JP2007164272A - Editing device, editing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To fascilitate a user to automatically change the number of pages of an electronic album by proper layout without changing the number of the image data of the electronic album without sparing time and effort. <P>SOLUTION: This editing device holds a layout table in which the total number of images arranged in the centerfold of the electronic album and a layout type to be used by each page are made to correspond to each other and an image distribution region for distributing an image to each page. The layout type to be used by each page is determined, and the image data arranged before the change of the number of pages are rearranged in each page of the electronic album after the change of the number of pages. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an editing apparatus, method, and program for creating a so-called electronic album in which contents are arranged on a plurality of pages.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an electronic album editing program for executing editing by arranging contents such as image data and character string data in a layout having a plurality of pages on a personal computer (PC). (See Patent Document 1).

In the electronic album editing program, first, the user selects image data to be arranged on the page. Then, the user moves the image data to an arbitrary position on the page, and arranges the image with a free layout. Alternatively, the user manually selects one of several standard layout candidates for each page and arranges the image data on the page accordingly.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-082128

  However, in the conventional electronic album, when it is desired to change the number of pages of the electronic album that has been created once, it is necessary for the user to add and delete pages and then lay out the image that was originally arranged again. In this case, the user has to perform operations such as adding and deleting pages, selecting image data to be moved, and rearranging image data on another page, which is complicated. It was.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic album editing apparatus, an electronic album editing method, and a program thereof that can change the number of pages without causing the user to perform a complicated operation of moving an image.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is an editing apparatus for editing a multi-page album in which content is arranged, and an input means for inputting an instruction to change the number of pages of the album in accordance with an external operation. Storage means for storing information on the contents arranged in the album in response to input from the input means, change means for changing the number of pages of the album in response to input from the input means, and pages by the change means It is characterized by comprising arrangement means for rearranging the content using the content information stored in the storage means in the album whose number has been changed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to change the number of pages of an electronic album without changing the number of image data without taking time and effort of moving image data and adding / deleting pages.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them. Another object of the present invention is to supply a recording medium recording software program codes for realizing the functions of the embodiments described later to the system and apparatus, and the CPU of the system or apparatus stores the program codes stored in the recording medium. This can also be achieved by executing read. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the embodiments described later, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD, etc. Can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read out by the computer, not only functions of the embodiments described later are realized, but an OS or the like running on the computer performs actual processing based on an instruction of the program code. It includes cases where it is performed.

  Further, consider a case where the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. In this case, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing. Needless to say, this process includes the case where the functions of the embodiments described later are realized.

<Example 1>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of an object editing system according to the embodiment. An object refers to data arranged in an electronic album or the like, for example, image data or character string data. The image data referred to in this embodiment includes not only high resolution image data for use in printing but also low resolution image data such as thumbnails for use in display on a display or the like.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an image that is converted into an electrical signal as an image information and subjected to predetermined image processing, and then recorded as digital information in a memory or reproduced on an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). It is an input device. This image input device may be a digital still camera that can capture still images and record them as still image data, a digital video camera that can capture moving images and record them as moving image data, or a scanner that reads a document. Reference numeral 102 denotes a user personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “user PC”), which is connected to the image input apparatus 101 via a data transfer interface for transferring recorded image data. The data transfer interface may be a wired interface represented by USB (Universal Sal Serial BuS) or IEEE1394, or a wireless interface represented by IrDA or Bluetooth. Image data photographed by the image input apparatus 101 and stored as digital information is stored in an HDD (hard disk drive) of the user PC 102 to be described later via a data transfer interface. Regarding image data transfer from the image input device 101 to the user PC 102, image data stored in the information storage device in the image input device 101 in accordance with an instruction from the OS or dedicated software installed in the user PC 102. May be transferred at once. In some cases, the transfer command sent from the image input apparatus 101 causes the OS or dedicated software of the user PC 102 to secure a data recording area in the information recording unit of the user PC 102 and transfer the image data.

