JP5953727B2 - Image processing apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and program having an editing function for an overlay printing form converted from a data format of a general-purpose host computer to a data format of an open system computer.

  In many cases, overlay printing is used for printing basic business data such as forms. Overlay printing is a function that prints an output page superimposed on a pre-registered form (format). For example, the form is called at the time of printing and printed by superimposing it on the form data.

  Normally, overlay printing is performed by designating a form to be used in print data transmitted from a general-purpose host computer such as a mainframe. Here, the print data transmitted from the general-purpose host computer is described in a special PDL (Page Description Language) including a printer control code. A dedicated printer (line printer) is required.

  Therefore, for example, an open image forming apparatus such as a page printer that performs printing based on print data of an open computer (computer adapted to an open environment) such as a personal computer or a workstation is transmitted from a general-purpose host computer. Since the print data cannot be interpreted, there is a problem that it is difficult to construct a distributed printing environment.

  Therefore, as a system for solving such a problem, an image processing apparatus (image processing server) that performs data system conversion between a mainframe that is a general-purpose host computer and a page printer that is an open image forming apparatus is provided. There is a system. In this system, the image processing apparatus receives line data from the main frame, converts it into PDL having a data system that can be interpreted by the page printer, and then passes the data to the page printer for printing.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, font data used by a main frame is converted into font data that can be interpreted by an image processing server and a page printer, and a logo or an external character is included in print data from the main frame. Based on the character image processing unit that performs bitmap conversion and converts it into image data, and the form image identification value described in the print data from the main frame, PDF (Portable Document Format), JPEG stored in advance on a hard disk or the like (Joint Photographic Experts Group), form image acquisition unit that reads form images in data formats such as GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), character data processed by the character processing unit, and form image acquired by the form image acquisition unit Integrated EMF (Extended Meta File) format And overlay processor for creating overlay data, image processing server and a printer driver for generating print data interpretable page printer from the overlay data is disclosed.

  However, since this image processing server does not have an editing function for a form converted into a data system that can be interpreted by the image processing server, a mainframe resource (general-purpose machine resource) before the data system conversion is required to change the form. ) And the data system (open form resource) that can be interpreted by the image processing server again.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable editing of an overlay printing form converted from a data format of a general-purpose host computer to a data format of an open computer. That is.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes the open system from the form data storage unit that stores the open system form data having the data format of the open system converted from the form data of the overlay printing form having the data format of the general-purpose host computer. A file reading unit that reads form data, a read data conversion unit that acquires drawing parameters of the overlay printing form from the attribute information of the open system form data read by the file reading unit, and the read data conversion unit based on the obtained drawing parameters, the drawing data generating means for generating drawing data, based on the editing instruction for overlay printing form displayed by image drawing data, overlay printing edited A write data conversion unit for generating attribute information of Omu,
An image processing apparatus having a file writing portion, a writing attribute information generated by the previous SL write data conversion unit in the form data storage unit.

According to the present invention, an overlay printing form converted from a general-purpose host computer data format to an open computer data format can be edited and stored .

It is a figure which shows the structure of the business system provided with the image processing apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the form printing server in FIG. It is a functional block diagram of the form printing server in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the general purpose machine resource file in FIG. 3, and an open system form resource file. It is a figure which shows the structure of the form viewer designer in FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process at the time of drawing a form by the form viewer designer shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process when a form viewer designer shown in FIG. 4 edits a form.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<Usage of image processing device>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a business system including an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  This business system is constructed for a basic business such as a company, and via a network 1 such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a main frame 2, a form print server 3 as an image processing device, a terminal computer 4, and An image forming apparatus 5 is connected. Here, for convenience, the terminal computer 4 and the image forming apparatus 5 are illustrated one by one, but actually, a plurality of each are provided.

  The mainframe 2 is composed of a general-purpose computer for business use, and the like, under a unique operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS), PL-1, COBOL, PROLOG, FORTRAN, C, C ++, JAVA (registered trademark), etc. The business application described by the above program is executed, and print data for form printing or the like is generated using data recorded in a relational database or the like. The print data is described in accordance with the standards of each main framer company in a dedicated description language including a job description language and a form description language of the print job in the main frame 2.

