JP4347168B2 - Editing apparatus, control method thereof, and program thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an editing apparatus for editing the arrangement of a plurality of image data for a plurality of pages, a control method therefor, and a program therefor.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an electronic album editing program for executing editing by arranging image data in a layout having a plurality of pages such as an album on a personal computer (PC). (See Patent Document 1.)
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-082128

  In the case of creating an electronic album on a PC using a conventional electronic album editing program, after placing image data on a page in the electronic album, the image data can be added to the page and placed in the page If the amount of data is exceeded, the excess image data is deleted from the page and placed on the existing next page. In this case, since the image data is arbitrarily added on the pages after the page regardless of the user's intention, there is a problem that the user has to redo the arrangement of the subsequent pages.

  Alternatively, an extra image data is arranged by adding a new page after the page. This has a problem that it cannot be applied when the total number of pages of the electronic album is fixed.

  Further, in the conventional electronic album editing program, when image data is deleted from the page of the electronic album, the electronic album editing program does not hold it. Therefore, when it is desired to use the image data deleted from the page of the electronic album, it is necessary to search for the desired image data from the storage area in the PC and to add and hold it again in the electronic album editing program, resulting in poor operability. was there.

  The invention of the present application is an editing apparatus for editing the arrangement of a plurality of image data on a plurality of pages, wherein a page selection unit that selects any one of the plurality of pages as an editing target, and a selection by the page selection unit First display control means for controlling to display the image data arranged on the first page displayed in the page area of the editing screen, and the image data arranged on the first page displayed in the page area A page image selection means for selecting one or more image data from among them, a deletion instruction means for instructing to delete the image data selected by the page image selection means from the first page, and an arrangement for each page Holding means for previously holding the number of possible image data, and the number of image data arranged on the first page excluding the image data to be deleted Determining means for determining whether or not the number can be arranged on one page, and the number of image data arranged on the first page excluding the image data to be deleted is determined by the determining means. When it is determined that the number can be arranged on the page, the image data to be deleted is displayed in a save area independent of the page area, and is controlled to be hidden in the page area. Display control means, saved image selection means for selecting one or more image data from the image data displayed in the save area, and image data selected by the saved image selection means by the page selection means An adding instruction means for instructing addition to the selected second page, and a control for displaying the image data to be added in the page area and not displaying the data in the save area. Characterized by comprising a display control unit.

  According to the present invention, when a plurality of image data is arranged for a plurality of pages, when the image data already arranged for a certain page becomes redundant on the page, the display of the image data is performed. Since the page area is switched to the save area, the user can easily read the image data from the save area and add it to another page when the image data is needed again on another page. The effect that the property increases is obtained.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an information providing system configuration according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an image input device that converts an optical image, which is image information, into an electrical signal, performs predetermined image processing, and then records and reproduces the digital information. For example, the image input device 101 is a digital still camera, a digital video camera, or a scanner. Reference numeral 102 denotes a personal computer (PC) operated by the user. Reference numeral 103 denotes a data transfer interface for transferring image data acquired by the image input apparatus 101 to the user PC 102. For example, the data transfer interface 103 is a wired interface typified by USB (Universal Serial Bus) or IEEE1394, or a wireless interface typified by IrDA or Bluetooth. Image data transferred from the image input device 101 to the user PC 102 via the data transfer interface 103 is stored in a hard disk drive (HDD) of the user PC 102. Regarding image data transfer from the image input device 101 to the user PC 102, the image input device 101 stores it in a storage device in accordance with an instruction from an operation system (OS) installed in the user PC 102 or dedicated software. When the image data being transferred at once and the transfer command sent from the image input device 101 to the user PC 102, the OS or dedicated software of the user PC 102 secures a data recording area in the HDD of the user PC 102, and In some cases, image data is received from the input device 101.

  The user PC 102 can operate a browser 120 having a standard protocol capable of transferring information on the Internet 104. The user PC 102 operates the browser 120 to access the photosite 105 using a protocol such as Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and the Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), eXtensible Markup Language, etc. (M language description) The created web page information can be acquired and analyzed, and the web page can be displayed on the display of the user PC 102. This Web page information is linked to multimedia information such as images and sounds managed by the photo site 105 in the image DB 107.

