JP2000163499A - Document output device and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To modify and edit data on a document display screen when document data are displayed on a screen or printed by preparing a file which holds document data generated by a document defining function as they are. SOLUTION: Of a computer system, a CPU 2 makes it possible to add and set an additional input area and an addition permission flag to a specific item for output document layout data as a document output function, makes it possible to add and set symbol data and text data to a specific item and the additional input area on an output document screen displayed according to the added and set output document layout data, and can save output document layout data including all added and set data as document data in another document data file 7c.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a form output device for outputting a form based on definition data set for a table composed of a plurality of cells, and a storage medium storing a control program therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for example, various application programs such as spreadsheets and databases have been used in office computers and general-purpose computers mainly for office work, and tabulated data is output in various forms. It has a form output function that enables it.

In order to output a form, it is necessary to set definition contents such as a format and a layout. For example, a form definition function built in an application program is used. Set the form format, set the items to be output in this form, the item definition contents, and the layout of each item, and set the record file name (table file name) in which the data to be output to the setting items is expanded, The output form is set on the design screen.

[0004] The form document data created by such a form definition function is displayed on a screen of a display device or printed from a printing device with its set layout. In addition, the created form document data is not stored as an image as it is, but is stored in separate files as form definition data defining a layout and actual data to be input to setting items in the form.

[0005] When displaying or printing form document data on a screen, when an operator selects a desired form document, the corresponding form definition data and actual data are read out, and the form document data is generated. Screen display or printing was performed.

[0006]

The form document data created by the above-described conventional form definition function is not stored as it is as image data, but is input to form definition data defining a layout and setting items in the form. Was stored in separate files as real data.
Also, when displaying or printing form document data on the screen, when the operator selects a desired form document, the corresponding form definition data and the actual data are read out, the form document data is generated, and then displayed on the screen. Or printing was being performed.

That is, conventionally, the form document data is only temporarily generated at the time of screen display or printing, and the form document data has not been regarded as an object to change the data. Each item data could not be changed on the completed form document data. In order to change each item data on the form document data, it is necessary to create new form document data using the same form definition data by the form definition function. There is a problem that it takes time and effort to change or edit.

An object of the present invention is to provide a file for storing form document data created by a form definition function as it is, and to display or print form document data on a form display screen, such as changing or editing data on the form display screen. To make the work possible.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Actual data storage means for storing actual data of a form including a plurality of record data; layout information storage means for storing form layout information in which format information for form output is set; and record data from the actual data storage means. Form document creation means for creating an output form document of a print image based on the form layout information stored in the layout information storage means,
In the case where format information for inputting or setting additional data is set in the form layout information, a recordable form document output means for outputting an output form document including the input or setting area of the additional data, Data appending means for inputting or writing data in an input or setting area of the output form document output by the appendable form document output means, and the data additionally recorded by the data appending means, together with the format information, in the output form document. Storage means for storing, and a form output means for setting the data additionally stored in the output form document by the storage means at a position on the form layout specified by the data type, contents and format information and outputting the form And, it is characterized by having.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, actual data of a form including a plurality of record data is stored in actual data storage means, and form layout information in which format information for form output is set is converted to layout information. Stored in a storage unit, a form document creation unit retrieves record data from the actual data storage unit, creates an output form document of a print image based on the form layout information stored in the layout information storage unit, and can additionally record the form document The form document output means, if format information for inputting or setting additional data is set in the form layout information, outputs an output form document including the input or setting area of the additional data, and outputs the data. The appending means outputs the data output by the appendable form document output means. When the form document is input or data is added to the setting area, the storage means stores the added data together with the format information in the output form document, and the form output means uses the storage means to output the output form document. Is set to a position on the form layout specified by the data type, contents and format information, and the form is output.

Therefore, operations such as data change and editing can be performed on the form display screen, and operations such as data change and edit based on the form document data can be facilitated, and the work load on the operator can be reduced.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 13 are diagrams showing one embodiment of a computer system to which the present invention is applied.

First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a computer system 1 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a computer system 1 includes a CPU 2, an input device 3, a RAM 4, a display device 5, a printing device 6, a storage device 7, and a storage medium 8. Each unit except the storage medium 8 is connected to a bus 9. Have been.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2
Expands an application program specified from a system program stored in the storage device 7 and various application programs corresponding to the system into a program storage area (not shown) in the RAM 4 and is input from the input device 3. Various instructions or data are temporarily stored in the RAM 4, various processings are executed in accordance with the application programs stored in the storage device 7 in accordance with the input instructions and the input data, and the processing results are stored in the RAM 4. , On the display device 5. Then, the processing result stored in the RAM 4 is stored in a storage destination in the storage device 7 designated by the input device 3.