  On the user PC 102, a browser having a standard protocol capable of transferring information on the Internet 103 can operate. With this browser, a web site such as the photo site 104 or the print site 107 described later is accessed using a standard protocol such as the http protocol. The contents of the website can be displayed on the screen in accordance with the web information created in a description language such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or XML (extensible Markup Language). A photo site 104 provides Web information that can be browsed by the user PC 102. The photo site 104 includes a template storage unit 105 and provides a template for an electronic album used in an album editing program that operates on the user PC 102. The user can access the photo site 104 by operating the user PC 102 to download the template for the electronic album to the user PC 102 and store it in the HDD. The photo site 104 has an image data storage unit 109. The user can receive a service for downloading the image data in the image data storage unit 109 to the user PC 102 and storing it in the HDD.

  A printer 106 is connected to the user PC 102 via a wired cable or wireless communication. In response to an instruction from the user PC 102, the edited electronic album is printed.

  Reference numeral 107 denotes a print site. The user can request the print site 107 to print and book the electronic album that has been edited via the Internet 103. Although one print site is shown in FIG. 1, there are cases where the number of print sites is more than this, and the number is not limited.

  Reference numeral 108 denotes a printing machine, which executes an edited album printing process in response to an instruction from the print site 107.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus corresponding to the user PC 102 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 201 denotes a display device, which will be described using a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) as an example in this embodiment. On the display screen, for example, a document being edited, a figure, an image, and other editing information, icons, messages, menus, and other user interface information are displayed. Reference numeral 202 denotes a VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) on which image data to be displayed on the display screen of the CRT 201 is drawn. The image data generated in the VRAM 202 is transferred to the CRT 201 according to a predetermined rule, whereby the image data is displayed on the CRT 201. A bit move unit (BMU) 203 controls data transfer between memories (for example, the VRAM 202 and another memory) and data transfer between the memory and each I / O device (for example, the network interface 211). . Reference numeral 204 denotes a keyboard having various keys for the user to instruct input of character string data and the like. Reference numeral 205 denotes a pointing device (hereinafter referred to as “PD”), which is used, for example, by the user to instruct selection / editing of an object displayed on the display screen of the CRT 201. Reference numeral 206 denotes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The CPU 206 controls each device connected to the CPU device based on a control program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 207, a hard disk, or a floppy (registered trademark) disk. A ROM 207 holds data such as various control programs. Reference numeral 208 denotes a RAM (Random Access Memory), which has a work area for the CPU 206, a data save area during error processing, a control program load area, and the like. Reference numeral 209 denotes a hard disk (HDD). The hard disk 209 can store each control program and content executed in the information processing apparatus. For example, the hard disk of the user PC 102 stores an OS (Operating System), a Web browser, electronic album data, image data, a template, an album editing program, and the like. A floppy (registered trademark) disk drive (FDD) 210 controls access to the floppy (registered trademark) disk. Reference numeral 211 denotes a network interface, which can communicate with other information processing apparatuses and printers via the Internet 103. A bus 212 includes an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus. The control program can be provided to the CPU 206 from the ROM 207 and the hard disk 209 or from another information processing apparatus or the like via the Internet 103.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an electronic album editing program (hereinafter referred to as “program”) according to the present embodiment.

  Reference numeral 301 denotes a data control module for managing electronic album data and controlling the entire program.

  Reference numeral 302 denotes a GUI control module. The GUI control module 302 controls a graphical user interface (GUI) of the program based on the data controlled by the data control module 301, and displays operation means and edit contents for the user.

  A design control module 303 manages design information such as a layout file 307 and a layout table 308 used for editing electronic album data.

  The electronic album data managed by the data control module 301 includes cover image data 304, in-page image data 305, and image distribution area 306.

  The cover image data 304 is image data allocated to the cover of the electronic album.

  The in-page image data 305 is image data allocated to each page in the electronic album.

  The image distribution area 306 is an area using a part of the RAM 208 managed by the data control unit 301, and is used for rearrangement of image data during concentration.

  The term “enrichment” as used in the present embodiment refers to a process for reducing the number of pages in the electronic album without changing the number of images in the electronic album.

  The layout file 307 is a file that defines the layout of the electronic album. It is managed by the design control module 303 and includes layout data to be described later.

  The layout table 308 is managed by the design control module 303 and is a table used to determine the number and arrangement of images allocated to each spread page in the electronic album when the pages are concentrated.

  In this embodiment, the electronic album is composed of a cover page and a body page, and each case is handled separately. However, the cover page and the body page may be treated in the same manner without being distinguished from each other. The present invention can be realized.

