JPH06231209A - Character allocating device for catalog or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the character allocating device for a catalog, etc., by which an operator can allocate commodity data of every commodity to each of plural divided character areas by a simple operation. CONSTITUTION:Plural number data corresponding to commodity data of every commodity are displayed as allocation candidates, and also, a character area to which the number data is allocated is displayed (SP2), and thereafter, the number data to be allocated is designated (SP3-4), and subsequently, the character area to which the number data is allocated is designated (SP5-6), and also, such processings as the number data designated by SP3-4 to the character area designated by SP5-6 are executed successively (SP7-8), by which the number data can be allocated successively to each character area.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses a computer to allocate and typeset product specifications (product data) such as product names, prices, and explanations of products to be published in catalogs, computer typesetting, CTS (Computerized Typesetti
ng System) technology, which relates to a catalog allocation device that enables efficient allocation of product specifications when creating product catalogs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, first of all, a character copy of various product catalogs such as office equipment or lighting equipment has to be prepared.
Using computer typesetting machines, etc., the so-called "product specifications", which describes the characteristics of the product such as price, size, weight, color, etc., according to the photograph of each product, are input, and further, to this product specification , Typeface, series (size), set direction, letter advance,
Formatting patterns such as line spacing and line length were input, and this was used to specify the format.

Since the input operation of the product specifications and the designation of the format such as the character typeface, the series, the direction of the set, the line feed, the line feed, the line length and the like are performed manually by the operator. The amount of work will increase in proportion to the number of products for each product specification. Further, in recent years, since the types of such products tend to increase, the number of product specifications per page and the number of pages continue to increase, which results in an increase in the amount of work for inputting product specifications and designating the format. It becomes enormous, and as a result, it is also a cause of increasing the cost of catalog production. Further, when the price of the product in the product catalog is changed due to a price increase, all the product specifications have to be corrected, which is troublesome.

In order to solve the above problems, leaflets for automatically typesetting product specifications of catalogs.
An allocating device for catalogs has been proposed by Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1994553/1993. The leaflet shown in this publication
The catalog allocating device adds a series of numbers to the divided character areas, adds a series of numbers to the product data of each product, and makes a one-to-one correspondence between these two series of numbers. The product data is allocated to each character area.

[0005]

By the way, in the leaflet / catalog allocating device disclosed in the publication, a series of numbers is added to each of a plurality of divided character regions and product data for each product, and these two are stored. Since the product data is assigned to each character area by associating a series of numbers with one-to-one correspondence, a step (or means) for adding a series of numbers to a plurality of character areas and product data for each product, ,
Two steps, a step (or means) of associating these numbers with one-to-one correspondence in advance, are required, and it is necessary to know in advance which product data is assigned to which character area. There was a problem that the load on the operator would be high. Further, when changing the position of allocating the product data to the character area, it is necessary to re-add a series of numbers to the character area or the product data, which also imposes a heavy burden on the operator.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a series of numbers assigned to a plurality of divided character areas and product data for each product as shown in the above publication. There is no need for a step of previously associating the assigned series of numbers with one-to-one correspondence in advance, and the operator can perform a simple operation on each of the divided character areas.
An object of the present invention is to provide a character allocating device for catalogs that can allocate product data for each product.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a character allocating device for catalogs, which allocates character strings related to products to be published in catalogs,
First display means for reading out a plurality of number data from a storage device stored for each product so that the number data related to the product and the product data indicating the character string relating to the product correspond to each other, and the product. Second display means for displaying an allocation screen for allocating data, first selecting means for selecting desired number data from the number data displayed by the first display means, and the second The second selection means for selecting a desired allocation position from the allocation screen displayed by the display means and the number data in the first display means selected by the first selection means are stored in the second selection means. Allocation means for allocating to the allocation position on the allocation screen selected by the selection means, and third display means for displaying the number data allocated by the allocation means at the allocation position on the allocation screen. So that to Bei.

[0008]

In the character allocating device for catalogs according to the present invention, the first
The display means displays only the number data (on the screen of the display device) from the storage device in which the number data related to the product and the product data indicating the character string are stored so as to correspond to each other. Then, the plurality of number data displayed by the first display means are selected by the first selection means. Further, the second display means displays an allocation screen (on the screen of the display device) for allocating the product data stored in the storage device, and further, the second selection means causes the second display means to be displayed. A desired allocation position is selected from the allocation screen displayed in. Also, the allocation means is
The number data in the first display means selected by the first selection means is allocated to the allocation position in the second display means selected by the second selection means, and further, the third display means, The number data assigned by the assigning means is displayed at the assignment position on the assignment screen (on the screen of the display device).

