JP2005044384A - Information processing program and layout information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing system capable of centrally controlling design layout information and control information without relying on an application, and executing the generation and the design editing of XML data in real time on a processing program of the XML data having paging information and a web browser. <P>SOLUTION: In this system capable of executing design editing on a web browser by using data without relying on an application, this information processing program is used for obtaining an input function for directly inputting document data and design editing information on the browser, a function for directly generating the inputted information in a web server as XML data being a markup description language, and a function for analyzing a design editing content from the generated XML data to display it on the browser, and for obtaining a function for generating design, layout and information contents as XML data in real time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing program for structured data such as XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and a layout information processing system using XML data.

  In recent years, document management based on the concept of structured documents has been performed in various organizations or companies including government offices.

  Structured document data is originally rooted in SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language), and is based on the concept of data exchange standards between different platforms. In SGML, document data, document structure and format, etc. are used. It was intended to provide a means of describing data that could be separated from such information and used equally from any environment.

  However, the description rules and conventions were so complicated and troublesome that they were not widely put into practical use. Under such circumstances, with the rapid spread of the Internet, HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) has spread rapidly, and XML (eXtensible Markup Language) has been born from this HTML.

  This XML was born by simplifying the SGML document structure definition function and taking over the usage environment on the HTML web, and as a standard for data exchange between different platforms in the Internet environment. It is a language that has attracted attention.

  The advantage of structured data such as XML is that the contents of a document can be structured and individual data contained in the document can be given meaning.

  In other words, the tagging having meaning is performed on the document, the document is decomposed into elements, and the individual element data is structured and expressed. Further, by defining the attribute of the element, the data for defining the document structure and the document data body can be handled separately.

  Utilizing the advantages of structured data such as XML, it has become possible to convert various application data to each other.

  Currently, data created by commercially available printing applications has a unique file format and is not compatible with other applications. For this reason, even though the layout to be expressed is the same, completely different data is created depending on the application to be used.

  Therefore, document management is performed as basic data, such as XML, in which structured data that can be handled separately from the document structure definition data and the document data body, and the necessary data for various application data from the structured data. Can be converted to each other, and each conversion program environment for that purpose is constructed. For example, there exists Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2000-76226.

  Also, there is a type in which the structured data is used to perform a typesetting process that is a pre-printing stage and style information is defined so that the structured data can be efficiently typeset. For example, there exists Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2000-339307.

In recent years, an open standard for vector graphics language called SVG (Scalable Vector Graphic), which is being developed by the working group of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), has been announced as a standard for graphic languages based on XML. ing. With it, you can design plain web commands with exciting high-resolution graphics, including sophisticated elements such as gradients, embedded fonts, transparency, animations, and filter effects.
JP 2000-76226 A JP 2000-339307 A

  However, when each application data is converted into structured data when document management is performed using structured data such as conventional XML, this is automatically performed by a conversion program. In the conversion process, the document body and design / layout information possessed by each application are extracted by analyzing the application data and rewritten into structured data.

  The purpose of this is to efficiently convert the created structured data into another application. Therefore, design layout information common to each application is extracted and converted into structured data.

  For this reason, it is possible to reversely convert the converted structured data into the original application. However, since information unique to the original application is not reversely converted, it cannot be restored to exactly the same data.

  For example, in the relationship between a designer and a typesetting operator in the printing industry, when the design data created by the design application used by the designer is imported into the typesetting application used by the typesetting operator, the structured data is used as design data and typesetting data. In some cases, it is used as intermediary data and is automatically formatted by program processing.

  In this case, all data necessary for typesetting is extracted from the design data using the structured data conversion program, converted to structured data, and the structured data for typesetting is further converted using the typesetting data conversion program. It is read into the typesetting application and automatic typesetting processing is performed.

  Here, the typesetting result is printed, calibrated, the structured data for typesetting is corrected according to this proofreading result, and it is reflected again in the typesetting data, and the school is completed. Although it is recorded as typesetting data and typesetting structured data, it is not reflected in the design data.

  Many of the above design data are frequently used repeatedly, such as catalogs and music lyrics. In such a case, it is possible to efficiently proceed by reusing the above completion data, but it is not possible to completely return to design data by the conventional conversion program concept that does not consider reverse conversion. Is possible.

  Conventionally, the structured data for typesetting as described above is managed by the printing company, and it is not possible for a designer who does not have detailed knowledge about specific typesetting to directly edit the structured data for typesetting. It was possible.

  In each printing process in the conventional printing industry, management information such as ordering / ordering / output / packing / delivery / production, and design / layout information are managed by separate applications. For this reason, there were problems such as mistakes due to lack of communication.

