JPH0439710B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an on-screen product allocation device, particularly an on-screen product allocation device for allocating flyers and catalogs using a computer. .

(Prior Art) Generally, flyers and catalogs include photos, explanatory notes, dimensional drawings, etc. of products. Therefore, flyers
To create printing plates for catalogs, it is necessary to allocate photographs, explanatory text, dimensional drawings, etc. to each page. Conventionally, such allocation has been done manually. In other words, for photographs and dimensional drawings, the layout is determined by arranging cutouts from copies on the layout paper, and for explanatory text, the font size, character spacing, etc. are calculated from the size of the explanatory text layout area on the layout paper. method was adopted.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above-described layout method, there is a problem in that the layout is largely a manual design process and is extremely labor-intensive. In particular, in flyers, catalogs, etc., when changing the layout position, it must be done for each product, so it is necessary to move the photos, explanatory text, and dimension drawings, which requires a great deal of design effort. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an on-screen product allocation device that can improve the efficiency of product-by-product allocation work.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for solving the problem) The present invention defines a plurality of blocks for allocating products within one screen, and displays an allocation screen in a product allocation device that allocates products to each block. A display device, block number data for specifying the product to be allocated for each block within one screen, block pattern number data for specifying the allocation pattern within the block, and allocation of the block itself within one screen. Block allocation data indicating information,
A page information management device that holds a page information management device, an input device that inputs instructions for allocation and changes the contents held in the page information management device based on the input results, and a pair of block number data and display data related to products. 1; a block pattern information management device that provides a one-to-one allocation pattern within a block to block pattern number data; a storage device that stores display data related to products; and a page information management device. A control device for displaying an allocation screen on a display device based on information held by the controller is provided, and the efficiency of allocation work for each product can be improved.

(Operation) The page information management device holds block number data, block pattern number data, and block allocation data for each of a plurality of blocks defined within one page. The block number data is used to refer to the block information management device, and the product is specified by this reference. The block pattern number data is used to refer to the block pattern information management device, and the allocation pattern is specified by this reference. Further, the block allocation data indicates the allocation information of the block itself. With such a configuration, the operator can change the assignment of each product on the screen simply by manipulating the block number data in the page information management device.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an illustrative example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an on-screen product allocation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
This device includes a display device 1 that displays an allocation screen to an operator, an input device 2 that inputs instructions for allocation from the operator, a page information management device 3 that manages various data, and a block information management device. 4, a block pattern information management device 5, a storage device 6 for storing display data regarding products to be allocated, and a control device 7 for controlling screen display on the display device 1. As the display device 1, a high resolution display device is used in this embodiment, and as the input device 2, a keyboard or a tablet is used. Also, a page information management device 3, a block information management device 4, a block pattern information management device 5, and a storage device 6.
is configured using memory in a general-purpose computer, and the functions of the control device 7 are realized by software on this computer.

The operation of this apparatus when eight types of chairs are assigned as products on one page of a catalog will now be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen of the display device 1 during this allocation operation. There are eight blocks 8a to 8h in this one screen.
is defined. Menu area 9 is on the right side of the screen.
A variety of instructions are displayed here, and the operator can input these instructions using an input device such as a tablet. One block, for example block 8a, is divided into three areas, an upper column 8a1, a middle column 8a2, and a lower column 8a3, as shown in FIG. An explanatory text is allocated to the lower column 8a3, and a dimension diagram of the product is allocated to the lower column 8a3. line is not displayed). FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a product description assigned to the middle column 8a2. The storage device 6 stores product photo data necessary for displaying the image of the product as shown in the upper column 8a1 of FIG. 3 and a dimensional drawing of the product as shown in the lower column 8a3. The product dimension drawing data necessary for displaying the product has been imported in advance by an image input device such as a scanner or a drawing input device such as CAD, and the data for the product as shown in the middle column 8a2 of FIG. Product description data necessary for displaying the description has been previously captured by a character input device such as a word processor.

Such image display is performed under the management of a page information management device 3, a block information management device 4, and a block pattern information management device 5. FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of various data held by the page information management device 3. Here, all data is kept page by page.
In this example, the first page consists of eight blocks (corresponding to the display in FIG. 2). As shown in Figure 5,
Eight rows of table space are secured corresponding to these eight blocks, and each row holds three types of data: block number data, block pattern number data, and block allocation data. Block number data is data for specifying the product to be allocated. In this example, block number 1 is the second
Corresponding to the product assigned to block 8a in the figure,
Block number 8 corresponds to the product assigned to block 8h in FIG. Block pattern number data is data for specifying an allocation pattern within a block, and will be explained in detail later. Block allocation data (specific values are omitted in Figure 5)
consists of block position data and block magnification data, and is used to determine the position coordinates and size of each block on the layout screen.

FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of various data held by the block information management device 4. here,
One line of data space is reserved for each block number, and each line contains the product photo number, product description number,
Three types of data including product dimension drawing numbers are held.
The block number data is data for specifying the product, just like the data used in the table of FIG. The product photo number, product description number, and product dimensional drawing number refer to the product photo data, product description data, and product dimensional drawing data stored in the storage device 6 for the product specified by the block number, respectively. This is the reference number for.

FIG. 7 is a table showing an example of various data held by the block pattern information management device 5. Here, a data space is secured in one line for each block pattern number, and each line holds three types of data: product photo layout data, product description text layout data, and product dimension drawing layout data. Each piece of data consists of data on the layout position, orientation, and magnification. For example, the relative position coordinates, orientation, and magnification to which a photograph of a chair as shown in FIG. 3 should be assigned to block 8a are held in this data space.

