “disc” is set as the paper size and the other paper sizes are not supported. In a case of executing printing with a setting that is not supported as above, a process of changing to a setting with which printing is possible or a process of displaying a guide dialogue indicating that an unselectable combination of settings has been selected as described in embodiments to be set forth later is performed. 
     Also, the print conversion utility  106  can be used also in a case of performing printing with a printer compatible with the OS-standard printing function, such as the printer  110 , by using the OS-standard printing function. Specifically, the print conversion utility  106  may be used to expand the setting function for printing and may be used in a case of, for example, displaying a specific dialogue that cannot be displayed with the OS-standard printing function, and other similar cases. Note that in a case where the printer  110  is compatible with not only the OS-standard printing function but also a printer-specific protocol and is desired to perform printing based on more detailed print settings than the OS-standard printing function, print data compatible with the printer-specific protocol is sent. 
     Embodiment 2 
     Next, Embodiment 2 will be described. In Embodiment 1, in the case where there is a guide dialogue corresponding to a paper feed method selected by the user, the print conversion utility  106  executes the process of causing the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  to display the corresponding guide dialogue on the display  14 . In Embodiment 2, the print conversion utility  106  performs a process of changing the method of displaying the guide dialogue by determining whether the printer includes a display unit. Specifically, in a case where the printer that is to perform printing has a display unit, the print conversion utility  106  performs a process of displaying the guide dialogue on at least one display unit selected by the user among the display unit  24  of the printer and the display  14  of the PC  100 . 
     In the following description, descriptions common to those in Embodiment 1 are omitted, and only the differences will be described. In particular, in the following, a flow of a process by the print conversion utility  106  and a display unit on a printer body will be described as the differences from Embodiment 1. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating display unit-related information  800  on printers. The display unit-related information is information on each printer indicating whether it includes a display unit. The display unit-related information  800  on printers may be held in the storage component  108  of the print conversion utility  106  in advance, or the display unit-related information may be obtained via communication with the printers and then held. In  FIG. 8 , the display unit-related information  800  on printers indicates a list of printers compatible with the print conversion utility  106 . In this diagram, the display unit-related information on the printers  110 ,  130 , and  140  is indicated as an example. The display unit-related information  800  contains each printer&#39;s name  801  and display unit information  802 . As the display unit information  802 , “Support” is indicated in a case of a printer including a display unit capable of displaying a guide dialogue, and “None” is indicated in a case of a printer not including a display unit capable of displaying a guide dialogue. 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating a guide dialogue display target setting. A guide dialogue display target setting screen  900  is displayed as a setting screen for an environment setting of the print conversion utility  106 . The guide dialogue display target setting screen  900  includes an application display unit setting  901  and a printer display unit setting  902  as guide dialogue display targets. Ina case where the application display unit setting  901  is selected, the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  displays the guide dialogue on the display  14  of the PC. On the other hand, in a case where the printer display unit setting  902  is selected, it means to display the guide dialogue on the display unit  24  of the printer. In a case where the user configures the setting in the guide dialogue display target setting screen  900  before executing printing and presses a close button  903 , the print conversion utility  106  can close the guide dialogue display target setting screen  900  and change the guide dialogue display target. In the diagram, only the printer display unit setting  902  is checked as an example. In a case where both items are checked, the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  displays the guide dialogue on both the display  14  and the display unit of the printer. In a case where neither of the items is checked, the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  does not display the guide dialogue. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a flowchart of a process executed by the print conversion utility  106 . More specifically,  FIG. 10  illustrates a flow of a process in which the printing control component  150  of the print conversion utility  106  changes the method in which the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  displays the paper feed method guide dialogue  206  according to display unit information held in the printer. Note that the process flow in  FIG. 10  starts in a case where the user selects the print button  409  in the print setting screen  400  and the print conversion utility  106  obtains a print job. S 1000  to S 1001  and S 1003  to S 1004  in  FIG. 10  are similar to S 600  to S 601  and S 603  to S 604  described in  FIG. 6  in Embodiment 1, and description thereof is therefore omitted. 