  The form printing server 3 is composed of an open computer such as a personal computer or a workstation, and is implemented with Windows (registered trademark) Server2000X as an OS, and a programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, Java (registered trademark), or the like. Is executed to convert print data from the main frame 2 into print data to which a PDL command that can be interpreted by the image forming apparatus 5 is added. A server that implements UNIX (registered trademark) or INUX (registered trademark) as an OS can also be used.

  The terminal computer 4 also has the same configuration as that of the form print server 3, and data communication between the main frame 2 and the form print server 3 is possible. In the present embodiment, the terminal computer 4 instructs the form print server 3 to output print data to the image forming apparatus 5 and manages the history of print jobs.

  The image forming apparatus 5 is a multi-function peripheral (MFP) that can send and receive data via the network 1.

  In this business system, the data format of the print data generated by the main frame 2 is not a data format that can be interpreted by the image forming apparatus 5. Therefore, the main frame 2 transmits the generated print data to the form print server 3 via the network 1, and the form print server 3 converts the received print data into print data that can be interpreted by the image forming apparatus 5. The data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 5 via the network 1. As a result, the image forming apparatus 5 can print a form or the like managed by the main frame 2.

<Hardware configuration of form printing server>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the form printing server 3.
As shown in the figure, the form printing server 3 includes a system bus 31, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 32, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 33, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 34, and an HDD each connected to the system bus 31. (Hard Disk Drive: hard disk device) 35, operation / display unit 36, and network I / F (interface) 37 are provided.

  The CPU 32 transfers the program and data stored in the HDD 35 to the RAM 34 according to instructions of the program stored in the ROM 33, and executes various processes based on the program and data transferred to the RAM 34. The program and data are stored in the HDD 35 by being read from a recording medium using an optical drive device (not shown) or downloaded from the network I / F 37.

  The operation / display unit 36 includes an input device such as a keyboard and a pointing device and a display device such as an LCD display, and is used for inputting and displaying a request or instruction from a user.

  The network I / F 37 is used for connection to the network 1, performs data conversion associated with communication, and exchanges programs and data. In the present embodiment, the network I / F 37 receives data from the main frame 2 and transfers the data to the RAM 34, or transmits print data that can be interpreted by the image forming apparatus 5 held in the RAM 34 to the image forming apparatus 5. To do.

<Function block diagram of form printing server>
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the form printing server 3. Here, each functional block is realized by the CPU 32 in the form print server 3 processing a program and data read from the HDD 35 using the RAM 34 as a work area.

  As shown in the figure, the form print server 3 includes a general-purpose machine resource file 41, an open form resource file 42, a form migration conversion tool 43, a form viewer designer 44, a general-purpose machine resource data conversion engine 45, and a printer driver 46. Yes.

  The general-purpose machine resource file 41 is a form data file created by the main frame 2 and having control information in a data format unique to the main frame 2. The open system form resource file 42 is a form data file having control information in a data format optimized for an open environment. Details of the structure of each form resource file will be described later.

  The form transfer conversion tool 43 is a module having a function of converting the data format of the general-purpose machine resource file 41 into the data format of the open system form resource file 42. The form viewer designer 44 is a module having a function of displaying and editing data (form form data) of the open form resource file 42 in a GUI (Graphical User Interface) environment. Details of the form viewer designer 44 will be described later.

  The general-purpose machine resource data conversion engine 45 generates overlay data by overlaying the form data on the form form in the data format of the open system from the print data including the form form identification data and the form data sent from the main frame 2.

  That is, the open form resource file 42 is referred to based on the form form identification data (“form name 101” in the general-purpose machine resource file 41 shown in FIG. 4 to be described later) in the print data from the main frame 2. Form form data is specified and acquired, converted into image data in a predetermined format (here, EMF format), and form data in the print data from the mainframe 2 is converted into image data in a predetermined format. The overlay data is generated by combining the image data of the form data with the image data of the form form.

  The general-purpose machine resource data conversion engine 45 passes the generated overlay data to the printer driver 46. The printer driver 46 generates print data described in PDL such as PostScript (registered trademark) that can be interpreted by the image forming apparatus 5 from the overlay data, and sends the print data to the image forming apparatus 5.

