JP3100218B2 - Output data item separation method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output data item separation processing method, and more particularly, to a form creation apparatus for displaying output data items on a display screen and interactively creating a form.
The present invention relates to an output data item delimiter processing method for automatically generating a delimiter line for delimiting each output data item.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a form creation method for outputting an output data item calculated by a data processing system as a form in a predetermined format, an output data item to be arranged in a form is designated, and separately from that, A form creation method of creating a form and explicitly designating output data items to be arranged in the form to create a form is generally performed.

As another form creation method, as shown in an example of a spreadsheet program, a form in which a straight line for automatically dividing output data items is added to output data items arranged in a table format. There is also a creation method.

[0004]

By the way, in the form creation method according to the above-mentioned prior art, when adding a straight line separating all output data items arranged in the form, they are explicitly described. There is a problem that the operation must be complicated and the operation becomes complicated when the number of output data items increases. Also, in the case of a form creation method using a spreadsheet, a straight line that separates output data items is automatically generated. However, it is a precondition that output data items can be arranged in a table format with respect to positions and sizes thereof. . For this reason, when adding a straight line that separates output data items arranged in a format other than the table format, it is necessary to explicitly create all of them, the operation becomes complicated, and the trouble of creating a form is large. is there.

[0005] As described above, in the conventional form creation method, when the number of output data items to be arranged in a form increases, when adding straight lines to separate them, a straight line having a sufficient and minimum number of straight lines to separate them is added. The addition often becomes a difficult operation involving trial and error. For this reason, when the number of output data items further increases, the number of lines to be added also increases, and thus there is a problem that the operation itself of adding the lines becomes complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a form creation apparatus for displaying output data items on a display screen and interactively creating a form. Another object of the present invention is to provide an output data item delimiter processing method for automatically generating a delimiter line for delimiting each output data item.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an output data item separating method according to the present invention is applied to an output data item of an arbitrary size arranged at an arbitrary position in a form. What is claimed is: 1. An output data item separation processing method in a form creation device for creating a form by separating each of said output data items and relating the form to a form, wherein output data of an arbitrary size arranged at an arbitrary position in the form A first step of setting an outer frame including all blocks of the output data item for the item, and setting each output data item in an area where no block of the output data item is arranged within the set outer frame. A second step of setting a region that vertically separates the block as a horizontal boundary rectangle from the region having the largest horizontal width, and within the range of the set outer frame,
In the area where the output data item block is not located,
A third area is set as a vertical boundary rectangle from the area where the vertical width is the largest to divide the block of each output data item to the left and right.
Step, determine the intersection region of both ends of the region of the horizontal boundary rectangle and the vertical boundary rectangle, generate a line connecting the midpoint of the region,
And a fourth step of setting each output data item as a dividing line for separating each output data item.

[0008]

According to the output data item separation method of the present invention,
In the form creation device, when an output data item of an arbitrary size arranged at an arbitrary position in a form is separated from each other and each of the output data items is separated and associated with a form, a form is created. The following first, second, third, and fourth processing steps are performed to generate a dividing line that separates output data items.

First, in a first step, an outer frame including all blocks of an output data item is set for an output data item of an arbitrary size arranged at an arbitrary position in a form. In the range of the outer frame set in the next second step, in the area where the block of the output data item is not arranged, the area which vertically divides the block of each output data item is defined from the area having the maximum width to the horizontal boundary. Set as a rectangle. In the range of the outer frame set in the next third step, in the area where the block of the output data item is not arranged, the area that divides the block of each output data item to the left and right is vertically shifted from the area having the maximum vertical width. Set as a bounding rectangle. Then, in the next fourth step, an intersecting region at both ends of the region of the horizontal boundary rectangle and the vertical boundary rectangle is obtained, and a line connecting the midpoints of the region is generated as a dividing line of each output data item.

[0010] By performing the processing of each step as described above, for output data items of an arbitrary size arranged at an arbitrary position in the form, it is sufficient to separate them between adjacent output data items. You can set a separator line for the minimum number of data items. When creating a form, work to create a key line by arranging all output data items to be arranged at the respective arrangement positions is performed, but by performing the processing of the processing steps as described above, the output data items are And a minimum number of dividing lines sufficient to delimit. Therefore, the work of adding a straight line for separating output data items in the form creation work can be reduced,
Forms can be created easily.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an output data item separation processing method in a form creation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the principle of processing for automatically generating a dividing line. In FIG. 1, blocks a, hatched with oblique lines
“b”, “c”, “d”, and “e” indicate respective output data items arranged at arbitrary positions in the form. Here, for each output data item of each block a to e of an arbitrary size arranged at an arbitrary position in these forms, a process of automatically generating a straight line separating adjacent output data items is performed. .