The CPU 2 executes an output form layout setting process (see FIG. 5), which will be described later, as a process relating to the output of the form document, and converts the form layout data from the form layout data file 7b stored in the storage device 7. By reading the form document, an item field (symbol type, symbol data, additional writing flag) for enabling data change for each setting item on the form document is added, and this form layout is displayed on the screen of the display device 5, and this display is performed. For each setting item in the created form layout to indicate whether or not data can be changed.
Specify a new data input area for each setting item,
These specified contents are set in the original form layout data, output form layout data is newly created, and stored in the form layout data file 7b in the storage device 7.

Further, the CPU 2 executes a form document data output process (see FIG. 7), which will be described later, as a process relating to the output of the form document, and reads the specified actual data from the DB record data file 7a in the storage device 7. The output form layout data is read from the form layout data file 7b, and if the data input area is set in the output form layout data, the output form layout data is output to the form document data file 7c, and the form to be added and edited A record No. is designated, the actual data record of the form record No. is read from the DB record data file 7a, and all the item data are developed on the output form based on the set format information and displayed on the display device 5. Display the output form on the screen.

Then, the additional data editing process (see FIG. 8) is executed on the displayed output form, and the item data of the previously specified form record is sequentially read. Input, designation of a symbol for modifying the item data, designation of the symbol type, drawing processing for the item data of the designated symbol (see FIG. 9), input text data, and designated symbol data are outputted. It is stored in the corresponding item position in the form layout data. The above additional data editing is repeatedly executed for all item data, and the output form layout data that can be added and edited is stored as form document data in the form document data file 7c.

The input device 3 includes a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse provided with a cursor key, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like.
Output to 2.

A RAM (Random Access Memory) 4 is a C
The PU 2 forms a program storage area for expanding various programs when executing the various application programs, and forms a memory area for expanding data, table data, and the like processed when the CPU 2 executes the various processing. .

The display device 5 is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tub).
e), and displays form layout data, form record data, and the like input from the CPU 2. The printing device 6 prints print data (form data and the like) input from the CPU 2 on a predetermined recording sheet and outputs the print data.

The storage device 7 has a storage medium 8 in which programs, data and the like are stored in advance, and this storage medium 8 is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 8 is fixedly provided in the storage device 7 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 8 includes the system program, various application programs corresponding to the system, a record arrangement processing program, And data processed by each processing program.

As shown in FIG. 1, the storage device 7 includes a DB record data file 7a storing form record data, a form layout data file 7b storing form layout data, and a form document storing form document data. And a data file 7c.

The program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 8 may be configured to be received and stored from another device connected via a communication line or the like. A storage device having the storage medium may be provided on the other connected device side, and the program and data stored in the storage medium 8 may be used via a communication line.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, the position of the form document data in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, form document data is generated between the actual data records stored in the DB record data file 7a and the output form layout data stored in the form layout data file 7b. And
This form document data is stored as it is in the form document data file 7c. The screen display 50 and the form print result 6 are stored in the form document data file 7c based on the form document data.
0 is output.

Next, an example of the output form layout data stored in the form layout data file 7b of FIG. 1 (FIG. 7A) and an example of the actual data record stored in the DB record data file 7a of FIG. (FIG. 3B) is shown in FIG.

In the output form layout data shown in FIG. 3A, "left end position", "top position", "width", "height" indicating the arrangement position of each item frame in the form as "drawing range". Is set, and data to be input to each item frame as “text” is set in association with each other.

In the actual data record shown in FIG. 3 (b), "company name: ABC Electric Co., Ltd." is used as actual data corresponding to each item of the output form layout data in association with "form record number". , Person in charge: Hashimoto, Confirmation date: 1998
/ 11/20 "etc. are set.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an output form screen generated based on the output form layout data shown in FIG. 3A and the actual data record (form record 1) shown in FIG. 3B. It is.

