JP3658493B2 - Electronic typesetting method and recording medium on which program for executing the method is recorded - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic composition technique for performing composition using a computer system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The “typesetting” refers to a work that arranges a character string in the image plane and a plate that includes the character string arranged by this work. In traditional typesetting, an operator creates a plate by arranging type blocks, but in recent years, electronic typesetting has been widely used in which typesetting is electronically performed using a computer system.
[0003]
In normal electronic typesetting, when a character string is arranged with respect to a graphic (hereinafter referred to as an “arrangement reference graphic”) used for arranging a character string, one of a plurality of arrangement modes is selected. Often it is possible to choose. The arrangement reference graphic is also called a “flowing graphic”. As the placement mode, for example, a mode in which a character string is simply placed sequentially inside a rectangular placement reference graphic, or a mode in which the character size is adjusted so that the character string fills the inside of the placement reference graphic and so on. A command for executing the formatting process in these arrangement modes is also called a “formatting command”.
[0004]
In the conventional electronic typesetting, an arrangement reference figure is set, a character string to be arranged is input, one of a plurality of types of arrangement modes is selected, and the character string is arranged with respect to the arrangement reference figure. .
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional electronic typesetting method, the arrangement mode cannot be changed once the character string has been arranged. For this reason, when it is desired to change the arrangement mode, it is necessary to delete the set arrangement reference figure and the character string and input them again.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic typesetting technique that can increase the flexibility of character string arrangement.
[0007]
[Means for solving the problems and their functions and effects]
In order to solve at least a part of the problems described above, a method according to the present invention is an electronic typesetting method in which typesetting is performed using a computer system,
(A) a step of setting an arrangement reference figure that serves as a reference for arranging character strings;
(B) inputting a character string to be arranged in the arrangement reference figure;
(C) selecting one of a plurality of arrangement modes that can be taken when the character string is arranged with respect to the arrangement reference graphic;
(D) displaying a state in which the character string is arranged on the arrangement reference graphic according to the selected arrangement mode;
(E) changing the arrangement state of the character strings with respect to the arrangement reference graphic by changing the arrangement mode to another arrangement mode;
It is characterized by providing. The order in which the first three steps (a) to (c) are executed is arbitrary, and may be executed in any order.
[0008]
In this method, since the arrangement state of the character string with respect to the arrangement reference graphic can be changed by changing the arrangement mode, it is possible to display the state in which the character string is arranged in various modes with respect to the same arrangement reference graphic. As a result, it is possible to increase flexibility regarding the arrangement of character strings.
[0009]
The plurality of arrangement modes preferably include at least one of the following four.
(1) A first arrangement in which, when the arrangement reference graphic is a closed graphic, the character strings are sequentially arranged inside the closed graphic according to a typesetting style including a typeface, character size, and arrangement direction of the character string. Mode,
(2) When the arrangement reference figure is a closed figure, the character size of each character is adjusted so that the character string fills the inside of the closed figure regardless of the character size specified in the typesetting style. A second placement mode to place;
(3) a third arrangement mode for sequentially arranging the character strings on lines constituting the arrangement reference graphic according to the typesetting style;
(4) When the arrangement reference graphic is a closed graphic, the height of the character string is equal to the height of the closed graphic regardless of the character size specified in the typesetting style, and the character A fourth arrangement mode in which the height and width of each character are adjusted and arranged so that the entire length of the column is equal to the length of the closed figure.
When the shape of the arrangement reference graphic is changed, the step (d) is re-executed.
[0010]
A recording medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium in which a computer program for performing typesetting is recorded,
A function for setting an arrangement reference figure that serves as a reference for arranging a character string,
A function of inputting a character string to be arranged in the arrangement reference figure;
A function of selecting one of a plurality of arrangement modes that can be taken when the character string is arranged with respect to the arrangement reference figure;
A function for displaying a state in which the character string is arranged on the arrangement reference graphic according to the selected arrangement mode;
A function of changing the arrangement state of the character strings with respect to the arrangement reference graphic by changing the arrangement mode to another arrangement mode;
It is a computer-readable recording medium which recorded the computer program for making a computer implement | achieve.