For this purpose, first, in a first processing step 11 , an outer frame 1 surrounding all of the blocks a to e of each output data item arranged in the form is set. Hereinafter, the blocks a to
The generation processing of the dividing line that separates e is sufficient in the area within the outer frame 1. Also, there is a possibility that a straight line for separating the blocks a to e of each output data item may be drawn in an area where the blocks a to e of the output data item are not arranged.

Therefore, in the next second processing step 12 , in an area where the blocks a to e of these output data items are not arranged, each of the output data items is an area vertically dividing the output data items, and each of the output data items has a maximum width. Set an area from the following area. This area is defined as a horizontal boundary rectangle 2. As the horizontal boundary rectangle 2, a plurality of rectangles satisfying the conditions are set.

Next, in a third processing step 13 , the second
The same processing as the processing step is performed in a changed direction. That is, in an area where the output data item blocks a to e are not arranged, an area is set from an area that divides the block of each output data item to the left and right, and an area having the maximum vertical width, respectively. The vertical rectangular area 3 is set. As the vertical boundary rectangle 3, a plurality of rectangles satisfying the conditions are set.

Then, in the next fourth processing step 14 , the intersection area at both ends of each of the plurality of horizontal boundary rectangles 2 and vertical boundary rectangles 3 determined in the previous processing step is determined, and the midpoint thereof is determined. To generate a dividing line 4 for separating each output data item.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a form creation device that implements the output data item separation processing method according to one embodiment of the present invention in one aspect, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a data structure in detail. In FIG. 2, 20 is a memory, 21 is an input device, 22 is a processing device, and 23 is a display device. 2 and 3, reference numeral 31 denotes an output data item coordinate area; 32, an X range area between items; 33, a Y range area between items; 34, a horizontal boundary rectangular area;
Reference numeral 6 denotes the end points of the dividing line.

A description will be given with reference to FIGS. The processing device 22 receives an instruction input from the input device 21
Start processing to automatically generate a straight line that separates output data items in a form. First, coordinate information (values of upper left coordinates and lower right coordinates of blocks) of the blocks a to e of each output data item arranged in the form is obtained from the output data item coordinate area 31. From this coordinate information, An outer frame 1 surrounding the entire target area is set. That is, the maximum value / minimum value information of each coordinate information is obtained, and the coordinate values of the predetermined frame area are added as necessary to obtain the coordinate information of the outer frame 1.

Next, when a straight line is drawn from left to right, the starting point of the straight line may be the left side or the outer frame 1 of the blocks a to e of each output data item. For this reason, in order to find the longest straight line from left to right, attention is paid to the left side (x coordinate value) of blocks a to e of all output data items in the form, and the left side of each output data item block is A range (R1, R2,...) Where the y coordinate at the existing position x is between any two blocks of the output data item
Is calculated from each piece of coordinate information stored in the output data item coordinate area 31, and the result is calculated as the inter-item y range area 3.
3 is stored.

Similarly, focusing on the upper sides (y coordinate values) of the blocks a to e of all the output data items in the form, the x coordinate at the position y where the upper side of the block of each output data item exists is expressed by The range (R1, R2,...) Between any two output data items is defined by the output data item coordinates 31.
Is calculated from the respective pieces of coordinate information stored in the area, and the result is stored in the inter-item x range area 32.

Next, in order to obtain the longest straight line vertically dividing the block of each output data item in the form, a process of obtaining the horizontal boundary rectangle 2 is performed. The horizontal boundary rectangle 2 is obtained by performing the following procedure.

Blocks a to b of each output data item in the form
From the coordinate information on the left side of e, the leftmost x coordinate value is x1, and x2, x3,... Now
A range in which the y coordinate at x1 is between any two blocks of output data items is determined, and the range is defined as range R1,
R2, ... Each of the ranges R1, R2,... Is calculated from each piece of coordinate information stored in the output data item coordinate area 31, and the result is stored in the inter-item y range area 33.
Accordingly, the inter-item range (upper) and the inter-item range (lower) are stored in the inter-item y range area 33 with respect to the x position of the left end of the item.

Next, of the ranges R1, R2,..., A range in which the y coordinate of x2 is between any two blocks of output data items is obtained, and the respective ranges R1, R2,
2, ... When this is sequentially repeated, there is no range where the y coordinate is between any two output data items at any position, or information on the data on the right side of each data in the inter-item y range region 33 is Disappears.

