JPH01294079A - Data output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate designing of a format for a business form or the like, by projecting a logical space divided by a specified number of squares onto a specified printing region, thereby calculating the relative size of a square, and outputting a corresponding font size as a visual guidance. CONSTITUTION:In an office computer or the like, a printing region on a paper is specified by a first specifying means 1 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and line number data and column number data for dividing a virtual logical space into a plurality of squares are inputted from a second specifying means 2 such as a keyboard. A calculating means 3 calculates the relative size of a square when the logical space divided into the plurality of squares according to a specified number of squares is projected on a specified printing region, and a font size for data to be printed in the square according to the square size is outputted from a guidance output means 4 as a visual guidance through display or printing. It is thereby possible to efficiently design a format for a business form or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a data output device such as an office computer or a personal computer that outputs a form file created in advance.

[Summary of the Invention] This invention provides a printing area obtained by dividing a virtual logical space into a plurality of squares indicating a logical data output area and projecting this logical space onto a predetermined printing area. This is a data output device that arranges and outputs data such as form files in relative squares on the top, and when the user arbitrarily divides the logical space before outputting the data such as form files, that is, when designing the form format. , calculate the relative square size when this logical space is projected onto the printing area on the paper specified in advance, and first calculate the font size of the data to be printed in the square in correspondence with the eye size. By displaying visual guidance, it is possible to design form formats, etc. efficiently.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, when creating a form file in a predetermined format on an office computer, the paper size, orientation of the paper, output size on the paper, output position, etc. are taken into account when creating a form file. I was doing the design.

[The problem to be solved by the invention Wi] For this reason, it is necessary to change the paper size, the output size on the paper, or the output position (for example, binding on the top of the page instead of binding on the left side of the page). When this happened, I had to redesign the form format.

Therefore, the present applicant has developed a technology (patent application) that allows data such as a form file in a predetermined format created in advance to be layout-outputted in a similar format image even if the paper size, print output size, etc. are changed. Showa 6
No. 3-50763, title of invention: data output device).

Here, the basic principle of this data output device will be explained.

FIG. 2 shows the maximum printable area on printing paper of the liquid crystal printer used in this data output device. This maximum printable area is the area on the printing paper that can actually be printed by the liquid crystal printer, and the white area in the figure shows the maximum printable area and the diagonally shaded area shows the non-printable area.

In this case, the area of the maximum printable area differs depending on the size of the printing paper, and also differs depending on the direction in which the paper is placed (portrait or landscape). Further, as will be described later, this maximum printing effective area varies depending on the top margin, dot margin, left margin, and right margin that are arbitrarily specified by taking into consideration the paper size, print output size, etc.

In this way, the maximum printable area is a variable area that varies depending on the paper size, etc. Therefore, in this data output device, a logical coordinate area that is determined logically is prepared in advance, and this logical coordinate area is By enlarging, reducing, or moving in parallel, changes in paper size, output size on paper, output position, etc. can be handled.

Here, the logical coordinate area is defined as follows. That is, the logical coordinate area is an area obtained by arbitrarily dividing the virtual logical space shown in FIG. 3(a) in the row direction and column direction, and as shown in FIG. 3(b), By dividing the logical space by the number of rows m and the number of columns n, mXn squares are generated. For each square generated by this, in the xY coordinate system defined by rows and columns (0
．． 0) ~(0,n-1) ・-・(m-1,0)~
Set the square coordinates of (m-1, n-1).

When creating a form file, etc., the output area of each data that makes up the form file, etc. starts from an arbitrary square coordinate in the logical coordinate area, and from this starting point position, specified by the number of squares (
(see FIG. 4(a)), that is, A! shown in FIG. 4(a)! 1
The line part indicates the logical data output area set within the logical coordinate area, and this data output area first starts with the eye coordinates (2
, 2) as the starting point, and is specified by the number of squares in the vertical direction "l" and the number of squares in the horizontal direction "3".

The form file designed on logical coordinates in this way is
Even if you change the paper size, paper orientation, output position on the paper, output size, etc., the margin area on the paper will change accordingly, as shown in Figures 4(b), (C), and (d). By simply specifying the top margin, bottom margin, right margin, and left margin, you can reduce, enlarge, or move the entire format horizontally, and output the layout of the entire document file as an image designed on logical coordinates. It is something that can be done.

However, since the squares on the logical coordinates are obtained by dividing the logical space, even if a format such as a form is designed on the logical coordinates, the size of each square will be within the same day. It was difficult to grasp the actual printed image because it was not known how large the font size was compared to the font size of the printed characters. For this reason, the character arrangement state at the time of design was sometimes too narrow, or when the width was too wide, the characters were sometimes printed overlapping each other.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to understand the actual print image when creating a format for a form, etc., and to efficiently design the format.

