JP3486788B2 - String output device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character string output device for outputting a character string composed of a plurality of characters. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a document processing apparatus such as a word processor, when an arbitrary character string is emphasized and output, inversion,
A method of emphasizing a desired character string by rotation, italic, or the like is known, but in the method of emphasizing a character string in this way, the character string can be modified only in a predetermined form. There is a problem that the degree of freedom is extremely low and the user cannot fully meet the demands. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to arrange a character string to be output with a well-balanced character height and a well-balanced arrangement shape. [0004] The present invention provides a character string designating means for designating a character string composed of a plurality of characters to be output, and a shape designating means for designating a curve shape in which the character strings are arranged. And, based on the length in the length direction of the curved shape and the number of characters of the character string, determine the character height of each character arranged on the curved shape, according to the determined character height Generating means for generating the same number of character frames on the curved shape as the number of characters, and output means for arranging and outputting each of the characters in each character frame generated on the curved shape. . An embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a character string output device in a word processor. The main control unit 1 is a central processing unit that controls the overall operation of the character string output device according to various programs. When character string data or graphic data is input from the key operation unit 2, the main control unit 1 Is given to the display control unit 3 and the display device 4
, The graphic data is stored in the graphic memory 5-1 constituting the document memory 5, and the character string data is stored in the text memory 5-3. When a print command is input from the key operation unit 2, the main control unit 1 gives the contents of the document memory 5 to the print control unit 6, prints out the data from the printing device 7, and stores a print command from the key operation unit 2. Is input, the contents of the document memory 5 are given to the external storage control unit 8 and registered and stored in the external storage device 9. Further, the main control unit 1 fetches character string data and graphic data from the external storage device 9 via the external storage control unit 8 and stores the data in the document memory 5. The document memory 5 includes a graphic memory 5-1, a hyper-outline memory 5-2, and a text memory 5-3. The graphic memory 5-1 stores, as graphic information, coordinate sequence data representing the graphic type and graphic. And stores, for example, a rectangular figure, a circular figure, a star figure, and the like. The hyper outline memory 5-2 sets a region sandwiched between two lines as a character arrangement region, and a character structure arranged along the line segment in the character arrangement region has a data structure of a graphic element and a character string. This is a memory unique to the present embodiment for storing a character string to which arrangement information defining a character arrangement area as a graphic element is added, and its contents are generated by the character / graphic information conversion unit 10. The arrangement information defining the character arrangement area is represented by the same coordinate system as the graphic.
The text memory 5-3 stores character string data, and the main control unit 1 reads character string data specified as an output target from the text memory 5-3. [0008] The character / graphic information conversion unit 10 includes a character string storage unit 1
0-1, graphic information storage unit 10-2, arrangement information creation unit 10
-3, a graphic memory 5-1 and a text memory 5-3.
When the output target graphic is specified by the key operation unit 2, the main control unit 1 converts the specified graphic information into the character / graphic information conversion unit 10. When the character string to be output is designated by the key operation unit 2, the main control unit 1 converts the designated character string into the character / graphic information conversion unit 10-2.