     In the present embodiment, in  FIG. 10 , the print conversion utility  106  obtains the print data  700  in S 1000 , obtains the printing execution printer information  702  from the print data  700  in S 1001 , and then proceeds to S 1002 . Moreover, if determining in S 1002  that there is a guide dialogue corresponding to the print setting, the print conversion utility  106  proceeds to S 1006 . On the other hand, if determining in S 1002  that there is not a guide dialogue corresponding to the print setting, the print conversion utility  106  proceeds to S 1004 . In S 1006 , from the display unit-related information  800 , the print conversion utility  106  obtains the name  801  of the printer matching the printing execution printer information  702  obtained in S 1001 , and determines the display unit information  802  corresponding to the name  801  of the printer thus obtained. If the display unit information  802  of the printer determined in S 1006  is “Support” indicating that the printer includes a display unit capable of displaying a guide dialogue, the print conversion utility  106  proceeds to S 1007  and, otherwise, proceeds to S 1009 . 
     In S 1007 , the print conversion utility  106  determines whether a setting to display the guide dialogue on the printer has been configured, according to the printer display unit setting  902  configured in advance by the user. If the setting to display the guide dialogue on the printer has been configured, the print conversion utility  106  proceeds to S 1008  and, otherwise, proceeds to S 1009 . 
     In S 1008 , the print conversion utility  106  sends an instruction to display the guide dialogue on the display unit of the printer to the printer via the NW communication control component, and proceeds to S 1009 . 
     In S 1009 , according to the application display unit setting  901 , the print conversion utility  106  determines whether a setting to cause the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  to display the guide dialogue has been configured. If the setting to cause the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  to display the guide dialogue has been configured, the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  displays the guide dialogue in S 1003  and, otherwise, printing is executed in S 1004 . In S 1004 , the print conversion utility  106  converts the print data  700  obtained in S 1000  into print data compatible with the protocol specific to the printer  130 , sends the converted print data to the printer via the NW communication control component, and terminates the process. 
     In this way, in the case of using a printer having a display unit, such as a panel, to execute printing, the user can set paper while checking the paper setting method on the printer body. This improves the operability. 
     Also, in the present embodiment, by displaying the guide dialogue on both the display  14  with the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  and the display unit of the printer, it is easier for the user to check the paper setting method. On the other hand, by causing neither the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  nor the display unit of the printer to display the guide dialogue, a user knowing the paper setting method can execute printing without stopping it. 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, the print conversion utility  106  can cause the printer and the display component  109  of the print conversion utility to display the guide dialogue depending on whether the printer has a display unit and the setting on the display method. This improves the operability. 
     Embodiment 3 
     Next, Embodiment 3 will be described. Embodiments 1 and 2 assume that the print conversion utility  106  is present inside the PC  100 , which executes printing. In Embodiment 3, printing is performed with a printer from a PC other than the PC  100 , in which the print conversion utility  106  is launched, via the print conversion utility  106 . 
     In the following description, descriptions common to those in Embodiments 1 and 2 are omitted, and only the difference will be described. In particular, in the following, a flow of a process via the print conversion utility  106  from a PC other than the one in which the print conversion utility  106  is launched will be described as the difference from Embodiments 1 and 2. 
     First, a configuration of the printing system in the present embodiment will be described using  FIGS. 1A and 1B . A PC  120  includes an application  121 , an OS printing system  122 , and a network (NW) communication control component  124 . The OS printing system  122  includes an OS-standard printing control component  123 . The OS printing system  122  is the same as the OS printing system  102 , and the NW communication control component  124  is the same as the NW communication control component  104 , and description thereof is therefore omitted. Incidentally, the PC  120  may or may not have a print conversion utility. In other words, a PC having a print conversion utility may perform printing by using a print conversion utility in another PC connected to the network, instead of the print conversion utility in itself. 
     Next, a procedure for a print instruction from the PC  120  will be described. A difference from the case with the PC  100  is that, for a print job from the printer  130  not compatible with the OS-standard printing function, the OS printing system  122  sends the generated print data to the virtual printer  105  launched by the print conversion utility  106  in the PC  100  via the NW communication control component. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a flowchart of a process executed by the print conversion utility  106 . More specifically,  FIG. 11  illustrates a flow of a process in which the printing control component  150  of the print conversion utility  106  changes the method in which the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  displays the paper feed method guide dialogue  206  according to the PC that has sent a print instruction. Note that the process flow in  FIG. 11  starts in a case where the user selects the print button  409  in the print setting screen  400  displayed on the PC  120  and the print conversion utility  106  obtains a print job. S 1100  to S 1101  and S 1103  to S 1104  in  FIG. 11  are similar to S 600  to S 601  and S 603  to S 604  described in  FIG. 6  in Embodiment 1, and description thereof is therefore omitted. 
