JP5390880B2 - External character bitmap data extraction method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for extracting individual external character bitmap fonts from an external character data file, and also relates to a method for converting an extracted external character bitmap font into a bitmap font on a different processing system.

  As is well known, in various information processing environments, various characters are often defined by character codes regardless of whether they are 1-byte or 2-byte. This character code is standardized by, for example, JIS, Shift-JIS, Unicode, etc. as a character code system. Therefore, even if the information processing environment is different, many commonly used characters can be recognized and processed as the same character. However, in various information processing environments, characters called external characters that depend on each information processing environment are often used.

  These include characters used in place names, personal names, and the like, characters that are not in the common or current Kanji characters, symbols, logos, symbols, etc. that are uniquely defined by the user. In the above-mentioned standards such as JIS, part of the character code table is often opened as an external character area, so that information processing system manufacturers and users can freely define and use external characters in this external character area. It has become. Also, in the backbone system, external characters are often defined by an original definition method as described later.

  Since external characters depend on the information processing environment in this way, when transferring or converting document data or character data between different information processing environments, it is necessary to simultaneously transfer or convert data related to external characters. There are many cases.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-216459

  In recent years, the capabilities of personal computers have been remarkably improved, and network technology has been developed to enable high-speed and large-capacity information communication. The shift to so-called open systems, in which the computer work performed in (1) is distributed to individual personal computers and workstations connected to each other via a network, is proceeding. In such a flow, as a matter of course, it is necessary to convert data on the backbone system into data on an open system, and at that time, conversion of external characters often becomes a problem.

  In the backbone system, the external characters are often defined by a definition method unique to the information processing system manufacturer using a programming language such as COBOL. Therefore, when converting data to an open system, external character data in the core system is analyzed, individual external characters (exactly, external character bitmap fonts) are extracted, and then converted to external character fonts on the open system. It will be necessary.

  However, there are many cases where the definition method of external character data in the core system is not disclosed outside the manufacturer, and users etc. have to analyze the external character data on the main system and extract bitmap fonts independently. There was a problem. This work may be defined by a different definition method for each manufacturer, and bitmap fonts are extracted from external characters by trial and error, which is very complicated and takes time and effort.

  In another method, an external character image printed on paper is acquired by an image reading unit such as a scanner, the acquired image is displayed by an image display unit, and each point of the displayed character image is displayed. There is a means to create an external character by designating, but there is a problem that it takes time and effort.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, data units arranged in a constant data length (m) and having a constant increment value are sequentially extracted from the external character data aggregate, and the external character data aggregate is Are arranged in units of a certain data length (m) and separated by data units having a constant increment value, and each divided data is regarded as external character data of the data length (m), and each external character data of the data length (m) Then, a predetermined integer is n (where n × n <m), and (m−n × n + 1) continuous data length (n × n) data are extracted as external character bitmap data candidates, and the external character bitmap is extracted. by selecting a character image in the correct position on the operation screen from the data candidate is displayed, the font header data length bit map font by specifying the display on the operation screen and / or O External character bitmap data extraction method which is characterized in that to allow the selection by regulator is provided.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the external character bitmap data candidates are sequentially displayed on the operation screen and / or by the operator in order from the least black dots present in the font frame edge of the bitmap font based on them. An external character bitmap data extraction method that enables selection is provided.

  In another preferred aspect of the present invention, among the external character bitmap data candidates, the center of gravity position of the black dots in the font frame of the bitmap font based on them is sequentially displayed on the operation screen from the closest to the center of the font frame. An external character bitmap data extraction method that enables sequential display and / or selection by an operator is provided.

  According to the present invention, a bitmap font is extracted from an external character font defined by an original definition method used in a backbone system and converted to open the external character font on a personal computer or a workstation. It becomes available in the system system.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which an external character bitmap data extraction and conversion method of the present invention is applied. FIG. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation in an external character conversion. It is a figure which shows an example of a host external character file. It is a figure explaining a character code. It is a character code extraction flowchart. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing display of external character bitmap data candidates in external character conversion, in which FIG. (A) is a correct character image and FIG. (B) is an incorrect character image. It is a figure which shows the external character bitmap data extraction method. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another external character bitmap data extraction method, in which FIG. (A) shows the case of horizontal centroid calculation and FIG. (B) shows the case of vertical centroid calculation. It is a figure which shows an application software operation panel. It is a figure which shows an example of the printing paper used for the printing system of a present Example. It is a figure which shows an external character font conversion operation panel. It is a figure which shows another application software operation panel.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a printing system to which an external character bitmap data extraction and conversion method of the present invention is applied.

