GB2229836A

GB2229836A - Text processing

Info

Publication number: GB2229836A
Application number: GB9005770A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tatsuya Shiraki; Hiroko Murai
Original assignee: Sharp Corp
Current assignee: Sharp Corp
Priority date: 1989-03-22
Filing date: 1990-03-14
Publication date: 1990-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2010-03-14
Also published as: JPH02248276A; GB9005770D0; GB2229836B; GB9005563D0; JPH074957B2

Abstract

A text processing device having a section size automatic adjusting function includes a keyboard, a frame memory for storing frames to contain printed data and which vary with sheet size, a data memory for storing data inputted from the keyboard, and a processor which equally divides one of the frames stored in the frame memory according to a number keyed in to make sections, counts the number of characters corresponding to a remainder in each of the sections, adjusts dividing positions, when the remainder corresponds to one or more characters, by allocating the remainder to each section, stores the adjusted sections in a coordinates memory, and edits data stored in the data memory for each section stored in the coordinates memory.

Description

Text Processing Device Having a Section Size Adjusting Function The present: invention relates to a text processing device such as a word processor, and more particularly, it rlats to a text processing device capable of editing data 'in a block which is a section of a frame set: in a certain range.

As a tabulating device, for making a table or list using lines, Unexaminrd Japanese Patent Application No.

229370/1987 discloses a tabulator for automatically making a tabir. by specifying the initial position of the table, Intervals between vertical and horizontal lines and tile number thereof.

As a tabulating method, Unexamined Japanese Patent.

Application No. 71179/1981 discloses a method of automatically arranging characters in the table defined by lines.

in a text processing device capable of editing data in a block which is a section of a frame set in a certain range, as stated above, a frame corresponding to the size of a printing sheet is set in advance, and then the frame is divided into sections of a desired size. One of the sections is regarded as a block, text. is edited as if tle block were equivalent to a page. Thus, editing operation usually termed "blocked editing" where text can be edited for every block independently, can be carried out.

Upon dividing the frame, when it is desired that the frame is equally divided into blocks having the same size, a frame W is divided into vertical sections by m times of move Or a cursor and divided into horizontal sections by n times of move of the cursor, by inputting a vertical boundary line 1 and a horizontal boundary line j, respectively as shown in Fig. II.

However, when the blocks are set based upon the number of moves of the cursor as mentioned above, it takes time to specify dividing positions in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the number Or blocks is not appropriately determined without repeated trial and error The present invention provides a text processing device having a section size adjusting function, in which equal blocks are automatically set according to the size of a printing sheet and the number Or the blocks, and the number of characters which can be printed in each block in tlie vertical and horizontal directions is adjusted to al locate the same number of characters to each block According to the present invention, a text. processing device having a section Size adjusting functi on comprises input means; frame storage means for storing frames l)eing capable of printing data which vary on sizes of printing sheets to be used; data storage means for storing data inputted by the input: means; dividing means for dividing a frame into two or more sections by inputting from the input means in the vertical and/or horizontal directions of the frame; counting mcans for counting the number of characters being capable of printing in each of of the sections and accumulating remainders in each of the section when they have a remainder less than one character size;; adjusting means for adjusting a size of any of t.lie sections to enlarge so as to print one character when an accumulated value of remainders is larger than one character size; coordinates storage means for storing each Of the adjusted section in terms of coordinates corresponding to t he positions of adjusted sections;; and editing means for editing data stored in the data storage means for each sections based upon the coordinates stored in the coordinates storage means.

In the above-mentioned text processing device, the frame corresponding to- t.lie size of a printing sheet is equally divided into any given number in the vertical and horizontal directions in accordance with instructions given by the input; means to make sections.

Then, the counting means counts the number of characters corresponding to a remainder in each of the vertical and/or horizontal directions in each of the sections based upon the number of characters which can be printed in each of the sections; and the adjusting means, when the remainder corresponds to one or more characters, allocates the reminder to the section so that every section has the same number of characters, so as to adjust vertical and/or horizontal dividing positions.

