JPH0580742A - Character data processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability by providing a means which decides and corrects an overlap of characters in processing for arraying a character string on the screen of a display device. CONSTITUTION:In an image memory development step 109, the character string is developed on an image memory according to setting data of a reference line drawing setting step 101, a character string setting step 102, and an attribute information setting step 103. If the overlap of characters is confirmed in an overlap decision making step 106, the setting data are altered in an overlap correction step 108.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character data processing device and method, and more particularly to efficiently arranging character strings in a document creation system for displaying and printing character data such as a word processor. And the character data processing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In character data processing, when character strings are arranged in an image area set on a screen of a display device, in addition to arranging them in the horizontal and vertical directions with respect to the image area, diagonal directions, arcs, etc. The method of arranging in the direction along the curve of is used. In this kind of character string arrangement, a reference line figure such as a straight line or an arc which is a reference of the arrangement position is set in the image area, and a character pattern forming the character string is developed at a position along the reference line figure. It can be realized by processing.

By the way, depending on the combination of the set attribute information and the reference line figure, the character patterns forming the character string may overlap with each other. When such an overlap between character patterns occurs, it was possible to remove the overlap by the conventional technique,
There was a problem in operability. Hereinafter, the problem will be described with reference to the arrangement example of the character strings in FIG.

The area occupied by the two-dimensional dot matrix defining the character pattern when developed in the image memory is defined as a character pattern frame. Although the character pattern frame does not appear in the actual display, it is expressed as a rectangle in this specification for convenience of description. 2A to 2D, 201 indicates an image area set on the screen of the display device or the like. Here, it is assumed that the character strings are arranged along the arc-shaped reference line graphic 202 as shown in FIG. FIG. 2B shows three character patterns 203 to 20.
5 along the reference line figure 202 and the reference figure 20
This is the case where they are arranged between the two end points. As in this case, the character pattern frames do not overlap with each other depending on the attribute information such as the character pattern frame size and the setting contents of the reference line graphic. However, as shown in FIG.
When the four character patterns 203 to 206 are similarly arranged on 02, the space between the character pattern frames adjacent to each other is narrowed, and as a result, the character pattern frames overlap each other. In many cases, the overlap between the character pattern frames occurs unintentionally to the operator.

Since there is no means for discriminating the occurrence of such an overlap between the character pattern frames which is not intended by the operator in the prior art, the operator himself / herself once displayed the display on the display screen or the like. Had to be checked and the occurrence of overlap had to be determined.

Further, in the case of removing the overlap between the character pattern frames, the operator also confirms the displayed array result in the same manner, and until the overlap is removed, the attribute information or the reference line figure is displayed. Had changed the settings. For example, FIG. 2D shows an intermediate process in which one end of the reference line graphic 202 is changed to be extended and the overlap is removed. The operator repeatedly corrected the degree of change while confirming such an array result in the middle.

As described above, the operator has to confirm the arrangement result every time the overlap between the character pattern frames is confirmed and the correction operation is performed to remove the overlap, which causes a problem in operability. ..

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve operability in character string arrangement processing, and in particular, an arrangement of character strings in which overlapping between character pattern frames easily occurs, for example, Arranged along a curved line such as a circular arc, or not protruding from the section in the designated reference line figure,
Alternatively, another object is to provide an efficient character data processing environment by reducing the burden on the operator when the arrangement such as the protrusion is suppressed as much as possible.

[0009]

The above object can be achieved by newly providing a means for discriminating the overlap between adjacent character pattern frames and a means for correcting the overlap between the character pattern frames with respect to the prior art. You can

[0010]

The means for determining the overlap between the adjacent character pattern frames determines the occurrence of the overlap between the adjacent character pattern frames based on the set attribute information and the reference line graphic data. The overlap correction unit between the character pattern frames changes the set attribute information or the reference line graphic data only when the overlap occurs.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of this method. Here, the processing of FIG. 1 will be described using the case where a character string is arranged on the arc 202 shown in FIG.

First, in the reference line setting step 101, an arc 202 is set as shown in FIG. Regarding the setting of this reference line figure, in addition to newly setting the reference line figure by the conventional figure drawing operation, it is also possible to set it by instructing part or all of the other figures already drawn. is there. In principle, the character strings are arranged in the section where the reference line is set. In the character string setting step 102, the character string data to be arranged is fetched from the input device or the storage device. Here, a character string consisting of three characters is set. In the attribute information setting step 103, attribute information such as the size of the character pattern frames to be arranged, the interval between adjacent character pattern frames, and the orientation of characters such as vertical writing and horizontal writing is fetched from the input device or the storage device. Regarding the setting of the interval between the adjacent character pattern frames, in addition to the method of directly setting the interval amount, there is a method of indirectly calculating and setting the uniform interval from the length of the reference line figure and the number of characters. In the expansion position calculation step 104, the position on the image memory where the character pattern is to be expanded and the rotation angle of the character pattern are calculated and set based on the setting information of the three steps. Here, the position where the character pattern frame is expanded corresponds to the position where the character pattern frame is expanded. This position can be set to the upper end point, the lower end point, or the like of the character pattern frame.

