Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer-readable memory medium storing program therein

Abstract

In an information processing apparatus for forming print data which can be interpreted by a printing apparatus in accordance with document data formed by an application in order to enable the user to easily set the switching between a printer and a mail box as destinations, a user interface which can set either a mail box mode to accumulate the print data into the printing apparatus without printing it or a printer output mode to sequentially print the print data received by the printing apparatus is provided.

1 . to  28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . An information processing apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   an obtaining unit constructed to obtain, from a printing apparatus, information on a function of the printing apparatus;   an accepting unit constructed to accept a user selection of a first function that causes the printing apparatus to store first print data, or accept a user selection of a second function that causes the printing apparatus to print second print data, in accordance with an instruction input via a user interface based on the information obtained by said obtaining unit, the user interface being provided by a print program that generates the first and second print data;   a display control unit constructed to display a setting area for setting a name for storing the first print data when the accepting unit accepts the user selection of the first function;   a generating unit constructed to generate the first print data based on the name set via the setting area displayed by the display control unit; and   a transmitting unit constructed to transmit the first print data generated by the generating unit to the printing apparatus.   
     
     
         30 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the print program comprises a printer driver. 
     
     
         31 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein, when switching is made between the first function and the second function accepted by the accepting unit, said display control unit displays a message indicating that there is a change of the function. 
     
     
         32 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the information on the function of the printing apparatus obtained by the obtaining unit indicates whether the printing apparatus is capable of using a mail box. 
     
     
         33 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the name set via the setting area displayed by the display control unit is displayed on an operation panel provided in the printing apparatus. 
     
     
         34 . A method executed by a processor of an information processing apparatus, comprising:
 obtaining, from a printing apparatus, information on a function of the printing apparatus;   accepting a user selection of a first function that causes the printing apparatus to store first print data, or accepting a user selection of a second function that causes the printing apparatus to print second print data, in accordance with an instruction input via a user interface based on the information obtained by said obtaining step, the user interface being provided by a print program that generates the first and second print data;   displaying a setting area for setting a name for storing the first print data when the accepting step accepts the user selection of the first function;   generating the first print data based on the name set via the setting area displayed by the displaying step; and   transmitting the first print data generated by the generating step to the printing apparatus.   
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the print program comprises a printer driver. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein, when switching is made between the first function and the second function accepted by the accepting step, said displaying step displays a message indicating that there is a change of the function. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the information on the function of the printing apparatus obtained by the obtaining step indicates whether the printing apparatus is capable of using a mail box. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the name set via the setting area displayed by the displaying step is displayed on an operation panel provided in the printing apparatus. 
     
     
         39 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which is stored code of a computer program that, when executed by a processor of an information processing apparatus causes the information processing apparatus to perform a method comprising:
 obtaining, from a printing apparatus, information on a function of the printing apparatus;   accepting a user selection of a first function that causes the printing apparatus to store first print data, or accepting a user selection of a second function that causes the printing apparatus to print second print data, in accordance with an instruction input via a user interface based on the information obtained by said obtaining step, the user interface being provided by a print program that generates the first and second print data;   displaying a setting area for setting a name for storing the first print data when the accepting step accepts the user selection of the first function;   generating the first print data based on the name set via the setting area displayed by the displaying step; and   transmitting the first print data generated by the generating step to the printing apparatus.   
     
     
         40 . The storage medium according to  claim 39 , wherein the print program comprises a printer driver. 
     
     
         41 . The storage medium according to  claim 39 , wherein, when switching is made between the first function and the second function accepted by the accepting step, said displaying step displays a message indicating that there is a change of the function. 
     
     
         42 . The storage medium according to  claim 39 , wherein the information on the function of the printing apparatus obtained by the obtaining step indicates whether the printing apparatus is capable of using a mail box. 
     
     
         43 . The storage medium according to  claim 39 , wherein the name set via the setting area displayed by the displaying step is displayed on an operation panel provided in the printing apparatus.