  This printing system includes a printer engine 1, a controller 2, and a client computer 4. The client computer 4 includes an external character conversion application 41 and application software 42 according to the present invention. The network 3 is an electronic communication network such as the Internet or a local area network (LAN). Print data activated by application software 42 on a client computer 4 connected to the network 3 is transferred to the controller 2 and the printer engine 1. Is printed on a recording medium.

  A host computer 5 is connected to the network 3. The host computer 5 is a computer that performs large-scale calculation processing, overall network management, control processing, and the like. Here, the external character data aggregate of the host computer 5 is referred to as a host external character file 6.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, instead of the host computer 5, an external storage device such as a hard disk drive for storing external character data related to the host external character file 6 is connected, and the host external character file 6 is connected from the external storage device. Alternatively, the host external character file 6 may be stored in an easily movable recording medium such as a flexible disk and the recording medium may be input to the client computer 4.

  The client computer 4 is provided with a printer driver 43 for printing by the printer engine 1. The printer driver 43 is software having a function of converting print data created by the application software 42 into control language data for a printer.

  On the other hand, the controller 2 is provided with a spooler 21 and a printer controller 24. The spooler 21 is a set of dynamic link libraries (DLLs) for receiving, storing (spooling), processing, scheduling, and distributing control language data output from the printer driver 43. In this embodiment, the spooler 21 is an operating system ( The functions provided as part of the OS are used as they are.

  The printer controller 24 is software having a function of receiving control language data from the spooler 21, converting it into video data and operation commands for the printer engine, and transmitting them to the printer engine 1. The printer controller 24 controls the operation of the printer engine 1 by transmitting an operation command for the printer engine 1. The printer engine 1 is a printing apparatus having a function of printing on a recording medium based on video data transmitted from the printer controller 24.

  FIG. 2 illustrates an operation flow in the external character conversion of the present invention. The host external character file 6 used in the host computer 5 is generally stored in a recording medium such as a hard disk of the host computer 5. The host external character file 6 is stored as a file in an arbitrary folder of a recording medium such as a hard disk. A file indicates a group of data recorded on a recording medium, and each file has a unique name (file name) for identification.

  The flow of operations in external character conversion is as follows. First, the host external character file 6 is transferred to a recording medium on a personal computer or workstation via a movable recording medium such as a flexible disk or the network 3 connected to the host computer 5. Move or copy. Next, the external character conversion application 41 of the present invention is started on the personal computer or workstation, and the host external character file 6 is read onto the external character conversion application 41. Thereafter, conversion is performed in a method described later, and an external character font converted into a file designated by the operator is output.

  FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the host external character file 6. In many cases, the host external character file 6 includes file header information 61 and individual external character data 62. The file header information 61 is often present at the head of the host external character file 6 and describes contents related to the entire host external character file 6. The external character data 62 describes information of individual external characters registered in the file. The individual external character data 62 includes a character code 63, a font header 64, external character bitmap data 65, and a font footer 66. There are many.

  In at least one host external character file 6, all external character data 62 have the same data structure and the same data length in most cases. That is, the character code 63, the font header 64, the external character bitmap data 65, and the font footer 66 are not necessarily the same data length (for example, in this embodiment, the character code 63 is 2 bytes). The external character bitmap data 65 is composed of 128 bytes), and the character code 63, font header 64, external character bitmap data 65, and font footer 66 of all the external character data 62 have a fixed data length. There are many cases.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, all the external character data 62 have the same data structure (character code 63, font header 64, external character bitmap data 65, and font footer 66 each having a fixed data length are arranged in the same order). In general, they have the same data length (hereinafter referred to as (m)). Note that there is a case where neither the font header 64 or the font footer 66 or one of them exists, but in that case, the data length may be handled as zero.

  The external character bitmap data 65 is data for representing the shape of a character on a computer and is generally stored in a bitmap font format in many cases. A bitmap font is a font that represents characters as a set of small square dots (dots) and expresses the shape of all characters with a fixed number of grids (for example, 32 vertical x 32 horizontal).

  The font header 64 and the font footer 66 are often ones in which the manufacturer or user independently records information related to individual external characters. Here, in one external character data 62, the character code 63 is followed. All data existing before the external character bitmap data 65 may be defined as font header information. The font footer 66 may be defined as all data existing behind the external character bitmap data 65 in one external character data 62.

