JP7572070B2 - Printing system and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing system that prints POP advertisements and shelf labels for use in mass retailers and supermarkets, and a printing program used in the printing system.

A printing system that prints POP advertisements and shelf labels for use in mass retailers and supermarkets is well known (Patent Document 1).

JP 2016-164367 A

When creating POP advertisements or shelf labels containing product information, if the product is one for which special points are awarded or is a new product, you may want to create a special POP sheet (spotter, etc.) to go along with the regular POP advertisement or shelf label.
In the printing system of the prior art document, shelf labels (POP advertisements, etc.) containing product information and POP sheets (spotters, etc.) for increasing the product's customer appeal were printed separately from a printer for shelf labels and a printer for POP sheets.

However, in the printing system of the above prior art document, the shelf label (POP advertisement, etc.) and the POP sheet (spotter, etc.) are printed separately, making the relationship between the two unclear. As workers must understand the relationship between the shelf label (POP advertisement, etc.) and the POP sheet (spotter, etc.) based on instructions or the like before attaching the POP sheet (spotter, etc.), workers may forget to attach the POP sheet (spotter, etc.) or attach it to the wrong product.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a printing system that prevents workers who attach POP advertisements, etc. from forgetting to attach POP sheets (spotters, etc.) printed on products that offer special points, new products, etc., or attaching them to the wrong products.

One embodiment of the present invention is a printing system for printing a card showing product information of a specified product on a print medium, the printing system comprising: a print data generation means for generating print data for printing the card showing the product information; and a print data output means for outputting the print data generated by the print data generation means to the printing means, wherein the print data generation means generates print data in which the print data for printing the card showing the product information and the print data for printing a card showing special information related to the product information are arranged adjacent to each other, and the print data output means outputs the plurality of adjacently arranged print data to the printing means so that a card showing one special information and a card showing another special information are printed side by side within the width of the card showing the product information .

According to the present invention, workers who attach POP advertisements, etc. can easily identify the target products of POP sheets (spotters, etc.) printed on them for products that offer special points, new products, etc., and can prevent forgetting to attach the POP sheet (spotter, etc.) or attaching it to the wrong target product.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a printing system including a print data output device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a functional block diagram of a print data output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a product information file in the print data output device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a card information file in the print data output device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a paper information file in the print data output device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall flow diagram of a printing system including a print data output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart showing a paper selection procedure of a printing system including a print data output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a card change process of a printing system including a print data output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a combination card setting process of a printing system including a print data output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of an alternative paper setting process of a printing system including a print data output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 11 is an example of a substitute sheet that has been pre-printed in a printing system including a print data output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram of a screen displayed on a display unit of the print data output device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a list input screen. FIG. 13 is a diagram of a screen displayed on a display unit of the print data output device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a card selection window. FIG. 13 is a diagram of a screen displayed on a display unit of the print data output device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a card input screen. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on a display unit of the print data output device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing a preview screen. FIG. 13 is a diagram of a screen displayed on a display unit of the print data output device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a card correction screen. FIG. 13 is a diagram of a screen displayed on a display unit of the print data output device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a card setting screen. FIG. 13 is a diagram of a screen displayed on a display unit of the print data output device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a card setting screen in which a "paper switching setting" field is displayed in detail. FIG. 13 is a diagram of a screen displayed on a display unit of the print data output device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a card setting screen in which a "paper switching setting" field is displayed in detail. FIG. 13 is a diagram of a screen displayed on a display unit of the print data output device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a card setting screen on which a card combination field is displayed. 1 is a diagram showing a print medium printed in a card combination state by a printing system including a print data output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram of a screen displayed on a display unit of the print data output device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a card setting screen on which a card change field is displayed. 1 is a diagram showing a print medium printed in a multiple tax rate printing state by a printing system including a print data output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram of a screen displayed on a display unit of the print data output device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a card input screen for a card for which a reduced tax rate is set.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a product information output device (print data output device) according to an embodiment of the present invention and a product information output system (print system) including the device will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Overall configuration of product information output system)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a product information output system according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the product information output system according to this embodiment has a headquarters server 1 that is located at the headquarters or the like and performs management processing related to product sales at each store, a product information output device (print data output device) 2 that is located at each store and generates and outputs product information output data used for printing shelf tags and POP advertisements, and an output device (printing means) 3 that prints shelf tags and POP advertisements based on the product information output data (print data) generated and output by the product information output device (print data output device) 2. Note that in this embodiment, a print data output device is used as the product information output device 2, a printing means 3 that prints on paper is used as the output device 3, and printing data is used as the product information output data, but the output device 3 may be a printing means that prints on paper media, or an electronic shelf tag or signage.

The headquarters server 1 and the printing data output device 2 are connected to a cloud server, for example, via the Internet, and the headquarters server 1, the printing data output device 2, and the printing means 3 are connected via a network 4, such as a LAN (Local Area Network), that enables information communication.
The network 4 connecting the head office server 1, the print data output device 2, and the printing means 3 is not limited to a wired network, and may be a wireless network.

The headquarters server 1 manages various information including information used when creating shelf tags, POP advertisements, etc. The databases it manages include, for example, a product master database that stores information such as the name and selling price of each product, a customer information database that stores customer information, and a store information database that stores sales status for each store. It is connected to the Internet via a connection means 11.

The print data output device 2 is configured with a personal computer or the like and is operated by a user as a terminal located in each store, generating print data for printing on a print medium such as paper or displaying on an electronic shelf label, for example. The print data output device 2 has a controller 21 that controls the generation and output processing of the print data, an input means 22 configured with a keyboard or the like, and a display means 23 configured with a display device or the like.

The controller 21 includes a CPU 211 , a ROM 212 , a RAM 213 , a memory 214 , a network I/F 215 , an input means I/F 216 , a display means I/F 217 , and a connection means 218 .
CPU 211 is the device that executes the instructions of a software program.
The ROM 212 is a storage element in which programs and the like for operating on the controller 21 are stored in advance. The programs and the like may be stored in a portable storage medium such as a CD-ROM and read by an external device such as a CD-ROM drive.

The RAM 213 is a storage element used as a work storage area necessary for storing programs and for the software to operate.
The memory 214 is a storage means that is composed of a hard disk device or the like and that stores information for processing such as generation, output, and management of print data used for printing shelf tags and POP advertisements.
The network I/F 215 is a circuit for exchanging data with means connected to the network 4 .
The input means I/F 216 is a circuit for performing input/output with the input means 22 .
The display means I/F 217 is a circuit for performing input/output with the display means 23 .
The connection means 218 is a means for connecting to the Internet.

The printing means 3 has a controller 31 that generates image data based on the print data output (transmitted) from the print data output device 2, and a printer engine 32 that drives a printing unit to print based on the generated image data.
The controller 31 includes a CPU 311 , a ROM 312 , a memory 313 , and a network I/F 314 .

In this embodiment, the printing means 3 is connected to the headquarters server 1 and the print data output device 2 via the network 4, but it may also be directly connected to the print data output device 2. Furthermore, it may be configured as a dedicated machine such as a label printer in which the print data output device 2 equipped with a program for printing POP advertisements and the printing means 3 are integrated.

(Function block diagram)
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the print data output device 2 and the printing means 3 according to this embodiment.
The printing data output device 2 functions as a device equipped with a printing data output means (product information output means) 201, a printing data generation means (product information output data generation means) 202, a paper selection means 203, a product information storage means 204, a card information storage means 205, a paper information storage means 206, and a communication unit 207.
The printing unit 3 includes a print control unit 301, an engine control unit 302, and a paper detection unit 303, and functions as a device that develops print data and prints it on paper.

