Updateable printer driver, information processing apparatus, and computer-readable recording medium recording therein printer driver

An information processing apparatus, comprising:

• a memory installed with a printer driver including a core driver performing a constraining process to a print setting based on function information, containing a constraint for the print setting and stored in a storage unit of the information processing apparatus, and being enabled to accept an addition of a plug-in, and
• a processor configured to implement the printer driver such that:
• the core driver expands basic function information corresponding to the core driver on a memory as first level information in a manner maintaining architectural relation of the basic function information, wherein
• the basic function information includes, in a child level of function information that indicates a basic function that is included in the core driver, descriptions of
• setting value information indicating a setting value that is selectable of the basic function indicated by the function information, and
• constraint information indicating constraint processing about the basic function indicated by the function information;
• the core driver expands plug-in function information that corresponds to a plug-in on the memory as second level information in a manner maintaining architectural relation of the plug-in function information,
• the plug-in function information includes descriptions of
• setting value information indicating a setting value that is selectable of expansion function indicated by the function information in a child level of function information indicating the expansion function that is included in the plug-in,
• constraint information indicating constraint processing about the basic function included in the core driver in a same level of the setting value information, and
• combining information that indicates the basic function applied with constraint processing indicated by the constraint information on a parent level of the constraint information;
• the core driver combines the first level information expanded from the basic function information with the second level information expanded from the plug-in function information in a manner where information in a level same or under the child level of the combination information described in the plug-in function information becomes information in a level same or under the child level of the function information indicating the basic function designated by the combination information, the function information being described in the basic function information;
• and
• the core driver performs constraint processing to the print setting based on the first level information that is combined with the second level information.