  In the present invention, first, the character code 63 of each external character is extracted from the host external character file 6, and the individual external character bitmap data 65 is extracted using the extracted character code 63 as a key.

  4 and 5 exemplify a character code extraction method in external character conversion according to the present invention. The host external character file 6 of the general host computer 5 often expresses the character code 63 with 2 bytes particularly in the Japanese environment. In the following embodiments, an example in which the character code 63 is 2 bytes will be described, but the present invention is naturally applicable even if the character code 63 is 1 byte.

  The character code 63 is a unique code (number) assigned to each character, and the character code 63 in the host external character file 6 is registered in the order of the character code 63. It is customary. The order here indicates that the character code 63 is incremented by +1 for each external character data 62 unit. For example, if the character code 63 of the first external character data 62 registered in the host external character file 6 is 6000, it indicates that the character code 63 of the next external character data 62 is assigned as 6000 + 1, that is, 6001. .

  In this embodiment, an example in which the character code 63 increases by +1 is shown. However, a case where the character code 63 decreases by -1 is also conceivable. If you want to.

  As described above, in the host external character file 6, external character data 62 having the same data length (m) and the same data configuration is often arranged in the order of the character code 63. That is, when the entire host external character file 6 is viewed, the character codes 63 having a constant increment value are arranged for each constant data length (external character data length (m)).

  Therefore, a data unit arranged for each fixed data length (m), that is, a character code 63 of each external character data 62 is searched and extracted from the host external character file 6.

  First, data corresponding to 2 bytes from the beginning of the host external character file 6 is read as the character code 63 of the first external character data 62 (this 2-byte numerical value is called a search target character code), and a numerical value obtained by adding +1 to the code. Is registered in the variable of the external character conversion application 41 as the character code 63 of the next external character data 62.

  Next, it is searched from the beginning of the file to the end whether the character code 63 of the next registered external character data 62 is in the file. If the character code 63 of the next external character data 62 is not found in the file, it is determined that the data read from the first two bytes is not the character code 63. Therefore, the search target character code is shifted backward by 1 byte, and the data of the second byte and the third byte from the head are read and set as a new search target character code.

  Thereafter, the character code 63 of the next external character data 62 obtained by adding +1 to the character code 63 is searched again from the file. Thereafter, the character code 63 is searched based on the search method until the character code 63 obtained by adding +1 is found in the host external character file 6. In the example of FIG. 4, when the data is shifted backward by 2 bytes from the head and the data of the third and fourth bytes from the head is the search target character code a, the character code of the next external character data added is added. b indicates that the search was successful.

  When the added character code b of the next external character data 62 is found, the data length (m) between the character code a to be searched and the character code b of the next external character data 62 is calculated. In the example of FIG. 4, the character code 6001 obtained by adding +1 to the search target character code 6000 is the data length (m). The data length (m), which is an integer value, is the data length of each external character data 62 and is referred to as the external character data length.

  As described above, the external character data length varies depending on each host manufacturer and the version of the external character created, but in many cases, it is often the same length in one file. Therefore, in FIG. 4, data of a constant increase value is arranged for each constant data length (m) in the order of 6002 behind the character code b by the data length (m) and 6003 behind the data length (2 × m). If so, there is a high possibility that the data lined up at the constant increase value is the character code 63 of the individual external character data 62.

  Therefore, even if data with +1 added to the search target character code is found in the file, if the added character code 63 is not found for each external character data length (m) thereafter, these are the character codes. If it is determined that the character code is not 63, the character code to be searched is shifted again by 1 byte, the character code to be searched is changed, and the added character code 63 is newly searched.

When the file size of the host external character file 6 is S, the data length up to the first character code (search target character code) a is H (referred to as header data length), and +1 is added from the search target character code. When the data length up to the character code b, that is, the external character data length is m, the total number Z of registered external characters is expressed by the following equation.
Total number of external characters Z = (file size (S) −header data length (H)) / external character data length (m)
With the above method, the character codes 63 of all the external characters are extracted, and the external character data length (m) is determined. Thus far, the host external character file 6 can be divided into individual external character data 62.

  Next, a first method for extracting the external character bitmap data 65 from the individual external character data 62 will be described.