For each of the ranges R1, R2,..., The coordinates immediately to the left of the x coordinate at this time are the ranges R1, R2,.
Are the coordinates of the right end of the longest straight line that vertically divides the block of the output data item in the range of the y coordinate shown in FIG. The coordinates of the left end of this straight line are the y-coordinates shown in the ranges R1, R2,..., And are the coordinates immediately to the right of the right side of the block of the output data item that first hits when the straight line is extended from x1 to the left. Thus, a rectangle of a region formed by the ranges R1, R2,... Corresponding to the longest straight lines is obtained. This rectangular area is the horizontal boundary rectangle 2.

The upper left coordinate and the lower right coordinate of the obtained area of the horizontal boundary rectangle 2 are stored in the horizontal boundary rectangular area 34. In this case, the newly obtained horizontal boundary rectangle 2 is the horizontal boundary rectangle 2 when all the x coordinates and all the y coordinates are included with respect to the horizontal boundary rectangle 2 already obtained. Since it is only a part of the data already stored in the area 34, it is not newly stored. This operation is called x2, x3,
.. Are sequentially repeated to calculate all the horizontal boundary rectangles 2, and the coordinate information is stored in the horizontal boundary rectangular area 34.
Is stored in

Next, the same processing is performed by changing the direction, and a vertical boundary rectangle for obtaining the longest straight line that divides each output data item in the form left and right is obtained. The obtained coordinate information of the vertical boundary rectangle is stored in the vertical boundary rectangular area 35.

According to the respective coordinate information stored in the horizontal boundary rectangular area 34 and the vertical boundary rectangular area 35 obtained as described above, the horizontal boundary rectangle 2 and the vertical boundary rectangle 3 intersect next. The rectangles at both ends are calculated, and the midpoint is calculated. This midpoint is the output data item block a.
End points of a straight line that delimits .about.e. The obtained coordinate values of the end points are stored in the separator line end point area 36. Finally, for example, a straight line is displayed on the display device 23 in accordance with the coordinate information of the dividing line end point region 36, so that a straight line separating the automatically generated output data items is displayed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for generating a dividing line of an output data item by the output data item dividing method by PAD. Referring to FIG. 4, an algorithm for generating a separation line of an output data item will be described. First, an outer frame is set in a processing block 41. Next, regarding the processing in the x direction, processing block 42
, An x range between items is set. This is the control of the process by the next repetition control block 43. For all output data items, the x range between the items in the process block 44 is calculated. Next, the same processing is performed for the y direction. That is, in the processing block 45, the y range between items is set. In this process, the process of calculating the x range between the items in the processing block 47 is performed for all the output data items under the control of the process by the next repetition control block 46.

Next, in processing block 48, a horizontal boundary rectangle is set. This is the next iteration control block 49
In the control of the process according to the above, for the x range between all the items, the control of the process by the next repetitive control block 50 further performs the double control until the intersection range disappears or the x range between the right items disappears. Then, the processing of calculating the range of intersection with the x range between the items on the right side in the processing in the processing block 51 is performed. Subsequently, in the next determination processing block 52, it is determined whether or not the result is included in the calculated horizontal boundary rectangle.
In, processing for calculating the left end coordinates of the horizontal boundary rectangle is performed.

Next, in a processing block 54, a vertical boundary rectangle is set. Also in this case, similarly to the above-described processing, the control of the processing by the next repetition control block 55 determines whether the intersection range is eliminated by controlling the processing by the next repetition control block 56 for all the y ranges between the items. Alternatively, the process of calculating the range of intersection with the immediately lower item y range in the processing in the processing block 57 is performed by the double control until the right item y range disappears. Subsequently, in the next determination processing block 58, it is determined whether or not the result is included in the calculated vertical boundary rectangle.
In the next processing block 59, processing for calculating the upper end coordinates of the vertical boundary rectangle is performed.

Since the processing for calculating the horizontal boundary rectangle and the vertical boundary rectangle is completed by these processings, the processing of setting the end points of the dividing line from the next processing block 60 is performed. In this process, under the control of the process by the next repetition control block 61, the process of calculating the middle point of the rectangle intersecting the vertical border rectangles at both ends is performed in the process of the process block 62 for all the horizontal border rectangles. Subsequently, the next repetition control block 63
With the control of the processing by, the process of calculating the midpoint of the rectangle that intersects the horizontal boundary rectangles at both ends is performed in the processing in the processing block 64 for all the vertical boundary rectangles. Then, the dividing line end points obtained here are connected to each other, and a dividing line of each block of the output data item is generated.

Next, with respect to the output data item delimiting process executed by these processes, the steps of each process will be specifically described in order. As shown in FIGS.
A18) is a diagram for explaining a process for obtaining a horizontal boundary rectangle, and (B1 to B10) are diagrams for explaining a process for obtaining a vertical boundary rectangle.

