JP2008176541A - Electronic document containing layout information and electronic document processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor, changing a preset layout of an electronic document. <P>SOLUTION: The image processor 14 comprises an electronic document acquisition means 100 for acquiring an electronic document 40; a metadata extraction means 102 for extracting metadata added to the electronic document 40; a layout information display means 104 for displaying layout information on a display; a layout information change means 106 for changing the layout information; a layout information setting means 108 for updating the changed layout information; a print setting information holding means 110 for holding extracted print setting information; a layout making means 112 for making a layout format of document data based on the layout information; and a print setting means 114 for setting printing of the document data laid out according to the print setting information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic document processing apparatus that processes an electronic document including layout information, and more particularly to a technique for media printing an electronic document stored in a medium in a printer, a copying machine, or the like.

  As a feature of electronic documents currently used in personal computers and the like, a command for controlling the function of the printing apparatus can be described as a file format, and setting information used for printing can be stored in a file in advance. Some of them can hold the correction history as difference information and freely return to the state before the correction.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for storing update history information in association with an electronic document when the electronic document is updated in order to restore the document contents in each generation of the electronic document updated multiple times. Yes.

  Also, the printer has a function (direct print) that can directly print the above electronic document without converting it into a device-specific page description language (PDL). Some have a function (media print) for directly reading and printing an electronic document stored in a memory card such as a flash memory. For example, the user can bring a medium on which an electronic document is recorded to a convenience store or an office outside the office, and can perform direct printing or media printing using a printer or the like there.

JP 2003-216601 A

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228867 holds the modified content as difference information and enables the user to revert to a snapshot at a certain arbitrary time point, but is based on information stored in time series to the last. Therefore, it is not possible to restore only a certain specific part.

  In addition, if you want to print an N-up function that prints multiple pages down to a single page or prints an electronic document that has been subjected to extended continuous shooting (poster) on a media computer in advance, you want to change the print settings later. Even if you think, you can't change the N-up or poster-processed layout by just rewriting the print control command. This is because in order to change such a layout, it is necessary to restore the layout to its original size and restore data such as text contained therein. Even if there is a pre-correction restoration function as in Patent Document 1, the layout cannot be restored to the original state only with the time-series difference information included in the document, and the layout is also changed. I can't.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and prints an electronic document in a layout different from the layout set when the document is created or edited when media printing or direct printing is performed on the electronic document. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic document and an electronic document processing apparatus capable of performing the above.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic document and an electronic document processing apparatus capable of confirming layout information included in the electronic document on a user interface when the electronic document is printed.

  The medium according to the present invention includes drawing data including at least one of a document (text) or an image (image), print setting information for controlling a printing function when printing the drawing data, and a layout relating to a layout of the drawing data. An electronic document including information is stored.

  Preferably, the layout information includes layout restoration information for restoring the layout set for the drawing data to the original layout. The layout restoration information can restore the layout of the drawing data to the original layout. The layout information may include layout change history information related to the layout change history. Such layout information can be embedded in the drawing data as metadata created in the XML format.

  An electronic document processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: an input unit; a first generation unit that generates print setting information for controlling a print function when printing drawing data in response to an input from the input unit; and an input unit Second creation means for creating layout information relating to the layout of the document data in response to an input from the printer, print setting information created by the first creation means, layout information created by the second creation means, and drawing Storage means for storing an electronic document including data.

  Preferably, the storage unit stores print setting information, layout information, and drawing data in a medium. As the medium, a recording medium such as a magnetic card, a memory card, or a CD can be used.

  The electronic document processing apparatus according to the present invention further includes an acquisition unit that acquires drawing data, print setting information of drawing data, and layout information of drawing data, an input unit, and print setting information and layout information from the electronic document. When there is an input for instructing the change of the set layout from the input means, and an input means for displaying the layout set in the drawing data based on the extracted layout information. A layout changing unit for changing the layout information, and when there is an instruction to print the drawing data from the input unit, drawing based on the print setting information of the drawing data and the set layout information or the changed layout information Printing means for printing data.

  Preferably, the layout information includes layout change history information relating to a layout change history, and the layout change means determines whether or not the layout instructing change is included in the layout change history information, and determines that it is included. In this case, the layout information set in the document data is changed based on the layout change history information. The layout information further includes layout restoration information for restoring the layout of the drawing data to the original layout, and when the layout changing unit determines that the layout instructing the change is not included in the layout change history information, the layout information The drawing data layout is restored based on the restoration information, and the drawing data layout is reset based on the restored layout.

