JPH06223072A - File converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To only give a simple instruction to convert a spreadsheet file to a structured document file by specifying a document structure of a chapter, a paragraph, or the like by the delimiter of the spreadsheet file to convert it as a structured document. CONSTITUTION:When the conversion instruction from a conversion instructing device 13 is given to an input processing part 16, a spreadsheet file 14 preserved in a storage device 11 is taken out by a taking-out processing part 17, and conversion processing in a conversion processing part 18 is started. The conversion processing part 18 converts the spreadsheet file 14 to a structured document file 15 by the processing of each block. In this case, the document structure of a chapter, a paragraph, or the like is specified by the delimiter of the spreadsheet file 14 and is converted as a structured document. The converted structured document is preserved in a document file 15 of the storage device 11 as a document file by a preservation processing part 19.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for converting a spreadsheet file created by spreadsheet software or the like into a structured document. Here, the structured document means a document represented by a graph in graph theory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, format conversion between spreadsheet files of different formats or between document files of different formats has been frequently performed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 1-134566 and 1-27936).
No. 0). On the other hand, for format conversion from a spreadsheet file to a document file, a spreadsheet file is displayed by spreadsheet software, a user visually checks the information, and manually inputs the information into the document file.

It is also known to output all or a part of a rectangular area of a spreadsheet file by separating only the cell contents thereof with a delimiter or outputting the rectangular area. For example, print output of spreadsheet software (Lotus1-2-3), output of CSV, spreadsheet import function (SUN-Write) of document editing software, and the like.

[0004]

In recent years, a document having a structure such as a chapter or a section (structured document) and a document processing device that handles the format thereof have been put into practical use (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI 1).
-233553). Therefore, if the spreadsheet file can be easily converted into a structured document file, there is an advantage that the information of the spreadsheet file can be easily used in the document file. However, since the user's visual work involves copying the contents of the file one by one, it takes time and effort. In addition, the method of using the print output or CSV output from the spreadsheet software outputs only the data part of the spreadsheet and incorporates it into the document, so the structure such as chapters and sections must be created each time. It was

On the other hand, spreadsheet software is good at calculation and totaling, and document editing software is good at formatting parts such as character strings, tables, and figures for obtaining a visually appealing display and print result. Therefore, the information stored in the spreadsheet file and the information stored in the document file often have different purposes. For example,
The usage is such that only the tabulation results of individual amounts in a spreadsheet file are described in a part of a document file such as an estimate, and a partial table in a spreadsheet file is described in a part of the document file. However, the method of using the print output or CSV output from the spreadsheet software outputs only the data part of the spreadsheet and incorporates it into the document, so the desired table structure and appearance of the table must be recreated each time. did not become.

The present invention, by giving a simple instruction,
An object of the present invention is to provide a file conversion device capable of converting a spreadsheet file into a structured document file.

Further, by giving a simple instruction, one or a plurality of portions existing in the spreadsheet file, which can be regarded as a table, are displayed in one or a plurality of tables in the document file according to the ruled lines of the spreadsheet file. It is an object of the present invention to provide a file conversion device capable of converting as.

[0008]

In the file conversion device according to the first invention, a spreadsheet file storage means for storing a spreadsheet file created by spreadsheet software and a document file storage for storing a document file. Means, a retrieval processing means for extracting a spreadsheet file from the spreadsheet file storage means, a conversion instruction input means for inputting a format conversion instruction, and a document structure such as a chapter or a section is specified by a delimiter symbol of the spreadsheet file. A conversion means for converting the structured document as a structured document, and a document file storage means for storing the converted structured document in the document file storage means.

Further, in the file conversion device according to the second invention, a spreadsheet file storage means for storing a spreadsheet file created by spreadsheet software, a document file storage means for storing a document file, Extraction processing means for extracting the spreadsheet file from the spreadsheet file storage means, conversion instruction input means for inputting a format conversion instruction, rectangular area based on ruled line information of the spreadsheet file, and the specified rectangular area A conversion means for converting the table internal structure based on the internal ruled line information to perform conversion as a table in the document file, and a document file storage means for storing the converted document file in the document file storage means are provided. It is characterized by

In addition to the above characteristics, the file conversion device according to the second invention converts the cell content information outside the rectangular area specified by using the ruled line information into a table as a document. It may have a function of converting the table as an attribute or heading.

[0011]

According to the file conversion apparatus of the first aspect of the invention, when the format conversion instruction is given from the conversion instruction input means, the extraction processing means extracts the spreadsheet file stored in the spreadsheet file storage means. The conversion processing by the conversion means is started. The conversion means specifies the document structure of chapters, sections, etc. by the delimiter of the spreadsheet file and converts it as a structured document. The converted structured document is stored in the storage device or the like as a document file by the document file storage means.