  Hereinafter, when the word “page” is used in a page other than the cover page and the last page, it means “a spread page” unless otherwise specified.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the in-page image data 305. As shown in FIG. Reference numeral 401 denotes an image data file. The image data file 401 may be file data or a path indicating the storage location of the file data.

  Reference numeral 402 denotes character data, which holds character data attached to image data.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the layout file 307 according to the present embodiment. The layout file 307 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a plurality of layout data 512. The layout data is data in which information for determining the arrangement position of the image data and the character string attached to the image data in the layout area for one page of the electronic album is recorded.

  For example, in FIG. 5, the layout data 513 for one sheet is used for the first page of the electronic album, and the layout data 514 for two sheets is used for the second page.

  The plurality of layout data 513 are grouped under the concept of layout type. The layout type indicates the design characteristics of the layout data, and layout data having the same layout type are similar to each other. Examples of layout types include “vertical”, “horizontal”, “athletic”, and “wedding”.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the layout table 308 according to the present embodiment. As described above, the layout table is a table used to determine the number and arrangement of image data allocated to each page in the electronic album when the pages are concentrated. Various layout data are stored in the layout table. The data control module 301 searches the layout table 308 using the layout type used in the concentrated page and the number of image data arranged on the page as search conditions, and the layout data to be used. To decide.

  The layout table 308 shown in FIG. 6 corresponds to layout data of layout type A501, layout type B502, and layout type C503. Layout types A and B correspond to layout data corresponding to a case where 1 to 5 image data are included in a page. For example, consider a case where a page on which three pieces of image data are arranged is created on an electronic album using layout type A501. In this case, the data control module 301 reads out and uses the three-sheet layout data 512 of the layout type A501.

  In FIG. 6, layout types are classified into layout type A501, layout type B502, and layout type C503. Each layout type has layout data corresponding to the number of image data included in the page. Reference numeral 511 denotes a layout area to be edited. Reference numerals 504 to 510 denote image arrangement frames in which image data is arranged when taken into the electronic album. The numbers 1, 2, 3,... Shown in each image arrangement frame are image arrangement frame numbers for uniquely determining the position of the image in the layout data.

  In the layout type in this embodiment, layout data in which the image layout frame having the largest frame size is fixed at the same position is classified as having the same feature. For example, in the layout type A501, the image layout frames 504 to 508 are classified as the same layout type because the occupation ratio in the page is large and the layout position is the same.

  The image arrangement frame number 1 is always assigned to the image arrangement frame representing this feature. For other image arrangement frames, numbers that are unique as many as the number of image arrangement frames in the layout data are assigned in order. The image arrangement frame number is assigned in advance.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image distribution area 306 according to this embodiment. The image distribution area 306 is divided into a cover page area, a 2-page area, a final-page area, and a temporary placement area, and is used when image data is rearranged by concentration.

  The “page” in the page area means a normal page, not a spread. That is, “a region for two or three pages” indicates a region for one spread page.

  Hereinafter, the image distribution area 306 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The image distribution area 306 is divided into a cover page area 701, a page area 702... The last page area 703, and a temporary placement area 704. 705 to 708 hold an image data file or a path indicating a storage position of the file data. Reference numerals 709 to 712 hold character data attached to image data. Reference numerals 713 to 716 hold image data numbers for determining the moving order of the image data. The image data and character data arranged on the page to be concentrated, that is, the page to be deleted, are moved to the page areas 701 to 703 or the temporary placement area 704 in the image distribution area 306. Further, in the concentration process, there is a case where layout data that is used even after concentration and layout data that is not used exist as the number of pages decreases. The image data arranged on the page of the layout data to be used is moved to corresponding page areas 701 to 703. Image data arranged in layout data that is not used is moved to the temporary placement area 704.

  As image data numbers, image data numbers that are unique within each area when image data and character data are moved are assigned in order from 1.

  Note that image data that needs to be rearranged due to concentration is allocated so as to fit within the specified number of pages after concentration. If allocation is not possible due to the limitation on the number of image data set in the layout data, for example, a maximum of 5 in the layout type A501 in FIG. 5, a warning is notified to the user.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing for concentrating the pages of the electronic album according to the present embodiment.