  According to the present invention, by including layout information in an electronic document, the layout set at the time of creating or editing the document can be changed later at the time of media printing or direct printing. Drawing data can be printed according to the layout. Further, by displaying the layout information included in the electronic document, the user can check the layout set in the drawing data and easily change the layout.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an electronic document processing system when media printing is performed. An electronic document processing system 10 is installed in a user PC 12 that creates, edits, and updates files such as electronic documents and images, and is installed in a convenience store, an office outside the office, and the like, and is provided with a printing function, an image reading function, and the like. The processing device 14 and a medium 16 for storing an electronic document are included.

  When saving the electronic document on the medium 16, the user PC 12 adds the layout information and print setting information set for the document data to the document data and saves them. The electronic document stored on the medium 16 is read by the image processing apparatus 14 and is printed on the medium or directly printed there. At this time, the print setting information and layout information added to the document data are used for controlling the printing of the document data. The medium 16 is a medium that stores data such as a memory card, USB memory, CD, or DVD.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the user PC. The user PC 12 includes an input unit 20 for inputting information by operating a keyboard and a mouse, a display unit 22 for displaying information such as characters and graphics on a display, a ROM or RAM, a printer driver for layout setting and print setting, etc. Main memory 24 for storing the program, a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk, a storage unit 26 for storing files such as electronic documents, an interface 28 for enabling connection with an external device such as a media device, main memory A central processing unit (CPU) 30 that controls each unit in accordance with a program stored in the unit 24 and a bus 32 that connects them are included.

  The user PC 12 embeds print setting information and layout information in the electronic document when storing the electronic document in a medium as described above. Such a function is preferably performed by the CPU 30 executing a program stored in the main storage unit 24 or the storage unit 26. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining layout information and print setting information embedded in an electronic document. The application software installed in the user PC 12 is executed, and document data is created, edited, updated, etc. according to the input from the input unit 20, and the electronic document 40 is created. The electronic document 40 is not necessarily limited to text data, and may include image data and the like. Initially, since the layout setting for the document data is not performed, it is assumed that the document data has a page unit layout as a default. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the electronic document 40 has a layout 50 that arranges document data on two pages.

  The user PC 12 creates print setting information 42 to be added to the electronic document 40 when an instruction for print setting for the electronic document 40 is issued from the user via the input unit 20. The print setting information 42 includes command information for controlling printing by a printer or the like, and includes information such as the number of printed sheets, size, color, print quality, and the like. When the print setting instruction includes an instruction to set the layout of the document data, the user PC 12 creates the layout information 44. The layout instruction is, for example, an N-up instruction for printing a plurality of pages reduced on one page.

  The layout information 44 includes layout restoration information 46 for restoring the set layout to the original layout, and layout change history information 48 regarding the layout change history. The layout change history information 48 stores document data layouts set in the past by the user in a time series, and preferably has a difference between the previously set layout and the currently set layout as the change history. . Therefore, the final history of the layout change history information 48 is the latest layout set in the document data. The print setting information 42 and the layout information 44 are preferably XML-format metadata, and the contents of the information are stored in the electronic document 40 using keywords.

  When the user makes print settings and layout settings for the electronic document 40 in preparation for media printing, the print setting information 42 and layout information 44 are added to the document data, and are stored on the medium as the electronic document 40a. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that layout setting (2-up setting) for reducing and printing two pages of document data included in the electronic document 40 on one page is performed. As shown in FIG. 4, the layout 50 of the electronic document 40 includes a layout 50-1 corresponding to the first page and a layout 50-2 corresponding to the second page. The layout information constituting the layout 50-1 for the first page includes a page setting unit 60-1 for defining the start of document data, a drawing object unit 62-1 for defining document data to be rendered, and the end of document data. The page end part 64-1 which prescribes | regulates is included. Similarly, the layout 50-2 of the second page of the electronic document 40 includes a page setting unit 60-2, a drawing object unit 62-2, and a page end unit 64-2.

