JP5120107B2 - Variable printing method and variable printing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and system for performing variable printing in which contents are changed for each printed matter, and more particularly to a technique for automating variable printing.

  With the speeding up of the Internet, the Webtoprint system, which is a web-based submission system, has been developed. In the Webtoprint system, submission work is digitized to improve the efficiency of ordering and printing work for printed materials. It is done.

  As an invention related to the Webtoprint system, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that provides necessary individual printed matter (direct mail) in a form in accordance with a request from an ordering side.

  A server constituting the system disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a database that stores image data and text data used for printing, and print production instruction data including a variable field based on application information from the ordering side. By generating material data and arranging material data in variable fields included in the generated printed matter creation instruction data, print image data in PDF format to be output to a digital printer is created.

  As disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a PDF format image file (or an image file of POSTSCRIP which is a page description language) is stored in a database, each content can be stored as in direct mail used in OnetoOne marketing. When performing variable printing on different printed materials, a PDF format image file (or POSTSCRIP image file) must be prepared for each printed material and stored in the database. The storage capacity required to store all image files In addition, there is a problem that the amount of communication transmitted to the digital printer increases.

  In order to solve such a problem, a variable description language, which is a page description language developed for variable printing, has been developed and already put into practical use. As a variable description language, VIPP (VIPP: Variable-data Intelligent PostScript Printware) is famous.

  For example, by describing the page layout common to printed materials with the code of VIPP, only one common page layout is required for printed materials, so it is possible to reduce the storage capacity required for variable printing, and further to digital printers. The amount of data to be transmitted can be reduced.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-241910

  However, if a printing company uses a variable description language such as VIPP, it must manually create an application written in a variable description language such as VIPP for each page layout of the printed matter to be ordered. It was a bottleneck when trying to automate the Webtoprint system.

  Therefore, the present invention can execute variable printing without manually creating an application described in a variable description language, which is a page description language developed for variable printing, such as VIPP. It is an object to provide a method and system.

A first invention that solves the above-described problem is a variable printing method that automatically generates a printer control code to be interpreted and executed by a variable printer and executes variable printing, and has a variable field layout to which variable data is assigned. A layout definition file described in at least a predetermined format, and a template including an item definition file in which an association between the variable data item and the variable field item is described in a predetermined format for each printed matter to be subjected to variable printing Prepare it,
Step a) The portal server receives a variable data file storing the variable data according to the data structure defined in the item definition file via the network, and stores the variable data file in a data storage device.
Step b) The printer code generation server for generating a printer control code analyzes the item definition file included in the specified template, and variable description of the data structure of the variable data file stored in the data storage device The data is converted into a data structure suitable for a language, the layout definition file included in the specified template is analyzed, and the format of the layout definition file is changed to a variable description language format corresponding to the variable printer using variable printing. Generating the printer control code for embedding and printing the variable data, and transmitting the printer control code to the variable printer,
Step c) The variable printer interprets and executes the printer control code generated by the printer code generation server, merges the variable data included in the variable data file stored in the data storage device, and Steps to perform printing,
Is included in the variable printing method.

According to the first invention described above, if the layout definition file in which the layout of a printed matter is defined is included in the template and the format of the layout definition file is defined, the printer code generation server can perform the layout definition. If the file format is converted into a variable description language format, the printer code generation server can automatically generate the printer control code. Further, the data structure of the variable data file is standardized for each layout design, the contents are described in the item definition XML file, and the data structure of the variable data file is changed to a data structure suitable for a variable description language. If converted, one variable data file can be used by various variable printers.

  Even when a plurality of types of the variable printers are installed, if the layout definition file is prepared, only one data defining the layout design of the printed material is required.

A second invention is the variable printing method according to the first invention, wherein the layout definition file and the item definition file included in the template are XML format data files, and in step b), The printer code generation server analyzes the layout definition file and the item definition file using a schema of the layout definition file and the item definition file, and generates the printer control code. Is the method.

  If the layout definition file and the item definition file included in the template are data files in XML format, the layout definition file and the item definition file are described in the layout definition file and the item definition file by a schema. Therefore, it becomes possible to independently develop the computer program of each computer included in the system for executing the method according to the present invention.

