JPH08106464A - Document generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the document generating device which can easily generate a document that has differently detailed contents. CONSTITUTION: A document skeleton containing changeable items is inputted at a document skeleton input part 1 and held in a document skeleton holding part 2. As for the respective changeable items, plural fields are defined at a field definition part 3 and held in a field definition holding part 4, and field values are set at a field value input part 5 for the respective fields of the respective changeable items and stored in a field value storage part 6. A field selection part 8 selects a corresponding field according to the specification of the knowledge level of a user through a field selection information input part 7. A changeable item generation part 9 takes the field value of the selected field out of the filed value holding part 6 and generates a changeable item value. A document generation part 10 replaces the changeable item in the document skeleton in the document skeleton holding part 2 with the changeable item value generated by the changeable item generation part 9 to generate a document.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document generation device. In particular, in a document consisting of a part having a fixed content and one or more parts whose contents can be changed (referred to as a variable part), by replacing the variable part with an appropriate content, a document in which a part of the content is different is displayed. The present invention relates to a document generation device for generating.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electronic documents such as creation of electronic documents using word processor or DTP (desktop publishing) software, management of documents by electronic filing or database, printing using bubble jet printer, laser beam printer, etc. Document processing has become popular not only in companies but also in community activities and personal life. With such generalization, the user base of products that provide these advanced document processing functions is less biased by sex, occupation, etc., and has a wide range of users.

However, although the user base has expanded, the level of knowledge of users regarding these products varies. For example, various people are using the same word processor, from those who are new to word processing to those who are using it as tools. Therefore, people who are new to the word processor do not understand how to use it even if they read the instruction manual of the product, and for those who are using the word processor there are many unnecessary descriptions even when looking at the instruction manual, so search for the description of the desired function. There is a problem such as taking time. Therefore, there is a demand for an instruction manual or the like in which the details of the explanation are changed according to the knowledge level of the reader.

For example, consider a case where a method for changing the size of a character font is described in the operation manual of the DTP software of the workstation. As an explanation of this operation, "Move the cursor of the mouse to [Format] of the Herald at the top of the screen, hold down the left mouse button and select [Type Style ...]."
If it is described in detail as (Sentence 1), not only for the software but also for users who have hardly used the window system of the workstation,
It is easy to understand the position and operation method of the command. on the other hand,
Sentence 1 is redundant for a user who does not know the software but who understands how to operate a window system. If the user understands how to operate the window system, for example, "Herald [Forma
t] to [Type Style. . . ] ”(Sentence 2) to understand. vice versa,
If sentence 2 is presented to a user who does not understand the window system, it may be possible to find out what "herald" is because the general term "herald" is not understood in that window system. Sentence 1
In that case, since the hint "is at the top of the screen" is given, it is possible to search for [Format] by using this as a clue. In this way, changing the level of detail of the explanation depending on the knowledge level of the reader is one that helps the reader to understand.

Although the above-mentioned example relates to the software of the workstation, devices such as a video deck and a video camera which have been used by some experts in the past are used for cost reduction and user interface. In the case where the improvement generally spreads, since a person having various levels of knowledge becomes a user of the same product, the same problem may occur.

[0006] In order to support the creation of documents such as instruction manuals for people of various knowledge levels, it is necessary to have a function of replacing the document contents according to the user's knowledge level. Some document processing apparatuses having such a function are also considered. As one of them, for example, there is a system having a merge print in which the values of a separately prepared table are embedded and printed in a plurality of fields embedded in a document. In such a system, it is possible to create a document according to the level of the user by preparing a plurality of sentences matching the level of the user as the sentences for filling the fields. However, the statement to be embedded in the field must be prepared for each user level. Therefore, even if it is a sentence that is commonly used for several levels,
Each will be prepared. Further, even when the same sentence is embedded in different fields, it is necessary to prepare a sentence for each field. As described above, even if the same sentence is input, it is necessary to input a large number, and there are problems that input errors occur frequently and the amount of data of the sentence embedded in the field increases. Moreover, when there are a plurality of same sentences, the correction of them is complicated.

Also, a system has been developed which can hold a program for setting the contents of fields and tables in a document. According to such a system, it is possible to assign a desired sentence to a desired field. However, there is a problem that the knowledge of programming is required and the burden on the document creator is heavy.

In the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-294772, a skeleton document including a variable field containing a document command, a table and a text file holding candidates for the contents of the variable field are prepared. A method of generating a plurality of documents by embedding the contents of a table and a text file in a variable field is disclosed. In this method, by writing a program that uses a document command in the variable field,
The contents of the text file can be inserted into the skeleton document depending on the values in the table. If the detail level of the explanation is to be changed for each document using this technique, it is simply necessary to prepare a table composed of texts having different detail levels. At this time, since the document command is used, even if the same sentence is used in different parts, one description is sufficient. However, all the sentences that are common to some documents with different details must be described in the table, the table becomes large, and it takes time and effort to manage the consistency at the time of modification. Although it is possible to reduce the same sentence by writing a program, it has many problems such as requiring knowledge of the program.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a document generating apparatus capable of easily generating a document having different details. It is a thing.

[0010]

The present invention relates to a document skeleton holding means for holding a document skeleton made up of fixed items having fixed contents and variable items whose contents change, and a variable item in the document generating apparatus. A variable item holding means for storing a sequence of attached small items, a document level designating means for designating a level of detail of a document, and each small item associated with the variable item according to the designation of the document level designating means. It has a small item selecting means for selecting whether to use an item and a document generating means for generating a document by replacing the small item selected by the small item selecting means with the variable item in the document skeleton. It is what The document generation means may be configured to rearrange the small item and the fixed item in accordance with a small item inserted by replacing the variable item and generate a document.

