JPH08207376A - Overlay printing apparatus, method and system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To enable overlay printing without performing the registration operation to register the form in the printer. [Structure] Form storage means for storing a previously created form, additional data storage means for storing the input additional data, and overlay printing for the additional data stored in the additional data storage means. In this case, at least the registration means for reading out the form having the form name specified in the instructed retrofit data from the form storage means and registering it in the printer, and the at least the specified form registered by the registration means, Control means for controlling the printer to perform overlay printing of the post-attachment data related to the instruction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an overlay printing apparatus, method and system for superposing and printing separately entered forms such as forms and post-added data to be filled in the forms.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing technique called overlay printing has been known as a printing technique in an information processing system. In this overlay printing, a form such as a form consisting of a plurality of vertical and horizontal ruled lines is registered in the printer in advance, so that the data (post-attached data) to be entered in the form and the form of the form previously registered Are printed on top of each other.

[0003]

However, conventionally, when performing overlay printing as described above, it is necessary to register the form in the printer in advance before printing the additional data, and this registration operation is performed. Was troublesome.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object thereof is to enable overlay printing without performing a registration operation for registering a form with a printer.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an overlay printing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a form storage means for storing a form created in advance, and an additional data for storing the input additional data. Storage means,
When overlay printing is instructed to the retrofit data stored in the retrofit data storage means, at least the form having the form name specified in the designated retrofit data is read from the form storage means and registered in the printer. Registration means, and at least control means for controlling the printer to perform overlay printing of the designated form registered by the registration means and the post-installed data relating to the instruction.

In order to achieve the above object, in the overlay printing apparatus according to the second aspect, the registration means according to the first aspect sends to the printer the form for which overlay printing has been completed under the control of the control means. It is configured to deregister.

In order to achieve the above object, in the overlay printing apparatus according to the third aspect, the registration means according to the first aspect is instructed to perform the overlay printing on the retrofit data stored in the retrograde data storage means. In this case, if the form having the form name specified in the instructed retrofit data is not yet registered in the printer, the form is read from the form storage means and registered in the printer, and after overlay printing is completed. Is also configured not to unregister.

In order to achieve the above object, in the overlay printing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the control means according to the first aspect, when the form name is not specified in the post-addition data for which printing is instructed, It is configured to display a message to that effect.

In order to achieve the above object, in an overlay printing apparatus according to a fifth aspect, the control means according to the first aspect adds the post-installation if the form name is not specified in the post-addition data for which printing is instructed. It is configured to control the printer to print only data.

In order to achieve the above object, in the overlay printing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the control means according to the first aspect, when the form name is not designated in the post-print data for which printing is instructed, A message to that effect is displayed, and the printer is controlled to print only the additional data.

In order to achieve the above object, in an overlay printing apparatus according to a seventh aspect, the control means according to the first aspect is such that a form having a form name designated in the post-addition data instructed to print is the form. If not stored in the storage means, a message to that effect is displayed.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the overlay printing apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the control means according to the first aspect is such that the form having a form name designated in the post-addition data instructed to print is the form. If not stored in the storage means, the printer is configured to control so that only the additional data is printed.

To achieve the above object, in an overlay printing apparatus according to a ninth aspect, the control means according to the first aspect is such that the form having a form name designated in the post-addition data instructed to print is the form. If not stored in the storage means, a message to that effect is displayed, and the printer is controlled to print only the retrofit data.

In order to achieve the above object, the overlay printing method according to the tenth aspect of the present invention is such that, when overlay printing is instructed to the retrofit data, at least a form having a form name specified in the instructed retrofit data is used. Is stored in the storage means, the form corresponding to the designation is read out from the storage means, registered in the printer, and overlay-printed together with the additional data according to the instruction.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 11 is the overlay printing method according to claim 10, wherein the registration of the form for which overlay printing has been completed is deleted from the printer. .