According to the file conversion device of the second aspect of the invention, when the conversion instruction input means gives a format conversion instruction, the extraction processing means saves the spreadsheet file stored in the spreadsheet file storage means. The data is taken out and the conversion process in the conversion means is started. The conversion means specifies a rectangular area to be a table based on the ruled line information of the spreadsheet file,
Further, the internal rectangular area is specified using the ruled line information inside the specified rectangular area, and these rectangular areas are converted as a table in the document file. The converted structured document is stored in the storage device or the like as a document file by the document file storage means.

Further, in the file conversion device according to the second aspect of the invention, when the cell content information outside the rectangular area specified by using the ruled line information is converted into a table as a document, the attributes and captions of the table are converted. When the conversion means having the function of converting as is provided, the cell content information existing outside the specified rectangular area is converted as, for example, a table heading.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a file conversion device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a file conversion device according to the first invention. Reference numeral 11 is a storage device that stores data in a file format, and is a spreadsheet file 14 created by spreadsheet software or the like.
The document file 15 is stored. Reference numeral 12 is a CPU / memory device that performs file conversion processing. CPU /
The memory device 12 includes an input processing unit 16 that interprets an instruction input from the conversion instruction device 13, and a retrieval processing unit 1 that retrieves the spreadsheet file 14 from the storage device 11.
7, a conversion processing unit 18 for converting the spreadsheet file 14 into a structured document, and a storage processing unit 19 for storing the converted structured document as a document file. Reference numeral 13 is a conversion instruction device for inputting a format conversion instruction.

Next, the basic operation of the file conversion device will be briefly described. First, when a conversion instruction from the conversion instruction device 13 is given to the input processing unit 16, the storage device 11
The spreadsheet file 14 stored in is extracted by the extraction processing unit 17, and the conversion processing by the conversion processing unit 18 is started. The conversion processing unit 18 converts the spreadsheet file into a structured document file by processing each block described below. The transformed structured document is
The storage processing unit 19 stores the storage device 11 as a document file.
Is stored in the document file 15.

The conversion processing section 18 determines the cell content information analysis means 21 for extracting cell content information from the record of the spreadsheet file, and the display attribute and display character string specified from the cell content information as to whether or not the display character string is a delimiter. Delimiter analyzing means 22, document structure generating means 23 for generating a document structure by allocating a structure (chapter), a heading, and a paragraph as a document to the document structure in the order of the position of the spreadsheet file, and the generated document. A document file generating means 24 for generating a structure and contents as a document file,
When characters, numbers, etc. are input to a plurality of cells in the same row, the character string generation means 25 is configured to perform processing such as joining them in ascending order of column numbers.

The delimiter is a character string or attribute that can be changed arbitrarily, and is set to indicate a range in which a structured structure such as a chapter or a section is desired. Since the delimiter is a character string or attribute that can be changed arbitrarily, it can be set by an input means similar to the input means for characters, attributes, etc. normally used in spreadsheet software.

Next, the operation of the conversion processing section 18 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6 using the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the conversion instruction from the conversion instruction device 13 is given to the input processing section 16, the contents of the conversion instruction are interpreted by the input processing section 16 and the processing of the conversion processing section 18 is started. Further, the extraction processing unit 17 extracts the specified spreadsheet file 14 from the storage device 11 and transfers it to the conversion processing unit 18 (step 101).

An example of the contents of the spreadsheet file retrieved from the storage device 11 is shown in FIG. The spreadsheet file is composed of a plurality of records, and display attributes and display character strings are described in each record. The display attribute represents the cell position and the font attribute, and the display character string represents the character string itself in the cell. FIG. 4 shows an example of an image when the contents of the spreadsheet file of FIG. 3 are displayed on the screen. In FIG. 4, dotted lines represent cell boundaries, and thick lines represent ruled lines. The ruled line information is information about the thick line, and the contents described in each cell are called cell contents (information). In the following description, cell positions are represented by a combination of columns (A to F) and rows (1 to 11).

The cell content information analysis means 21 extracts one record from the spreadsheet file (step 1
02), determine the contents of the record (step 10
3). Here, when the content of the record is cell content information, the display attribute and the display character string are specified (step 10).
4). Next, the delimiter analysis means 22 determines whether the specified display attribute or display character string is a delimiter (step 105). In FIG. 4, delimiters are described in cells A1 and A8.

When the display attribute and the display character string are delimiters, the character string generating means 25 defines a united structure (chapter in this example) from that position until the next delimiter appears or until the end. (Step 106). If it is not a delimiter, display attributes and display character strings are concatenated line by line (concatenated as character strings in the same paragraph).
To make a paragraph as a document (step 107). Figure 4
Then, "Price list", "Buy B '(cheap edition)." However, paragraphs that are on the same line as the delimiter should be headed together as a structure (chapter). In Figure 4,
"Introduction" and "Conclusion" are the headlines.

