JPH04326478A - Graphic preparing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically and attractively arrange the character string to be added to the wide line graphic representing roads, etc., on maps along the wide line graphic based on the number of character and shape of the wide line graphic by only inputting the character string. CONSTITUTION:A character display position calculation part 52 taking out the wide line graphic data with characters representing roads, etc., from a graphic data buffer 22, equalizing the center line (reference line) of the wide line graphic by the number of the character of the character string in the data and deciding the center position of the each equalized line segment as the character display position is provided. A character display size calculation part 53 preparing temporarily the sequence which internally contact with no lines composing the corresponded wide line graphic by defining these respective character display positions as centers and deciding the smallest square as the character display size is also provided. Furthermore, a graphic character data preparation part 54 generating the graphic character data for displaying the character string to be added to the wide line graphic based on these decided character positions and character sizes is provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a figure creation device that is installed as a function of a word processor, for example, and is used when creating figures such as a map. This invention relates to a graphic creation method suitable for adding columns (road names).

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when creating a map or the like using a word processor, for example, a graphic creation function is used.

That is, the operation mode of the word processor is set to the graphic creation mode, and the graphic creation program is started. Next, after selecting the type of figure you want to draw (straight line, curve, polygonal line, circle, ellipse, etc.), the type and thickness of the figure line (line type), etc., use the cursor (for example, a cross cursor)
Specify the drawing range on the display screen by moving . Then, a desired graphic pattern is displayed corresponding to the graphic drawing range indicated by the cursor.

[0004] In this way, for example, roads on a map can be
By combining straight and curved graphic types, buildings and landmarks can be drawn by combining other graphic types such as squares, circles, and ellipses.

After drawing a road (road figure) on a map as described above, it may be desired to place a character string representing a road name along the road. However, when character strings are input during normal document creation, the positions of characters that can be placed are determined by the document format, so it is difficult to arrange character strings along roads with good appearance.

On the other hand, recent word processors that have a graphic creation function handle characters as a type of graphic (such characters are called graphic characters), and are able to control character positions (
A function (graphic character input function) that allows specifying the starting position) in dot units and character size in dot units is now included as one of the graphic creation functions.

Conventionally, when attempting to place a character string representing a road name along a drawn road, the graphic character input function was used to move the cursor dot by dot to locate the desired character position ( The operation of specifying the starting position), specifying the font size, and inputting characters was repeated for each character.

[0008]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As mentioned above, in the past, character strings such as road names were written along the width line figures of roads etc. on a map created using the figure creation function of a word processor etc. To place, use the figure character input function,
The operation of specifying the character position in dot units, specifying the character size, and inputting characters must be repeated for each character, which is extremely complicated.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to simply input a character string to be attached to a width line figure representing a road, etc. on a map, and the same character string can be added to a width line figure representing a road etc. on a map. To provide a figure creation device that can automatically arrange figures along the width line figure based on the shape of the figure and look good.

0010

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a width line creation means for creating width line figure data indicating a width line figure consisting of two lines facing each other while maintaining a constant width, and a width line figure data attached to the width line figure. a character string input means for inputting a character string to be attached to the width line figure; a storage means for storing the width line figure data and a character string to be attached to the width line figure indicated by the data in association with each other; character position determining means for determining the character position of each character in a character string based on the number of characters in the character string and corresponding width line figure data; and each character position determined by the character position determining means and the corresponding character position. a font size determining means for determining font size based on width line figure data;
An image that develops an image of the width line figure indicated by the above width line figure data, and an image of each character of the corresponding character string at the above determined character position and at the determined character size. The image processing apparatus is characterized in that it comprises a developing means, and displays or prints the image developed by the image developing means.

[0011]

[Operation] In the above configuration, a character string (a character string representing a road name, etc. ), the user instructs to include a character string (with text) when creating width line graphic data, and performs a character string input operation. Thereby, the character string input means takes in the character string input by the user's input operation, and writes it in the storage means along with the corresponding width line graphic data (as part of the width line graphic data).