As shown in (A1) of FIG. 5, first, a block a of each output data item arranged in the form
-E coordinate information (value of upper left and lower right coordinates of block)
Then, an outer frame surrounding the entire target area is set. Here, the outer frame is set without adding the coordinate values of the frame region so as to facilitate understanding. Therefore, the coordinate values of the outer frame coincide with the coordinates of the block of the outermost output data item.

Next, as shown in (A2) of FIG. 5, the x coordinate of each of the left sides of the blocks a to e is x1, x1, x2,.
Assign x2, x3, x4, x5. Here, as a result of arranging the coordinates of each left side of blocks a to e, x1
Assign x5.

Next, as shown in (A3) of FIG.
, A range (R1, R2,...) In which the y coordinate is between any two output data item blocks is determined. x
In the case of 1, only the range R1 is assigned as the corresponding range. The range (R
, R2,...) Proceed to the process for x3 as described later, and then a plurality of ranges R1, R2 are allocated. This range R1 is calculated from each piece of coordinate information stored in the output data item coordinate area 31. The calculation result is stored in the y range area 33 between items. At this point, the y coordinates of the upper and lower ends of the range R1 are stored as the y range between items in x1.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5 (A4), x1
Is mapped on x2 to find a range in which the y-coordinate of x2 is between any two blocks of output data items. As a result, the range R at x2
1 (represented by a two-dot chain line) is mapped to be shorter than the range R1 (represented by a one-dot chain line) in x1 by the length of the block c in the vertical direction.

Next, as shown in (A5) of FIG. 6, the processing is similarly performed to map the range R1 in x2 onto x3, and the y coordinate of x3 is any two output data items. Find the range between blocks. As a result, the range R1 at x3 (indicated by a broken line) is shorter than that of R1 at x2 (indicated by a two-dot chain line), and is mapped by being further reduced by the block b. Note that x3
, The lower range of the block b is a range that is not included in the range R1 in x2.
It is not added as 2.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (A6), the processing is similarly advanced to map the range R1 at x3 onto x4, and the y coordinate of x4 is any two output data items. Find the range between blocks. As a result, the range R1 (indicated by a dotted line) in x4 has the same length as the range R1 (indicated by a broken line) in x3 and is mapped.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (A7), the process is similarly advanced to map the range R1 at x4 onto x5, and the y coordinate of x5 is also one of any two output data items. Find the range between blocks. As a result, the range R1 at x5 (indicated by a dashed line) is
Is in a state in which the entire range of the range R1 (indicated by the dotted line) is covered by the block d. This is x5
, The y coordinate of the range R1 indicates that there is no range between any two output data items.

As a result, as shown in FIG.
One horizontal boundary rectangle 2a is obtained. This horizontal border rectangle 2
a represents a horizontal boundary rectangle when processing is performed with x1 as a base point. The horizontal boundary rectangle 2a is composed of the following coordinates. The left end is the x coordinate of x1. That is, in the y-coordinate of the range R1, a straight line extending to the left from x1 is the x-coordinate just to the right of the right side (outer frame) of the block that first hits. Here, since the frame area of the outer frame is not set, x1 is the x coordinate immediately to the right of the outer frame, and therefore, x1 matches the condition.
The right end is the x coordinate immediately to the left of x5, and the upper end is the y coordinate of the upper end of the range R1. The lower end is the y coordinate of the lower end of the range R1.

The upper left coordinates and lower right coordinates of the obtained area of the horizontal boundary rectangle 2a are stored in the horizontal boundary rectangular area 34. In this case, the newly obtained horizontal boundary rectangle 2a is
Since the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate are all included in the already obtained horizontal boundary rectangle, the horizontal boundary rectangle is only a part of the one stored in the horizontal boundary rectangle area 34, Is not stored in In this way,
Operations similar to those performed on x1, x2, x3,
.. Are sequentially repeated, all the horizontal boundary rectangles 2 are calculated, and their coordinate information is stored in the horizontal boundary rectangular area 34.

That is, in order to obtain the next horizontal boundary rectangle, as shown in (A9) of FIG. 7, in x2, a range in which the y coordinate is between any two output data item blocks is obtained. Also in x2, similarly to the above-described processing, first, as a corresponding range, a range R1 (indicated by a one-dot chain line)
Is assigned.

Next, as shown in (A10) of FIG.
The range R1 in 2 (indicated by the dashed line) is mapped on x3, and a range in which the y coordinate is between any two blocks of output data items is also obtained for x3. As a result, the range R1 (indicated by a two-dot chain line) at x3 is
Is shorter than the range R1 (represented by a dashed line) in the block b and mapped.

