JP2004220548A - Medium production information system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medium production system improving the efficiency of a page layout work and smoothly using the result for a later DTP work without any waste. <P>SOLUTION: This medium production information system is provided with carrying information management database recording and managing allocation information for every page constituting article information database and a catalog medium by a prescribed system; a search request means issuing a search request relative to the article information database to a page layout device accessing thereto; a page allocation means determining framing of a work page and allocating key codes of article information to the respective disposed frames; an allocation information recording means registering the allocation information produced by the allocation means in the carrying information management database; an allocation result output means printingly outputting a page layout written instruction based on the allocation information produced by the page allocation means; and a medium production data output means outputting text data for casting specification data from the allocation information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a media production information system in cooperation with a product information database. The medium refers to an information medium, and specifically refers to a product catalog, a flyer, a plan for a commercial transaction, a proposal, and the like. It does not matter whether it is printed on paper or used in the form of digital data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a page layout system including a database and suitable for editing and producing printed matter relating to a large amount of product information data such as catalogs and flyers (Patent Document 2) has been put to practical use.
[0003]
Furthermore, in recent years, when producing media, a media production system that is highly compatible with DTP work, which can perform production work in cooperation with the product information database in a form that includes customers, is operated. Efficiency is being improved.
[0004]
For example, in a system described in Patent Literature 1 (hereinafter, “existing system 1”), a product information database server is shared by a product maker, a catalog production company (a design company, a printing company), and a photography studio, and is shared on a network. They can work together to create media. In this case, the DTP work in the catalog production company can proceed efficiently using the technology described in Patent Document 2.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-84267 A (Pages 2-6, FIGS. 1, 13)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2000-29875 (pages 2-5, FIGS. 1-4)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the page layout work using the product specifications and the material data, which is the pre-stage of the DTP work, is still a labor and labor. Here, the page layout work refers to a work of roughly determining which page of a catalog medium (hereinafter referred to as a “medium”) should have information on which product and in what size. It is sometimes called rough design work in the sense that it is a stage before the design work.
[0007]
In the existing system 1, the person in charge of the product maker accesses the product database server, so that the product maker can confirm that the new data has been registered correctly, and should be included in the next catalog. Products can be decided, and the contents of the decision can be instructed to catalog production companies in the form of digital data through a network. However, since there is no means to easily perform the page layout work on the computer by the person in charge of the product manufacturer, a rough layout instruction in which the posted product code and its location and size are manually written on the layout sheet is provided by the product manufacturer. Side, and hand it over to the catalog production company, and rough design work (page layout) that roughly expresses which product information is to be posted on which page based on this based on the catalog production company Work) and confirm this on the product manufacturer side in many cases. As a result, if it becomes necessary to change the listed products or change the size, it becomes necessary to redo the page layout work at the catalog production company and the confirmation work at the product manufacturer, and it was unavoidable to take time at this stage.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and has been made in view of the above circumstances. Therefore, a media production system that can improve the efficiency of the above-described page layout work, and that can smoothly use the result of the page layout work in subsequent DTP work without waste. The task is to provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server device that includes a product information database and a publication information management database and provides product information or page layout information in response to a search request, and accesses the server device via a network. A media layout information system comprising: a page layout device;
The product information database is a database that records and manages a key code for specifying a product, specification data of the product, and material data related to the product according to a certain system.
The publication information management database is a database created and recorded by the medium production information system, which records and manages the allocation information for each page constituting the information medium according to a certain system,
The page layout device,
Search request means for receiving a search condition input from an operator and issuing a search request to the product information database to obtain necessary product specification data and material data;
Page layout means for associating a product selected from the product information obtained as a result of the search with a specific page in the publication information management database, and setting a position and a size on a page on which the selected product is to be published;
Allocation information recording means for registering the allocation information created by the page allocation means in the publication information management database,
Based on the layout information created by the page layout unit, an allocation result output unit that prints out a layout result in which product specifications and material image data are arranged at a designated position size of the page, and an allocation result created by the page layout unit. And a medium production data output means for outputting data necessary for medium production.