When the width line figure data thus written in the storage means is retrieved and the width line figure (road figure) indicated by the same data is displayed or printed, the center line of this width line figure (road figure) is displayed or printed. The center line) is equally divided by the number of characters in the character string attached to the same data, and the center position of each equally divided line segment is determined as the center of the character position to be displayed or printed. Also,
A rectangle (for example, a square) with a constant aspect ratio that is centered on each character position and inscribed in the two lines constituting the corresponding width line figure is temporarily generated, and the smallest of them is the character to be displayed or printed. Determine the size.

As a result of the above, when developing the image of the width line figure indicated by the width line figure data, the image of each character of the corresponding character string is determined at the character position determined above. Expanded by font size. As a result, a character string of a size matching the shape of the width line figure is displayed or printed while being arranged along the same width line figure.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a document creation device equipped with a graphic creation function (graphic creation device) according to the same embodiment. In FIG. 1, 1 is a CPU, 2 and 3 are memories (RAM, RO, etc.) accessed by the CPU 1.
M).

The CPU 1 controls the entire device, and accesses the RAM 2 and ROM 3 to start programs that follow input instructions, perform well-known kana-kanji conversion processing and document editing processing for creating documents, and further, It executes various types of processing including graphic creation processing that are directly related to the present invention.

The RAM 2 includes a document buffer 21 for storing document data, and a graphic data buffer 2 for storing various graphic data created by graphic creation processing.
2. A display graphic buffer 23 and the like are provided for storing display graphic data corresponding to the various graphic data stored in the graphic data buffer 22.

The ROM 3 stores a program area 30 for storing a control program that defines all operations of the document creation device, a dictionary area 31 for storing dictionary data referred to in kana-kanji conversion, and font data. A character pattern area 32 and the like are provided.

The program area 30 includes a kana-kanji conversion program area 34 used to store a kana-kanji conversion program, and a figure creation program area 34 used to store a figure creation program for creating various figures (figure data). 35, graphic data buffer 22
Stores a figure display control program for performing processing necessary for displaying figures, such as creating display figure data corresponding to various figure data stored in the display and generating a figure image indicated by the display figure data. A program area 36 for graphic display control, etc., used for this purpose is provided.

The graphic display control program stored in the graphic display control program area 36 stores the graphic data stored in the graphic data buffer 22 into a composite figure (straight line, spline curve, etc.) consisting of a plurality of basic figures (straight lines, spline curves, etc.). For example, a basic figure decomposition program 38 for decomposing into individual basic figure data when a width line figure representing a road consisting of two lines facing each other with a constant width is shown;
and a width line accompanying character display control program 39. This width line accompanying character display control program 39 is as follows:
Determines the character display position and character size of each character in the character string attached to the graphic data representing the width line figure to be displayed (width line figure data), and generates the corresponding figure character data. It is something.

4 is a keyboard (KB), and 5 is a keyboard interface (KB-IF). 6 is a display, 7
is the display controller (display-CNT), 8 is the display RA
It is M. 9 is a floppy disk device (FDD), 1
0 is a hard disk device (HDD), 11 is an FDD interface (FDD-IF), and 12 is an HDD interface (HDD-IF). 13 is a printer device (P
RT), 14 is a printer interface (PRT-IF
).

[0021] The KB (keyboard) 4 receives input information necessary for creating/editing documents, creating/editing figures, etc. in response to key operations by the user via a KB-IF (keyboard interface).
5 to the CPU 1. This KB4
In addition to character keys, cursor keys for specifying various function items, positions or areas (ranges) when editing documents or shapes, etc., there are also ``kana'' (reading) keys.
[Convert/Next Candidate] key to instruct to convert from to kanji or execute next candidate process, [Select/Execute] key to instruct to confirm various settings, input before interrupting processing or confirming. [Cancel] key for instructing cancellation, etc.; [Delete] key used for creating, editing, proofreading, etc. of documents and figures;
Various function keys are provided including an [insert] key and the like. Furthermore, special function keys called a [Function 1] key and a [Function 2] key are also provided, which can realize various functions by combining with other character keys.