The print data output means 201 is a means for controlling the print data output device 2 as a whole, and stores information input by the input means 22 in each storage means, displays information stored in each storage means on the display means 23, and transmits and receives data to and from the print means 3, etc., such as outputting print data generated by the print data generation means 202 to the print means 3.

The print data generating means 202 generates print data based on, for example, product information stored in the product information storage means 204, card information stored in the card information storage means 205, paper information stored in the paper information storage means 206, etc.

The paper selection means 203 selects, by specifying, switching, etc., the paper to be used for printing in the printing means 3 based on, for example, the product information stored in the product information storage means 204, the card information stored in the card information storage means 205, and the paper information stored in the paper information storage means 206.

The product information storage means 204 stores a product information file having product information for each product. The card information storage means 205 stores a card file having card information (print format information) used when printing on a print medium. The paper information storage means 206 stores a paper information file having information on paper stored in a paper feed cassette or the like of the printing means 3. The communication unit 207 exchanges data with the printing means 3.

The print control means 301 expands the print data output (transmitted) from the print data output means 201 into image data and transmits it to the engine control means 302, and transmits the paper information detected by the paper detection means 303 to the print data output means 201.
The paper detection unit 303 detects information about the paper stored in a paper feed cassette or the like.

(Various databases)
Here, the product information file, card information file, and paper information file processed in the printing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. First, the product information file will be described with reference to Figure 3.

(Product information file)
The product information file is a file of product information that stores items defined for each product. The product information file is generated by the print data output device 2 of each store by setting a predetermined condition (for example, products for which tomorrow is the "sale start date") and making an inquiry to each server such as the headquarters server 1 (such as a product master server that stores product master data and a planning master server that stores sales schedules, etc.) to obtain product information, selling price information, sales schedule information, etc. held by each server. The product information file is saved, for example, in a text file and stored in the product information storage means 204 of the print data output device 2 of each store.

Note that when a sales schedule is planned by each store, multiple sales schedules may be set, and sales schedules in the product information file can be set by automatically determining the priority of the sales schedules based on the sale start and end dates, or by setting a priority flag for the sales schedules planned by each store. Specifically, the sales schedules can be set in any way, such as giving priority to the sale start date closest to the current day, giving priority to the sale end date closest to the current day, or giving priority to the sale with the lowest selling price if the sale start and end dates are the same.

The product information consists of items such as "JAN code", "product name", "standard name", "current selling price", "printing instruction 1", "card 1", "quantity (printed) 1", "printing instruction 2", "card 2", "quantity (printed) 2", "sale start date", "sale end date", "sale price", "special points 1", "subject to reduced tax rate", "tax rate 1", "tax rate 2", "order point", and "order quantity", and each item is associated with each product.

The "JAN Code" item indicates the JAN code printed for each product. In this embodiment, the JAN code is used, but other bar codes such as the UPC code may also be used. The "Card 1" and "Card 2" items indicate the print format associated with each product. The "Print Instruction 1" and "Print Instruction 2" items indicate whether or not there is a print instruction for each product information item using the "Card 1" and "Card 2" print formats, and the "Number of (Prints) 1" and "Number of (Prints) 2" items indicate the number of copies to be printed using the "Card 1" and "Card 2" print formats.

The "Current Selling Price" field shows the current selling price or tax-inclusive price used at the time of sale in the store, and the "Special Sale Price" field shows the value of a special price or the like that is different from the current selling price. The "Special Sale Start Date" field shows the date and time when a special price such as a special sale price will start to be applied, and the "Special Sale End Date" field shows the date when the application of the special price will end. The "Special Points 1" field means that the associated product is eligible for special points, and shows the value of special points to be added.

The "Subject to reduced tax rate" field indicates that the associated product is subject to the reduced tax rate, the "Tax rate 1" field indicates the standard tax rate value to which the reduced tax rate is not applied, the "Tax rate 2" field indicates the reduced tax rate value, the "Order point" field indicates the timing of ordering the associated product (remaining quantity, etc.), and the "Order quantity" field indicates the quantity of the associated product at the time of ordering.
In addition, the above product information file has items "Card 1" and "Card 2" as print formats to be associated with product information, but more print formats may be provided, such as "Card 1" through "Card 5", for example.

3, the product information on the first line of the product information file includes a product with a JAN code of "1234567890," a product name of "canned coffee," a standard name of "280 ml," a current price of "100" yen, print format 1 (card 1) of "card A," and the number of prints using print format (card) 1 of "1." Furthermore, the product information on the first line includes a special sale start date of "January 12, 2017," a special sale end date of "January 31, 2017," a special price of "95" yen, and special points 1 of "100 points."
In addition, in the product information on the second line, "Advertisement B" is set for print format 2 (card 2), and the number of prints for print format (card) 2 is set to "1".

(Card information file)
Next, the card information file will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The card information file is a file of print format information (card information) used when printing each product. The card information file is information created, for example, at the headquarters and stored in a cloud server, which is acquired by the print data output device 2 of each store and stored as a text file in the card information storage means 205 of the print data output device 2.

The user can display the card information in the card information file on the display means 23 of the print data output device 2 of each store. The user can also modify, delete, or create new card information displayed on the display means 23.

The card information is data that consists of items such as "card name," "paper," "paper direction," "size," "printing item 1," "printing item n," "card attribute 1," "card attribute 2," "combination condition 1," "combination card 1," "change conditions," "changed card," "paper switching conditions," "switching paper," "alternative paper printing conditions," and "alternative paper," with each item associated with each card.

The "Card Name" item indicates the name of the card used. The "Paper" item indicates the name of the print medium to be printed on, the "Paper Orientation" item indicates the print direction when printing, and the "Size" item indicates the dimensions of the shelf tag or the like to be printed. The "Print Item 1" through "Print Item n" items indicate product information items defined in the print frame placed in the print format data used when printing on the print medium.

The "Card Attribute 1" and "Card Attribute 2" items indicate the defined attributes of the card. Card attributes include attributes related to the intended use, such as "advertised item," "regular shelf tag," "sale item," "regular POP," and "multiple tax rates," and attributes related to the paper size, such as "A3" and "A4."

A plurality of attributes can be defined for each piece of card information. Although the card attributes include items of "card attribute 1" and "card attribute 2", three or more card attributes may be defined.
In addition, card attributes can be registered arbitrarily on a system setting screen (not shown). For example, when a new print format that supports multiple tax rates is created, a new card attribute called "multiple tax rates" can be registered and defined for the new card.

The "Combination Conditions 1" item represents the conditions for combining and printing another card with the card on which product information is printed, and the "Combination Card 1" item represents the card to be combined. The "Change Conditions" item represents the conditions for changing the card on which product information is printed to another card, and the "Change Card" item represents the card to be changed. The "Paper Switching Conditions" item represents the conditions for printing using special paper such as pre-printed paper (paper that is printed in advance, paper that is pre-colored), and the "Switching Paper" item represents the paper to be switched to.

In the example shown in Figure 4, the print format (card information) in the first line of the card information file is set as follows: card name is "Card A", paper is "A4 white", paper transport direction is "portrait", size is "74 mm x 52.5 mm", and card attributes are "normal shelf label" and "A4".
Further, as card information in the second line, "combination condition 1" is set to "special points 1≧1" and combination card 1 is set to "for spotter".
In addition, the card information for the same 6th row has the paper switching condition set to "sale end date = sale start date" and the switching paper to "A4 yellow."