[0011]
When the computer program recorded on such a recording medium is executed by the computer, the arrangement state of the character string with respect to the arrangement reference figure can be changed by changing the arrangement mode. The state of arrangement in various modes can be displayed, and as a result, flexibility regarding the arrangement of character strings can be increased.
[0012]
Other aspects of the invention
The present invention includes other aspects as follows. A first aspect is an electronic typesetting apparatus that performs typesetting using a computer system,
A figure setting means for setting an arrangement reference figure as a reference when arranging the character string;
A character collection means for inputting a character string to be arranged in the arrangement reference figure;
Mode selection means for selecting one of a plurality of arrangement modes that can be taken when the character string is arranged with respect to the arrangement reference graphic;
An arrangement means for displaying a state in which the character string is arranged on the arrangement reference graphic according to the selected arrangement mode;
An arrangement changing means for changing the arrangement state of the character string with respect to the arrangement reference graphic by changing the arrangement mode to another arrangement mode;
It is characterized by providing.
[0013]
A 2nd aspect is a program supply apparatus which supplies the computer program which makes a computer perform the function of each process or each means of said invention via a communication path.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A. Device configuration:
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic typesetting system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. This electronic typesetting system is a computer system that includes a CPU 20, a main memory 22, a keyboard 24, a mouse 26, a hard disk 28 as an external storage medium, and a graphic display 30. Various interface circuits are omitted.
[0015]
The main memory 22 stores a computer program that functions as the typesetting means 40, typesetting data 42, typesetting commands 44, and typesetting information 46. The typesetting means 40 is a computer program that implements the functions of various means used for typesetting processing, such as graphic setting means, character setting means, mode selection means, arrangement means, and arrangement change means. The character collection data 42 is a character code representing a character string to be arranged. The composition command 44 includes a plurality of commands that can be selected by the user in order to designate a plurality of types of arrangement modes to be described later. The composition information is information representing an image (referred to as “one-page image”) resulting from the composition.
[0016]
The computer program for realizing the function of the typesetting means 40 is provided in a form stored in a portable recording medium such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM, and transferred from the recording medium to the external storage medium 28 of the computer system. The Or you may make it supply a computer program to a computer system from a program supply apparatus via a communication path. At the time of execution, the computer program is transferred from the external storage medium 28 to the main memory and stored. In this specification, a computer system means a device that includes hardware and an operation system and operates under the control of the operation system. The application program causes such a computer system to realize the functions of the above-described units. Note that some of the functions described above may be realized by an operation system instead of an application program.
[0017]
In the present invention, the “recording medium” is not limited to the portable recording medium described above, but is an internal storage device in a computer such as various RAMs and ROMs, or an external storage fixed to a computer such as a hard disk. The device is also included. That is, the “recording medium” of the present invention includes various media that can be read by a computer.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the entire procedure of the typesetting process in the embodiment. In step S1, the user creates a flow graphic (arrangement reference graphic). FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing how the flow pattern is created. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the user designates the shape of the flow pattern FG on the screen of the graphic display 30.
[0019]
During the composition work, a tool palette 50 and a composition palette 52 are displayed on the screen. The tool palette 50 has a plurality of buttons for selecting various tools used for electronic typesetting work. In the example of FIG. 3A, a button for selecting a mouse pointer, a button for selecting a character input tool (typing means), a button for selecting a rectangular flow shape creation tool, and a circular flow And a button for selecting a shape creation tool. The typesetting palette will be described later.