Further, in the document generating apparatus, a document skeleton holding means for holding a document skeleton containing a sentence consisting of fixed items having fixed contents and variable items whose contents change, and clauses associated with the variable items. A variable item holding means for storing a sequence of items, a document level designating means for designating a level of detail of a document, and each clause associated with a variable item in the document skeleton according to the designation of the document level designating means. It is characterized by comprising a clause selecting means for selecting whether to use or not, and a document generating means for generating a document by replacing the clause selected by the clause selecting means with a variable item in the document skeleton.

[0012]

According to the present invention, the variable item holding means stores the arrangement of the small items associated with the variable items. If you specify the level of detail of the document with the document level specification means,
According to the designation, the small item selection means selects whether or not to use each small item associated with the variable item. The document generating means generates a document by replacing the variable items in the document skeleton held by the document skeleton holding means with the small items selected by the small item selecting means. The generated document has a level of detail corresponding to the level designated by the document level designating means. With respect to the arrangement of the small items held in the variable item holding means, it is sufficient to hold only one small item commonly used in a plurality of levels. Whether or not the small item is used is designated by the small item selecting means. Make a decision based on the level. Further, even when the same small item is arranged at another position in the document skeleton, it is sufficient to hold only one small item,
Multiple same variable items may be described in the document skeleton. In this way, the variable item holding means holds only a minimum of small items, which can reduce the storage capacity and can be expected to reduce input errors. Furthermore, the consistency when changing small items can be expected. Easy to maintain. Further, since it is not necessary to write a complicated program, it is possible to minimize the increase in the burden on the document creator.

When a variable item is replaced with a small item, for example, the sentence length may change, or the layout may need to be changed by replacing the figure or table. In such a case, the document generation means always rearranges the small items and the fixed items appropriately to generate a document according to the small items inserted by replacing the variable items. You can generate good-looking documents.

As the small item, for example, as in the invention described in claim 3, a clause or a sequence of a plurality of clauses can be used. The sentence expression according to the user's knowledge level is the notation of the word that most simply expresses what you want to convey,
It can be generated by the presence or absence of words that modify it. Therefore, of the sentence expressions, a sentence composed of minimum necessary clauses is a fixed item, a modifier is a variable item, and a modifier is selectively added according to a user's knowledge level to generate a document. The modifier part may be a clause consisting of modifiers, or a sequence of plural clauses. With this, it is possible to easily generate a document using a sentence expression according to the knowledge level of the user.

[0015]

1 is a schematic block diagram showing a first embodiment of a document generating apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a document skeleton input unit, 2 is a document skeleton holding unit, 3 is a field definition unit, 4 is a field definition holding unit, 5 is a field value input unit, 6 is a field value holding unit, and 7 is field selection information input. Department,
Reference numeral 8 is a field selection unit, 9 is a variable item generation unit, and 10 is a document generation unit.

The document skeleton input unit 1 inputs a document skeleton in which variable items are embedded. The document skeleton input unit 1 can be realized by, for example, a document input function similar to that of a general word processor. The document skeleton holding unit 2 holds the document skeleton input by the document skeleton input unit 1. The document skeleton holding unit 2 may be a secondary storage device such as a hard disk,
It may be the main storage device.

The field definition unit 3 defines the structure of the field prepared for each variable item. This field is selectively used according to the knowledge level of the user. The field structure includes definitions such as the number of selectable fields and the field name of each field. The field definition holding unit 4 holds the field definition defined by the field definition unit 3. The field value input unit 5 sets a field value in each field corresponding to each variable item that can be described in the document skeleton according to the field definition held in the field definition unit 3. The field value holding unit 6 holds field values associated with variable items and fields. That is, a plurality of fields are defined for each variable item, and a field value is set in each field of each variable item. Each variable item is identified by a variable item name, and each field is identified by a field name.

In the field selection information input section 7, the user's knowledge level assumed by the document to be generated is designated.
The field selection unit 8 stores field selection information and a list of field names to be selected as a pair. The field selection information corresponds to the user's knowledge level designated by the field selection information input unit 7. That is, it holds information for selecting which of the fields held in the field value holding unit 6 to be embedded in the document, corresponding to the knowledge level of the user. Then, the field selection unit 8 notifies the variable item generation unit 9 of the list of corresponding field names according to the user's knowledge level designation by the field selection information input unit 7.

The variable item generation unit 9 includes a field selection unit 8
The field value corresponding to the field name is extracted for each variable item held in the field value holding unit 6 based on the list of field names notified from the field value holding unit 6, and the variable item value is generated.

The document generation unit 10 replaces the variable item embedded in the document skeleton held in the document skeleton holding unit 2 with the variable item value generated by the variable item generation unit 9, and inputs the field selection information. A document suitable for the user's knowledge level designated by the unit 7 is generated. At this time, it is conceivable that the sentence length may be changed, or the space amount of the sentence may be changed when the sentence is replaced with a figure or a table, by replacing the variable item value. Therefore, in the document generation unit 10, based on the format set in the document skeleton or the default format,
Rearrange each element such as sentences, figures, and tables in the generated document.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation in the first embodiment of the document generating apparatus of the present invention. Reference numerals in the figure are the same as those in FIG.

The document skeleton holding unit 2 includes a document skeleton input unit 1
The document skeleton in which the variable items are embedded, which is input in, is held. In the example shown in FIG. 2, “&” to “;” are variable items. A character string sandwiched between "&" and ";" is a variable item name. For example, the variable item name of the variable item “&A;” is “A”. Here, two variable items “&A;” and one variable item “&B;” are inserted in the document skeleton.