Next, as shown in (A11) of FIG. 7, the process proceeds similarly. A range R1 (represented by a two-dot chain line) in x3 is mapped on x4, and a range in which the y coordinate is between any two output data item blocks in x4 is obtained. As a result, the range R1 at x4 (indicated by a broken line) is mapped to the same length as the range R1 at x3 (indicated by a two-dot chain line).

Next, as shown in (A12) of FIG. 7, the same processing is performed to map the range R1 (indicated by a broken line) in x4 onto x5, and the x coordinate of x5 is any two. Find the range between two output data item blocks. As a result, the range R1 at x5 (indicated by a dotted line) is in a state in which the entire range of the range R1 at x4 (indicated by a broken line) is encompassed by the block d.
This indicates that, at x5, the y coordinate of the range R1 (indicated by the dotted line) has no range between any two output data items.

As a result, as shown in (A13) of FIG. 8, the horizontal boundary rectangle 2b when the processing is performed with x2 as the base point is obtained. The horizontal boundary rectangle 2b is composed of the following coordinates. The left end is the x coordinate of x1. That is, in the y-coordinate of the range R1, the straight line extending from x2 to the left is the x-coordinate just to the right of the right side (outer frame) of the block that first hits, and the frame area of the outer frame is not set here. Since x1 is the x coordinate immediately on the right side of the outer frame, x1 matches the condition. The right end is the x coordinate immediately to the left of x5, and the upper end is y at the upper end of the range R1.
The lower end is the y coordinate of the lower end of the range R1.

The upper left coordinates and lower right coordinates of the obtained area of the horizontal boundary rectangle 2b are stored in the horizontal boundary rectangular area 34. In this case, the newly obtained horizontal boundary rectangle 2b
Since all of the x-coordinates and all of the y-coordinates are included in the already obtained horizontal boundary rectangle 2a, the horizontal boundary rectangle 2b in this case is stored in the horizontal boundary rectangular area 34. Since it is only part of what is stored, it is not newly stored.

Further, in order to obtain the next horizontal boundary rectangle, FIG.
As shown in (A14), the process proceeds in the same manner with x3 as a base point, and a horizontal boundary rectangle is obtained. Assuming that x3 is a base point, two ranges of a range R1 and a range R2 are allocated as ranges in which the y coordinate is between any two blocks of the output data item. By applying the same procedure to each of the ranges R1 and R2 and sequentially mapping x4 and x5, the range R in x3 is obtained.
Range R at x4 from 1, R2 (indicated by dashed line)
The process proceeds to R1 and R2 (represented by a two-dot chain line), and the ranges R1 and R2 (represented by broken lines) at x5 are obtained.

As a result, as shown in (A15) of FIG. 8, the horizontal boundary rectangles 2c, 2c,
2d is required. The horizontal boundary rectangle 2c obtained from the range R1 is composed of the following coordinates. The left end is the x coordinate of x1. In the y-coordinate of the range R1, a straight line extending from x3 to the left is the x-coordinate just to the right of the right side (outer frame) of the block that first hits. Since no frame area of the outer frame is set here, x1 is Since the x coordinate is on the right side of the outer frame, the condition that meets the condition is x1
Becomes The right end is the x coordinate just to the left of x5, the upper end is the y coordinate of the upper end of range R1, and the lower end is the range R1
Is the y coordinate of the lower end of

The horizontal boundary rectangle 2d obtained from the range R2 is composed of the following coordinates. The left end is the x coordinate on the right side of the right side of block a. That is, in the y-coordinate of the range R2, a straight line extending to the left from x3 is the x-coordinate just to the right of the right side of the block a, which is the first block to collide with. The right end is the x coordinate immediately to the left of x5, the upper end is the y coordinate of the upper end of range R2, and the lower end is the y coordinate of the lower end of range R2.

The upper left coordinates and lower right coordinates of the obtained horizontal boundary rectangle 2c and horizontal boundary rectangle 2d are stored in the horizontal boundary rectangle area 34. In this case, the newly obtained horizontal boundary rectangle 2c includes all the x-coordinates and all the y-coordinates of the already obtained horizontal boundary rectangle 2a. Therefore, the horizontal boundary rectangle 2b in this case is stored in the horizontal boundary rectangular area 34. Therefore, the upper left coordinate and the lower right coordinate of the newly obtained area of the horizontal boundary rectangle 2d are stored in the horizontal boundary rectangular area 34.

In order to obtain the next horizontal boundary rectangle, (A) in FIG.
As shown in 16), the process proceeds in the same manner with x4 as a base point, and a horizontal boundary rectangle is obtained. Assuming that x4 is a base point, two ranges of a range R1 and a range R2 are allocated as ranges in which the y coordinate is between any two blocks of the output data item. Applying a similar procedure to each of the range R1 and the range R2 (indicated by a dashed line) where the y coordinate is allocated as a range between any two output data item blocks with x4 as a base point. And x5
, A range R1 and a range R2 (represented by a two-dot chain line) are obtained.