[0010]
In the above-described page layout device, since the configuration includes not only the product information database but also the publication information management database, it is possible to divert allocation data of other media produced in the past, and thus easily perform page layout. be able to. Therefore, by installing the page layout device in a product maker or the like, the person in charge of the product maker can perform the page layout of the catalog by himself until the user is satisfied with the page layout device. Labor and time required for the rough design confirmation work between the user and the catalog production company can be saved. In addition, since the page layout result can be output in page units, the output result can be used as a layout instruction for a DTP operator. Further, by providing the medium production data output means, it is possible to output data necessary for medium production in a form that can be directly read by DTP software in order to reduce the input load of DTP editing work. . Since such a function is provided, the result of the page layout work can be smoothly used for the work in the post-process.
[0011]
In the case where the page layout system 1 disclosed in Patent Document 2 is used in the DTP work in the post-process, the medium production data output unit outputs text data for flowing specification data as data necessary for the medium production. It may be something.
Spec data is information that describes the product recorded for each product, such as product model number, product name, and price. Data. The medium production data output means creates text data for injecting specification data from information of the product allocated to the target page and gives it to the page layout system 1 disclosed in Patent Document 2 as character data 5, thereby providing a DTP. The operator can obtain the DTP editing data into which the specification data and the material data are automatically poured.
[0012]
A second invention that solves the problem is a computer program that describes a series of instructions that, when mounted on a computer, cause the computer to operate as the page layout device according to the first invention.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram schematically illustrating the entire system 1. 2 is a server device. The storage device 3 that stores the product information database 31 and the publication information management database 32 is connected. The database management unit 20 also has a function of receiving a data request for the databases 31 and 32 via a network, searching for corresponding data, and returning a result. Reference numeral 4 denotes a page layout device. The page layout device 4 includes a search request unit 46, a page allocation unit 47, an allocation information recording unit 48, an allocation result output unit 49, and a medium production data output unit 50, and operates as a client device of the server device 2. Reference numeral 9 denotes a network connecting the server device 2 and one or more page layout devices 4 or a personal computer for DTP editing.
[0014]
[Posted Information Management Database] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an outline of the posted information management database 32. The publication information management database 32 is a database that records and manages information on the page layout created by the device 4. Data of the created page layout is managed in a hierarchical structure of “medium” — “classification” — “page” or “medium” — “page”. "Medium" corresponds to one of the catalogs to be produced. The medium attribute information includes “medium name”, “number”, “production date”, “medium size”, and the like. Classification means a collection of several commodities that make up one medium (catalog). Normally, one product genre listed in a product catalog is classified into one category. The "classification" has "classification name", "classification order", "classification progress information", and the like as its attribute information. “Page” records a page layout result for each page. In addition to the page attribute information (“page name”, “page progress information”, “date and time of creation”, “margin size”, etc.), as content data representing the result of the page layout work, “the number of frames related to the page” Items related to the entire page, such as "number of pages divided vertically and horizontally", and "posting frame size", "posting frame position", and "product information key or material information key linked to the posting frame" for each frame Record All of these media information, classification information, and page information can be output as text data.
[0015]
2A, 2B, and 2C are dialogs for setting a medium attribute. The three types of dialog display can be switched between each other by tab switching. FIGS. 2A and 2B are setting dialogs for specifying attributes such as a medium name, a publication date, a medium size, a margin size, and a flow pattern. In the dialog shown in FIG. 2C, the progress of media production can be checked.
FIG. 3 shows a dialog for setting a classification attribute. FIG. 4 shows a page attribute setting dialog. Next, a basic operation procedure of the device 4 will be described.
[0016]
[Start of editing work] Select the medium that is currently being produced-the category, and select the page on which to start the work. In order to efficiently select a medium and a class, a search can be performed using the attribute items of the medium attribute information and the class attribute information and their values.
