Image forming apparatus for printing image data in removable storage

Abstract

The contents of a print-file-selection settings file “SELFL.TXT” have folder path “/FLD1” and print attribute settings file path “/PTYFL.TXT” which are provided to print file decision section 122 and file detection section 121, respectively. The section 122 successively provides the contents of each of PDF files in folder “FLD1” to bitmap conversion section 123. The section 121 reads the contents of “PTYFL.TXT”, provides print attribute values to bitmap conversion section 123, and print control values to printer 18. The section 123 converts the contents of a PDF file into one in PDL, further into bitmap format, and sends it to the printer 18. Alternatively, the number of characters N of each filenames to be displayed is obtained, the number of files M whose N exceeds N0 is counted, and if this exceeds M0, all the filenames together with their file IDs are automatically printed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic functional block diagram depicting related parts of hardware and software of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting the details of Blocks 120-123 in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A to 3C are illustrations of the contents of a print file selection settings file SELFL.TXT and a print attribute settings file PTYFL.TXT in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic functional block diagram depicting related parts of hardware and software of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting the details of a block partition list automatic printing section in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6A to 6C are illustrations of processing in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of the hardware of an image forming apparatus.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a processor; memory means, coupled to the processor, into which a program is stored; coupling means to which a removable memory device is coupled; a removable memory device interface coupled between the coupling means and the processor; detection means for detecting whether the removable memory device is coupled to the coupling means; and image formation means for forming an image on a sheets of paper according to provided bitmapped data; wherein the program causes the processor: (a) in response to the detection, to determine whether a prescribed file is stored in the removable memory device; and(b) if the determination is positive, to read the contents of a prescribed file, to convert the contents into bitmapped data, and to provide the bitmapped data to the image formation means.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the step (a), the program causes the processor: (a1) in response to the detection, to determine whether a print-file-selection settings file is stored in the removable memory device;(a2) if the determination is positive, to read the contents of print-file-selection settings file, and based on the contents, to decide the prescribed file; and(a3) to determine whether the prescribed file is stored in the removable memory device.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, where in the step (a), the program causes the processor: (a1) in response to the detection, to determine whether a print-file-selection settings file is stored in the memory means;(a2) if the determination is positive, to read the contents of print-file-selection settings file, and based on the contents, to decide the prescribed file; and(a3) to determine whether the prescribed file is stored in the removable memory device.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the print-file-selection settings file includes a description of a folder path that includes a print target file,wherein in the step (a2), a file that is included in the folder and has a prescribed extension in the filename thereof is determined as the prescribed file.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in the step (a1), it is further determined whether a print attribute settings file is stored in the removable memory device,wherein in the step (b), the contents of the print attribute settings file are read, and according to the contents, the contents of the prescribed file are converted into the bitmapped data.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in the step (a1), it is further determined whether a print attribute settings file is stored in the memory means,wherein in the step (b), the contents of the print attribute settings file are read, and according to the contents, the contents of the prescribed file are converted into the bitmapped data.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of the print attribute settings files are stored in the removable memory device, and one of the plurality of print attribute settings files is designated in the print-file-selection settings file to specify a print attribute settings file to be used.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of the print attribute settings files are stored in the memory means, and one of the plurality of print attribute settings files is designated in the print-file-selection settings file to specify a print attribute settings file to be used.

9. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a processor; memory means, coupled to the processor, into which a program is stored; coupling means to which a removable memory device is coupled; a removable memory device interface coupled between the coupling means and the processor; a control section, coupled to the processor, including instruction input means and display means; and an image formation means for forming an image on a sheet of paper on the basis of supplied print data; wherein the program causes the processor: (a) if the removable memory device is coupled to the coupling means, then according to an instruction input from the instruction input means, to display the names of a prescribed type of files stored in the removable memory device, together with their identification codes added to the beginning of the names, within the number of characters that can be displayed in one row on the display means;(b) according to an instruction input from the instruction input means, to provide data including the names of the prescribed type of files stored in the removable memory device and their identification codes, to the image formation means to print a file list on a sheet of paper; and(c) to read the contents of a file selected by an instruction input from the instruction input means, to convert the contents into print data, and to provide the print data to the image formation means;wherein the display width of the display means is shorter than a printable width of a horizontal scanning direction.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the program further causes the processor: to obtain the number of characters substantially for each of the names of the files to be displayed in the step (a);to count the number of files where the number of characters of their filenames exceed a first threshold value; andif the counted number exceeds a second threshold value, to provide data including the names of the prescribed type of files stored in the removable memory device and their identification codes, to the image formation means to print a file list on a sheet of paper.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first threshold value and the second threshold value can be set.