An output form layout setting process and a form document data output process will be described below based on the data shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

First, the output form layout setting process executed by the CPU 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, the CPU 2 first reads the output form layout data shown in FIG. 3A from the form layout data file 7b (step S1).
Fields for setting "symbol type", "symbol data", and "additional flag" are added to the output form layout data (step S2). Then, the CPU 2
The form layout is displayed on the screen of the display device 5 based on the read output form layout data (step S3),
A display prompting the user to set the character modification for the existing item is performed, and it is determined whether there is a request for setting the character modification for the existing item (step S4).

If there is a request to set character modification for an existing item, the CPU 2 causes the existing item to be character modified to be specified (step S5), and sets "OK" in the additional writing permission flag field for the specified item (step S5). S6). Then, the CPU 2 determines whether or not another input area is specified (step S7). If another input area is specified, the CPU 2 returns to step S4 and determines again whether or not the character modification is specified.

By repeatedly executing the processing of steps S4 to S7 to specify the character modification for all the existing items, the additional writing permission flag field corresponding to each item for which the character modification is designated is set. Is "OK"
Is set, and “impossible” is set in each additional writing permission flag field corresponding to each item for which no character modification is specified.

After that, the CPU 2 saves the output form layout data in which the additional writing flag is set for the existing item in the output form layout data file 7b (step S8), and ends this processing.

In step S4, if it is not a character modification request for an existing item, a display prompting the user to specify the coordinates of an input area to be newly set is displayed (step S9). Then, the item record in which the input area is specified is added to the output form layout data (step S10). In this case, a field of a new item record is set in a format to be inserted between existing items or in a format to be added according to the designated coordinate position of the input area.

Next, the CPU 2 sets the coordinate values ("left end position", "top end position", "width", "height") specified in the drawing range information of the additional item (step S1).
1), the process proceeds to step S6, and “OK” is set in the additional recording permission flag field of the item record. If another input area is specified in step S7 and the coordinates of the input area are further set in step S9, the processing of steps S9 to S11 is repeated to set a new item record.

Then, the CPU 2 stores the output form layout data in which the additional writing flag for the new item is set in the form layout data file 7b (step S2).
8), end this processing.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the output form layout data generated from the output form layout data of FIG. 3A by the output form layout setting processing. In FIG. 6, “Note 1” in the figure indicates a portion where an existing item is set to be appendable, and “Note 2” indicates a portion where a new item is set to be appendable.

As described above, by using the output form layout data generated by the output form layout setting processing, character modification is added to the item data set to “appendable” on the output form screen, and text is input. Becomes possible.

Next, the form document data output process executed by the CPU 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 7, the CPU 2 first reads the actual data record (database, CSV file, etc.) of the specified form record No. from the DB record data file 7a (step S21), and reads the form data from the form layout data file 7b. The output form layout data stored in step S22 is read (step S22). It is determined whether an input area has been set in the read output form layout data (step S23).

If the input area has been set, the CPU 2
Outputs the output form layout data to the form document data file 7c (step S24), and specifies whether there is a data addition request (step S25).
If there is a data append request, the form record number to be added / edited is designated (step S26), the actual data record of this form record number is read from the DB record data file 7a, and all the item data are set. The output form is developed on the output form based on the format information and the output form is displayed on the screen of the display device 5 (step S27).

FIG. 10 shows an example of output form layout data in which an input area has been set. "8-5 to 8-1" in the figure
“1” is an item record that can be additionally written. FIG. 11 shows an output form screen displayed on the display device 5 based on the output form layout data. "-" In the figure indicates a portion to be processed in the additional data editing process described below.

Next, the CPU 2 executes a postscript data editing process. The additional data editing process executed by the CPU 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 8, the CPU 2 first reads item data from the actual data record of the designated form record No. (step S101), and checks the setting state of the additional writing permission flag of the item data (step S10).
2). If the additional writing permission flag is set to "impossible",
The CPU 2 moves to step S113, designates the next item, and returns to the processing of step S101.

If the additional writing permission flag is set to "OK", the CPU 2 moves the input focus to the designated item on the output form display screen of FIG. 11 (step S10).
3) It is determined whether there is a text input (step S10).
4). If there is no text input, CPU 2 proceeds to step S
The process proceeds to 106, and if there is a text input, the text data is set in the text data field of the designated item data (step S105).

On the output form display screen of FIG. 11, "(1) telephone" indicated by "" or "(2) FAX" indicated by
, A text can be input to each of the input areas indicated by to which are displayed on the right side thereof. In the figure,
The input focus is on “(1) telephone” indicated by.

