JPH03180846A - Layout device for kinds of leaflet and catalog - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate a layout work on a desired position by respectively specifying an off-set quantity, a layout pattern and a reference point. CONSTITUTION:In the case of performing the layout of a photograph 11 in a layout frame 10 on a display device 5, at first, an input for specifying an off-set quantity is performed in an off-set quantity specifying device 6. For example, DELTAx1 and DELTAy1, distances between the corner point P1 in the frame 10 and the corner point Q1 in an area 13, are specified so as to be inputted. And then, one of layout patterns which are prepared in advance, for example, (upper left) is selected so as to be inputted in a layout pattern specifying device 7. And then, the position of the reference point, for example, the input for specifying a point P1 is performed in a reference point specifying device 8. In the case that the aforesaid items are inputted, the layout work of the photograph 11 on the desired position is performed by a layout working device 3.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a leaflet/catalog layout device, particularly a leaflet/catalog layout device that performs layout work interactively while looking at a display screen.
This invention relates to a catalog sorting device.

[Conventional technology]

In printed materials such as flyers and catalogs, it is necessary to skillfully allocate photographs and character strings of many products onto a single printed material. Recently, layout devices have been used that can perform such layout work using a computer. In this type of device, photographs and character strings for each product are input into a computer as digital data.

Then, an image based on these data can be displayed on the display screen to perform layout work.

While looking at the display screen, the operator can specify the location of a particular product's photo or character string, and can change the magnification and tilt as necessary. As the layout results are held in the form of data stored in the computer's memory, layout corrections can be easily performed, and the operator can proceed with the layout work by interacting with the computer. can.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, with conventional layout devices, it is difficult to specify the position of the layout target, such as a photo image of a product or a character string, in order to arrange it at a predetermined position on the display screen.
There is a problem. In particular, it is difficult to specify the position when placing the layout target at a certain distance from the target layout frame or auxiliary line displayed on the display screen. If positions are specified by eye, accurate allocation cannot be performed. However, in order to perform accurate allocation, it becomes necessary to draw additional auxiliary lines at a predetermined distance from the target allocation frame or auxiliary line.
The work becomes very complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a layout device for leaflets and catalogs that can easily specify the positions of layout targets.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention includes a product data input device for inputting product data regarding products to be published in leaflets and catalogs, an allocation instruction input device for inputting allocation instructions from an operator, and a method for inputting product data based on the input allocation instructions. A display device for an allocating device for leaflets and catalogs, comprising: an allocating device that performs allocating work, an allocating result output device that outputs the results of this allocating work, and a display device that displays the work progress of this allocating work on a screen. A reference point designation device that specifies one point on the display screen as the reference point, a predetermined point on the area rectangle defined for each product data as the area necessary for allocation, and the position of the reference point. An offset amount specifying device for specifying an offset amount indicating the distance between areas, and an allocation pattern specifying device for specifying a layout pattern indicating the positional relationship to which the area rectangle is allocated with respect to the reference point. The working device is provided with a function of performing layout work based on a reference point, an offset amount, and a layout pattern.

[For production]

In the flyer/catalog layout device according to the present invention, the amount of offset can be determined in advance. Then, when a reference point is specified, actual allocation is performed at a position separated by an offset a from the specified reference point. Therefore, if you want to assign a position a predetermined distance apart from the layout frame or auxiliary line displayed on the screen of the display device, set the distance corresponding to the distance as the offset amount, and then make the layout. All you have to do is specify a point on the frame or auxiliary line as the reference point. This greatly facilitates the position designation work for allocation. Moreover, since the layout positional relationship with respect to the reference point can be specified as a layout pattern, more flexible layout work is possible.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described below based on illustrated embodiments. 1st
The figure is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the flyer/catalog layout device of the present invention. The product data input device 1 is a device for inputting product data regarding products to be published in flyers and catalogs.

Here, the product data includes data such as a photo of the product, a character string indicating the product name, price, etc., as well as graphic data indicating a plain mesh area. Specifically, in this embodiment, an input scanner device is used as a device for inputting photos of products, and a word processor is used as a device for inputting character strings. In the case of a photograph, it is input as image raster data, and in the case of a character string, it is input as a character code (including series and font code). The layout instruction input device 2 is a device for inputting layout instructions from an operator, and can use a device such as a keyboard or a mouse. The allocation work device 3 is
This is a device that performs assignment work for input product data based on the input assignment instructions, and is specifically realized by hardware that constitutes a computer body and software that operates this. The final result of the allocation work is output from the allocation result output device 4, and the progress of the work is sequentially displayed on the screen on the display device 5. As the layout result output device 4, an output scanner device, a printer, or the like is used. Normally, after the operator completes the assignment work, an output instruction is given to the assignment result output device 4. On the other hand, the display device 5 has a function of always displaying the layout state at that time. Therefore, when the operator inputs an allocation instruction from the allocation instruction input device 2 and the allocation work device 3 performs the work of allocating predetermined product data to a predetermined position according to this instruction, the result is immediately displayed on the display device 5. Ru. Since the operator can confirm the layout results based on the instructions given by the operator on the display device 5, the operator can carry out the layout work in an interactive manner.