  The user PC 102 can download the electronic album template and image data used when executing the electronic album editing program from the photo site 105 via the Internet 104 by operating the browser 120. The downloaded electronic album template and image data are stored in the image DB 107.

  The user PC 102 has an electronic album editing program for arranging and editing one or more image data on an electronic album including one or more pages. The image data included in the electronic album is image data acquired from the image input device 101 and stored in the HDD of the user PC 102 or image data downloaded from the photo site 105.

  In addition, the user PC 102 can request the print site 109 via the photo site 105 to print the edited electronic album. The print site 109 executes print processing for the electronic album data using the printer 111 and outputs the album 112. In FIG. 1, only one print site 109 is shown, but one or more print sites 109 may exist.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus corresponding to the user PC 102 according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a CRT display (Cathode Ray Tube) whose display screen displays, for example, a document being edited, graphics, images and other editing information, icons, messages, menus and other user interface information. . Reference numeral 202 denotes a VRAM on which an image to be displayed on the display screen of the CRT display 201 is drawn. The image data generated in the VRAM 202 is transferred to the CRT display 201 according to a predetermined rule, whereby an image is displayed on the CRT display 201. 203 is a bit move unit (BMU), for example, for transferring data between memories (for example, VRAM 202 and other memories) and transferring data between the memory and each I / O device (for example, network interface 211). Control. A keyboard 204 has various keys for inputting documents and the like. Reference numeral 205 denotes a pointing device, which is used, for example, to indicate an icon, menu, or other object displayed on the display screen of the CRT display 201. Reference numeral 206 denotes a central processing unit (CPU), which is a device connected to the CPU 206 based on a control program stored in a read only memory (ROM) 207, a hard disk drive (HDD) 209, or a floppy (registered trademark) disk. To control. A ROM 207 holds various control programs and data. Reference numeral 208 denotes a random access memory (RAM), which has a work area for the CPU 206, a data save area during error processing, a control program load area, and the like. Reference numeral 209 denotes an HDD. The HDD 209 can store each control program and content executed in the user PC 102. For example, the HDD 209 stores a browser 120, electronic album data, an electronic album editing program, and the like. A floppy (registered trademark) disk drive (FDD) 210 controls access to the floppy (registered trademark) disk. A network interface 211 can communicate with other information processing apparatuses, printers, and the like via the Internet 104. A CPU bus 212 includes an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus. The provision of the control program to the CPU 206 can be performed from the ROM 207, HDD 209, and FDD 210, or can be performed from another information processing apparatus or the like via the network 104 via the Internet 104.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the electronic album editing program according to the present embodiment. A data control unit 301 manages the electronic album data and controls the entire electronic album editing program. A GUI control unit 302 controls the graphical user interface (GUI) of the electronic album editing program to provide an operation unit and a display unit for displaying edited contents for the user. A design control unit 303 manages design information such as a template file, layout file 308, and image data allocation table 309 used for editing electronic album data. A communication control unit 304 creates print data necessary for the print order based on the edited electronic album data, and performs communication processing of the print data and information necessary for the order process.