That is, in the character allocating device for catalogs according to the present invention, a plurality of number data corresponding to the product data for each product are displayed as allocation candidates by the first display means.
The number data to be allocated is selected by the first selecting means, the character area to be allocated displayed by the second displaying means is subsequently selected by the second selecting means, and further the allocating means and the third display are selected. By assigning the number data in the first display means selected by the first selecting means to the allocation position in the second display means selected by the second selecting means and displaying the number data, Since the number data is allocated to the character area, the process of adding a series of numbers to both the character area and the product data, as in the conventional allocation device, and to the divided character areas. There is no need for the step of previously making a one-to-one correspondence between the series of numbers and the series of numbers attached to the product data for each product, and the operator can perform simple operations.
Product data for each product can be efficiently allocated to each of the plurality of divided character areas.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a character allocating device for catalogs. As shown in FIG. 1, a character allocating device main body 1 having a control unit (not shown) and a character allocating device main body 1 are connected. A display device 2 such as a CRT, a keyboard 3A and a mouse 3 connected to the character layout device main body 1
B, an input device 3 such as a digitizer 3C, and a storage device 4 such as a floppy disk device or a hard disk device connected to the character allocating device body 1,
The storage device 4 is provided with a product specification storage unit 5 (described later) for storing a large number of product specifications 10 of each product in a database in the floppy disk and the hard disk.

The product specifications 10 stored in the product specification storage unit 5 are, as shown in FIG.
Product data 11 indicating a character string such as a description, and the product data 1 attached to each of the product data 11
Number data 12 (for example, 001, 00, which is a keyword for identifying 1)
2,003 ...), and the typeface of the characters shown in the product data 11, the type of the typeface, the series and its numerical values, the character spacing, the line spacing, and the like (for example, the format patterns A, B, C) (indicated by C). Further, the storage device 4 is also provided with a basic image storage section 6 for storing a basic screen 20 and an allocation screen 21 (the creation of which will be described later).

Next, the control contents stored in the control section of the character allocating apparatus main body 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In addition, in the following steps, when the input work by the operator is involved, the work is performed through the input device 3.

<< Step 1 >> As shown in FIG. 4, basic image information is read from the basic image storage unit 6 of the storage device 4,
The basic screen 20 is displayed on the display device 2 based on the basic image information.

<< Step 2 >> (First and Second Display Means) As shown in FIG. 5, the basic screen 2 displayed in step 1
0 in the right column 20A, the product specification storage unit 5 of the storage device 4
From, the number data 12 of the product specification 10 is read out and a plurality of numbers are displayed. The right column 20A of this basic screen 20
The number data 12 displayed on the screen may be all or a part stored in the product specification storage unit 5. Further, in parallel with this, an allocation screen 2 for allocating the product data 11 of the product specification 10 to the left column 20B of the basic screen 20.
1 is read from the basic image storage unit 6 and displayed.

<< Step 3 >> (First Selection Means) When the mouse 3B is clicked, the operator makes a step 2
It is determined whether or not one of the number data 12 of the product specification 10 displayed in step 1 has been selected, and if YES, the process proceeds to the next step 4.

<< Step 4 >> (First Selection Means) One of the number data 12 of the product spec 10 selected by the mouse 3B is temporarily stored, and the number data 1 is also stored.
A display for identifying 2 (for example, a mark is added as shown by reference numeral 12A in FIG. 6, the display color is changed) is displayed on the right column 20A of the basic screen 20.

<< Step 5 >> (Second Selection Means) By clicking the mouse 3B, it is judged whether or not the operator has selected one of the many allocation screens 21 provided in the left column 20B of the basic screen 20. , YES, the process proceeds to the next step 6. In this step 5, the operator selects one of the character areas in the allocation screen 21 shown by reference numerals 21A to 21L in FIG.
Further, in FIG. 6, the areas 21a to 21l located directly above the character areas 21A to 21L are picture areas in which photographs of products are posted and which are paired with the character areas 21A to 21L. Detailed description of the regions 21a to 21l is omitted.

<< Step 6 >> (Second Selection Unit) The character area 21 in the allocation screen 21 selected in Step 5
After the display for confirming one of A to 21L (for example, adding a mark (*), changing the display color) is performed on the left column 20B of the basic screen 20, the process proceeds to the next step 7.
In step 5, the character area 21A is selected as shown in FIG.

<< Step 7 >> (Assigning Means) The number data 12 of the product spec 10 temporarily stored in Step 4 is set in the character area 21A determined in Step 6.
Assign to. << Step 8 >> (Third Display Means) As shown in FIG. 7, the number data 12 assigned in step 7 is displayed in the character area 21A.

<< Step 9 >> It is judged whether or not the allocation of the number data 12 to the allocation screen 21 is continued, and the result of the YE
In the case of S, the process returns to the original step 2, and in the case of NO, the process proceeds to the next step 10.

