JP6977574B2 - Programs and information processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a program and an information processing apparatus related to display display.

Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a label image printed by a label printer is edited by an operation terminal capable of communicating with the label printer. A label image is displayed on the display of the operation terminal for editing.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-71584

In recent years, the models of image forming devices have become diversified, and the types of media used for image forming have also become diversified. However, Patent Document 1 is not sufficiently disclosed for various models and various media.

The present application has been proposed in view of the above problems, and an object of the present application is to provide a program and an information processing apparatus capable of supporting various models and various media.

The present specification is a program that can be executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus including a user interface, a display, and a communication interface, and is a program in which the computer can communicate with the computer via the communication interface. A first receiving means that accepts an input for selecting any device as a selection device via a user interface, and an input for selecting one of a plurality of media used by the selection device for image formation as a selection medium. , A second receiving means that accepts via the user interface, a first acquiring means that acquires the medium size of the selected medium in the first direction when the second receiving means receives an input for selecting the selected medium, and a selected medium. The display size of the selected medium image in the first direction is the display indicating the medium size in the first direction acquired by the first acquisition means. A third reception means, which is the size and receives an arrangement instruction instructing the computer to arrange the object image on the selected medium image via the user interface while the selected medium image is displayed on the display. When the third receiving means receives the arrangement instruction of the object image, the first determining means for determining the medium size of the selected medium in the second direction based on the arrangement position of the object image indicated by the arrangement instruction, and the selection device. Whether or not the second acquisition means for acquiring a predetermined minimum medium size corresponding to the combination with the selected medium and the medium size in the second direction are smaller than the minimum medium size acquired by the second acquisition means. When the determination means for determining and the determination means determine that the medium size in the second direction is smaller than the minimum medium size acquired by the second acquisition means, the minimum medium size acquired by the second acquisition means is adopted. A second determinant that decides, and if not, decides to adopt the medium size in the second direction, and a display size in the second direction if the second determinant decides to adopt one of the sizes. However, the second display means for updating the selected medium image so as to have a display size indicating the medium size determined to be adopted by the second determination means, and the selected medium image displayed on the display via the user interface. , The selection medium image displayed on the display when the fourth receiving means receives the image forming instruction and the fourth receiving means receives the image forming instruction and the fourth receiving means receives the image forming instruction. It functions as a creating means for creating image data for forming an image in which an object image instructed by an arrangement instruction received by a third receiving means is arranged on a selected medium which is a medium size indicated by the display size of. Disclose a program characterized by this.

Further, the present specification includes a user interface, a display, a communication interface, and a control unit, and the control unit selects one of at least one device capable of communicating via the communication interface. The first reception process of accepting the input selected as the device via the user interface and the input of selecting one of the plurality of media used by the selected device for image formation as the selection medium are performed via the user interface. The second reception process for accepting, the first acquisition process for acquiring the medium size of the selected medium in the first direction when the input for selecting the selected medium is received in the second reception process, and the selected medium image showing the selected medium. Is executed on the display, and the display size of the selected medium image in the first direction is a display size indicating the medium size in the first direction acquired in the first acquisition process, and is controlled. The unit receives a third reception process and a third reception process for receiving an arrangement instruction instructing the object image to be arranged on the selected medium image via the user interface while the selected medium image is displayed on the display. When the placement instruction of the object image is received in, the first determination process of determining the medium size of the selection medium in the second direction based on the placement position of the object image indicated by the placement instruction, and the selection device and the selection medium It is determined whether or not the second acquisition process for acquiring a predetermined minimum medium size corresponding to the combination of the above and the medium size in the second direction is smaller than the minimum medium size acquired in the second acquisition process. If it is determined in the determination process and the determination process that the medium size in the second direction is smaller than the minimum medium size acquired in the second acquisition process, the minimum medium size acquired in the second acquisition process shall be adopted. If the second decision process decides to adopt the medium size in the second direction, and if the second decision process decides to adopt one of the sizes, the display in the second direction is determined. The second display process of updating the selected medium image so that the size becomes the display size indicating the medium size determined to be adopted by the second determination process, and the selected medium image displayed on the display via the user interface. The selection medium displayed on the display when the image formation instruction is received in the fourth reception process when the image formation instruction is received in the fourth reception process and the fourth reception process for receiving the image formation instruction. The medium size indicated by the display size of the image. An information processing apparatus characterized by executing a creation process of creating image data for forming an image in which an object image instructed by an arrangement instruction received in the third reception process is arranged on a selection medium. Disclose.

According to the program according to the present application, it is possible to provide a program capable of supporting various models and various media.

It is a block diagram of the printer system which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which conceptually shows the relationship of each program and a device. It is a figure explaining the rotation function of a printer. It is a figure which shows the edit screen. It is a figure explaining the relationship between a tape size and a print area. It is a figure explaining the calculation of the print area. It is a sequence diagram of the display image data creation sequence. It is a flowchart of the minimum area determination process. It is a flowchart of a print area calculation process. It is a flowchart of a print area determination process.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. It goes without saying that the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention, and the embodiments of the present invention can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention. For example, the execution order of each process described later can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the printer system 1 according to the present embodiment. The printer system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a PC 10 and printers 50 and 51. The PC 10 mainly includes a CPU 12, a memory 14, a display I / F15, an LCD16, an input I / F18, and a network I / F20. These components are made communicable with each other via the bus 22.