  Further, since the layout definition file is described using a tag element, if a variable description language format corresponding to the tag element is prepared for each tag element of the layout definition file, the format of the layout definition file is set. It becomes easy to create a program that converts the text into a variable description language format.

A third invention is a variable printing system that automatically generates a printer control code that is interpreted and executed by a variable printer and executes variable printing, and stores variable data that is assigned to a variable field via a network. A portal server that receives the variable data file and stores the received variable data file in a data storage device; a layout definition file in which a layout of the variable field to which the variable data is assigned is described in at least a predetermined format; and the association of items and items of the variable field of the variable data file, and templates containing the item definition file described in a predetermined format, when the variable data file is specified, designation The item definition file included in the template is analyzed and stored in the data storage device, and the data structure of the variable data file conforming to the data structure defined in the item definition file is data suitable for a variable description language. And converting the layout definition file included in the template and converting the format of the layout definition file into a format of a variable description language corresponding to the variable printer used for variable printing. A printer code generation server for generating a printer control code for printing by embedding variable data, and the variable data stored in the data storage device by interpreting and executing the printer control code generated by the printer code generation server Fah By merging the variable data contained in the Le in the position of the variable field, a variable printing system comprising: the said variable printer for executing variable printing, a.

A fourth invention is the variable printing system according to the third invention, wherein the layout definition file and the item definition file included in the template are XML format data files, and the printer code generation server is A variable printing system that analyzes the layout definition file and the item definition file using the layout definition file and the item definition file schema to generate the printer control code.

  Thus, according to the present invention described above, variable printing can be performed without manually creating an application written in a variable description language, which is a page description language developed for variable printing, such as VIPP. Can be provided.

  Hereafter, the variable printing method and the variable printing system 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a variable printing system 1 to which the present invention is applied.

  The variable printing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a system that is constructed to automatically process prints ordered via the Internet 17. A variable data file including variable data used for variable printing is stored in the portal server 11. A client 10 for transmission, a portal server 11 provided for receiving an order for printed matter, a database server 12 for storing variable data files and the like for each order received, a plurality of variable printers 16 including a printer server 15, 1 includes at least a printer code generation server 14 that automatically generates a printer control code to be transmitted to the printer server 15 and a JOB controller server 13 that manages the progress of an ordered print product. Page description language One of the variable description languages, VIPP (variable data intelligent PostScript Printware (VIPP)) and variable printer 16 compatible with PPML / VDX (PPML / VDX: Personalized Print Markup Language / Variable Data Exchange) And a printer 16.

  In the variable printing system 1 shown in FIG. 1, even when a plurality of variable printers 16 are provided, printer control codes described in a variable description language that is a page description language for variable printing are automatically generated. In order to be able to generate automatically, a template is prepared in advance for each printed matter that can be ordered by the variable printing system 1, and this template is stored in the database server 12.

  The layout design template includes at least two XML files, one of which is a variable field layout (for example, coordinates for arranging the variable field) in which the variable data included in the printed material is embedded at least in a predetermined format. The other is an item definition file in which the data structure of the variable data file and the variable field associated with the variable data are described in a predetermined format.

  The reason why the layout definition XML file is included in the layout design template is to allow the printer code generation server 14 to automatically generate the printer control code described in the variable description language.

  For each tag element defined in the schema of the layout definition XML file, a variable description language format corresponding to the tag element is defined, and the printer code generation server 14 selects the tag element described in the layout definition XML file. If the process of converting to the variable description language format is executed, the printer code generation server 14 can automatically generate the printer control code.

  Further, if the variable description language format corresponding to the tag element is defined for each tag element defined in the schema of the layout definition XML file for each variable description language, a plurality of types of variable printers 16 are installed. Even if it is, there is only one layout definition data for the printed matter.

  The reason for including the item definition XML file in the template is to standardize the specifications of the variable data file for each layout design so that one variable data file can be used in various variable description languages. is there.