[0022] The display device 6 is composed of a CRT, liquid crystal display, or the like. The display CNT 7 controls the display of the display 6 using the display RAM 8 under the control of the CPU 1.

[0023] The FDD 9 and the HDD 10 are operated by the FDD-IF 11 and the HDD-IF 12, respectively, under the control of the CPU 1.
various processing programs and documents (document data),
It is used to store figures (graphic data), etc., and to record external characters (characters, symbols, marks, etc. other than JIS 1st level characters and 2nd level characters). In this embodiment, the above-mentioned FDD 9 and HDD 10 are standardly equipped as auxiliary storage devices, and if necessary, one FDD can be added.

The PRT 13 receives, via the PRT-IF 14, a newly created document on the document buffer 21, a document edited on the document buffer 21, and furthermore, the FDD 9.
, read into the main body from the HDD 10 and stored in the document buffer 21.
It prints documents stored in the , and graphics stored in the graphic data buffer 22 . The PRT 13 is used by being externally connected to this device, for example.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a graphic creation device (graphic creation function) installed in the document creation device shown in FIG. Note that the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

The configuration of FIG. 2 mainly consists of a graphic creation program stored in a graphic creation program area 35 of the ROM 3 and a graphic display control program area 36.
This is realized by graphic display control programs stored in the computer and the CPU 1 that executes these programs. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 40 denotes a figure creation section realized using the above-mentioned figure creation program;
(creation of graphic data).

The figure creation unit 40 includes a width line creation unit 41 that creates data (width line figure data) indicating a width line figure consisting of two lines that face each other while maintaining a constant width, and a width line figure that It has a character input section 42 for inputting a character string to be arranged along the width line figure data. The graphic data created by the graphic creation section 40 is stored in the graphic data buffer 22. The graphic data stored in the graphic data buffer 22 can be saved to the FDD 9 or the HDD 10. Reference numeral 50 denotes a graphic display control unit that controls graphic display according to the graphic data stored in the graphic data buffer 22.

The figure display control unit 50 includes a basic figure decomposition unit 51 realized using the above-described basic figure decomposition program 38, and a character display for each character of a character string to be attached to the width line figure indicated by the width line figure data. It has a character display position calculation section 52 that determines the position based on the number of characters in the same character string and corresponding width line graphic data, and a character display size calculation section 53. The character display size calculation section 53 determines the character display size based on each character position determined by the character display position calculation section 52 and the corresponding width line graphic data.

The graphic display control unit 50 also places the character string to be added to the width line figure at the character display position for each character determined by the character display position calculation unit 52, and at the character string determined by the character display size calculation unit 53. It has a graphic character data creation section 54 that generates display graphic character data for arrangement in character size, and a display graphic image creation section 55. The display graphic image creation unit 53 uses the display graphic buffer 23.
Based on the display graphic data (including graphic character data) stored in the computer, a graphic image indicated by the graphic data is generated. Note that the character display position calculation section 52
, the character display size calculation section 53 and the graphic character data generation section 54 are controlled by the above-mentioned width line accompanying character display control program 39.
This is realized using

FIG. 3 shows the basic structure of the graphic data stored in the graphic data buffer 22 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This graphic data includes figure type data indicating the type of figure selected during figure creation, line type data indicating the type and thickness of the figure line, and position data indicating the drawing position of the figure.

Types of figures include well-known basic figures such as straight lines and spline curves, as well as width-line figures made up of straight lines (such as roads consisting of two lines facing each other while keeping a constant width with respect to the reference line). ), and width line shapes composed of spline curves. Further, the width line figure includes a width line figure with text and a width line figure without text. Note that the reference line is the center line of the width line figure (road figure).