     In the present embodiment, in  FIG. 11 , the print conversion utility  106  obtains the address information  701  on the PC which has sent the print instruction from the print data  700  in S 1101 , and proceeds to S 1102 . The address information  701  is information such as the IP address (IPv4/IPv6) and Mac address of the apparatus on the network. Then, if determining in S 1102  that a setting value indicating that there is a dialogue which needs to be displayed is selected, the print conversion utility  106  proceeds to S 1110 . In S 1110 , the print conversion utility  106  refers to the address information  701  obtained in S 1101  and determines whether the printing has been requested from another information processing apparatus. That is, the print conversion utility  106  determines whether the PC  100 , in which the print conversion utility  106  is launched, and the PC which has sent the print instruction are different PCs. If determining in S 1110  that they are different PCs, the print conversion utility  106  proceeds to S 1111  and, otherwise, proceeds to S 1103 . In S 1111 , the print conversion utility  106  sends a notification to the PC which has sent the print instruction according to the standard printing protocol, and proceeds to S 1104 . Note that in S 1111 , the print conversion utility  106  uses the protocol of the OS standard function to send an error notification to the OS printing system  122  of the PC  120 . This notification is a notification that prompts the user to check the printer for an error. In response to receiving the notification via the NW communication control component, the OS printing system  122  displays a message on the PC screen indicating that the printer should be checked, instead of the dialogue. In this way, the user having initiated printing with the PC  120  can set paper while checking what is displayed on the printer in the case where the printer body has a display unit. 
     In S 1104 , the print conversion utility  106  converts the print data  700  obtained in S 1100  into print data compatible with the protocol specific to the printer  130 , sends the converted print data to the printer via the NW communication control component, and terminates the process. 
     As described above, in the case where a print instruction is sent from a PC in which the print conversion utility  106  is not launched, a notification prompting an error check is sent to this PC by using the protocol of the OS standard function, instead of the guide dialogue. This leads to an improvement in operability. Moreover, since the guide dialogue itself is not displayed, as mentioned above, the printing can be smoothly executed without being stopped. 
     Embodiment 4 
     Next, Embodiment 4 will be described. In Embodiment 4, the print conversion utility  106  performs a process of displaying a print setting re-configuration screen (hereinafter referred to as the re-configuration screen) for receiving print settings again in a case where the user executes printing with a combination of print settings with which the printing is impossible. 
     In the following description, descriptions common to those in Embodiments 1 to 3 are omitted, and only the difference will be described. In particular, in the following, a process for the re-configuration screen by the print conversion utility  106  will be described as the difference from Embodiments 1 to 3. 
     With a conventional specific printer driver, control is performed such that a print setting mismatch guide dialogue  1200  as illustrated in  FIG. 12  is displayed on the PC screen in a case where the user executes printing with an unselectable combination of print settings. In a case where the user checks a guide message  1201  in the print setting mismatch guide dialogue  1200  and presses an OK button  1202 , the printer driver can close the print setting mismatch guide dialogue  1200  and return to the print setting screen before the execution of the printing. Also, the conventional printer driver controls the print setting screen such that unusable setting values are grayed out to be not selectable for the user. Incidentally, there are OS printing systems that cannot display a guide dialogue or gray out unusable settings values in a case of executing printing. In a case of using such an OS printing system to issue a print instruction, it may be impossible to obtain a desired printing result if the user executes printing with an unusable combination of setting values selected. In the present embodiment, in the case of executing printing with an unusable combination of setting values selected, the print conversion utility is caused to display a print setting screen so that the print settings can be re-configured to a selectable combination of print settings. 