The coordinates storage means stores each of the adjusted section in terms of the coordinates corresponding to the dividing positions; and the editing means edits data stored in the data storage means for each section based upon the coordinates stored in the coordinates storage means.

In this way, the frame corresponding to the size of the printing sheet is so adjusted in the vertical and/or horizontal directions that characters are equally allocated to each section, and uniform sections are made.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of the example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 2 to 4 are diagrams presented for explaining an example of a dysplay screen upon equally dividing a frame; Figs. 5 to 9 are diagrams presented for explaining an exemplary processing in section making: Fig. 10 is a flow chart: sowing an operation of the embodiment; and Fig. 11 is a diagram presented for explaining a conventional exemplary frame division.

In this embodiment, a microprocessor including CPU, a ROM, a RAM and an Input/Output port is mainly used as dividing means, counting means, adjusting means and editing means.

A RAM included i n t. he above-mentioned processor is mainly used as data storage means frame storage means and coordinates storage means.

Although the present invention will be explained in detail related to embodiment shown in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to Lhe precise form described herein.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

A keyboard 1 includes Japanese alphabet keys, numeral keys, keys for setting a mode (described below) where a frame is equally divided, an execution key, etc. and a control unit L 2 recci ves sentence data and various image data nputted from the keyboard 1 The control Unit: 2 consists of a microprocessor and executes various data processing (mentioned below) in accordance with a control program stored in a program memory 3 consisting of a POM.

A data memory 4, a frame memory 5 arid a coordinates memory 6 consist of a RAM. The frame memory 5 stores frame data corresponding to the size of a printing sheet such as Japanese standard size A4 and 105.

Tulle control ilni t. 2 causes the data memtry 4 to store sentence data arid various image data inputted from tlie keyboard 1 A frame stored in Llie frame memory 5 is equally divided in the vertical and horizontal directions based on the vertically and horizontally dividing numbers inputted from tlie keyboa rct 1 so as to make sections The number of characters corresponding to a blank i n each section is counted ed based upon the number of cliaract ers which can be printed in each section. When the blank corresponds to one or more characters tulle blank is allocated to the sections so that every section has the same number of characters so as to adjust vertical and horizontal dividing positions The coordinates memory 6 stores the dividing positions for each adjusted section as the coordinates, the origin of the coordinates being on the left. upper corner point of the frame.

The control unit 2 further edits the sentence data and image data stored in the data memory 4 for each section based upon the coordinates of stored in t lie coordinates memory 6.

Japanese alphabet/Chinese character converting dictionary 7 is used for converting a Japanese alphabet character string inputted from the keyboard 1 into a sentence of a Japanese alphabet/Chinese character. A display device R may be a CRT display, an LC (liquid crystal) display, an El display or the like.

Figs. 2 to 4 are diagrams show rig an example of a screen on the display device 8 8 in the case where the frame is equally divided.

As shown in Fig. 2, a frame of which data is previously stored in the frame memory 5 is equally divided by tlie procedure as follows: A frame dividing mod is set in accordance with instructions given from the keyboard 1 so that an Input menu of automatic eqtia 1 dlvi di rig which is st < )red in the program memory 3 is displayed on the screen of the display device 8.

Then, as shown in lig. 3, after a cursor 11 indicates the dividing direction, vertical or horizontal, the equally dividing number is inputted, then the execution key is pressed down. Thus, a frame 10 is equally divided i into sections 12 as shown in Fig. 4.

There is provided a space 13 between the adjacent sections 12 to clearly define the boundary when characters image data, etc. are arranged in the sections 12.

Ari example of a section making process will be described with specific numerals with reference to Figs.

to 9.

The requirements for dividing tlie frame 10 corresponding to the size of a printing sheet into the sections 12 which are as equal as possible in size (referred to as "section size" hereinafter) are: (1) The section size should be a multiple of 4 (the section size of the section in the right end is not necessarily a multiple of 4); arid (2) The width of the space 13 may be 4 mm.

The case where Llie frame 10 corresponding to a printing sheel. of 29 1 mm x 206 mm, shown in Fig. 5, is divided into three in the vertical and horizontal directions will be explained as an example.