  The present invention has been made in view of the various problems described above, and is a data generation method capable of managing design / layout information without depending on applications, and centrally managing design / layout information and management information. An object of the present invention is to provide an XML data processing program having imposition information, and an information processing system capable of generating XML data and editing a design in real time on a web browser.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention takes out all the information of the application according to the interface by using an interface accessible from the outside for various design / layout applications, and extracts the extracted data. All application-independent structured data converted into structured data by a conversion program is used.

  The design / layout application may be any application having an interface accessible from the outside, such as word processing software, graphic software, or layout software.

  All information is extracted from data created by these applications by API (Application Programming Interface), and converted into structured data by a conversion program using C language, JAVA (registered trademark), or the like.

  The converted structured data includes all information of the file created by the application, such as layout information, document body, and information specific to the application. This is very different from conventional structured data.

  That is, conventionally, only necessary information is extracted from a target data file to generate structured data. For example, it is common to extract only data necessary for reading into other applications such as document body data and layout information.

  In the present invention, all information of a target data file, that is, all information recorded in the data file is written in structured data.

  Therefore, it is possible to manage this structured data as basic data, provide various information from this basic data to other application data, and reverse conversion from this structured data to the original application data is also possible. In addition, it is possible to completely restore the original file by this inverse transformation.

  This means that, for example, structured data can be created as described above from design software data used by a designer, this data can be managed as basic data, and necessary data can be provided to a typesetting application for typesetting. Yes, by performing the calibration work with this structured data, the structured data that has been completed can be inversely transformed and completely restored to the design software data. The restored design software data is It can be reused as complete data after school completion.

  The present invention also provides an input function for inputting document data and design editing information directly on a browser in a system capable of performing design editing on a web browser, and a markup description language for the input information. As the XML (eXtensible Markup Language) data, the function to generate directly on the web server and the function to analyze the design edit contents from the generated XML data and display them on the browser are realized. Is an information processing program for realizing a function of generating the data as XML data in real time.

  The input function can display an input frame using CGI or the like on a browser, input information contents from a user interface such as a keyboard, and design editing can be performed using a font selection window or a GUI. .

  The XML data generation function is such that the input information is analyzed by a conversion program, converted into structured XML data, and directly recorded on a web server.

  The browser display function causes the generated XML data to be analyzed on the design editing contents by an analysis program and displayed on the browser.

  In addition, the present invention outputs a function for editing XML data from a web browser to XML (eXtensible Markup Language) data based on the SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) format on the web server, and the result of the editing process. It is an information processing program for realizing the function to perform.

  The SVG is an open standard for a vector graphics language, a language for displaying two-dimensional graphics on the Web, and can handle three objects: vector graphics, image images, and text. When displaying the same graphic of different sizes, it was necessary to prepare different image data for each. However, in SVG, based on a single vector graphic, multiple graphics with different colors and textures can be used. It can be displayed.

  The function of editing XML data from SVG from a web browser is to edit the graphic while displaying it on the browser and checking it. The editing window is opened and the input is made from the user interface such as a keyboard or mouse. The function of correcting XML data by SVG recorded by the input is realized.

  The function of outputting the editing processing result is to analyze the XML data by the modified SVG and print it out, or to output the screen by a browser.

  The present invention is also an information processing program for realizing a function of adding process management information and EC information to XML data including design layout information.

  The process management information is management information for managing the progress status in each printing process, and the EC information is electronic commerce information, such as ordering information such as an orderer, order contents, and delivery date. .

  By adding these information as structured data to the XML data including the design / layout information, design / layout information, management information, and order information can be centrally managed. -Order information can be confirmed along with layout information, and mistakes due to insufficient communication can be prevented. In addition, progress information can be added in each process, and all processes can be managed with one data.

  Also, the present invention is a function for analyzing XML data having print information and management information, extracting data that meets an arbitrary condition, generating XML data arranged as one, and outputting it to a printing unit It is an information processing program for realizing.

  Since printing information and management information are included in the XML data, conditions are set and extracted from a plurality of pieces of XML data based on these pieces of information, and imposition data by XML is created, and the printing means is used. Can be output. For example, the efficiency of the post-process can be improved by imposing in order of early delivery date or imposing the same color together.

The present invention also provides an XML database in which the XML data shown above is recorded, data editing means for adding, modifying, and deleting the XML data recorded in the database, and the XML data in its design. A web server provided with display data generation means for generating data that can be displayed on the browser of the user terminal device according to the layout information;
A browser for displaying display data generated from the XML data connected to the web server via a network line, and editing command information for operating data editing means of the web server; A layout information processing system having a user terminal device provided with an editing operation means for transmitting to the editing means of the web server, and capable of directly editing the XML data from a web browser of the user terminal device It is.