The PC 10 and the printers 50 and 51 can communicate with each other via the network I / F 20 and the network 56. The type of the network 56 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, a WAN, a Wi-Fi (registered trademark), a Bluetooth (registered trademark), and a USB cable. In the following description, the printer may be referred to as a device.

The printers 50 and 51 are label printers, and send and receive various information and instruction signals to and from the PC 10, and create labels on which desired texts, images, and the like are printed based on the control by the PC 10. The printers 50 and 51 can be set with a cartridge containing a wound ink ribbon and a tape to be printed. Then, the printers 50 and 51 print the printed tape on the printed tape by the thermal transfer method while feeding the printed tape, cut the printed tape, and discharge the printed printing tape. In the following description, the width direction of the printing tape is described as the width direction, and the direction orthogonal to the width direction is described as the length direction. Further, in the following description, the length in the width direction may be simply referred to as "width", and the length in the length direction may be simply referred to as "length". If the length of the printing tape to be printed and cut is short in the printers 50 and 51, an error such as a defective ejection may occur. Therefore, the length of the printing tape needs to be longer than a predetermined length. In the following description, the length of the printed and cut print tape is referred to as the print length. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the printer 50 has a rotation function (an example of a conversion function) of rotating the print data by 90 degrees and printing when the length of the print data transmitted from the PC 10 is shorter than the width. Have. The print data is data to be printed such as the above-mentioned text or image.

The CPU 12 executes processing according to the pre-installed application programs 26 and OS 32 in the memory 14. The application program 26 is a program for creating labels by the printers 50 and 51. The application program 26 includes an edit screen control module 27, an image data creation module 28, and a device control module 29 as processing modules. The application program 26 may be composed of a single program instead of being composed of a collection of a plurality of programs as described above.

The OS 32 is a program that provides the basic functions used in the application program 26. OS32 is an operating system such as Windows (registered trademark), MacOS (registered trademark), Linux (registered trademark), Android (registered trademark), iOS (registered trademark) and the like. In the following description, the CPU 12 that executes the application program 26 and the like may be simply described by the program name. For example, the description "the application program 26" may mean "the CPU 12 that executes the application program 26".

FIG. 2 conceptually shows the relationship between each program and device. The edit screen control module 27 is, for example, a program that displays an edit screen for creating a label or editing a label on the LCD 16. The editing screen control module 27 executes a display instruction to the OS 32 by, for example, an API provided by the OS 32, and executes a display process by using the display program of the OS 32. The OS 32 controls the display I / F 15 in response to an instruction from the editing screen control module 27, and displays the display on the LCD 16.

The edit screen control module 27 instructs the image data creation module 28 to create display image data indicating an object image for displaying an object constituting the label to be edited on the edit screen. Then, the edit screen control module 27 receives the created display image data from the image data creation module 28, and displays an image based on the received display image data on the LCD 16. The object here is a set of data to be processed. Further, the object image is specifically an image of a series of character strings, an image of a group of figures, a bar code image, or the like. When the edit screen control module 27 receives an input operation for editing an object from the input I / F 18, the image data creation module 28 creates display image data indicating an image for displaying the edited object on the edit screen. Instruct.

Further, the edit screen control module 27 instructs the image data creation module 28 to create print image data for printing the image including the object constituting the label edited on the edit screen from the printers 50 and 51. Then, the edit screen control module 27 receives the created print image data from the image data creation module 28, and passes the received print image data and the print instruction to the device control module 29, so that any of the printers 50 and 51 The print process for printing the image of the label is executed. The edit screen control module 27 passes the print image data received from the image data creation module 28 and the print instruction to the general-purpose print module 17 included in the OS 32, so that the image of the label is transferred to either the printers 50 or 51. It is also possible to print it. The AirPrint® module included with MacOS is an example of a general-purpose printing module 17. In this case, the AirPrint module transmits the print image data received from the edit screen control module 27 and the print instruction to any of the printers 50 and 51 via the network I / F20. In the following description, the displayed image data and the printed image data may be collectively referred to as image data.

The image data creation module 28 includes a library for creating and editing image data for creating a label, and is a program for creating and editing image data. The image data creation module 28 creates display image data and print image data in response to an instruction from the edit screen control module 27. Further, the image data creation module 28 has an image generation unit 41, a layout information management unit 42, and a device information management unit 43.

The device control module 29 is a program for causing the printers 50 and 51 to perform printing via the network I / F20. The device control module 29 receives the print image data and the print instruction from the edit screen control module 27, converts the print image data into print data which is the image data used for printing according to the received print instruction, and converts the print. By transmitting the data to any of the printers 50 and 51, the image showing the label is printed on either of the printers 50 and 51. The device control module 29 transmits print data to any of the printers 50 and 51 via the network I / F 20 by instructing the OS 32.

Further, the memory 14 shown in FIG. 1 includes a data storage area 34. The data storage area 34 is an area for storing data and the like necessary for executing the application program 26 and the like. The memory 14 is configured by combining a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an HDD, a portable storage medium such as a USB memory attached to and detached from the PC 10, a buffer included in the CPU 12, and the like.

Further, the memory 14 may be a storage medium that can be read by a computer. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitional medium. In addition to the above examples, the non-transitory medium also includes recording media such as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM. The non-transitory medium is also a tangible medium. On the other hand, an electric signal that carries a program downloaded from a server on the Internet is a signal medium that can be read by a computer, which is a kind of medium that can be read by a computer, but is a storage that can be read by a non-transitory computer. Not included in the medium.

The LCD 16 displays various information of the PC 10. The LCD 16 is connected to the bus 22 via the display I / F15. The LCD 16 acquires display data via the display I / F15.