  If the data structure of the variable data file received from the client 10 is a data structure specialized to the specification of a certain variable description language, the variable data file received from the client 10 is transferred to the variable printer 16 corresponding to another variable description language. Since it cannot be used, the specification of the data structure of the variable data file is standardized in advance for each layout definition file and described in the item definition XML file.

  In this way, by referring to the item definition XML file and converting the data structure of the variable data file received from the client 10 into a data structure corresponding to the variable printer 16 used for variable printing, the client 10 Can be printed by an arbitrary variable printer 16 using the variable data file received from the printer.

  From here, the detailed content of this invention is demonstrated. First, the template and the layout definition XML file and item definition XML file included in the template will be described in detail.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a layer configuration of a layout design of a printed material. The layout design includes a plurality of layers. In FIG. 2, the layout design 2 includes a variable printing background, that is, a background layer 20 in which a fixed image is arranged, and a variable field in which variable data is embedded. The variable layer 21 is provided.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a layout design. The layout design 2a shown in FIG. 3 is a layout design for a direct mail postcard. In FIG. 3, the area surrounded by a square frame drawn with a dotted line is a variable field 210-219 arranged in the layout design 2a. The illustrated pattern 200 shown by a solid line is a fixed pattern arranged in the layout design 2a.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the background layer 20a of the layout design 2a shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the variable layer 21a of the layout design 2 shown in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the fixed pattern in FIG. 3, that is, the pattern 200 depicted by a solid line is arranged in the background layer 20 a of the layout design 2 a. As shown in FIG. 5, the variable fields 210 to 219 arranged in FIG. 3 are arranged in the variable layer 21a of the layout design 2a.

  In authoring software, when designing a layout design, a variable field in which text is embedded and a variable field in which an image is embedded can be placed in the variable layer. In the variable field, the coordinates in which the variable field is set and the variable field are embedded. The data format (text or image) and the name for identifying the variable field are set.

  The variable field 210 arranged in the variable layer 21 illustrated in FIG. 5 is a text variable field having a name “zip code”, and the variable field 211 has a name “address 1” and a destination prefecture / city. The variable field 212 is a text variable field in which the district is embedded. The variable field 212 is a text “variable field” in which the name is “address 2” and the destination town area / address is embedded. The variable field 213 is the name “address 3”. The variable name field is a variable field of text in which the name of the destination building is embedded. The variable field 214 is a variable field of text in which the name is “name” and the name of the destination is embedded.

  The variable field 215 arranged in the variable layer 21 illustrated in FIG. 5 is a variable field having a name “guidance image” and an image in which direct mail guidance content (for example, new product announcement) is embedded. A field 216 is a variable field in which an image indicating a product targeted for direct mail is embedded with a name “product image”, and a variable field 217 has a name “store image” and a store from which direct mail is sent. The variable field 218 is a variable field in which the name is “responsible image”, the image indicating the person in charge of the destination is embedded, and the variable field 219 is the name “map image”, and is a direct field. Guide the store from which the email was sent A variable field image showing a map is embedded.

  A template including a layout definition XML file and an item definition XML file is generated from the contents of the layout design designed in the authoring software, that is, the contents of the background layer and the variable layer, by the plug-in function of the authoring software.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a template. The template 3 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes a layout definition XML file 30 and an item definition XML file 31, and each of the layout definition XML file 30 and the item definition XML file 31 is in markup language in accordance with the respective schemas. It is described in a certain XML (XML: eXtensible Markup Language).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a layout definition XML file 30a corresponding to the layout 2a shown in FIG. The layout definition XML file 30a defines the contents of the background layer 20a illustrated in FIG. 4 and the contents of the variable field arranged in the variable layer 21a illustrated in FIG.

  In the layout definition XML file 30a illustrated in FIG. 7, the contents of the layout definition XML file 30a are described in the form element 300. In the head element 301 which is a child element of the form element 300, the template name and duplex printing are performed. The slipsheet element 302 that is a child element of the form element 300 describes the presence / absence and the like, and the serial number to be printed on the slip sheet and the slip sheet. The layerset element 303 that is a child element of the form element 300 describes the layout. A layer included in the design a is defined.

  The name attribute of each layer (here, “background” and “variable field”) is described in the name attribute of the layerset element 303, and the contents of each page are described using the page element 308. The content is described in a layer element 304 that is a child element of the page element 308.