  The data editing means is an API or the like that searches XML data stored in the XML database, analyzes the XML data, and adds, corrects, or deletes data. A program that analyzes command information and adds, corrects, or deletes the XML data in accordance with the command.

The display data generation means is a program for analyzing the print design information included in the XML data and generating HTML data that can be displayed on the browser.

  The editing operation means is a program or the like for generating editing operation command information for operating the data editing means of the web server from the editing information input through the user interface and transmitting the information to the editing means.

  Therefore, the XML data on the web server can be displayed on the user terminal device according to the design / layout information, and the information of the XML data can be directly edited in real time.

  As described above, the present invention described in detail has the following effects.

1) Advantages of document management of structured data that can be completely restored to the original application data by reverse conversion using shared data that does not depend on the application, using all the information of each application data as structured data. You can edit and output with the application data that you are familiar with.

2) XML data and SVG data can be created and edited directly on the web server by operation from the browser.

3) By adding process management information and EC information to XML data, it is possible to unify all the management of the printing process and prevent communication errors.

4) Since the management information is included together with the design / layout information, the imposition work by programming can be automated.

5) The design can be confirmed and corrected from the remote location using the Internet.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a process of generating application-independent data according to the present invention. In this flow, the application will be described using Quark XPress, a layout software of Quwalk Japan, as an example, using a business card design example.

  Create application-independent XML data from business card data created with Quark XPress.

S-1) Create business card data with Quark Xpress.

S-2) Elements and attributes for exporting business card data created with Quark Xpress to XML data are defined by DTD (Document Type Definition).

  For design / layout information that is common to other applications, a common tag is set. For Quark Xpress-specific information, a unique tag or comment is set.

S-3) According to the definition of DTD, a conversion program for writing all the information contained in the business card data of Quark Xpress to XML data by Apple Script is created.

S-4) The conversion program is executed.

S-5) XML data is written out.

  FIG. 2 shows the written XML data example and DTD data example.

  In this way, all information that can be extracted from Quark Xpress files is written to XML data by Apple Script, so by using the above conversion program, reverse conversion is performed to completely convert Quark XPress business card data. Can be restored.

  Also, when converting to other applications, all the information is included in this XML data, so you can use the necessary information in other applications by creating a conversion program for each application. Can do.

  Conventionally, in the use of XML data, the concept as a standard for data exchange between different platforms has been centered, and many attempts have been made to extract only data common to each application and use it as XML data. Therefore, it becomes a problem which information is used as common information, and the idea of efficiently using it in accordance with the environment to be used is the mainstream.

  In the present invention, the viewpoint is different from the conventional way of thinking. First, there is data created by an arbitrary application of the user, this data is basic data, and the information content is exactly the same as this data. However, XML data with a different format is created, and this XML data is used as a standard data for data exchange through a conversion program for each application.

  In this way, by making the XML data exactly the same as the application data used by the user, it can be completely restored from the XML data to the original application data, so document management with easy-to-manage XML data, editing, It can be done with a familiar application, and can realize document management with XML structure without being aware of XML.

  FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of a design editing system using XML data according to the present invention.

  The server machine 1 is connected to a user terminal device 4 having a browser 3 via the Internet 2. The server machine 1 is provided with an input / output management unit 6 and a data management unit 7 for transmitting and receiving XML data 5 to and from the user terminal device 4 via the Internet 2. The data management unit 7 includes XML data 5 For generating XML on the web server, XML data editing unit 7b for editing the XML data 5 on the web server, and displaying the XML data 5 on the browser 3 of the user terminal device 4 And a display data processing unit 7c for generating the display data.

  The data management unit is connected to an XML database 8 storing XML data 5 and an SVG database 9 storing SVG XML data 5a.

  In the design editing system having such a configuration, when the XML data 5 is created from the user terminal device 4, the following operation is performed.

1) The server machine 1 is accessed from the browser 3 of the user terminal device 4. The input / output management unit 6 of the server machine 1 displays an input screen for data input on the user terminal device 4.

2) When design data is input from the user terminal device 4 according to the input screen, the design data information is transmitted to the server machine 1 and the design data information is transmitted to the XML data generation unit 7a of the data management unit 7.

3) The XML data generation unit 7a analyzes the design data information, generates XML data 5, and records it in the XML database 8.

4) The generated XML data 5 is embedded in HTML data that can be displayed by the browser 3 in accordance with the design data information in the display data processing unit 7 c and sent to the input / output management unit 6.

5) HTML data in which the XML data 5 is embedded is transmitted from the input / output management unit 6 to the user terminal device 4 and displayed on the browser 3.

  With this editing system, arbitrary XML data can be created directly on the web server.

  Next, an editing operation of data stored in the XML database 8 or the SVG database 9 of the server machine 1 will be described.