As a result, as shown in (A17) of FIG. 9, the horizontal boundary rectangles 2e, 2e,
2f is required. The horizontal boundary rectangle 2e obtained from the range R1 is composed of the following coordinates. The left end is the x coordinate of x1. In the y coordinate of the range R1, a straight line extending to the left from x4 is the x coordinate right on the right side (outer frame) of the block that first hits. Here, since the frame area of the outer frame is not set, x1 is Since the x coordinate is on the right side of the outer frame, the condition that meets the condition is x1
Becomes The right end is the x coordinate just to the left of x5, the upper end is the y coordinate of the upper end of range R1, and the lower end is the range R1
Is the y coordinate of the lower end of

The horizontal boundary rectangle 2f obtained from the range R2 is composed of the following coordinates. The left end is the x coordinate on the right side of the right side of block a. That is, in the y-coordinate of the range R2, a straight line extending to the left from x4 is the x-coordinate immediately to the right of the right side of the block a, which is the first block to collide with. The right end is the x coordinate immediately to the left of x5, the upper end is the y coordinate of the upper end of range R2, and the lower end is the y coordinate of the lower end of range R2.

The upper left coordinates and lower right coordinates of the obtained horizontal boundary rectangle 2e and the horizontal boundary rectangle 2f are stored in the horizontal boundary rectangular area 34. In this case, the newly obtained horizontal boundary rectangle 2e includes all the x-coordinates and all the y-coordinates of the already obtained horizontal boundary rectangle 2a. Therefore, the horizontal boundary rectangle 2e in this case is stored in the horizontal boundary rectangular area 34. Is not newly stored. Same horizontal border rectangle 2
f also includes all the x-coordinates and all the y-coordinates of the already obtained horizontal boundary rectangle 2d, so that the horizontal boundary rectangle 2f is one of those stored in the horizontal boundary rectangular area 34. Since it is only a copy, it is not newly stored.

In this manner, the process of obtaining the horizontal boundary rectangle 2 that vertically divides each output data item is completed. As a result, as shown in (A18) of FIG. 9, the obtained horizontal boundary rectangle 2 is arranged except for those included in the other horizontal boundary rectangles, and the coordinate information is stored in the horizontal boundary rectangular area 34. Will be stored.

Next, (B1) of FIG. 9 to (B1) of FIG.
As shown in (0), the same process is performed by changing the direction, and the process of obtaining the vertical boundary rectangle 3 for obtaining the longest straight line that divides each output data item in the form into left and right is performed. The obtained coordinate information of the vertical boundary rectangle is stored in the vertical boundary rectangular area 35.

Next, a procedure for obtaining a vertical boundary rectangle for obtaining a straight line vertically dividing blocks a to e will be described. Similar to the case of obtaining the horizontal boundary rectangle, the case of obtaining the vertical boundary rectangle is performed by using the block a as shown in (B1) of FIG.
To e, y1, y2,
Assign y3, y4 and y5. Here, block a
Y1 to y5 are assigned as a result of arranging the coordinates of the respective upper sides of 〜e.

Next, as shown in (B2) of FIG.
, And the range (R1, R2,
..), two ranges R1 and R2 are allocated. By applying the same procedure as the above-described processing to each of the range R1 and the range R2, y1 is sequentially mapped to y2, y3, y4, and y5, so that the range R1,
From R2 (represented by the dashed line), the range R1,
Proceed to R2 (indicated by a two-dot chain line), and
1, R2 (indicated by a broken line), and the range R at y4
The process proceeds to 1, R2 (indicated by a dashed line), the range R1 disappears at y4, further proceeds to the range R2 in y5 (indicated by a dashed line), and is obtained up to the range R2 (indicated by a dashed line) in the outer frame. Can be

As a result, as shown in (B3) of FIG. 10, the vertical boundary rectangle 3a when the processing is performed with y1 as the base point is obtained from the range R2. Note that a rectangle is obtained from the range R1, but this rectangle is not regarded as a vertical boundary rectangle because its left end matches the x coordinate immediately to the left of the outer frame and does not divide two output data blocks. Where the range R
2, the vertical boundary rectangle 3a is formed from the following coordinates. The left end is x at the left end of the range R2.
The right end is the x coordinate of the right end of the range R2.
The upper end is the y coordinate of y1. That is, in the y-coordinate of the range R2, the straight line extending upward from y1 is the y-coordinate just below the lower side (outer frame) of the block that first hits, and the frame area of the outer frame is not set here. , Y
Since 1 is the y-coordinate just below the outer frame, y1 satisfies the condition. The lower end is the y coordinate just above the lower outer frame.