With the above configuration, the control device 7 can perform a display as shown in FIG. 2 on the display device 1. For example, in order to display the layout of the chairs in the block 8a, the control device 7 first searches for internal information of the page information management device 3 as shown in FIG. Through this search, it is determined that the block number is 1 (that is, product 1) and the block pattern number is 2, as well as the allocation position and allocation magnification of block 8a.
The frame of the block 8a is specified on the display device 1.
Subsequently, based on the block number 1 obtained from the table shown in FIG. 5, the internal information of the block information management device 4 shown in FIG. 6 is searched. Through this search, it is specified that the product photo number of the chair to be allocated is 4, the product description number is 6, and the product dimension drawing is 8. Therefore, the control device 7 refers to the storage device 6 based on these numbers to obtain product photo data (image data of the chair photo input using the scanner) and product description data (word processor). You can obtain the character code data entered using the software) and product dimension drawing data (image data of the chair dimension drawing entered using a drawing input device such as Scanner or CAD). The control device 7 further searches for internal information of the block pattern information management device 5 shown in FIG. 7 based on the block pattern number 2 obtained from the table shown in FIG. Through this search, it is possible to obtain information regarding the position, orientation, and magnification of the layout of the product photo, explanatory text, and dimensional drawing obtained from the storage device 6, and based on this information, the layout display as shown in FIG. 2 can be obtained. will be done. Therefore, the operator inputs data into the tables shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 in the page information management device 3, block information management device 4, and block pattern information management device 5 using the input device 2. By doing so, an allocation screen as shown in FIG. 2 can be obtained.

The feature of this device is that the above-described configuration makes it possible to improve the efficiency of product-by-product allocation work. The effects of this device will be illustrated below by giving an example of the assignment correction work for each product.

It is now assumed that products 1 to 8 are allocated on the display device 1 as shown in FIG. Here, the operator selects products 2 and 3 as shown in Figure 9a.
If you wish to change the allocation position of the block numbers, use the input device 2 to instruct the block numbers 2 and 3 to be changed on the table in the page information management device 3 as shown in FIG. 9b. That's fine. There is no need to change data in other tables. In this way, product units can be easily replaced by simple data manipulation. Also, if the operator
As shown in FIG. 10, if you want to set up one empty block in front of product 1 and move the products sequentially, the input device 2 can be used to create a block on the table in the page information management device 3 as shown in FIG. 10b. Then, a blank field may be provided in the top column of the block number, and data operations such as sequentially moving down the block numbers may be performed. Further, when the operator wants to insert a product 14 between products 2 and 3 as shown in FIG. 11a, the page information management device Data operations such as sequentially lowering block numbers 3 and below on the table in block number 3 and inserting block number 14 between block numbers 2 and 3 are performed. In the example shown in Figure 11b, data manipulation processing is performed by operating a so-called page lock function, and the block number is incremented only within the first page, and the data on the second and subsequent pages are incremented. has no effect on the The operator is allowed to freely select whether or not to operate such a page lock function.

The operator can also change the layout by changing the allocation of the blocks themselves.
For example, in a layout as shown in FIG. 12a, block 1 can be moved to the position indicated by the broken line to create a layout as shown in FIG. 12b. In this case, block 1 is prioritized, and the original block 4 is reduced to a rectangle whose area is maximized in a region that does not overlap with block 1. Furthermore, in the layout as shown in FIG. 13a, the magnification of block 1 can be increased to the size shown by the broken line to create a layout as shown in FIG. 13b. In this case too, block 4 is reduced. Furthermore, in the layout as shown in FIG. 14a, a block 9 of the size shown by the broken line can be inserted in place of block 7 to create a layout as shown in FIG. 14b. In this case, block 7 is deleted and blocks 6 and 8 are reduced. These operations are easily accomplished by changing the block allocation data in the table shown in FIG.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the on-screen product allocation device includes a page information management device, a block information management device, and a block pattern information management device to manage allocation information for each product. The efficiency of the allocation work can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an on-screen product allocation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 4 show the display screen during allocation work using the device shown in FIG. Figures showing examples, Figures 5 and 6
7 are diagrams showing examples of tables in the page information management device, block information management device, and block pattern information management device, respectively, and FIG.
Figures 9, 10, and 11 are diagrams showing examples of layout screens created using the device shown in Figure 1.
Explanatory diagram of the replacement work, sequential feed work, and insertion work of product allocation using the device shown in the figure, No. 12
14 are explanatory diagrams showing the work of changing the layout of blocks themselves using the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Display device, 2...Input device, 3...Page information management device, 4...Block information management device, 5...Block pattern information management device, 6...Storage device, 7...
Control device, 8...Block allocation area, 9...Menu area.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A product allocation device that defines a plurality of blocks for allocating products within one screen and allocates products to each block, comprising: a display device that displays an allocation screen; For each block in the screen, block number data for specifying the product to be allocated, block pattern number data for specifying the allocation pattern within the block, and block allocation indicating the allocation information of the block itself within the one screen. a page information management device that holds data; an input device that inputs instructions for allocation and changes the content held by the page information management device based on the input results; and a display regarding the block number data and products. a block pattern information management device that provides a one-to-one allocation pattern within the block that corresponds to the block pattern number data on a one-to-one basis; and a memory that stores display data regarding the product. An on-screen product allocation device comprising: a device; and a control device that causes the display device to display an allocation screen based on information held by the page information management device. 2. The on-screen product allocation device according to claim 1, which uses product photo data, product explanatory text data, and product dimensional drawing data as display data regarding the product. 3. The on-screen product allocation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the input device has a function of rewriting data in the page information management device.