1) As described above, the server machine 1 is accessed from the browser 3 of the user terminal device 4 to display the data input screen.

2) Open the data call screen from the data input screen, and select the target SVG data 5 a from the SVG database 9 of the server machine 1.

3) The selected SVG data 5 a is converted into data that can be displayed by the browser 3 by the display data processing unit 7 c and transmitted to the user terminal device 4.

4) The target SVG data 5a is displayed on the browser 3 of the user terminal device 4, and an arbitrary operation is performed on the display data from the operation window on the input screen to edit the SVG data 5a.

5) Edit command information is transmitted to the server machine 1 by an operation from the operation window.

6) The server machine 1 sends the edit command information to the XML data editing unit 7b of the data management unit 7.

7) The XML data editing unit 7b analyzes the editing command information and performs an editing process on the target data in the SVG database 9.

  As described above, the XML data stored on the web server can be directly manipulated and edited arbitrarily.

  Next, a design editing system utilizing an actual XML database according to the present invention in the print design process will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic flow of the print design system according to the present invention. This embodiment is an example of designing a business card.

1) A template design is made in advance by a typesetting application or the like, and the design data 10 is converted into XML data 11a and recorded in the design template database 11.

2) An arbitrary template is selected from the design template database 11 and displayed on the web browser 12 of the client terminal device using a program such as JAVA (registered trademark) applet 12a via a network line such as the Internet.

3) Here, the client inputs characters and modifies the design.

4) At the same time, necessary data such as image data 13 and customer data 14 are taken in.

5) When the design is completed, this data is converted into a dedicated XML design database 15 and recorded.

6) The XML design data 15a is converted into typesetting application data 10 and printing 16 is performed.

  In this way, since the design can be corrected and necessary data can be fetched from the web browser 12, the conventional proofreading work by printing becomes unnecessary, and the correction can be performed directly from the browser 12 by the client. The correction work from the ground can be performed in real time.

  Next, a description will be given of a printing system using XML data in which process information and EC information are added to the XML data, and using the XML data.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a print management system that centrally manages from ordering to a printing process using XML data.

  A print order is placed from the web browser 21 of the client 20, the web server 23 is accessed via the Internet 22, and the order information is recorded as XML data in the order management DB 25 via the access management server 24.

  The client 20 performs ordering, editing, and proofreading using XML data by a program 26 such as a JAVA (registered trademark) applet distributed from the web server 23.

  The layout data 27 that has become XML data from the client 20 is sent to the printing process 29 via the printing process management server 28, and necessary printing images 30 and the like are taken in, converted into data for typesetting, and printed. The

  At this time, order information (EC information), printing process information (process management information), and the like are recorded in the XML data. By performing program processing based on these information, layout data in any XML can be obtained. Automatic imposition processing can be performed by extracting the data into one piece of XML data. In addition, by adding progress information as XML data for each process, the printing process can be centrally managed and communication errors can be prevented.

[Practical example]
Although the evolution and spread of XML are remarkable, since SGML, the printing industry has not responded sufficiently, and even today, XML ripening is not sufficient. Rather, the entry from the software industry is remarkable, and the printing industry is lagging behind in the transition from paper to digital media, especially Internet media.

  There may be various reasons for the delay, but it seems that the printing industry has little awareness of its lifeline. What is produced by the current XML fantasies is far from the printing world (although it has a lot to do with it in the end), digital broadcasting, It is a world such as a map.

  On the other hand, XML is not used (although I want to use it), but the world that is very close to printing, such as E-learning and Internet catalogs, is entering its maturity period. Nevertheless, there are many complaints about the expression in the above world.

What about the practical application of XML in the printing world?
As predicted by the advent of DTP, the photosetting industry is almost completely abolished, and the platemaking industry is also in progress. Many related material vendors are required to restructure sales products and strategies. Furthermore, CTP and on-demand printing (no printing) are also becoming more pervasive. And the advent of the Internet era has definitely reduced the total amount of paper printing.

  However, on the other hand, there is a situation where paper is overflowing due to the spread of ultra-high-speed office printers at low cost. This ultra-high-speed printer has developed to a performance almost equal to that of an offset printing press. As a result, it has begun to build various on-demand publishing worlds in combination with LAN and the Internet.

  The form has also started to be switched to conventional carbon paper (written by the printing industry), high-speed printer, and electronic form.

  With the diversification of media and increasing needs for individual expression, the total amount of expression (validation) has increased (should be).

  There is at least a new expression that changes the form of paper printing. A typical example is an I-mode dictionary that simply replaces traditional English beans.

How is XML involved in this printing industry and who is responsible for the combination of XML and printing? We examined the reality of XML from the standpoint of printing and expression.