In FIG. 7, the value of the name attribute of the layer element 304 is the name of the layer described by the layer element 304. Here, the content of the background layer 20a illustrated in FIG. 4 is described in the layer element 304 whose name attribute value is “background”, and in the layer element 304 whose name attribute value is “ variable field ”. The contents of the variable layer 21a illustrated in FIG. 5 are described.

  The baseimage element 305 described in the layer element 304 whose name attribute value is “background” is an element that defines an image file that is an image of all the fixed pictures arranged in the background layer 20a illustrated in FIG. In the baseimage element 305, the file name of the image file (here, “background.eps”) is the filename element 305a, and the start coordinates (here, the X-axis start coordinates are “0.00”). ", The start coordinate of the Y axis is" 0.25 ") is defined by the startX element 305b and the startY element 305c.

A field element 306 described in the layer element 304 whose name attribute value is “ variable field ” is an element that defines the detailed contents of the variable field of the text arranged in the variable layer 21a illustrated in FIG. in 7, defined as the field element 306 to define a variable field of the text that was shown in Figure 5, the field element 306 in which the name is to define a variable field of the "zip code", the name is a variable field of "address 1" Field element 306, a field element 306 that defines a variable field whose name is “address 2”, a field element 306 that defines a variable field whose name is “address 3”, and a variable field whose name is “ name ” Field element 306 is described.

  Furthermore, the image element 307 defines the detailed contents of the variable field of the image. The image element 307 defines the variable field of the image arranged in the variable layer shown in FIG. An image element 307 that defines a variable field, an image element 307 that defines a variable field whose name is “product image”, an image element 307 that defines a variable field whose name is “store image”, and a name “in charge image” An image element 307 that defines a variable field and an image element 307 that defines a variable field whose name is “map image” are described.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a field element 306 that describes the contents of a variable field of text, and a field element 306 that defines a variable field whose name is “zip code”. In the field element 306 shown in FIG. 8, the name of the variable field (here, “zip code”) is described using the fieldname element 306a.

  As shown in FIG. 5, since the variable field is defined by a quadrangle, the area in which the variable field is arranged is defined by two coordinates, here, the start coordinate and the bottom coordinate diagonal to the start coordinate. . The start coordinates are described using a startX element 306b and a startY element 306c. In FIG. 8, the start coordinates of the X axis are “21.00” and the start coordinates of the Y axis are “24.00”. The bottom coordinates are described using a bottomX element 306d and a bottomY element 306e. The bottom coordinate of the X axis is “21.00” and the bottom coordinate of the Y axis is “27.53”.

  The field element 306 includes a usecolumn element 306i for defining text to be embedded in a variable field defined by the field element 306 from the text variable data included in the variable data file, and a position at which the text variable data is embedded. A Ctext element 306j to be defined is described.

  In the element value of the usecolumn element 306i, a variable name (“yubin” in FIG. 8) corresponding to the variable data of the text to be substituted into the variable field is described. In the element value of the Ctext element 306j, this variable name is described by being enclosed in “[[]]” (here, [[yubin]]), and text is added to the variable name enclosed in “()”. Are embedded and printed.

  In addition, the field element 306 shown in FIG. 8 defines an element 306f that defines the font of the text, an element 306g that defines CMYK that determines the color of the text, and text processing (reduction / enlargement, rotation, etc.). An element 306h and the like are described.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an image element 307 describing the contents of a variable field of an image, and a diagram illustrating an image element 307 defining a variable field whose name is “store image”. In the image element 307 illustrated in FIG. 9, the name of the variable field (here, “store image”) is described using the fieldname element 307a.

  As shown in FIG. 5, since the variable field is defined by a quadrangle, the area where the variable field is arranged can be defined by two coordinates, here, the start coordinate and the bottom coordinate that is the diagonal of the start coordinate. it can. In FIG. 9, the start coordinates are described using a startX element 307c and a startY element 307d, the X-axis start coordinates are “25.00”, and the Y-axis start coordinates are “123.00”. Also, the bottom coordinates are described using a bottomX element 307e and a bottomY element 307f, the bottom coordinates of the X axis are “65.00”, and the bottom coordinates of the Y axis are “123.00”.