[0017]
[Layout Screen] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a layout screen 100 of the page layout apparatus 4. An area 101 displays a classification tree. The index information of the medium designated to perform the work is read and displayed as a tree structure representing the classification system of the medium. That is, each medium records and manages its publication information in a tree system displayed in the classification tree display area 101. Reference numeral 102 denotes a page list display area for displaying contents included in a folder selected from the classification tree in page units. 103 is a layout area. The layout work is performed in this area 103. Numeral 104 denotes a list of publication combinations. The ID number list and the specification information of the products arranged on the page displayed in the layout area 103 are displayed. By switching the tabs, the publishing sub-set list 104 becomes a temporary list that displays the ID number list and the specification information of the products temporarily stored as publishing candidates. Reference numeral 109 denotes a menu bar. An interface for calling a menu for performing various operations of the page layout device 4. For example, when performing a search on the database, "search" on the menu bar 9 is pulled down to call a search dialog.
[0018]
[Layout Work Flow] The outline flow of the layout work in the page layout apparatus 4 will be described below with reference to the flow chart of FIG. First, a medium on which a work is performed is selected, a classification tree is displayed, a classification and a page are selected, and a work target page is displayed in the layout area 103 <Display of FIG. Next, a search menu is selected from the menu bar 109, and a search condition is designated from a search condition input dialog <Fig. 6 (2) Product search>. By inputting necessary search conditions and clicking a search start button, the search request means 47 of the page layout device 4 requests the server device 2 for a search request. A record corresponding to the search condition is extracted by the server device 2 and the result is returned to the page layout device 4 <(3) DB search in FIG. The search result is displayed as a search list on the search result display screen <FIG. The operator selects a product to be used for the work target page by selecting necessary data for each product from the search result list <(5) Product selection>. In addition, the automatic layout conditions necessary for the automatic layout work such as the frame size at the time of layout are set (FIG. 6-6). Here, the publication size of the product data to be arranged is set. The specified frame size for each product is displayed for confirmation <FIG. When the layout button is selected after selecting the layout frame size, the page layout means 47 is called, and the layout process is performed on the work page according to the set conditions. At this time, when the number of product data to be arranged is large, the layout is performed over a plurality of pages. The result of the allocation is displayed in the layout area 103 <FIG. The above is the outline flow of the layout work.
[0019]
In addition, as a method of proceeding with the layout work, in addition to the above, a product is selected from a list of search results to associate the product with a page to be published first, and a frame size on each published page is determined later. The layout work can also be performed by the following procedure. Further, it is also possible to set all the frame sizes of a large number of product data for each product first, and to perform the allocation process to a plurality of pages at once. In this case, the frame of each page is calculated and automatically determined by the system. Hereinafter, each step will be described in more detail.
[0020]
[About Search Dialog] The product data necessary for performing the layout work is obtained from the product database by searching as follows. FIG. 7A shows a search dialog 110 called as a result of pulling down “search” on the menu bar 9. After specifying the item values and conditions (large, small, equal, etc.) for some items in the search dialog 110 and determining the search conditions, pressing the search button starts the search <FIG. ▼ product search>. The search result is displayed as shown in FIG. 7B by selecting the search result tab <FIG. 6 (4) Search result>. 7A and 7B can be easily switched by tab switching. By pressing the re-search button in FIG. 7B, the display returns to the search dialog 110 (FIG. 7A) in which the search conditions are cleared.
[0021]
[Page Template and Posting Frame Designation] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a method of determining a basic layout of an edited page based on the page template list 130 and the posting frame list 131 when performing an editing operation. The page template list 130 is a list of the layout types of the entire edit page prepared in advance. The operator can easily determine the layout of the frame of the entire edit page by selecting an appropriate pattern from the page template list 130. On the other hand, the placement frame list 131 is used when individually specifying a placement frame for each publication product. In any case, the frame of the edit page can be determined by selecting any type of each list and dragging and dragging it to the layout area 103. When the frame of the edit page is determined, the product data is selected and dragged and dragged to the layout area 103, whereby the product specification data is arranged in the frame according to the flow order specified as the page property, and the layout process is performed. You.
[0022]
[Referring to Other Media Data] When performing page layout work, layout data of a medium produced in the past can be used. Replace a part of the layout of the page created in the past with another product to create a new page page layout, or select product data from the list of small pages on the previously created page and create a new page page layout It can be performed.