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 12 is the overlay printing method according to claim 10, wherein the form having the form name specified in the post-addition data for which overlay printing is instructed is still the above-mentioned. When the form is not registered in the printer, the form is read from the storage unit and registered in the printer, and the registration is not deleted even after the overlay printing is completed.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 13 is the overlay printing method according to claim 10, in which case the form name is not specified in the post-addition data for which printing is instructed, a message to that effect is given. It is configured to display a message.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 14 is the overlay printing method according to claim 10, wherein when the form name is not specified in the postscript data for which printing is instructed, only the postscript data is added. Is configured to print.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 15 is the overlay printing method according to claim 10, when a form name is not designated in the post-addition data for which printing is instructed, a message to that effect is given. It is configured to display the message and print only the retrofit data.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 16 is the overlay printing method according to claim 10, wherein a form having a form name specified in the post-print data to be printed is stored in the storage means. If not stored, a message to that effect is displayed.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 17 is the overlay printing method according to claim 10, wherein a form having a form name designated in the post-print data for which printing is instructed is stored in the storage means. If it is not stored, only the retrofit data is printed.

To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 18 is the overlay printing method according to claim 10, wherein a form having a form name designated in the post-print data for which printing is instructed is stored in the storage means. If not stored, a message to that effect is displayed and only the retrofit data is printed.

In order to achieve the above object, an overlay printing system according to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention is a form storage means for storing a previously created form, a post-attachment data storage means for storing input post-attachment data, and the post-attachment. When overlay printing is instructed to the retrofit data stored in the data storage means, at least the form having the form name specified in the instructed retrofit data is read from the form storage means and registered in the printer. And a control unit for controlling the printer to perform overlay printing of at least the form related to the designation registered by the registration unit and the retrofit data related to the instruction.

To achieve the above object, in an overlay printing system according to a twentieth aspect, the registration means according to the nineteenth aspect sends a form to the printer for which overlay printing has been completed under the control of the control means. It is configured to deregister.

In order to achieve the above object, in the overlay printing system according to claim 21, the registration means according to claim 19 is instructed to perform overlay printing on the retrofit data stored in the retrofit data storage means. If
If the form having the form name specified in the designated postscript data is not yet registered in the printer, the form is read from the form storage means and registered in the printer, and is registered even after the overlay printing is completed. Is configured not to kill.

In order to achieve the above object, in the overlay printing system according to the twenty-second aspect, the control means according to the nineteenth aspect, when the form name is not designated in the post-print data for which printing is instructed, It is configured to display a message to that effect.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the overlay printing system according to claim 23, the control means according to claim 19 is a retrofit if a form name is not specified in the postscript data for which printing is instructed. It is configured to control the printer to print only data.

In order to achieve the above object, in the overlay printing system according to the twenty-fourth aspect, the control means according to the nineteenth aspect, when the form name is not designated in the post-addition data for which printing is instructed, A message to that effect is displayed, and the printer is controlled to print only the additional data.

In order to achieve the above object, in the overlay printing system according to claim 25, the control means according to claim 19 is such that the form having a form name specified in the post-print data to be printed is the form. If not stored in the storage means, a message to that effect is displayed.

In order to achieve the above object, in the overlay printing system according to claim 26, the control means according to claim 19 is such that the form having the form name specified in the post-print data to be added is the form. If not stored in the storage means, the printer is configured to control so that only the additional data is printed.

In order to achieve the above object, in the overlay printing system according to claim 27, the control means according to claim 19 is such that the form having a form name specified in the post-print data to be printed is the form. If not stored in the storage means, a message to that effect is displayed, and the printer is controlled to print only the retrofit data.

[0032]

In the overlay printing apparatus according to claim 1, when the overlay printing is instructed to the retrofit data stored in the retrofit data storage means, the registration means is
At least the form having the form name designated in the instructed retrofit data is read from the form storage means and automatically registered in the printer, and the control means at least the form related to the designation registered by the registration means. By controlling the printer to perform overlay printing of the data and the post-additional data related to the instruction, overlay printing can be performed without performing a registration operation for registering a form with the printer.