On the other hand, the field definition unit 3 defines three fields of field names "F1", "F2", "F3", and variable item names "A", "B", "C".
Is defined and held in the field definition holding unit 4. According to this field definition, the field value input section 5 inputs a field value corresponding to each variable item and each field. The field value holding unit 6 holds the field value input in this way in association with the variable item name and the field name. In FIG. 2, the field names “F1”, “F2”, and “F3” are associated with each other, and the field values of the variable item name “A” are “a1”,
“A2” and “a3” are set. Similarly, as the field value of the variable item name “B”, “b1”,
“B2” and “b3” are set, and “c1”, “c2”, and “c” are set as the field values of the variable item name “C”, respectively.
3 ”is set.

The field selection unit 8 also stores field selection information and a list of field names to be selected as a pair. Here, the "level 1" and the field name list "F3" are " Level 2 "and" F2, F3 "
However, "level 3" and "F1, F2, F3" are associated with each other.

It is assumed that "level 2" is designated as the field selection information in the field selection information input section 7. Then, the field selection unit 8 selects the corresponding field name list "F2, F3" based on the field selection information "level 2" specified by the field selection information input unit 7, and selects the field names "F2" and "F2". The variable item generation unit 9 is notified that “F3” has been selected.

In the variable item generator 9, when the field selector 8 notifies that the field names "F2" and "F3" have been selected, the field name "F2" held in the field value holder 6 is notified. , "F3" only, for example, for variable item "A", field values "a2" and "a3" are extracted, and these are concatenated to generate variable item value "a2a3". Variable item "B",
Similarly, for "C", the variable item values "b2b3",
“C2c3” is generated. The generated variable item value is passed to the document generation unit 10.

The document generation unit 10 uses the variable item value generated by the variable item generation unit 9 to replace the variable item embedded in the document skeleton held in the document skeleton holding unit 2. For example, two variable items “&A;” in the skeleton document shown in FIG. 2 are replaced with variable item values “a2a3”, and one variable item “&B;” is replaced with variable item value “b2b3”. The “level 2” document designated by the information input unit 7 is generated. Variable item "&
C; ”is not used because it does not exist in the document skeleton held in the document skeleton holding unit 2. In this way, a document corresponding to the user's knowledge level can be generated.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the variable item generator 9
For all the field names notified from the field selection unit 8, the variable value values corresponding to all the variable items are collectively generated with reference to the field value holding unit 6 and output. . However, the present invention is not limited to this, and variable item values may be generated one by one. That is, the variable item generation unit 9 is referred to based on the field name notified from the field selection unit 8 to generate a variable item value including the selected field value corresponding to the first variable item, and the variable item value is further generated. The item value is passed to the document generation unit 10 to replace the corresponding variable item of the skeleton document held in the document skeleton holding unit 2. Next, for the second variable item, a field value is obtained from the field value holding unit 6 to generate a variable item value, and the document generating unit 10 replaces the corresponding variable item of the skeletal document. Similarly, all variable item values are sequentially processed to complete the document corresponding to the specified knowledge level. As described above, the variable item value may be sequentially generated, and the variable items in the skeleton document may be replaced to generate the document.

In the above example, the knowledge level and the knowledge level are three, but any number may be used. Also, the number of fields is not limited to three. Although not shown in FIG. 1, means for inputting pair information of the field selection information held in the field selection unit 8 and a list of field names can be added.

An example of the operation of the first embodiment of the document generating apparatus of the present invention will be described below using a concrete example. Here, an example in which three levels corresponding to the amount of knowledge of a user related to a certain software are assumed and a document (manual) corresponding to each level and having different details of description is generated is shown.

3 to 5 are explanatory views of specific examples of the document skeleton. A user (a person who uses the apparatus of the present invention is called a user) uses the document skeleton input unit 1 to input a document skeleton including variable items. The input document skeleton is temporarily held in the document skeleton holding unit 2. 3 to 5
In, the variable item is indicated by a character string that starts with “&” and ends with “;”. A character string surrounded by "(" and ")", for example, "transcription", represents the name of a variable item. Character strings between "&" and "(", for example, "C
"OMMAND" represents a part or all of the fields of the variable item. In FIG. 3, "COMMAND" and "ACTION" are fields "COMMAND" and "ACT" of the variable item "transcription", respectively.
ION ”. "COMMAND"
And “ACTION” are variable items limiting the variable item “transcription”. In this specific example, documents having different details are generated by changing the values of the limited variable items “COMMAND”, “ACTION”, and the like. “COMMAND (end of GV)”, “ACTION (end of GV)” in FIG. 4, “COMMAND (double-click open)” in FIG. 5, “A”
The same applies to "CION (double-click open)".

In each of the document skeletons, the target of a certain operation and the portion of the operation itself are variable items. For example, in the document skeleton shown in FIG. 3, "& COMMAND
(Post); && ACTION. Is described. The part of "&COMMAND;" is the target of the operation, and "&ACTION"
(Transcription); ”indicates the operation itself. By changing the description of these variable items, a sentence according to the user's knowledge level is generated.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of field values held in the field value holding unit in the first embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of explanation, the table format is shown here, but the actual data structure is not limited to the table format. The column of "variable item name" in the table represents the name of the variable item. In this example, "transcription", "end of GV", and "double-click open" are registered as variable item names. "COMM
The columns of "AND" and "ACTION" represent fields of variable items. The field "COMMAND" further comprises fields "ROOT", "TOOL" and "COMMAND-LEAF". The field “ROOT” is further divided into the field “ROOT”
-NAME "and" qualifier 1 ". Similarly, the field "TOOL" is replaced by the field "TOOL"
-NAME "and" qualifier 2 ".