The image element 307 includes a variable field defined by the image element 307 from among the filetype attribute 307g that defines the file format of the image file embedded in the variable field of the image and the variable data of the image included in the variable data file. The usecolumn element 307b is described in order to define the image to be assigned to. usecolumn element 307b is variable names the file name of the image file to be assigned to variable field is substituted (in this case, "tenpo _gazou") is an element that defines a. In addition, the image element 307 illustrated in FIG. 9 describes an element 307h that defines image processing (reduction / enlargement, rotation, etc.).

  Before describing the item definition XML file, a variable data file used for describing the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the submitted file transmitted from the client 10 to the portal server 11.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in this embodiment, the submitted file 4 transmitted from the client 10 to the portal server 11 is a single JOB in which the template used for variable printing and the identification data of the variable printer 16 are stored. A data file 40, a variable data file 41 to which a file name of text embedded in a variable field of text or an image file embedded in a variable field of an image is bound, and a plurality of images having file names described in the variable data file 41 Files 42 are included, and these files are associated with the order number and stored in the database server 12.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the variable data file 41 in this embodiment, and FIG. 11 (a) is a diagram for explaining the two-dimensional data table 41b that is the basis of the variable data file 41. b) is a variable data file 41a in which the data table of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the data table 41b that is the basis of the variable data file 41a is a two-dimensional data table, and the data table 41b includes a plurality of columns and a plurality of records. Each text file included and each image file name corresponding to the image file used as variable data are described. In the following, the column number and the record number are indicated by enclosing them in “[]”.

  Column [1] contains a 7-digit number indicating the postal code, column [2] contains text indicating the prefecture / city, and column [3] indicates the town / village / address. Text is described, text indicating a building name is described in column [4], text indicating a surname is described in column [5], and text indicating a name is described in column [6].

In addition, column [7] describes the name of the image file in which the guide image describing the subject of direct mail is stored, and column [8] describes the store that sends direct mail. image file name of the store image is stored is described, in column [9], the image file name in which the map image in which the map of the store to be guided by the direct mail is depicted is stored is described, in column [10] Is the name of the image file that stores the image of the person in charge that describes the person in charge of direct mail, and the column [11] stores the product image that describes the product to be guided by direct mail. The image file name is described.

The variable data file 41a is generated by outputting the two-dimensional table illustrated in FIG. 11A as CSV format text. As shown in FIG. 1 1 (b), the variable data file 41a of the CSV format, each record in the data table 41b is written separated by a line feed code (CR + LF), column values included in each record Are separated by a comma “,”.

In FIG. 11B, for example, “162-0061, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 1-1-1, Kaga-cho, Dainippon, Aro, open.eps, shop1.eps, map1.eps, tantou1.eps , syouhin.eps "is the contents of the record [1] in the data table shown in Fig. 1 1 (a), and the column values included in the record [1] are described by separating them with commas in the column order. ing.

  According to the contents of "1620061, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 1-1-1, Kagamachi, Dainippon, Arou, open.eps, shop1.eps, map1.eps, tantou1.eps, syouhin1.eps" The column value for [1] is “1620061”, the column value for column [2] is “Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo”, the column value for column [3] is “1-1-1 Kagamachi”, column [4 ] Column value is NULL, column [5] column value is “Dai Nippon”, column [6] column value is “Aro”, column [7] column value is “open.eps” , Column [8] has column value “shop1.eps”, column [9] has column value “map1.eps”, column [10] has column value “tantou1.eps”, column [11] The column value of is “syouhin1.eps”.

  From here, the item definition XML file will be described. The item definition XML file is a text file in which the data structure of the variable data file and the variable field associated with the variable data are described in XML. FIG. 12 shows the item definition XML file 31a for the variable data file shown in FIG. FIG.

The contents of the item definition XML file 31a are described in the fields element 310, and the field element 311 that is a child element of the fields element 3 10 is an element that defines each variable data included in the variable data file 41a illustrated in FIG. It is.