  FIG. 5 shows layout information of the electronic document 40a in which the 2-up layout setting is performed for the electronic document 40. The layout 52 of the electronic document 40a includes a page setting 70 that defines the start of a page for the 2-up function, a drawing enlargement / reduction ratio setting 72-1 corresponding to the 2-up function, and a drawing that defines the document data of the first page to be rendered. Object 62-1 and drawing enlargement / reduction ratio setting 72-2 corresponding to the up function, drawing object 62-2 that specifies document data of the second page to be drawn, and page end that specifies the page end for the up function 74 pieces of layout information are included. Furthermore, the layout information of the electronic document 40a includes the page setting 60-1 that defines the start and end of the first page and the page setting 60-1 that defines the start and end of the first and second pages 64-1, 2 shown in FIG. -2 and page end 64-2 are included, but these pieces of layout information (shown by hatching in FIG. 5) are invalidated in the layout information at the time of 2 up and are not applied at the time of printing. That is, the page setting 60-1, 60-2 and the page end 62-2, 62-2 indicated by hatching cancel the invalidation, thereby restoring the layout restoration information for restoring the layout of the electronic document 40. It becomes.

  In addition, information added and invalidated by the layout change is extracted as difference information, and the difference information becomes layout change history information 48. In the above example, the layout information shown in FIG. 4 and the added and invalidated information of the layout information 44 shown in FIG.

  Next, media printing by the image processing apparatus 14 will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus 14 includes an input unit 80 for inputting an instruction from a user, a display unit 82 for displaying print setting information, layout information, and the like on a display, a reading unit 84 for reading a document such as a document and an image, an electronic document, and the like. A printing unit 86 for printing on a medium such as an interface, an interface 88 for connecting an external device such as a medium 16, a main storage unit 90 for storing programs for controlling media printing, various data, and the like, and a mass storage device such as a hard disk A storage unit 92 for storing electronic documents, a CPU 94 for controlling each unit in accordance with a program, and a bus 96 for connecting them.

  FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram for performing media printing of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image processing apparatus 14 includes an electronic document acquisition unit 100 that acquires an electronic document from the medium 16, and a meta that extracts print setting information and layout information that are metadata added to the electronic document acquired by the electronic document acquisition unit 100. The data extraction unit 102, the layout information display unit 104 that displays the layout information extracted by the metadata extraction unit 102 on the display, the layout information change unit 106 that changes the layout information according to user input, and the layout information changes Layout information setting means 108 for updating to the changed layout information, print setting information holding means 110 for holding print setting information extracted from the metadata extraction means 102, layout changing means 106 or layout setting. Leia from means 108 Layout configuration means 112 that configures the layout format of the document data based on the print information, and print setting means 114 that sets the printing of the document data that is laid out in accordance with the print setting information held by the print setting information holding means 110. Consists of.

  Next, the media printing operation in the image processing apparatus 14 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the electronic document acquisition unit 100 acquires an electronic document stored in the medium 16 connected to the interface 88 (step S101), and stores the acquired electronic document in the main storage unit 92. Next, print setting information and layout information are extracted from the electronic document acquired by the metadata extraction unit 102 (step S102). The extracted print setting information is held in the print setting information holding unit 110.

  The layout information display means 106 displays the layout set in the document data based on the extracted layout information on the display unit 82 (step S103), and informs the user of the set layout. The user confirms the layout displayed on the display unit 82 and gives an instruction from the input unit 80 as to whether to print the document data with the layout or to print with other layouts.

  When the user inputs an instruction to change the layout (step S104), the layout changing unit 106 refers to the layout change history information and determines whether the layout instructed by the user matches a layout set in the past. Is determined (step S105). When there is a layout set in the past, the layout information changing unit 106 creates layout information based on the layout change history information (step S106).

  On the other hand, when there is no layout matching the layout change history information, the layout information changing unit 106 refers to the layout restoration information included in the layout information and restores the document data to the initial layout (step S107). Alternatively, the document data layout is returned to the default state. Next, the layout information changing unit 106 changes the restored initial layout to a layout designated by the user, and creates new layout information of the document data (step S108). The layout information setting unit 108 receives the layout information created in step S106 or step S108, and updates the layout information set in the document data (step S109).

  Next, the layout configuration unit 112 configures a layout format based on the updated layout information or the layout information that has not been changed (step S110). For example, if the layout information includes a 2-up setting, the layout format is configured to support 2-up. Next, the print setting unit 114 creates print data of document data in accordance with the print setting information and layout format held in the print setting information holding unit 110 (step S111). Then, print data is printed by the printing unit 86 (step S112).