     Next, the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  in the case where the user executes printing with an unusable combination of setting values selected will be described using  FIGS. 4B, 13, and 14 .  FIG. 4B  is a schematic diagram illustrating the print setting screen  400  provided by the OS-standard printing function, as with  FIG. 4A . In the print setting screen  400  in  FIG. 4B , “disc size” is selected in the paper size selection item  402  and “duplex printing” is selected in the duplex printing selection item  403  as an example.  FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram illustrating a guide dialogue  1300  as a guide to re-set setting values displayed in the case where an unusable combination of setting values is selected. In a guide region  1301  is displayed a guide indicating that an unsettable combination has been selected and that the setting values need to be changed in order to execute printing. In a case where the user presses a cancel button  1302  in the guide dialogue  1300 , the print conversion utility  106  closes the dialogue and terminates the print job. In a case where the user presses an OK button  1303  in the guide dialogue  1300 , the print conversion utility  106  closes the dialogue and displays the re-configuration screen illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 14  is a schematic diagram of a re-configuration screen  1400  indicating only parts in the print conversion utility  106  that need to be re-configured. The re-configuration screen  1400  provided by the print conversion utility  106  includes a paper size selection item  1401  and a duplex printing selection item  1402 . There-configuration screen  1400  also includes a cancel button  1403  and a print button  1404 . The paper size selection item  1401  allows the user to select a paper size which can be used with the printer, and receives a change from the paper size selected in the paper size selection item  402  in the print setting screen  400 . The duplex printing selection item  1402  allows the user to configure the duplex printing setting, and receives a change from the duplex printing setting selected in the duplex printing selection item  403  in the print setting screen  400 . 
       FIG. 15  illustrates a flowchart of a process executed by the print conversion utility  106 . More specifically,  FIG. 15  illustrates a flow of a process in which the printing control component  150  of the print conversion utility  106  notifies the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  of the re-configuration screen  1400 . Note that the process flow in  FIG. 15  starts in a case where the user selects the print button  409  in the print setting screen  400  and the print conversion utility  106  obtains a print job. 
     In the present embodiment, a flow of the process by the print conversion utility  106  will be described using the flowchart in  FIG. 15 . In S 1500 , the print conversion utility  106  obtains the print data  700  from the OS printing system  102 , and proceeds to S 1501 . 
     In S 1501 , the print conversion utility  106  obtains the horizontal size information  704  and the vertical size information  705  as the paper size and the duplex printing setting information  708  from the print data  700  obtained in S 1500 . Further, the print conversion utility  106  obtains information related to the duplex printing information  306  corresponding to the obtained paper size from the storage component  108 , and proceeds to S 1502 . For example, in a case where the paper size selected by the user is “disc”, the print conversion utility  106  obtains the item “Disc” in the list in  FIG. 3  stored in the storage component  108  from the storage component  108 . Note that the information on the paper size may be obtained from the printer and stored in the storage component  108 . 
     In S 1502 , the print conversion utility  106  determines the duplex printing information obtained in S 1501 . If the duplex printing information is “Support”, the print conversion utility  106  determines that duplex printing can be used with the paper size selected by the user, and proceeds to S 1505  to execute printing. In S 1505 , the print conversion utility  106  converts the print data  700  obtained in S 1200  into print data compatible with the protocol specific to the printer  130 , sends the converted print data to the printer via the NW communication control component, and terminates the process. If the duplex printing information is other than “Support” and the duplex printing setting information  708  is set to be “two-sided” representing a duplex setting, the print conversion utility  106  determines that the combination of setting values selected by the user as the print settings cannot be used, and proceeds to S 1503 . In S 1503 , the print conversion utility  106  generates the re-configuration screen  1400  based on the information determined in S 1502 . Since duplex printing cannot be performed with the paper size selected by the user, the print conversion utility  106  generates a re-configuration screen  1400  for the user to select a paper size and duplex printing again, and proceeds to S 1504 . In S 1504 , the print conversion utility  106  causes the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  to display the re-configuration screen  1400  generated in S 1503 , and receives an input from the user. Note that in S 1504 , the re-configuration screen  1400  may be displayed after the guide dialogue  1300  illustrated in  FIG. 13  is displayed. Alternatively, the re-configuration screen  1400  may be displayed along with the guide text described in the guide dialogue in  FIG. 13 . If an unusable combination of print settings is set in the re-configuration screen  1400 , a guide dialogue as illustrated in  FIG. 13  can be displayed again. Also, with the RE-configuration screen provided by the print conversion utility  106 , unusable setting values can be grayed out to be not selectable for the user. In a case where the user presses the cancel button  1403  in the re-configuration screen  1400 , the print conversion utility  106  closes the re-configuration screen  1400  and terminates the process. In a case where the user presses the print button  1404  in the re-configuration screen  1400 , the print conversion utility  106  changes the setting values of the paper size and duplex printing in the print job to the setting values of the paper size selection item  1401  and the duplex printing selection item  1402 . That is, the print conversion utility  106  updates the setting values of the paper size and duplex printing in the print data  700 . Further, the print conversion utility  106  closes the re-configuration screen  1400  and returns to S 1501 . 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, the print conversion utility causes the display component  109  to display the re-configuration screen and receives print settings via it. In this way, the user can check the print setting(s) required to be changed. This improves convenience. Moreover, in this case, the user does not have to configure the print settings in the print setting screen  400  again. This further improves convenience. 