  The column attribute of the field element 311 is an attribute that specifies the column number in which the variable data is described. The name attribute is a variable name described in this column from the variable names described in the layout definition XML file. An attribute that defines a corresponding variable name, and an id attribute is an attribute that specifies a data format.

  If the value of the id attribute is "image", it means that the column value of that column is the image file name of the image file. If it is a value other than "image", the column value of that column is text It means that.

When the value of the id attribute is "image", the width attribute that specifies the horizontal size of the image, the height that is the attribute that specifies the vertical size of the image, after the id attribute A unit attribute indicating an attribute and a unit is described.

  From the number of field elements 311 in the item definition XML file 31a illustrated in FIG. 12, the number of columns included in the variable data file 41a, that is, the number of variable data included in the variable data file 41a is known. It is.

  From the id attribute of the field element 311, it can be determined whether the data format (text data or image file) of the variable data included in the variable data file 41 a, the column of the variable data file 41 a is determined from the value of the column attribute and the name attribute. The variable name in which the variable data (text data or image file) described in 1 is embedded is known, and the variable data indicated by the column of the variable data file 41a is embedded in the field element 306 or the image element 307 having the variable name.

  For example, since the id attribute of the field element 311 whose name attribute is “yubin” is not “image”, it can be seen that the variable data defined by the field element 311 is text data, and the value of the column attribute is “ 1 ”, the text data described in the column [1] of the variable data file 41a is defined by the field element 306 (the field element 306 illustrated in FIG. 8) whose usecolumn element 306i has the value“ yubin ”. It can be seen that it is embedded in the location.

  From here, the printer code generation server 14 that generates the printer control code from the variable data file and the template will be described in detail. FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the printer code generation server 14, FIG. 13 (a) is a circuit block diagram, and FIG. 13 (b) is a functional block diagram.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, the printer code generation server 14 includes a central processing unit 14a (CPU: Central Processing Unit), a RAM 14c (RAM: Random Access Memory) as a main memory, and a ROM 14b in which a BIOS is mounted. (ROM: Read-Only Memory), a network interface 14d for network communication, a hard disk 14e which is a large-capacity data storage device, etc.

  As shown in FIG. 13B, the printer code generation server 14 is a printer code that is a computer program that functions as means for generating a printer control code from a template and a variable data file as a function for realizing the present invention. The generation program 140 is stored in association with identification data of the variable printer 16 installed in the variable printing system 1.

  The reason why the printer code generation server 14 stores the printer generation program for each model of the variable printer 16 installed in the variable printing system 1 is to generate a printer code generation program corresponding to the model of the variable printer 16. .

  For example, in the variable printing system 1 shown in FIG. 1, two printers, a variable printer 16 that corresponds to the variable description language PPML / VDX and a variable printer 16 that corresponds to the variable printer 16 that corresponds to the variable description language VIPP, are installed. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 13B, the printer code generation server 14 includes a printer code generation program for the variable printer 16 compatible with PPML / VDX and a variable code for the variable printer 16 compatible with VIPP. Two of the printer code generation programs are stored in the hard disk 14e.

  The printer code generation program 140 installed in the printer code generation server 14 is a specification of a variable description language supported by the variable printer 16 (for example, “PPML Specifications” disclosed by PODi (Print On Demand Initiative)). For each tag element described in the layout definition XML file, and includes a module that converts the contents defined in the tag element into a variable description language format corresponding to the tag element. ing.

  For example, when the variable description language is described in XML, the printer code generation program 140 converts XML of the layout definition XML file into XML of the variable description language.

  At this time, the printer code generation program 140 has a variable description language schema, compares the layout definition XML file schema and the variable description language schema, and changes the structure of the tag element of the layout definition XML file to the variable description language schema. A printer control code is generated by converting the tag element structure.

  The printer code generation program preferably includes machine specifications of the variable printer 16, such as resolution, gradation, and output format (PDF, TIFF, etc.). This is because there are cases where the machine specifications of the variable printer 16 are different even in the variable printer 16 corresponding to the same variable description language.

  From here, a procedure in which the printer code generation server 14 generates a printer generation code from a template and a variable data file will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the printer code generation server 14.