  This process is realized by the CPU 206 of the user PC 102 reading the program from the ROM 207 or the HDD 209 and executing the program procedure.

  In step S801, the user first uses the PD 205 to select a page to be concentrated from all the pages of the electronic album. In this case, the user can also select a cover page. When the user clicks the execute button 905 after selecting a page, the CPU 206 sets the selected page as a target for concentration and stores it in the RAM 208.

  In FIG. 9, reference numeral 901 denotes a screen for selecting pages to be concentrated from the electronic album, which is displayed on the CRT 201. The CPU 206 performs a process of displaying a thick frame so that the selected page is clearly shown.

  FIG. 9 shows that pages 902, 903, and 904 are selected as an example. Here, page 902 represents a spread 4 & 5 page, page 903 represents a spread 8 & 9 page, and page 904 represents a spread 10 & 11 page.

  In step S802, the user specifies the number of pages after concentration using the PD 205. When the CPU 206 receives an operation for designating the number of pages from the user, the CPU 206 sets the number of pages after concentration to the designated number of pages and stores it in the RAM 208.

  If the execution button 905 is clicked by the user without performing the process of step S801, the CPU 206 first sets all pages of the album as the objects to be concentrated. Thereafter, the process of step S802 is performed.

  In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1001 denotes a screen for designating the number of pages after concentration. In FIG. 10, as an example, “2” page is input in the page number input column after 1002 concentration. In 1003, the number of pages selected in step S801 is displayed. That is, the screen shown in FIG. 10 means that the spread of three pages of pages 902, 903, and 904 is concentrated into two spreads.

  In step S803, the CPU 206 calculates the total number of image data from the number of image data arranged on each page selected in step S801, and stores it in the RAM 208.

  In FIG. 9, the number of image data of each page is three for page 902, three for page 903, and three for page 904. Accordingly, the total number of image data is nine.

  In step S804, the CPU 206 determines a layout type from the number of pages after concentration specified in step S802. As a method for determining the layout type, there is a method for determining the number of pages in order from the layout type of the page with the smallest page number among the pages selected in step S801.

  Taking FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 as an example, pages 902, 903, and 904 are selected in FIG. 9, and the number of pages after concentration is designated as 2 pages in FIG. Of the pages selected in step S801, the page with the smallest number is 902. Accordingly, two pages are sequentially determined from 902 as the layout type. That is, the layout type of pages 902 and 903 is determined as the layout type to be used.

  Of course, the layout type determination method is not limited to the method of this embodiment. For example, the number of pages may be determined in order from the page with the largest page number. Further, the layout type that is most frequently used in the pages selected in step S801 may be used for all the pages after concentration.

  In step S805, the CPU 206 reads the layout table 308 from the ROM 207 or the hard disk 209.

  In step S806, the CPU 206 searches the layout table 308 read in step S805 for the layout type of each page determined in step S804. Then, the maximum number of image data that can be arranged in the layout type layout data corresponding to each page (hereinafter referred to as “maximum arrangement number”) is acquired. Further, the total value of the maximum number of arranged pages acquired for each page is calculated and stored in the RAM 208.

  In step S807, the CPU 206 reads the total number of image data calculated in step S803 and the total value of the maximum number of arranged images calculated in step S806 from the RAM 208 and compares them. By this comparison, it is determined whether or not the number of image data arranged on the page to be concentrated is within a range that can be arranged in the layout data. If it is determined that the position is within the disposition range, the process advances to step S808. If it is determined that it is not within the range in which it can be arranged, the process proceeds to step S813.

  In step S813, the CPU 206 displays a warning dialog on the CRT 201 and ends the process. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a warning dialog. This process allows the user to know that not all images can be arranged in the layout area.

  In step S808, the CPU 206 sequentially starts with the page areas 701 to 703 or the temporary placement area of the image distribution area 306, starting with the image data arranged in the image arrangement frame number 1 having the smallest page number among the pages selected in step S801. Move to 704. That is, the CPU 206 reads out image data from the ROM 207 or the hard disk 209 and stores it in the image distribution area 306 in the RAM 208. The CPU 206 assigns image data numbers that are unique in the area in order of movement from 1 in order. When there is character data attached to the image data, the character data is moved together with the image data.

