JPH06161728A - Flowchart generation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To standardize the sizes of respective figures in a flowchart and arrange optimum character strings in the standardized figures by automatically deforming a character string when a figure deforms so that the character string is put in the figure. CONSTITUTION:A font action block 61 in an image operation block 6 judges (change) of characters responding to the motion (change) of a figure, for example, what font deformation should be done or whether or not an advance to symbol conversion needs to be made. A font operation block 62 processes a font expanded in a bit map on a font memory 3 by a font rasterizer 7 on the basis of the judgement made by the font action block 61. Further, an image- outside-font operation block 63 handles image data (data obtained by expanding figure data into bit map) expanded on a memory 3 for image processing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flowchart creating system for creating a flowchart of a program used in an information processing system or the like by using a computer or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, flowcharts such as programs used in various information processing systems are often created using word processors, desktop publishing systems, and the like. Conventionally, in creating a flowchart, a method of independently selecting or writing a character string used in the flowchart or a figure surrounding the character string has been used. That is, the processing program that creates a character string on the screen (paper) draws independently without recognizing the status of the graphic on the screen, and the processing program that creates the graphic recognizes the status of the character on the screen. It was formed independently without doing. Therefore, for example, when adding a figure that encloses a character string that should be enclosed by a figure on the screen, the operator creates detailed figures one by one while considering the position of the displayed character string. ,
It was necessary to confirm the result on the screen and change the character string or the figure to complete the process.

[0003]

However, as described above, in the conventional flow chart creation, the character string and the figure are created independently of each other. Therefore, write the figure of the flow chart first and then write the characters there. In that case, for example, as shown in FIG. 2A, a character may protrude from the figure, and trial and error must be repeated. On the contrary, if you try to write a letter first and try to match the figure with it, it will be difficult to make the sizes of the figures uniform.

Furthermore, when moving a flow chart once drawn, since the character does not move together with the figure in the character string, the editing process of moving or exchanging the figure containing the character is extremely complicated.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in creating a flowchart of the prior art.
A flowchart creation system that can unify the size of each figure on the flowchart, arrange an optimum character string in the unified figure, and easily perform editing processing such as moving and exchanging figures. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a system for creating a flow chart composed of a combination of a character string and a figure surrounding it, and when the figure is deformed, the character string is changed. Also, a means for automatically transforming the character string so that it fits within the transformed figure is provided, and the transformation of the character string is enlarged or reduced, or emphasized, vertically transformed, horizontally transformed, or rotated, or In a system that creates a flowchart consisting of a combination of a character pitch change and a character string and figures surrounding it, when arranging a character string in the figure of a prescribed size, part of the character string is A part of the character string is automatically replaced with a predetermined symbol when it extends out of the above figure, and a description of the replaced symbol is written in a space on the paper. In a system for creating a flow chart composed of a combination of characters and figures surrounding it, when a part of a character string arranged in a figure of a predetermined size extends outside the figure, the character string is reduced or transformed. ,
If the above protrusion does not disappear even after rotating or changing the character pitch, replace part of the character string with a predetermined symbol and describe the replaced symbol in the desired space on the printing paper. , In a system that creates a flow chart consisting of a character string and a set of figures surrounding it, when the specified figure is moved to the place where another arbitrary figure is placed, the character string in the figure is also moved. In addition, a mode for erasing the other graphic is provided. When the specified graphic is moved to a place where another arbitrary graphic is arranged, the specified graphic and the characters in the graphic are It has a mode to exchange the layout of the figure and the characters in it. When the specified figure is moved to the place where any other figure is placed, the other figure and the character string in it are It is equipped with a mode that is automatically placed in a vacant space, and when two figures are specified in a predetermined order after selecting a desired mode, they are superimposed, exchanged, or exclusively moved immediately. It is characterized by having done.

[0007]

With the above construction, the partial rewriting of the flow chart is facilitated, and when a part of the character string that should fit in the graphic extends outside the graphic, the character string is reduced. However, when the protrusion does not disappear, a part of the character string is replaced with a symbol, so that the character string that is not too small can be arranged in order in a unified figure.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the part surrounded by the solid line is the part according to the present invention. The device constituting the present invention is composed of an image processing memory 3, a font memory 4 and an image operation block 6 in the part constituting the present invention. The image processing memory 3 is a memory for temporarily storing image data for performing image processing described later, and the font memory 4 is for displaying characters on the display device 1.
This is a memory for reading a font pattern from the font ROM 8 via the font rasterizer 7 and storing it as bit-mapped data corresponding to a character string to be displayed. The image operation block 6 is a functional block of a part when the functions of the present invention are realized by software.
Font action block 61, font operation block
62, a non-font image operation block 63. It should be noted that although the present embodiment will be described as functional blocks, most of them are generally realized by a computer, but it is also possible to configure them by hard blocks that realize respective functions.

