Easy modification to method of controlling applications in image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus configured to run a plurality of applications having different activation conditions includes an item acquiring unit configured to acquire from an item storage an item to be displayed on a setting screen for making a setting to an application, and a screen providing unit configured to generate and display the setting screen in response to the item acquired by the item acquiring unit, wherein the screen providing unit generates the setting screen in response to an item acquired from a file that contains one or more items that are unique for each application activation condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus, comprising an application controlling unit configured to install a plurality of applications in a unified manner and to control the applications, wherein the application controlling unit is configured to acquire activation conditions of the applications from a setting file recorded on a recording medium to control activations of the applications in response to the activation conditions. 
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the application controlling unit is configured to control activations of the applications in response to activation conditions that are selected on a setting screen for making a setting to the activation conditions of the applications. 
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the setting file is obtained through a network. 
     
     
         4 . An image forming apparatus, comprising an application controlling unit configured to install a plurality of applications in a unified manner and to control the applications, wherein the application controlling unit is configured to acquire install conditions of the applications from a setting file recorded on a recording medium to control installation or uninstallation of the applications in response to the install conditions. 
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the application controlling unit is configured to control installation or uninstallation of the applications in response to install conditions that are selected on a setting screen for making a setting to the install conditions of the applications. 
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the setting file is obtained through a network. 
     
     
         7 . An information processing method performed by an image forming apparatus configured to install a plurality of applications in a unified manner and to control the applications, comprising:
 an activation condition acquiring step of acquiring activation conditions of the applications from a setting file recorded on a recording medium; and   an activation controlling step of controlling activation of the applications in response to the activation conditions.   
     
     
         8 . The information processing method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the activation controlling step controls activations of the applications in response to activation conditions that are selected on a setting screen for making a setting to the activation conditions of the applications. 
     
     
         9 . The information processing method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the setting file is obtained through a network. 
     
     
         10 . An information processing method performed by an image forming apparatus configured to install a plurality of applications in a unified manner and to control the applications, comprising:
 an install condition acquiring step of acquiring install conditions of the applications from a setting file recorded on a recording medium; and   an installation controlling step of controlling installation or uninstallation of the applications in response to the install conditions.   
     
     
         11 . The information processing method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the installation controlling step controls installation or uninstallation of the applications in response to install conditions that are selected on a setting screen for making a setting to the install conditions of the applications. 
     
     
         12 . The information processing method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the setting file is obtained through a network. 
     
     
         13 . A computer-readable record medium having a program embodied therein for causing a computer to perform the information processing method as claimed in  claim 7 .