Image forming apparatus, method, and computer-readable storage medium storing a program

• US 8,446,623 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Masuyama, Yuka
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, King
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cruz, Iriana
• Application Number:
  US12/683,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20100182642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.15, 340/540
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2206/1514 Sub-job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1253 Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration

Abstract

Finishing settings to be applied to a new subset are selected from finishing settings applied to existing subsets in a file, and when the new subset is set to be inserted into the file, the selected finishing settings are applied to the new subset and the new subset is inserted. When an existing subset in the file is to be replaced with the new subset, the selected finishing settings are applied to the new subset, and the existing subset in the file is replaced with the new subset.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus capable of applying print settings to each of subsets, in a file, that contains multiple pages, the apparatus comprising:

a first designation unit configured to designate a first subset in a case where one of the subsets in the file is replaced with the first subset;

a setting unit configured to set a target subset which exists in the file to be replaced with the first subset;

a replacement unit configured to apply a print setting of the target subset set by the setting unit to the first subset and replace the target subset with the first subset;

a second designation unit configured to designate a second subset to be inserted in the file;

a selection unit configured to select either a first applying method for applying a new created print setting to the second subset or a second applying method for applying an existing print setting of one of the subsets to the second subset;

a subset selection unit configured to select, from the subsets that exist in the file, a subset having a print setting that is to be applied to the second subset, in a case where the second applying method is selected;

an insertion unit configured (i) to, in a case where the second applying method is selected, insert the second subset to the file, wherein a print setting of the subset selected by the selection unit is applied to the second subset, and (ii) to, in a case where the first applying method is selected, insert the second subset to the file, wherein the new created print setting is applied to the second subset; and

a generating unit configured to generate a print job comprising the first and second subsets.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an obtainment unit configured to obtain a print setting applied to the file as a whole;

a changing unit configured to change a setting that is not a finishing setting among print settings applied to the first or second subset;

a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the setting changed by the changing unit conflicts with the print setting obtained by the obtainment unit; and

a display unit configured to display a warning window in a case where a result by the determination unit indicates that the setting changed by the changing unit conflicts with the print setting obtained by the obtainment unit.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display control unit configured to display subsets in the file based on the print settings.

3. An image forming method executed by an image forming apparatus capable of applying print settings to each of subsets, in a file, that contains multiple pages, the method comprising the steps of:

first designating a first subset in a case where one of the subsets in the file is replaced with the first subset;

setting a target subset which exists in the file to be replaced with the first subset;

applying a print setting of the target subset set by the step of setting to the first subset and replacing the target subset with the first subset;

second designating a second subset to be inserted in the file;

first selecting either a first applying method for applying a new created print setting to the second subset or a second applying method for applying an existing print setting of one of the subsets to the second subset;

second selecting, from the subsets that exist in the file, a subset having a print setting that is to be applied to the second subset, in a case where the second applying method is selected;

inserting, (i) in a case where the second applying method is selected, the second subset to the file, wherein a print setting of the subset selected by the second selecting is applied to the second subset, and, inserting (ii) in a case where the first applying method is selected, the second subset to the file, wherein the new created print setting is applied to the second subset; and

generating a print job comprising the first and second subsets.

4. The image forming method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining a print setting applied to the file as a whole;

changing a setting that is not a finishing setting among print settings applied to the first or second subset;

determining whether or not the setting changed in the changing step conflicts with the print setting obtained in the obtaining step; and

displaying a warning window in a case where a result of the determination in the determining step indicates that the setting changed in the changing step conflicts with the print setting obtained in the obtaining step.

8. The image forming method according to claim 3, further comprising:

displaying subsets in the file based on the print settings.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium holding a program for applying print settings to each of subsets, in a file, that contains multiple pages, the program causing a computer to:

first designate a first subset in a case where one of the subsets in the file is replaced with the first subset;

set a target subset which exists in the file to be replaced with the first subset;

apply a print setting of the target subset to the first subset and replace the target subset with the first subset;

second designate a second subset to be inserted in the file;

first select either a first applying method for applying a new created print setting to the second subset or a second applying method for applying an existing print setting of one of the subsets to the second subset;

second select, from the subsets that exist in the file, a subset having a print setting that is to be applied to the second subset, in a case where the second applying method is selected;

insert, (i) in a case where the second applying method is selected, the second subset to the file, wherein a print setting of the subset selected by the second select is applied to the second subset, and, insert (ii) in a case where the first applying method is selected, the second subset to the file, wherein the new created print setting is applied to the second subset; and

generate a print job comprising the first and second subsets.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 5, holding a program that further causes the computer to:

obtain a print setting applied to the file as a whole;

change a setting that is not a finishing setting among print settings applied to the first or second subset;

determine whether or not the changed setting conflicts with the obtained print setting; and

display a warning window in a case where it has been determined that the changed setting conflicts with the obtained print setting.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 5, holding a program that further causes the computer to:

display subsets in the file based on the print settings.