[0032] If the figure type is a straight line, the position data is
The coordinates of the starting point and ending point, if it is a spline curve,
It consists of the coordinates of its starting point, ending point, and several passing points. In addition, if the figure type is a width line figure made up of straight lines, the position data is determined from the coordinates of the starting point and end point of the reference line, and if the figure type is a width line figure made up of spline curves, the position data is calculated from the reference line. It consists of the coordinates of the starting point, ending point, and several passing points.

Now, when the figure type is a width line figure, the above figure data further includes width data indicating the width of the width line figure (the distance between two lines constituting the width line figure). , in the case of a width line figure with characters, it further has a character string (character code string indicating) arranged along the same width line figure.

Next, the operation of the graphic creation device (graphic creation function) equipped with the document creation device configured as described above will be explained. First, creation of width line figure data with characters will be explained with reference to FIG.

When the document creation device shown in FIG. 1 is set to the figure creation mode according to an instruction from the KB4, and the creation of a width line figure is specified by the operation of the KB4 in order to create a road on a map, for example, A width line creation program among the graphic creation programs stored in the graphic creation program area 35 in the RAM 2 is activated by the CPU 1. That is,
The width line creation unit 41 in the figure creation unit 40 in FIG. 2 is activated.

Then, an input request message for setting each element data for graphic creation is displayed on the display 6. Following this message, the user operates KB4 to determine the type of two lines (basic shapes) that make up the width line shape.
For example, a spline curve), a figure line type (for example, line type=solid line, thickness=medium line), width line Specify and input the figure width d. Also, as shown in FIG. 4(a), place the cursor on the starting point As of the desired reference line (center line of the width line figure) and perform a position instruction operation ([Select/Execute] key operation on KB4), Further move the cursor to the reference line passing points A1, A2,
A3..., and finally set the end point Ae of the reference line.
By placing the cursor on and performing a position indication operation, specify and input the starting point, ending point, and passing point of the reference line. Note that if you want the reference line to be a straight line, you only need to specify the start point and end point.

When the width line creation unit 41 receives the above specified input data, it displays a message inquiring whether or not to attach a character string to the corresponding width line figure. ) Activate the character input section 42 if requested. At the same time, the width line creation unit 41 creates graphic data (excluding the character string portion) in the format shown in FIG. 3 according to the designated input data, and writes it into the graphic data buffer 22. The type of figure at this time is a width line figure with characters made up of spline curves.

When the character input section 42 is activated, it accepts the input of characters from the KB4, and the input characters (in this case, ○×△) are first written into the graphic data buffer 22 by the width line creation section 41. Added to the generated graphic data. The contents of the graphic data in the graphic data buffer 22 at this time are shown in FIG. 4(b).

Next, the operation when creating display figure data from the width line figure data created in this way is as follows.
This will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG. First, when creating graphic data for display, the graphic display control program stored in the graphic display control program area 36 in the RAM 2 is activated by the CPU 1, and accordingly, the graphic display control section 50 of FIG. 2 is activated.

Basic figure decomposition unit 5 in figure display control unit 50
1 sequentially retrieves the graphic data stored in the graphic data buffer 22. When the retrieved figure data is width line figure data, the basic figure decomposition unit 51 constructs a width line figure based on the reference line position data, width line interval d, and (figure drawing range indicated by) indicated by the same data. Each basic figure is decomposed into two line figures (basic figures) each having a distance of d/2 in the direction of separation from each other with respect to the reference line indicated by the reference line position data.

Therefore, if the figure data (width line figure data) shown in FIG. 4(b) is extracted, the figure data shown in FIG.
), the reference line (spline curve) As
Curves as ae and curves bs be, each maintaining a distance of d/2 in the direction of separation from Ae.
(Curves corresponding to A0, A1, A2... as ae
Upper passing points a1, a2, a3... and curve bs
be decomposed into data of two basic figures indicating passing points b1, b2, b3, . . . (not shown). Note that ai, bi (i=s, 1, 2...e) are points at a distance of d/2 from point Ai in the direction of mutual separation on a straight line perpendicular to the tangent passing through point Ai on the reference line As Be. be.