After that, the document structure generating means 23 allocates the organized structure (chapter), heading and paragraph as a document to the document structure in the order of the position of the spreadsheet file to generate the document structure. Further, the document file generating means 24 generates the generated document structure and contents as a document file,
The generated document file is stored in the storage device 11. An example layout of the generated document file is shown in FIG. 5, and its document logical structure is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, “Introduction” and “Conclusion” on the same line as the delimiter are the chapter headings.

In the above embodiment, a structured document consisting of a plurality of one-layered groups (chapters) is generated by treating one delimiter to the next delimiter or the delimiter to the end as one group. However, as an application example, a structured document having a multi-layered structure (chapter, section, etc.) can be obtained by changing not only the row position of the delimiter but also the column position or the attribute of the delimiter. It may be generated.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the functional structure of a file conversion device according to the second invention. Reference numeral 31 is a storage device that stores data in a file format, and a spreadsheet file 34 created by spreadsheet software or the like.
The document file 35 is stored. Reference numeral 32 denotes a CPU / memory device that performs file conversion processing, and an input processing unit 36 that interprets an instruction input from the conversion instruction device 33.
A retrieval processing unit 37 for extracting the spreadsheet file 34 from the storage device 31, a conversion processing unit 38 for converting the spreadsheet file 34 into a document file,
The storage processing unit 39 stores the converted document file. Reference numeral 33 is a conversion instruction device for inputting a format conversion instruction.

Next, the operation of the file conversion device will be briefly described. First, when the conversion instruction from the conversion instruction device 33 is given to the input processing unit 36, the spreadsheet file 34 stored in the storage device 31 is extracted by the extraction processing unit 37, and the conversion processing by the conversion processing unit 38 is performed. Be started. The conversion processing unit 38 converts the spreadsheet file into a document file by processing the blocks described below. The converted document file is stored in the storage processing unit 39.
Is stored in the document file 35 of the storage device 31.

The conversion processing unit 38 draws ruled line information from a spreadsheet file and draws ruled line information analysis means 41.
And a cell content information analysis means 42 for extracting cell content information from the spreadsheet file, and a document structure is assigned by allocating the organized structure (chapter), heading, table, and paragraph as a document in the position of the spreadsheet file. A document structure generating unit 43 for generating, a document file generating unit 44 for generating the generated document structure and contents as a document file, a table generating unit 45 for generating a table structure as a document, and a cell of the generated table structure. And a character string generation means 46 for performing processing such as assigning a display attribute of the spreadsheet file and a display character string.

Next, the operation of the conversion processing unit 38 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12 using the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the conversion instruction from the conversion instruction device 33 is given to the input processing unit 36, the contents of the conversion instruction are interpreted by the input processing unit 36 and the processing of the conversion processing unit 38 is started. Further, the extraction processing unit 37 extracts the instructed spreadsheet file 34 from the storage device 31 and transfers it to the conversion processing unit 38 (step 201).

FIG. 9 shows an example of the contents of the spreadsheet file retrieved from the storage device 31, and FIG. 10 shows an example of an image when the contents of the spreadsheet file of FIG. 9 are displayed on the screen. Spreadsheet file structure,
Contents and the like are similar to those of the first embodiment. The ruled line information analysis means 41 of the conversion processing unit 38 extracts ruled line information from the spreadsheet file, and extracts a portion which is closed in a rectangle without a ruled line in contact with the outside (hereinafter referred to as a table rectangular area) (step 202). In FIG. 10, areas B3 to E6 are extracted. Further, the ruled line information analysis unit 41 specifies the internal table rectangular area from the extracted ruled line information inside the table rectangular area (step 203). In FIG. 10, B3, C3 to D
The 11 areas of 3, E3, B4, C4 to D4, E4, B5, C5 to D6, E5, B6, E6 correspond to that. That is, the rectangular area inside the table rectangular area (internal table rectangular area) is further specified by the ruled line information inside the extracted table rectangular area.

The table generating means 45 generates a table corresponding to the table rectangular area and the internal table rectangular area, changes the structure of the table, and performs conversion. In FIG. 10, C3 to D3 and C4 to D
4, cells are connected in the areas C5 to D6, and the table structure is changed. Further, the table generation means 45 checks whether or not there is cell content outside the table rectangular area (directly above row, immediately below row, immediately left column, immediately right column) (step 204), and if there is cell content, the content is checked. Set as the table heading of the table (step 20)
5). In addition, according to an instruction from the conversion instruction device 33, either the top, bottom, left, or right can be set as the name (attribute) of the table. Then, a table structure as a document is generated from the rectangular area, the table heading, and the internal rectangular area (step 206).