<Structure of general-purpose machine resource file and open form resource file>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the general-purpose machine resource file 41 and the open system form resource file 42.

  As illustrated, the general-purpose machine resource file 41 includes a form name 101, a compile mode 102, a paper size 103, a paper direction 104, a grid size 105, a font designation 106, a line drawing command 107, a rectangle drawing command 108, and a text drawing command 109. , A circle drawing command 110 and an image embedding command 111.

  The open form resource file 42 includes a header character string 201, a file version 202, an overlay attribute 203, a graphic object number 204, a graphic object type 205, and a graphic object 206. Here, the data in the open form resource file 42 is vector data in a predetermined unique format.

  As described above, the data system conversion from the general-purpose machine resource file 41 to the open system form resource file 42 is performed by the form migration conversion tool 43. When performing the conversion process, the form migration conversion tool 43 associates the form name 101, the paper size 103, the paper direction 104, and the grid size 105 in the general-purpose machine resource file 41 with the overlay attribute 203 in the open form resource file 42. . Further, the line drawing command 107, the rectangle drawing command 108, the text drawing command 109, the circle drawing command 110, and the image embedding command 111 are made to correspond to the respective graphic object type 205 and the graphic object 206. Also, the font designation 106 is made to correspond to a text graphic object.

<Structure of form viewer designer>
FIG. 5 shows the structure of the form viewer designer 44.
The form viewer designer 44 is a module that allows a desired form form in the open form resource file 42 to be edited in the GUI environment in the operation / display unit 36. As shown in FIG. 441, a read data conversion unit 442, a designer UI (User Interface) unit 443, a write data conversion unit 444, and an open system resource file writing unit 445. Here, the form to be edited can be selected by displaying a list on the operation / display unit 36.

  The open system form resource file reading unit 441 reads the file data of a desired form form from the open system form resource file 42 and passes it to the read data conversion unit 442. The read data conversion unit 442 acquires drawing parameters from the attribute information (shape, size, color, etc.) of the graphic object 206 in the received file data and passes the drawing parameters to the designer UI unit 443. The designer UI unit 443 passes the drawing command together with the received drawing parameter to the OS 47. The OS 47 draws a form according to the received drawing parameters and drawing command and displays the form on the display device 361 of the operation / display unit 36.

  In the present embodiment, drawing parameter creation processing by the read data conversion unit 442 and drawing processing by the OS 47 are performed using a GDI (Graphics Device Interface) which is a graphics drawing function provided by Windows (registered trademark). That is, the read data conversion unit 442 generates drawing parameters by converting the data in the open form resource file 42 composed of vector data in a predetermined format into the EMF format, and passes it to the OS 47. The OS 47 is described in the drawing parameters. A drawing module corresponding to the GDI function being called is called to perform drawing.

  When the user performs an editing operation on the form form displayed on the display device 361 of the operation / display unit 36 using a pointing device or the like, the content is sent to the designer UI unit 443 by the OS 47, and the designer UI is displayed. The data is sent from the unit 443 to the write data conversion unit 444. The write data conversion unit 444 generates drawing parameters for the edited form, converts it to vector data in a predetermined format, and passes it to the open form resource file writing unit 445. The open system form resource file writing unit 445 writes the received vector data in a predetermined format to the open system form resource file 42. As a result, the open form resource file 42 stores the data of the edited form form.

<Operation of form viewer designer>
Next, the operation of the form viewer designer 44 will be described in the order of the process at the time of form form drawing and the process at the time of form form editing.

《Process when drawing form form》
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process when the form viewer designer 44 draws a form.

  As shown in the figure, the form viewer designer 44 opens the open form resource file 42 (step S1), and first reads the header character string 201 (step S2). Next, the file version 202 is read (step S3), the overlay attribute 203 is read (step S4), and the figure object number 204 is read (step S5).

  Next, the graphic object type 205 is read (step S6) and the graphic object 206 corresponding to the graphic object type is read (step S7), and a drawing parameter 301 is generated and passed to the OS 47 together with the drawing command. The OS 47 draws the graphic object according to the drawing parameters and the drawing command (step S8), and causes the display device 361 to display the graphic object.