The basic figure decomposition unit 51 writes these two basic figure data to the display figure buffer 23 as display figure data as shown in FIG. 6(b). The figure type of these two display figure data is simply a spline curve,
The line type data is the same as that of the original figure data (width line figure data), and the position data consists of the coordinates of the starting point ae, end point be, passing points a1, a2, a3... on the one hand, and the starting point be on the other hand. , end point be, passing point b1, b
It consists of each coordinate of 2, b3...

On the other hand, the character display position calculation unit 52 in the graphic display control unit 50 searches the graphic data buffer 22 for character-added width line graphic data as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 (step S1). If there is character-added width line graphic data, the same graphic data is taken out from the graphic data buffer 22 (steps S2, S3).

Assume that the width line graphic data shown in FIG. 4(b) has been extracted in this manner. The character display position calculation unit 52 calculates the reference line (the curve AS Ae shown in FIG. 6A) indicated by the position data in the extracted width line figure data.
) is the number of characters in the string in the same shape data (here 3)
As shown in FIG. It is determined (step S4).

When the character display position calculation unit 52 determines the character display position, the character display size calculation unit 53 uses the position information and the width line graphic data taken out from the graphic data buffer 22.
and starts the character display size calculation section 53.

[0046] As a result, the character display size calculation unit 53
As shown in FIG. 7, centering on each character display position O1, O2, O3 determined by the character display position calculation unit 52, there are two lines constituting the width line figure (road figure) indicated by the corresponding width line figure data. Curves as ae and bs be
Squares U1, U2, and U3 inscribed in the line are temporarily generated (step S5).

The character display size calculation unit 53 determines the smallest square (U2 in the example of FIG. 7) among the temporarily generated squares as the character display size of the character string in the corresponding width line figure data ( Step S6).

When the character display size is determined by the character display size calculation unit 53, the graphic character data creation unit 54 generates the graphic data (
Each character constituting the character string in the width line figure data with characters is displayed at each character display position determined by the character display position calculation unit 52 and at the display size determined by the character display size calculation unit 53. The graphic character data required for
It is created for each character and written into the display graphic buffer 23 (step S7).

When the graphic character data is written in the display graphic buffer 23, the character display position calculation section 52 searches the graphic data buffer 22 again to find width line graphic data with characters. If there is the next width line graphic data with characters, steps S3 to S7 described above are performed. On the other hand, if there is no width line graphic data with characters, the processing of the character display position calculation section 52, character display size calculation section 53, and graphic character data creation section 54 ends.

Now, the display graphic image creation section 55
In order to display a figure, the display figure data is taken out in sequence from the display figure buffer 23, a figure image indicated by the same data is generated by well-known means, and is written to the corresponding position in the display RAM 8 via the display-CNT7. . The display CNT 7 reads out the image written in the display RAM 8 and displays it on the display 6.

As a result, when the display figure data corresponding to the width line figure data with characters shown in FIG. A road figure consisting of a curve as ae and a curve bs be is displayed. At the same time, the character string ○×△ in the width line figure data with characters shown in FIG.
2, O3 as the display center, the square U shown in FIG.
Displayed at the same size as 2.

