Patent ID: 8850312

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that prints an image on papers based on print target data; a whole preview image generating unit that generates a whole preview image based on the print target data, the whole preview image being a print preview image of the entirety of each page of the print target data; a display unit that displays an image; a whole preview image display control unit that controls the display unit to display the whole preview image; a divided preview image generating unit that generates divided preview images, the divided preview images being generated by dividing the print preview image of each page of the print target data by a dividing number, the dividing number being set beforehand; a divided preview image enlarging unit that enlarges each of the divided preview images at higher magnification than a display magnification of the whole preview image on the display unit and generates enlarged divided preview images; an entry unit that accepts an instruction from a user; and a divided preview image display control unit that controls the display unit to display one or more dividing number keys, each of the one or more dividing number keys being associated with a dividing number, and also to display the divided preview images or the enlarged divided preview images automatically in a predetermined order, the divided preview image display control unit stopping the automatic display of the divided preview images or the enlarged divided preview images if the entry unit accepts an instruction from the user during the automatic display, the instruction comprising a user selection of one of the displayed dividing number keys, the user selection being associated with a dividing number, and the dividing number being associated with the selected one of the displayed dividing number keys; wherein, based on the dividing number associated with the user selection, the divided preview image generating unit generates new divided preview images and, if the new divided preview images are to be enlarged, the divided preview image enlarging unit generates new enlarged divided preview images, the divided preview image display control unit controlling the display unit to display the new divided preview images or the new enlarged divided preview images automatically in a predetermined order, and wherein the divided preview image enlarging unit comprises an enlarged divided preview image generating unit that generates enlarged divided preview images, each of the generated enlarged divided preview images occupying area in the print preview image wider by a predetermined width than the divided preview image that is generated by dividing the print preview image by the dividing number.