Next, the CPU 2 displays the symbol selection toolbar shown on the output form display screen of FIG. 11 to determine whether or not a symbol has been selected (step S106).
If no symbol is selected, the CPU 2 proceeds to step S113
Then, the next item is designated, and the process returns to step S101. When a symbol is selected, the CPU 2 sets the symbol in the data field of the symbol attribute of the designated item data (step S107). In the symbol selection toolbar shown in FIG. 11, four types of symbols “○, −, ×, Δ” can be set.

Then, the CPU 2 designates at which position of the designated item the selected symbol is to be displayed, as shown in FIG.
Then, the decoration attribute selection toolbar shown on the output form display screen is displayed to determine the specification contents of the decoration attribute (step S108). On the decoration attribute selection toolbar shown in FIG. 11, "first character, all character strings" can be selected. If the decoration attribute is not selected, the CPU 2 proceeds to the symbol drawing process of step S111, and if the decoration attribute is selected as “first character”, sets “first character” in the type field of the symbol attribute of the designated item data. (Step S10
9) If the decoration attribute is selected as “all character strings”, “all character strings” is displayed in the type field of the symbol attribute of the designated item data.
Is set (step S110), and the process proceeds to the symbol drawing process (see FIG. 9) in step S111.

When the symbol drawing process is completed, the CPU 2
Text data and symbol data input to the specified item
The data is stored in the data management unit in AM4 (step S11).
2) Then, the next item is specified (step S113), and the process returns to step S101. If there is no next item, the process ends.

Therefore, by executing the above-described additional data editing process, input of text data for an item for which the additional writing permission flag is set to “OK”, selection of a symbol for modifying the item data, and designation of the modification position can be performed. Display device 5
Can be performed on the output form screen displayed on the screen.

FIG. 12 shows the output form layout data that has been additionally written by this additional writing data editing process. In FIG. 12, the symbol data “O” and the type “first character” are set for the item “(1) Telephone”, and the item “(2)
This shows a case where symbol data “−” and type “all character strings” are set for “FAX”, and “「 ”is set for the input area below the item“ impression ”.

The symbol drawing process executed in step S111 based on the additional content in the output form layout data of FIG. 12 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 9, the CPU 2 first determines whether or not a designated item has a symbol set (step S20).
1) If there is no symbol setting, the process is terminated. If there is a symbol setting, it is determined whether there is a text setting (step S20).
2). If there is no text setting, a setting symbol is displayed in the entire input area of the item (step S209). If there is a text setting, the text field acquires a setting character string (step S203).

Next, the CPU 2 determines whether the decoration attribute (type) set in the designated item is "all character strings" or "first character" (step S204). It is determined whether the first character of the column is other than "(" or "(" (step S205). If the first character is "(", the CPU 2 further determines whether or not the acquired character string includes ")". It is determined (step S206), and if there is ")", a setting symbol is displayed so as to surround the obtained character string from "(" to ")" (step S207), and this processing ends. If the character is other than "(" and there is no ")", a setting symbol is displayed so as to surround the first character of the acquired character string (step S207), and the process ends.

If the decoration attribute (type) is "all character strings" in step S204, a setting symbol is displayed so as to surround the entire acquired character string (step S20).
7), end this processing.

As a result of the above symbol drawing process, as shown in FIG. 13, a setting symbol is displayed on the selected form position for the item specified on the output form screen. In FIG. 13, “）” is displayed so as to surround “(1)” as the first character portion of “(1) Telephone” indicated by, and the entire character string is surrounded by “(2) FAX” indicated by “-” Is displayed in the input area, and “レ” is displayed in the input area indicated by the symbol.

Thus, the additional data editing process in step S28 of FIG. 7 is completed, and the CPU 2 proceeds to step S29.
, It is determined whether or not there is an additional write request for another form record. If there is a postscript request for another form record,
Returning to step S26, the above additional data editing processing is repeatedly executed, and if there is no additional request for another form record, the output form layout data in which the additional items shown in FIG. 12 are set is stored as form document data in the storage device 7. Is stored in the form document data file 7c (step S30), it is determined whether or not there is a print request (step S32).

If there is no print request, the CPU 2 ends this processing. If there is a print request, the CPU 2 reads out the previously stored form document data, causes the printing device 6 to print the form, and ends this processing.

If an input area has not been set in the output form layout data read in step S23, the document is saved in the form document data file 7c as form document data having no input area (step S31), and the printing after step S32 is performed. Execute the process.

