JPH0691956A - Method and device for selecting font - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a method and device wherein font can be accurately selected as intended when the font is selected by property. CONSTITUTION:The decision sequence of restriction properties by font property is changed by a host computor 300 or operation panel. According to the changed property sequence, a plurality of properties for specifying the font sent from the host computor 300 are examined to select one font.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a font selection method and apparatus, and more particularly to a font selection method and apparatus for selecting a specific font when a plurality of types of fonts are generated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a printing apparatus represented by a laser beam printer or the like incorporates a plurality of fonts. In order to select these fonts, the host computer has included a font selection command in the print data, or has selected the fonts using an operation panel provided in the printing apparatus.

As a method of selecting a font, there are a method of directly specifying a font name and a method of specifying by a font attribute. The method of designating with font attributes is to define several types of font attributes and drop fonts that do not match them in order according to a predetermined attribute order. Then, the font remaining finally, that is, the font satisfying all the specified attributes or the font closest to the specified attribute is used.

The attributes include a graphic set, character pitch, character size, style, stroke weight, typeface, subtypeface, and the like. A graphic set is information that defines the arrangement of characters. For example, different characters are displayed even if the same code is used when Katana is selected as the graphic set and when Hiragana is selected. In other words, it is information that specifies what kind of system the character code is under. The style is information indicating whether italic or upright, and the stroke weight is information indicating the thickness of line segments that form a character. The typeface indicates a type of character such as Mincho typeface, Gothic type, and courier. In addition, even if it is the same Mincho typeface, the typeface on which it is based differs slightly depending on each maker. It is the subtypeface that distinguishes this.
In any case, when selecting a font, the numerical values for the above attributes are specified.

A conventional font selection procedure based on attributes will be briefly described below. The priorities of the attributes are the general graphic set, the character pitch, the character size, the style, the stroke weight, the typeface, and the subtypeface, which have been common so far.

In the process of selecting, basically, all the fonts are first considered as candidates, the above-mentioned attributes are examined, and the unsupported fonts are excluded from the candidates.

However, for example, in the process of excluding fonts that do not match the specified attribute "graphic set" and the next "character pitch", that is, in the middle of checking all attributes When there are no remaining fonts, fonts are selected according to the attributes (graphic set in this case) remaining in the attribute determination before that. If only one font remains, that font is selected.

When it is determined that two or more fonts correspond to each other even if all the attributes are checked, the font is selected according to a predetermined order (for example, the font located at the end).

[0009]

However, in recent years, with the advent of outline fonts, at least pitch and size can be excluded from the attributes. As a result, of course, there is a problem that a font different from the font expected to be selected is selected here.

For example, when a Katakana set is specified for the graphic set, a scalable font is specified, the style is straight solid, the stroke weight is bold, and the typeface is Mincho, and there is no font whose stroke weight is Mincho. Is a completely different typeface and there is a font with stroke weight bold, a completely different predetermined font is selected, and even though I wanted to output Mincho type bold (bold), the result As a result, there is a problem that a character different from the intended one is printed.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above prior art, and when a font is selected by an attribute, a font selection method capable of surely selecting an intended font and a font selection method are provided. It is intended to provide a device.

In order to solve this problem, the font selection method of the present invention operates as follows. That is, in order to select one font from a plurality of types of fonts, a font selection method that sets a plurality of attributes for specifying a font and selects a font that matches the attributes, in order to narrow down the fonts The priority of each attribute of is changed from the outside, and the fonts are narrowed down according to the changed priority of the attribute.

The font selection device of the present invention has the following structure. That is, multiple types of fonts
A font storage unit that stores a plurality of attributes that represent the characteristics of the font, an instruction unit that indicates a plurality of attributes that represent a desired font, and a process that checks a font that matches each instructed attribute, It is provided with means for narrowing down the corresponding fonts according to the order of the predetermined attributes and means for changing the order of the predetermined attributes.

[0014]

In the structure of the present invention, it is possible to change the processing order of each attribute when narrowing down fonts,
The fonts are narrowed down according to the changed contents.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a printing device will be described.

The configuration of a laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as LBP) to which this embodiment is applicable will be described with reference to FIG. This LBP can perform registration of character patterns and affiliated forms (form data) from a data source (not shown).