The feature of this device is that it further includes an offset amount designation device 6, a layout pattern designation device 7, and a reference point designation device 8. These three devices are the conventional allocation instruction input device 2.
It has the function of giving allocation instructions in a different way from
All of these can be realized by software in the computer used as the layout work device 3 and input devices such as a keyboard and mouse connected to this computer.

The layout instructions given by these three devices are convenient for allocating the layout target to a position separated by a predetermined distance from the layout frame or auxiliary line on the display screen of the display device 5. The layout work, which is a feature of the present invention, will be explained below with specific examples. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, an allocation frame IO is displayed on the display screen of the display device 5, and it is assumed that a photo 11 and explanatory text 12 of a product are to be allocated within this allocation frame 10. . In the layout work according to the present invention, it is necessary to define an area rectangle for each item of product data. This area rectangle is a rectangle that indicates the approximate area required for allocation to the product data. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the area rectangle 13 for the photo 11 is a circumscribing rectangle of the photo 11, and the area rectangle 14 for the explanatory text 12 is a rectangle that encloses the character string of the explanatory text. There are various other ways to define the area rectangle. In short, any rectangle can be used as long as it is defined so as to be able to roughly indicate the area of the photo, explanatory text, etc. to be laid out. However, the relative position between the layout target and the area rectangle must be defined so that once the position of this area rectangle is determined, the position of the layout target such as a photograph or explanatory text is also uniquely determined.

Now, when the layout frame 10 as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed, in order to allocate the photograph 11 in the illustrated position within this layout frame 10, the operator inputs an offset amount to the offset amount specifying device 6. Make the specified input. In this example, the offset amount is the distance Δx1. Δy1
Specify as the offset amount. This can be entered numerically using an input device such as a keyboard or mouse. Next, the operator asks the layout pattern designation device 7 to
Input to specify the layout pattern. In the device of this embodiment, nine layout patterns are prepared as shown in FIG.
A display as shown in the figure is displayed. The operator indicates one of the displays shown in FIG. 3 on the screen of the display device 5 using an input device such as a mouse. As a result, one of the nine layout patterns will be designated. When allocating the photograph 11 in FIG. 2, it is recommended to select the layout pattern "upper left J.Finally, the operator inputs an input to the reference point designation device 8 to designate the position of the reference point. , one point P1 on the screen of the display device 5 may be specified using an input device such as a mouse.

When the above-mentioned input is performed, the layout work device 3 performs the work of layouting the photographs 11 at positions as shown in FIG. Here, the procedure for this assignment work will be described as follows. It is assumed that a two-dimensional XY coordinate system as shown in the lower left of FIG. 2 is defined on this screen. First, if we list the information given to the allocation work device 3, we will find that the position coordinate values of the reference point P1 (X pi, Y
pl) and the offset amount ΔX1. Δy1, and information indicating that the layout pattern is "upper left". Therefore, from this information, the position coordinate value (X ql) of the allocation point Q1 is determined.

Yql) is determined as follows.

Xql=Xpl+ΔX1 yqt-ypt-Δy1 Now, the position of the allocation point Q1 is determined, so determine the position of the area rectangle 13 so that it coincides with the upper left corner point of the area rectangle 13. . Note that each side of the area rectangle is always arranged in a direction parallel to either of the x and y coordinates. The photograph 11 is now allocated to the position shown in FIG.

Generally, the reference point P (Xp, Yp) and the offset amount ΔX
, Δy are given, the allocation point Q (Xq, Yq) is determined as follows according to the specified allocation pattern, and the position of the area rectangle is determined.

(t) When the layout pattern is "top left", Xq - Xp + Δ
Find the allocation point Q from the formula:
(corresponds to the assignment work in 1).

(2) When the layout pattern is "lower left", Xq-Xp+Δ
The allocation point Q is determined from the formula:

For example, for Explanation 12, if you specify the layout pattern "lower left", give ΔX2 and Δy2 as offset amounts, and specify reference point P2 (Xp2. Yp2),
As shown in Figure 2, the allocation point Q2 (Xp2+Δx2.Yp
Z+Δy2) is determined, and area rectangle 14 is placed at this allocation point Q2.
The allocation is made so that the lower left corner points of

(3> When the layout pattern is "top right", Xq error Xp - Δ
The allocation point Q is determined from the formula:

(4) When the layout pattern is "lower right", Xq-Xp-Δ
The allocation point Q is determined from the formula:

In addition, the layout pattern for top, bottom, left, right, and center is as follows.

(5) In the case of the "left" layout pattern, find the layout point Q from the formula:

For example, consider a case where a layout frame 20 is displayed as shown in FIG. 4, and a photograph 21 is to be allocated within this frame. In this case, specify the "left" layout pattern and give Δx3 as the offset amount (Δy3 is unnecessary)
, by specifying the reference point P3 (Xp3°Yp3), the allocation point Q3 (Xp3+Δx3.Yp3) is determined by the above formula, and the allocation is made such that the midpoint of the left side of the area rectangle 22 coincides with this allocation point Q3. Ru.

