Apparatus and method for generating and outputting a list of a plurality of stored forms

• US 5,915,258 A
• Filed: 10/17/1996
• Issued: 06/22/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Toyokura, Yoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Christopher B.
• Application Number:
  US08/733,338
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 395/275, 395/821, 395/101, 707/505-509, 707/517
• US Class Current: 715/209
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0062 combining generic and host data, e.g. filling a raster
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0065 Page or partial page composition
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0082 Architecture adapted for a particular function

Abstract

An output apparatus includes a memory to store data representing a plurality of forms, an instructor to instruct the generation of a list of stored forms, and an output unit to output the form list with an indication where in the memory each of the forms is stored.

Claims

1. An output apparatus comprising:

memory means having a capacity of storing a first plurality of forms each including ruled lines wherein each of the forms will be synthesized with data representing a character pattern upon output of the form and the data;

instructing means for providing a test instruction for generating and outputting a second plurality of forms from said memory means the second plurality being equal to or less than the first plurality; and

output means, responsive to the test instruction provided by said instruction means, for generating and outputting the second plurality of stored forms, wherein said output means outputs the second plurality of forms on respective different pages.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the forms have content, and wherein said output means further generates and outputs the form list with an indication of the contents of the plurality of stored forms.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the forms have content, and wherein said output means groups information indicating where in said memory means a certain one of the plurality of forms is stored and a part of the content of the certain form into one set and outputs a plurality of such sets onto one sheet of an output medium.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output means groups information indicating where in said memory means a certain one of the plurality of forms is stored and a portion of the certain form that is peculiar to the certain form into one set and output a plurality of such sets to one sheet of an output medium.

5. An output processing method comprising the steps of:

storing a first plurality of forms, each including ruled lines, wherein each of the forms will be synthesized with data representing a character pattern upon output of the form and the data;

providing a test instruction for generating and outputting a second plurality of forms from said storing step, the second plurality being equal to or less than the first plurality; and

generating and outputting the second plurality of stored forms, wherein said output means outputs the second plurality of forms on respective different pages in response to the test instruction provided in said instructing step.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of forms have content, and wherein in said outputting step, the form list is outputted with an indication of the contents of the plurality of stored forms.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of forms have content wherein said outputting step groups information indicating where a certain one of the plurality of forms is stored, and a part of the content of the certain format into one set and outputs a plurality of such sets onto one sheet of an output medium.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein said output step groups information indicating where in said memory means a certain one of the plurality of forms is stored and a portion of the certain form that is peculiar to the certain form into one set and outputs a plurality of such sets to one sheet of an output medium.

9. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for performing the steps of:

storing a first plurality of forms, each including ruled lines, wherein each of the forms will be synthesized with data representing a character pattern upon output of the form and the data;

providing a test instruction for generating and outputting a second plurality of forms from said storing step, the second plurality being equal to or less than the first plurality; and

generating and outputting a second plurality of stored forms, wherein said output means outputs the second plurality of forms on respective different pages in response to the test instruction provided in said instructing step.

10. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of forms have content, and wherein in said outputting step, the form list is outputted with an indication of the contents of the plurality of stored forms.

11. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of forms have content wherein said outputting step groups information indicating where a certain one of the plurality of forms is stored, and a part of the content of the certain format into one set and outputs a plurality of such sets onto one sheet of an output medium.

12. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program according to claim 9, wherein said output step groups information indicating where in said memory means a certain one of the plurality of forms is stored and a portion of the certain form that is peculiar to the certain form into one set and outputs a plurality of such sets to one sheet of an output medium.