According to another aspect of the overlay printing apparatus of the present invention,
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the registration unit deletes the registration in the printer for the form for which overlay printing has been completed under the control of the control unit, so that the same operation and effect as in the first aspect can be obtained. To

In the overlay printing apparatus according to claim 3,
When the overlay printing is instructed to the retrofit data stored in the retrofit data storage means, the registration means according to claim 1 still has a form having a form name specified in the instructed retrofit data. When the form is not registered in the printer, the form is read out from the form storage means and registered in the printer, and the registration is not deleted even after the overlay printing is completed. To be able to In this case, since the form registration is not deleted, the same form is registered in the printer only in the case of the first overlay printing, and is registered in the case of the second and subsequent overlay printing. The formed form can be used as it is, and overlay printing can be speeded up.

In the overlay printing apparatus according to claim 4,
When the form name is not specified in the post-print data that has been instructed to be printed, the control means according to claim 1 displays a message to that effect to obtain the same operation and effect as in claim 1. It is possible to prompt the user to add the form name in the retrofit data.

In the overlay printing apparatus according to claim 5,
The control means according to claim 1 controls the printer so as to print only the retrofit data when the form name is not designated in the retrofit data for which printing is instructed. In addition to obtaining the action and effect of, the convenience of reviewing the retrofit data will be improved.

In the overlay printing apparatus according to claim 6,
The control means according to claim 1, when the form name is not designated in the postscript data instructed to be printed, a message to that effect is displayed, and the printer is controlled to print only the postscript data. Than doing
The same operation and effect as in claim 1 are obtained, and addition of the form name in the retrofit data is urged or the retrofit data is examined conveniently.

In the overlay printing apparatus according to claim 7,
The control means according to claim 1, when the form having the form name designated in the post-print data to be printed is not stored in the form storage means, displays a message to that effect, It is possible to obtain the same action and effect as those of claim 1, and to prompt the user to additionally input a form.

In the overlay printing apparatus according to claim 8,
2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit prints only the post-attachment data when the form having the form name specified in the post-attachment data designated for printing is not stored in the form storage unit. By controlling the above, it is possible to obtain the same action and effect as in claim 1, and to facilitate the examination of the retrofit data.

In the overlay printing apparatus according to claim 9,
The control means according to claim 1, when the form having the form name specified in the retrofit data instructed to be printed is not stored in the form storage means, the control means displays a message to that effect and the retrofit. By controlling the printer so as to print only data, the same operation and effect as in claim 1 can be obtained, and
Encourage users to fill in additional forms and facilitate review of retrofit data.

In the inventions described in claims 10 and 19, the same actions and effects as those of the first aspect can be obtained, and in the inventions of claims 11 and 20, the same actions and effects as the second aspect can be obtained. In the inventions of claims 12 and 21, claim 3
The same actions and effects as the above are obtained, the same actions and effects as those of the fourth aspect are obtained in the inventions of claims 13 and 22, and the same actions and effects as the fifth aspect are obtained in the inventions of claim 14 and 23. In the invention described in claims 15 and 24, the same action and effect as in claim 6 can be obtained, and in the invention described in claims 16 and 25, the action and effect similar to claim 7 can be obtained. According to the inventions 17 and 26,
The same actions and effects as in the above are obtained, and the inventions described in claims 18 and 27 can obtain the same actions and effects as in the ninth aspect.

[0042]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a computer system to which an overlay printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. A central processing unit 21 such as a CPU and MPU, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. 22, C
A display device 23 such as an RT display, a printer 24 such as a page printer (laser beam printer), and R
It has a storage device 25 such as an OM, a RAM and a hard disk.

The central processing unit 21 uses the RO of the storage device 25.
In addition to controlling various data processing according to various programs preset in M etc., it also controls overlay printing by the printer 24. At this time, the central processing unit 21
The RAM of the storage device 25 is used as an input buffer area, a work area, etc. In addition, the central processing unit 21 saves the form form (see “F” in FIG. 3) input from the input device 22 in the hard disk of the storage device 25, and adds the retrofit data input from the input device 22 (see FIG. 3). “D”) is stored in the hard disk of the storage device 25 or the buffer area on the RAM.

The printer 24 has a storage means (RAM or the like) for registering a form or the like of a form.
Further, as shown in “D” of FIG. 3, the post-attachment data includes the name of the form to be overlay-printed (Form in the figure = address book FRM, etc.). Also,
As indicated by Var1 to Var16 in the drawing, print position information indicating which column of the form formed by a plurality of vertical and horizontal ruled lines should be printed is added to each piece of the additional data.