[0020]
When creating a flow graphic, a creation tool having a desired shape is selected from the tool palette 50 to create a flow graphic FG. In the example of FIG. 3A, a rectangular flow figure FG created using a rectangle creation tool is shown. When the flow graphic FG is created, flow graphic information as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C is created. The cast graphic information includes a graphic ID, graphic attributes, and shape data. The graphic ID indicates the type of graphic (rectangular, circular, arbitrary polygon, etc.). The graphic attribute indicates whether or not the flow of the character string into the graphic is prohibited. When the graphic attribute is set to “prohibit pouring”, the character string is arranged so as to avoid the graphic. Such a non-flowing graphic is used in combination with the flow graphic to place a character string in a region having various special shapes. The shape data is data for indicating the shape of a figure, and the contents thereof differ depending on the type of figure. For example, when the flow pattern is a rectangle, the shape data includes coordinate values of two points on the diagonal of the rectangle as shown in FIG. When the flow pattern is a circle, the shape data includes the center and radius of the circle as shown in FIG.
[0021]
In step S2 of FIG. 2, the user sets a typesetting style using the typesetting palette 52 (FIG. 3A). FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the typesetting palette 52. The typesetting palette 52 sets a typeface setting field 60 for setting the typeface of the character string, a character size setting field 62 for setting the size of the character string, and an arrangement direction (horizontal composition or vertical composition) of the character string. A composition direction setting field 64 and a composition command selection button 66 for selecting one of the four composition commands indicating the four arrangement modes.
[0022]
In step S <b> 2 of FIG. 2, the user sets the typesetting style using the three fields 60, 62, and 64 in the typesetting palette 52. As shown in FIG. 4B, the typesetting style includes the typeface name, character size, and composition direction of the character string to be arranged.
[0023]
In step S <b> 3 of FIG. 2, the user selects a format command using the format command selection button 66 of the format palette 52. FIG. 4C shows four format commands that can be selected. In this embodiment, four types of “area text”, “area fit text”, “line text”, and “fit text” are prepared as the formatting commands. The names, icons, processing contents, etc. of these formatting commands are stored as the formatting commands 44 in the main memory 20 shown in FIG.
[0024]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing four arrangement modes executed in accordance with these four types of formatting commands. In the area text mode shown in FIG. 5A, the character string “ai ... ko” is sequentially arranged in the flow pattern FG in accordance with the designated typesetting style (FIG. 4B). Therefore, in the area text mode, depending on the number of characters in the character string and the character size, there may be a space in the flow graphic FG or a character that cannot be placed in the flow graphic FG.
[0025]
In the area fit text mode shown in FIG. 5B, the character string is arranged while adjusting the character size so that the flow graphic FG is filled with the character string. If necessary, the spacing between characters (referred to as “character filling amount”) is also adjusted.
[0026]
In the line text mode shown in FIG. 5C, character strings are sequentially arranged on line segments constituting the flow pattern FG according to the typesetting style information. For example, when the flow graphic FG is a closed graphic, character strings are sequentially arranged along the periphery. In addition, even when the flow pattern FG is a straight line or curve that is not a closed graphic, character strings are sequentially arranged on the line.
[0027]
In the fit text mode shown in FIG. 5D, the height of the character string is adjusted to be equal to the height of the flow graphic FG, and the entire length of the character string is equal to the length of the flow graphic FG. The width of each character is adjusted. As a result, the character string becomes long or flat, and is arranged as a single line of character string that fills the inside of the flow pattern FG.
[0028]
In the example of FIG. 5, the three arrangement modes other than the line text mode can be selected only when the flow graphic FG is a closed graphic. On the other hand, the line text mode can be selected when the flow graphic is any graphic. The four arrangement modes shown in FIG. 5 are merely examples, but the plurality of arrangement modes that can be selected preferably include at least one of them. The reason is that the four arrangement modes shown in FIG. 5 are arrangement modes that are frequently used in typesetting such as leaflets.