  The input when the printer code generation server 14 generates the printer control code is the template, the path where the variable data file is stored, and the identification data of the variable printer 16. The identification data of the template and the variable data file is JOB. Designated by the controller server 13 (S1).

  For example, according to the file structure shown in FIG. 10, by specifying an order number from the JOB controller server 13, the JOB data file 40 and the variable data file 41 specified by the order number can be specified. Thus, the identification data of the template and the variable printer used when generating the printer control code can be specified.

  When the printer code generation server 14 identifies the template used when generating the printer control code, the path where the variable data file is stored, and the variable printer 16, the template identification data and the variable data file are stored. The printer code generation program 140 for the variable description language corresponding to the variable printer 16 specified by the identification data is called using the existing path as an argument, and generation of the printer control code is started (S2).

  When the identification data of the template and the path where the variable data file is stored are delivered, the printer code generation program 140 reads the item definition XML file included in the template specified by the identification data, and stores the item definition XML file. The data structure of the variable data file is analyzed with reference to the schema, and converted into the data structure of the variable data file in accordance with the specification of the variable description language (S3).

  For example, depending on the specification of the variable description language, a database storing the variable data included in the variable data file is constructed on the database server 12 according to the specification of the variable description language. If there is an image file in a format other than the specification of the variable printer 16, the format of the image file is converted into a format that matches the specification of the variable description language.

  Then, the printer code generation program 140 analyzes the tag element described in the layout definition file included in the template, and converts the tag element into a variable description language format corresponding to the tag element. Is generated (S4).

  The process of converting the tag elements described in the layout definition file into a variable description language format depends on the specification of the variable description language. For example, when the variable description language is VIPP, the variable printer 16 reads the variable path stored in the folder generated on the database server 12 and the path of this folder is specified in the printer control code as a predetermined command of the variable description language. Embedded as an argument. When the variable description language is DS-postscript, a printer control code in which only text variable data is embedded is generated according to the number of printed materials.

  The printer control code generated by the printer code generation server 14 is transmitted to the printer server 15 of the identified variable printer 16, and the variable printer 16 interprets and executes the printer control code, and the printed matter is subjected to variable printing (S5).

  From here, a series of operations of the variable printing system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart when receiving an order for a printed matter in the variable printing system 1, and FIG. 16 is a flowchart when performing variable printing of the printed matter in the variable printing system 1.

  First, a procedure for receiving an order for a printed matter in the variable printing system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. A browser is mounted on the client 10 constituting the variable printing system 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the orderer accesses the portal server 11 by operating the browser when ordering a printed matter (S10).

  When a submission folder that includes variable data to be used for printing is specified using the Web page of the portal server 11, a portal application that is a computer program that runs on the client 10 using ActiveX control technology or the like. Is transmitted from the portal server 11 to the client 10, and this portal application is activated on the client 10 (S11).

  For example, the portal application reads the specified JOB data file 40 and transmits the template identification data described in the JOB data file 40 to the portal server 11, and the portal server 11 includes the item definition XML file included in the template. Is transmitted to the client 10 (S12).

  The portal application analyzes the item definition XML file transmitted from the portal server 11, checks the format of the designated variable data file (S13), and if there is no error in the format of the variable data file, the file to be submitted A set is transmitted to the portal server 11 (S14).

  When a set of files is transmitted from the portal application running on the client 10, the portal server 11 stores these files in the database server 12 by assigning an order number or the like (S15), and is illustrated in FIG. This flow is finished.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 16, a procedure for performing variable printing on a printed matter in the variable printing system 1 will be described. The JOB controller server 13 confirms the order status of the printed matter registered in the database server 12 at regular intervals. If there is an order for the newly registered printed matter, the variable print schedule is automatically set and the print job is printed. In accordance with the schedule, the printer code generation server 14 is instructed to generate a printer control code (S20).

  The JOB controller server 13 uses the printer code generation server 14 to specify the identification data and order number of the variable printer 16, and the variable data file used when generating the printer control code and the variable printer 16 used for variable printing. The printer code generation server 14 is instructed to generate a printer control code.