Is set in the character string storage unit 10-1. The arrangement information creating section 10-3 generates a character string with arrangement information based on the character strings in the character string storage section 10-1 and the graphic information storage section 10-2 and the graphic information. , Graphic information analysis unit 10-3A, character information analysis unit 10
-3B analyzes the graphic information and the character string, and the graphic / layout conversion unit 10-3C converts the graphic information into the layout information based on the analysis. The character string with the arrangement information thus obtained is temporarily stored in the data buffer 10-4, and then written into the hyper outline memory 5-2. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a brief description will be given of the operation principle of the technology which is the premise of the present embodiment, that is, the technology of arranging a character string at an arbitrary position. A character string arranged at an arbitrary place has a data structure as shown in FIG. That is, the data structure of this character string has the form of a graphic element and a character string as described above, and the "pattern code" that defines the graphic element is composed of a combination of two line segments. The pattern code "0" indicates that two lines are "straight line + straight line"
Indicates that the character arrangement area is constituted by the combination of. The pattern code “1” is a combination of “straight line + Bézier curve”, and “2” is a combination of “Bézier curve +
"Bézier curve" combination, "3" is "arc + arc"
Indicates that the character arrangement area is constituted by the combination of. The "digit pitch" is a value of n representing a character width by n / 32, and defines a character pitch. Note that "3
"2" indicates the maximum value of the character width. The “coordinate data” is a coordinate sequence that defines a character arrangement area. The start and end points of a straight line portion, the start point, the control point, the end point of a Bezier curve portion, and the center and start angle of an arc portion. , End angle and radius. “Character string data” is a character string arranged along the line segment in the character arrangement area, and character string data is defined together with the number of characters. In the character string data with arrangement information configured as described above, since the graphic information and the arrangement information have the same coordinate system, the character string can follow the graphic. When a character string is arranged and output based on the column data, the result is as shown in FIG. That is, FIG.
(A) shows an example of arrangement when the pattern code is “0”, and the upper straight line forming the character arrangement area is the starting point (1),
The lower line is defined by the end point (1), and the lower line is defined by the start point (2) and the end point (2). Both straight lines are not parallel and the interval is from the start point to the end point. It is getting wider gradually. When arranging and outputting a character string in such a character arrangement area sandwiched by two straight lines, the character arrangement area is equally divided according to the number of characters of the character string, and the characters corresponding to the number of characters in the character frame. Is arranged. Thus, the size of the character gradually increases from the beginning of the character string, and a character string having a natural sense of depth can be obtained. FIG. 3B shows an example of the arrangement when the pattern code is "2", and FIG. 3C shows an example of the arrangement when the pattern code is "3". The character string follows a Bezier curve or an arc. To obtain a variety of character strings. In addition,
In FIG. 3B, starting points (1) and (2), control points (1a) and (1) are used to draw two Bezier curves.
b), (2a), (2b), end points (1), and (2) are required, and in FIG. 3C, radii (1), (2), and center are used to draw two arcs. Requires coordinates, start and end angles. As described above, the technology which is the premise of this embodiment is 2
If a straight line or curve is defined, the character string is arranged so that the characters fit in between. In the case of a straight line, the character arrangement area is specified by two start points and end points, The straight line is equally divided by the number of characters to determine a character frame in which one character is stored, and the character is stored therein. In addition, 2
Whether the straight line is a Bezier curve or a circular arc, the present invention can be similarly applied. In this embodiment, in order to specify a character arrangement area, a method of inputting and designating two line segments in advance is not adopted, but a previously prepared graphic is stored in a graphic memory 5-. 1, a character string with arrangement information is obtained by automatically generating arrangement information defining a character arrangement area from the coordinate string and adding it to the output target character string. In other words, by simply designating an arbitrary figure, a character string is automatically arranged along the line segments constituting the figure. FIG. 4 shows a character string arranged along the line segment of the designated figure. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data structure of a character string with arrangement information in the present embodiment. Therefore, in this embodiment, graphic information (coordinate string data and the like) already stored in the graphic memory 5-1 is fetched, and this is directly used as layout information as one line segment constituting a character layout area. If copied, the upper or lower line sandwiching the character string will coincide with the line segments that make up the figure. FIG. 4 shows a case where a line segment constituting a figure is copied as a line located at the upper part of a character string. For a circle, the figure information is copied as it is, and a lower line is automatically generated in consideration of the character height. I do. When the designated figure is a rectangle, the figure is defined by diagonal coordinates, and cannot be copied as it is. Therefore, the rectangle is decomposed into four straight lines based on the diagonal coordinates and Automatically generate the lower line opposite the book line. When arranging a character string in this manner, the character / graphic information conversion unit 10 not only captures the coordinate information of the graphic for copying or the like, but also has a function of generating another line for sandwiching the character. 5 has a function of dividing and arranging a character string for each line segment constituting a figure, and FIG.