The cell content information analysis means 42 extracts the cell content information from the spreadsheet file and specifies the display attribute and the display character string (step 207). The character string generation means 46 assigns the display attribute and the display character string of the spreadsheet file to the cells of the table structure generated by the table generation means 45 (step 208). However, when the cells connected in the spreadsheet file correspond to one cell of the table structure as a document, the character string is connected.

The character string generating means 46 judges whether there is a display attribute or a display character string which has not been used as the content of the cell of the table structure as the document (step 209). The display character string is concatenated line by line to form a paragraph as a document (step 210). Figure 6
Then, "Introduction", "Conclusion", "Buy B '(cheap version)." Becomes a paragraph. Next, the document structure generation means 43
The tables and paragraphs as documents are allocated to the document structure in the order of the position of the spreadsheet file, and the document structure is generated (step 211). The document file generating means 44 generates the generated document structure and contents as a document file (step 212), and stores the generated document file in the storage device 31 (step 213).

FIG. 11 shows a layout example of the generated document file, and FIG. 12 shows its document logical structure. In FIG. 11, the left side shows the document part name, and the right side shows the layout example.

In the above embodiment, the presence or absence of cell contents outside the table rectangular area (directly above row, immediately below row, immediately left column, immediately right column) is checked, and if there is, the content is used as the table heading of the table. , Table name (attribute) which is one of the external cell contents
Can also be set as These table headings and table names are used to identify the table in the subsequent document processing.

[0037]

As described above, in the file conversion device according to the first invention, the document structure such as chapters and sections is specified by the delimiter of the spreadsheet file.
Since it is converted as a structured document, the user only needs to give a simple instruction to the spreadsheet file.
It can be converted into a structured document without time and effort. Also, if you enter a character string that considers the appearance into a spreadsheet file and convert it, you can generate a structured document with a structure that is equivalent to the appearance, so use spreadsheet software as the input method for the structured document. You can According to this, it becomes possible to finally create a document having a structure such as a chapter or a section by using the calculation function of the spreadsheet software.

In the file conversion device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the rectangular area is specified by the ruled line information of the spreadsheet file, and the internal rectangular area is specified by using the ruled line information of the rectangular area, and the table in the document file is displayed. The user can generate one or more tables from a spreadsheet file and convert it into a document file by giving simple instructions to the spreadsheet file without any time and effort. it can. In addition, if you enter a character string and ruled line that considers appearance into a spreadsheet file and convert it, you can generate a document file with a structure that considers the same appearance, so use spreadsheet software as the input method of the document file. Finally, you can create documents using the calculation function of spreadsheet software.

Further, when the cell content information outside the rectangular area specified by using the ruled line information is converted into a table as a document, the specified rectangular area is converted by converting it as an attribute or heading of the table. The cell content information existing outside can be converted into, for example, a table heading.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a file conversion device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the conversion processing unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a spreadsheet file.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an image example when the contents of FIG. 3 are displayed on a screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a layout example of a generated document file.

6 is a diagram showing the document logical structure of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a file conversion device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the conversion processing unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a spreadsheet file.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image example when the contents of FIG. 9 are displayed on the screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a layout example of a generated document file.

12 is a diagram showing the document logical structure of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 (31) ... Storage device, 12 (32) ... CPU / memory device, 13 (33) ... Conversion instruction device, 14 (34) ...
Spreadsheet file, 15 (35) ... Document file, 16 (36) ... Input processing unit, 17 (37) ... Extraction processing unit, 18 (38) ... Conversion processing unit, 19 (39) ...
Storage processing unit, 21 (42) ... Cell content information analysis means, 2
2 ... Delimiter analysis means, 23 (43) ... Document structure generation means, 24 (44) ... Document file generation means, 25 (4
6) ... Character string generating means, 41 ... Ruled line information analyzing means, 45
... Table generation means,

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A spreadsheet file storage means for storing a spreadsheet file, a document file storage means for storing a document file, a retrieval processing means for extracting a spreadsheet file from the spreadsheet file storage means, and a conversion instruction input Conversion instruction input means, conversion means for converting the structured document by specifying the document structure using the delimiter described in the spreadsheet file, and storing the converted structured document in the document file storage means A file conversion device comprising a document file storage means and. 2. A spreadsheet file storage means for storing a spreadsheet file, a document file storage means for storing a document file, a retrieval processing means for extracting a spreadsheet file from the spreadsheet file storage means, and a conversion instruction input A conversion instruction input unit for specifying the rectangular area using the ruled line information of the spreadsheet file, and converting the table internal structure using the ruled line information of the rectangular area to perform conversion as a table in the document file. And a document file storage means for storing the converted document file in a document file storage means. 3. When the cell content information having the feature of claim 2 and outside the rectangular area specified by using the ruled line information is converted into a table as a document, it is used as an attribute or heading of the table. 3. The file conversion device according to claim 2, further comprising conversion means for converting.