(Paper information file)
Next, the paper information file will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The paper information file is a file of information on the paper (printing medium) used when printing each product.
The paper information is data that includes items such as "paper name,""papersize,""surfaceinformation,""storagelocation," and "remaining number," and each item is associated with each paper.

The "Paper name" item indicates the type of paper, and the "Paper size" item indicates the dimensions of the paper. The "Surface information" item indicates information about the surface of the paper, such as pre-printed information (image information) and yellow bands. The "Storage location" item indicates the location, such as a paper feed cassette, where the paper is stored, and the "Remaining number" item indicates the number of sheets of paper stored.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the paper information in the first line of the paper information file includes the paper name "A4 white", the paper size "A4", the storage location "cassette 1", and the remaining quantity "500 (sheets)".
The paper information on the second line includes the paper name "A3 white", the paper size "A3", the storage location "cassette 2", and the remaining quantity "500 (sheets)".
The paper information in the same three lines includes the paper name "A4 yellow," the paper size "A4," the storage location "cassette 3," and the remaining quantity "100 (sheets)."
The paper information in the same four lines includes the paper name "A4 pre-prepared", the paper size "A4", the storage location "manual feed", and the remaining quantity "0 (sheets)".

(Product information output process)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the overall flow of print processing in the print system according to this embodiment.
First, the print data output means 201 waits for the user to operate the input means 22 to select a product and input a command to print (output product information) (step S101).

When a user selects product information and inputs a print command, the print data output means 201 reads the product information of the selected product from the product information storage means 204 (step S102). Next, the print data output means 201 reads card information from the card information storage means 205 based on the read product information (step S103).

Next, the paper selection means 203 selects the paper to be used for printing based on the product information and the card information (step S104).

Next, the print data generating means 202 generates print data based on the product information and the card information.
When generating print data, the print data generation means 202 performs processes such as a card change process (step S105) that changes the card (print format) on which product information is printed, a combination card setting process (step S106) that combines a special card with a card that is normally printed, and an alternative paper setting process (step S107) that is performed when the paper selected by the paper selection means 203 is insufficient.

Then, the print data output unit 201 transmits the print data generated by the print data generation unit 202 and the paper information of the selected paper to the printing unit 3 (step S108).
The printing means 3 that has received the print data and the paper information prints on paper (printing medium) based on the print data and the paper information (step S109), and ends the printing (output) of the product information. Note that the present invention does not necessarily have to include all of the above steps.

Next, each process from step S104 to step S107, which is one of the features of the print data output device 2 according to this embodiment, will be described in detail.
FIG. 7 is an example of a flowchart showing the flow of the paper selection process (step S104) in the print data output device 2 of this embodiment.

In the paper selection process, the paper selection means 203 selects paper based on the product information to be printed. Specifically, when the product information to be printed satisfies a predetermined condition, i.e., when the product information includes information to the effect that special paper is to be used for printing, the process includes selecting special paper as the paper to be printed on. For example, when the product information to be printed is a product on sale, special paper such as yellow paper may be selected as the paper to be used for printing.

First, the paper selection means 203 detects whether or not the card information read based on the product information in step S103 contains predetermined conditions for switching and selecting the paper to be used for printing (step S1041).

The setting of a predetermined condition can be performed, for example, by setting some condition for switching and selecting the paper in the "Paper Switching Condition" field of the card information on which the product information is printed as shown in Fig. 4. As a condition for switching and selecting the paper, for example, the paper switching condition can be set such that the sale start date and sale end date set in the product information to be printed are the same as those set in the "Paper Switching Condition" field of the card information of advertisement B in Fig. 4.

As a result, for products that are to be printed using the Advertisement A card and have the same sale start and end dates, the paper used for printing will be switched to the "A4 Yellow" paper set in the "Switch Paper" field.

If the paper selection means 203 detects that a paper switching condition has been set in the loaded card information (for example, if some condition has been set in the "Paper switching condition" field), it detects whether the product information to be printed satisfies the paper switching condition set in the card information (step S1042).

On the other hand, if the paper selection means 203 detects in step S1041 that the loaded card information does not have a paper switching condition set, it selects the paper set in the "Paper" field of the card information as the paper to be used for printing the product information (step S1044), and terminates the process.

If the paper selection means 203 detects in step S1042 that the product information to be printed satisfies the paper switching condition, it switches to and selects the paper set in the "switching paper" field of the card information as the paper to be used to print the product information (step S1403), and terminates the process.

On the other hand, if the paper selection means 203 detects that the product information to be printed does not satisfy the paper switching conditions, it selects the paper set in the ``Paper'' column of the card information as the paper to be used for printing the product information (step S1404), and terminates the processing.
The paper switching condition is not limited to the date condition, but can be set by the user as appropriate.
An example of the procedure S104 of the paper selection process in the print data output device 2 according to the present embodiment has been described above.

FIG. 8 is an example of a flowchart showing the flow of the card change process (step S105) in the print data output device 2 according to this embodiment.
The card change refers to changing the card (printing format) on which the product information is printed to another card (printing format) when the product information to be printed satisfies a predetermined condition when printing the product information. For example, when the product information to be printed is set to be a product subject to multiple tax rates, the card (printing format) is changed to a card (printing format) on which multiple tax rates can be printed, which is different from the card (printing format) on which the product information is normally printed, when printing shelf tags, etc., and print data for printing shelf tags, etc. is generated by changing the printing format.

First, the print data generating means 202 assigns the number of pieces of product information read in step S102 to n1, and assigns the initial value 1 to a variable n (step S1051).
Next, the print data generating unit 202 detects whether or not a card change condition is set in the card information set in the n-th item of product information from among the multiple items of product information that have been read (step S1052).

The card change conditions are conditions for changing (changing the printing format) the card on which product information is printed. For example, if the card (printing format) is to be changed when the product information to be printed is a product subject to a reduced tax rate, the card change conditions for changing the printing format can be set to be that "1" is set in the "Subject to reduced tax rate" column of the read product information (a setting of 1 indicates that the product is subject to a reduced tax rate).

When the print data generation means 202 detects that the loaded card information has card change conditions set, it detects whether the product information to be printed satisfies the card change conditions set in the card information (step S1053).

On the other hand, if the print data generation means 202 detects that no card change conditions have been set in the loaded card information, it generates print data using the loaded card (print format) that is normally used as the print format for printing the product information (step S1055).

If the print data generating means 202 detects in step S1053 that the product information to be printed satisfies the card change conditions set in the card information, it generates print data using the card (print format) set in the "change card" field of the card information as the print format for printing the product information (step S1054).

On the other hand, if the print data generation means 202 detects that the product information to be printed does not satisfy the card change conditions set in the card information, it generates print data using the loaded card (print format) that is normally used as the print format for printing the product information (step S1055).

Then, the print data generating means 202 detects whether the variable n is equal to or greater than n1 (step S1056), and if the variable n is equal to or greater than n1, ends the process. If the variable n is less than n1, it sets n=n+1 (step S1057), returns to step S1052, and repeats steps S1052 to S1056 as many times as the number of pieces of product information selected for printing.

In the above embodiment, the print data generation means 202 is controlled to change the card (change the print format) when it detects that the card change conditions are met, but by setting the card change conditions, the card change may be performed immediately. In addition, by setting store information, etc. as the card change conditions, it may be possible to control so that the card change is not performed in a store that only accepts one of the tax rates even if the product is subject to multiple tax rates.