(1) The current state of the XML standard XML is being used in a wide variety of situations. As already mentioned, there are more e-Business and business system-related than printing / expression, but I would like to take a quick look at the actual status of the printing-related standards as well as the basic XML standards.

1) Basic specifications
XML 1.0 (recommendation XML basic specification), Namespaces in XML (recommendation extension specification for mixing multiple XML data definitions), XML Schema-Primer / Structure / Datatypes (recommendation XML data schema specification), DOM Level 1 ( Recommendation Application interface specification that operates XML), XSLT 1.0 (Recommendation XML conversion specification), XSL 1.0 (Recommendation XML styling specification), XPath 1.0 (Recommendation XML data path specification specification), XLink 1.0 (Recommendation XML document) Link specification), SOAP 1.1 (lightweight protocol for information exchange in a decentralized, distributed environment) CSS2.1 (recommended language for adding style information such as recommendation HTML and XML), XHTML 1.0 (HTML4.0 for recommendation XML) The XML standard as various applications has been built and operated on the basis.

2) Electronic commerce
RosettaNet, cXML (Ariba), xCBL (CommerceOne) as the industry-specific e-commerce along with general standards of ebXML (UN / CEFACT & OASIS) / UBL (OASIS) / BizTalk Framework (Microsoft) / CII / XML V1.1 (ECOM) ), CIDX (CIDX.org), aecXML (IAI-NA.org for architecture / civil engineering / construction industry), and FpML (financial product FpML.org) started operation.

3) Other fields ・ Media / Image field VoiceXML (VoiceXML Forum), SMIL, SVG, Mobile SVG.
・ News distribution / broadcasting field NewsML V1.0, BML (BS digital broadcasting).
・ Medical, scientific, travel information products / services, business information / personal information, maps / geography, production planning, accounting / securities reports / stock transactions, architecture / civil engineering, textiles, electronic tickets, etc. is there.

Details of this information include W3C (http://www.w3.org/), XML Consortium (Japan) (http://www.xmlconsortium.org/) and XML related information site (@IT) (http http://www.atmarkit.co.jp/fxml/index.html).
4) Printing-related standards The traditional DocBook DTD since SGML and Dublin Core (DC) for document metadata have been deeply used, but Japan's own DTD and electronic book support has also entered the international diffusion stage. Yes. The main items are listed below.

  Document type definition (DTD) for electronic official documents, XML DTD for academic papers, JepaX V0.9 Electronic Publishing / Japan Electronic Publishing Association (Japan), Open eBOOK / Open Electronic Book OEBPS (Open eBook Publication Structure) v1.0.1 Electronic format Standards and their promotion organizations (MS, Adobe, etc.) / Open eBook Forum are used in practice.

In addition, what should not be overlooked are expression standards and field-specific standards established by the W3C. These are duplicated but are listed below.
XSLT 1.0 (Recommendation XML Transformation (Transformation specification)), XSL 1.0 (Recommendation XML styling specification), CSS2.1 (Recommended HTML and XML style information addition language), XSL Formatting Objects (Recommendation candidate XML layout, Format specification), XKP (GAIJI exchange specification), SMIL (Syncronized Multimedia Integration Language recommendation Multimedia integration and synchronization), SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics recommendation vector graphics), CML (Chemical Markup Language V1.0 / V1.01 Chemistry) The printing environment such as molecular formula description language (MathML) and MathML (recommended mathematical formulas) can be said to be the stage just before full arming in XML.

And don't miss the e-learning standards that are booming today. Various standards exist, but it is expected that they will eventually be unified by SCORM.

(2) Request for a printing system fused with XML
1) Changes on the customer side Practical use of XML in the printing industry is beginning to penetrate deeply and widely, although it is from some advanced companies. One of the driving factors is the flow of application and business change at the client company accompanying the formulation of the XML standard.

  Examples of changes in customer locations include: Manufacturers: Internal manual production departments using XML to improve efficiency (seconded from printing companies), Banks: Manual (regulation collection) creation department, XML introduction (until now) SI entrusted to a printing company), Life Insurance: The articles of incorporation were close to XML with the cooperation of the printing company. Currently, efficient creation of forms and cost reduction are issues (XML electronic forms). It is only necessary that customer information appears on the company's high-speed printer without printing. Listed companies in general: Securities reports etc. are created in the company's Word, and we want to implement an early information disclosure system to shareholders in XML. Reducing catalog creation costs is also an issue.

  I would like to realize the data distribution with PDM (in-house parts management DB) that I would like to use pasting database data from the printing company and use it in DB or WEB. I want to use WEB in addition to printing for advertising. I want to use printing and WEB as one source. The obvious changes are starting.