In FIG. 6, in order to explain the operation target according to the user's knowledge level, the field "COMMA" is displayed.
"ND" is composed of a plurality of field groups. This will be described in the row in which the value of the variable item name is "transcription". The function of posting is in the field "COMMAND-LEAF".
Value, that is, "<posting>key", in the field "AC
It can be executed by the value of “TION”, that is, “press”.
In addition, the fields "TOOL" and "COMMAND-L"
This can be executed by connecting the values of "EAF" and "pressing" the "<transcription> key in the special keys". In addition, the fields "ROOT", "TOOL", "COMMAND-LE
It may be explained that the value of “AF” is connected and the “transcription key in the special keys on the left side of the keyboard” is “pressed”. In this way, the fields “ROOT”, “TOOL”, which are the fields constituting the field “COMMAND”,
By connecting “COMMAND-LEAF”, it is possible to generate descriptions of operation targets having different details. The same applies to the line in which the variable item name is “End of GV” and the line in which the variable item name is “Double-click open”.

The field of the variable item as shown in FIG. 6 is defined by the field definition unit 3, and is temporarily held by the field definition holding unit 4. The first column in FIG. 4 corresponds to the variable item field definition. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example in which the field definition in the first embodiment of the present invention is performed by SGML. SGML (Standard)
Generalized Markup Langu
age; ISO8879), for example, Eri
See c van Herwijnen, Practical SGML, Japanese Standards Association, etc. In FIG. 7, the field is defined by the document type definition named “field”. The document type definition “field” is formed by repeating one or more “tuples”. "Tuple" means "variable item name", "COMMAND", "AC"
TION ”and defines that they must be arranged in this order. "COMMAND" is
"ROOT", "TOOL", "COMMAND-LE
AF, and "ROOT" and "TOOL" are "ROOT-NAME", "qualifier 1", and "T", respectively.
It defines that "OOL-NAME" and "qualifier 2" must be arranged in order. "Variable item name", "C
"OMMAND-LEAF", "ROOT-NAME",
It is defined that “qualifier 1”, “TOOL-NAME”, “qualifier 2”, and “ACTION” have character data as their contents. In this way, the field definition of FIG. 6 can be expressed as shown in FIG.

The field value input section 5 inputs the field value of the variable item name shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the bottom three lines are the input field values. At this time, the field definitions held in the field definition holding unit 4 are read, and it is checked whether the values of all the fields to be input are correctly input. If all fields are correctly input, they are held in the field value holding unit 6. If not, it is not held in the field value holding unit 6. Alternatively, each field value may be input based on the field definition held in the field definition holding unit 4. At this time, FIG.
It is also possible to display a table as shown in and to input a field value in each cell.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a concrete example in which the field value is described in SGML in the first embodiment of the present invention. The field value input by the field value input unit 5 is held in the field value holding unit 6, and at this time,
For example, it can be expressed using SGML as shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, the contents of “<field>” are “<variable item name>”, “<COMMAND
> ”And“ <ACTION> ”are repeated three times, and variable item names are“ transcription ”,
The field value of each line of "End of GV" and "Double-click open" is described. Hereinafter, only the part in which the variable item name is "transcription" will be described.

The first "transcription" sandwiched between "<variable item name>" and "</ variable item name>" is the field value of the variable item name. "<COMMAND>" and "</ COMMA
The description sandwiched between "ND>" is the field "COMMAN
"D". Further, the description “press” sandwiched between “<ACTION>” and “</ ACTION>” is the field value of the field “ACTION”. The description of the field "COMMAND" has a nested structure, and the fields "ROOT", "TOOL", and "COM" are included.
"MAND-LEAF" is included. The description of the field "ROOT" is "<ROOT>" and "</ R
It is a part sandwiched between OOT> ”. This description also has a nested structure, and the field "ROOT-NAME",
The description of "qualifier 1" is included. Field "RO
The field value of "OT-NAME" is "<ROOT-N
It is a description "keyboard" sandwiched between "AME>" and "</ ROOT-NAME>". The field value of the field “qualifier 1” is the description “to the left of” between “<qualifier 1>” and “</ qualifier 1>”. The same applies to the field "TOOL". The field value of the field "COMMAND-LEAF" is "<
COMMAND-LEAF> ”and“ </ COMMAND
-LEAF>"is a description"<transcription> key "sandwiched between the two. Similarly, the field values are described for the variable item names "End GV" and "Double-click open".

When the field value is described according to the SGML description, it is possible to check whether the field value matches the field definition shown in FIG. 7, for example, using the SGML parser. Alternatively, enter the field value according to the field definition shown in FIG.
Can be converted into the notation as shown in. of course,
Other methods can be used as a data structure for holding field values.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the definition of the user's knowledge level used in the field selection unit 8. The field selection information input unit 7 inputs field selection information for selecting a field and selects a field used for generating a document. The field selection information can be, for example, the user's knowledge level.
In this example, there are three levels of knowledge, namely "addicts".
There are 3 levels, “Beginner” and “Beginner of W / S”. By specifying one of these, a field for generating a document suitable for that level is selected. In the example shown in FIG. 9, only the fields whose value is “Y” are selected at each level. When the level "consumer" is selected, the field "COMMAND" whose value is "Y" in the field "COMMAND" is selected.
-LEAF "is selected. Also, the level "Beginner"
Is selected, the field "TOOL-NAME",
"Definitive 2" and "COMMAND-LEAF" are selected. Similarly, when the level "Beginner of W / S" is selected, all of the fields "ROOT-NAME", "qualifier 1", "TOOL-NAME", "qualifier 2" and "COMMAND-LEAF" are selected. To be selected. The field "ACTION" is selected regardless of user level. Here, the table is used and the value “Y” is set in the field to be selected and the value “N” is set in the field not to be selected, but only the field name to be selected may be listed. Besides, various data structures such as a pointer structure and a list structure can be used.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are explanatory views of a specific example in which SGML is used to define the knowledge level of the user. FIG.
0, the structure of the description shown in FIG. 11 is almost the same as the structure of the description of the field definition shown in FIG. 7 and the description of the field value shown in FIG. The document type definition is “level”, and first, the same structure definition as the field definition is made. Then, a tuple of the knowledge level "regular user", a tuple of the knowledge level "beginner", and a tuple of the knowledge level "W / S beginner" are described in order. The value "Y" or "N" indicating whether or not each field is used is described in each tuple.