  Among the electronic album data managed by the data control unit 301, the cover image data 305 allocated to the cover of the electronic album, the in-page image data 306 allocated to each page in the electronic album, and the pages in the electronic album There is out-of-page image data 307 that is not allocated to. The out-of-page image data 307 is controlled to be displayed on a saved image display area in an electronic album editing screen described later. The layout file 308 records information for determining image data on each page spread in the electronic album and an arrangement position of a character string attached to the image data. The image data allocation table 309 is managed by the design control unit 303, and records information related to the quantity of image data allocated to each spread page in the electronic album as a table. In this embodiment, the electronic album is composed of a cover page and a body page, and each case is handled separately. However, the cover page and the body page may be treated in the same manner without being distinguished from each other. The present invention can be realized.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of the data structure of the in-page image data 306 and the out-page image data 307. The image data files 402 and 412 of the in-page image data 306 and the off-page image data 307 may be file data, or may be a path indicating the storage location of the file data. Character data 403 and 413 hold character data attached to image data. Reference numerals 404 and 414 denote image editing information, which holds editing contents applied to the image data. The editing contents include, for example, clipping, adjustment of color and contrast, rotation operation, and the like. Reference numeral 415 denotes page information, which holds which spread page is moved from the text page editing area of the spread page to the saved image display area. The value held in the page information 415 is displayed together with the image data on the saved image display area.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the image data allocation table 309 according to the present embodiment. The number of image data allocated to each body page of the electronic album is determined using the image data allocation table 309 based on the total number of body pages of the electronic album and the number of image data selected to be included in the electronic album. Determined. The image data allocation table 309 exists for each total number of body pages of the electronic album. Hereinafter, for easy understanding, the image data allocation table 309 having a total number of 12 pages will be described as an example with reference to FIG. According to the image data allocation table 309 of FIG. 5, if the number of image data selected to be included in the electronic album is 8, 1 on the 1st page, 2 on the 2 & 3 page, 1 on the 4 & 5 page 2 sheets on the 6th and 7th pages, 1 image data on the 8th and 9th pages, and 1 image data on the 10th and 11th pages, respectively, and no image data is allocated on the 12th page.

  Note that the image data selected to be included in the electronic album is allocated according to an arbitrary order designated by the user or according to the selection order of the image data, the order of the date of photographing of the image data, the order of the names of the image data, and the like.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a case has been described in which image data selected to be included in the electronic album is arranged on both sides of the page, but the same can be realized even in the case of arranging each side page.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the layout file 308 according to the present embodiment. A layout file exists for each total number of body pages of the electronic album. Hereinafter, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, a layout file having a total of 12 text pages will be described as an example with reference to FIG.

  A layout file 308 shown in FIG. 6 is a layout file having a total of 12 text pages. The layout list for the cover page, the layout list for the first page, and the layout list for the last page 12 are layout lists for arranging image data on one page on one side. Also for the remaining 2 & 3 pages, 4 & 5 pages. . (Omitted). . The layout list for the pages for the 10th and 11th pages is a layout list for the two-page spread pages. The cover page layout list has layout lists corresponding to the case where the image data is one and two, respectively. The layout list for the first page has layout lists corresponding to the case where the image data is one, two and three, respectively. Further, the layout list for the last 12th page has layout lists corresponding respectively to the case where the image data is 1, 2, 3 and 5. Similarly, the second and third pages, the fourth and fifth pages, the sixth and seventh pages, and the tenth and eleventh pages have layout lists corresponding to the optimum number of image data.

  The layout lists 602 to 615 include one or more types of layout data for the number of pieces of image data. FIG. 7 shows an example of layout data included in the layout list. FIG. 7 shows that for a certain page, a layout list corresponding to 1 to 5 image data is provided, and each layout list has two or three types of layout data. The layout list is classified into layout data A701, layout data B702, and layout data C703. Here, in the present embodiment, the layout data of the layout data A is set as an initial value. FIG. 7 shows the case where there are three layout data, but the number is not limited.

  The arrangement of the image data on each page is determined by the layout list layout data corresponding to the number of image data allocated to the page. For example, if the number of image data allocated to the 2nd and 3rd pages is 3, the 3rd image data is placed on the 2nd and 3rd pages according to the position specified by the layout data included in the layout list 609 for the 3rd page 3rd page. Be placed.

  The layout file 308 does not have a layout list corresponding to the number of all image data on each page. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the 2nd and 3rd pages have a layout list corresponding to the case where the image data is 1, 2, 3, 6, or 8, but the image data is 4 or There is no layout data corresponding to the case of seven sheets.

  The user PC 102 executes the electronic album editing program and uses the image data allocation table 309 and the layout file 308 described above, so that based on the total number of body pages and the number of image data selected to be included in the electronic album, The allocation of image data to each page and their arrangement are determined, and an electronic album is created.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of processing in which the CPU 206 of the user PC 102 according to the present embodiment reads out and starts an electronic album editing program from the ROM 207 or the HDD 209, executes the electronic album editing program, and edits the electronic album. is there.