  As described above, when media printing is performed, the layout of document data set in advance can be easily changed by adding layout information to an electronic document. Further, the user can confirm the layout information included in the electronic document and determine the layout of the document data to be printed.

  The above-described embodiments are illustrative, and the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto, and can be realized by other methods within the scope satisfying the constituent requirements of the present invention. Needless to say.

  In the above embodiment, the so-called N-up function is shown as an example of setting the layout of document data. However, other layout settings may be used. For example, the layout setting may be such that the document data is enlarged or reduced, or the print position of the document data is changed. In the above embodiment, the layout of the document data is exemplified. However, the document data may include text and other image data.

  Further, the media print in the above embodiment shows an example using a user PC, an image processing apparatus, and a medium. In addition to this, an electronic document created by the user PC is printed by a printer connected to the user PC. Alternatively, an electronic document created by the image processing apparatus may be printed by the layer processing apparatus. Furthermore, although an example of media printing using a medium for storing an electronic document has been shown, the present invention may also be for net printing of an electronic document in addition to media printing. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a case where an electronic document created by a user PC is transmitted to an image processing apparatus via wired or wireless communication, and the electronic document is printed there.

  The present invention is used in printers, copiers, computers, and the like that perform media printing, direct printing, net printing, and the like.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the image processing system which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the hardware of user PC. It is a figure explaining the layout information and print setting information added to the electronic document concerning a present Example. It is a figure which shows the layout of the electronic document before layout setting. It is a figure which shows the layout of an electronic document when 2 up is set. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the hardware of an image processing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the image processing apparatus which concerns on a present Example. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a media print operation in the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

10: Image processing system 12: User PC
14: Image processing device 16: Media 40, 40a: Electronic document 42: Print setting information 44: Layout information 46: Layout restoration information 48: Layout change history information 50, 52: Layout 100: Electronic document acquisition means 102: Metadata extraction Means 104: Layout information display means 106: Layout information change means 108: Layout information setting means 110: Print setting information holding means 112: Layout configuration means 114: Print data creation means

Claims (13)

Drawing data including at least one of a document and an image;
Print setting information for controlling a print function when printing the drawing data;
A medium storing an electronic document including layout information relating to a layout of the drawing data. The medium according to claim 1, wherein the layout information includes layout restoration information for restoring a layout set for drawing data to an original layout. The medium according to claim 1, wherein the layout information includes layout change history information related to a layout change history. The medium according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the layout information is metadata created in an XML format. An electronic document processing apparatus for processing an electronic document including layout information,
Input means;
First creation means for creating print setting information for controlling a print function when printing drawing data in response to an input from the input means;
Second creation means for creating layout information relating to the layout of the drawing data in response to an input from the input means;
Storage means for storing an electronic document including print setting information created by the first creation means, layout information created by the second creation means, and drawing data;
An electronic document processing apparatus. The electronic document processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the layout information includes layout restoration information for restoring a layout of drawing data to an original layout. The electronic document processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the layout information includes layout change history information related to a layout change history. The electronic document processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the storage unit stores an electronic document including print setting information, layout information, and drawing data on a medium. An electronic document processing apparatus for processing an electronic document including layout information,
An acquisition means for acquiring an electronic document including drawing data, print setting information of the drawing data, and layout information of the drawing data;
Input means;
Extracting means for extracting print setting information and layout information from the electronic document;
Display means for displaying a layout set in the drawing data based on the extracted layout information;
Layout change means for changing the set layout information when there is an input for instructing change of the set layout from the input means;
When there is an instruction to print the drawing data from the input unit, the printing unit prints the drawing data based on the print setting information of the drawing data and the set layout information or the changed layout information;
An electronic document processing apparatus. The layout information includes layout change history information related to a layout change history, and the layout change means determines whether or not the layout instructing change is included in the layout change history information, and determines that it is included. 10. The electronic document processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the layout information set in the drawing data is changed based on the layout change history information. The layout information further includes layout restoration information for restoring the layout of the drawing data to the original layout, and the layout changing unit determines that the layout instructing the change is not included in the layout change history information The electronic document processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the drawing data layout is restored based on the layout restoration information, and the drawing data layout is reset based on the restored layout. The electronic document processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the layout information is metadata created in an XML format. The electronic document processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the acquisition unit acquires an electronic document stored in a medium.

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