Next, the overlay printing process in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the overlay printing mode is set immediately after the input of the additional data by the input device 22 or the overlay printing of the additional data previously input and stored in the hard disk of the storage device 25 is instructed,
The central processing unit 21 determines whether or not a form name is designated in the post-print data to be printed (step S1). As a result, if the form name is not designated, the printer 24 prints only the retrofit data (step S2), and ends. In this way, by printing only the retrofit data, the user can carefully examine whether or not the retrofit data is appropriate on the recording paper.

On the other hand, if the form name is designated, it is determined whether or not the form with the form name is stored in the hard disk of the storage device 25 (step S).
3). As a result, if the form is not stored, a message to that effect is displayed on the display device 23 (step S4), and the process ends. In this way, by displaying the message that the form is not saved, it is possible to prompt the user to additionally input the form.

On the other hand, if the form is stored, the form is read from the hard disk and registered in the storage means of the printer 24 (step S5: see FIG. 3). Next, the post-print data to be printed is transferred to the printer 24 (see FIG. 3) and overlay printing is executed (step S6). Then, the registration of the form registered in step S5 is deleted (step S7), and the process ends.

As described above, when the overlay data is designated and the overlay printing is performed, the corresponding form is automatically registered in the printer 24. Therefore, a predetermined registration operation is performed in advance before performing the overlay printing. There is no need to go and register the form with the printer 24, and usability is improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and for example, the form registration may not be deleted even after the overlay printing is completed. In this case, only when the form having the form name specified in the instructed retrofit data is not registered in the printer 24, the form may be read from the storage device 25 and registered in the printer 24. That is, in this case, since the form registration is not deleted, the same form is registered in the printer only in the first overlay printing, and is registered in the second and subsequent overlay printings. Since the form can be used as it is, the overlay printing can be speeded up.

Further, when the form name is not specified in the post-added data for which printing is instructed, a message to that effect can be displayed to prompt the addition of the form name in the post-added data. Is.

If the form having the form name specified in the post-additional data for which printing is instructed is not stored in the storage device 25, it is possible that the post-additional data is printed to erroneously input the form name. Alternatively, it is possible to make a convenience for considering whether the form itself has not been input.

Further, a storage device for storing the form or a printer may be arranged at a remote place so as to be accessible by a communication line or a LAN connection.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, when overlay printing is performed with postscript data specified, the corresponding form is automatically registered in the printer. Therefore, before performing overlay printing. It is not necessary to perform a predetermined registration operation in advance to register the form in the printer, and the usability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an overlay printing process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computer system to which an overlay printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overlay printing process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 ... Central processing unit 22 ... Input device 23 ... Display device 24 ... Printer 25 ... Storage device F ... Form D ... Retrofit data

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Keiichi Takashima 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroki Oyano 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Incorporated (72) Inventor Hitoshi Ozaka 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kenta Hara 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (27)