  In step S801, the size of the album and the total number of body pages are selected and determined. The size of the album is, for example, the paper size of the album 112 output from the printing apparatus 111 based on the electronic album data, such as A4 size or B5 size.

  In step S802, a template file to be applied to the electronic album is selected and determined.

  In step S803, the design control unit 303 captures the layout file 308 associated with the template file determined in step S802 and the image data allocation table 309.

  In step S804, image data included in the electronic album is selected. Here, the range of the number of selectable image data is set based on the total number of body pages determined in step S301 and the image data allocation table 309 captured in step S303. Also, the cover image data 305 to be arranged on the cover page of the electronic album is selected. Then, the data control unit 301 takes a copy of the selected image data into a storage area designated by the electronic album editing program.

  In step S805, the cover image data 305 selected in step S804 is arranged on the cover page of the electronic album. First, the layout file 308 is read based on the total number of body pages determined in step S801. Then, the cover layout list 602 or 603 is determined in accordance with the number of cover image data 305 selected in step S804. According to the initial layout data included in the determined cover layout list 602 or 603, the cover image data 305 is arranged on the cover page. The front cover includes a back cover and a front cover.

  In step S806, the in-page image data 306 selected in step S804 is arranged on each page of the text in the electronic album. First, the image data allocation table 309 is read based on the total number of body pages determined in step S801 and the total number of in-page image data 306 selected in step S804. Then, according to the read image data allocation table 309, image data is allocated to each page of the text of the electronic album. Next, the layout file 308 is read based on the total number of body pages determined in step S801. Then, the layout list of each page is determined according to the number of in-page image data 306 allocated to each page. In-page image data 306 is arranged on each page of the body of the electronic album in accordance with the initial layout data of the layout list of each page. The process of arranging the in-page image data 306 is executed for all pages of the body. In addition, according to the image data allocation table 309, the in-page image data 306 is not arranged on the page to which the in-page image data 306 is not allocated. Then, an electronic album editing screen 1101 as shown in FIG. 11 described later is displayed on the CRT 201 of the user PC 102.

  In step S807, the character string described in the electronic album is edited, such as input processing of a character string representing a comment related to image data, selection of font type, font color, and font size of the input character string.

  In step S808, layout change processing such as replacement of image data in each page of the electronic album, addition of image data to the page, deletion of image data from the page, and change of page arrangement is executed. This layout change process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  In step S809, a process for confirming whether the electronic album data created as described above satisfies a form and conditions sufficient for a print order is executed. Specifically, it is confirmed whether the resolution of the in-page image data displayed in the cover page or body page editing area included in the electronic album data is a value sufficient for printing.

  In step S810, print data necessary for ordering an album print is created based on the electronic album data. The print data is data for instructing to print the in-page image data arranged on each page of the electronic album in the same manner on the physical album.

  In step S811, the printing data created in step S810 and the order information necessary for the print order are transmitted to the photo site 105. The photo site 105 is transferred to the print site 109.

  In step S812, it is confirmed whether the electronic album data is to be saved.

  If it is confirmed in step S812 that the electronic album data is to be stored, the created electronic album data is stored in the HDD 209 of the user PC 102 in step S813.

  FIG. 10 is a data structure diagram showing an example of the configuration of stored electronic album data. Reference numeral 1001 denotes the entire electronic album data. Reference numeral 1002 denotes an area where the in-page image data 306 is stored, and reference numeral 1003 denotes the in-page image data 306. Reference numeral 1004 denotes an area in which image data outside the page is stored, and reference numeral 1005 denotes image data 307 outside the page. Reference numeral 1006 denotes an area for storing layout data used for arrangement of each body page, and reference numeral 1007 denotes the layout data. The layout data 1007 further includes the arrangement order of image data, the number of image data, the arrangement position of image data, the position of a frame for displaying a character string attached to the image data, and the like arranged on each page. Also good.

  In the present embodiment, by including the out-of-page image data 307 in the electronic album data 1001, image data that has not been registered as in-page image data is displayed even when the electronic album is re-edited. It is possible to easily check the image data determined to be unnecessary for the electronic album.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the layout change process executed in step S808 of FIG. 8 according to the present embodiment.