2) Efforts by the printing industry The XML standard has already been put into practical use in each field as described above. In the printing field, practical use is progressing in advanced fields as well as standardization. It should be noted that the leader is not the printing industry, but a venture made by a trading company, SI, or software company, or each company itself. This may highlight the technical problem of the printing side, but I would like to see the actual situation in (3) from the viewpoint of “rushing the fusion of printing technology and XML”.

(3) Printing tool that fuses with XML
3) Input tool The first problem in creating an XML document is how to create XML. Many people involved in printing add solid text or simple tags when entering text to add tags. Or it would be common to use OCR to create solid text. Such work is efficient for a printing company to entrust the creation of initial XML data at the start of XML conversion, but cannot be applied to daily work at an information source. Since the information source input is an inevitable flow, the printing side also needs careful handling.

● Dedicated editors for XML are sold by various companies, but all require certain technical skills. XML-Square (Documentor-TM) that the applicant has shared with Altech Co., Ltd. has also exceeded 1000 licenses. The printing company itself needs to make evaluations according to the purpose of use, and propose to customers and work substitution.

● Word
At present, the most demanded by users is whether the tools used in daily work (at the information generation source) will be XML as it is.
Word is a typical tool, and it is the most easy-to-use XML editor if it is used as a template under certain usage restrictions. Since the Word template needs to be converted into a template according to the DTD to be used and a conversion converter must be incorporated inside, the application cannot be sold to the general public. However, since it is a tool customized for the company, it is easy to use, easy to change, and has many advantages for many users. In the future, the evolution of Word itself will progress on an XML basis, so it is advantageous to be familiar with it.
Applicants provide many Word templates as requested by many industries and departments. Some advanced templates integrate design tools and XML input tools.

● Conversion from existing data Although not assumed in the future information source input, XML conversion of existing data remains an important issue. Data such as Word in the information source can be converted at 60-90% level. The problem is conversion from arbitrarily created printing data, but the conversion specification devised by the applicant allows conversion at 60-80%. Also, 100% conversion is possible depending on the design of the XML data reuse system. (See “Reform XML Structure-Design XML” below.) This feature should be good news for printing companies struggling with the current workflow.
The conversion tools that have been put to practical use so far are
There are existing Word → XML and existing Quark → XML, but conversion from most DTPs is possible.

● Individual issues It is also a problem to deal with issues that you want to solve at the time of input, such as external characters, mathematical formulas, chemical formulas, ruby, phonetic symbols, side lines and side points. XML-Square (Documentor-TM) and Word editor can solve the problem under certain conditions.

2) Various formatters Next is the problem of expressing and publishing XML data. Although there are various ways of thinking about formatters, you should understand that screen display and printing are also printing.

● Use of Internet browser By making the best use of XSL, the display in XML IE can approach the Quark level. It is important to master HTML and XSL. If XSL at the Quark level can be expressed in the browser, proofing can be performed before DTP composition, correction is easy, and significant cost and time savings can be expected. XSL (WEB) calibration instead of PDF calibration will change the future workflow. Page control is also possible for output to the printer, and depending on the level of required quality, it is possible to say proof paper, block prints, and printed matter with this.
The improvement of browser display quality shows not only proofreading but also the possibility of new business centered on the Internet. Isn't the printing industry angry if we change the philosophy of printing in display and printing and multimedia?

● Display use of the dedicated editor itself Since the applicant's XML-Square (Documentor-TM) has its own display function, it can be already confirmed as a formatter at the time of input. However, there is no great expectation for output.

● Use of dedicated formatter “XSL Formatter”, which implements the printing standard XSL-FO, has reached a practical level. Applicants have developed a typesetting engine that can be used with their own WEB servers according to customer needs. In addition, it seems that new formatters will appear in the future. I would like the printing side to use it with the spirit of creating a new formatter.
For E-learning, the display with the original aura ring tool is booming with the flash at the top. Sufficient attention and response are required.
As a result, it can be assumed that workflow changes and business flow transformations as described in the browser section will be promoted.

● Use of Word As a formatter, it will be a favorite to do with XSL in Word. The advantage of being a confirmation view as well as an input tool is also effective as a convenience that is completed with a single tool. Templates are increasingly important as input tools.
As the formatter of XML data created by other input tools, it has the same flexibility, expressive power, and quality as DTP.
The applicant has provided a formatter integrated with the previous input tool or an output print formatter from XMLDB, and has achieved a significant cost reduction.

● Use of DTP The formatter's favorite from the printing side is still DTP. DTP is still an important formatter for high quality and flexibility. Since 2000, the applicant has been active at the XML Joint Development Center centered on DTP automatic typesetting at eight companies. The result came out as XML-DTP automatic typesetting of education and participation data.
However, the reality using DTP as a formatter is not an effective system as a formatter unless the current calibration workflow is changed.