The field selection unit 8 uses the definition of the user's knowledge level as described above, and according to the user's knowledge level input from the field selection information input unit 7, obtains the field name to be selected at that knowledge level and selects it. The variable item generation unit 9 is notified of the list of field names to be set.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the variable item generator 9 in the first embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the variable item generation unit 9 obtains the field value from the field value holding unit 6 according to the list of field names notified from the field selection unit, and generates the variable item value. In addition, in the list of field names notified from the variable item generation unit 9, for example, when the fields have a hierarchical structure, the parent field name is also added to the list. The field name of the variable item name is always selected. Further, the field value held in the field value holding unit 6 is described in SGML as shown in FIG. In the following description, token means start tag, end tag,
It is one of the contents. The start tag is from "<" to ">"
It is a description up to. The end tag is a description from "</>" to ">". The other parts are the contents.

First, in S21, a list for holding variable item values is initialized. In this list, variable item names and their values are paired and held as the processing progresses. In this embodiment, the list also holds field name / field value pairs. In the initialization performed in S21, NULL is set in the first cell of the list to indicate that no variable item value has been generated.

Next, in S22, a work stack for temporarily holding the generated variable item value and variable item name is initialized. In this embodiment, the tag name, the field name and the field value are also temporarily stored. In the initialization in S22, the storage area required for the stack is secured and the stack is set to the empty state.

At S23, from the SGML description regarding the field value held in the field value holding unit 6,
Sequentially cut out tokens. Each token is one of a start tag, an end tag, and a content in SGML. Get these token types and cut tokens.

When there are no more tokens to be cut out from the field value holding unit 6, it is detected in S24. The variable item values generated by the processing so far are held in the list. The list holding the variable item values is passed to the document generation unit 10, and the process ends. In this example, the list also holds field name and field value pairs.

In S25, it is determined whether or not the token cut out in S24 is the end tag, and the process is switched. S2
If it is determined in 5 that the token is a start tag or content, in S26, the cut token is pushed onto the stack in order to generate a variable item value later.
Then, in order to perform the processing of the next token, the process proceeds to the token cutting processing of S23.

If it is determined in S25 that the token is the end tag, variable item values are generated. There are two generation methods. Which method to generate is determined by determining whether or not the field name selected by the field selection unit 8 in S27 matches the tag name of the end tag.

If it is determined in S27 that the selected field name that matches the tag name of the end tag exists, then in S28 data is popped up from the stack until a start tag that matches the tag name of the end tag appears. . When the pop-up data is content, the pop-up content is concatenated to generate a variable item value. At this time, the most recently popped-up data is sequentially connected so that it is at the head. The data is connected to generate a variable item value composed of a plurality of fields.

Then, in S29, the tag name of the end tag and the generated variable item value are paired and added to the list. Further, in S30, the generated variable item value is pushed onto the stack in order to generate the value of the variable item composed of a plurality of fields. In order to process the next token, the process returns to S23 and proceeds to the token cutting process.

On the other hand, if the selected field name that matches the tag name of the end tag does not exist in S27, the variable item value is made empty. In addition, pop up the data from the stack and discard the data until the tag appears.

When the example field value according to SGML shown in FIG. 8 is held in the field value holding section 6, "beginner" is designated by the field selection information input section 7 and the field "TOOL- N
"AME", "Limiter 2", "COMMAND-LEA"
It is assumed that the fact that “F” or “ACTION” has been selected is notified. The field selection unit 8 further notifies that the fields "TOOL" and "COMMAND" are also selected. The field "variable item name" is always selected. When the variable item generation unit 9 starts the operation in such a state, the list and the stack are initialized in S21 and S22. Then, the tokens are sequentially cut out in S23.

The tokens "<field>", "<variable item name>" and "transcription" are sequentially pushed onto the stack in S26. The next token "</ variable item name>" is an end tag, and "variable item name" is selected, so S2
At 8, the tokens "transcribe" and "<variable item name>" are sequentially popped up from the stack. Then, in S29, the tag name "variable item name" and "transcription" are paired and added to the list, and in S30, "transcription" is pushed onto the stack.

The next token "<COMMAND>",
"<Root>", "<Root-Name>", and "keyboard" are sequentially pushed onto the stack in S26. The token "</ ROOT-NAME>" is an end tag but is not selected. Therefore, in S31, the tokens "keyboard", "<ROOT-NAM
E> ”is sequentially popped up and discarded. Similarly, the tokens "<definition 1>" and "to the left of" are
Discarded when cutting out "<// determiner 1>". Furthermore, when the next token "</ ROOT>" is cut out, the token "<ROOT>" is also popped up and discarded.