  Taking FIG. 9 as an example, the CPU 206 moves the image data of page 902 to the second and third page areas 702 of FIG. 7, and the image data of page 903 to the fourth and fifth page areas (not shown) of FIG. To do. After the concentration, the image data of the page 904 that is a page to be deleted moves to the temporary placement area 704.

  FIG. 11 is an example of layout data. Reference numerals 1101, 1102, and 1103 denote layout data corresponding to the page selected in FIG. The layout data of page 902 is 1101, the layout data of page 903 is 1102, and the layout data of page 904 is 1103. A frame 1104 in each layout data represents an image arrangement frame, and a number in the frame represents an image arrangement frame number. The movement of the image data to the image distribution area 306 by the CPU 206 is performed from the image data of the image arrangement frame 1 on the page 902. When the CPU 206 finishes moving all the image data of the page 902, the CPU 206 sequentially performs the image data of the image arrangement frame 1 of the pages 903 and 904 in order. When character data is attached to the image data, the character data is moved together with the image data.

  In step S809, the CPU 206 moves the image data moved to the temporary placement area 704 in step S808 to the page areas 701 to 703 in the image distribution area 306 of the page used after the concentration. The order of movement is the order of image data numbers in the temporary placement area 704.

  In this movement, the CPU 206 moves so that the number of images to be moved to each page is uniform within the range of the number of image data corresponding to each layout type acquired in step S806.

  In the case of FIG. 9, the total number 3 of image data of page 904 is evenly arranged on two pages. That is, two pieces of image data are arranged on the first page after concentration, and one piece on the second page (or one piece on the first page and two pieces on the second page).

  After the movement, the CPU 206 assigns image data numbers 713 to 715 to the moved image data. When there is character data attached to the image data, the character data is moved together with the image data.

  Note that the image arrangement method is not limited to this method. For example, the following method is also conceivable.

  In step S808, the CPU 206 moves all the image data to the temporary placement area 704, and assigns an image data number 716 thereto. At this time, the processing is performed from the image data of the image arrangement frame 1 on the page 902. When the CPU 206 finishes moving all the image data of the page 902, the CPU 206 sequentially performs the image data of the image arrangement frame 1 of the pages 903 and 904 in order.

  The CPU 206 determines the number of images to be arranged so that the number of images is equal on each page, and moves the image data to the page areas 702 to 703 in the order of the image data number 716.

  According to this method, the concentration process is performed while maintaining the order of the image data before the concentration. This method can also be used for the dilution process described later.

  In step S810, the CPU 206 determines layout data used for each page.

  The determination is made based on the layout type determined in step S804 and the number of image data allocated to the page areas 701 to 703 in the image distribution area 306 in steps S808 and S809. The CPU 206 searches the layout table 308 using the layout type and the number of image data as search conditions. Then, the layout data that matches the search condition is determined.

  In step S811, the CPU 206 deletes the layout data set in the page selected in step S801, and reads the layout data determined in step S810 from the ROM 207 or the hard disk 209.

  In step S812, the CPU 206 arranges the image data distributed in step S809 in the layout data read in step S811, and completes the concentration process. When there is character data attached to the image data, the character data is arranged together with the image data.

  FIG. 12 shows an example in which the three spread pages selected in FIG. 9 are concentrated into two pages and the image data is rearranged. The image data A, B, and C on page 902 in FIG. 9 are arranged on page 1201 by the concentration process. The image data D, E, and F of the page 903 are arranged on the page 1202. The image data G, H, and I arranged on the page 904 are distributed to the page 1201 and the page 1202. Note that the page corresponding to the page 904 in FIG. 9 may be a blank page in which no image data is arranged, or may be automatically deleted from the album. In the case of a blank page, a new image can be added to the page.

  Note that the concentrated pages are arranged at a position where there is a page having the smallest page number among the pages selected in step S801.

  In the present invention, the same layout pattern as the layout data before concentration is used as the layout data after concentration. Therefore, the user can obtain a layout having the same characteristics as before concentration without considering the layout again.

<Example 2>
In the first embodiment, the concentration process when reducing the pages of the electronic album being edited has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to importing (importing) a plurality of pages from other electronic albums. For example, when it is desired to import a plurality of pages of another electronic album into the electronic album being edited, there are cases where it is necessary to import the pages after concentrating the pages due to page restrictions of the electronic album being edited. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the import process will be described.