In the first place, the bad practice of making corrections after becoming DTP in the Japanese print creation workflow, and then making corrections after becoming film, continues to be a drag on the spread of DTP and XML. Is to admit.
The bidirectional converter developed by the applicant can accept the correction at the DTP stage as a tool for creating the final XML data. From a workflow that uses DTP as a formatter, it is not efficient to put a deficit here, but it just confirms that it is the workflow as well.
* It is not permissible to make corrections at the film stage for any reason. This is a strong proposal from the printing industry to information senders.

Although it seems that the technical response on the printing side is almost ready in this digital age, the workflow including the customer side has not been changed yet. It should be seen that this creates unnecessary costs for both parties and makes it difficult to develop information in the IT era.
As a tool for creating XML data, it is acceptable to add deficit correction to DTP, but DTP correction is inefficient when considering galley, film, printing plate, and subsequent processes. In addition, the higher the quality (subjective), the lower the automation rate. Even under such unfavorable conditions, practical application of XML automatic typesetting is surely progressing.
The applicant can make an automatic typesetting system with most DTPs such as Quark, Indesign, EDIAN, FrameMaker, BookStudio, etc.
The problem is that it is too costly because it can only be realized individually. It is necessary to work after confirming the cost effectiveness.

(4) Expanded use of XML for printing Changing the structural philosophy of XML creates the possibility of significant business innovation.

1) XML imposition The design XML proposed by the applicant (see paragraph (5)) is the typesetting data itself. From the printing side, if you use typesetting data, you can come up with as many ideas as you want to use from the conventional work. One of them is XML imposition. Because it is XML data, imposition is possible without choosing a computer and choosing a place regardless of a place. The applicant has succeeded in the practical application of small-size data with many aspects. See also the section on WEB composition.

2) Issuance of job tickets When the input system is digitized, the use of XML will further expand. At the time of input, the personal property is automatically acquired from the DB, or if the property is not registered, the related personal attribute can be acquired by inputting the property. In ordering, the individual, attributes, and ordering information can be issued as a job ticket linked to the actual product.

3) Progress / Production Management System When the job ticket and production flow are digitized (XML), it is very easy to build a progress / production management system.

4) Revolution of editing system Systemization will proceed to fields that were previously considered difficult to digitize, such as planning, manuscript creation, parts creation management, and table layout.
The preparation of the XML input tool described above is very effective for manuscript creation. As for parts management and management of created data, the “content management system” is operated via the WEB. If the creation progress can be managed visually, each site can share the progress of the pedestal management, making it easier to plan after the subsequent process.
* Applicant plans to release "Project M", an integrated production and management system specializing in magazine editing. This is a system that can consistently produce everything from XML input, planning, parts management, progress management, table layout management, XML automatic composition, and WEB distribution.

5) Integration of ordering, customer management, printing plate, and film management I don't know that the evolution of digitalization will stop. If the production method is converted to XML, the means of ordering with customers will also change. In extreme cases (although DTP is already), it is even possible to have the customer produce it. 6) Refer to the case of WEB composition. The long-awaited customer management system can be created automatically, and version management can even be linked to customer needs.
* ASPs that provide only this part as a service business have also started activities.

6) Printing and typesetting in the Internet age The idea of design XML directly opened the era of WEB online typesetting.
Currently, the “business card ordering and production system” developed and delivered by the applicant has a system that allows customers to do business card design and production directly on the WEB. When the order is confirmed, the Quark production is actually completed, so you can move the on-demand press in time for delivery. Since there is a job ticket, it is possible to cause the DB to calculate the most efficient combination of what order, how many sheets, and how many sheets should be printed at what timing. Since the production responsibility lies with the customer, there is no need to worry about mistakes.

This development system is not limited to business cards. In principle, even a catalog can be produced as a catalog. We have entered an era where the dream system can be realized depending on the wisdom of the producer and the customer.
Recently, individual needs have become particularly strong and the demand for on-demand printing has increased, but it cannot be addressed without a dramatic change in the information creation system. XMLDB is an essential prerequisite for on-demand. And it will be a sufficient condition that it can actually be produced on WEB.

(5) The concept of “Design XML” with a change in understanding of the XML structure itself The degree of freedom and expressiveness are dramatically improved by changing the concept of the XML document that has been shifted from the conventional structuring concept to the usage system. it can.
Theoretically, what was supposed to separate “structure” and “expression” is the idea that it is easier to use a mixture of structure and expression in the main XML. This is called “Design XML”.

Specifically, if the word input and converted to XML is reused and Word is used, the idea is that the context and design information may be mixed in the XML. The same goes for Quark.
As a result, what is convenient is that it is a bidirectional converter of Word-XML-Word and Quark-XML-Quark. Since it is an XML that contains design information, it is natural that the typesetting can be reproduced without any changes.

