GB2228447A - Format setting arrangements for selective printing of forms - Google Patents

Abstract

A word processing arrangement 1 has a graphics tablet 7 connected to one of its ports 4. The graphics tablet 7 is used for mounting examples of forms to be completed, a pointer 8 being used by the operator to indicate start and end points of text positions. The processor 2 is programmed to convert X and Y co-ordinates received from the graphics tablet 7 into line and character position references and to provide start and terminal markers as appropriate in the calculated positions on the display screen 5. Thus the operator can complete text for in-filling of a form which when printed on a printer 6 is correctly located with respect to that form. <IMAGE>

Description

Method of and Apparatus for Providing Input to a Data Processor The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for providing input to a data processor and more particularly to a method of providing input to a data processor of the kind programmed to provide a computer of the kind known as a word-processor.

Word processing apparatus for office use and personal or main frame computers programmed to emulate word processors have resulted in a significant reduction in the use of typewriters.

Over recent years, many significant improvements to word processor output terminals have emerged including inter-alia ink-jet, laser and other printers with extremely accurate paper positioning.

Nevertheless, in many offices, the typewriter still has one significant function to fulfill which is the completion of pre-printed forms.

The primary reason for avoiding the use of word processors for completing forms, particularly if only a limited number of forms of a particular type are to be completed, is the difficulty of inputting details to the system so that they are printed in the correct position on output.

Accordingly, it is one obJect of the present invention to provide a simple method of inputting positional data to a word processing apparatus and apparatus for use in performing the method.

For the avoidance of doubt, the term word processing apparatus as used herein includes, but is not limited to word processors per se, personal computers when programmed to emulate dedicated word processors and other data processing apparatus including a program arranged to provide a word processing facility to one or more terminals connected thereto.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of inputting data defining positional registration to word processing apparatus comprising the steps of aligning a form with positional markers on a graphics input device, selecting field points on the form and causing signals defining the selected field points to be sent to the word processing apparatus, the word processing apparatus being programmed to cause locational data corresponding to the selected field points to be displayed.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided word processing apparatus including a data processor and position determining apparatus, the position determining apparatus comprising a fixed base member on which a form may be mounted, means moveable with respect to the base member to a user determined position on a mounted form, and user operable means which when operated cause signals defining horizontal and vertical co-ordinates to be transmitted from the position determining apparatus to the data processor, in use, the data processor being caused to display position marking information determined by said signals whereby an operator may input characters for completion of a corresponding form which, when output to an associated printer, cause such characters to be correctly positioned with respect to the form.

Preferably, the data processor is programmed to cause the display of a position mark at line and character co-ordinates determined by the position marking information.

Alternatively, the position marking information displayed comprises line and character co-ordinates.

The position determining apparatus may be of the kind known as a graphics tablet which may be arranged to transmit pixel co-ordinates to the data processor, the data processor being arranged to convert said pixel co-ordinates into line and character co-ordinates.

Alternatively, the graphics tablet may be arranged to convert pixel co-ordinates into line and character co-ordinates and to cause transmission of signals defining those co-ordinates.

The user operable means may be arranged to cause transmission of user selectable signals defining whether the transmitted co-ordinates determine a text start position or a text limit position, the data processor being programmed to display marker signals of a kind indicative of start or limit positions.

The data processor may be arranged to replace any marker symbols not overwritten with other characters during word processing by a text space when outputting a created file to a printer or print file.

According to a feature of the present invention there is provided position determining apparatus comprising line and character display means, a base member on which a form may be mounted, means moveable with respect to the base member and means which cause the display means to display line and character numbers determined by the current position of the moveable means with respect to the base member.

Preferably the apparatus includes user operable selection means such that conversion between current position and displayed line and character numbers may be selected to reflect line and character spacing integers.

Word processing apparatus and a method of using such apparatus each in accordance with the invention and position determining apparatus in accordance with the feature of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 1S a block schematic diagram of word processing apparatus in accordance with the invention and including position determining apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan view of the graphics tablet of figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of position determining apparatus in accordance with the feature of the invention and showing a modification of the graphics tablet of figure 2; and Figure 4 is a flow chart of a macro function (sub-routine) program used in the data processor of figure 1.