The print data generated by the print data generating means 202 as described above is output (transmitted) to the printing means 3 by the print data output means 201 .
An example of the step S104 of the print data generating process for changing the card (print format) in accordance with a predetermined condition of the product information in the print data output device 2 according to the present embodiment has been described above.

FIG. 9 is an example of a flowchart showing the flow of the combination card setting process (step S106) in the print data output device 2 of this embodiment.
A combination card is a card that is printed in combination with a normally printed card (printing format) if the product information to be printed satisfies certain conditions. For example, if the product information to be printed is set to award special points, a card that emphasizes that special points will be awarded may be printed in combination with the card on which the product information is printed.

First, the print data generation means 202 assigns the number of pieces of product information read in step S102 to n1, and assigns the initial value 1 to the variable n (step S1061).

Next, the print data generating means 202 detects whether a combination card condition is set in the card information set for the nth product information from the multiple product information read (step S1062).

The combination card conditions are conditions for combining and printing a special print format (card) with a print format (card) for printing product information. For example, when combining a special card with a card for product information for which special points are assigned to the product information to be printed, whether or not points are set in the "Special Points 1" field of the loaded product information can be set as the combination card condition for combining the cards (the special information is stored together with the product information).

When the print data generating means 202 detects that the read card information has a combination card condition set, it detects whether or not the product information to be printed satisfies the combination card condition set in the card information (step S1063).
On the other hand, if the print data generating means 202 detects that no card combination condition is set in the read card information, it ends the process.

If the print data generating means 202 detects in step S1063 that the product information to be printed satisfies the card combination conditions set in the card information (if special information such as a combination card is also stored in association with the product information), it generates print data in such a way that the card on which the product information is printed and the special card are combined in such a way that the relationship between the two cards is clear (step S1064).

On the other hand, if the print data generating unit 202 detects that the product information to be printed does not satisfy the card combination condition set in the card information, the process proceeds to step S1065.
Then, the print data generation means 202 detects whether the variable n is equal to or greater than n1 (step S1065), and terminates the processing if the variable n is equal to or greater than n1, and if the variable n is less than n1, sets n=n+1 (step S1066), returns to step S1062, and repeats steps S1062 to S1065 as many times as the number of product information selected for printing.

In the above embodiment, the print data generation means 202 combines cards to generate print data when it detects that the combination card conditions are met, but if the combination card change conditions are set, the cards may be immediately combined to generate print data.
In addition, a special point value may be set as a card combination condition, and cards may be combined to generate print data only when the value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, or print data may be generated by combining different cards depending on the number of points.
An example of the process of generating print data relating to a combination card in the print data output device 2 of this embodiment has been described above.

FIG. 10 is an example of a flowchart showing the flow of the alternative paper setting process (step S107) in the print data output device 2 of this embodiment.
Setting alternative paper means that when the paper selected by the paper selection means 203 or the like is insufficient and cannot be fed, it is detected whether or not there is alternative paper that can replace the selected paper, and if alternative paper can be fed, the paper to be used for printing is switched to the alternative paper and selected to perform the printing process.

First, based on the information stored in the paper information file, the paper selection means 203 detects whether the paper selected in step S104 can be fed, i.e., whether the selected paper is stored in any of the paper feed cassettes or manual feed trays of the printing means 3 and can be fed (e.g., whether the value in the "remaining number" column of the paper information file is not 0) (step S1071).

When the paper selection means 203 detects that the selected paper can be fed, i.e., when the paper selected by the paper selection means is properly stored in one of the paper feed cassettes or manual feed trays of the printing means 3, it ends the process without switching to an alternative paper and selecting it.

On the other hand, if the paper selection means 203 detects that the selected paper cannot be fed, i.e., the paper selected by the paper selection means is not properly stored in any of the paper feed cassettes or manual feed trays of the printing means 3 (e.g., the value in the "remaining number" field of the paper feed cassette in which the selected paper is stored in the paper information file is 0), the paper selection means 203 detects whether an alternative paper that can replace the selected paper can be fed (step S1072).

As a substitute paper, a blank paper with the same paper dimensions can be set. For example, if a special yellow A4 paper is selected in the paper selection step S104, and the value of the "remaining number" column of the cassette that stores yellow A4 paper in the "paper name" column in the paper information file of FIG. 5 is detected to be 0, the value of the "remaining number" column of cassette 1 that stores white A4 paper is detected, and if the value of the "remaining number" column is not 0, the white A4 paper is detected as a substitute paper and can be fed.

If the paper selection means 203 detects in step S1702 that alternative paper cannot be fed, the print data output means 201 displays an error message indicating that there is no paper and stops printing (step S1076). Note that it is preferable to control the printing means 3 so as not to interfere with the next printing by sending an error release flag to the printing means 3 as necessary.

On the other hand, if the paper selection unit 203 detects that the alternative paper can be fed, it switches the paper on which the product information is printed to the alternative paper and selects it (step S1703).
Next, the print data generating unit 202 detects whether the previously selected paper has pre-printed information (step S1704). Pre-printed information refers to information that is pre-printed on the paper. For example, for yellow A4 paper, it is yellow background color information, and for pre-printed paper with a manufacturer's logo or the like, it is print information such as illustration information such as a logo. The pre-printed information can be stored in a paper information file or the like.

When the print data generation means 202 detects that the previously selected paper has pre-printed information, it generates print data by including the pre-printed information in the information (product information) that is the source of the print data. For example, when printing using alternative paper and the previously selected paper was yellow paper, it generates print data by including pre-printed information for coloring the background yellow as print information in addition to the product information to be printed (step S1075).

The preprinted information to be added does not necessarily have to have been preprinted on the preprinted paper, but may be any printed information that catches the customer's eye, such as a mark printed with bands a, a colored yellow or another similar color on both ends as shown in FIG. 11(a), or a mark printed with a circle b colored yellow or another similar color on one corner. Other examples include a mark printed with a band colored yellow on one end, a mark with text information, or a mark with a specific shape.

Further, the pre-printing information and the like can be stored in, for example, card information, and a storage means for storing the pre-printing information can be provided separately.
On the other hand, if it is detected that the previously selected paper does not have pre-printed information, the process ends.
An example of the generation of print data accompanied by the alternative paper setting process in the print data output device 2 of this embodiment has been described above.

As described above, the print data output device 2 of the printing system of this embodiment can automatically switch the paper type according to the product information.
In this embodiment, paper information is associated with multiple paper feed cassettes and manual feed trays in the printing means 3, and the paper information is detected to switch the paper to be used. However, for example, a sensor that detects the type of paper may be provided in the print data output device 2, and the paper detection means may detect information on the surface of the paper, and the type and remaining amount of paper may be detected.

Furthermore, by setting an IP address or the like in the printing means 3, paper can be managed for multiple printers, and if the paper feed cassettes can be managed uniquely, paper can be switched by managing the paper feed tray without setting an IP address or the like of the output device 3.
In addition, when the issuance schedule of POP advertisements or the like has been decided, the necessary special paper can be calculated by simulation, and the necessary special paper can be grasped. In such a case, the number of sheets of special paper required for printing can be stored in advance in the paper feed trays, and information on the number of sheets of special paper stored in each paper feed tray can be stored in the storage means of the print data output device 2, and by detecting that the stored number of sheets has been printed, it can be detected that the selected paper cannot be fed.
In this case, an input means may be provided for setting the number of special sheets to be stored in the paper feed cassette in advance, and the number of special sheets may be managed.