Then, does the problem occur when the usage system is different? Design-related information can be clearly distinguished from XML tags and contexts, and in ordinary simple XML, there is no choice but to search manually and then perform manual work. Can also be used. In short, it is important to create the richest XML that is captured inside the XML without dropping information added manually by humans.
Even when used in different usage systems, the design information works effectively as conversion information.

The fixed concept of separation of “structure” and “expression” is
Separated from the XML holding “structure” and “expression” at the time of use.
In other words, nothing has happened, but it was essentially a reconfirmation of the principle itself, and it was only necessary to understand the principle flexibly.
In the first place, in the unused (static) stage, no matter what the data is, the data itself has no meaning, and only when it is used, the meaning as data occurs. If it can be separated at the moment of use, the principle of XML is protected. In the first place, the inconvenient notion that it must be protected because it is a “principle” is the principle that XML wants to abandon most.

(6) Summary of the practical application of XML The XML approach, which has become a big trend as a whole, is an effort to realize transactions centered on EC and the distribution of key information on the basis of XML.
On the other hand, the expression system XML has been postponed due to difficulty in realization and difficulty in consensus on the landing point (subjectivity).
However, the appearance of XSL and various expression realization tools have come to implement support for metadata such as XML, and the problem of expression technology has greatly advanced. At the same time, the problem of the business environment has further promoted XML, DB, and automation.

1) Attainment stage of XML expression-XML expression in WEB to typesetting level-XML conversion specification established from typesetting editing system-Layout information for typesetting editing is also converted to XML (design XML)
-Complete display of the formatted result with WEB The MAC formatted result is visible even if it is not PDF with WIN.
・ Each company and various applications are not compatible with XML.

2) Even if there are problems outside the technology that impede the spread, and the spread of DTP, the printing industry has experience in struggling to create complete manuscripts. However, even DTP, where such problems occurred frequently, eventually became established as complete data.
The spread of XML has workflow issues beyond DTP. Although I know the production technology and flow based on XML, I have no choice but to proceed while incorporating problems such as the calibration system. Whenever a new workflow is used, the pains of birth can be solved with the accompaniment.

3) Pay attention to the development of new standards and consider practical application XML will definitely evolve from the age of printing to the age of knowledge representation. Topic maps have already appeared and usage technologies are beginning to be born. Care must always be taken in the development and practical application of new standards. And you should consider application in your company.
Although I didn't go into details this time, the spread of E-learning shows a new form of expression and use beyond printing. SCHEMA, TOPIC MAP, WEB SERVICE, RDF, XML SCHEMA, SVG, XSLT, CONTENT MANAGEMENT, etc. are the main keywords.

It is a flowchart which shows the production | generation process of the application independent data by this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of XML data written by the conversion program by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the design edit system using the XML data by this invention. It is a figure which shows the schematic flow of the printing design system by this invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of a print management system that centrally manages from ordering to a printing process according to the present invention using XML data. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Server machine 2 Internet 3 Browser 4 User terminal device 5 XML data 6 Input / output management part 7 Data management part 7a Data generation part 7b Data editing part 7c Display data processing part 8 XML database 9 SVG database 10 Design data 11 Design template database 12 Web browser 13 Image data 14 Customer data 15 Design database 20 Client 21 Web browser 22 Internet 23 Web server 24 Access management server 26 Program 27 Layout data 28 Printing process management server 29 Printing process 30 Printing image

Claims (5)

In a system that allows design editing on a web browser,
An input function for inputting information from a browser, a function for causing the web server to directly generate the input information as XML (eXtensible Markup Language) data as markup description language, and design editing information from the XML data The function to analyze and display in the browser,
An information processing program for realizing a function for generating design, layout, and information contents as XML data in real time.   For XML (eXtensible Markup Language) data based on SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) format on a web server, a function of editing the XML data from a web browser and a function of outputting the editing process result are realized. Information processing program.   An information processing program for realizing a function of adding process management information and EC information to XML data including design layout information.   Information for realizing the function of analyzing the XML data having the print information and the management information, extracting the data that meets the arbitrary conditions, generating the impositioned XML data together, and outputting it to the printing means Processing program. An XML database in which the XML data according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is recorded;
Data editing means for adding, modifying, and deleting XML data recorded in the database;
A web server provided with display data generation means for generating data that can be displayed on the browser of the user terminal device according to the print design information, the XML data;
A browser connected to the web server via a network line and displaying display data generated from the XML data on a screen;
A user terminal device provided with editing command information generating means for generating editing command information for operating the data editing means of the web server,
A layout information processing system capable of editing the XML data from a web browser of a user terminal device.

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