  In step S901, it is determined whether a page layout change instruction has been issued by a user operation. Page layout changes include, for example, replacement of image data arranged on a page of an electronic album, addition of image data to a page or deletion of image data from a page, movement of image data from a page to another page, This is a selection change of layout data.

  In FIG. 11, 1100 is an electronic album editing screen. Reference numeral 1101 denotes a body page editing area for displaying a page to be edited. Reference numeral 1102 denotes a saved image display area that displays image data that has been selected in step S804 but has not been allocated to a page by a subsequent editing operation. Reference numeral 1103 denotes a page list display area in which numbers of all pages included in the electronic album are displayed. Further, in the page list display area 1103, a mask display process is performed on the page number of the page so that the page to be edited is clearly indicated.

  In FIG. 11, as an example, the text page to be edited is the 6th and 7th pages, and the image data A, B, and C are arranged in the text page editing area 1101 according to the layout data for 3 sheets of the 6th and 7th pages. In the page list display area 1103, the page numbers of the 6th and 7th pages are masked and displayed. Further, the saved image display area 1102 displays image data D that is not allocated on the page as a result of the editing operation.

  In FIG. 11, only the page number is displayed in the page list display area 1103. However, a thumbnail image representing the image of each page may be displayed.

  An instruction list 1104 is displayed when a right-click input of the pointing device 205 is received on the text page editing area 1101.

  Note that the image data D does not exist in the saved image display area 1102 on the initial screen of the electronic album editing screen 1100 displayed in step S806.

  In step S911, it is determined whether the page layout change instruction is “change page layout data”. Specifically, the instruction list 1104 is displayed when the user inputs a right-click operation of the pointing device 205 on the text page editing area 1101. When the user operates the pointing device 205 to select and input “change layout” from the instruction list 1104, it is determined that “change page layout data” has been instructed.

  In step S912, if it is determined in step S911 that the page layout change instruction is “change page layout data”, the number of image data displayed in the body page edit area 1101 is detected.

  In step S913, a layout list corresponding to the number detected in step S912 is acquired.

  In step S914, it is determined whether two or more types of layout data are included in the layout list acquired in step S913.

  If it is determined in step S914 that it is included, in step S915, layout data included in the layout list is displayed on a layout data selection screen 1200 as shown in FIG. FIG. 12 shows an example when it is detected that three pieces of image data are displayed in the text page editing area 1101. In FIG. 12, three types of layout data 1201 included in the layout list are displayed. Also, reference numeral 1203 denotes an OK button, and 1204 denotes a cancel button. When a pressing operation of the OK button 1203 is input, layout data with the check box 1202 turned on is selected and determined, and the layout data selection screen 1200 is hidden. When a pressing operation of the cancel button 1204 is input, the change of the page layout data is stopped and the layout data selection screen 1200 is not displayed. The layout data 1201 may be displayed including the layout data currently used when the image data is arranged in the text page editing area 1101. If the layout data used for the arrangement of the current image data is selected again, the process may be terminated without executing the subsequent processing.

  In step S916, the layout data in which ON is input to the corresponding check box 1203 is selected from the layout data 1201 of the layout data selection screen 1200 displayed in step S915.

  In step S917, the in-page image data 306 displayed in the text page editing area 1101 is arranged according to the layout data selected in step S916.

  If it is determined in step S914 that there are not two or more layout data, a warning dialog is displayed in step S902. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a warning dialog.

  In step S921, it is determined whether the page layout change instruction is “adding image data to a page”. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, if the user instructs to move the image data displayed in the saved image display area 1102 to the text page editing area 1101 using the pointing device 205, “ It is determined that “add image data” has been instructed. Here, FIG. 13 shows that the user selects image data C from the image data B, C, and D displayed in the saved image display area 1102 using a pointing device, and drags and drops the body text page editing area. A conceptual diagram when an instruction to add to 1102 is given is shown. It should be noted that a plurality of image data can be selected at once from the image data displayed in the saved image display area 1102.

  In step S922, the total number obtained by adding the number of image data indicated in step S921 to the number of image data displayed in the body page editing area 1101 is detected.

  In step S923, it is determined whether there is a layout list corresponding to the total number detected in step S922.