The first specifying means l (see the function block a in Fig. 1; the same applies hereinafter) includes a keyboard for specifying a printing area on paper;
Such as a mouse (pointing device).

The second specifying means 2 is a keyboard or the like for specifying the number of square days for dividing the virtual logical space into a plurality of square days, and inputs, for example, row number data and column number data from this keyboard or the like.

The calculation means 3 uses the logical space divided into a plurality of squares according to the number of squares designated by the second designation means 2 as the first designation means! Calculates the relative grid size when projected onto the print area specified by .

The guidance output means 4 is a display device, a printing device, or the like that visually outputs guidance on the font size of the data to be printed within the corresponding day in correspondence with the square size calculated by the calculation means 3.

``Mc ro11 LKKIaIt[1'!'P(K2S)145)UfF
XJ The means of this invention are as follows.

Now, when creating a form file in a predetermined format, first design the format, in this case,
Dividing a virtual logical space into a plurality of squares First, in order to specify the number of squares, for example, row number data and column number data are inputted by the second specifying means 2.

Further, the printing area on the paper is specified by the first specifying means l.

Then, the calculation means 3 calculates the size of one square when the logical space divided into a plurality of squares according to the designated number of squares is projected into the designated printing area. As a result, the guidance output means 4 visually outputs guidance on the font size of characters to be printed within the corresponding square day in correspondence with the calculated square size.

Therefore, by visually checking this guidance output, you can know how large the squares in the logical space are designed relative to the font size, which allows you to efficiently design the mW format. It can be carried out.

The operation of the means of this invention is as follows.

[Example] Hereinafter, one embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.

FIG. 5 is a basic system configuration diagram of an office computer that outputs form files and the like.

The CPU II is a central processing unit that controls the entire system, and reads programs stored in a RAM (random access memory) 12 or the like to control the entire system.

The RAM 12 stores various application programs such as a form file creation processing program and a form output program, as well as a system program consisting of an operating system, and also stores constant data, variable data, etc. required when executing a form output program, etc. (described later).

The heart disk (HD) 13 is composed of a system disk in which system programs are stored, a data disk in which form files are stored, and the like.

The keyboard 14 is a data input device for inputting data for creating a form file, etc., various commands such as outputting a form, and inputting data for specifying a margin area of a sheet.

The CRT 15 is a display device that displays form files, etc., and the printer 16 is a liquid crystal printer that prints form files and the like on recording paper.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of the main parts of the RAM 12.

First, the program memory 12a is an area for storing system programs including an operating system and application programs.

The row number memory 12b and the column number memory 12c are for storing row number data and column number data for dividing the above-mentioned logical space (see FIG. 3(a)) into matrices, and can be inputted arbitrarily by the user. Set by.

The top margin memory 12d, bottom margin memory 12e, right margin memory 12f, and left margin memory 12g are top, bottom, left, and right margin data set in advance in consideration of paper size, print output size, etc., and this margin data is set in millimeters. has been done.

Memory 12h stores the preset paper size, memory 12h
i stores the paper orientation, and is set by the user's arbitrary input.

The memory 12 stores the horizontal dot length (dx) and vertical dot length (dy) of the squares on the actual printing effective area, which are generated by projecting the squares on the logical coordinate area onto the actual printing effective area of the printing paper. ).

The memory 12 is an area for storing the total number of dots in the horizontal direction (a) and the total number of dots in the vertical direction (a) of the effective printing area of the printing paper, which are determined based on the margins specified by the user in advance. .

The dot number conversion table 121 calculates the dot size of the maximum printable area,
In other words, it is a table that stores the total number of dots in the horizontal direction (X) and the total number of dots in the vertical direction (Y), as well as the number of dots corresponding to the margin data in millimeters, and is set at the time of system design. be.

The memory 12m is a font size memory that stores the font size for printing, and in this embodiment, it supports 5 types of kanji characters: 7 point kanji, 9 point kanji, 14 point kanji, as well as ANK characters such as numbers and alphabets. The font sizes of ANK7 point and ANK8 point are stored.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

Prior to creating a form file, the form former 7) is designed. In this case, row number data and column number data are input from the keyboard 14 in order to arbitrarily divide the virtual logical space. Then, the input row number data and column number data are stored in the corresponding row number memory 12 of the RAM 12.
b, is set in the column number memory 12c, and the logical space is divided in the row direction and column direction based on the row number data and column number data. In Figure 4(a), the logical space is 10 lines l.
It shows the state where the O column is divided into 1 oxio squares,
ing.