An aspect of the embodiment will be described below. First, a case where a graphic of a certain size is first created and a character string is to be stored in the graphic will be described. Figure 2
(A), (b) is a figure for explaining the function.
In the figure (a), 21 is a figure, and the character string "start" and the character string "employee number ... read in" in the figure are the character strings that compose the above-mentioned flowchart, and basically the above It is placed inside the figure.

Consider a case where a character string "employee number ... Read" is created inside a rectangle of a predetermined size prepared in advance. First, when a character string of a predetermined size is arranged at a predetermined pitch from the upper left of the figure and hits a line on the right side of the figure, the character is placed at the left end of the next line as shown in FIG. 2 (b). Is located in. The line spacing is also set in advance. When you break a line at the bottom of a figure when you break a line, the font operation block 62
Automatically reduce font size. Due to the reduction, there is no problem if all the character strings fit in the figure, but if the font is reduced too much, it will be difficult to read on the display, so if the reduction is repeated, it will be reduced to a predetermined size. No further reduction. Therefore, protrusion occurs as shown in FIG. still,
The character arrangement position in the diamond as shown in the figure is set in advance corresponding to the size of the arranged character. Figure 2 above
When the protrusion occurs even if the image is reduced as shown in (a), some character strings are replaced with symbols (or icons) as shown in FIG. 2 (b). In the example in the figure, is the character string "Read file" replaced by "* 1"? The character string "" is replaced with "* 2". Incidentally, instead of replacing the last part of the character string, it is also possible to replace part of the middle of the character string. For example, replace "transaction file" with "* 3" and read "* 3 after initializing employee number". This replacement process is performed by the font action block 61 and the font operation block 62 shown in FIG. As hardware, a font ROM 8, a font rasterizer 7, and a font memory 4 are used to temporarily store a bit-mapped character string in a memory, and the font memory 4 is used to reduce characters. used. The reduced final result character string is stored in, for example, the font memory 4 and copied to the image processing memory. It should be noted that the symbol and the character string replaced by the symbol are written in parallel at an appropriate location (lower left in the example of FIG. 2) on the paper (screen) so that the meaning of the symbol in the figure can be understood. This place will automatically find and place a suitable position in the screen void. An example of the flow chart of the software in the image operation block 6 will be supplementarily described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. This flow chart shows the input and processing of a character string after a graphic has been input. Since the flow is long, the screen is divided into several screens, but the same number of each part is read while being connected. First, wait for the first character to be entered in the figure (S1,
S2, S3,). When a character is input, the font action block 61 is called to perform the next processing (S4, FIG. 3C). Subsequently, graphic recognition is performed (S5 to S8). In this figure recognition, the figure recognizing unit 5 recognizes whether or not a figure has been input. If the figure has been input, the coordinates of the vertices of the input figure are calculated, and a line segment is expressed by a mathematical expression. The recognition of the figure is performed by recognizing the existence of the line segment on the image memory. The apex is obtained as the intersection of the line segments.

Next, the process proceeds to input characters in each figure (S
9). The flow of the character input process is as shown in the in-figure editing in FIG. 9B, and when the input character collides with the boundary of the figure (not only the right edge but also the right edge and the lower edge) (S92). ), And calls the font action block 61 (S93). In the font action block, the font operation block 62 is called after determining which action should be taken from among character reduction, character emphasis, character lengthening, width lengthening, rotation, and character pitch change. In the font operation block 62, the bitmap font developed on the font memory 4 is transformed and copied to the image processing memory 3.

Next, a case where a character string is first created and surrounded by a graphic will be described. FIG. 4 shows the screen on the display 1 when the creation of the character string is completed. The figure on the right side of the drawing is a figure for enclosing the created character strings S1 to S3. When the mouse cursor is moved with the mouse to select a desired figure, and then the character string is selected by moving the mouse cursor to the character string to be enclosed, the layout recognition unit 9, the image operation block 6 and the like display the selected figure. size,
The aspect ratio is automatically changed to enclose the selected character string in a graphic with a size and an aspect ratio that prevents the character string from protruding. In the above operation, when the mouse selects a character string, the layout recognition unit 9 determines the position of the selected character string on the image memory, and the size (length and width) of the character. ), And passes the data to the image operation block 6.