     Note that the above description has been given by taking a case where the user selects “disc” and “duplex printing” as an example, but the present embodiment is not limited to this case. For example, since the paper width  302  of “Postcard” in the list in  FIG. 3  is smaller than the minimum paper width  204  of “Tray 1 ” in the list in  FIG. 2 , it is impossible to use “Postcard” for “Tray 1 ”. The present embodiment is applicable also to a case where the paper size usable in a particular paper feed method is limited as above. 
     Note that the present embodiment is applicable to both a printer compatible with the OS-standard printing function and a printer not compatible with the OS-standard printing function. In the case of using an OS printing system that cannot display a guide dialogue or gray out unusable setting values in a case of executing printing, the above problem can be solved by using the print conversion utility  106 . 
     Embodiment 5 
     Next, Embodiment 5 will be described. In Embodiment 4, the print conversion utility  106  executes the process of causing the display component  109  to display the re-configuration screen in the case where duplex printing with a paper size selected by the user is not supported. In Embodiment 5, the print conversion utility  106  performs a process of changing the method of displaying the re-configuration screen by obtaining a setting value of the printer body. The present embodiment will be described on the assumption that the paper size “disc” and “duplex printing” have been selected in the print setting screen, as with Embodiment 4. 
     In the following description, descriptions common to those in Embodiments 1 to 4 are omitted, and only the differences will be described. In particular, in the following, a flow of a process by the print conversion utility  106  and the setting value of the printer body will be described as the differences from Embodiments 1 to 4. 
       FIG. 16  illustrates a flowchart of a process executed by the print conversion utility  106 . More specifically,  FIG. 16  illustrates a flow of a process in which the printing control component  150  of the print conversion utility  106  changes the method in which the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  displays the re-configuration screen  1400  according to the paper setting of the printer body. Note that the process flow in  FIG. 16  starts in a case where the user selects the print button  409  in the print setting screen  400  and the print conversion utility  106  obtains a print job. Note that S 1601  to S 1602  and S 1604  to S 1605  in  FIG. 16  are similar to S 1501  to S 1502  and S 1504  to S 1505  described in  FIG. 15  in Embodiment 4, and description thereof is therefore omitted. 
     In the present embodiment, in  FIG. 16 , the print conversion utility  106  obtains the print data  700  in S 1600  and proceeds to S 1607 . In S 1607 , the print conversion utility  106  obtains the body setting value and proceeds to S 1601 . Here, the paper size set in the printer body is obtained as the body setting value as an example. The body setting value may be obtained via communication with the printer body, or a value set by the user in the print conversion utility  106  before the execution of the printing may be obtained. In S 1603 , the print conversion utility  106  generates the re-configuration screen based on the information determined in S 1602  and the body setting value obtained in S 1607 . For example, in a case where “A4” size is set in the printer body, the print conversion utility  106  obtains “A4” size as the body setting value in S 1607 . In S 1603 , based on the body setting value obtained in S 1607 , the print conversion utility  106  generates a re-configuration screen in which “A4” is displayed in the paper size selection item  1401  and only the duplex printing selection item  1402  can be selected. In a case where settings with which printing is possible are configured in the re-configuration screen, the print conversion utility  106  converts the print data  700  obtained in S 1600  into print data compatible with the protocol specific to the printer  130 , sends the converted print data to the printer, and terminates the process. In this way, the user can configure the print settings based on the paper set in the printer body. This improves convenience. 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, the print conversion utility can cause the display component  109  to display a re-configuration screen based on the paper set in the printer body by the user. This improves convenience. 
     Note that the above description has been given by taking as an example a case where the user sets “A4” size in the printer body and “disc” and “duplex printing” are selected in the print setting screen, but the present embodiment is not limited to this case. For example, in a case where “disc” size is set in the printer body, duplex printing cannot be used for “disc” size, as indicated by the duplex printing information  306  in  FIG. 3 . Thus, in S 1603 , a re-configuration screen is generated in which “disc” is displayed in the paper size selection item  1401  and the duplex printing selection item  1402  cannot be selected. As described above, the present embodiment is applicable also to a case of a paper size with which a usable function is limited. 