Furthermore, when the product information instructed to be printed includes product information for which the output format needs to be changed, such as product information subject to a reduced tax rate, the print data output device 2 of the printing system of this embodiment can automatically change the card (print format, etc.), for example, changing to a card that can display multiple tax rates, and output the product information output data by changing the display format.
This allows, for example, for products with multiple tax rates set, shelf tags or the like displaying multiple tax rates, allowing customers to easily understand the tax rate they will be charged at the time of purchase.

Furthermore, when the product information for which a printing instruction has been given includes product information to be printed in combination with a special POP or the like, the printing data output device 2 of the printing system of this embodiment outputs the printing data by combining the special POP or the like so that the relevance to the product information is clear.
This allows the POP of the product information advertised by the special POP to be easily understood, and makes it easier to handle, arrange, etc. the special POP.

In addition, when the paper to be used for printing product information is insufficient or cannot be fed, the printing data output device 2 of the printing system of this embodiment detects whether or not there is alternative paper that can be used instead, and if there is alternative paper, switches to and selects the alternative paper as the paper to be used for printing.
If the paper that cannot be fed is paper having special surface information, such as paper that has been printed on in advance, the print data generating means 202 generates print data by including in the print data the pre-printed information that has been printed on the special paper in advance or information equivalent thereto.
This allows the user to perform printing in the same way as if the user were printing using pre-printed paper, and allows the user to continue printing POPs and the like, thereby preventing a decrease in work efficiency.

(Explanation of the display screen)
In the printing data output device 2 of this embodiment, the user can operate the operation screen displayed on the display means 23 to give printing instructions, add or modify product information in the product information file, and add or modify card information in the card information file.
The display screen displayed on the display unit 23 in the print data output device 2 of this embodiment will be described below.

(List entry screen)
The print data output means 201 of the print data output device 2 displays on the display means 23 a list input screen 5 for selecting product information to be printed, adding or modifying product information, and issuing a print instruction.
The list input screen 5 is displayed on the display means 23 when the user operates a "list input" button or the like displayed on the menu screen of the program of this embodiment.

Figure 12 shows an example of the list input screen 5. The list input screen 5 has a "Display Item" column 51, a "Select Inquiry" column 52, a "List Display" column 53, and a "Card Preview" column 54. Note that the user can also hide the "Card Preview" column 54 to display the list data of the product information file across the entire "List Display" column 53.

The "List display" column 53 displays a list of the product information of the selected product. The items of the product information to be displayed can be set in the "Display item" column 51. For example, when the user selects any template in the "Display item" column 51, the "List display" column 53 displays any item of the product information file using the selected template. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the "JAN card" template is set in the "Display item" column 51, and the "List display" column 53 displays, from the left, the "Selection" column, the "JAN code" column, the "Product name" column, the "Print instruction 1" column, the "Card 1" column, the "Number of sheets (printed) 1" column, the "Print instruction 2" column, the "Card 2" column, the "Number of sheets (printed) 2" column, the "Special sale start date" column, and the "Special sale end date" column, etc., using the template. The user can operate the scroll bar 531 located at the bottom to display information hidden to the right.

The "Card Preview" column 54 displays the output (print) state of the product information of the product selected in the "Select" column of the "List Display" column 53. The "Card Preview" column 54 has a "Preview" column 541, a "Previous Product" button 542, a "Next Product" button 543, and a "Detailed Information" column 544.

The “preview” column 541 displays the card with the product information printed on it, and the “detailed information” column 544 displays the product information of the card displayed in the “preview” column 541 .
The user can check the printing status of the product information in the "Preview" column 541, and can change the product information displayed in the "Preview" column 541 by operating the "Previous Product" button 542 and the "Next Product" button 543.

The list input screen 5 has a "Menu" button 501, a "List input" button 502, and a "Card input" button 503 at the top. When the user operates the "Menu" button 501, the print data output means 201 displays a menu screen on the display means 23. Similarly, when the user operates the "Card input" button 503, the card input screen 6, which will be described later, is displayed on the display means 23.

Furthermore, the list input screen 5 has a “New” button 556, a “Delete Product” button 557, a “Preview” button 558 and a “Print” button 559 at the bottom of the screen.
When the user operates the "New" button 556, the print data output means 201 adds one line of data to the "List display" column 53. When the user selects product information in the "List display" column 53 and operates the "Delete product" button 557, the print data output means 201 deletes the display of the selected product information. When the user selects product information in the "List display" column 53 and operates the "Preview" button 558, the print data output means 201 displays a print preview screen 7 of the selected product information in a printed state on the display means 23. The print preview screen 7 will be described later.

In the example shown in FIG. 12, the "Select" column at the left end of the product information for products in rows 1 to 10 in the "List Display" column 53 is checked, and the product information for 10 products is selected to be printed. The selected product information is selectively displayed in the "Preview" column 541, and the product information to be displayed can be changed by operating the "Previous Product" button 542 and the "Next Product" button 543.

"Card A" is set in the "Card 1" column of the selected product information, and printing using Card 1 is set in the "Printing Instruction 1" column. The number of cards to be printed is one.
In addition, for the product information in the second and fourth rows of the "List Display" column 53, "Advertisement B" is set in the "Card 2" column, and printing using Card 2 is set in the "Print Instructions 2" column. The number of Card 2 to be printed is one.

Therefore, when the user operates the "Print" button 559 in the state shown in FIG. 12, the print data generation means 202 generates print data for the products in the first to tenth rows based on the product information and card information of card A, and also generates print data for the products in the second and fourth rows based on the product information and card information of advertisement B. The print data output means 201 then outputs (sends) the print data generated by the print data generation means 202 to the printing means 3. Having received the print data, the printing means 3 prints shelf tags, advertisements, etc. based on the print data.

(Card selection window)
When the user clicks on the "Card 1" column 53a or the "Card 2" column 53b on the list input screen 5, the print data output means 201 displays a card selection window 56. In the card selection window 56, the user can set a print format (card information) for printing the product information.

Figure 13 (a) shows an example of the card selection window 56. The card selection window 56 has a "Card name filter" column 561, a "Card attribute list" column 562, and a "Card selection" column 563. The print data output means 201 displays a list of selectable cards in the "Card selection" column 563. When the user selects (highlights) the card to be used for printing and operates the "Confirm" button 564, the print data output means 201 sets the selected card as card 1 or card 2.

The user can narrow down the cards when selecting a card by using the "Card Name Narrowing" column 561 and the "Card Attribute List" column 562 in the card selection window 56. Specifically, the user inputs part of the name of the card he or she wishes to use in the "Card Name Narrowing" column 561 and operates the "Narrow" button 561a. Alternatively, the user selects (highlights) the desired card attribute from among the card attributes displayed in the "Card Attribute List" column 562. These operations cause the print data output means 201 to display in the "Card Selection" column 563 cards whose names include the part input in the "Card Name Narrowing" column 561, or cards for which the card attribute selected in the "Card Attribute List" column 562 is defined.

13(b) shows the card selection window 56 in a state in which the card attributes have been narrowed down by the "card attribute" column 562. When the user selects (highlights) "normal shelf label" and "A4" in the "card attribute" column 562, the print data output means 201 displays in the "card selection" column 563 only cards (card A, card B) for which the attributes "normal shelf label" and "A4" are defined.
In this way, in the print data output device 2 of this embodiment, when setting card (print format) information for printing print information, the card information can be narrowed down, making it easier for the user to select a card.