(6) For the "right" layout pattern, find the layout point Q from the formula Xq-XI)-ΔX

For example, consider a case where an explanatory text 23 is to be allocated within the layout frame 20 that is displayed as shown in FIG. 4. In this case, specify the "right" layout pattern,
If ΔX4 is given as the offset amount (Δy4 is unnecessary) and the reference point P4 (X p4. Y p4) is specified, the allocation point Q4 (Xp, 4-Δx4. Yp
4) is determined, and the allocation is made such that the midpoint of the right side of the area rectangle 24 coincides with this allocation point Q4.

(7) When the layout pattern is "top", the layout point Q is determined from the formula:

For example, consider a case where a layout frame 30 is displayed as shown in FIG. 5, and a photograph 31 is to be allocated within this frame. In this case, specify the "upper" layout pattern and give Δy5 as the offset amount (Δx5 is unnecessary)
, by specifying the reference point P5(XI)5゜Yp5), the allocation point Q5(Xp5.Yp5-Δy5) is specified by the above formula.
) is determined, and the allocation is made such that the midpoint of the upper side of the area rectangle 32 coincides with this allocation point Q5.

(8> When the layout pattern is "bottom", the layout point Q is determined from the formula:

For example, consider a case where an explanatory text 33 is to be allocated in a layout frame 30 that is displayed as shown in FIG. 5. In this case, specify the "bottom" layout pattern,
By giving Δy6 as the offset amount (ΔX6 is not necessary) and specifying the reference point P6 (xpe, Yp6), the allocation point Q6 (Xp6. Yp8+Δy6) can be calculated using the above formula.
) is determined, and the allocation is made such that the midpoint of the lower side of the area rectangle 34 coincides with this allocation point Q6.

(9) When the layout pattern is "center", find the layout point Q from the formula Xq-Xp Position to match.

For example, consider a case where a layout frame 40 is displayed as shown in FIG. 6, and a photograph 41 is to be allocated within this frame. In this case, it is not necessary to specify the offset amount as it is necessary to specify the layout pattern "center"), reference point P7 (X
p7. If Yp7) is specified, the allocation point Q7 (Xp7. Yp7) is determined by the above formula, and this allocation point Q7
The allocation is made such that the center point of the area rectangle 42 coincides with the center point of the area rectangle 42.

In this way, according to the apparatus of this embodiment, by freely selecting nine layout patterns and specifying the offset amount and reference point, it is possible to easily perform the layout work at a desired position. Note that it is possible to prepare various layout patterns other than those shown here. Moreover, although photographs and explanatory texts have been described here as IF-like objects to be allocated, it goes without saying that the present application can be applied to all types of objects to be allocated. Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the reference point is taken on the allocation frame, but
The position at which the reference point is taken is not limited to the layout frame. For example, an auxiliary line that is displayed only on the display device may be drawn, and the reference point may be set on this auxiliary line, or the reference point may be set on an allocation target that has already been allocated.

Of course, it is also possible to set it at a completely arbitrary point on the screen.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the flyer/catalog layout device according to the present invention, layout is performed by selecting several layout patterns prepared in advance and further specifying an offset amount and a reference point. It becomes possible to easily perform the assignment work to the position.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the flyer/catalog layout device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a layout operation using the device shown in FIG. 1 by selecting the “upper left” and “lower left” layout patterns. 3 is a diagram showing the layout pattern prepared for the device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the layout pattern prepared for the device shown in FIG.
Figure 5 is a diagram showing the display screen when the layout pattern "Right" is selected and the layout work is being performed. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display screen when a layout operation is performed by selecting the "center" layout pattern using the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. 10... Allocation frame, 11... Product photo, 12...
Product description, 13...Area rectangle, 14...Area rectangle, 20...Allocation frame, 21...Product photo, 22.
...Area rectangle, 23...Product description, 24...Area rectangle, 30...Allocation frame, 31...Product photo, 3
2...Area rectangle, 33...Product description, 34...Area rectangle, 40...Allocation frame, 41...Product photo, 42...Area rectangle.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A product data input device for inputting product data regarding products to be published in leaflets and catalogs; an allocation instruction input device for inputting allocation instructions from an operator; An allocation device for leaflets and catalogs, comprising: an allocation device that performs an allocation operation on product data; an allocation result output device that outputs the results of the allocation operation; and a display device that displays the progress of the allocation operation on a screen. , a reference point designation device that designates one point on the display screen of the display device as a reference point; a predetermined point on an area rectangle defined for each item of product data as a guideline for the area necessary for allocation; an offset amount specifying device for specifying an offset amount indicating a positional distance between the reference point and the reference point; and an allocation device for specifying an allocation pattern indicating in what positional relationship the area rectangle is allocated with respect to the reference point. A layout device for leaflets and catalogs, comprising: a pattern specifying device; and the layout device has a function of performing layout work based on the reference point, the offset amount, and the layout pattern.