When the character strings S1 to S3 shown in FIG. 4 are surrounded as described above, the lengths and the number of characters of the character strings are different. Therefore, the sizes of the respective figures enclosing S1 to S3 are different, and the balance is balanced. It will be over. Therefore,
The operator gives instructions with a keyboard or mouse to unify the sizes of the figures. Further, in accordance with this, the character string is automatically enlarged or reduced, vertically deformed, horizontally deformed, or changed in character pitch.
In this operation, the vertical or horizontal reduction rate or enlargement rate is determined from the reduction rate or enlargement rate before and after the unification of the sizes of the figures. In addition, when the change of the figure is only the landscape transformation, the transformation of the character string is basically the landscape transformation and the character pitch variation. The character pitch change rate is, as a general rule, a reduction rate (including horizontal deformation) or an expansion rate (including horizontal deformation) before and after unifying figures. In this way, the character is reduced to a predetermined size. Therefore, when the size of the character is smaller than the predetermined size when the size is reduced by the reduction ratio, the size of the character is returned to the predetermined size,
By replacing some character strings with symbols (or icons), the number of characters is reduced, and the character strings are prevented from protruding outside the figure. In addition, the symbol and the character string replaced with the symbol are written in parallel on an appropriate place on the paper (screen). Also,
When the figure is emphasized (the line of the figure becomes thicker), the character is also emphasized, and when the figure is rotated, the character string in the figure can also be rotated.

In the above, the font action block 61 in the image operation block 6 judges the action (change) of the character in response to the movement (change) of the figure, for example, what kind of font transformation should be performed or symbol conversion. The font operation block 62 processes the font developed into the bitmap on the font memory 3 by the font rasterizer 7 based on the judgment of the font action block 61, and the non-font image. The operation block 63 handles the image data expanded in the image processing memory 3 (such as data obtained by expanding graphic data into a bitmap). However, the font data after the transformation processing on the font memory is appropriately used as image data (data expanded in the bitmap), and after being copied on the image memory, the image data is used as the image data outside the font.
Treated by 63. Further, the display driver 2 processes the data in the image processing memory 3 so that it can be displayed on the display device 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the overwriting mode implemented in the present invention. As shown in the figure, this moves some of the specified figures on the flowchart to the place where other figures are placed, deletes the other figures, and puts the specified figure on that place. This is the mode to place. At this time, the character string in the designated figure is also moved. In addition, the character string in the transfer destination graphic disappears along with the graphic surrounding it. The movement can be specified by, for example, the mouse cursor, and it is also possible to move and display the specified figure being moved so that the figure can be moved by the mouse cursor. It is also possible that, at the moment when the figure is designated, the figure designated at the position before the movement disappears and the figure designated at the destination afterwards becomes the figure to be transferred. The destination may be any position on the flowchart. When the designated figure disappears from its original location, the arrow from that figure also disappears. The mode is selected, for example, by instructing the "overwrite" mode displayed on the menu (including the icon) with the mouse cursor. Further, the original location of the figure that has become a vacant space due to the movement is a diagram in which the upper flowchart or the lower flowchart is sequentially moved and connected.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the exchange mode implemented in the present invention. As is clear from the figure, this is a mode for exchanging any two figures on the flow chart, and like the above superposition mode, two figures are designated by the mouse cursor, and momentarily The display is exchanged. It is also possible to drag one of the figures with the mouse cursor and switch the display at the moment when the two figures overlap. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the exclusive movement mode implemented in the present invention. This is because when the specified figure is moved to the place where the other figure is placed, the specified figure is placed at the place where the other figure was placed and the other figure is printed on the paper. It is a mode to move to an arbitrary place on the (screen).
At this time, as in the other modes above, at the moment when two figures are specified by the mouse cursor, the figure specified earlier is displayed at the place where the figure specified later is displayed, and the figure specified later is displayed on the screen. It is possible to display it in an empty space above, or drag the previously specified figure with the cursor.

Further, although not shown, an erasing mode for erasing a designated figure can be set. This is done by selecting the erase mode, then positioning the mouse cursor on the figure to be erased and clicking the mouse. When the designated graphic is erased, the lower flow chart of the graphic is normally closed in the upper order, but it is also possible to close the upper flow chart downward or leave it empty without specifying.