  If it is determined in step S923, the layout list is acquired in step S924.

  In step S925, initial layout data is selected and determined from the layout list acquired in step S924.

  In step S926, according to the layout data determined in step S925, the image data instructed to be added in step S921 and the image data already displayed in the text page editing area 1101 are arranged. An example of the screen after arrangement is shown in FIG. In FIG. 14, the image displayed in the text page editing area 1101 as a result of newly adding image data C to the state in which image data A is arranged according to the single-sheet layout data as shown in FIG. 13. An example in which the total number of data is two and image data A and C are arranged in the text page editing area 1101 in accordance with the initial layout data for two of the 6th and 7th pages is shown. Further, FIG. 14 shows that the image data C is not displayed in the saved image display area 1102. Here, the image data C is registered and updated as the in-page image data 306 from the out-page image data 307 by the data control unit 301.

  In the present embodiment, the image data to be added is selected from the image data displayed in the saved image area 1102, but the image data stored in the HDD 209 of the user PC 102 can be selected, You may make it select from the image data which the application program different from an electronic album edit program hold | maintains, or may select from the image data memorize | stored in image DB107 of the photo site 105. FIG.

  In step S931, processing for determining whether or not the page layout change instruction is “deletion of image data from page” is executed. Specifically, if the user instructs to move the image data displayed in the body page editing area 1101 to the saved image display area 1102 using the pointing device 205, “deletion of image data from the page” is instructed. Judge that it was done. Alternatively, when the user inputs a right-click operation of the pointing device 205 on the text page display area 1101, the instruction list 1104 is displayed. If the user selects and inputs “delete” from the instruction list 1104, it is determined that “deletion of image data from the page” has been instructed.

  In step S932, the data control unit 301 updates the registration contents of the image data instructed to be deleted from the page in step S931. When instructed to move the image data to the saved image display area 1102, the registration contents are updated so that the image data stored as the in-page image data 306 is stored as the off-page image data 307. . Then, the image data is displayed in the saved image display area 1102. On the other hand, when deletion of the image data is instructed by selecting and inputting “delete” from the page layout change instruction list 1104, the image is stored in the storage area on the HDD 209 managed by the data control unit 301. Erase the data.

  In step S933, the total number of images obtained by subtracting the number of image data instructed to be deleted in step S931 from the number of image data displayed in the body page edit area 1101 is detected.

  In step S934, it is determined whether there is a layout list corresponding to the total number detected in step S933.

  If it is determined in step S934, the layout list is acquired in step S935.

  In step S936, initial layout data is selected and determined from the layout list acquired in step S935.

  In step S937, in accordance with the layout data determined in step S936, the remaining image data obtained by omitting the image data instructed to be deleted in step S931 from the image data already displayed in the text page editing area is arranged. To do.

  In step S924 or step S935, the change notification dialog is displayed on the CRT display 201 of the user PC 102 to notify the user that the arrangement of the image data displayed in the text page edit display area 1101 will be changed. You may make it do. An example of this dialog screen is shown in FIG. In FIG. 15, the user is notified by displaying the arrangement 1501 of the image data before and after the change and that the image data is displayed in the saved image display area 1102 1502. When the user instructs to press the “OK” button 1503 using the pointing device 205, the change notification dialog screen is hidden, and the processing of changing the arrangement of the image data according to the newly set layout data is performed. You may make it perform.

  If it is determined in steps S923 and S934 that there is no layout list, in step S903, the number of sheets having the maximum layout list out of the detected number is acquired.

  In step S904, the difference between the number acquired in step S903 and the number detected in step S922 or 933 is calculated.

  In step S905, the image data of the number calculated in step S904 is selected from the image data displayed in the body page edit area 1101 and displayed in the saved image area 1102. Here, the image data to be added is displayed in the text editing area 1101. Further, a dialog for notifying that the image data displayed in the text page editing area 1101 has been changed to be displayed in the saved image area 1102 may be displayed.

  Alternatively, in step S903, a certain number of layout lists that are larger than the detected number may be acquired. In this case, the image data is displayed in the text page editing area 1101 including the margin according to the layout data of the layout list corresponding to the acquired number. Then, a dialog for notifying the user to add image data to the page in order to fill the margin is displayed.