Referring first to figure 1, a common arrangement of word processing apparatus 1 comprises a data processor 2 programmed with a word processing program such as that included in the software package known as Migent Ability for example. The data processor 2 has one or more associated keyboards 3 (only one of which is shown for simplicity), the keyboards 3 being connected to signal input ports of the processor 2. Connected to signal output ports of the processor 2 is a display screen 5 (sometimes called a visual display unit or "VDU"). In practice, if more than one keyboard is present there is usually an associated display screen 5 per keyboard 3.

Another signal output port of the processor 2 is connected to a printer 6. Again, although only one printer 6 is shown, there may be several printers 6 each connected to a respective output port. For example, one of the output ports may be connected to an ink-jet printer, another to a laser printer and a third to a graphics or dot matrix printer although there may be more than one printer of a particular kind connected to the processor 2.

For the avoidance of doubt, so-called input and output ports may in fact be capable of carrying signals in both directions, the processor 2 being programmed to require signals from the output ports indicating for example the state of readiness of a printer 6 or indicative of the printer data buffer being full.

As thus far decribed, the arrangement 1 is exemplary of many known word processing apparatuses and known personal computer apparatuses programmed to emulate word processors. However, in the present inventive arrangement, a further input port 4 is connected to a specially adapted graphics tablet 7 the purpose of which is to facilitate the input of data defining line and character positions for completion of pre printed forms.

As is well known, keyboards for computer input purposes, in addition to carrying keys for alpha-numeric and symbol or punctuation mark inputs ("character" keys), also carry "function" (F) keys. Word processing programs respond to these function keys by carrying out special sub-routines within the program, the mainstream program calling up the special routines tor macro functions) on depression of one of the function keys.

In the present invention, one of the function keys is arranged to cause the program to call a macro function called Form-input a flow chart of which is shown at figure 4 hereinafter described.

Before proceeding with a specific consideration of the macro function and the associated graphics tablet 7, it is felt that an appreciation of the operation of the calling of sub-routines in the previously mentioned "Ability" program may be useful.

In the word processing program of the Ability software package, the F2 function key is designated as a command key. When F2 is operated, the user receives a screen display providing a series of options which are displayed beneath the "typing" area of the display screen 5. The options are selected either by operating the alpha-numeric key of the keyboard corresponding to the opening letter of the required command or by using cursor positioning keys to position a cursor over the required command (which is then highlighted) and depressing the enter key of the keyboard. If the number of options exceeds the display area, then one of the available options may cause the first sub routine to call a further sub routine displaying less frequently used options.

Once an option has been selected, a sub routine to carry out that function is called, the sub-routine terminating automatically when its function is completed (for example when a piece of text is to be highlighted) or by the operator using the escape key of the keyboard.

The sub routine of Figure 4 to which reference is now also made is called using the above described command function as a sub routine of "Ability" command "Page-format". "Page-format" as supplied by Migent allows such option; sub routines as Page-length, Left-margin and Right-margin which allow the respective titled parameters to be set. The present invention allows an additional function of "Form-input".

Depressing the alpha-numeric "F" key of the keyboard causes the Form Input macro function to be called. Referring then to figures 1 and 4, the form input macro first causes the legend "Form Input" to be displayed (program step 100) and then causes the buffer associated with the port 4 to be scanned by the data processor 2 (program step 110). As long as the data buffer remains empty, the data buffer associated with the keyboard 3 is scanned (120) to determine whether the user has operated the escape key to terminate format inputting. If the escape key is operated then the format input program terminates ( 150) and the processor 2 is returned to normal word processing.

In the form input mode, it is necessary for the user to mount a blank form which is to be completed on the surface of the graphics tablet 7. Associated with the graphics tablet 7 is a pointer 8 which has one or more keys (schematically represented by a switch 9) operable by the user. The pointer 8 is positioned on the form at the location at which text is to be entered and the key 9 is operated. This operation causes the transmission of "X" and "Y" co-ordinates by the graphics tablet to the input port 4.