[0023]
For that purpose, it is necessary to be able to simultaneously select the page of the medium produced in the past and the page currently being produced and proceed with the operation. The classification tree 101 of the layout screen 100 has a fixed classification tree display area 105. When a folder displayed in the classification tree 101 is selected and dragged and dropped, the selected folder is held as a fixed folder. . The page list display area 102 can switch and display pages included in the selected folder displayed in the classification tree 101 and pages included in the fixed folder by tab switching. Further, the publication sub-set list display area 104 has a function of temporarily retaining publication products and materials as a temporary list by switching tabs. Therefore, the tab switching between the fixed folder and the page list display area 102 and the function of the temporary list allow the user to simultaneously select two pages and smoothly proceed with the layout work.
[0024]
[Display and Output of Assignment Result] An example of assignment displayed in the layout area 103 is shown on the left side of FIG. The layout information of the allocated work page is registered in the publication information database 32 as new page information of the “medium-class” being worked. Further, the assignment information can be printed out to check the assignment result. This output can be used as an instruction for an operator of a DTP operation, which is a later process. The allocation result output unit 49 extracts a file of material data such as specification data and image data of the product from the product information database using the product key code linked to the product placement frame as a clue, and stores them in the publication frame in a predetermined format. Arrange them in a way. If you can check what kind of product, what size, and what kind of impression will be posted on the page of the output product that outputs the data composed in this way to a printer, if it can be communicated to DTP workers etc. Since it is good, no fine editing for adjusting the appearance of the character set or the like is performed.
[0025]
[Cooperation with DTP work] Also, from the allocation information, it is possible to create the text data to be used in the subsequent DTP work. The medium production data output means 50 extracts the specification data of the product from the product information database 31 based on the product key code linked to the product posting frame, creates and outputs text data having contents as shown in FIG. I do. This text data is given as character data 5 of the page layout system 1 disclosed in Patent Document 2 to the arranging means of the system, so that DTP editing data into which the specification data and the material data are automatically poured can be obtained. .
[0026]
The search request unit 46 executes a process of providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for providing a search dialog 110 and the like, and executes a client function of a database to the database management unit 20. The search request unit 46 uses existing software technology. It is feasible. The database management means 20 is a database engine part of commercially available database software.
[0027]
The page allocating unit 47 displays a GUI such as the layout screen 100 and the like, and displays a classification tree of the medium, information of pages included in the classification, a layout screen, a list of publications, etc., according to a menu operation of the operator. The result is displayed in the layout work area 103, and the function of calling the allocation information recording means 48, the allocation result output means 49, and the media production data output means 50 is executed as necessary. It can be realized by using. In particular, the process of displaying the page layout result in the layout work area 103 is performed by referring to the product information database 31 from the key code specified for the target publication frame, and converting the specification data and the material data file. Although they are taken out and automatically arranged in the frame according to a certain rule, it can be realized by using existing software technology.
[0028]
The allocation information recording means 48 may be realized by using existing software technology, since the allocation information may be recorded as text data having a certain format.
[0029]
The allocation result output means 49 extracts the specification data or the material data file for each of the pages in the specified output range from the publication frame on the page and the key code linked to the publication frame with reference to the product information database 31. The layout data created by automatically arranging the data in each frame in accordance with a predetermined rule is printed out. The existing software technology, character font technology, RIP (Raster Image Processing) technology, And a printer.
[0030]
The medium production data output means 50 can obtain the specification data by referring to the product information database 31 and create text data in a certain format, and can be realized by using existing software technology.
[0031]
The system 1 has been described above in detail as a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, a modified example of the system 1 will be described. 12 and 13 are diagrams illustrating a search dialog 200 different from the search dialog 110 shown in FIG. The upper part 201 of the search dialog 200 is the same as the interface for setting the search conditions of the search dialog 110. The lower part 202 of the search dialog 200 is an interface for setting an automatic layout pattern. When the right end button 202 is selected, several types of template patterns similar to those shown in the page template list 130 appear, and the operator selects one of them and sets a pattern for automatically laying out search results. I do. In FIG. 13, an arrangement pattern of “1/10 pattern” ‥ 2 rows × 5 columns is selected.