Since the space 13 is 4 mm in width, t:lie dividend is given by: 206 mm - (3 - I) x 4 mm = 19K mm Accordingly, the size of one section is given by: 198 - 3 = 66 mm however, since the section size of the section 12 is to be a multiple of 4, the section size of one division frame should lie 64 mm or 68 mm.

(3) Assuming that the section size is 64 mm and the width of one character is 5 mm, the number of characters in each section is obtained as shoun in Fig.6. The numerals encircled designate section numbers.

The number of characters whi ch can be added as an excess is given by: (.R + 0.8) = 1.6 Thus, the number of characters and section size when one character is applied to any one of sections 1, 2 and (i) are shown in Table I Table

Section number 1 2 3 II Size in Millimeters 64 1 64 1 70 1 I I I I I 11 t 12 1 14 1 I The Number of I I I I I 12 1 13 1 14 1 Characters I I 12 1 12 1 15 I (4) 4 mm is subtracted from the section size of the section 3, and the remainder is added to the section size of the section 1 to calculate the number of characters (see Fig. 7).

Then, the number of characters which can be added as an excess is given by: (0. + 0.8 + ().2) = 1.6 Thus, similar lao the above-mentioned case, the number of characters and section size when one character is applied to any one of sections (), 2 and 3 are shown in Table 2.

Table 2

Section Number 1 2 3 ISize in Millimetersl 68 I 64 1 66 I 14 1 12 1 13 I The number of I 1 13 1 13 1 13 1 * I Characters I I I I I 13 1 12 1 14 1 (5) Further, 4 mm is subtracted from the section size of the section 3, and the remainder is added to the section size of the section 1 to calculate the number of characters (see Fig. 8).

Similarly, the number of characters which can be added as an excess is given by: (0.6 + 0.6 + 0.4) = 1.6 Table 3

Section Number 1 2 3 I I f-I ISize in Milimeters 68 I 68 1 62 1 # 14 I 13 1 12 1 I The Number of I I I I 1 # 13 1 14 1 12 1 Characters 13 13 13 * Thus, the relations between the number Or characters arid the section size are presented in Table 3.

In the Tables 1, 2 and 3, the combination where the every section has the same number or characters is that marked by " * ", and the combination where every section has the same frame size is that. marked " * " 'i in Table 3.

In this way, the section size and the number of characters as shown in Fig. 9 are determi ned. Also, the same process is carried out to determine the section size and the number of characters in the horizontal direction.

The above-mentioned procedure will be explained by using general equations. First, for the frame to be set, a horizontal section size n (in millimeters) and a remainder C (in millimeters) are calculated, using a divisor N (the number of sections) and a character width A (in millimeters): A = N x B + C ..... (1) where B is a multiple of 4.

(B=4n; n=1, 2, 3, ... ...

Then the remainder C is allocated to all the sections: C = N' x I) + C' (1) = 4i; i = 1, 2 3, ... ...) This, the value D satisfying the above equation is added to N' sections to obtain the section size.

Accordingly, the following equations are given: Wj = {(B+D)(1#j#N'), B(N'+1#j#N-1), B+C'(j=N)} Wj = (B(1#j# (N-1)-N', (B+D) (N-N' # j # N-1), B+C' (j=N)).. (3) (j represents section number : j = 1, 2, 3, ... .... n) where Wj is the section size.

Although the number of characters iti each section is calculate trom the section size obtained by the equations (2) an (3), characters are prined in dots, and hence remainders in dots are produced for each seclion size (in millimeters). When the total S of the remainders (in dots) corresponds to one or more charactcrs, the characters corresponding to the number are allocated to the sections.

similar to the above-mentioned case relatd to the section size.

Thus, one character is added to N" section under the condition that th following equation is satisfied : S = N" + S The number P of characters for each of the sections is given as follow : Pk = [(11+1) (1#k#N"), 11(N"+1 # k # N)] ... ... (4) Pk = [11 (1 # k # N-N") (11+1) (N-N" + 1 # k # N) ... ... (5) (k represents section number; k = 1, 2 3, H represents the number of characters) where N is the total number of all characters. Thus, two ways of character allocation are attained in accordance with the equations (2) and (3).

