Printer control apparatus and method

A printer control apparatus comprising:

• printing information set storage means for storing a plurality of printing information sets, each printing information set including printing data indicating characters or marks to be printed and printing data update information indicating update characteristics of said printing data;
• printing information set input means for inputting printing data and printing data update information to said printing information set storage means;
• update reference signal generation means for supplying an update reference signal to printing data update means;
• printing data update means for updating said printing data in accordance with said printing data update information, said printing data update means checking said printing information sets stored in said printing information set storage means in accordance with the update reference signal supplied from said update reference signal generation means, said printing data update means performing update processing for updating printing data to be updated, including printing data in printing information sets not being used for printing, in accordance with the printing data update information;
• printing information set selection means for selecting one of said printing information sets;
• and
• printing information generation means for reading out the printing data of the selected printing information set and supplying the printing data thus read out to a printer.