Next tokens "<TOOL>", "<TOO
"OL-NAME>" and "special key" are pushed onto the stack in S26. Token "</ TOOL-N
“AME>” is an end tag and is the selected field name. Token "special key", "<TOOL-N
"AME>" pops up in sequence and the tag name "TOOL
-NAME "and" special key "are associated and added to the list. Also, a "special key" is pushed onto the stack. Similarly, the tag names "definition 2" and "inside"
Is added to the list, and "in" is pushed onto the stack.

Since the next token "/ TOOL" is the end tag and the selected field name, "in", "special key" and "<TOOL>" are sequentially popped up from the stack. At this time, connect the "special key" before the "inside" which is the content, and
Variable value is generated. And the tag name "TOO
"L" and the generated variable item value "in the special key" are associated with each other and added to the list, and "in the special key" is pushed onto the stack.

Since the next "COMMAND-LEAF" is also the selected field name, this tag name and "<
"Posting>key" is added to the list as a pair,
Push the "<posting>key" onto the stack. further,
Since “COMMAND” is also the selected field name, “<transcription> key”, “in special key”, and “<COMMAND>” pushed on the stack are sequentially popped up. At this time, "<Posting>key"
"In the special key" is concatenated in front of, and a variable item value "<transcription> key in the special key" is generated. The tag name “COMMAND” and the generated variable item value “<transcription> key in special key” are added to the list as a pair, and the variable item value is pushed onto the stack.

Since "ACTION" is also the selected field name, it is added to the list and pushed onto the stack. In the same manner, variable item values are generated for the variable item names "End GV" and "Double-click open", and are added to the list. The stack is cleared because the last token "</ field>" is not selected. And S24
The end of the token is detected at, and the variable item value added to the list up to that point is output to the document generation unit 10.

In this way, the variable item name pair is first registered in the list, and then the field name and variable item value pair corresponding to the variable item name are registered. The variable item value is generated by extracting only the field value selected by the field selection unit 8. When "beginner" is selected from the field selection information input section 4 described above, the field name "C" in the variable item name "transcription" is selected.
As the variable item value of “OMMAND”, “<transcription> key in special key” is generated. Similarly, when the "user" is selected from the field selection information input section 4,
The field name "COMMANN" in the variable item name "Post"
For the variable item value of “D”, “<transcription> key” is generated. Furthermore, when "Beginner of W / S" is selected from the field selection information input section 4, the variable item name "transcription"
The variable item value of the field name "COMMAND" in is generated as "<transcription> key in special keys on the left side of the keyboard". The value of the field name "ACTION" is "press" regardless of the knowledge level.

13 to 21 are explanatory views of an example of a document generated by the document generating unit 10 in the first embodiment of the present invention. By replacing the value of the variable item generated by the variable item generation unit 9 with the corresponding variable portion of the document skeleton held in the document skeleton holding unit 2, the reader of the knowledge level designated by the field selection information input unit 7 is replaced. Generate a document that assumes. Documents generated when the knowledge level of the user is set to "consumer" with respect to the document skeletons shown in Figs. 3 to 5 are shown in Figs. 13 to 15.
16 to 18 show documents generated when the user's knowledge level is "beginner", and FIGS. 19 to 19 are documents generated when the user's knowledge level is "W / S beginner". Each is shown in FIG.

For example, when "beginner" is specified as the user's knowledge level, the variable item name "transcription"
The variable item value of the field name “COMMAND” of “is a <transcription> key in the special keys”. The variable item value of the field name "ACTION" is "press". FIG.
“&COMMAND;” in the document skeleton shown in
Is replaced by "<Posting> key in special key",
"& ACTION (transcription);" is replaced with "push". By such replacement, "&COMMAND;" in the document skeleton shown in FIG.
(Posting); Yes. From the sentence ", the sentence" Press the <transcription> key in the special keys. "Is generated, and Fig. 1
A document as shown in 6 is generated.

Similarly, the variable item value of the field name "COMMAND" of the variable item name "End of GV" is "From header command to [GlobalView end]", and the variable item value of the field name "ACTION" is "Selection". "& COM in the document skeleton shown in FIG.
"MAND (End of GV);" is replaced with "From header command [End Global View]", and "&
ACTION (End of GV); "is replaced with" selection ". By such replacement, && COMMAND (end of GV) in the document skeleton shown in FIG.
CTION (End of GV); From the sentence
"From the header command [End GlobalView]
Choose. Is generated, and a document as shown in FIG. 17 is generated. In addition, the variable item value of the field name "COMMAND" of the variable item name "double-click open" is "selection button among mouse buttons",
Since the variable item value of the field name "ACTION" is "click twice in succession", move the cursor to the icon you want to open in the document skeleton shown in FIG.
ND (Double click open); && ACTION
(Double-click open); From the sentence, "Move the cursor to the icon you want to open and click the select button of the mouse button twice in succession."
Is generated, and a document as shown in FIG. 18 is generated. The same applies when "regular user" or "beginner of W / S" is designated as the knowledge level of the user.

As described above, by designating the user's knowledge level, it is possible to select the field of the corresponding variable item and generate a document having different details.

When the variable item is replaced with the variable item value as described above, the length of the sentence changes. For example, when "W / S beginner" is specified as the user's knowledge level, "&COMMAND" in the document skeleton shown in FIG.
(Post); && ACTION. The sentence "is replaced by the sentence" Press the <transcription> key in the special keys on the left side of the keyboard. "However, the sentence after the replacement does not fit on one line
It will be written across the lines. In such a case, layout is performed according to the format of the document skeleton. As a result, as shown in FIG. 19, the indented title over two lines is described in the operation procedure 2. Also, due to the increase in rows,
For example, it is possible to automatically correct a page layout other than the format of a sentence, such as processing when a figure cannot fit on the page.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the second embodiment of the document generating apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. Reference numeral 11 is a selection designation unit. In the second embodiment, in addition to the field selection in the first embodiment described above, by selecting one from a plurality of field values of the same variable item name, for example, a system configuration such as a difference in keyboard is obtained. An example is shown in which documents (manuals) of software products with different function allocations are generated according to the difference in.