This input causes the program to step and effect input of the co-ordinates from the buffer associated with the port 4 (program step 140) together with an associated data byte which indicates whether the user has operated a text "start" key (160) or a text "limit" key (170) of the pointer 8. The data byte may also include (e.g.) a data parity indication arranged to check for any corruption of the data signals between the graphics tablet 7 and the processor 2. If the associated data byte is invalid for some reason such that neither a start nor a terminal indication is given, the program causes an "invalid input" message ('30) to be displayed alongside the "format input" message.

It is here noted that for pointers 8 and graphics tablets 7 which do not have a minimum two-key input capability, the program steps 160 and 170 may be omitted, the program stepping through to generate a selected graphics character provided that the data parity is correct.

As will be seen from the flow chart, either a terminal character (180) or a start character (190) is generated after which any previous "invalid input" message is cleared (200). The processor now operates on the received X and Y co-ordinates to convert them to a line and character number (220) which causes the appropriate data character to be stored (210) at a corresponding address in the data file. The start or terminal character is thus displayed on the display 5 to ensure that the user can identify the correct position for input of characters so that when a corresponding form is placed in the printer 6 during a print output of the file by the processor 2, the form is correctly completed.

Once the generated character has been entered (210) the form input sub routine returns to scanning for further input or program termination (110,120).

It will of course be recognised that program step 220 necessarily takes into account line spacing and character spacing parameters as selected by the operator from the program options available.

It will also be noted that while as described above the program is arranged to enter a start or terminal character in an appropriate line and character location, in an alternative method of operation the program can be arranged to cause the display of those co-ordinates in numerical form or to cause the cursor mark to skip to the selected position in an automatically terminating program.

It is emphasised that while as herein described, the sub-routine is associated with the Migent Ability word processing program, it is equally suited to use as a sub routine within other word processing software packages, Ability being used purely for example.

Having considered the use of the graphics tablet for inputting positional detail from a form, consideration is now given to the graphics tablet per se and one example of a graphics tablet having required physical modifications is shown in figure 2 to which reference is now made.

The graphics tablet 7 of known kind, for example having "X" wires and "Y" wires embedded mutually at right angles in a planar substrate, is mounted on a suitable base member with its associated electronics housed in a casing.

A horizontal member 10 and a vertical member 11 are fitted alongside the graphics tablet 7, the corner 'A' being at co-ordinate location 0,0 (X=O,Y=O). The members 10,it stand slightly proud of the surface of the tablet 7 so that the user may butt respective edges of a form to be completed against the members. Thus, once the form has been placed in position, the top left hand corner is aligned with the co-ordinates 0,0. As shown, three clips 12 are provided, these being spring biassed, to hold an inserted form in position.

The operator may now use a pointer detectable by the embedded wires of the graphics tablet 7 which when positioned above a line to be completed causes transmission of appropriate "X" and "Y" co-ordinates. The "X" and "Y" co-ordinates define an exact pixel (picture element) location with respect to 0,0 for the position of the textual matter.

Although it is anticipated that conversion from pixel location to line and character location will normally be carried out within the processor 2 thus enabling programmable type fonts to be taken into account, the inclusion of "intelligence" (for example a micro-processor) in the associated electronics of the graphics tablet is also possible. In this case, the data transmitted by the graphics tablet may comprise actual line and character co-ordinates to be used, the processor using the received co-ordinates to determine a file location.

An alternative to the incorporation of a specific routine within a word processing package is a stand-alone position determining device such as that shown in Figure 3 to which we shall now refer. In the device of figure 3, a microprocessor is included having programmable look-up tables of "X" and "Y" co-ordinates for example. The microprocessor is arranged to convert X,Y co-ordinate information from the tablet 7 into line and character number position numbers which are displayed on respective light emitting diode (LED) or liquid crystal displays 14, 15. Also provided are line spacing and character spacing selection switches 16,17 to enable the selection of conversion factors for the microprocessor.

Since most word processing packages include a display of the current cursor position in line and character number form, it is a simple matter for the operator to read off the line and character numbers from the diplays 16,17, move the cursor to the correct position and type in the required alpha-numeric information.

It will be appreciated that while the figure 3 embodiment is noted as stand alone apparatus, it may be adapted to work either in the stand alone mode or for transmitting line and character co-ordinates to the processor 2 as hereinbefore described.