(Card entry screen)
When the user operates the “Card Input” button 503 displayed on the menu screen or list input screen 5 , the print data output means 201 displays the card input screen 6 on the display means 23 .
14 shows an example of the card input screen 6. The card input screen 6 has a "card preview" column 61, a "product information" column 62, and a "card selection" column 63. At the upper position of the card input screen 6, there are a "menu" button 601, a "list input" button 602, a "card input" button 603, and a "card setting" button 604. When the user operates the "menu" button 601, the print data output means 201 displays a menu screen on the display means 23. Similarly, when the "list input" button 602 is operated, the list input screen 5 is displayed on the display means 23. Similarly, when the "card setting" button 604 is operated, the card setting screen 9, which will be described later, is displayed on the display means 23.

The "Product Information" column 62 displays product information obtained from the product master database of the head office server 1. When the user clicks on the "Card 1" column 63a in the "Card Selection" column 63, the print data output means 201 displays the card selection window 56 shown in Fig. 13(a). The user can set the card to be used for the product.
Furthermore, when the user clicks on a print item 61a in the "Card Preview" column 61, the print data output means 201 makes the corresponding section 62a in the "Product Information" column 62 editable. The user can change the data in the editable section.

(Print preview screen)
When a user selects product information in the "Select" column on the list input screen 5 and operates the "Preview" button 558, the print data output means 201 displays the print data generated by the print data generation means 202 for the selected product on the print preview screen 7.
15 shows an example of the print preview screen 7. The print preview screen 7 has a "print preview" field 71. The print data output unit 201 displays, on the print preview screen 7, a "edit" button 721 for editing the displayed print data.
The print preview screen 7 has a “menu” button 701, a “list input” button 702, a “card input” button 703, and a “card setting” button 704 at the top.

The "print preview" column 71 of the print preview screen 7 shown in Fig. 15 displays the state of print data for printing on A4 paper using the print format for "Card A" for the 10 pieces of product information selected on the list input screen 5 shown in Fig. 12. An arrow 711 indicating the paper transport direction is displayed at an appropriate position in the "print preview" column 71.
When a user selects a card displayed in the “Print Preview” column 71 (indicated by dotted line 71a in the figure) and operates the “Edit” button 721 in order to change the print format of the card, the print data output means 201 displays the card edit screen 8.

(Card modification screen)
16 shows an example of the card correction screen 8. The card correction screen 8 has a “card preview” field 81 and a “product information” field 82.
The "Card Preview" column 81 displays the output state of print data to be used for printing etc. in the form of a card. The "Product Information" column 82 displays a list of the product information items displayed in the "Card Preview" column 81. Above the "Product Information" column 82 there are a "Edit" button 821 and a "Back" button 822.
The card correction screen 8 has a “menu” button 801, a “list input” button 802, a “card input” button 803, and a “card setting” button 804 at the top.

When the user changes the data of an item in the "product information" column 82, the print data generating means 202 reflects the product information changed by the user in the print data displayed in the "card preview" column 81. The user can confirm the change status by looking at the "card preview" column 81. In the example shown in Fig. 16, the user changes the current selling price data 82a in the "product information" column 82 to 95 yen, so the print data generating means 202 corrects the print data and changes the display of the current selling price item 81a in the "card preview" column 81 to "95 yen."
Then, when the user operates the “Back” button 822, the print data output means 201 stores the changed content in the product information storage means 204, and displays the previous screen, the print preview screen 7.

(Card settings screen)
When the user operates a "card setting" button displayed on the menu screen or the like, the print data output means 201 displays a card setting screen 9 on the display means 23. On the card setting screen 9, the user can set and modify card (print format) information to be used for printing product information.

17 shows an example of the card setting screen 9. The card setting screen 9 has a card design field 91 and a card information field 93. The user can create print format data by arranging various objects in the card design field 91, and create card (print format) information by defining print items of the product information file to the objects.
The card information column 93 includes a "(card) name" column 931, a "paper" column 932, a "paper switching setting" column 933, a "card attribute information" column 934, a "card size" column 935, and an "expiration date" column 936.

The upper portion of the card information column 93 has an "information" button 921, a "combination" button 922, and a "change" button 923. When the user operates the "combination" button 922, the print data output means 201 displays a "card combination" window 94 for setting the card combination status. When the user operates the "change" button 923, the print data output means 201 displays a "card change" window 95 for setting card changes.
At the top of the card setting screen 9, there are a "menu" button 901 for switching to a menu screen, a "list input" button 902, a "card input" button 903, and a "card setting" button 904.

17, the name of the card created in the card design field 91 is defined as "Card A", the paper is defined as "A4 white", the card attributes are defined as "normal shelf label" and "A4", and the size is set as "74 mm x 52.5 mm". Note that the card size is set to the smallest unit (e.g., 37 mm x 26.25 mm) and a size that is an integer multiple of the smallest unit is set so that the card can be allocated to the paper without waste, but any dimensions may be set.

Figure 18 shows an example of the card settings screen 9 with the "Paper switching settings" field 933 displayed in detail. When the user checks the check box 933a in the "Paper switching settings" field 933 on the card settings screen 9, the print data output means 201 displays the "Paper switching settings" field 933 in detail on the card settings screen 9. The "Paper switching settings" field 933 has a "Switching paper" field 933b, a "Product item link" field 933c, and a "Condition settings" field 933d. The "Product item link" field 933c indicates the product information item that is the target of the condition for switching paper, and the "Condition settings" field 933d is a field for setting the conditions for switching paper.

When the user sets the switching conditions in the "Product Item Link" column 933c and the "Condition Setting" column 933d and sets the switched paper in the "Switched Paper" column 933b, when printing shelf tags, advertisements, etc., the paper selection means 203 selects the paper to be used for printing according to the set switching conditions.

To be more specific, in the card setting screen 9 shown in FIG. 18, "Advertisement A" is set in the "Card name" column 931, and "A4 White" is set in the "Paper" column 932. Also, the check box 933a is checked, and the "Paper switching settings" column 933 is displayed in detail. "A4 Yellow" is set in the "Switching paper" column 933b of the "Paper switching settings" column 933, "Last sale date" is set in the "Product item link" column 933c, and "Last sale date = Sale start date" is set in the "Condition settings" column 933d.

When "Advertisement A" is set as the card on which product information is to be printed, and the paper selection means 203 of the print data output device 2 detects that the "Last day of sale" and "Start day of sale" fields of the product information to be printed are the same, i.e., that the sale is for one day only, it selects "A4 Yellow" as the paper to be used for printing the product information. Then, when it detects that the "Paper switching setting" field 933 is not checked, or that the "Last day of sale" and "Start day of sale" fields of the product information to be printed are not the same, it selects "A4 White" as set by the "Advertisement A" card as the paper to be used for printing the product information.

In the example shown in FIG. 18, "last day of sale" is set as the item of product information that is the subject of the condition for switching the paper, and "last day of sale = start day of sale" is set in the "condition setting" column 933d as the condition for switching the paper, but the condition for switching the paper is not limited to specifying a date.
For example, the information can be appropriately set according to the product's manufacturer, the department to which the product belongs, the store's plans, etc.