Also, if you specify the paper size and paper orientation from the keyboard 14, the specified paper size and paper orientation will be stored in the RAM.
12 corresponding memories 12h and 12i. Furthermore, the keyboard 1 should be adjusted in consideration of the paper size, paper orientation, etc.
Specify and input the margin area on the paper from 4. For example, 4th
When forming equal margins on the top, bottom, left and right sides of a portrait-oriented A4 size paper as shown in FIG. 1(b), input the top, bottom, left and right margin data in millimeters from the keyboard 1'14. Then, each input margin data is R
Corresponding memories 12d, 12e, 12f, 1 of AM12
It is set to 2g.

In this way, the number of columns, number of rows, paper size, paper orientation,
After entering the margin, if you operate the guidance key (not shown) provided on the keyboard 14, the CPU II
executes operations according to the flowchart of FIG. 7 by inputting commands from the keyboard 14.

First, each margin data stored in the RAM 12 is read out and the margin data in millimeters is converted to the number of dots while referring to the dot number conversion table 12 (step Sl). Then, the paper size and paper orientation are determined, e.g. The dot size (X, Y) of the maximum print area corresponding to a portrait-oriented A4 size paper is read from the dot number conversion table 12IL, and actual printing is performed based on this dot size (x, y) and each margin data in dot units. The total number of dots in the horizontal direction a and the total number of dots in the vertical direction of the effective area are determined (step S2). That is, the left margin and right margin are added to determine the total horizontal margin, and the horizontal margin is calculated from the horizontal dot size X. By subtracting the total, the total number a of dots in the horizontal direction of the actual printing effective area is determined. Similarly, the total vertical margin is determined by adding the top margin and the bottom margin, and the total number of vertical dots in the actual printing effective area is determined by subtracting the total vertical margin from the vertical dot size Y. The total number of dots a in the actual printing effective area obtained in this way
, b are set in the total dot number memory 12k.

Next, the number of rows and columns of the logical space are read from the 1-row number memory 12b and the column number memory 12c, and the total dot number memory 1
By dividing the total number of dots in the horizontal direction in 2 by the number of columns, and dividing the total number of dots in the vertical direction in the total dot number memory 12 by the number of rows, 1 on the actual printing effective area is calculated.
The dot size (ax, av) of the square is determined and set in the dot length memory 12j (step S3).

Then, the CPU II reads out each font size from the font size memory 12m of the RAM 12, displays the size of an area corresponding to each size with a dotted line, and displays the dot size (ax, d) of 1 square obtained in step S3. , ) is read from the dot length memory 12j, and 1 is drawn with a solid line based on the lower left point of each font size.
Displays guidance on the size of the square.

Figure 8 is a display state diagram in this case, showing the predetermined font sizes for printing: 7 point Kanji, 9 point Kanji, 14 point Kanji), 7 point ANK,
Since the size of each square is displayed as guidance for each ANK8 point font size, the user can check the displayed content and select the font size that will optimize the character arrangement. In this case, the format may be redesigned without changing the font size, and the size of the squares may be changed.

[Effects of the Invention] This invention makes it possible to efficiently design formats for forms, etc., because it is possible to know how large the squares in the logical space are designed relative to the font size. can.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of this invention, Figures 2 to 4 are diagrams for explaining the underlying technology of this invention, Figure 2 is a diagram showing the maximum printable area of a liquid crystal printer, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing the maximum printable area of a liquid crystal printer. The figure shows the logical coordinate area obtained by dividing the logical space by matrices, Figure 4 shows the logical coordinate area converted to the real coordinate area according to the margin designation, and Figures 5 to 4. Fig. 8 shows an embodiment, Fig. 5 is a basic system configuration diagram of an office computer, and Fig. 6 shows the RAM 1 shown in Fig. 5.
2, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the guidance display operation, and FIG. 8 is a guidance display state diagram. 11...CPU, 12...RAM, 1
3...Hard disk, 14...Keyboard, 15...CRT, 16...Printer. Patent applicant: Casio Computer Co., Ltd., (0,0) , (0,n-1)fa3 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] A relative value on a printing area obtained by dividing a virtual logical space into a plurality of squares indicating a logical data output area and projecting this logical space onto a predetermined printing area. A data output device that arranges and outputs data in square grids, the device comprising: a first designation means for designating a printing area on paper; and designation of the number of squares for dividing the logical space into a plurality of squares. a second specifying means; projecting a logical space divided into a plurality of squares according to the number of squares specified by the second specifying means onto the printing area specified by the first specifying means; a calculation means for calculating the relative square size when the calculation means is applied, and outputting visual guidance of the font size of data to be printed in the square in correspondence with the square size calculated by the calculation means; A data output device comprising: guidance output means;