A display control device includes: a management unit that manages a display time period when displaying each of a plurality of messages on a display device for each user; a setting unit that sets the display time period on the basis of an operation of a user; and a control unit that controls display of the message on the basis of the display time period managed by the management unit.

A method of providing a screen for manipulating execution of an application of an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus using the method. The method includes an operation of displaying, on the screen, a first user interface for setting options to be applied to the execution of the application, and a second user interface including at least one virtual button for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus, so that a user may control the image forming apparatus without using physical buttons.

An image forming apparatus includes a communication section, an operation section, a sound generating section, and a control section. The communication section is communicably connected to an external terminal. The operation section is operated by the external terminal. The sound generating section generates sound when the operation section is operated. The control section controls the sound generating section. The operation section has an operation accepting section that accepts an operation by an operator. The control section determines whether the operation section is operated by the external terminal or operated by the operator when the operation section is operated. When determining that the operation section is operated by the external terminal, the control section prohibits generation of sound by the sound generating section. When determining that the operation section is operated by the operator, the control section permits the generation of the sound by the sound generating section.

A multi-function device (MFD) is disclosed. For example, the MFD includes a communication interface to establish a communication path with a network, a user interface to display a plurality of fields associated with different settings of a configuration file of the MFD, a processor, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions. The instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to detect selection of a field associated with a setting of the configuration file, establish a connection with at least one networked MFD on the network, query the at least one networked MFD for a value used in the field associated with the setting of the configuration file that is selected, receive the value from the at least one networked MFD, and populate the field with the value.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a print control program, the print control program, corresponding to a printing device registered in an operating system of an information terminal, the print control program includes, when the printing device is a device of a VPN connection destination, generating, before transmitting print data to the printing device, a user interface including a confirmation screen to confirm with the user that print output is from the printing device.

An image forming apparatus for a display that is configured to display at least one of a foreground or a background includes a display control unit and a determining unit. The display control unit configured to cause the display to display, in the foreground, a first screen corresponding to a first input by a user. The display control unit is also configured to cause the display to display, in the background, a second screen corresponding to a home screen of the user. The display control unit is also configured to cause in response to receiving a clear input from the user, the display to display, in the foreground, the second screen and display, in the background, the second screen separately from the second screen displayed in the foreground. The determining unit is configured to determine a first duration that a third screen is displayed in the foreground.

An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to receive, from a first user, a change instruction to change a setting content of a shared operation element, the shared operation element being an operation element configured to process data and shared by plural users including the first user and a second user different from the first user, and, in a case where the second user uses the shared operation element after receiving the change instruction from the first user, notify the second user of a changed setting content of the shared operation element.

An image forming apparatus for a display that is configured to display at least one of a foreground or a background includes a display control unit and a determining unit. The display control unit configured to cause the display to display, in the foreground, a first screen corresponding to a first input by a user. The display control unit is also configured to cause the display to display, in the background, a second screen corresponding to a home screen of the user. The display control unit is also configured to cause in response to receiving a clear input from the user, the display to display, in the foreground, the second screen and display, in the background, the second screen separately from the second screen displayed in the foreground. The determining unit is configured to determine a first duration that a third screen is displayed in the foreground.

According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a display which displays an operation screen; a communicator which transmits and receives data or a signal to and from a terminal device; and a controller which transmits, in accordance with execution by the communicator of transmitting data on the operation screen to the terminal device, and receiving an operation event signal generated by the terminal device, an activation signal which activates an input function to the terminal device when the operation event signal indicates an operation related to an input field.

A reference image generating apparatus includes: a reader that reads a printed matter transported from an image forming apparatus; a reference image generator that generates a reference image for automatically inspecting the printed matter based on a read image generated by reading the printed matter; and a hardware processor, wherein the hardware processor acquires, from the image forming apparatus, information on whether or not each paper of the printed matter to be transported to the reader is subject to automatic inspection.