[0032]
That is, the search dialog 200 is a dialog for collectively setting search conditions, which are preparations for automatic layout processing, and specifying a template pattern for laying out search results. In the case of a medium such as a catalog that is configured by arranging all products that meet certain conditions in a fixed layout, an interface that can perform search condition setting and layout pattern setting in this way is provided. Use can promote work more efficiently. When the operator selects the setting button 203, the search condition set in 201 and the layout pattern specified in 202 are recorded as classification attribute information in the folder selected from the classification tree display area 101 at that time. When performing an automatic layout based on this classification attribute information, a screen interface is configured so as to start page layout processing by, for example, a right-click menu operation in a state where a folder in which the classification attribute information is recorded is selected. By this operation, the page allocating means 47 reads the classification attribute information, passes the contents to the search requesting means 46, causes the database management means 20 to execute a data search, and outputs the obtained search result to the function of the page allocating means 47. , Pages are automatically allocated for the required number of pages. Pages created by automatic layout processing by the operation of the page layout means 47 are successively added to the page list display area 102 as new pages.
[0033]
It is possible to configure the page allocating means 47 to operate in this manner by using existing software technology. According to this modification, in the flow chart of the layout operation shown in FIG. 6, a series of operations from <FIG. 6 (2) Product Search> to <FIG. Since the layout processing is automatically and continuously performed by the operation of starting the layout processing, the page layout work can be performed more simply and in a shorter time. Also, in an actual system, the search dialog 110 is used to manually perform the operations from <FIG. 6-2. Product Search> to <FIG. 6-8. It is also possible to configure so that the operator can select the procedure to be used and the procedure of the above-described modified example, and use the procedure as needed.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, the present invention has a remarkable effect of improving the efficiency of the page layout work and providing a media production system that can use the result of the page layout work smoothly in the subsequent DTP work without waste. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a media production information system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a dialog for setting a media attribute; FIG. 3 is a dialog for setting a classification attribute; FIG. 4 is a dialog for setting a page attribute; FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a layout screen 100 of the page layout apparatus 4; is there.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a general flow of a layout operation.
FIG. 7 is a search dialog 110.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a method of determining a basic layout of an edit page.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an allocation result and a usage form thereof.
FIG. 10 shows text data to be used in the subsequent DTP work obtained from the allocation information.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a publication information management database 32;
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a search dialog 200 that is different from the search dialog 110.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a search dialog 200.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 medium production information system 2 server device 3 storage device 4 page layout device 9 network 20 database management means 31 product information database 32 publication information management database 46 search request means 47 page allocation means 48 allocation information recording means 49 allocation result output means 50 Production data output means

Claims (3)

Media production information comprising: a server device that includes a product information database and a publication information management database and provides product information or page allocation information in response to a search request; and a page layout device that accesses the server device via a network. The system
The product information database is a database that records and manages a key code for specifying a product, specification data of the product, and material data related to the product according to a certain system,
The publication information management database is a database created and recorded by the medium production information system, which records and manages the allocation information for each page constituting the information medium according to a certain system,
The page layout device,
Search request means for receiving a search condition input from an operator and issuing a search request to the product information database to obtain necessary product specification data and material data;
Page allocation means for associating a product selected from the product information obtained as a result of the search with a specific page in the publication information management database, and setting the position and size on the page on which the selected product is to be published;
Allocation information recording means for registering the allocation information created by the page allocation means in the publication information management database,
Based on the layout information created by the page layout unit, a layout result output unit that prints out a layout result in which product specifications and material image data are arranged at a designated position size of the page, and a layout result generated by the page layout unit. And a medium production data output means for outputting data necessary for medium production. 2. The medium production information system according to claim 1, wherein the medium production data output unit outputs text data for flowing specification data as data necessary for the medium production. 3. A computer program describing a series of instructions that, when installed on a computer, cause the computer to operate as the page layout device according to claim 1 or 2.

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