Furthermore, it is also possible to insert a graphic at a designated place on the flowchart. The figure to be inserted is created, for example, in a vacant place on the screen with the character string included, or the figure placed in the vacant place in the exclusive mode is inserted into the designated place. The insertion location is specified by positioning the mouse cursor between adjacent figures. The adjacent figures also include figures that are arranged above and below the figure erased in the erase mode without being clogged. When the insertion is executed, the inserted figure is normally placed at the position of the figure immediately below the specified insertion position, whereby the flow chart below is sequentially shifted downward from the specified insertion position.

The processing in the various modes is performed by the font operation block 63 using the image processing memory 3 in cooperation with the figure recognition unit 5. The figure recognizing unit 5 always grasps the position of the figure by using the apex coordinate position of each figure and the expression representing the line segment. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the processing in the various modes described above. When this flow starts, it goes through the graphic edit mode (S81), the presence / absence of graphic recognition (S82), the presence / absence of graphic update (S83), and the graphic recognition (S84), and then the menu is displayed in each mode described above (step S8).
5, S86), and the process of the selected mode is executed.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When a part of the character string that should fit in the figure protrudes outside the figure of a specified size, the character string is reduced, and even if the size of the character is reduced to the specified size, it protrudes. If the problem persists, replace part of the character string with a symbol to reduce the number of characters and prevent overflow, and the system automatically arranges the not too small character string in a unified figure. I decided to do so,
Operators can create flowcharts without worrying about detailed operations. Further, when the figure is moved, the characters in the figure also move, so editing in figure units can be facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining a main part of the function of the present invention.

3A, 3B and 3C are flowcharts showing the software procedure of the image operation block shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a screen view showing a screen of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an overwriting mode implemented in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an exchange mode implemented in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an exclusive movement mode implemented in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for selecting each mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Display device, 2 ... Display driver, 3
... image processing memory, 4 ... font memory, 5 ... figure recognition unit, 6 ... image operation block, 7 ... font rasterizer, 8 ... font ROM, 9 ... layout recognition unit, 10
… Keyboard driver, 11… Mouse driver, 21… Figure, 61… Font action block, 62… Font operation block, 63… Outside font image operation block.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A system for creating a flowchart comprising a combination of a character string and a figure surrounding the character string,
A flow chart creating system characterized in that when the figure is deformed, the character string is also provided with means for automatically deforming the character string so that the character string fits within the deformed figure. 2. The creation of a flowchart according to claim 1, wherein the deformation of the character string is enlargement or contraction, character emphasis, vertical deformation, horizontal deformation, rotation, or character pitch change. system. 3. A system for creating a flowchart comprising a combination of a character string and a figure surrounding the character string,
When arranging a character string in the graphic of a predetermined size, when a part of the character string extends out of the graphic, a part of the character string is automatically replaced with a predetermined symbol, and
A flow chart creating system, characterized in that a description of the replaced symbol is written in a space in a sheet. 4. A system for creating a flowchart composed of a combination of characters and figures surrounding the characters,
When a part of a character string arranged in a figure of a predetermined size extends outside the figure, the character string is reduced, transformed, rotated,
Alternatively, if the above protrusion does not disappear even if the character pitch is changed, a part of the character string is replaced with a predetermined symbol, and the description of the replaced symbol is written in the desired space of the printing paper. Flowchart creation system. 5. A system for creating a flowchart composed of a character string and a set of figures surrounding the character string,
When the specified figure is moved to the place where another arbitrary figure is placed, the character string in the figure is also moved together with the mode to delete the above-mentioned other figure. system. 6. When the specified figure is moved to a place where another arbitrary figure is arranged, the arrangement of the specified figure and the characters therein is exchanged with the other figures and the characters therein. 6. The flow chart creating system according to claim 5, further comprising a mode. 7. A mode in which when the specified figure is moved to a place where another arbitrary figure is arranged, the other figure and a character string therein are automatically arranged in another space. The flow chart creating system according to claim 5, further comprising: 8. The flowchart creating system according to claim 5, wherein after selecting a desired mode, 2
A flow chart creating system, characterized in that, when one figure is designated in a predetermined order, the superimposing of claim 5, the exchanging of claim 6, or the exclusive moving of claim 7 is performed immediately.