  In the present embodiment, before executing the processes of steps S912, S922, and S933, the number of image data in which the layout list for the page displayed in the body page editing area 1101 exists is acquired, and the electronic album editing screen is displayed. You may make it display on 1100. Thereby, the user can know the number of image data that can be changed in advance.

(Second Embodiment)
In this embodiment, in addition to the first embodiment described above, the CPU 206 of the PC 102 reads out and activates the electronic album editing program from the ROM 207 or the HDD 209, and is displayed when the electronic album editing program is executed to edit the electronic album. The operation on the electronic album editing screen 1100 will be described.

  FIG. 17 shows an electronic album editing screen 1101 according to this embodiment. The electronic album editing screen 1101 in FIG. 17 displays a page number 1704 before saving in addition to the one shown in FIG. The pre-save page number 1704 is a page number to which the image data 307 outside the page has been previously allocated.

  Hereinafter, the procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 1801, data related to the page number previously allocated from the out-page image data 307 is acquired from the HDD of the PC 102.

  In step S1802, out-of-page image data 307 is displayed in the saved image area 1102 together with the page number before saving 1704 based on the data acquired in step S1801. In the saved image display area 1102 in FIG. 17, the image data D that was previously allocated to the second and third pages, but has not been allocated on the page as a result of the subsequent editing operation, or the previous sixth and seventh pages. However, image data B and C that are not allocated on the page as a result of the subsequent editing operation are displayed.

  In step S1803, it is determined whether an input of a pressing operation of the page number before image saving 1704 by the user's operation has been received.

  If it is determined in step S1803 that an input has been received, in step S1804, the page of the page number 1704 before image saving is displayed in the text page editing area 1101. Then, the image data B and D whose page numbers 1704 before image saving are 6 & 7 pages are highlighted in the saved image display area 1102.

(Other embodiments)
An object of the present invention is to supply a recording medium recording software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and store the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus in the recording medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

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

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operation system) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU of the expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the outline of the electronic album edit system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of PC concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the electronic album edit program which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the image data which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the image data allocation table which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the layout file which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the layout data which the layout list which concerns on this invention has. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process which edits an electronic album by running an electronic album edit program on PC concerning this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process which edits an electronic album by running an electronic album edit program on PC concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the electronic album data concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic album edit screen which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the layout data selection screen which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic album edit screen which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic album edit screen which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the change notification dialog which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the warning dialog based on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic album edit screen which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process which edits an electronic album by running an electronic album edit program on PC concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 Image Input Device 102 Personal Computer (PC)
103 Data Transfer Interface 104 Internet 105 Photo Site 107 Image Database 109 Print Site 111 Printer 112 Album

Claims (12)