  In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted description about the part similar to Example 1 like the system configuration | structure concerning this embodiment, and it demonstrates centering on the characteristic part of Example 2.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing for importing a page from another electronic album to the electronic album being edited in this embodiment. This process is realized by the CPU 206 of the user PC 102 reading out a program from the ROM 207 or the hard disk 209 and starting and executing it.

  As a premise, a range of the number of pages that can be set in advance is set in the electronic album in the present embodiment.

  First, in step S1301, the user selects an electronic album including a page to be imported using the PD 205. Upon receiving a selection operation from the user, the CPU 206 sets the selected album as an import process target.

  FIG. 14 is a screen for selecting an electronic album to be imported. The CPU 206 reads out the electronic album stored in the ROM 207 or the hard disk 209 and displays a list on the CRT 201. Mask display processing is performed so that the selected page is clearly indicated. FIG. 14 shows a state where album B is selected.

  In step S1302, the user uses the PD 205 to select a page to be imported from all pages of the electronic album selected in step S1301. Note that the user can also select a cover page. When the CPU 206 receives a selection operation from the user, the CPU 206 sets the selected page as an import processing target.

  In step S1303, the user uses the PD 205 to specify the number of pages after concentration. When the CPU 206 receives a specified operation from the user, the CPU 206 sets the number of pages after concentration to the specified number of pages.

  In step S1304, the CPU 206 determines whether the number of pages after import set in step S1303 is within the range of pages available in the electronic album. If the CPU 206 determines that the value is within the range, the process proceeds to step S1305. If it is determined that it is not within the range, the process proceeds to step S1315.

  In step S1305, the CPU 206 detects the number of image data arranged on each page selected in step S1301, and calculates the total number of image data.

  The following flow is the same as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, in step S1310, a process of moving image data from another album is performed.

  Note that the concentrated pages are arranged at a place where there is a page having the smallest page number among the pages selected in step S1302 belonging to the album being edited.

<Example 3>
In the first and second embodiments, the album concentration, that is, the process of reducing the number of pages has been described. However, the present invention can be applied not only to album concentration but also to album dilution. Album dilution here means increasing the number of pages without changing the number of image data in the album. Hereinafter, processing for concentrating and diluting an album in the present embodiment will be described.

  Hereinafter, description of the same parts as those of the first and second embodiments will be omitted, and the characteristic parts of the third embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the present embodiment. This process is realized by the CPU 206 of the user PC 102 reading out a program from the ROM 207 or the hard disk 209 and starting and executing it.

  The operations performed by the user and the CPU 206 in step S1501 are the same as those in step S801 in the first embodiment. In step S1502, the same process as in step S802 of the first embodiment is performed. Here, the user can input a numerical value larger than the selected number of pages 1003 in the input field 1002 in FIG.

  In step S1503, the CPU 206 compares the page number set in step S1501 with the page number set in step S1502.

  In step S1504, if the CPU 206 determines that the number of pages set in step S1502 is larger as a result of the comparison in step S1503, the process proceeds to step S1506. If it is determined that the number of pages set in step S1502 is smaller, the process advances to step S1505.

  In step S1505, concentration processing is performed. Since the concentration process is the same process as steps S803 to S813 in FIG. 8, the description thereof is omitted here.

  In step S1506 and subsequent steps, dilution processing is performed.

  In step S1506, the CPU 206 calculates the total number of image data from the number of image data arranged on each page selected in step S1501, and stores it in the RAM 208.

  In step S1507, the CPU 206 determines the layout type after dilution. The layout type determination method will be described below. First, the CPU 206 determines the layout type of the page selected in step S1502 as it is as the diluted layout type. Further, since the number of pages increases in the case of dilution, the layout type of the increased pages must be determined. As a determination method, there is a method of determining the number of pages to be sequentially increased from the layout type of the page having the smallest page number among the pages selected in step S1502.

  Consider a specific example. For example, assume that pages 902, 903, and 904 are selected in FIG. 9, and that the number of pages is specified as 4 in step S1502.

  In this case, first, the layout type of pages 902, 903, and 904 is determined as the layout type after dilution. This determines the layout type for three pages. Furthermore, the newly increasing layout type of one page is determined as the layout type of page 902 which is the page with the smallest number.