     Embodiment 6 
     Next, Embodiment 6 will be described. In Embodiments 4 and 5, in a case where duplex printing is not supported for a paper size selected by the user, the print conversion utility  106  executes the process of generating a re-configuration screen in which a paper size and duplex printing can be set again. In Embodiment 6, the print conversion utility  106  performs a process of displaying a re-configuration screen including setting values other than the paper size and duplex printing and a print preview. 
     In the following description, descriptions common to those in Embodiments 1 to 5 are omitted, and only the differences will be described. In particular, in the following, a setting item display configuration of and a flow of a process by the print conversion utility  106  will be described as the differences from Embodiments 1 to 5. 
       FIG. 17  is a diagram illustrating the settings of items to be displayed in the re-configuration screen. A print display item re-setting screen  1700  to be displayed by the print conversion utility  106  includes a print preview display setting  1701  and a detail item display setting  1702  as items to be displayed for re-configuration of print settings. In a case where the user, before executing printing, configures the settings in the print display item re-setting screen  1700  and presses a close button  1703 , the print conversion utility  106  can close the print display item re-setting screen  1700  and change setting items in the re-configuration screen. In  FIG. 17 , the print preview display setting  1701  and the detail item display setting  1702  are checked as an example. The re-configuration screen in this case is illustrated in  FIG. 18 . 
       FIG. 18  is a schematic diagram illustrating a re-configuration screen  1800  including a print preview provided by the print conversion utility  106  and all configurable setting items. The re-configuration screen  1800  includes a printer selection item  1801  for selecting a printer to be caused to execute printing, a paper size selection item  1802 , a duplex printing selection item  1803 , a quantity selection item  1804 , and a paper type selection item  1805 . The re-configuration screen  1800  also includes a paper feed method selection item  1806  and a print preview region  1807 . The re-configuration screen  1800  includes a cancel button  1808  and a print button  1809  as well. Note that the print conversion utility  106  holds information on registered printers and, in the printer selection item  1801  in  FIG. 18 , can display a list of printers previously registered as a virtual printer. 
     Consider, for example, a case where the print conversion utility  106  has previously registered the printers  110  and  130  as the virtual printer  105  and has not previously registered the printer  140 . In this case, the printers  110  and  130  are the only printers displayed in the printer selection item  1801 . Here, in a case where another printer is selected (e.g., in a case where the printer  110  has been selected as an initial setting but is changed to the printer  130  in the re-configuration screen  1800 ), the print conversion utility displays information on each print setting of the changed printer. Information on the print settings of each printer type may be held in the storage component of the print conversion utility in advance, or obtained via communication with the printer and held. 
       FIG. 19  illustrates a flowchart of a process executed by the print conversion utility  106 . More specifically,  FIG. 19  illustrates a flow of a process in which the printing control component  150  of the print conversion utility  106  changes the method in which the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  displays the re-configuration screen  1400  according to the settings in the print display item re-setting screen  1700 . Note that the process flow in  FIG. 19  starts in a case where the user selects the print button  409  in the print setting screen  400  and the print conversion utility  106  obtains a print job. Note that S 1900  to S 1901  and S 1903  to S 1905  in  FIG. 19  are similar to S 1500  to S 1501  and S 1503  to S 1505  described in  FIG. 15  in Embodiment 4, and description thereof is therefore omitted. 
     In the present embodiment, if determining in S 1902  in  FIG. 19  that the combination of setting values selected as print settings by the user is not usable, the print conversion utility  106  proceeds to S 1908 . In S 1908 , the print conversion utility  106  determines whether there is an item(s) selected as an item(s) desired to be displayed in the re-configuration screen. Specifically, the print conversion utility  106  determines whether at least one of the print preview display setting  1701  or the detail item display setting  1702  is selected in the print display item re-setting screen  1700 . If the print preview display setting  1701  or the detail item display setting  1702  is selected in the print display item re-setting screen  1700 , the print conversion utility  106  proceeds to S 1909  and, otherwise, proceeds to S 1903 . 
     In S 1909 , the print conversion utility  106  generates the re-configuration screen  1800  based on the selection in the print display item re-setting screen  1700  and proceeds to S 1904 , in which the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  is caused to display the re-configuration screen  1800 . If determining in S 1902  that printing can be performed with the re-set contents, the print conversion utility  106  proceeds to S 1905 . In S 1905 , the print conversion utility  106  converts the print data  700  obtained in S 1900  into print data compatible with the protocol specific to the printer  130 , sends the converted print data to the printer, and terminates the process. 