  In at least one host external character file 6, the individual external character data 62 all have the same data length (m) and the same data structure, and include a font header 64, external character bitmap data 65, fonts therein. As described above, the footers 66 are arranged in the same order with a fixed data length. That is, in order to extract the external character bitmap data 65 from the individual external character data 62, it is only necessary to know the data length of the font header 64 existing before that.

Since the external character data length is (m) and the external character bitmap data 65 has a data length of (n × n), the total number of external character bitmap data 65 candidates in one external character data 62 is
(M−n × n + 1), and the correct external character bitmap data 65 may be selected from the candidates. A first method for doing this manually by the operator is described below.

  Note that the value of n (number of vertical and horizontal dots in the font frame) is generally 32, and 24 and 48 are often used. Of course, any other positive integer value is theoretically possible.

  FIG. 6 illustrates an operation panel (operation screen) of the external character conversion application 41 of the present invention and display of the external character bitmap data 65 candidates in external character conversion.

  On the operation panel, for a certain external character data 62, the data of n × n data length existing next to the character code 63 is regarded as the external character bitmap data 65 and the character image is displayed. The data length n × n of the bitmap data is called an external character bitmap data length. The white portion displayed on the operation panel indicates that the data value is 0, and the black portion is 1.

  When the data from the next byte of the character code 63 is the external character bitmap data 65, the correct character image (a) (which corresponds to the case where the font header 64 does not exist) is displayed on the operation panel. The On the other hand, when the font header 64 exists between the character code 63 and the external character bitmap data 65, the character image is shifted by the data length of the font header 64, or meaningless monochrome dots are inserted, and the operation panel Incorrect character image (b) is displayed.

  Here, when the left arrow button or the left arrow key on the operation panel of the external character conversion application 41 is pressed, a character image shifted by one data length unit from the current external character bitmap data 65 candidate data position is displayed. Can be displayed. Similarly, when the right arrow button or the → key on the keyboard is pressed, a character image shifted backward by one data length from the data position where the character image of the current external character bitmap data 65 candidate is displayed is displayed. I can do it. It is desirable that this shift operation can be shifted in units of one data length, that is, in many units of one bit.

  In this way, while looking at the operation panel, the operator shifts the data using the keyboard and mouse to the position where the correct character image is displayed on the operation panel of the external character conversion application 41, and outputs the correct character image (bitmap font). Select and decide. The data length between the character code 63 and the external character bitmap data 65 candidates when the correct character image is displayed on the operation panel is the font header data length.

  The above steps are first performed for any one of the external character data 62 (in many cases, external character data existing at the beginning of the external character file), and the font header data length is provisionally determined. Next, the character image of the other external character data 62 is displayed on the operation panel based on the temporarily determined font header data length, and if all the correct character images are displayed, the font header data length is determined to the temporarily determined value. May be.

Here, the character code data length (c), the header data length (H), the font header data length (h) from the character code 63 to the external character bitmap data 65, the external character data length (m), the external character bitmap data length ( n × n), the position of the external character bitmap data 65 is as follows.
First character external character bitmap data head data length = H + c + h
First character outer character bitmap data end data length = H + c + h + (n × n)
Furthermore, the positions of the external character bitmap data 65 of all external characters are as follows.
Each external character bitmap data head data length = H + c + h + m × number of characters Each external character bitmap data end data length = H + c + h + (n × n) + m × number of characters.

  Next, FIG. 7 illustrates a second method for automatically extracting the external character bitmap data 65, that is, determining the font header data length to some extent automatically.

  In general, whether it is a bitmap font or outline font, the character image of the font exists near the center of the font frame, and there are only a small part of the font frame, such as character splashes or discoloration. It is rare that there are many black dots at the edge of the edge. However, as shown in FIG. 6B, in the case of a character image shifted by the font header data length, since the image is shifted within the font frame, black dots often appear at the edge. . That is, the smaller the number of black dots present at the edge, the higher the possibility that a correct character image can be obtained.

Here, the edge portion of the font frame is the area of the outermost row (one dot) in the upper, lower, left, and right sides in the external character bitmap data 65 indicated by n × n as shown in FIG. This area is as follows in the external character bitmap data 65.
Top 1 dot = 1 to n
Lower 1 dot = (n × n) −n + 1 to (n × n)
1 dot on the left = 1 + (n + 1) + (2n + 1) +. . . + ((N−1) × n + 1)
Right 1 dot = n + 2n + 3n +. . . + (N × n)
In this embodiment, the edge portion is one dot on the outermost side of the font frame. However, it may be 2 dots or 3 dots, and the values may be different in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. .

