Method and apparatus for printing web pages

1. A method in a data processing system for printing web pages, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

receiving a request to print a web page; and

printing the web page and each web page associated with the web page;

wherein the printing stop automatically and individually prints each of a plurality of web pages associated with the web page on selected levels below the web page; and wherein if a first web page of the plurality appears more than once among the plurality, said first web page is only printed once.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the printing, stop comprising:

sending the web page and each web page associated with the web page on selected levels below the web page to a printer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the printing step comprising:

sending the web page and each web page associated with the web page on selected levels below the web page to a display device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the printing step comprising:

sending the web page and each web pace associated with the web page on selected levels below the web page to a file.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data processing system is a client computer.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data processing system is a web server.

7. A method in a data processing system for printing web pages, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

responsive to an input selecting a current web page for printing, determining whether a maximum depth for printing has been reached;

identifying a set of universal resource identifiers located within the current web page in response to the maximum depth being unreached;

retrieving the web page identified by the set of uniform resource locators; and

printing each web page retrieved;

wherein each web page retrieved is represented in a hash table, and wherein if a web page appears more than once in the hash table, said web page is only printed once.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

repeating the determining, identifying, retrieving, and printing steps for each web page until the maximum depth has been reached.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the printing step comprises sending each web page to an output device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the output device is a printer.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the output device is a display device.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the data processing system is a client computer.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the data processing system is a web server.

14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the determining, identifying, and retrieving steps are performed in a web server and wherein the printing step is performed in a client computer.

15. A method for printing items comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

receiving a request to print a current item, wherein additional items are associated with the current item in relationship in which the additional items are on levels below the current item;

printing the current item;

determining whether additional items on levels below the current item are to be printed; and

responsive to a determination that additional items are to be printed, printing the additional items;

wherein if a first item appears more than once among the additional item, the first item is only printed once.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the items are web pages associated using universal resource identifiers.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the items are files associated using directories.

18. A data processing system for printing web pages, the data processing system comprising:

receiving means for receiving a request to print a web page; and

printing means for printing the web page;

wherein the printing means automatically and individually prints each of a plurality of web pages associated with the web page on selected levels below the web page; and wherein if a first web page of the plurality appears more than once among the plurality, said first web page is only printed once.

19. The data processing system of claim 18 , wherein the printing means comprises:

sending means for sending the web page and each web page associated with the web page on selected levels below the web page to a printer.

20. The data processing system of claim 18 , wherein the printing means comprises:

sending means for sending the web page and each web page associated with the web page on selected levels below the web page to a display device.

21. The data processing system of claim 18 , wherein the printing means comprises:

sending means for sending the web page and each web page associated with the web page on selected levels below the web page to a file.

22. The data processing system of claim 18 , wherein the data processing system is a client computer.

23. The data processing system of claim 18 , wherein the data processing system is a web server.

24. A data processing system for printing web pages, the data processing system comprising:

determining means, responsive to an input selecting a current web page for printing, for determining whether a maximum depth for printing has been reached;

identifying means for identifying a set of universal resource identifiers located within the current web page in response to the maximum depth being unreached;

retrieving means for retrieving the web page identified by the set of uniform resource locators; and

printing means for printing each web page retrieved;

wherein each web page retrieved is represented in a hash table, and wherein if a web page appears more than once in the hash table, said web page is only printed once.

25. The data processing system of claim 24 further comprising:

repeating the determining means, identifying means, retrieving means, and printing means for each web page until the maximum depth has been reached.

26. The data processing system of claim 24 , wherein the printing means comprises sending each web page to an output device.

27. The data processing system of claim 26 , wherein the output device is a printer.

28. The data processing system of claim 26 , wherein the output device is a display device.

29. The data processing system of claim 24 , wherein the data processing system is a client computer.

30. The data processing system of claim 24 , wherein the data processing system is a web server.

31. The data processing system of claim 24 , wherein the determining means, identifying means, and retrieving means are performed in a web server and wherein the printing means is performed in a client computer.

32. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for printing web pages, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for receiving a request to print a web page; and

second instructions for printing the web page and each web page associated with the web page on selected levels below the web page;

wherein each web page to be printed is represented in a hash table, and wherein if a given web page appears in the hash table more than once, the given web page is only printed once.

33. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for printing web pages, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions, responsive to an input selecting a current web page for printing, for determining whether a maximum depth for printing has been reached;

second instructions for identifying a set of universal resource identifiers located within the current web page in response to the maximum depth being unreached;

third instructions for retrieving the web page identified by the set of uniform resource locators; and

fourth instructions for printing each web page retrieved;

wherein each web page retrieved is represented in a hash table, and wherein if a web page appears more than once in the hash table, said web page is only printed once.

34. The method of claim 1 , wherein web pages selected for printing are represented in a hash table, and wherein if a web page matches an entry in the hash table, that web page is not printed.