Method for customizing print attribute choices based on selected model, media, and printer

摘要

The present invention concerns a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for selecting one of a plurality of printers attached to a server with a user interface installed on a computer networked to the server. The computer would first query a cache or the server for a first set of print options supported by at least one of the printers. The user interface is then updated to include the first set of print options. After the user interface program is used to select a print option from the first set, the computer then determines a second set of print options available with the previously selected print option. Each print option in the second set is supported by at least one of the printers that also supports the print option selected from the first set. The user interface program is then updated to include the second set of print options. After the user interface program is used to select a print option from the second set, the computer determines all the printers that support the user selected print options. After the user interface program is updated with the printers that support the user selected print options, the user interface can be used to select a printer that can handle the print job and user selected options.