An editing device for editing the arrangement of a plurality of image data on a plurality of pages,
Page selection means for selecting one of the plurality of pages as an edit target;
First display control means for controlling the image data arranged on the first page selected by the page selection means to be displayed in the page area of the editing screen;
Page image selection means for selecting one or more image data from image data arranged on the first page displayed in the page area;
Delete instruction means for instructing to delete the image data selected by the page image selection means from the first page;
Holding means for previously holding the number of image data that can be arranged for each page;
Determining means for determining whether or not the number of image data arranged on the first page excluding the image data to be deleted is a number that can be arranged on the first page;
When the determination means determines that the number of image data arranged on the first page excluding the image data to be deleted is a number that can be arranged on the first page, the image to be deleted Second display control means for controlling data to be displayed in a save area independent of the page area and to be hidden in the page area;
Saved image selection means for selecting one or more image data from the image data displayed in the saved area;
Addition instruction means for instructing to add the image data selected by the saved image selection means to the second page selected by the page selection means;
Editing apparatus is characterized in that a third display control means controls so that the image data to be added is displayed on the page area, and is hidden in the save area. A fourth display control means for identifying the page selected as the editing target by the page selection means from other pages and displaying the page in the page list display area of the editing screen;
The editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the page list display area is independent of the page area and the saved image area.   The storage control means for controlling to store the image data displayed in the page area and the image data displayed in the save area in a memory separately from each other. The editing device described.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: creation means for creating print data for printing including image data displayed in the page area, excluding image data displayed in the save area. 4. The editing apparatus according to any one of 3 above. Storage means for storing the image data displayed in the page area in association with the page number of the page on which the image data is arranged;
The said 2nd display control means is controlled to display the said image data on the said save area with the page number memorize | stored in the said memory | storage means, The any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Editing device. Storage means for storing the image data displayed in the page area in association with the page number of the page on which the image data is arranged;
The second display control means to control so as to display highlights the stored image data in the storage means in association with the page number of the page displayed in the page area in the save area The editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the editing apparatus is characterized. Storage means for storing the image data displayed in the page area in association with the page number of the page on which the image data is arranged;
7. The page selection unit according to claim 1, wherein the page selection unit selects, as the editing target, a page having a page number associated with the image data selected by the saved image selection unit. Editing device. The difference between the number of image data arranged on the first page excluding the image data to be deleted and the maximum number out of the number that can be arranged on the first page and is smaller than the number of image data And first calculating means for calculating
In the second display control means, the determination means determines that the number of image data arranged on the first page excluding the image data to be deleted does not reach the number that can be arranged on the first page. 2. When the determination is made, control is performed so that the number of image data calculated by the first calculation means among the image data already displayed in the page area is also displayed in the save area. 8. The editing apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 7. The determination means also determines whether or not the number of image data arranged on the second page to which the image data to be added is added is a number that can be arranged on the second page,
The third display control unit determines, by the determination unit, that the number of image data arranged on the second page to which the image data to be added is added becomes a number that can be arranged on the second page. The editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control is executed when the editing is performed. The difference between the number of image data to be arranged on the second page to which the image data to be added is added and the maximum number that can be arranged on the second page and is smaller than the number of the image data And second calculating means for calculating
In the third display control means, when the number of image data arranged on the second page to which the image data to be added is added is not the number that can be arranged on the second page by the determination means. When the determination is made, the image data to be added is displayed in the page area, and the number of image data calculated by the second calculating means is selected from the image data already displayed in the page area. The editing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the editing apparatus is controlled to display the information in a save area. In a computer for realizing an editing device for editing the arrangement of a plurality of image data on a plurality of pages,
Selecting any of the plurality of pages for editing;
Controlling to display the image data arranged on the selected first page in a page area of an editing screen;
Selecting one or more image data from image data arranged on a first page displayed in the page area;
Instructing to delete image data selected from the image data displayed in the page area from the first page;
Pre-holding the number of image data that can be arranged for each page;
Determining whether or not the number of image data arranged on the first page excluding the image data to be deleted is a number that can be arranged on the first page;
When it is determined that the number of image data arranged on the first page excluding the image data to be deleted is the number that can be arranged on the first page, the image data to be deleted is Displaying in a save area independent of the area and controlling to hide in the page area;
Selecting one or more image data from the image data displayed in the save area;
Instructing to add image data selected from the image data displayed in the save area to a second page selected as an editing target from the plurality of pages;
And a step of controlling to display the image data to be added in the page area and to hide the image data in the save area. An editing device control method for editing the arrangement of a plurality of image data on a plurality of pages,
Selecting any of the plurality of pages for editing;
Controlling to display the image data arranged on the selected first page in a page area of an editing screen;
Selecting one or more image data from image data arranged on a first page displayed in the page area;
Instructing to delete image data selected from the image data displayed in the page area from the first page;
Pre-holding the number of image data that can be arranged for each page;
Determining whether or not the number of image data arranged on the first page excluding the image data to be deleted is a number that can be arranged on the first page;
When it is determined that the number of image data arranged on the first page excluding the image data to be deleted is the number that can be arranged on the first page, the image data to be deleted is Displaying in a save area independent of the area and controlling to hide in the page area;
Selecting one or more image data from the image data displayed in the save area;
Instructing to add image data selected from the image data displayed in the save area to a second page selected as an editing target from the plurality of pages;
Control method, wherein the image data to be added is displayed on the page area, and comprising a step of controlling so as to hide in the save area.

Images