The input I / F18 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and is an interface for inputting user operations. The input I / F 18 is not limited to a keyboard or the like, and may be a film-shaped touch sensor superimposed on the display screen of the LCD 16.

In addition, each of the following processing and each processing step of the flowchart basically shows the processing of the CPU 12 according to the instruction described in the program such as the application program 26. That is, the processing of "judgment", "extraction", "selection", "calculation", "decision", "specification", "acquisition", "acceptance", "control", etc. in the following description is the processing of the CPU 12. Represents. The processing by the CPU 12 also includes hardware control using the API of the OS 32. In this specification, the operation of each program will be described by omitting the description of the OS 32. That is, in the following description, the description to the effect that "program B controls hardware C" may refer to "program B controls hardware C using the API of OS 32". Note that "acquisition" is used as a concept that does not require a request. That is, the process of receiving data without being requested by the CPU 12 is also included in the concept of "the CPU 12 acquires the data". Further, the "data" in the present specification is represented by a computer-readable bit string. Data having the same substantial meaning and different formats are treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in the present specification.

The CPU 12 starts the edit screen control module 27 in response to the input I / F 18 receiving the start instruction of the application program 26. The activated edit screen control module 27 activates the image data creation module 28. Next, the edit screen control module 27 inquires of the image data creation module 28 for a compatible model. The image data created by the image data creation module 28 is data according to the specifications of the printers 50 and 51. In response to an inquiry, the image data creation module 28 returns, for example, a compatible model result, which is a list of compatible models, to the edit screen control module 27. Next, the edit screen control module 27 inquires about the printer in which the printer driver is already installed in the OS 32. In response to the inquiry, the OS 32 returns, for example, the installed printer result, which is a list of printers in which the printer driver is installed, to the edit screen control module 27. Next, the edit screen control module 27 determines a printer to be printed based on the result of the corresponding model and the result of the installed printer, and passes the determined printer to the image data creation module 28. Specifically, the edit screen control module 27 is determined to be a printer for printing a compatible printer included in both the compatible model result and the installed printer result, for example.

Next, the image data creation module 28 is made to open the image data file. The image data file is a file for exchanging data between the edit screen control module 27 and the image data creation module 28. As a result, the edit screen control module 27 can execute a drawing instruction to the LCD 16 and a print instruction to the printers 50 and 51 by designating the image data file. When the application program 26 is started, the edit screen control module 27 displays the edit screen DS1 on the LCD 16. As will be described in detail later, the edit screen control module 27 instructs the image data creation module 28 to create display image data indicating the tape image 108 before displaying the edit screen DS1, and the image data creation module 28 creates the image data. The edit screen DS1 including the tape image 108 indicated by the display image data is displayed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the edit screen DS1 displays a menu bar 101, an operation window 102, a layout screen 103, and the like. The menu bar 101 displays, for example, a menu that accepts operations such as file creation, insertion, saving, and printing. The operation window 102 displays a printer selection list box 104, a paper length mode list box 105, a length input list box 106, a width selection list box 107, and the like. The printer selection list box 104 accepts the selection of one printer from the list of available printers. The paper length mode list box 105 accepts selection of whether to set the print length to the fixed length mode or the automatic length mode. Here, the automatic length mode is a mode in which the print length is changed according to the arrangement of objects. The fixed length mode is a mode in which the value selected in the length input list box 106 is used as the print length. The width selection list box 107 accepts selection of the width of the printed tape. The layout screen 103 is a screen for accepting the arrangement of objects. The tape image 108 is displayed on the layout screen 103. The tape image 108 is an image imitating a long printed tape, and the portion printed and separated after printing is displayed in, for example, a white display color, and the portion left separated is displayed in, for example, a gray display color. .. Here, the values of the printer selection list box 104, the paper length mode list box 105, the length input list box 106, and the width selection list box 107 on the edit screen DS1 displayed first after the application program 26 is started are set. It shall be determined in advance.

The user selects a desired option in each of the printer selection list box 104, the paper length mode list box 105, and the width selection list box 107. When one of the compatible printers is selected in the printer selection list box 104, the image data creation module 28 accepts the selected compatible printer as the selected printer (an example of the first reception means and the first reception process). .. Further, when any option is selected in the width selection list box 107, the width value of the tape and the tape corresponding to the option is accepted as the width value of the selected tape and the selected tape (second reception means, An example of the second reception process, the first acquisition means, and the first acquisition process). Next, the user selects, for example, the "Insert" menu of the menu bar 101, selects a desired position of the tape image 108, and inputs the contents of the object to be placed in front of the tape image 108. When the "insert" menu of the menu bar 101 is selected and the operation of selecting the desired position of the tape image 108 is accepted (an example of the third reception means and the third reception process), the editing screen control module 27 receives the tape image. The image data creation module 28 is instructed to create display image data indicating a display image in which an object is arranged in front of the background with 108 as a background. When instructing the creation of the display image data, the edit screen control module 27 creates image data of the selected tape including the selected printer and the width value and the object information indicating the object arranged in front of the tape image 108. Input to module 28. Upon receiving the instruction for creating the display image data, the image data creation module 28 starts the display image data creation sequence. The edit screen control module 27 instructing the creation of the display image data updates the display of the edit screen DS1 by using the display image data created by the image data creation module 28. The concept that the object is arranged in front of the tape image 108 includes the case where the object is arranged at a position protruding from the tape image.

