Print data generation apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium

• US 9,373,231 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2013
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Moriyama, Satoru, Kanda, Mitsuhiro, Ishida, Minako
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Tammy
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILIA, MARK R
• Application Number:
  US14/037,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20140139867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

A print data generation apparatus generating print data includes a processor, and a memory configured to store a database having a plurality of records in which texts are respectively set for fields, template data which is associated with one of operation keys and in which at least arrangement positions of the texts to be printed are set, link information associating arrangement positions in the template data with the fields of the database, and computer-readable instructions instructing the processor to execute steps including detecting operation of the operation keys, selecting, from among the plurality of records of the database, the record to be used for printing, and generating print data such that the texts that are respectively set for the fields of the selected record are arranged in the arrangement positions associated with the fields by link information, by using the template data corresponding to the operated operation key.

Claims

1. A printing device, comprising:

a processor;

a plurality of operation keys for receiving an operation from a user;

a printer configured to print texts on a print medium;

a plurality of data bases that includes a plurality of records associated with a plurality of template data;

the plurality of template data being respectively associated with the plurality of operation keys, the template data assigned to each of said plurality of operation keys being all different; and

a memory configured to store said data bases having said plurality of records in which texts are respectively set for fields, the template data in which at least arrangement positions of the texts to be printed on the print medium are set, link information associating arrangement positions in the template data with the fields of the databases, template data that is linked with the database and template data that is not linked with the database existing together and computer-readable instructions that instruct the processor to execute steps comprising;

detecting operation of the operation keys by the user;

determining whether the template data corresponding to the operated operation key is the template data in which the arrangement positions and the fields of the data base is associated by the link information, when it is detected that one of the operation keys has been operated by the user;

selecting default texts that are set in advance in the template data that corresponds to the operated operation key when it is determined that the template data corresponding to the operated operation key is not the template data in which the arrangement positions and the fields are associated by the link information, and generating print data to print the selected default texts;

determining whether, when it is determined that the template data corresponding to the operated operation key is the template data in which the arrangement positions and the fields are associated by the link information, a template number has been changed, the template number being a number assigned to a template of template data;

setting, when it is determined that the template number has been changed, a record number in accordance with a state in which a selection key is operated, the record number being a variable to select texts to be arranged in the arrangement positions of the template data, the selection key being included among the operation keys and being used to select a record corresponding to the set record number to be used for printing from among the plurality of records of the database;

setting, when it is determined that the template number has not been changed, a record number corresponding to a record in accordance with a number of times of operation of the operation key;

generating the print data such that the texts that are respectively set for the fields of the record corresponding to the set record number are arranged in the arrangement positions that are associated with the fields by the link information, and

causing the printer to print the generated print data on the print medium.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein

the link information associating the arrangement positions with the fields is included in the template data.

3. The printing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a touch pad that is provided on a top surface of the printing device, and

a sheet that is arranged on an upper side of the touch pad, such that the sheet is replaceable.

4. The printing device according to claim 3, wherein

the touch pad that is set the operation keys.

5. The printing device according to claim 3, wherein

the sheet, on which keys corresponding to the operation keys set on the touch pad are drawn, is arranged on a surface of the touch pad.