Character string data with arrangement information as shown in (B) is generated and set in the hyper outline memory 5-2. Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of generating the character string data with the arrangement information shown in FIG. Here, the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 will be specifically described with reference to the arrangement example shown in FIG. Now, an arbitrary figure stored in the figure memory 5-1 is designated from the key operation unit 2, and the text memory 5-
3 is designated as an output target character string. Here, when an execution instruction of processing for causing a character string to follow a graphic is input from the key operation unit 2, the main control unit 1 reads graphic information designated as an output target from the graphic memory 5-1 and reads the character graphic information. The character string specified as the output target is set from the text memory 5-3 while being set in the graphic information storage unit 10-2 in the conversion unit 10, and the character string storage unit 10-1 in the character / graphic information conversion unit 10 is read.
Set to. In this state, the main controller 1 activates the character / graphic information converter 10. Then, the character / graphic information converter 10 operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 6 shows an example of the operation of the character / graphic information conversion unit 10. First, the arrangement information creating unit 10-3 accesses the graphic information storage unit 10-2, and determines the graphic type according to the pattern code included in the graphic information (step S1). Here, a process of determining the height of a character string to be arranged is performed as a process common to each graphic type.
In this case, basically, a value obtained by dividing the length of the line segment constituting the figure by the number of characters is determined as the character height, whereby the shape of the character frame that accommodates one character is close to a square. However, in the case of a rectangle, "8" is added to the number of characters to prevent overlapping of characters at the four corners. That is, if the figure type is a rectangle, the process proceeds to step S2, and the lengths of four straight lines constituting the rectangle are obtained from the coordinate sequence information (diagonal coordinates) of the figure. Then, the arrangement information creating unit 10-3 determines the character height by adding "8" to the number of characters and dividing the length of the four sides by the value of the number of characters +8 (step S3). The reason for determining the height of the character is to generate another line to sandwich the character string. In addition, it is necessary to perform a process for preventing characters from overlapping at corners of a polygon or the like defined by a continuous straight line, instead of a figure defined by diagonal coordinates such as a rectangle. Also, for a figure such as a rectangle that considers overlapping of characters, a process of dividing a character string according to each side is required. Here, in the case of a rectangle, the process proceeds to step S4, where the arrangement information creating unit 10-3 adds 8 to the number of characters, sets the number of characters to be the number of characters to follow the rectangular line segment, and sets the length of each side. To divide the total number of characters. At this time, if an inconvenience occurs, such as when the number of characters in the character strings along the opposite sides is not equal, the total number of characters is increased by one character at a time (the increased portion becomes blank), and the number of characters on the opposite side is increased. Should be matched. Now, the example shown in FIG. 4A shows a case where the long side is determined to be 8 characters and the short side is determined to be 6 characters. Next, proceed to step S5,
The arrangement information creating unit 10-3 adds blank codes to both ends of each character string divided in association with the four sides of the rectangle.
This is to prevent characters from overlapping on both sides of each side. In FIG. 4A, “□ inside a rectangle” (□ represents a blank) is applied as a character string along the first side. Will be done. The character string along the second side is "□
A character string is indicated by □, and a character string along the third side is indicated by “□ when aligned”. Next, the start point (1) and the end point (2) are generated corresponding to the four straight lines constituting the rectangle (step S6), and are parallel to the four straight lines to form a rectangle. In order to generate another line located inside, the coordinate position obtained by translating the start and end points of the four sides of the rectangle by the character height based on the character height obtained in step S3 The start point (2) and the end point (2) of another line are set (step S7). Then, the arrangement information creating unit 10-3 outputs the rectangular 4
The starting point (1) and the ending point (1) constituting the side, the starting point (2) and the ending point (2) of the line parallel to these, and each character string assigned to each side are represented by characters. The data is stored in the data buffer 10-4 in the graphic information converter 10 (step S16). Then, when writing the contents of the data buffer 10-4 to the document memory 5, the main control unit 1 adds an identifier indicating a character string with arrangement information and stores it in the hyper outline memory 5-2. I do. FIG. 5 is FIG.