When the application program 26 is started, the edit screen control module 27 includes information on the selected tape including the selected printer and the width value, and an object arranged in front of the tape image 108 according to the initial setting at the time of starting. The object information indicating the above is input to the image data creation module 28.
Further, when there is no object to be arranged, the edit screen control module 27 inputs the information of the selected printer and the selected tape to the image data creation module 28, but does not input the object information.
When any one of the operations of editing the object displayed on the edit screen DS1 (for example, the operation of changing the contents of the object, the operation of changing the size of the object, and the operation of changing the position of the object) is accepted (the first). The editing screen control module 27 also operates the 3 reception means and the third reception process) by inputting the information of the selected printer and the selected tape and the object information reflecting the operation into the image data creation module 28. Is instructed to the image data creation module 28 to create the display image data in which the above is reflected.

Further, even when any of the operations of changing the selected printer and changing the selected tape is accepted (an example of the third reception means and the third reception process), the operation is reflected in the edit screen control module 27. By inputting the information of the selected printer and the selected tape and the object information into the image data creation module 28, the image data creation module 28 is instructed to create the display image data reflecting the operation.
Object types include, for example, text, barcodes, images, and the like. A text object is an object in which a character string is displayed in the area. A barcode object is an object in which a barcode is displayed in the area. An image object is an object in which the image indicated by the image file is displayed in the area.

The display image data creation sequence will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In the display image data creation sequence, the image data creation module 28 executes processing according to the information of the selected printer and the selected tape input from the edit screen control module 27 and the object information. First, the image generation unit 41 inquires of the layout information management unit 42 about the tape size and the print area (M1). Here, the tape size and the print area in the automatic length mode will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows a case where an object whose content is the text of "ABCDEF" is arranged. The tape size is the size of the printing tape. That is, the width of the tape size is the width of the selected tape received in the width selection list box 107. Further, the length of the tape size, that is, the print length is a length corresponding to the size of the object. The print area is a printable area, and the definition differs between the length direction and the width direction. Specifically, the width of the print area is a value obtained by subtracting the size of the margins at both ends in the width direction from the width of the tape size. On the other hand, the length of the print area is the length required for printing the object. The length of the tape size is the length of the print area plus the size of the margins at both ends in the length direction. The width of the print area is determined by the width of the selected tape and cannot be further expanded. Therefore, in the following description, the area having the width of the print area may be described as the maximum print area.

Returning to FIG. 7, when the layout information management unit 42 receives an inquiry about the tape size and the print area, it acquires the paper length mode selected in the paper length mode list box 105, and acquires the automatic length mode or the fixed length. Any one of the modes is stored in the data storage area 34 (S1). Next, the layout information management unit 42 inquires of the device information management unit 43 for the maximum print area (M2). The device information management unit 43 holds the values of the maximum print area and the minimum print area associated with the combination of each of the printers 50 and 51 and the width of the tape size in advance. Here, the minimum print area is set to an appropriate value that does not cause the above-mentioned discharge failure. The device information management unit 43 responds to the layout information management unit 42 with the maximum print area based on the value selected in the width selection list box 107 (M3). Next, the layout information management unit 42 inquires of the device information management unit 43 for the minimum print area (M4). The device information management unit 43 starts the minimum area determination process in response to the message M4.

The minimum area determination process will be described with reference to FIG. The device information management unit 43 determines whether or not the selected printer selected in the printer selection list box 104 has a rotation function (S11). The device information management unit 43 determines whether or not the width of the tape size is larger than the length of the minimum print area according to the determination that the selected printer has the rotation function (S11: YES) (S13). In response to the determination that the width of the tape size is larger than the length of the minimum print area (S13: YES), the length of the minimum print area is set as the width of the tape size and stored in the data storage area 34 (S13: YES). S15), the minimum area determination process is terminated. On the other hand, the device information management unit 43 responds to the determination that the selected printer does not have the rotation function (S11: NO), and determines that the width of the tape size is not larger than the length of the minimum print area. (S13: NO), the length of the minimum print area is set to be the length of the minimum print area previously held, and the data is stored in the data storage area 34 (S17), and the minimum area determination process is terminated. When the device information management unit 43 finishes the minimum area determination process, the device information management unit 43 responds to the layout information management unit 42 with the minimum print area, which is the length of the minimum print area stored in the data storage area 34 (FIG. 7, M5). Upon receiving the message M5, the layout information management unit 42 executes the print area calculation process.

The print area calculation process will be described with reference to FIG. The layout information management unit 42 first initializes the value of the total object print area, which is a variable used for processing (S21). Next, the layout information management unit 42 determines whether or not there is an object whose area has not been calculated yet among the objects arranged on the layout screen 103 (S23). In response to the determination that there is an object for which the area has not been calculated yet (S23: YES), the layout information management unit 42 determines one of the objects for which the area has not been calculated as the target object (S25). Next, the area of the target object is acquired based on the arrangement position in the tape image 108 (S27). Here, the area is specifically represented by, for example, a combination of a numerical value indicating the upper left coordinate occupied by the target object and a numerical value indicating the lower right coordinate. The same applies to the minimum print area, the maximum print area, and the total object print area. In this embodiment, the upper left coordinates of the minimum print area, the maximum print area, and the total object print area will be described as reference coordinates (0,0). The total object print area is initialized to the upper left coordinate (0,0) and the lower right coordinate (0,0) in S21. In this embodiment, the coordinates are shown by simple numerical values for explanation.
Next, the overlapping area between the acquired target object area and the maximum print area width is extracted (S29). Step S29 will be described with reference to FIG. On the layout screen 103 of the editing screen DS1, it is also possible to arrange the objects so as to protrude from the tape image 108. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when an object having a content of "ABC" is arranged outside the maximum print area in the width direction, among the objects having a content of "ABC", in the width direction, Calculate the overlapping area included in the maximum print area. For example, the area of the object "ABC" is the upper left coordinate (-10,60) and the lower right coordinate (10,150) (hereinafter, abbreviated as (10,60) to (10,150). In some cases, the maximum print area is (0,0) to (50,200), so the overlapping area of the object "ABC" is (0,60) to (10,150).