  When all graphic object types 205 and corresponding graphic objects 206 are read, drawing parameters 301 are created and sent to the OS 47, and drawing of graphic objects by the OS 47 is completed, there are no graphic objects 206 that have not been read (step S9: If there is no graphic object), the open form resource file 42 is closed (step S10), and the process for drawing the form is completed.

<Processing when editing a form>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing when the form viewer designer 44 edits the form.

  When the user uses the pointing device to indicate a part to be edited on the form form displayed on the display device 361, the display mode of the specified part is changed to highlight display or the like. At this time, the OS 47 notifies the form viewer designer 44 of “graphic input user input” (step S11). With this notification, the drawing parameter 301 and the graphic object creation command are sent to the form viewer designer 44. The form viewer designer 44 creates a graphic object according to the received drawing parameters and graphic object creation command (step S12).

  Next, when the user performs an editing operation using a pointing device or the like on a portion of the form form displayed on the display device 361 to be edited, the edited form form is displayed on the display device 361. At this time, the OS 47 notifies the form viewer designer 44 of “graphic editing user input” (step S13). With this notification, the drawing parameter 301 and the graphic object editing command are sent to the form viewer designer 44. The form viewer designer 44 edits the graphic object in accordance with the received drawing parameters and graphic object editing command (step S14).

  Next, when the user performs an editing result saving operation, the OS 47 notifies the form viewer designer 44 of "user input for file saving" (step S15). By this notification, a file saving command is sent to the form viewer designer 44. The form viewer designer 44 saves the data related to the held graphic object in the open form resource file 42 in accordance with the received file saving command (step S16).

  As described above in detail, according to the form printing server 3 of the embodiment of the present invention, the open form resource file 42 can be easily edited in the GUI environment. Therefore, when the open form resource file 42 is changed, it is not necessary to change the general-purpose machine resource file 41 before conversion and convert it to the open form resource file 42 again.

  In the above embodiment, the data of the open system form resource file 42 is converted into the EMF format to generate drawing parameters, and drawing is performed using the GDI function provided by Windows (registered trademark). Alternatively, the data of the open system form resource file 42 may be converted into vector image data of another format to generate a drawing parameter, and the drawing may be performed by another drawing module.

  In this embodiment, the printer driver 46 in the form print server 3 converts the overlay data into print data described in PDL such as PostScript (registered trademark). Alternatively, a PostScript (registered trademark) font or the like may be downloaded to the form printing server 3 to transmit the overlay data to the image forming apparatus 5.

  2 ... mainframe, 3 ... form printing server, 5 ... image forming apparatus, 41 ... general-purpose machine resource file, 42 ... open form resource file, 44 ... form viewer designer, 45 ... general-purpose machine resource data conversion engine, 46 ... printer driver.

JP 2010-72778 A

Claims (5)

A file reading unit for reading the open form data from a form data storage unit for storing open form data having an open computer data format converted from form data of an overlay printing form having a data format of a general-purpose host computer ; ,
From the attribute information of the open system form data read by the file reading unit, a read data conversion unit that acquires drawing parameters of the overlay printing form;
Drawing data generating means for generating drawing data based on the drawing parameters acquired by the read data conversion unit ;
A write data conversion unit that generates attribute information of the edited overlay printing form based on an editing instruction for the overlay printing form displayed by the drawing data ;
A file writing unit for writing the attribute information generated by the previous SL write data conversion unit in the form data storage unit,
An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The drawing data generation means is an image processing apparatus provided by an operating system of a computer constituting the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
Based on the form identification information in the print data sent from the general-purpose host computer, and the form data acquisition means for acquiring the form data from said form data memory unit,
Image data converting means for converting the acquired form data and form data in the print data into image data of a predetermined format;
Overlay data generating means for generating overlay data by superimposing form data on the form data converted by the image data converting means;
An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3,
An image processing apparatus comprising a printer driver that describes overlay data generated by the overlay data generation means in a predetermined PDL. The program for functioning a computer as each means and each part of the image processing apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4.

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