Data generating apparatus, data generating method, and recording medium

Abstract

A data generating apparatus and a data generating method generate imposition data for imposing a plurality of pages on a print medium. A recording medium stores therein a program which enables a computer to function as an apparatus for generating such imposition data. After imposition data have been converted from grid data into fold data, trials are performed to fold a hypothetical print medium based on the converted fold data, so that pages, which are superimposed by folding the hypothetical print medium, have sequential page numbers and are oriented in one direction. Results of the trials are acquired as fold information for folding an actual print medium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A data generating apparatus for generating imposition data for imposing a plurality of pages on a print medium, comprising:
 a fold data converter for converting grid data defining positions of pages, page numbers of the pages, and orientations of the pages, as the imposition data, into fold data defining positions of fold lines about which the print medium is folded into a signature, folding directions, and a folding sequence;   a folding trial conductor for attempting to fold a hypothetical print medium, which simulates the print medium, based on the fold data, so that pages superposed by folding the print medium have sequential page numbers and are oriented in one direction; and   a fold information acquirer for acquiring a result of folding trial events performed to successfully fold the hypothetical print medium into a signature, as fold information representing the positions of fold lines about which the print medium is folded into a signature, folding directions, and a folding sequence.   
     
     
         2 . The data generating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the folding trial conductor determines that the signature cannot be produced if the pages superposed by folding the print medium do not have sequential page numbers or are not oriented in one direction in a case where the folding trial conductor attempts to fold the hypothetical print medium. 
     
     
         3 . The data generating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hypothetical print medium includes the fold lines and can be folded a plurality of times about the fold lines into the signature; and   the folding trial conductor identifies positions of fold lines and folding directions for maximizing a total number of superposed pages having sequential page numbers each time that the hypothetical print medium is folded.   
     
     
         4 . The data generating apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein each time that the hypothetical print medium is folded, the folding trial conductor identifies positions of fold lines and folding directions for maximizing the total number of superposed pages by attempting to fold the hypothetical print medium about all of the fold lines that are available, or stops trying to fold the hypothetical print medium about remaining ones of the fold lines at the time the positions of fold lines and folding directions for maximizing the total number of superposed pages having sequential page numbers are identified. 
     
     
         5 . The data generating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hypothetical print medium includes the fold lines and can be folded a plurality of times about the fold lines into the signature; and   the folding trial conductor attempts to fold the hypothetical print medium about all of the fold lines that are available, and thereafter identifies positions of fold lines, folding directions, and a folding sequence for maximizing a total number of superposed pages having sequential page numbers.   
     
     
         6 . The data generating apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a trial result indicator for externally indicating the result of folding trial events performed on the hypothetical print medium by the folding trial conductor.   
     
     
         7 . The data generating apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the trial result indicator comprises a display unit for displaying the result of folding trial events. 
     
     
         8 . A data generating method of generating imposition data for imposing a plurality of pages on a print medium, comprising:
 a first step of converting grid data defining positions of pages, page numbers of the pages, and orientations of the pages, as the imposition data, into fold data defining positions of fold lines about which the print medium is folded into a signature, folding directions, and a folding sequence;   a second step of attempting to fold a hypothetical print medium, which simulates the print medium, based on the fold data, so that pages superposed by folding the print medium have sequential page numbers and are oriented in one direction; and   a third step of acquiring a result of folding trial events performed to successfully fold the hypothetical print medium into a signature, as fold information representing the positions of fold lines about which the print medium is folded into a signature, folding directions, and a folding sequence.   
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory recording medium storing therein a program for enabling a computer to function as a unit for generating imposition data for imposing a plurality of pages on a print medium, the program enabling the computer to perform functions of:
 converting grid data defining positions of pages, page numbers of the pages, and orientations of the pages, as the imposition data, into fold data defining positions of fold lines about which the print medium is folded into a signature, folding directions, and a folding sequence;   attempting to fold a hypothetical print medium, which simulates the print medium, based on the fold data, so that pages superposed by folding the print medium have sequential page numbers and are oriented in one direction; and   acquiring a result of folding trial events performed to successfully fold the hypothetical print medium into a signature, as fold information representing the positions of fold lines about which the print medium is folded into a signature, folding directions, and a folding sequence.