<< Step 10 >> In step 8, typesetting data is created based on the layout information obtained by allocating the number data 12 of the product specification 10 to the allocation screen 21. An example of layout information obtained by repeating steps 2 to 8 is shown in FIG. That is, in this step 10, based on the layout information as shown in FIG. 8, (1) based on the number data 12 (001, 002, 003 ...) Assigned to the character areas 21A to 21L of the allocation screen 21, The product specification storage unit 5 is searched, and the product specification 10 of the corresponding number data 12 is selected from the product specification storage unit 5. (2) The product data 11 of the product specification 10 selected in (1) above is applicable. Allocation is performed on the allocation screen 21 to create the formatted data. Specifically, "00
In the character area 21A to which the number data 12 of "1" is attached, the item data 11 of the item specification 10 corresponding to the number data 12 of "001" is selected, and the number data 12 of "002" is attached. In the character area 21B in which
Product specification 1 corresponding to the number data 12 of "002"
The product data 11 of 0 is selected, and the product data 11 of the product spec 10 corresponding to the number data 12 of “003” is selected in the character area 21C to which the number data 12 of “003” is attached. (Hereinafter, omitted), number data 1 assigned to each of these character areas 21A to 21L
Formatting data is created from the product data 11 corresponding to 2. The typesetting data created in step 10 is
Through the floppy disk set in the storage device 4,
It may be output offline to a printing machine to be described later, or may be directly supplied to the printing machine online without passing through the storage device 4, and its output form is arbitrary.

<< Step 11 >> Based on the typesetting data output in Step 10, the printing machine creates photographic paper, film or the like. FIG. 9 shows an example in which the product data 11 of the product specifications 10 is printed by the printing machine based on the typesetting data. At this time, in the printing machine, the number of pages may be attached according to the order of the printing paper and the film to be output, and the page number data may be included in the layout information in advance.
How to attach it is arbitrary.

Next, various editing functions of the character allocating apparatus body 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. << Creation of basic pattern >> First, a drawing menu is selected by the input device 3 from the drawing menu for the page area showing the limit for allocating the picture area and the character area based on the instruction sheet from the designer and the layout designation sheet (not shown). A basic pattern 30 is drawn by designating XY coordinates with 3B or the like. Alternatively, the above-described layout designation paper or the like may be set on the digitizer 3C which is a drawing machine to read the XY coordinates indicating the page area. Here, the reading of the page area by the digitizer 3C may be performed by an operator, and is not limited to this, and may be automatically read by using an optical means. FIG. 10 shows an example in which the basic pattern 30 is displayed on the display device 2.

Below, the allocation screen 21 from the basic pattern 30
A specific example of creation will be described. (1) Division processing When the division menu is selected by the input device 3 and further division information such as "the number of divisions in each of the vertical and horizontal directions, the space width, and the photo size" is input, the character allocating device main body is based on this division information. 1 draws a ruled line that divides the basic pattern 30 to obtain character areas 21A to 21L and pattern areas 21a to 21l as shown in FIG.

(2) Combining process When the combining menu is selected by the input device 3, and further combining information such as which of the character regions 21A to 21L and the pattern regions 21a to 21l is to be combined is inputted. (In this example, the character areas 21A, 21B,
21D, 21E and the pattern areas 21a, 21b, 21d,
21e), and the character allocating device main body 1 is based on this combining information.
The ruled lines between the corresponding areas are erased to obtain a picture area and a character area as shown in FIG.

(3) Deletion processing The deletion menu is selected by the input device 3, and further the character areas 21C, 21F to 21L and the picture areas 21c, 2c are selected.
When deletion information such as which one of 1f to 21l is to be deleted is input (in this example, deletion information for deleting the character area 21L and the pattern area 21l is input), this deletion information Based on the above, the character allocating device body 1 erases the ruled line of the corresponding portion, and obtains the picture area and the character area as shown in FIG.

Then, the basic pattern and information about the allocation screen 21 obtained by dividing, combining, and deleting the basic pattern are stored in the basic image storage unit 6 of the storage device 4 as basic image information. In this way, the data is appropriately read in step 1 described above.

As described above in detail, in the character allocating device for catalogs according to the present invention, in step 2, a plurality of number data 12 corresponding to the product data 11 for each product are displayed as allocation candidates, and the number data 12 is displayed. After displaying the character area to be allocated, the number data 12 to be allocated is specified in steps 3 to 4, and subsequently, the character area to which the number data 12 is allocated is specified in steps 5 to 6, and further step 7 to. 8, the number data 12 specified in steps 3 to 4 is changed to step 5
It is possible to sequentially allocate the number data 12 to each character area by sequentially performing the processing such as allocating to the character area specified in ~ 6. A step of adding a series of numbers to both of the data 11 and a series of numbers assigned to the plurality of divided character areas and a series of numbers assigned to the product data 11 for each product are preliminarily 1: 1. It is not necessary to correspond to each of the divided character areas by a simple operation by the operator.
It is possible to efficiently allocate the product data 11 for each product.