[0029]
In step S <b> 4 of FIG. 2, the user inputs a character string using the keyboard 24. Note that the input of a character string in the typesetting operation is also called “lettering”. In step S5, the typesetting means 40 executes a typesetting process in which a character string is arranged in the flow graphic FG in accordance with the typesetting command specified in step S3, and the result is displayed on the graphic display 30. 6 to 9 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the formatting process according to the four formatting commands.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 6, in the area text mode (FIG. 5A), each character is arranged in the flow graphic according to the specified typesetting style (step S11). At this time, the position of the lower left point of each character (more precisely, the position of the lower left point of the character frame of each character) is obtained, and the position of each character is determined.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 7, in the area fit text mode (FIG. 5B), in step S21, the character size is calculated so that the area in the flow pattern is filled with the character string. If adjustment of the character size alone is insufficient, the amount of padding is also calculated. In step S22, the position of each character is determined by determining the position of the lower left point of each character using the calculated character size (and the amount of padding).
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 8, in the line text mode (FIG. 5C), in step S31, the angle of each line segment of the arrangement position is obtained in order to arrange the character string on the outline of the flowed figure. Here, “the angle of each line segment at the arrangement position” means the angle of the line segment at the position where each character is arranged. For example, when the flow pattern is a circle, the angle is the tangential angle of the circle at the position where the character is placed. Accordingly, in step S31, the position and angle of each character are calculated. In step S32, the position of each character is determined using the calculated angle and position of each character.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 9, in the fit text mode (FIG. 5 (D)), in step S41, the character height is set such that all characters are arranged in the flow graphic at the height of the flow graphic. And the length ratio (or flat body ratio) are calculated. In step S42, the position of each character is determined by determining the position of the lower left point of each character using the calculated character height and length ratio (or flat body ratio).
[0034]
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the typesetting information obtained as a result of the typesetting process. The typesetting information includes the flow graphic information (FIGS. 3A and 3B), the typesetting style information (FIG. 4B), the typesetting command, and the character size and length ratio / level determined by the typesetting processing. It includes the body rate, the number of characters in the character string, and the character data of each character in the character string. The character data of each character includes a character code, coordinates of the lower left point of the character, and a character angle.
[0035]
The result of the composition process is displayed on the graphic display 30. The user can observe this typesetting result and change part of the typesetting information if necessary. That is, the user can arbitrarily select and specify the change from among the change of the typesetting command (step S6 in FIG. 2), the change of the typesetting style (step S7), and the change of the character string (step S8). . That is, all three types of changes can be specified, and one or two changes can be specified. Of course, if the composition result is satisfactory, the composition work is terminated without changing the composition information.
[0036]
When changing the composition information, the user first designates a flow pattern (or character string) to be changed. Then, at least one of the formatting command, the formatting style, and the character string is changed with respect to the specified flow pattern (or character string). When a plurality of flow graphics are set in the one-page image to be edited, it is possible to simultaneously select the plurality of flow graphics and change the formatting information collectively. For example, it is also possible to select a plurality of flow graphics at the same time and change their formatting commands to other formatting commands at once.
[0037]
When the change of the composition information is designated, the composition process is executed again based on the changed composition information in step S9 in FIG. As a result, the lower left point and the character angle of each character in the character data in the typesetting information 46 are calculated again and updated. The result of the composition process is displayed on the graphic display 30 again. Thus, the formatting process can be executed any number of times while changing the formatting command, the formatting style, and the character string until a desired formatting result is obtained.
[0038]
As described above, in this embodiment, the formatting process can be executed any number of times while changing at least a part of the formatting command, the formatting style, and the character string included in the formatting information. In particular, by changing the composition command, various arrangement modes based on the same flow pattern can be reversibly changed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a typesetting work environment with high flexibility in arrangement of character strings with respect to a flow pattern (arrangement reference graphic).
[0039]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.
[0040]
(1) In the above embodiment, a part of the configuration realized by hardware may be replaced by software, and conversely, a part of the configuration realized by software may be replaced by hardware. Also good.
[0041]
(2) In the above embodiment, the typesetting style, the typesetting command, and the character string included in the typesetting information can be changed. However, the flow pattern included in the typesetting information may be changed. In this way, when the shape of the flow graphic is unsatisfactory, the shape of the flow graphic is changed, and the reformatting process using other typesetting information (typesetting style, typesetting command, character code of the character string) is executed again. A desired typesetting result can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic typesetting system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an overall procedure of typesetting processing in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing how a flow pattern is created.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a typesetting pallet 52;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing four arrangement modes executed in accordance with these four types of typesetting commands.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of typesetting processing in the area text mode.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the composition process in the area fit text mode.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of typesetting processing in the line text mode.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the typesetting process in the fit text mode.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of typesetting information obtained as a result of the typesetting process.