[Claims] 1. Form storage means for storing a previously created form, additional data storage means for storing input additional data, and overlay printing for the additional data stored in the additional data storage means. When instructed, at least a registration unit that reads out a form having a form name specified in the instructed retrofit data from the form storage unit and registers it in the printer, and at least a specified form registered by the registration unit And a control unit that controls the printer to perform overlay printing of the post-installed data related to the instruction, and the overlay printing apparatus. 2. The registration unit deletes the registration in the printer of a form for which overlay printing has been completed under the control of the control unit.
The overlay printing device described. 3. The registration means, when overlay printing is instructed to the retrofit data stored in the retrofit data storage means, the form having the form name designated in the instructed retrofit data is still present. 2. The overlay printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the form is read from the form storage unit when not registered in the printer and registered in the printer, and the registration is not deleted even after the overlay printing is completed. 4. The overlay printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays a message to that effect when a form name is not specified in the post-print data for which printing is instructed. 5. The control unit controls the printer to print only the post-attachment data when the form name is not designated in the post-attachment data for which printing is instructed. The overlay printing device described. 6. If the form name is not designated in the postscript data for which printing has been instructed, the control means displays a message to that effect and controls the printer to print only the postscript data. The overlay printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 7. The control means displays a message to that effect if the form having the form name specified in the post-print data to be printed is not stored in the form storage means. The overlay printing apparatus according to claim 1. 8. The printer is configured to print only the retrofit data when the form having the form name specified in the retrofit data for which printing is instructed is not stored in the form storage means. The overlay printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 9. The control unit displays a message to that effect when the form having the form name designated in the post-print data for which printing is instructed is not stored in the form storage unit, and the post-installation process is performed. The overlay printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printer is controlled to print only data. 10. When overlay printing is instructed to the retrofit data, at least when a form having a form name specified in the instructed retrofit data is stored in the storage means, An overlay printing method, comprising: reading out a designated form, registering it in a printer, and performing overlay printing together with the additional data associated with the instruction. 11. The overlay printing method according to claim 10, wherein registration of the form for which overlay printing has been completed is deleted from the printer. 12. If the form having the form name specified in the post-addition data for which overlay printing has been instructed has not been registered in the printer, the form is read from the storage means and registered in the printer, 11. The overlay printing method according to claim 10, wherein the registration is not deleted even after the overlay printing is completed. 13. The overlay printing method according to claim 10, wherein when a form name is not designated in the post-print data for which printing is instructed, a message to that effect is displayed. 14. The overlay printing method according to claim 10, wherein when the form name is not designated in the post-print data for which printing is instructed, only the post-print data is printed. 15. The overlay according to claim 10, wherein when the form name is not designated in the post-print data for which printing is instructed, a message to that effect is displayed and only the post-print data is printed. Printing method. 16. If the form having the form name designated in the post-print data which is instructed to be printed is not stored in the storage means, a message to that effect is displayed. Overlay printing method. 17. The method according to claim 10, wherein when the form having the form name specified in the post-print data for which printing is instructed is not stored in the storage unit, only the post-print data is printed. Overlay printing method. 18. If the form having the form name designated in the post-print data designated for printing is not stored in the storage means, a message to that effect is displayed and only the post-print data is printed. 11. The overlay printing method according to claim 10, wherein: 19. Form storage means for storing a previously created form, additional data storage means for storing input additional data, and overlay printing for the additional data stored in the additional data storage means. When instructed, at least a registration unit that reads out a form having a form name specified in the instructed retrofit data from the form storage unit and registers it in the printer, and at least a specified form registered by the registration unit And a control unit for controlling the printer to perform overlay printing of the post-installed data related to the instruction, and an overlay printing system. 20. The overlay printing system according to claim 19, wherein the registration unit deletes registration in the printer of a form for which overlay printing has been completed under the control of the control unit. 21. When overlay printing is instructed to the retrofit data stored in the retrofit data storage means, the registration means still has a form having a form name specified in the instructed retrofit data. 20. The overlay printing system according to claim 19, wherein when the form is not registered in the printer, the form is read from the form storage unit and registered in the printer, and the registration is not deleted even after the overlay printing is completed. 22. If the form name is not specified in the post-addition data for which printing is instructed, the control means,
20. The overlay printing system according to claim 19, wherein a message to that effect is displayed. 23. When the form name is not specified in the post-addition data for which printing is instructed, the control means,
20. The overlay printing system according to claim 19, wherein the printer is controlled to print only the retrofit data. 24. If the form name is not specified in the post-addition data for which printing is instructed, the control means,
20. The overlay printing system according to claim 19, wherein a message to that effect is displayed and the printer is controlled so as to print only the additional data. 25. If the form having the form name designated in the post-print data for which printing is instructed is not stored in the form storage unit, the control unit displays a message to that effect. Claim 1
9. The overlay printing system according to item 9. 26. The printer is configured to print only the post-attachment data when the form having the form name designated in the post-attachment data for which printing is instructed is not stored in the form storage unit. 20. The overlay printing system according to claim 19, wherein the overlay printing system is controlled. 27. When the form having the form name specified in the post-print data for which printing is instructed is not stored in the form storage unit, the control unit displays a message to that effect and the post-print 20. The overlay printing system of claim 19, wherein the printer is controlled to print only data.