Allowing for the above-mentioned results, the optimum way of allocating characters is selected from the ways using the equation (4) and (5) with the section size obtained by the equation (2), arid the ways using t lie equations (4) arid (5) with the section size obtained by the equation (3).

Similarly, the section size an the number of characters in the horizontal direction are determined.

Then , the operation Or the control unit. will be described with reFerence to a flow chart shown in Fig. 10.

U;on dividing the frame, a Frame dividing mode is set according to instructions from the keyboard 1. Then, an input menu for automatic equal division, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is displayed on the screen Or the display device 8 to indicate the dividing number in the vertical or horizontal directions.

When tlie dividing number is indicated, First the section size n arid the remainder C is calculated using the divisor N (Step 21), and the value D (in millimeters) to be awl located is calculated (Step 22).

Two ways of allocation procedures are then performed; as shown by the equation (2), the value D is allocated from the section of the smallest number in sequence (Step 23), and as shown by the equation (3), the value D is allocated from the section just. before the last section in sequence (Step 24).For each allocation, when the value D is allocated from t.lie head section, two ways Or procedures are performed; as shown by the equation (4), the H number of characters is calculated and one character is added from the head section (Step 25), arid as shown by the equation (5), the II number Of characters is calculated and one character is added from the last section (Step 26).

When the value D is allocated from the section just: before the last section, the H number of characters is calculated for every section and then one character is added from the head section (Step 27); and the II number is calculated, and then one character is added from the last section (Step 28).

Consequently, the procedure through which the frame is most. equally divided is selected from tiie procedures using the equation (4) at Step 25, using tlie equation (5) at step 26, using the equation (4') at step 27 and using the equation (5') at step 28 (Step 29).

Thus, the number Or the characters that. can be printed within the sections 12 is adjusted in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively, anct the characters are equally allocated to the sections 12.

As has been described, according to the present Invention, a frame corresponding to the size of a printing sheet is equally divided inthe vertical and horizontal directions by sped fyitig the number of sections to be equally divided. Upon dividing: the frame, the number of characters in each Of the sections Lo be made is so adjusted that every section has the same number of characters. Thus, equal division can be made without spending time to specify dividing positions of the frame.

Claims

1. A text processing device having a section size adjusting function, comprising: input means; frame storage means for storing Frames being capable of printing data which vary on sizes of printing sheets to be used; data storage means for storing data inputted by the input means dividing means for dividing a Frame into two or more sections by inputting from the input means in the vertical and/or horizontal directions of the Frame;; counting means for counting the number of characters being capable owt pr I rit I ng in each Or the sect I ons and accumulating remainders in each of tlie sections when they have a remainder less than one character size; adjusting means for adjusting a size of any of the sections to enlarge so as to print one character when an accumulated value of remainders is larger than one character S I ze; coordinates storage means for storing eaclo of the adjusted section in terms of coordinates corresponding to the positions of adjusted sections; and editing means For editing data stored in the data storage means for each sections basd upon tlie coordinates stored in the coordinates storage means.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said dividing means includes a caictiltiting means dividing said frame stored in said frame storage moans into the number given by said input means in the vertical and horizontal directions, for calculating the sizes and remainder of each section in millimeters; and section remakiiig means allocating said calculated remainder in millimeters to each section for remaking sections.

3. A device according to claim 1, wlierei n said adjusting means includes ascending order adjustment means for adding one character from the head section one by one; descending order adjustment: means for adding one character from the last: section one by one; and selecting means for selecting sections dividetl based upon the most equally dividing positions between two kinds of sections adjusted by said ascendIng and descending order adjustment means, respectively.

4. A device according to claim 1, further comprising screen format storage means for storing a screen format used in input For equally dividing said frame; and display means for displaying tlie screen format stored in the screen format storage means; said Input: means gives instructions to divide said frame stored in said frame storage means into any number in the vertical and horizontal directions based upon said < 1 screen formal: displayed by said display means.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said data storage means, frame storage means and coordinates storage means are RAMs respectively.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said dlvidirig means, counting means, adjusting means and editing means comprise a microprocessor.

7. A text processing device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.