[Explanation of symbols]
20 ... CPU
20 ... main memory 22 ... main memory 24 ... keyboard 26 ... mouse 28 ... hard disk 30 ... graphic display 40 ... typesetting means 42 ... typesetting data 44 ... typesetting command 46 ... typesetting information 50 ... tool palette 52 ... typesetting palette 60 ... font setting Field 62 ... Character size setting field 64 ... Direction setting field 66 ... Format command selection button

Claims (2)

An electronic typesetting method for performing typesetting using a computer system,
(A) a step of setting an arrangement reference figure that serves as a reference for arranging character strings;
(B) inputting a character string to be arranged in the arrangement reference figure;
(C) selecting one of a plurality of arrangement modes that can be taken when the character string is arranged with respect to the arrangement reference graphic;
(D) displaying a state in which the character string is arranged on the arrangement reference graphic according to the selected arrangement mode;
(E) changing the arrangement state of the character strings with respect to the arrangement reference graphic by changing the arrangement mode to another arrangement mode;
Equipped with a,
The plurality of arrangement modes are:
(1) A first arrangement in which, when the arrangement reference graphic is a closed graphic, the character strings are sequentially arranged inside the closed graphic according to a typesetting style including a typeface, character size, and arrangement direction of the character string. Mode,
(2) When the arrangement reference figure is a closed figure, the character size of each character is adjusted so that the character string fills the inside of the closed figure regardless of the character size specified in the typesetting style. A second placement mode to place;
(3) a third arrangement mode for sequentially arranging the character strings on lines constituting the arrangement reference graphic according to the typesetting style;
(4) When the arrangement reference graphic is a closed graphic, the height of the character string is equal to the height of the closed graphic regardless of the character size specified in the typesetting style, and the character A fourth arrangement mode for adjusting and arranging the height and width of each character so that the entire length of the column is equal to the length of the closed figure;
Including at least one of
When the shape of the arrangement reference figure is changed, re-execution of the step (d);
An electronic typesetting method characterized by the above. A computer-readable recording medium recording a computer program for performing typesetting,
A function for setting an arrangement reference figure that serves as a reference for arranging a character string,
A function of inputting a character string to be arranged in the arrangement reference figure;
A function of selecting one of a plurality of arrangement modes that can be taken when the character string is arranged with respect to the arrangement reference figure;
A function for displaying a state in which the character string is arranged on the arrangement reference graphic according to the selected arrangement mode;
A function of changing the arrangement state of the character strings with respect to the arrangement reference graphic by changing the arrangement mode to another arrangement mode;
Equipped with a,
The plurality of arrangement modes are:
(1) A first arrangement in which, when the arrangement reference graphic is a closed graphic, the character strings are sequentially arranged inside the closed graphic according to a typesetting style including a typeface, character size, and arrangement direction of the character string. Mode,
(2) When the arrangement reference figure is a closed figure, the character size of each character is adjusted so that the character string fills the inside of the closed figure regardless of the character size specified in the typesetting style. A second placement mode to place;
(3) a third arrangement mode for sequentially arranging the character strings on lines constituting the arrangement reference graphic according to the typesetting style;
(4) When the arrangement reference graphic is a closed graphic, the height of the character string is equal to the height of the closed graphic regardless of the character size specified in the typesetting style, and the character A fourth arrangement mode for adjusting and arranging the height and width of each character so that the entire length of the column is equal to the length of the closed figure ;
Including at least one of
When the shape of the arrangement reference graphic is changed, re-executing a function of displaying a state in which the character string is arranged on the arrangement reference graphic according to the selected arrangement mode;
The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the computer program for making a computer implement | achieve.

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