The selection designation section 11 designates a configuration such as a system configuration. In the field definition, a field “composition” is newly provided. Then, the field value holding unit 6 holds field values having the same variable item name but different configuration names. Variable item generation unit 9
Then, among the field values held in the field value holding unit 6, only the rows in which the values of “configuration” specified by the selection specifying unit 11 match are selected. Further, for the selected row, the value of the field selected by the field selection unit 8 is extracted, and the variable item value is generated.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of an example of field values held in the field value holding unit in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 23 shows an example in which a software product having different function allocations is assumed according to a difference in system configuration such as a difference in keyboard. The field "Configuration" in the first column indicates the difference in system configuration.
Two types of configurations, "TYPE1" and "TYPE2", are registered as values. Documents having different details are generated for each value of the "configuration". Even if the system configuration is different, the function to be explained is the same, so both variable item names are "transcription". In FIG. 23, only “transcription” is registered as the variable item name.

The value of the field "configuration" is "TYPE1"
In the case of, the function of "transcribe" is assigned to the "<transcribe> key in the special keys on the left side of the keyboard", and "transcribe" is executed by pressing this key. Which indicates that. Similarly, when the value of the field "configuration" is "TYPE2", the function "transcription" is executed by "selecting" the item "[transcription] from the Herald at the top of the display". Is shown.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of a concrete example in which the field definition in the second embodiment of the present invention is performed by SGML.
FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example in which the field value is notated in SGML in the second embodiment of the present invention. These descriptions are almost the same as those in FIGS. 7 and 8 in the first embodiment. In the field definition of FIG. 24, “composition” is increased as one of the fields. Also, regarding the notation of the field value in FIG. 25, the field value of the configuration is described before the variable item name. Note that, in FIG. 23, the fields “ROOT” and “ROOT” shown in FIG.
-Instead of "NAME", the field "DEVIC"
"E" and "DEVICE-NAME" are provided.

An example of the operation of the second embodiment of the document generating apparatus of the present invention will be described below based on a concrete example. It is assumed that the document skeleton holding unit 2 holds the document skeleton shown in FIG. 3, and the field value holding unit 6 holds the field values shown in FIG. Also, the field selection unit 8
Has the definition of the user's knowledge level shown in FIG.

At this time, "beginner" is designated in the field selection information input section 7, and the selection designation section 11 is also designated.
In, it is assumed that “TYPE1” is specified as the value of “configuration”. By specifying "beginner" in the field selection information input unit 7, the field selection unit 8 determines the fields "TOOL-NAME", "qualifier 2", "COMMA" from the definition of the user's knowledge level shown in FIG.
"ND-LEAF" and "ACTION" are selected. On the other hand, the designation of "TYPE1" in the selection designation unit 11 designates the first line of the field values shown in FIG. By these two designations, the field "C
As the field value of “OMMAND”, “<transcription> key in special key” is generated, and as the value of ACTION (transcription), “press” is generated.

When "TYPE2" is designated as the value of "configuration" in the selection designation section 11, it means that the second line of the field values shown in FIG. 23 is designated, and the field value of the field "COMMAND" is designated. As a result, "[Posting] from Herald" is generated. ACTION
The value of becomes "selection".

FIG. 26 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the variable item generator 9 in the second embodiment of the present invention. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 26, S21 to S31 are almost the same as those in FIG. Note that the field “configuration” is automatically selected. S25
When the end tag is found in step S27 and the end tag is selected in step S27, the variable item value is generated in step S28, and then the process proceeds to step S32. In S32, it is determined whether or not the tag name of the end tag is "composition" and the composition is not specified. If the structure is not specified, the data is skipped to the start tag whose tag name is “structure” in S33. In order to push the start tag onto the stack and continue processing the subsequent tokens, S23
Move on to the token cutting process.

If the tag name of the end tag is not "composition" or the specified composition in S32, the variable item values in S29 and S30 are added to the list and pushed to the stack.

Consider, for example, a case where "TYPE2" is designated by the selection designation section 11 when the field value described in SGML as shown in FIG. 25 is stored in the field value storage section 6. In S25, the first end tag "<//
Since the "configuration>" is detected and the field "configuration" is selected, the process proceeds to S32. In S32, the configuration value "TY
It is detected that "PE1" is not designated, and in S33, the process is skipped to the start tag of the next tag name "composition". And
Return to S23.

After the token "TYPE2" is pushed onto the stack, the end tag "</ configuration>" is detected in S25, and the process goes to S32. At this time, the configuration value "TYPE
Since "2" is designated, the skipping in S33 is not performed. The flow of the process when the skip is not performed is the same as that of the first embodiment, and variable item values are sequentially added to the list. When the tokens of the field value are exhausted, the end is determined in S24, and the variable item value held in the list is passed to the document generation unit 10.