Next, the layout information management unit 42 reflects the overlapping area calculated in step S29 in the total object printing area (FIGS. 9, S31), and returns to step S23. Specifically, when the numerical value of the overlapping area is larger than the numerical value of the total object printing area for the lower right coordinate, the numerical value of the total object printing area is overwritten with the numerical value of the overlapping area. The layout information management unit 42 ends the print area calculation process in response to the determination that there is no object for which the area has not been calculated yet after the processing for all the objects is completed (S23: NO). Here, a description of the print area calculation process will be added with reference to FIG. The upper left coordinates of the total object print area are fixed at the reference position, and the lower right coordinates are updated by step S31. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the layout screen 103 has an object whose content is a QR code (registered trademark) and whose area is (20, 5) to (45, 30) and an object whose content is "ABC". When is arranged, the area (0,0) to (45,150) including the overlapping area of the two objects extracted in step S29 is regarded as the total object printing area.

Returning to FIG. 7, when the print area calculation process is completed, the layout information management unit 42 executes the print area determination process. The print area determination process will be described with reference to FIG. When the layout information management unit 42 starts the print area determination process, it determines whether or not the paper length mode acquired in step S1 is the automatic length mode (S40). In response to the determination that the mode is not the automatic length mode (S40: NO), the layout information management unit 42 determines the value input in the length input list box 106 as the print area to be the length of the print area (S49). The print area determination process is terminated. On the other hand, in response to the determination in the automatic length mode (S40: YES), the layout information management unit 42 calculates the total object print area length in the print area calculation process from the maximum print area length. It is determined whether or not it is large (S41). Specifically, the numerical value in the length direction of the lower right coordinate of the total object print area (150 in the example of FIG. 6) is the numerical value of the lower right coordinate of the maximum print area in the length direction (example of FIG. 6). Then, it is judged whether or not it is larger than 200). Depending on the determination that the length of the total object print area is larger than the length of the maximum print area (S41: YES), the layout information management unit 42 sets the print area as the maximum print area (S51) and proceeds to step S47. .. On the other hand, depending on the determination that the length of the total object print area is not larger than the maximum print area (S41: NO), it is laid out whether or not the length of the total object print area is smaller than the length of the minimum print area. The information management unit 42 determines (S43). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the numerical value in the length direction of the lower right coordinate of the total object print area is smaller than the numerical value in the length direction of the lower right coordinate of the minimum print area. Depending on the determination that the length of the total object print area is smaller than the length of the minimum print area (S43: YES), the layout information management unit 42 sets the length of the print area as the length of the minimum print area (S45). , Step S47. On the other hand, in response to the determination that the length of the total object print area is not smaller than the length of the minimum print area (S43: NO), the layout information management unit 42 sets the length of the print area to the length of the total object print area. The decision is made (S39), and the process proceeds to step S47. In step S47, the layout information management unit 42 calculates the tape size in which the margin area is added to the print area (S47), and ends the print area determination process. In the example of FIG. 6, the total object print area is (0,0) to (45,150), and the maximum print area is (0,0) to (50,200). That is, when the selected printer has a rotation function, is in the automatic length mode, and the minimum print area is (0,0) to (50,160), the length of the print area is the minimum print area (0). , 0) to (50,160). If the minimum print area is (0,0) to (50,10), the length of the print area is determined so that the total object print area is (0,0) to (45,150).

Returning to FIG. 7, the layout information management unit 42 returns the tape size and the print area to the image generation unit 41 when the print area determination process is completed (M6). The image generation unit 41 generates display image data indicating a display image in which an object image is arranged on the tape image 108 based on the returned tape size and print area (an example of image creation processing), and sends the edit screen control module 27 to the edit screen control module 27. Pass the generated display image data. When the display image data is passed to the edit screen control module 27, the LCD 16 displays the image of the display image data. The layout information management unit 42 determines an appropriate tape size and print area according to the width of the tape size selected by the selected printer and the width selection list box 107. Therefore, the tape image 108 displayed on the layout screen 103 is regarded as an appropriate image. Further, even when the selected printer has a rotation function, the length of the print area is set to a value larger than the width of the tape size, so that the user is prevented from unintentionally rotating and printing.

Further, when the print menu of the menu bar 101 of the edit screen DS1 is selected, the edit screen control module 27 instructs the image data creation module 28 to create print image data. When instructing the creation of print image data, the edit screen control module 27 inputs the information of the selected printer and the selected tape and the object information to the image data creation module 28. When the image generation unit 41 of the image data creation module 28 is instructed to create print image data, information on the selected printer and the selected tape input from the edit screen control module 27 based on the image displayed on the layout screen 103. And the print image data is created according to the object information, and the created print image data is passed to the edit screen control module 27. The edit screen control module 27 passes the received print image data and the print instruction to the device control module 29. The print instructions include information about the selected printer. The printed image data is image data in a format supported by the device control module. The device control module 29 transmits the print image data to the selected printer in a format corresponding to the selected printer. For example, the print image data may be converted into data in a format suitable for the selected printer and transmitted. For example, setting information suitable for the selected printer may be added to the print image data and transmitted. For example, the print image data may be sent to the selected printer as it is. Print image data The selected printer that received the print image data executes printing. That is, the selection printer prints an image equivalent to the display image displayed on the edit screen DS1.