  The printer code generation server 14 acquires, for example, a template described in the JOB data file 40 associated with the order number from the database server 12, and a printer code generation program for a variable description language corresponding to the designated variable printer 16. 140 is activated, and a printer code generation code is generated while referring to the layout definition XML file and the item definition XML file included in the template (S21). This process has already been described in detail.

  When the printer code generation server 14 generates a printer control code, the printer code generation server 14 transmits the printer control code to the printer server 15 of the designated variable printer 16, and the printer code generation server 14 generates the printer code at the designated variable printer 16. The printer control code is interpreted and executed, and the received printed matter is subjected to variable printing (S22).

The figure explaining the structure of a variable printing system. The figure explaining the layer structure of the layout design of printed matter. The figure explaining an example of a layout design. The figure explaining a background layer. The figure explaining a variable layer. The figure explaining a template. The figure explaining a layout definition XML file. The figure explaining a field element. The figure explaining the image element. The figure explaining the file structure transmitted to a portal server. The figure explaining the structure of a variable data file. The figure explaining an item definition XML file. The block diagram of a printer code generation server. The flowchart which showed the operation | movement procedure of the printer code production | generation server. Flow chart when receiving a print order. FIG. 6 is a flowchart when variable printing is performed on a printed material.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Variable printing system 10 Client 11 Portal server 12 Database server 13 JOB controller server 14 Printer code generation server 140 Printer code generation program 15 Printer server 16 Variable printer 3 Template 30, 30a Layout definition XML file 31, 31a Item definition XML file

Claims (4)

A variable printing method for automatically generating a printer control code interpreted and executed by a variable printer and executing variable printing,
A layout definition file in which a layout of a variable field to which variable data is allocated is described in at least a predetermined format, and an item definition file in which the association between the variable data item and the variable field item is described in a predetermined format Prepare a template for each printout that you want to print
Step a) The portal server receives a variable data file storing the variable data according to the data structure defined in the item definition file via the network, and stores the variable data file in a data storage device.
Step b) The printer code generation server for generating a printer control code analyzes the item definition file included in the specified template, and variable description of the data structure of the variable data file stored in the data storage device The data is converted into a data structure suitable for a language, the layout definition file included in the specified template is analyzed, and the format of the layout definition file is changed to a variable description language format corresponding to the variable printer using variable printing. Generating the printer control code for embedding and printing the variable data, and transmitting the printer control code to the variable printer,
Step c) The variable printer interprets and executes the printer control code generated by the printer code generation server, merges the variable data included in the variable data file stored in the data storage device, and Steps to perform printing,
A variable printing method comprising: The variable printing method according to claim 1 , wherein the layout definition file and the item definition file included in the template are XML format data files, and in step b), the printer code generation server includes: A variable printing method, wherein the layout definition file and the item definition file are analyzed using the layout definition file and the item definition file schema to generate the printer control code. A variable printing system that automatically generates a printer control code to be interpreted and executed by a variable printer and executes variable printing,
A portal server that receives the variable data file in which variable data assigned to a variable field is stored via a network, and stores the received variable data file in a data storage device;
A layout definition file in which a layout of the variable field to which the variable data is allocated is described in at least a predetermined format, and an item definition in which an association between the variable data file item and the variable field item is described in a predetermined format When a template including a file and the variable data file are designated, the item definition file included in the designated template is analyzed, stored in the data storage device, and defined in the item definition file the converts the data structure of the variable data file into a data structure suitable for variable description language conforming to analyzes the layout definition file included in the template, the format of the layout definition file, variable By converting to the variable description language format corresponding to the variable printer to be used for printing, the printer code generation server for generating a printer control code for printing embeds the variable data,
The printer control code generated by the printer code generation server is interpreted and executed, and the variable data included in the variable data file stored in the data storage device is merged with the variable field to perform variable printing. The variable printer to be executed;
A variable printing system comprising: 4. The variable printing system according to claim 3 , wherein the layout definition file and the item definition file included in the template are XML data files, and the printer code generation server includes the layout definition file and the layout definition file. A variable printing system which analyzes the layout definition file and the item definition file using a schema of an item definition file and generates the printer control code.

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