Figure 19 shows another example of the card setting screen 9 with the "Paper switching settings" column 933 displayed in detail. In the card setting screen 9 shown in Figure 19, "Card C" is set in the "Card name" column 931, and "A4 White" is set in the "Paper" column 932. The check box 933a is checked, and the "Paper switching settings" column 933 is displayed in detail. "A4 Pre-printed" is set in the "Switching paper" column 933b of the "Paper switching settings" column 933, "Illustration 1", which is an item of product information, is set in the "Switching condition link" column 933c, and "Illustration 1 = Set available (data available)" is set in the "Condition setting" column 933d.

With the above settings, when "Card C" is set as the card on which product information is to be printed and information such as a logo mark is detected in the "Illustration 1" column of the product information to be printed, the paper selection means 203 of the print data output device 2 selects and sets a pre-printed paper as the paper to be used for printing the product information. The pre-printed paper is a paper on which a logo mark or the like corresponding to "Illustration 1" is pre-printed in the illustration position 91a shown in the card design column 91. Then, when it is detected that the "Paper Switching Setting" column 933 is not checked or that there is no information such as a logo mark in the "Illustration 1" column, the paper selection means 203 selects and sets "A4 White" set by the card of "Advertisement A" as the paper to be used for printing the product information without changing the paper.

In the print data output device 2 of this embodiment, when printing using special paper such as colored paper (A4 yellow) or pre-printed paper, due to the paper switching settings on the card setting screen 9 shown in Figures 18 and 19, if a shortage of the special paper is detected, it is possible to print using other alternative paper.

Specifically, when colored paper (A4 yellow) is set as the paper to be used for printing by the paper switching setting on the card setting screen 9 shown in FIG. 18, etc., and the paper selection means 203 detects a shortage of the colored paper, it detects whether there is another alternative paper (e.g., A4 blank paper of the same dimensions), and if it detects the presence of an alternative paper, it selects and sets the alternative paper as the paper to be used for printing. At that time, the print data generation means 202 may generate new print data by adding yellow background information to the print data that is normally generated.

When the paper selection means 203 detects a shortage of pre-printed paper when pre-printed paper (A4 pre-printed) is set as the paper to be used for printing by the paper switching setting on the card setting screen 9 shown in FIG. 19, the paper selection means 203 detects whether there is another paper that can be substituted (for example, a blank A4 paper with the same dimensions), and if the existence of an alternative paper is detected, selects and sets the alternative paper as the paper to be used for printing. At that time, the print data generation means 202 may generate print data by adding pre-printed information (such as a logo) to the print data that is normally generated.

Figure 20 shows an example of the card setting screen 9 with the "Card Combination" window 94 displayed. When the user operates the "Combination" button 922 on the card setting screen 9 and checks the "Set card combination conditions" checkbox 941 in the "Card Combination" window 94, the print data output means 201 displays the "Card Combination" window 94 on the card setting screen 9.

The "Card Combination" window 94 has a "Product Item Link" column 942a, a "Condition Setting" column 942b, a "Combination Card 1" column 943a, and a "(Combination) Position" column 942b. The "Product Item Link" column 942a indicates the product information items that are the subject of the conditions for combining cards, the "Condition Setting" column 942b is a column for setting the conditions for combining cards, the "Combination Card 1" column 943a is a column for setting the cards to be combined, and the "(Combination) Position" column 942b is a column for setting the position of the cards to be combined.

The card setting screen 9 shown in FIG. 20 is a card setting screen 9 in which "Card A" has been set as card 1, with the "Card Combination" window 94 displayed. "Special points 1" is set in the "Product item link" column 942a, "Value set" is set in the "Condition setting" column 942b, a "Spotter's" card is set in the "Combination card 1" column 943a, and "Left" is set in the "Combination position" column 943b.

With the above settings, for products in which special information (point value) is set in the "Special Point 1" item of the product information in which "Card A" is set as the card to be printed, i.e., for products that satisfy the conditions for combining cards, the print data generation means 202 generates print data based on the special information in addition to the print data that is normally generated based on the product information and the card (print format) information of Card A.

At that time, the print data generating means 202 generates print data by juxtaposing the normal print data generated based on the product information and the print layout (card information) of "Card A" with the print data generated based on the special information and the card information (layout) for "spotter," thereby generating print data so that it is clear that the special information is related to the product information.

Specifically, as shown in the card design field 91 of the card setting screen 9 in FIG. 20, the print data generation means 202 generates print data that combines regular print data for product information in a "Card A" layout (right side) and print data for special information in a "spotter's" layout (left side).

Figures 21(a) and (b) show examples of print media printed by combining print data for product information in the "Card A" layout and print data for special information in the "spotter" layout. The example shown in Figure 21 shows the print state when a print command is issued for the 10 products selected on the list input screen 5 shown in Figure 12.

In Figure 21, for two products out of the 10 items for which "special point 1" has been set, prints A1 and B1 using normal print data in the layout of the product information "Card A" and prints A2 and B2 using print data for the special information "for spotters" are adjacent to each other, and are printed so that it is clear that the two are related.
In addition, in Figure 21 (a), prints A1 and A2 are adjacent in the left-right direction, and prints B1 and B2 are adjacent in the top-bottom direction, so there is no limit to the direction in which the regular print data of product information in the "Card A" layout (right side) and the print data of special information in the "spotter's" layout are adjacent.
Also, in Figure 21 (b), just as print A1 and print A2 are printed upside down, there is no restriction on the orientation of the regular print data (right side) of the product information in the "Card A" layout and the print data of the special information in the "spotter's" layout.
As described above, by appropriately controlling the orientation and adjacent directions, paper waste can be eliminated.
However, it may be possible for the user to set the adjacent direction or printing direction in advance, so that printing can be performed in the set direction or printing direction.

Specifically, printings A1, B1 in the "Card A" layout for the canned coffee in the first row and the tea in the third row are printed adjacent to printings A2, B2 in the "spotter's" layout, which contains special information indicating that 100 points will be awarded. The user can easily understand that the printings for the canned coffee in the first row and the tea in the third row are related to the "spotter's" printing.

In the above embodiment, the "combination position" column 943b for the combination card is set to the left, but the number of cards to be combined is not limited to one. Also, in order to associate product information with special information, the positional relationship is not limited to left and right. Furthermore, two or more cards can be combined by setting the "combination card 2" column 944a and the "position" column 944b in the "card combination condition setting" column 54.

In addition, combination cards are not limited to cards to be shown to customers, such as POP cards. For example, a card used by an employee that lists the time and amount of merchandise purchased can be set as a combination card.

As a method of printing the main card showing normal product information and the combination card so that their relationship is clear, in addition to printing them adjacent to each other, the main card and the combination card may be printed so that they are surrounded by a specific frame. Also, a mark or the like that indicates that they are related to the main card or part of the combination card may be printed. Also, a part of the main card may be printed on the back of the combination card so that the relationship between the main card and the combination card is clear.

Furthermore, when printing combination cards, the print data output means 201 preferably controls the order in which the product information is output, for example by first printing the product information to be printed on the combination cards, thereby reducing paper waste.
In addition, the print data output means 201 can output cards in order according to product type so that, for example, cards showing product information about beverages and cards showing product information about food are not mixed together. In the example of the printing state in Figure 21, product information having a combination card is output first, followed by product information about beverages and product information about food.

In this way, in this embodiment, the print data output means 201 outputs and prints the product information output data of the combination card in such a way that the relationship between the product information output data of the normal product information card can be seen, so that the user can intuitively understand the relationship between the two cards, and can appropriately arrange the combination cards when arranging them in a sales area, etc.