In a modification of the tablets 7 of figures 2 and 3, the clips 12 are replaced by a hinged transparent or translucent overlay (not shown) which covers the surface of the blank form to be completed. This enables the operator to run a device such as that sometimes called a "mouse" over the surface to obtain location parameters without disturbing the location of the form.

In a preferred embodiment, the tablet 7 is of a size corresponding to the International Standard paper size A4, although it will be appreciated that other sizes of tablet may be used. A further modification of the apparatus includes the provision of a light source beneath a translucent graphics screen to assist the operator's positioning of the pointer s with respect to the locations on a form.

In considering again figure 4, the text start character may be a cursor mark or horizontal dash (-) for example while the text limit or terminal mark may be a vertical line (') or slash mark (X). The intervening space may be marked with horizontal dashes or points (.) which may indicate several lines between the start mark and the terminal mark where appropriate. The actual text limit point is of course indicated by the exact vertical intercept of the terminal marks and any horizontal marks provided.

In some standard word processing packages, it is expected that some required text line positions will not align exactly with the required text position on the form (say where the required text position is mid-way between two standard print line positions). In this case, the form input program will align the closest valid line position above the text position to avoid print output overtyping pre printed lines on a form. More complex printers allow greater variation of horizontal starting positions such that exact pixel locations may be used.

It is noted that the print output program of the package in use may be modified to cause it to delete all non overtyped form position characters on output to the printer C, for example by substituting a character space in the output file.

It will be realised that prior to overtyping a form, the operator may store the created format as a "standard" file such that several corresponding forms each requiring the insertion of different alpha numeric information may be completed.

Claims (17)

1. A method of inputting data defining positional registration to word processing apparatus comprising the steps of aligning a form with positional markers on a graphics input device, selecting field points on the form and causing signals defining the selected field points to be sent to the word processing apparatus, the word processing apparatus being programmed to cause locational data corresponding to the selected field points to be displayed.

2. A method of inputting data as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising the step of causing data defining the status of the selected field points to be transmitted.

3. A method of inputting data as claimed in Claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the signals defining the selected field points define X and Y co-ordinates of a pixel, the word processing apparatus causing a location mark to be displayed at each such defined pixel.

4. Word processing apparatus including a data processor and position determining apparatus, the position determining apparatus comprising a fixed base member on which a form may be mounted, means moveable with respect to the base member to a user determined position on a mounted form, and user operable means which when operated cause signals defining horizontal and vertical co-ordinates to be transmitted from the position determining apparatus to the data processor, in use, the data processor being caused to display position marking information determined by said signals whereby an operator may input characters for completion of a corresponding form which, when output to an associated printer, cause such characters to be correctly positioned with respect to the form.

5. Word processing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the data processor is programmed to cause the display of a position mark at line and character co-ordinates determined by the position marking information.

6. Word processing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein user operable means also causes transmission of signals defining whether the defined horizontal and vertical co-ordinates define a start or a limit position.

7. Word processing apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the data processor is programmed to display one kind of position mark on receipt of a start indication and a differing kind of position mark on receipt of a limit indication.

8. Word processing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the data processor is programmed to translate the horizontal and vertical co-ordinates into line and character numbers and to cause the numbers to be displayed.

9. Word processing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8 wherein the position determining apparatus comprises a graphics tablet arranged to transmit pixel co-ordinates to the data processor.

10. Word processing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the position determining apparatus comprises a graphics tablet arranged to convert pixel co-ordinates to line and character co-ordinates.

11. Word processing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 10 wherein the data processor is arranged to replace any position mark not overwritten with other characters during word processing with a non printing character during output of a created file to a printer or print file.

12. Position determining apparatus comprising line and character display means, a base member on which a form may be mounted, means moveable with respect to the base member and means which cause the display means to display line and character numbers determined by the current position of the moveable means with respect to the base member.

13. Position determining apparatus as claimed in claim 12 further comprising user operable selection means such that conversion between current position and displayed line and character numbers may be selected to reflect line and character spacing integers.

14. Position determining apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 further comprising means to cause transmission of signals defining the displayed line and character numbers to output means arranged for connection to a data processor.

15. A method of inputting data to word processing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. Word processing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. Position determining apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.