As described above, in the computer system 1 according to the present embodiment, an additional input area and an additional write permission flag can be additionally set as designated items in the output form layout data as a form output function. On the output form screen displayed based on the output form layout data, additional settings for symbol data and text data can be made for specified items and additional input areas, and the output form layout including all additionally set data Since the data can be saved as form document data in another form document data file 7c, it is possible to change or edit the item data on the form display screen.

Therefore, operations such as data change and editing based on the form document data can be facilitated, and the workload of the operator can be reduced.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an input area to be added to the designated item data on the form display screen can be easily set. Further, it is possible to easily set a desired symbol to be displayed on the text data added to the designated item data on the form display screen.

The setting contents of the output form layout data and the actual data record shown in the above embodiment are merely examples, and the form output of the present invention can be applied to other output form layout data and the actual data record. Of course, the function can be applied.

[0065]

According to the form output device of the invention according to the first aspect and the storage medium according to the fourth aspect, it is possible to change or edit the item data on the form display screen, and to perform the data based on the form document data. Operations such as change and editing can be facilitated, and the workload of the operator can be reduced.

According to the form output device of the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily set an input area for additionally writing the designated item data on the form display screen.

According to the form output device of the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to easily set a desired symbol to be displayed on the text data added to the designated item data on the form display screen.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the position of form document data according to the present embodiment.

3 shows an example of output form layout data stored in a form layout data file 7b of FIG. 1 (FIG. 3A) and an example of an actual data record stored in a DB record data file 7a of FIG. FIG.

4 is a diagram showing an output form screen generated from the output form layout data of FIG. 3 and the actual data records of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an output form layout setting process executed by a CPU 2 of FIG. 1;

6 is a diagram showing an example of output form layout data set by the output form layout setting processing of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a form document data output process executed by the CPU 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing additional data editing processing executed in step S28 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a symbol drawing process executed in step S111 of FIG.

10 is a diagram illustrating an example of output form layout data (input area set) which has been processed in the form document data output processing of FIG. 7;

11 is a diagram showing an output form screen displayed based on the output form layout data of FIG. 10 in the form document data output process of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of output form layout data in which additional data has been set by the additional data editing process of FIG. 8;

13 is a diagram showing an output form screen displayed based on the output form layout data of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 computer system 2 CPU 3 input device 4 RAM 5 display device 6 printing device 7 storage device 7a DB record data file 7b form layout data file 7c form document data file 8 storage medium 9 bus

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. real data storage means for storing actual data of a form including a plurality of record data; layout information storage means for storing form layout information in which format information for form output is set; Retrieve record data from storage means,
Form document creation means for creating an output form document of a print image based on the form layout information stored in the layout information storage means, and format information for inputting or setting additional data in the form layout information are set. In the case where the additional form data is input or output, the output form document including the setting area is output to a recordable form document output means, and the output form document output by the recordable form document output means is set to the input or setting area. Data appending means for appending data; storage means for storing the data additionally written by the data appending means together with the format information in the output form document; and data additionally stored in the output form document by the storage means. , Its data type, A form output means for setting a position on the form layout specified by content and format information and outputting a form. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: input area setting means for setting input area setting information for inputting the postscript data in the form layout information, wherein the storage means includes input area information set by the input area setting means. The form output device according to claim 1, wherein the form layout information is stored in the form layout information. 3. A symbol designating means for designating various kinds of symbol data to be input to the input data or the setting area, and a form output means for determining whether text data is set in the input or setting area of the additional data. And if text data is set, the position of outputting the symbol on the form layout is specified based on the text content and the type of symbol specified by the symbol specifying means. 2. The form output device according to claim 1, wherein 4. A storage medium storing a computer-executable program for outputting a form, the computer being capable of storing actual data of a form including a plurality of record data in an actual data storage means. Program code, and a computer-executable program code for storing form layout information in which format information for form output is set in a layout information storage unit, and extracting record data from the actual data storage unit.
A computer-executable program code for creating an output form document of a print image based on the form layout information stored in the layout information storage means; and for inputting or setting additional data in the form layout information If format information is set, a computer-executable program code for inputting the additional data or outputting an output form document including the setting area, and an input or setting area for the output form document output Computer-executable program code for causing the output form document to be stored in the output form document together with the format information, and the output form Document Data saved in the
A computer-executable program code for setting a position on the form layout specified by the data type, content and format information to output a form, and a program comprising: .