Figure 22 shows an example of the card settings screen 9 with the "Card Change" window 95 displayed. When the user operates the "Change" button 923 on the card settings screen 9 and checks the "Set Card Change Conditions" checkbox 951 in the "Card Change" window 95, the print data output means 201 displays the "Card Change" window 95.

The "Card Change" window 95 has a "Product Item Link" column 952a, a "Condition Setting" column 952b, and a "Changed Card" column 953. The "Product Item Link" column 952a indicates the item of product information that is the subject of the conditions for changing the card, the "Condition Setting" column 952b is a column for setting the conditions for changing the card, and the "Changed Card" column 953 is a column for setting the changed card.

The card setting screen 9 shown in FIG. 22 shows a state in which the "Card A" is set as the print layout on the card setting screen 9, with the "Card Change" window 95 displayed. The "Reduced Tax Rate Eligible" item is set in the "Product Item Link" column 952a, "Value Set" is set in the "Change Settings" column 952b, and the card "Card D" is set in the "Changed Card" column 953.

With the above settings, when "Card A" is set as the print layout, the print data output means 201 detects whether a value is set (checked) in the "Subject to reduced tax rate" field of the product information to be printed, and when a value is set (checked) in the "Subject to reduced tax rate" field of the product information to be printed, that is, when the product to be printed is a product subject to reduced tax rate with multiple tax rates set depending on the purchasing conditions, changes the format used to print the product information from "Card A" to "Card D" and generates print data based on the product information and the card information (format) of "Card D".

It should be noted that the card design field 91 of the card setting screen 9 shown in FIG. 22 displays the print state of the print data generated based on the product information and the card information of "Card D" for the product subject to the reduced tax rate.
As shown in the card design section 91, the product in question has tax rates set for two purchasing conditions: eat-in (where the purchased product is eaten in the store) and eat-out (where the purchased product is taken home).

Figure 23 shows an example of a print medium when the products to be printed include products subject to a reduced tax rate. The example shown in Figure 23 shows the print state when a print command is issued for the product information of 10 products selected on the list input screen shown in Figure 12. The print data generation means 202 generates print data for 8 products (first products) out of the 10 product information that do not have a value set for "subject to reduced tax rate" based on the card information (layout) of the normal "card A". And for the two products (second products) that are "subject to reduced tax rate", print data is generated based on the card information (layout) of "card D" that corresponds to the reduced tax rate instead of the card information (layout) of the normal "card A".

Specifically, for "Bread Roll" on the fifth line and "Curry Bread" on the eighth line of the product information file, print data is generated based on the card information (layout) of "Card D" that corresponds to the reduced tax rate. Note that in the above example, if the product is a product subject to the reduced tax rate (second product), one piece of card information (Card D) is automatically set, but this is not limited to this example. For example, the print data output means 201 may display multiple compatible card (layout) candidates on the display means 23. The user can select from the candidates displayed on the display means 23.

In addition, in the print data output device 2 of this embodiment, the user may directly select a card that supports multiple tax rates as "Card 1" to be set in the product information on the card input screen 6, so that the print data generation means 202 generates print data that supports multiple tax rates.

Figure 24 shows the card input screen 6 in a state where a card (layout) corresponding to multiple tax rates has been selected. When the user clicks on the "Card 1" column 63a in the "Card selection" column 63 on the card input screen 6, the print data output means 201 displays the card selection window 56 shown in Figure 13 (b). When the user narrows down the card attributes displayed in the "Card attribute list" column 562 of the card selection window 56 by inverting the "Multiple tax rates" attribute, the print data output means 201 displays only cards that have the multiple tax rate attribute defined in the "Card selection" column 563. The user need only select any card from the cards displayed in the "Card selection" column 563.

Specifically, in the card input screen 6 shown in FIG. 24, when the user sets "Card D," which defines the card attributes for the reduced tax rate, in the "Card 1" column 63a, the print data generation means 202 generates print data based on card D, and the print data output means 201 displays print data in a layout in the "Card preview" column 61 in which the selling price for eat-in (150 yen) and the selling price for take-out (147 yen) generated by the print data generation means 202 are written side by side.
In this way, for products for which multiple tax rates are set, the normal tax rate and the reduced tax rate are printed side by side on shelf tags, POPs, etc., so that customers can easily recognize the price of the product that suits their individual circumstances.

Printing multiple tax rates can also be achieved by using the combination cards described above. For example, when setting the card combination conditions, the "reduced tax rate eligible" item can be set as a product item link, and the item can be checked as a combination condition. This allows product information that satisfies the combination conditions described above to be printed in combination with a card with a normal tax rate and a card with a reduced tax rate next to it.

In addition, even if a product is subject to the reduced tax rate, depending on the store, it may only be sold at the normal tax rate or only at the reduced tax rate. In such a case, in the card selection window 56 shown in Fig. 13, by narrowing down the card attributes by attributes such as "reduced tax rate only", it is possible to narrow down the cards on which only the reduced tax rate is printed, and by selecting from the narrowed down cards, it is possible to print a card (layout) on which only the reduced tax rate is printed.
In addition, the display of multiple tax rates can be linked to certain conditions, such as store information, so that when certain conditions are met, the card is automatically set to print only the regular tax rate or only the reduced tax rate.

In addition, the means for differentiating the printing format of the first product and the second product are not limited to the above embodiment, and for example, at least one of the font, character color, background, size, etc. may be different for each tax rate.
As described above, in the print data output device of this embodiment, for products for which multiple tax rates are set depending on the purchasing conditions, a printing mode different from the normal printing mode is used that automatically indicates that the product is subject to multiple tax rates, thereby allowing the purchaser to easily understand the tax rate at the time of purchase.
It goes without saying that the above-described embodiments do not limit the invention described in the claims, but are treated as examples.

1: Headquarters server 2: Print data output device 3: Printing means 21: Controller 201: Print data output means 202: Print data generation means 203: Paper selection means 204: Product information storage means 205: Card information storage means 206: Paper information storage means 207: Communication unit 22: Input means 23: Display means 31: Controller 32: Printer engine 301: Print control means 302: Engine control means 303: Paper detection means

Claims (4)

A printing system for printing a card showing product information of a specified product on a print medium, comprising:
a print data generating means for generating print data for printing a card showing the product information;
a print data output unit that outputs the print data generated by the print data generation unit to a print unit;
the print data generating means generates print data in which the print data for printing the card showing the product information and the print data for printing the card showing special information related to the product information are arranged adjacent to each other;
The printing system includes a printing data output means that outputs multiple adjacently arranged printing data to a printing means so that multiple adjacently arranged printing data are arranged on a single medium and a card showing one special information and a card showing another special information are printed side by side within the width of the card showing the product information . The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a reception unit that receives a setting as to where the print data for printing the card showing the special information should be placed adjacent to the print data for printing the card showing the product information. The printing system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a condition setting means for setting in advance conditions for generating print data in which the print data for printing the card showing the product information and the print data for printing the card showing the special information are arranged adjacent to each other. A program for printing a card showing product information of a specified product on a print medium,
Computer,
a print data generating means for generating print data for printing a card showing the product information;
a print data output unit that outputs the print data generated by the print data generation unit to a printing unit;
the print data generating means generates print data in which the print data for printing the card showing the product information and the print data for printing the card showing special information related to the product information are arranged adjacent to each other;
The printing data output means is a program that outputs multiple adjacently arranged printing data to a printing means so that multiple adjacently arranged printing data are arranged on a single medium and a card showing one special information and a card showing another special information are printed side by side within the width of the card showing the product information .

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