Device for processing intermediate files in printer control system

An intermediate file processing device for a printer control system that uses a printer driver of a computer to convert, for a print job, print data, which is prepared by an application of the computer, into code data appropriate for the printer and that then provides the code data to the printer, the intermediate file processing device comprising:

• a memory;
• intermediate file forming means for receiving a set of print data for a print job to be printed by a printer, for forming a set of one or more intermediate file, independent of a device for treating the print job, for the print job based on the set of print data, and for storing the set of one or more intermediate file in the memory, each intermediate file representing a single page image to be printed by the printer onto a single sheet, the intermediate file forming means further forming a command file and storing the command file into the memory;
• process command means for analyzing the command file stored in the memory, and producing, when the command file includes process information indicative of a predetermined type of printing, a command to attain the predetermined type of printing;
• page separation means for, in response to the command, recognizing the set of one or more intermediate file for the print job and separating the one or more intermediate file from one another;
• and
• processing means for producing a set of one or more new intermediate file, which is independent of a device for treating the print job and which is for attaining the predetermined type of printing, based on the separated one or more intermediate file and based on the command, the set of one or more new intermediate file being converted by a printer driver into code data appropriate for the printer.

A printer control system, comprising:

• a printer;
• and
• a personal computer connected to the printer, the personal computer including:
• a memory;
• print data preparation means for preparing a set of print data for each print job to be printed by the printer;
• intermediate file forming means for receiving the set of print data for each print job, for forming, for the print job, a set of one or more intermediate file, independent of a device for treating the print job, based on the set of print data, and for storing the set of one or more intermediate file in the memory, each intermediate file representing a single page image to be printed by the printer onto a single sheet, the intermediate file forming means further forming a command file and storing the command file into the memory;
• process command means for analyzing the command file stored in the memory and for, when the command file includes process information indicative of a predetermined type of printing, producing a command to attain the predetermined type of printing operation;
• page separation means for, in response to the command, recognizing the set of one or more intermediate file for the corresponding print job and for separating the one or more intermediate file from one another;
• processing means for producing a set of one or more new intermediate file, which is independent of a device for treating the print job and which is for attaining the predetermined type of printing, based on the separated one or more intermediate file and based on the command;
• and
• code generating means for converting the set of one or more new intermediate file into code data appropriate for a type of the printer.

A data recording medium storing, in a retrievable condition, a control program for controlling an intermediate file processing device for a printer control system, the control program comprising:

• a control program for analyzing one set of intermediate data for a print job, the intermediate data set including one set of one or more intermediate file indicative of one or more page image, the set of one or more intermediate file being independent of a device for treating the print job, for judging whether the intermediate data set includes process information indicative of a predetermined type of printing, and for producing, when the intermediate data set includes the process information indicative of the predetermined type of printing, a command to attain the predetermined type of printing;
• a control program for, in response to the command, recognizing the set of one or more intermediate file and for separating the one or more intermediate file from one another;
• and
• a control program for producing, a set of one or more new intermediate file, which is independent of a device for treating the print job and which is for attaining the predetermined type of printing, based on the separated one or more intermediate file and based on the command.