FIG. 5A shows a data structure in the hyper outline memory 5-2 corresponding to the specific example shown in FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5A shows a state where circle and rectangle information has already been stored in the figure memory 5-1 as figure information. FIG. 5B shows a character string with arrangement information in the hyper outline memory 5-2 generated by designating a rectangle and a circle as graphic information. In this case, “1” is set in the hyper outline memory 5-2 as a character string identifier with arrangement information. Here, in the case of a rectangle, “0” indicating “straight line + straight line” is set as the pattern code.
The coordinate data forming the upper side of the rectangle has a start point of “0,
0 ", the end point is" 16.0 ", and the start point of the line parallel to the upper side generated in consideration of the character height is" 0,
2 ", and the end point is" 16, 2 ". Then, the character string data “□ inside the rectangle” with blanks added at both ends is set in association with the upper side of the rectangle. Similarly, pattern codes, coordinate data,
The character string data is set in the hyper outline memory 5-2. At this time, the number of storage locations (character frames) on the last side may be larger than the number of characters due to the increase in the number of characters arranged as described above. In such a case, a blank code for the increased number of characters is replaced with a character. It is added to the end of the column. On the other hand, if the figure type is a circle type, step S
Steps 8 to S11 and S16 are performed. That is, the arrangement information creating unit 10-3 determines the entire length of the circumference (arc) (step S8), and determines the character height by dividing the length by the number of characters (step S9). Then, the coordinate sequence data of the graphic information, that is, the center coordinates, the start and end angles are copied as they are as the upper curve constituting the character arrangement area (step S10), and the radius is radius (1).
The radius (2) is generated by subtracting the height of the character from the radius (1) as another curve along the inside of the circular figure, that is, a lower curve constituting the character arrangement area. (Step S11). Then, these coordinate string data are stored in the data buffer 10-4 together with the character string (step S16). FIG. 4B shows a case where a circle is designated as graphic information, and a state in which character strings are evenly arranged and output inside the circle along the line segment.
In the case of a circle, the character string arrangement is balanced by setting the number of characters of the character string to seven or more. If the graphic type is a Bezier curve or the like, steps S12 to S16 are performed. That is, the arrangement information creating unit 10-3 determines the length along the curve of the figure (step S12), and determines the character height by dividing the length by the number of characters (step S12).
13). Then, the arrangement information creating unit 10-3 copies the parameters constituting the graphic as it is as the upper curve constituting the character arrangement area (step S14). A lower curve forming the arrangement area is generated (step S1).
5). Then, these coordinate string data are stored together with the character string in the data buffer 10-4 (step S1).
6). When the operation of the character / graphic information conversion unit 10 is completed, the main control unit 1 sets the character / graphic information conversion unit 10
Then, a character string with arrangement information is fetched from the data buffer 10-4 in the memory and stored in the hyper outline memory 5-2. The contents of the hyper outline memory 5-2 are read in response to the output command, and the character strings are arranged and output along the line segments constituting the figure. Although FIGS. 4 and 6 show the case where the upper part of the character string is made to follow the line segment forming the figure, the user can decide whether to make the character string follow the upper part or the lower part of the character string. Any selection can be made, and when the selection is instructed from the key operation unit 2, processing corresponding to the selection is performed. FIG. 7 shows a specific example in the case where the lower part of the character string is made to follow a line segment constituting the figure. Here, if a straight line or Bezier curve is previously input as an underline as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7B, a character string with an underline and a character string along it is obtained. Also in this case, it can be realized by the same processing as described above. As described above, in the present embodiment, by simply designating a figure prepared in advance, for each line segment constituting the figure, the layout information defining the character layout area having the same shape as the line segment is defined. Is generated, and this arrangement information is added to the output target character string. Therefore, the character string can be arranged and output along the line segments constituting the figure. In this case, since the character string with the arrangement information has the same coordinate system as the graphic information and the arrangement information, the character string can follow the graphic. Further, since the character height is determined