  Of course, the determination method is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the layout type of the page with the largest number may be used, or the layout type used most frequently among the pages specified in step S1501 may be used. Since step S1508 is the same as step S805 of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  In step S1509, the CPU 206 adds a page area for a page that increases after dilution to the image distribution area 306. For example, when diluting a 3-page electronic album into 4 pages, an area for 7 to 8 pages, that is, a page area for the fourth spread page is added to the image distribution area 306.

  In step S1510, the CPU 206 distributes the image data to the page areas 701 to 703.

  In step S1511, the CPU 206 moves a part of the image data in the page areas 701 to 703 to the page area added in step S1509. The order of movement is the order of image data numbers in the temporary placement area 704.

  At the time of this movement, the CPU 206 determines the number of images to be moved so that the number of images is equal on all pages.

  Further, the images are moved so that the number of images to be moved from each page is equal within the range of the number of image data corresponding to each layout type acquired in step S1509.

  In the case of FIG. 9, the total number 9 of image data of pages 902 to 904 is evenly arranged on four pages. Therefore, the number of image data combinations for each page is 2, 2, 2, and 3. There are various methods for determining which page is to be three. In this embodiment, it is assumed that more image data is arranged as the page number is larger.

  Therefore, the images arranged on the pages 902 to 904 are moved one by one, and three images are arranged on the newly added page.

  Since steps S1512 to S1514 are the same as those in the embodiment, the description thereof is omitted here.

  Note that the diluted / concentrated page is arranged at a place where there is a page having the smallest page number among the pages selected in step S801.

  According to the present embodiment, the user can increase the number of pages of the electronic album without changing the number of images and without re-laying out again.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the outline of the electronic album edit system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of PC concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the electronic album edit program which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the image data which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the layout table which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the layout data which the layout file concerning this invention has. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the image distribution area | region which concerns on this invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining page enrichment processing by executing an electronic album editing program on a PC according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the page selection screen which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the page number input screen after concentration which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the layout data concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic album page after the concentration which concerns on this invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an import process by executing an electronic album editing program on a PC according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic album selection screen which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the dilution and concentration process concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the warning dialog based on this invention.

Claims (8)

An editing device for editing a multi-page album in which content is arranged,
An input means for inputting an instruction to change the number of pages of the album according to an external operation;
Storage means for receiving information from the input means and storing information of content arranged in the album;
A change unit that receives an input from the input unit and changes the number of pages of the album;
An editing apparatus comprising: arrangement means for rearranging content in an album whose number of pages has been changed by the changing means, using content information stored by the storage means. Comprising first setting means for setting any plurality of pages;
The storage means stores information on content included in the page set by the first setting means,
The changing means changes the number of pages of the plurality of pages set by the first setting means,
The editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement unit rearranges content on a page whose number of pages has been changed by the changing unit.   The editing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first setting unit can set pages from a plurality of albums. Read means for reading layout data from a storage device storing a plurality of layout data,
4. The editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement unit arranges the content according to the layout data read by the reading unit. Second setting means for setting the number of album pages after the number of pages has been changed by the changing means;
Determining means for determining the number of contents to be arranged on each page of the album whose number of pages has been changed by the changing means, based on the number of pages set by the second setting means;
5. The editing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the reading unit reads layout data based on the number determined by the determining unit. The layout data is associated with feature information indicating layout features;
6. The editing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the reading unit reads layout data based on characteristic information of layout data before the change by the changing unit. An editing method for editing a multi-page album in which content is arranged,
An input process for inputting an instruction to change the number of pages of the album according to an external operation;
A storage step of receiving information from the input step and storing information of content arranged in the album;
A change step of changing the number of pages of the album in response to input by the input step;
An editing method comprising: an arrangement step of rearranging content in an album whose number of pages has been changed in the changing step, using content information stored in the storage step. A program for causing a computer to edit a multi-page album in which content is arranged,
An input process for inputting an instruction to change the number of pages of the album according to an external operation;
A storage step of receiving information from the input step and storing information of content arranged in the album;
A change step of changing the number of pages of the album in response to input by the input step;
A program for causing a computer to execute an arrangement step of rearranging content in an album whose number of pages has been changed by the changing step, using content information stored by the storing step.

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