Here, the input I / F 18 is an example of a user interface, the LCD 16 is an example of a display, the network I / F 20 is an example of a communication interface, the PC 10 is an example of an information processing device, and the CPU 12 is an example of a control unit. This is just one example. The printers 50 and 51 are examples of devices, and the printed tape is an example of a medium. Further, the image generation unit 41 is an example of the creating means. The layout information management unit 42 is a first acquisition means, a first determination means, a second acquisition means, a determination means, a second determination means, a mode acquisition means, and a third acquisition means. The device information management unit 43 is an example of information providing means.
Further, the edit screen control module 27 is an example of a first reception means, a second reception means, a third reception means, a fourth reception means, a first display means, a second display means, and a first module, and creates image data. The module is an example of the second module. The device control module 29 is an example of a communication module.
Further, the process of displaying the tape image 108 is an example of the first display process. Further, the print area calculation process is an example of the first determination process, the message M3 is an example of the second acquisition process, step S43 is an example of the determination process, and steps S45 and S39 are examples of the second determination process. Yes, the process of displaying the tape image 108 in response to the message M6 is an example of the second display process, and the process of accepting a print instruction in the print menu of the menu bar 101 is an example of the fourth acceptance process.

Here, the printed tape is an example of a medium used for image formation. The printer selected in the printer selection list box 104 is an example of a selection device, and the width of the tape size selected in the width selection list box 107 is an example of a selection medium. The length direction is an example of the first direction, and the width direction is an example of the second direction. The length of the tape size is an example of the medium size in the first direction, and the width of the tape size is an example of the medium size in the second direction. The tape image 108 is an example of a selected medium image, and the minimum print area is an example of a minimum medium size. The selection of the print button on the menu bar 101 is an example of an image formation instruction. The automatic length mode is an example of the first mode, and the fixed length mode is an example of the second mode.

According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects are obtained.
The layout information management unit 42 acquires the minimum print area from the device information management unit 43 by the message M5. Further, the layout information management unit 42 determines in the print area determination process that the print area is adopted as the minimum print area in response to the determination that the total object print area is not larger than the minimum print area (S43: NO). do. Further, the image generation unit 41 acquires the tape size and the print area from the layout information management unit 42 by the message M6, and creates the tape image 108. As a result, the tape image 108 is generated by reflecting the minimum predetermined print area, so that the print area can be appropriately displayed. In addition, it can be used for various models such as printers 50 and 51, and various media such as various widths of tape size.

Further, even when a plurality of objects are arranged, the layout information management unit 42 calculates the total object print area based on all the arranged objects in the print area calculation process. As a result, even when a plurality of objects are arranged, the total object print area can be calculated based on all the objects.

Further, the layout information management unit 42 acquires the minimum print area from the device information management unit 43 which has the minimum print area for each of the printers 50 and 51 in advance by the message M5. As a result, the layout information management unit 42 can acquire an appropriate minimum print area for each of the printers 50 and 51.

Further, when the device information management unit 43 determines in the minimum area determination process that there is a rotation function (S11: YES) and determines that the width of the tape size is larger than the length of the minimum print area (S13: YES). ), The length of the minimum print area is determined to be the width of the tape size (S15). As a result, even when the printer 51 having a rotation function is selected, the print length is set to be equal to or larger than the width of the tape size, so that it is possible to prevent the user from unintentionally changing the orientation and printing. can.

Further, when the layout information management unit 42 acquires the paper length mode (S1) and determines in the print area determination process that it is the automatic length mode (S40: YES), the print area is based on the total object print area. When it is determined that the fixed length mode is set (S40: NO), the print area is determined based on the set value input in the length input list box 106. Further, the image generation unit 41 acquires the tape size and the print area from the layout information management unit 42 by the message M6, and creates the tape image 108. As a result, the user can select either the automatic length mode or the fixed length mode.

Further, the application program 26 includes an edit screen control module 27 and an image data creation module 28, and when the edit screen control module 27 receives an object placement instruction on the layout screen 103, the content of the placement instruction is imaged. Tell the data creation module 28. Then, the layout information management unit 42 of the image data creation module 28 determines the length of the print area according to the content transmitted from the edit screen control module 27. Then, the image generation unit 41 of the image data creation module 28 generates display image data for displaying the tape image 108 having a display size indicating the length of the print area determined by the layout information management unit 42, and the generated display. Image data is provided to the edit screen control module 27. Then, the edit screen control module 27 transmits the content of the arrangement instruction to the image data creation module 28, and then acquires the display image data from the image data creation module 28. Then, the editing screen control module 27 displays the tape image 108 according to the displayed image data. In this way, the edit screen control module 27 that performs processing via the input I / F 18 and the image data creation module 28 that performs print image data creation processing applied to the printer can be separated. By separating, it corresponds to various printers, and in order to correspond to various purposes, it takes a lot of load to develop a program, but when it corresponds to the specifications of a new printer, it corresponds to a new purpose. At that time, it is only necessary to develop some modules, so the load can be reduced.