Next, as shown in (B4) of FIG.
The process proceeds in the same manner with 2 as the base point, and the next vertical boundary rectangle is obtained. When a range (R1, R2,...) is assigned as a range in which the x coordinate is between any two output data item blocks with y2 as a base point, two ranges, R1 and R2, are assigned. Range R1 and range R
By applying the same procedure as the above-described processing to each of the two, the mapping from y2 to y3, y4, and y5 is sequentially performed, and the ranges R1, R2 (1
(Indicated by a dashed-dotted line) to ranges R1, R2 (2
(Indicated by a dashed line)), and the ranges R1 and R2 in y4
The process proceeds to (displayed with a broken line), the range R1 disappears at y4, further proceeds to the range R2 at y5 (displayed by a dotted line), and the range up to the range R2 (displayed by a dashed line) in the outer frame is obtained.

As a result, as shown in (B5) of FIG. 10, the vertical boundary rectangle 3b when the processing is performed with y2 as the base point is obtained from the range R2. As before, the range R
1, the rectangle is not regarded as a vertical boundary rectangle because its left end coincides with the x coordinate immediately to the left of the outer frame and does not divide two output data blocks. The vertical boundary rectangle 3 obtained from the range R2 here
b is composed of the following coordinates. The left end is
The left end is the x coordinate of the range R2, and the right end is the x coordinate of the right end of the range R2. The upper end is the y coordinate of y1. That is, in the y-coordinate of the range R2, the straight line extending upward from y2 is the y-coordinate just below the lower side (outer frame) of the block that first hits, and the frame area of the outer frame is not set here. , Y1 are y-coordinates just below the outer frame, so that the condition is y1. The lower end is the y coordinate just above the lower outer frame.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10 (B6), y
The process proceeds in the same manner with 3 as the base point, and the next vertical boundary rectangle is obtained. When a range (R1, R2,...) is assigned as a range in which the x coordinate is between any two output data item blocks with y3 as a base point, two ranges, R1 and R2, are assigned. Range R1 and range R
By applying the same procedure as the above-described process to each of the two, the mapping is sequentially performed from y3 to y4 and y5, and the range R1 and R2 (indicated by a dashed line) in y3 is shifted to the range R1 in y4. , R2 (represented by a two-dot chain line), to the ranges R1 and R2 at y5 (represented by a broken line), and further to the ranges R1 and R2 (represented by a dotted line) in the outer frame.

As a result, as shown in (B7) of FIG. 11, the vertical boundary rectangle 3c,
3d is obtained from the ranges R1 and R2. Where the range R
The vertical boundary rectangle 3c obtained by 1 is composed of the following coordinates. The left end is x at the left end of the range R1.
The right end is the x coordinate of the right end of the range R1.
The upper end is the y coordinate just below the lower end of the block c.
That is, in the y coordinate of the range R1, the block where the straight line extending upward from y3 first hits is the block c
And the y-coordinate just below the lower side of the block c.
The lower end is the y coordinate just above the lower outer frame. Also,
The vertical boundary rectangle 3d obtained from the range R2 is composed of the following coordinates. The left end is the x coordinate of the left end of the range R2, and the right end is the x coordinate of the right end of the range R2. The upper end is y just below the lower end of the block c.
Coordinates. This means that at the y coordinate of the range R2, y3
The block where the straight line extending upward from the first meets the block c is the block c, and therefore has the y-coordinate just below the lower side of the block c. The lower end is the y coordinate just above the lower outer frame.

Subsequently, in order to obtain the next vertical boundary rectangle, the processing is similarly performed with y4 as a base point, as shown in FIG. 10B. When ranges (R1, R2,...) are assigned as ranges in which the x coordinate is between any two output data item blocks with y4 as a base point, ranges R1 and R2 are assigned. Assigned range R
Applying the same procedure as the above-described processing to each of R1 and R2 and mapping to y5, the range R1 and R2 at y4 (indicated by a dashed line) is changed to the range R1 and R2 at y5 (a two-dot chain line). To the ranges R1 and R2 (displayed with broken lines) in the outer frame.