based on the number of characters and the length of the line segment forming the figure, the character size is reduced if the number of characters is large, and the character size is increased if the number of characters is small. Further, in the case of a figure in which a straight line is bent, such as a rectangle, it is possible to prevent overlapping of characters at the bent portion, and to divide and arrange a character string on each side with good balance. In addition, it is possible to arbitrarily select whether the upper part or the lower part of the character string follows the line constituting the graphic. If the user selects to follow the lower part, a character string with a variety of underlines can be obtained by inputting an underline as graphic information. In the above embodiment, the character string is arranged and output along the line segment together with the graphic. However, it is also possible to output only the character string without outputting the graphic. In the above-described embodiment, the case where a character string is arranged along the line segment of a rectangle or a circle is shown. For example, when a smaller rectangle or a circle exists in the rectangle, the outer figure A character string may be arranged along the line segment in the figure inside. According to the present invention, by specifying a curve shape for arranging a character string, the curve shape is determined based on the length in the length direction of the curve shape and the number of characters of the character string. Determine the character height of each character arranged on the above, automatically generate a character frame corresponding to the determined character height on the curve shape by the number of characters, and place each character in each character frame Since the arrangement output is performed, on the designated curve shape, each character of the character string can be output in a well-balanced manner at a character height determined according to the length of the curve shape and the number of characters of the character string, In addition, the character strings can be arranged in a well-balanced manner over the specified curve shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a character string output device of a word processor according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a basic principle that is a premise of the embodiment, and is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a character string with arrangement information. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a basic principle that is a premise of the embodiment, specifically showing a state in which a character string with arrangement information as shown in FIG. 2 is arranged according to the arrangement information. FIGS. 4A and 4B show an example of character arrangement in the present embodiment, in which FIG. 4A shows an example of arrangement when a rectangle is designated as a figure, and FIG. 4B shows an example of arrangement when a circle is designated; 5A and 5B show an example of data storage in a graphic memory 5-1 and a hyper outline memory 5-2 constituting a document memory 5; FIG. 5A shows a case where circle and rectangle graphic information are stored in a graphic memory 5-1; In the state where no data is stored in the outline memory 5-2, (B) has added the arrangement information generated in order to make the specified output target character string follow the graphic in the graphic memory 5-1. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a character string is stored in a hyper outline memory 5-2. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the character / graphic information conversion unit 10 in the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an application example in which a character string with an underline is arranged along an input underline. [Description of Signs] 1 Main control unit 2 Key operation unit 3 Display control unit 4 Display device 5 Document memory 5-1 Graphic memory 5-2 Hyper outline memory 5-3 Text memory 6 Print control unit 7 Printing device 10 Character graphic information Conversion section 10-1 Character string storage section 10-2 Graphic information storage section 10-3 Layout information creation section 10-3A Graphic information analysis section 10-3B Character information analysis section 10-3C Graphic / layout conversion section 10-4 Data buffer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-5-108773 (JP, A) JP-A-5-66759 (JP, A) JP-A-6-83315 (JP, A) JP-A-63-1988 108392 (JP, A) JP-A-3-101792 (JP, A) JP-A-4-148420 (JP, A) JP-A-5-242212 (JP, A) JP-A-6-96182 (JP, A) JP-A-7-219506 (JP, A) JP-A-8-30666 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G09G 5/00-5/40 G06T 11/60

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] [Claim 1] Character string designating means for designating a character string composed of a plurality of characters to be output, shape designating means for designating a curve shape for arranging the character strings, Based on the length in the length direction of the curved shape and the number of characters of the character string, determine the character height of each character arranged on the curved shape, and determine the character according to the determined character height A character string comprising: generating means for generating a frame for the number of characters on the curve shape; and output means for arranging and outputting the characters in each character frame generated on the curve shape. Output device.