If the operator permits the occurrence of the overlap between the character pattern frames in the character string, it is determined in the overlap permission determining step 105, and the occurrence determination and the correction processing of the overlap between the character pattern frames are performed. Absent. In that case, based on the contents set in the attribute information setting step 103 and the character pattern development position setting step 104, the character pattern is developed in the image memory in the image memory development step 109 and displayed on the display device in the character string display step 110. ..

However, if the operator decides and corrects the occurrence of the overlap between the character pattern frames according to the present invention, the decision is made in the overlap permission judgment step 105, and the character pattern is expanded in the image memory expansion step 109. Before this, determination and correction processing of occurrence of overlap between the character pattern frames are performed.

Hereinafter, the case where it is determined in the overlap permission step 105 that the occurrence of the overlap between the character pattern frames and the correction process will be performed will be continued.

In the overlap determination step 106, it is determined whether or not an overlap between the character pattern frames has occurred on the assumption that the character patterns are expanded based on the contents set in the attribute information setting step 103 and the character pattern expansion position setting step 104. To do. An example of the processing of the overlap determination step 106 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Also, FIG.
Shows the relationship between two adjacent character pattern frames when arranging a character string in an arc-shaped reference line figure. Here, the amount of the base point interval between adjacent characters is defined. The character base point interval is an interval between designated base points in two adjacent character pattern frames, for example, the center points of the character pattern frames. However, in a general case such as a linear reference line figure, the distance of the character base point interval is used, but in the case of an arc-shaped reference line figure as shown in FIG. It is also possible to use the angle formed by the circle center points. In the case of FIG. 4A, two character base points 405 and 40 are set as the base point intervals of the two character pattern frames 403 and 404.
The angle 407 formed by 6 and the circle center 402 is used. Next, the process will be described. First, contact interval calculation step 30
In 1, the character base point interval in the state where the two adjacent character pattern frames of interest in the character string contact each other is calculated. Figure 4
(B) has shown the state which two character pattern frames 403 and 404 contact. This state is assumed for the sake of calculation and is not the result of actual arrangement.
The character base point interval in this state will be referred to as a contact base point interval. The contact base point interval 410 in this case is the character base point 40.
5 and the circle center 402 and the contact point 411 form an angle 408, and the character base point 406, the circle center 402 and the contact point 411 form an angle 409. These angles 40
8 and the angle 409 are the radius of the circle and the two character pattern frames 4
Geometrically calculable using sizes of 03 and 404. Then, in the expansion interval calculation step 302,
Similarly, assuming that the character pattern is developed with the attribute information and the development position set at the present stage, the character base point interval is calculated. In the case of FIG. 4, FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (c)
407 is geometrically calculated from the positions of the two character base points 405 and 406 and the circle center 402. Next, the contact base point interval calculated in step 301 and step 302
The character base point interval calculated in
Compare in 3. If the distance between the contact base points is larger, it is determined that the overlap occurs, and in the opposite case, it is determined that the overlap does not occur. For example, in FIG.
In the case of (a), the character base point interval 407 is smaller than the contact base point interval 410 of FIG. 4B, so it is determined that an overlap occurs. Similarly, in the case of FIG. 4C, the character base point interval 40
Since No. 7 is larger than the contact base point interval 410, it is determined that no overlap occurs. By applying the processing shown in FIG. 3 to all the adjacent character pattern frames in the character string, it is possible to determine the occurrence of the overlap between the character pattern frames with respect to the character string.

Returning to the explanation of the flowchart of FIG. When it is determined in the overlap determination step 106 that the character pattern frames do not overlap with each other, it is determined in the overlap correction permission step 107 that the overlap correction process is not necessary. On the contrary, when it is determined that the overlap between the character pattern frames occurs, it is determined that the overlap correction processing is necessary in the overlap permission determination step 107, and the overlap correction step 108 is executed.

Next, an example of realizing the overlap correction step 108 will be briefly described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in the overlapping character string length calculation step 501, the length of the character string along the reference line figure in the state where the character pattern frames overlap each other is calculated. When the character string is specified to be arranged in the set section of the reference line figure, it is obvious that the value becomes equal to the length of the reference line figure.
Next, in a contact character string length calculation step 502, the length of the character string along the reference line figure in a state where each character pattern frame is in contact is calculated. Then, the correction length calculation step 5
In 03, the difference between the calculation results of steps 501 and 502 is obtained as the correction length. In FIG. 6A, the character strings should be arranged in the section of the reference line figure 601 indicated by the solid line,
It is graphically represented that the correction length 602 indicated by the broken line is generated due to the overlap between the character pattern frames.
Next, as a correction method, whether to change the reference line figure,
Correction method selection step 504 whether to change the attribute information
Select with. Usually, a preset correction method is selected. First, a method of changing the attribute information will be described. Here, an example will be described in which a character pattern frame width is used as the attribute information to be changed. In the character reduction ratio calculation step 505, the ratio of the character string length calculated in step 501 to the character string length calculated in step 502 is calculated, and this is set as the reduction ratio of the character pattern frame width. In the character size changing step 506, all character pattern frame widths in the character string are reduced according to the ratio. Then, in the expansion position changing step 508, based on the changed attribute information,
The expansion position of each character pattern in the image memory is recalculated and changed. When this correction result is displayed, it becomes as shown in FIG. Further, if the extension of the reference line figure is recognized, a correction method by changing the reference line figure is selected in the correction method selection step 504. In that case, in the reference line figure changing step 507, the correction length obtained in step 503 is extended to one end or both ends of the reference line figure. FIG. 6C shows the correction result extended to both ends of the reference line figure. The broken line portions 603 at both ends of the reference line figure 601 in FIG. 6C are extended by the correction process.