     In this way, the user can configure detailed print settings in addition to print settings that need to be changed. This improves convenience. Incidentally, in the re-configuration screen  1800 , a print setting which cannot be configured in the print setting screen  400  provided by the OS-standard printing function may be displayed according to the printer&#39;s function. For example, in a case where the printer is capable of using a special ink, a setting associated with the special ink may be displayed in the re-configuration screen  1800 , and an input may be received from the user. Thus, with the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106 , the user can configure print settings that cannot be configured with the OS-standard printing function. Also, the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  may be caused to always display a re-configuration screen including all setting items configurable with the printer in a case of executing printing, irrespective of the determination result in S 1902 . Moreover, the configuration may be such that whether to always display a re-configuration screen to the user or to display a re-configuration screen only in the case of an unusable combination of setting values can be set with the print conversion utility  106 . 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, a re-configuration screen is displayed based on an item(s) to be displayed in the re-configuration screen selected by the user. In this way, the user can configure print settings necessary for the user or check a print preview. This improves convenience. 
     Embodiment 7 
     Next, Embodiment 7 will be described. Embodiments 4 to 6 assume that the print conversion utility  106  is present inside the same PC as the PC which executes printing. In Embodiment 7, printing is performed with a printer from a PC other than the PC  100 , in which the print conversion utility  106  is launched, via the print conversion utility  106 . 
     In the following description, descriptions common to those in Embodiments 1 to 6 are omitted, and only the difference will be described. In particular, in the following, a flow of a process via the print conversion utility  106  from a PC other than the one in which the print conversion utility  106  is launched will be described as the difference from Embodiments 1 to 6. 
       FIG. 20  illustrates a flowchart of a process executed by the print conversion utility  106 . More specifically,  FIG. 20  illustrates a flow of a process in which the printing control component  150  of the print conversion utility  106  changes the method in which the display component  109  of the print conversion utility  106  displays the re-configuration screen  1400  according to the PC that has sent a print instruction. Note that the process flow in  FIG. 20  starts in a case where the user selects the print button  409  in the print setting screen  400  and the print conversion utility  106  obtains a print job. S 2000  and S 2003  to S 2005  in  FIG. 20  are similar to S 1500  and S 1503  to S 1505  described in  FIG. 15  in Embodiment 4, and description thereof is therefore omitted. 
     In the present embodiment, in  FIG. 20 , the print conversion utility  106  obtains the address information  701  on the PC which has sent the print instruction from the print data  700  in S 2001 . Then, if determining in S 2002  that the combination of setting values selected as the print settings by the user is not usable, the print conversion utility  106  proceeds to S 2010 . In S 2010 , the print conversion utility  106  refers to the address information  701  obtained in S 2001  and determines whether the PC  100 , in which the print conversion utility  106  is launched, and the PC which has sent the print instruction are different PCs. If determining in S 2010  that they are different PCs, the print conversion utility  106  proceeds to S 2011  and, otherwise, proceeds to S 2003 . In S 2011 , the print conversion utility  106  changes a setting value(s) selected by the user and proceeds to S 2005 . For example, in a case where “disc” size and “duplex printing” have been set by the user, the print conversion utility  106  changes the duplex printing setting and proceeds to S 2005 . In S 2005 , the print conversion utility  106  converts the print data  700  obtained in S 2000  into print data compatible with the protocol specific to the printer  130 , sends the converted print data to the printer, and terminates the process. 
     In this way, in the case of executing printing from the PC  120 , in which the print conversion utility  106  is not launched, via the print conversion utility  106 , the user can start the printing without stopping the printing. This improves convenience. 
     Other Embodiments 
     The printing systems in Embodiments 1 to 7 employ a configuration in which the PCs and the printers are connected via particular bi-directional interfaces, but are not limited to this example. Specifically, the printing systems may each be an integrated printing system in which the functions of the PCs and the printers are integrated. 
     Also, the above-described embodiments may be combined as appropriate. For example, by combining Embodiments 1 and 4, it is possible to display a usage-related guide dialogue in a case of a combination of print settings with which printing can be executed, and display a re-configuration screen in a case of a combination of print settings with which printing is impossible. 
     Embodiment(s) of the present disclosure 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 disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure 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. 2021-006286, filed Jan. 19, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference wherein in its entirety.