In general, a product number is determined for each product, and the storage device 4 provided as the base of the product data 11 also stores the product data 11 with the product number as a key. Therefore, in the character allocating device for catalogs of the present invention, if this product number is used as the number data 12, it is not necessary to newly define the number data 12. The step of adding the number is unnecessary, and in this respect also, the work of allocating the product data 11 can be performed efficiently.

In the character allocating device for catalogs according to the present invention, the number data 12 of the desired product data 11 is designated by the first selecting means and the second selecting means, and the number data 12 is displayed on the allocation screen. Since the allocation selection is carried out to the desired allocation position from, the allocation position of the product data 11 can be confirmed every time the allocation selection is made, thereby preventing allocation mistakes. Also in this case, the work of allocating the product data 11 can be efficiently performed.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, in the character allocating device for catalogs according to the present invention, the first display means displays a plurality of number data corresponding to the product data for each product as allocation candidates and allocates them. The number data to be selected is selected by the first selecting means, the character area to be allocated displayed by the second displaying means is selected by the second selecting means, and further the allocating means and the third displaying means are selected. The number data in the first display means selected by the first selection means is changed to the second data selected by the second selection means.
It is possible to allocate number data to each character area by allocating and displaying it at the allocation position in the display means of, so that a series of data can be allocated to both the character area and the product data like the conventional allocation device. A step of adding a number and a step of previously associating a series of numbers given to a plurality of divided character areas with a series of numbers given to product data of each product in a one-to-one correspondence beforehand. Unnecessary,
With a simple operation by the operator, it is possible to efficiently allocate the product data for each product to each of the divided character areas.

Generally, a product number is determined for each product, and a storage device provided as a product database also stores product data with the product number as a key. Therefore, in the character allocating device for catalogs of the present invention, if this product number is used as the number data, it is not necessary to newly define the number data, and thus a series of numbers is added to the product data as in the conventional allocating device. The step of adding is unnecessary, and in this respect also, the work of allocating the product data can be efficiently performed.

Further, in the character allocating device for catalogs according to the present invention, the number data of the desired product data is designated by the first selecting means and the second selecting means, and the number data is selected from the allocating screen. Since the allocation selection is performed at the allocation position, the allocation position of the product data can be confirmed every time the allocation selection is made, which can prevent allocation mistakes. It is possible to efficiently perform the allocation work of.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a character allocating device for catalogs according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a product specification 10.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a character allocating device for catalogs according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example 1 of the display device 2 referred to in order to explain the processing contents of the flowchart.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example 2 of the display device 2 referred to for explaining the processing contents of the flowchart.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example 3 of the display device 2 referred to for explaining the processing contents of the flowchart.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example 4 of the display device 2 referred to for explaining the processing contents of the flowchart.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example 5 of the display device 2 referred to for explaining the processing contents of the flowchart.

FIG. 9 is a diagram specifically showing a catalog created by the processing of the flowchart.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example 1 of the display device 2 showing a procedure for creating the allocation screen 21.

11 is a diagram showing a display example 2 of the display device 2 showing a procedure for creating an allocation screen 21. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example 3 of the display device 2 showing a procedure for creating an allocation screen 21.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example 4 of the display device 2 showing a procedure for creating an allocation screen 21.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Character Allocation Device Main Body 2 Display Device 3 Input Device 4 Storage Device (Database) 5 Product Spec Storage Unit 6 Basic Image Storage Unit 10 Product Spec 11 Product Data 12 Number Data 13 Format Pattern 21 Allocation Screen 21A-21L Character Area 21a-21l Picture area

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hisao Tsutsui 1-5-1 Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo Within Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Satomi Suzuki 1-5-1 Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo Toppan Imprint Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A character allocating device for a catalog, which allocates a character string related to a product to be published in a catalog, wherein number data related to the product and product data indicating a character string related to the product correspond to each other. First display means for reading out a plurality of number data from a storage device stored for each product and displaying the same, second display means for displaying an allocation screen for allocating the product data, and the first display First selection means for selecting desired number data from the number data displayed by the means, and second selection for selecting a desired allocation position from the allocation screen displayed by the second display means. Means for allocating the number data in the first display means selected by the first selecting means to the allocation position of the allocation screen selected by the second selecting means. Means and the number data allocated by means with 該割 character assignment device catalog class, characterized in that it comprises a third display means for displaying the allocation position of the allocation window.