  In the extraction of the external character bitmap data 65, first, black dots are the most at the edge of the font frame defined by the above-mentioned equation using the unknown font header data length as a parameter for all external character data 62. Search for a font header data length that decreases. This can be achieved by counting black dots existing in the aforementioned area, that is, data of “1”.

  When the font header data length in which the black dots are the smallest at the edge portion is the same (h) for all the external character data 62, this is determined as the font header data length h. Further, the character image of each external character at this time may be displayed on the operation panel so that the operator can confirm and select the character image.

  For all the external character data 62, when the font header data length with the smallest black dots is different, priority is given to the font header data length with the highest frequency, and character images of the external character bitmap data 65 candidates are assigned. They may be displayed in order on the operation panel in the order of priority so that the operator can select, confirm and determine.

  Next, FIG. 8 illustrates a third method for automatically extracting the external character bitmap data 65 to some extent.

  The fact that the edge of the font frame has fewer black dots and more black dots near the center has been described in the description of the second method. However, in character images, for example, symbolic characters such as ○ (circle) or □ (square), characters enclosed in ○ (circle) or □ (square), characters with parentheses, etc. Is also present. In such a character, even if it is a correct character image, there are many black dots at the edge thereof, and there is a case where the previous second method is not suitable.

  Even in the case of such a character, the character image remains in the vicinity of the center of the font frame, that is, the center of gravity of the black dot of the character image in the font frame exists near the center of the font frame. Probability is high. Therefore, it may be possible to extract the correct external character bitmap data 65 by searching for the font header data length in which the center of gravity of the black dots in the font frame is as close as possible to the center of the font frame.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a method of calculating the center of gravity position, and shows a character image of an external character represented by a 12 × 12 external character bitmap data length for the sake of simplicity. At this time, a number is assigned to each row / column, and the corresponding row number or column number is displayed at the position of the displayed black dot. In the example of FIG. 8A, column numbers 1 to 12 are provided in the left-right direction, and the column numbers are displayed at the positions (black squares) of black dots. Next, the column numbers displayed for each column are added to obtain the total value. By dividing this total value by the number of all black dots, the center coordinates in the left-right direction can be obtained.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the center coordinates in the vertical direction can be obtained by adding the row numbers registered in units of rows and dividing the total value by the total number of black dots.
That is, it is as follows.
Horizontal center coordinate = Total value of column number / Total number of black dots Vertical center coordinate = Total value of row number / Total number of black dots In the example of Fig. 8, the center of gravity (column, row) of black dots is ( 6.0, 6.8). At this time, the font frame is 12 × 12, and the center coordinates are (6.5, 6.5). That is, in the example of FIG. 8, the center of gravity of the black dot is from the center of the font frame,

  Similar to the second method, the font header data length that minimizes the amount of deviation is obtained using the unknown font header data length as a parameter.

  When the font header data length that minimizes the shift amount is the same (h) for all the external character data 62, this is determined as the font header data length h. Further, the character image of each external character at this time may be displayed on the operation panel so that the operator can confirm and select the character image.

  For all the external character data 62, when the font header data length that minimizes the shift amount is different, priority is given to the font header data length with the highest frequency, and the character image of the external character bitmap data 65 candidate is given priority. They may be displayed in order on the operation panel in order of the degree so that the operator can select, confirm and determine.

  Next, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and FIG. 12 illustrate how to use the external character font converted by the present invention.

  External characters are often used for place names and personal names. Here, address printing is shown as an example. First, in order to create print data, print information such as address and name called external data is recorded, and which record in the external data called external data definition as shown in FIG. , Data indicating whether it corresponds to a name, data indicating which font is to be printed in which position and external data called layout data as shown in FIG. 12, converted external character file, and converted external character file Data of conversion table in which character codes are registered and an application that can read these data are required.

  External data is generally described in a fixed length or CSV file format. CSV is an abbreviation for Comma Separated Values, and is a file format in which data is separated by commas (,) and arranged, and is mainly used for data storage methods of spreadsheet software and database software. On the other hand, there is no delimiter in the fixed length, and the address and name are recorded by the fixed data length defined by the external data definition body. In general, the host computer 5 uses a lot of fixed-length external data.