As a result, as shown in (B9) of FIG. 11, the vertical boundary rectangles 3e, 3e,
3f is obtained from the ranges R1 and R2. Where the range R
The vertical boundary rectangle 3e obtained by 1 is composed of the following coordinates. The left end is x at the left end of the range R1.
The right end is the x coordinate of the right end of the range R1.
The upper end is the y coordinate just below the lower end of block c.
In the y-coordinate of the range R1, the block where the straight line extending upward from y4 hits first is the block c, so that the y-coordinate is just below the lower side of the block c. The lower end is the y coordinate just above the lower outer frame. In addition, the vertical boundary rectangle 3f obtained from the range R2 is formed from the following coordinates. The left end is the x coordinate of the left end of the range R2, and the right end is the x coordinate of the right end of the range R2. The upper end is the y coordinate just below the lower end of the block c. Again, at the y coordinate of the obtained range R2,
Since the straight line extending upward from y4 is the first block to be hit by the block c, the y coordinate is the y coordinate immediately below the lower side of the block c. The lower end is the y coordinate just above the lower outer frame.

In this way, the respective vertical boundary rectangles 3 for dividing each output data item to the left and right are obtained. As shown in FIG. 11 (B10), other vertical boundary rectangles 3 are obtained. They are arranged except for those included in the vertical boundary rectangle. In this vertical boundary rectangle 3, y1 or y
The vertical boundary rectangles 3a and 3b determined based on 2 and the vertical boundary rectangles 3d and 3f determined based on y3 or y4 partially overlap, but the longest straight line that divides each output data item to the left and right is determined. For the purpose, the side with the longer vertical length (y
The vertical boundary rectangles 3a, 3b) based on 1 or y2 are
Consider the other to be included. These pieces of coordinate information are stored in the vertical boundary rectangular area 35.

The horizontal boundary rectangle 2 of the result obtained as described above
In accordance with the respective coordinate information of the horizontal boundary rectangle 2 and the vertical boundary rectangle 3, rectangles at both ends where the horizontal boundary rectangle 2 intersects with the vertical boundary rectangle 3 are calculated, and the midpoint is calculated. Let it be the end point of the straight line separating a to e. The obtained coordinate values of the end points are stored in the separator line end point area 36. Finally, according to the coordinate information of the separator line end point area 36, for example,
By displaying the straight line on the display device 23, the straight line that separates the automatically generated output data items is displayed.

[0068]

As described above, according to the output data item separation processing method of the present invention, in forming a form, an output data item is separated only by arranging an arbitrary output data item at an arbitrary position in the form. And a minimum number of straight lines is automatically generated. This eliminates the necessity of determining the validity of the output data item to create a demarcation line that separates output data items, and eliminates the task of explicitly creating the straight line.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining the principle of processing for automatically generating a separator line by an output data item separator processing method in a form creation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a form creation device that implements an output data item separation processing method according to one embodiment of the present invention in one aspect;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a data structure in a memory of the form creation device in detail;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing, by a PAD, a flow of processing for generating a separation line of an output data item by the output data item separation processing method;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining processing for obtaining a horizontal boundary rectangle;
Figure 4

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining processing for obtaining a horizontal boundary rectangle;
Figure 8,

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing for obtaining a horizontal boundary rectangle;
12 figures,

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a process for obtaining a horizontal boundary rectangle;
Figure of A16,

FIG. 9 illustrates processing for obtaining a horizontal boundary rectangle.
A18 and B1 to B2 for explaining the process of obtaining the vertical and horizontal boundary rectangles;

FIG. 10 is a B3 illustrating a process of obtaining a vertical and horizontal boundary rectangle.
-B6,

FIG. 11 is a B7 illustrating a process for obtaining a vertical and horizontal boundary rectangle.
It is a figure of -B10.

[Explanation of symbols]

 a to e: Output data item block 1 ... Outer frame 2 ... Horizontal border rectangle 3 ... Vertical border rectangle 4 ... Separator line 20 ... Memory 21 ... Input device 22 ... Processing device 23 ... Display device 31 ... Output data item coordinate area 32 ... x range area between items 33 ... y range area between items 34 ... horizontal boundary rectangular area 35 ... vertical boundary rectangular area 36 ... separator line end point area

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/21-17/27 G06F 19/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A form creation apparatus for creating a form by separating each output data item with respect to an output data item of an arbitrary size arranged at an arbitrary position in the form and relating the output data item to a form. A first step of setting an outer frame including all blocks of an output data item for an output data item of an arbitrary size arranged at an arbitrary position in a form, comprising: In the range of the set outer frame, in the area where the block of the output data item is not arranged, the area that vertically divides the block of each output data item is set as the horizontal boundary rectangle from the area having the maximum width. Two steps and an area where the output data item blocks are not arranged within the set outer frame, A third step of setting a vertical boundary rectangle from the region having the largest width; obtaining intersection regions at both ends of the horizontal boundary rectangle and the vertical boundary rectangle; generating a line connecting the midpoints of the regions; And a fourth step of setting a dividing line for separating the items.