[0052] In the above embodiments, the case where the reference line is a curved line has been explained, but it is not limited to this.
It is also applicable to straight lines. Further, instead of the inscribed square for determining the character size of the character string displayed along with the width line figure, it is also possible to use an inscribed rectangle with a constant aspect ratio. Furthermore, a virtual line is created outside the width line shape to face the shape while maintaining a constant width, and a character string is placed between this virtual line and the width line shape in the same way as in the previous example. It is also possible to do so.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the width line figure is specified by the reference line and the width has been explained, but it is also possible to designate the two lines that make up the width line figure individually, which reduces the operability. It is possible to do so. However, when this designation method is applied, it is necessary to manage the two lines that make up the width line as one set.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case of graphical display has been explained, but the present invention can be similarly applied to the case of printing. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the graphic display control program including the basic graphic decomposition program etc. was explained as being stored in the ROM 3, but it is stored in advance in the FDD 9, etc., and can be loaded into the RAM 2 and used as needed. It doesn't matter if it's something you can do. Further, the present invention can be applied to an information processing device such as a personal computer in addition to a document creation device, and can also be used as a dedicated graphic creation device.

[0055]

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention,
Determining the character position of each character in a character string to be attached along a width line figure representing a road etc. on a map based on the number of characters of the character string and the corresponding width line figure (figure data indicating the same), Since the character size is determined based on each determined character position and the corresponding width line figure (figure data indicating the width line figure), the character string to be attached to the width line figure representing roads etc. However, even if the user inputs the same character string without being aware of its position or character size, the same character string can be automatically arranged along its width line shape in an attractive manner.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a document creation device equipped with a graphic creation function (graphic creation device) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional block configuration of the graphic creation function (graphic creation device).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of graphic data applied in the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a method for specifying a width line figure using a reference line, and width line figure data with characters created according to the specification using the same method.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of display control processing for characters with width lines in the same embodiment.

6 is a diagram illustrating a comparison between a width line figure indicated by the character-added width line figure data shown in FIG. 4 and display figure data indicating a basic figure constituting the same width line figure;

7 is a diagram for explaining a method for determining the display position and display size of a character string displayed along with a width line figure indicated by the width line figure data with characters shown in FIG. 4; FIG.

[Description of symbols] 1... CPU, 2... RAM, 3... ROM, 4... Keyboard (KB), 6... Display, 8... RAM for display, 22... Graphic data buffer, 23... Graphic buffer for display, 30... Program area, 35...Figure creation program area, 3
6...Program area for figure display control, 38...Basic figure decomposition program, 39...Width line accompanying character display control program, 40...Figure creation section, 41...Width line creation section, 42...Character input section, 50...Graph display control 51...Basic graphic decomposition unit, 52...Character display position calculation unit, 53...Character display size calculation unit, 54...Graphic character data creation unit, 55...Display graphic image creation unit.

Claims (4)

[Claims] [Claim 1] Width line creation means for creating width line figure data indicating a width line figure consisting of two lines facing each other while maintaining a constant width, and for inputting a character string to be attached to the width line figure. a character string input means; a storage means for storing the width line figure data and the character string to be attached to the width line figure indicated by the data in association with each other; character position determining means for determining the character position to be displayed or printed based on the number of characters in the same character string and the width line figure data stored in the storage means corresponding to the same character string; character size determining means for determining the character size to be displayed or printed based on each character position determined by the determining means and the corresponding width line graphic data; At the same time, the image is developed for each character of the character string corresponding to this width line figure data at the character position determined by the character position determining means, and at the character size determined by the character size determining means. 1. A graphic creation device comprising: an image developing means for developing an image, and displaying or printing an image developed by the image developing means. 2. The character position determining means divides the center line of the width line figure into equal parts by the number of characters constituting the character string, and determines the center position of each of the equally divided line segments as the character position to be displayed or printed. 2. The graphic creation device according to claim 1, wherein the center of the figure is determined as the center of the figure. 3. The character size determining means centers on the character position determined by the character position determining means,
A rectangle inscribed in the two lines constituting the corresponding width line figure and having a constant aspect ratio is temporarily generated, and the rectangle with the smallest size among them is determined as the character size to be displayed or printed. 3. The graphic creation device according to claim 2. 4. Graphic creation according to claim 3, wherein the width line graphic data includes position data indicating the center line of the corresponding width line figure and width data indicating the width of the same width line figure. Device.