The document generation unit 10 uses the knowledge level of the user designated by the field selection information input unit 7 and the variable item value generated by the variable item generation unit 9 according to the system configuration designated by the selection designation unit 11. , Document skeleton holding unit 2
A variable item in the document skeleton held in is replaced with a variable item value to generate a document. 27 and 28 are explanatory diagrams of an example of a document generated by the document generation unit 10 in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 27 shows a document obtained when “beginner” is designated as the user's knowledge level and “TYPE1” is designated as the “configuration” of the system with respect to the document skeleton shown in FIG. Similarly, FIG. 28 shows a document obtained when "TYPE 2" is designated as the "configuration" of the system. In the document skeleton shown in FIG. 3, the sentences "&COMMAND;&& ACTION. Do" are respectively, "Press the <transcription> key in the special keys.",
The sentence "Select [Post] from Herald." Is generated, and the document suitable for each system configuration is generated.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, a document input device similar to a general word processor can be used as the document skeleton input unit 1, but the document skeleton can be obtained by using another document editing device such as a word processor. It may be configured to be created and input to the document skeleton input unit 1. At this time, by using a word processor whose document exchange file format is open to the public, a document corresponding to the created document skeleton can be smoothly input in the open document exchange file format. In this case, the document skeleton input unit 1
Will have a means for reading a file in the document exchange file format and providing a function of converting it into a document having a document architecture handled by the document generation apparatus of the present invention.

In each of the above embodiments, COMMAN is used.
Although description is made using variable items such as D (transcription) and ACTION (transcription), for example, the field "COMMAN" is used.
For example, the field "TOO" that is expanded under "D"
L ”and fold“ TOOL-NAME ”can be used. In such a case, in order to explicitly indicate the hierarchy, for example, it is described as ROOT-NAME (COMMAND), or simply ROOT-N.
It can be described as AME (transcription). The variable item values corresponding to these are generated in the list in the process of the variable item generating unit 9 shown in FIG. 12 or FIG. You can replace with. A document can be generated more flexibly by arranging such hierarchically defined fields so that they can be used freely.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the variable item is only a part of the sentence. However, the variable item is not limited to this and the variable item may be an element other than a character such as a figure or a table. Is also possible.

[0082]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to generate a document with different details simply by designating a knowledge level or the like, so that the document can be easily generated. Also, since the value of the variable item is divided into fields to express the difference in detail, there is no redundancy such as having the same description as in the conventional technique, and therefore a reduction in input errors can be expected. Furthermore, there is an effect that it becomes easier to maintain consistency when changing values.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a document generation device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an operation in the first exemplary embodiment of the document generation apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a first specific example of a document skeleton.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a second specific example of a document skeleton.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a third specific example of a document skeleton.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of field values held in a field value holding unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example in which field definition in the first embodiment of the present invention is performed by SGML.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example in which field values are represented by SGML in the first embodiment of the present invention.

9 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a definition of a user's knowledge level used in the field selection unit 8. FIG.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example in which SGML is used to define a user's knowledge level.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram (continuation) of a specific example in which SGML is used to define a user's knowledge level.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of operation of the variable item generation unit 9 in the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a document generated by the document generation unit 10 corresponding to the first specific example when “user” is specified as the knowledge level of the user in the first example of the present invention. Is.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a document generated by the document generation unit 10 corresponding to the second specific example when “user” is specified as the knowledge level of the user in the first example of the present invention. Is.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a document generated by the document generation unit 10 corresponding to the third specific example when “user” is specified as the knowledge level of the user in the first example of the present invention. Is.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a document generated by the document generation unit 10 corresponding to the first specific example when “beginner” is specified as the user's knowledge level in the first example of the present invention. is there.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a document generated by the document generating unit 10 corresponding to the second specific example when “beginner” is designated as the user's knowledge level in the first example of the present invention. is there.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a document generated by the document generation unit 10 corresponding to the third specific example when “beginner” is specified as the user's knowledge level in the first example of the present invention. is there.

FIG. 19 is an example of a document generated by the document generation unit 10 corresponding to the first specific example when “W / S beginner” is designated as the user's knowledge level in the first example of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 20 is an example of a document generated by the document generation unit 10 corresponding to the second specific example when “W / S beginner” is specified as the user's knowledge level in the first example of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 21 is an example of a document generated by the document generation unit 10 corresponding to the third specific example when “W / S beginner” is specified as the user's knowledge level in the first example of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the document generation apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of field values held in a field value holding unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example in which field definition in SGML is performed in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example in which field values are described in SGML according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the variable item generation unit 9 in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a document generated by the document generation unit 10 when TYPE1 is designated as the configuration in the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a document generated by the document generation unit 10 when TYPE2 is designated as the configuration in the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Document skeleton input unit, 2 ... Document skeleton holding unit, 3 ... Field definition unit, 4 ... Field definition holding unit, 5 ... Field value input unit, 6 ... Field value holding unit, 7 ... Field selection information input unit, 8 ... field selection section, 9 ... variable item generation section, 10 ... document generation section, 11 ... selection designation section.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A document skeleton holding means for holding a document skeleton composed of fixed items having fixed contents and variable items whose contents change, and variable item holding for storing a sequence of small items associated with the variable items. Means, a document level designating means for designating a level of detail of the document, and a sub-item selection for selecting whether or not to use each sub-item associated with the variable item according to the designation of the document level designating means. A document generation device comprising: a means and a document generation means for generating a document by replacing the small item selected by the small item selection means with the variable item in the document skeleton. 2. The document generation means rearranges the small item and the fixed item according to a small item inserted by replacing the variable item, and generates a document. The document generation device described in 1. 3. A document skeleton holding means for holding a document skeleton containing a sentence consisting of fixed items having fixed contents and variable items whose contents change, and a sequence of clauses associated with the variable items are stored. Variable item holding means, document level designating means for designating the level of detail of a document, and whether or not to use each clause associated with the variable item in the document skeleton according to the designation of the document level designating means A document generation device comprising: a clause selecting unit for selecting a clause; and a document generating unit for replacing the clause selected by the clause selecting unit with a variable item in the document skeleton to generate a document.