  An item described in the external data definition body needs at least a field name and a field length. The field name means a unique item name of external data for use in an application capable of creating layout data described later. The field length means the length of external data indicated by each field name, and is generally indicated by a start position and a data length or an end position.

  In some cases, the external data definition body is not stored in the recording medium of the host computer 5 but may be input on the operation panel before printing. Therefore, in the printing system of this embodiment, in addition to the external data definition body stored in the recording medium, the external data definition body printed on paper is acquired by an image reading means such as a scanner, and character recognition is performed. It is also possible to create an external data definition by converting image to text by software.

  In the printing system of the present embodiment, the function for confirming whether the external data definition body converted by the above method is correctly input, and the function for confirming whether there is an illegal character or blank in the definition body. And a function of editing the character of the definition body.

  In addition, the printing system according to the present embodiment also has a function of creating layout data based on the printing paper 7 printed in advance by a printing machine or the like as shown in FIG. In many cases, the address and the like are printed on a printing paper 7 printed in advance by a printing machine, and external data such as an address and name is later printed by a printer or the like. Further, ruled lines are often printed on the printing paper 7 printed in advance by a printing press. Thus, when printing external data such as addresses and names in a ruled frame, information is required to specify which external data definition field name is printed in which frame, and this information is used as layout data. I'm calling.

  In the layout data creation method, the operation panel shown in FIG. 12 is used to acquire an image image of the printing paper 7 printed in advance by a printing machine by an image reading means such as a scanner, and the ruled line of the image image is obtained by ruled line recognition software. The position coordinates are acquired and displayed on the display of the printing system of this embodiment. A square frame from which position coordinates are acquired is called an object. In addition to the position coordinate information, information on the external data definition body can be set / saved in the object.

  The printing system according to the present embodiment has a function of displaying an image image of the printing paper 7 printed in advance by the printing machine, an image image indicating the position of the object, and a field name of the external data definition body, and an external data definition Select a field name from the list where the field names of the body are displayed with the mouse and drag the mouse to the position of the object displayed on the screen. Data definition bodies can be set / saved. It also has editing functions such as object composition, division, deletion, copying, and movement.

  The external data definition body and the layout data are created on the application software 41 of the client computer 4.

  After editing the above layout, select an external character font to be used for printing. In the printing system of this embodiment, the bitmap font extracted from the host external character file 6 of the host computer 5 is converted into an outline font, and at the same time, a conversion table describing external character codes is created. In the conversion table, the character code 63 described in the host external character file 6 and the character code registered after conversion are described.

  In general, each font has an area where external characters can be used. However, the number of external character areas that can be used differs depending on each host computer 5 or operating system. Enables printing of external characters in the operating system environment.

  As described above, according to the present invention, character codes and bitmap fonts are extracted from the host system external character file of the core system, and can be easily converted into an external character font (FIG. 11) that can be used on an open system personal computer, workstation, or the like. Can be converted to

1. 1. Printer engine Controller 3. Network 4. 4. Client computer 5. Host computer 6. Host external character file Printing paper 21. Spooler 24. Printer controller 25. Video board 41. External character conversion application 42. Application software 61. File header information 62. External character data 63. Character code 64. Font header 65. External character bitmap data Font footer

Claims (3)

An external character bitmap data extraction method for extracting external character bitmap data from an external character data aggregate, wherein data units arranged in a constant data length (m) and having a constant incremental value are sequentially extracted from the external character data aggregate. The external character data aggregate is extracted and the constant data length (m
) And are separated by data units having a constant increment value, and each of the divided data is regarded as external character data having a data length (m), and a predetermined integer is set to n from each external character data having the data length (m).
(Where n × n <m), (m−n × n + 1) continuous data length (n × n) data is extracted as external character bitmap data candidates , and an operation screen is selected from the external character bitmap data candidates. By selecting the character image displayed at the correct position above, the font header data length is specified, and the bitmap font can be displayed on the operation screen and / or selected by the operator. To extract external character bitmap data. The external character bitmap data candidates can be sequentially displayed on the operation screen and / or selected by the operator in order from the one with few black dots present at the font frame edge of the bitmap font based on them. The external character bitmap data extraction method according to claim 1. Among the external character bitmap data candidates, the center of gravity of the black dots in the font frame of the bitmap font based on them is displayed on the operation screen in order from the closest to the center of the font frame and / or selected by the operator. Claim 1 is possible.
External character bitmap data extraction method described in 1.

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