After execution of the overlap correction processing step 108, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 1, the processing is completed after the image memory developing step 109 and the character string displaying step 110.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the arrangement result of the character string according to the present invention. According to the processing method of the present invention, the operator can arrange the character strings as described below without performing an operation of correcting the overlap between the character pattern frames. Figure 7
FIG. 7C shows the result of arranging the four character patterns shown in FIG. 7A at the same character pattern rotation angle along the reference line graphic 701 shown in FIG. 7B. Also, FIG. 7 (d)
FIG. 7E shows the result of arrangement in the horizontal writing direction along the reference line figure 702 shown in FIG. Up to this point, the case has been described in which the corrected space between the character pattern frames becomes 0, that is, the correction is performed so that the character pattern frames are in contact with each other. However, the corrected character space is set to a value other than 0. It is also possible. The array result in that case is shown in FIG.

Finally, FIG. 8 shows a device configuration for realizing the present invention.
Follow the instructions below. The device configuration stores an input device 801 such as a keyboard for inputting arrayed character string data, reference line graphic data, attribute information and operating instructions, character string data, reference line graphic data and attribute information. A storage device 802, a display device 803 such as a CRT that displays a character pattern expanded in an image memory, and a control device 804 that controls each part and performs other data processing. The control device 804 includes a data input unit 805 that receives character string data or the like from the input device 801 or the storage device 802 or an operation instruction, and an overlap determination unit 806 that determines the occurrence of an overlap between character pattern frames based on the processing method of the present invention. An overlapping correction unit 807 for removing an overlap between character pattern frames based on the processing method of the present invention, and a character pattern is expanded in the image memory 810 based on the reference line graphic data, the attribute information and the character string data received from the data input unit. And a data display unit 809 for outputting the image data expanded in the image memory 810 to the display device 803.

[0022]

According to the present invention, when the character strings are arranged so that there is no overlap between the character pattern frames, the operator can arrange the character strings without being aware of the occurrence of the overlap. ..

In particular, the arrangement of character strings in which overlapping between character pattern frames is likely to occur, for example, arrangement along a curve such as a circular arc, or not protruding from a designated reference line figure section or suppressing the protruding as much as possible It reduces the burden on the operator and improves the operability when performing such arrangements.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of processing according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement example of character strings,

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example of processing for determining overlap between character pattern frames,

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram used for explaining a process for determining an overlap between character pattern frames,

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example of processing for correcting overlap between character pattern frames,

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a process of correcting overlap between character pattern frames,

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing example of a character array according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a device configuration for implementing the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... Reference line figure setting step, 102 ... Character string setting step, 103 ... Attribute information setting step, 104 ... Expansion position calculation step, 105 ... Overlap permission determination step, 106 ... Overlap determination step, 107 ... Overlap correction permission determination step, 108 ... Overlap correction step, 10
9 ... Image memory development step, 110 ... Character string display step.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Sayuri Oshima 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama City Hitachi, Ltd. Microelectronics Device Development Laboratory (72) Inventor Akira Nakajima 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama Hitachi, Ltd. Microelectronics Device Development Laboratory

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A means for inputting character string data or graphic pattern string data corresponding thereto by an input device, a means for inputting a reference line graphic which is a reference of an array position of the character string by an input device, and the character string. A means for setting attribute information composed of a character pattern frame size, a distance between adjacent character pattern frames, and the like, which is referred to when data is expanded on an image memory, and each character pattern forming a character string is defined by the reference line. In a character data processing method having means for expanding in the image memory based on the set attribute information so as to follow the figure, and means for displaying the data in the image memory on a display device, an arbitrary adjacency in the character string Whether two character pattern frames will overlap when they are expanded based on the set attribute information. Character data processing characterized in that it has means for discriminating the attribute information or the reference line figure only when it is discriminated by the discriminating means that an overlap between adjacent character pattern frames occurs. method. 2. The character data for changing the attribute information or the reference line figure so as to remove the overlapping state between the character pattern frames as a function of changing the attribute information or the reference line figure. Processing method. 3. The character string according to claim 1, wherein the character string is used as a means for changing the attribute information or the reference line graphic so that the shortest distance between the character pattern frames in which the character pattern frames are overlapped becomes zero. Character data processing method that reduces the size of the character pattern frame of the characters that make up 4. The reference line according to claim 1, as a means for changing the attribute information or the reference line figure, so that the shortest distance between the character pattern frames in which the pattern frames are overlapped becomes zero. A character data processing method that extends one or both ends of a figure.