Further, when the edit screen control module 27 receives the print instruction of the object image, the edit screen control module 27 transmits the print instruction to the image data creation module 28. Then, the image data creation module 28 creates print image data when the print instruction is transmitted. The edit screen control module 27 instructs the device control module 29 to transmit print image data. The device control module 29 modifies the print image data to specifications suitable for the selected printer selected in the printer selection list box 104, and transmits the modified print image data to the selected device via the network I / F 20. .. As a result, the edit screen control module 27 that performs processing via the input I / F 18, the image data creation module 28 that performs the print image data creation process applied to the printer, and the device that corrects the print image data to be suitable for the printer. It can be separated from the control module 29. The load of program development can be reduced.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the above description, the application program 26 is stored in the memory 14 included in the PC 10, but the application program 26 is not limited to this. It may be configured to be stored in a server that can be connected to the PC 10 via the network 56. Further, when the application program 26 is stored in the server, it may be configured to be distributed to the PC 10 via a network 56 such as the Internet as information or a signal indicating the application program 26.

Further, in the above, for convenience, the application program 26 targeting the printers 50 and 51 has been described, but the application program 26 corresponding to other printers also has the basic processing of the application program targeting the printers 50 and 51. It is the same as 26. However, the application program 26 corresponding to the other printer corresponds to the module (editing screen control module 27) that realizes the user I / F suitable for the application and the user image of the other printer, and the printing performance of the other printer. It is equipped with a module that realizes the creation of image data (image data creation module 28) and a module that realizes communication processing and control corresponding to the communication performance and control method of other printers (edit screen control module 27). ..

Further, in the above description, the printed tape has been described as the medium, but the present invention is not limited to this. The medium has various materials depending on the application, such as craft applications, product labels, wiring marking applications, and office applications. Further, the medium includes laminated paper, non-laminated paper, cloth, cloth for clothes, resin and the like. In addition, there are various media such as thickness and width. The minimum length required for automatic cutting of the medium varies depending on the specifications of the structure of the device, and depends on the material, width, thickness, etc. of the medium.

Further, the processing content of the minimum area determination process is not limited to the above. For example, the minimum area determination process may be configured to execute step S13 without executing step S11. Further, the determination content of step S11 is "whether the printer has a rotation function and the rotation function is enabled", and step S13 is executed both when step S11: YES and when step S11: NO. It may be. However, in the case of this configuration, the length of the minimum print area in step S11: YES is made larger than the length of the minimum print area in step S11: NO. For example, the minimum print area in step S11: YES may be set to (0,0) to (50,160), and the minimum print area in S11: NO may be set to (0,0) to (50,10). ..

Further, the processing content of the print area determination process is not limited to the above. For example, in steps S41 and S43, the lengths are compared, but the widths may be compared. Further, in steps S41 and S43, the lengths may be compared to determine the length of the print area according to the comparison result, the widths may be compared, and the width of the print area may be determined according to the comparison result.

10 PC
12 CPU
16 LCD
18 Input interface 26 Application program 27 Editing screen control module 28 Image data creation module 32 OS

Claims (9)

A program that can be executed by a computer of an information processing device including a user interface, a display, and a communication interface.
The computer
A first receiving means that accepts an input for selecting one of at least one device capable of communicating via the communication interface as a selection device via the user interface.
A second receiving means that accepts an input for selecting one of the plurality of media used by the selection device for image formation as the selection medium via the user interface.
When the second receiving means receives an input for selecting the selected medium, the first acquiring means for acquiring the medium size in the first direction of the selected medium and the first receiving means.
A first display means for displaying a selected medium image indicating the selected medium on the display,
To make it work
The display size of the selected medium image in the first direction is a display size indicating the medium size in the first direction acquired by the first acquisition means.
The computer
A third receiving means that receives an arrangement instruction instructing the object image to be arranged with respect to the selected medium image via the user interface while the selected medium image is displayed on the display.
When the third receiving means receives the arrangement instruction of the object image, the first determination means for determining the medium size of the selected medium in the second direction based on the arrangement position of the object image indicated by the arrangement instruction. When,
A second acquisition means for acquiring a predetermined minimum medium size corresponding to the combination of the selected device and the selected medium, and
A determination means for determining whether or not the medium size in the second direction is smaller than the minimum medium size acquired by the second acquisition means.
When the determination means determines that the medium size in the second direction is smaller than the minimum medium size acquired by the second acquisition means, the minimum medium size acquired by the second acquisition means is adopted. A second determinant, which determines, and if not, adopts the medium size in the second direction.
When the second determination means decides to adopt any size, the selection medium is such that the display size in the second direction is a display size indicating the medium size decided to be adopted by the second determination means. A second display means to update the image,
A fourth receiving means for receiving an image forming instruction via the user interface while the selected medium image is displayed on the display.
When the fourth receiving means receives the image forming instruction, the medium size indicated by the display size of the selected medium image displayed on the display when the fourth receiving means receives the image forming instruction. It is characterized in that it functions as a creation means for creating image data for forming an image in which an object image instructed by the arrangement instruction received by the third reception means is arranged on the selection medium. program. The first determination means is
When the third receiving means receives the arrangement instruction of the object image added to the selected medium image via the user interface, the third receiving means is already arranged in the added object image and the selected medium image. The program according to claim 1, wherein the medium size in the second direction is determined based on the object image. The computer
It has information on the minimum medium size associated with each combination of each of the at least one device and each of the plurality of media, and functions as an information providing means for providing the minimum medium size on demand.
The second acquisition means is
The first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the information providing means is requested to have the minimum medium size corresponding to the combination of the selected device and the selected medium, and the minimum medium size is obtained from the information providing means. Program. In any of the at least one device, when the medium size of the image data in the second direction is shorter than the medium size of the first direction, the second direction of the image data is the first of the selected media. It has a conversion function that converts to the direction and prints.
The information providing means is
In response to a request from the second acquisition means, if the selected device has the conversion function and the minimum medium size is shorter than the medium size in the first direction, the medium size in the first direction. The program according to claim 3, wherein the program is provided to the second acquisition means as the minimum medium size. The computer
A mode acquisition means for acquiring which of a first mode for changing the medium size in the second direction based on the object image and a second mode for fixing the medium size in the second direction is selected, and
When the mode acquisition means acquires the second mode, the third acquisition means for acquiring the medium size in the second direction set via the user interface and the third acquisition means.
To make it work
The second display means is
When the mode acquisition means acquires the first mode, the selected medium image is updated so that the display size indicates the medium size determined to be adopted by the second determination means, and the mode acquisition means obtains the second mode. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the mode is acquired, the selected medium image is updated so as to have a display size indicating the medium size in the second direction acquired by the third acquisition means. Program. The program
A first module including the first reception means, the second reception means, the third reception means, the fourth reception means, the first display means, and the second display means.
A second module including the first determination means, the second acquisition means, and the second determination means.
The first module is
When the third receiving means receives the arrangement instruction of the object image, the content of the arrangement instruction is transmitted to the second module.
The first determination means of the second module is
According to the content transmitted from the first module, the medium size in the second direction is determined.
The second module is
Display image data for displaying the selected medium image having a display size indicating the medium size in the second direction determined by the second determination means is generated, and the generated display image data is provided to the first module. ,
The first module is
After transmitting the content of the arrangement instruction to the second module, the display image data is acquired from the second module, and the display image data is acquired.
The second display means of the first module is
The program according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the selected medium image is displayed according to the display image data. The program includes a communication module.
The second module includes the creation means.
The first module is
When the fourth receiving means receives the printing instruction of the object image, the printing instruction is transmitted to the second module.
The means for creating the second module is
When the print instruction is given, the image data is created and
The first module is
Instructing the communication module to transmit the image data created by the creating means,
The sixth aspect of claim 6, wherein the communication module modifies the image data to specifications suitable for the selected device, and transmits the modified image data to the selected device via the communication interface. program. User interface and
With the display
Communication interface and
With a control unit,
The control unit
The first reception process of accepting an input for selecting any device as a selection device from at least one device capable of communicating via the communication interface via the user interface.
A second reception process that accepts an input for selecting one of the plurality of media used by the selection device for image formation as the selection medium via the user interface.
The first acquisition process for acquiring the medium size in the first direction of the selected medium when the input for selecting the selected medium is received in the second reception process.
The first display process of displaying the selected medium image indicating the selected medium on the display is executed.
The display size of the selected medium image in the first direction is a display size indicating the medium size of the first direction acquired in the first acquisition process.
The control unit
A third reception process for receiving an arrangement instruction instructing the object image to be arranged with respect to the selected medium image via the user interface while the selected medium image is displayed on the display.
The first determination to determine the medium size of the selected medium in the second direction based on the arrangement position of the object image indicated by the arrangement instruction when the arrangement instruction of the object image is received in the third reception process. Processing and
A second acquisition process for acquiring a predetermined minimum medium size corresponding to the combination of the selected device and the selected medium, and
Judgment processing for determining whether or not the medium size in the second direction is smaller than the minimum medium size acquired in the second acquisition process.
When it is determined in the determination process that the medium size in the second direction is smaller than the minimum medium size acquired in the second acquisition process, the minimum medium size acquired in the second acquisition process is adopted. The second decision process, which determines to adopt the medium size in the second direction, and the second decision process, which determines to adopt the medium size in the second direction.
When the second determination process determines the adoption of any size, the selection medium is such that the display size in the second direction is a display size indicating the medium size determined to be adopted by the second determination process. The second display process to update the image and
A fourth reception process for receiving an image formation instruction via the user interface while the selected medium image is displayed on the display.
When the image formation instruction is received in the fourth reception process, the medium indicated by the display size of the selected medium image displayed on the display when the image formation instruction is received in the fourth reception process. It is characterized by executing a creation process of creating image data for forming an image in which an object image instructed by the arrangement instruction received in the third reception process is arranged on the selection medium having a size. Information processing device. User interface and
With the display
Communication interface and
With a control unit,
The control unit
When an object image placement instruction is received via the user interface, a medium in the second direction of the selection medium selected via the user interface based on the placement position of the object image indicated by the placement instruction. The first decision process to determine the size and
A second acquisition process for acquiring a predetermined minimum medium size corresponding to a combination of the selected device selected via the user interface and the selected medium, and
Judgment processing for determining whether or not the medium size in the second direction is smaller than the minimum medium size acquired in the second acquisition process.
When it is determined in the determination process that the medium size in the second direction is smaller than the minimum medium size acquired in the second acquisition process, the minimum medium size acquired in the second acquisition process is adopted. The second decision process, which determines to adopt the medium size in the second direction, and the second decision process, which determines to adopt the medium size in the second direction.
When the second determination process determines the adoption of any size, the selected medium image so that the display size in the second direction becomes the display size indicating the medium size determined to be adopted by the second determination process. Image creation process to create
An information processing device characterized by executing.

Images