In the figure, 100 is an LBP body,
Input and store print information (character code, etc.) or form information or macro commands supplied from an externally connected host computer, and create the corresponding character pattern or form pattern according to the information. An image is formed on a recording paper which is a recording medium. 1
Reference numeral 11 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation and an LCD display are arranged, and 101 is a printer control unit for controlling the entire LBP 100 and analyzing character information supplied from the host computer. The printer control unit 101 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs it to the laser driver 102.

The laser driver 102 is the semiconductor laser 10.
3 is a circuit for driving the laser beam 3, and the laser beam 1 emitted from the semiconductor laser 103 according to the input video signal.
The laser beam 104 for switching ON / OFF of 04 is oscillated in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 105 to scan and expose the electrostatic drum 106. As a result, an electrostatic latent image having a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 106. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 107 arranged around the electrostatic drum 106, and then transferred to a recording paper. A cut sheet is used as the recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 108 mounted on the LBP 100, and is taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 109 and conveyance rollers 110 and 111, and the electrostatic drum 106 is used. Is supplied to. The semiconductor laser 103 and the electrostatic drum 106
The part that actually performs the printing process is called the printer engine part.

FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of the printing apparatus of the embodiment. In the figure, reference numerals 1 to 6 are components included in the print control unit 101. Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU that controls the printer control unit 101 and the entire apparatus.
A ROM storing the program according to the flowchart of FIG. 8 and a RAM used as a work area are provided. Reference numeral 2 denotes a reception buffer, which also includes an interface for inputting print data from the host computer 300, which is a data generation source. 3 is a font memory storing various fonts, 4 is a font table storing information for managing each font stored in the font memory 3 (composed of RAM etc.), 5 is several pages Is a page buffer memory capable of storing the intermediate data of, and 6 is a bit map memory capable of expanding one page of image data. The dot image developed in the bitmap memory 6 is output to the printer engine unit 8 as a video signal, and the actual print result 200 is output according to the process described above.

The concrete contents of the font table 4 are as shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, each font is composed of its name, attributes, and a pointer indicating the address where the font exists. The fonts are arranged in the order of built-in fonts, fonts in a font card that can be registered as an option, and user-registered fonts.

By default, the priority order of attributes is in the order of graphic set (GS), pitch, size, style, stroke weight (SW), typeface, and subtypeface.

The embodiment is characterized in that the priority can be freely changed by the operator. Therefore, the default priority order is as shown in FIG. 4A, and the same priority order is stored in the ROM in the CPU 1. When the priority change command and its change contents are sent from the host computer 300, or when the priority order is changed by the operation panel 111, the priority change contents are created in the RAM in the CPU 1, Thereafter, font selection processing is performed according to the priority set in the RAM.

An example of the priority order of the changed attributes is as shown in FIG. 4 (B), for example. In the case of the figure, an example is shown in which the lower four items of priority are changed. The attributes having the highest priority order are attribute 6 ... 0 from the top, and in the illustrated case, the attribute 6
Indicates that the graphic set, the attribute 5 is the character pitch, the attribute 4 is the character size, the attribute 3 is the typeface number, the attribute 2 is the subtypeface, the attribute 1 is the stroke weight, and the attribute 0 is the style.

In such a state, when a font selection command as shown in FIG. 5 is sent, the font selection command is temporarily stored in the RAM as an attribute table, and the priority order (attribute order) previously changed. You will need to select the font by checking.

The font selection process will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7.

First, in step S1, the flags of all fonts in the font table (reference symbol f at the left end of the font table in FIG. 2) are set to "1" to make all fonts candidates for selection. And step S2
In step 3, all the flags of the fonts that do not match the value specified in the attribute 6 of the priority of the changed attribute are cleared to "0", and it is determined whether or not the number of fonts set in step S3 is one. . If the number is one, printing is performed using that font, so this processing ends. In the main process, when the pattern corresponding to the character code is generated, the font in which the flag is set is selected and the printing process is performed.

If no font is set, the font is selected according to the selection rule of attribute 6 (step S5).

On the other hand, if there are a plurality of fonts for which the flag is set at this point, the process proceeds to step S6 to clear the flag of the font that does not match the value specified in attribute 5, As with Attribute 6, the number of remaining fonts is checked, and if there is one, it is determined (step S
7) If there is not one (step S8), select one font according to the selection criterion of attribute 5. If a plurality of remaining attributes are left, the process for the next attribute is performed. Hereinafter, similar processing is performed in the order of attribute 4, attribute 3, attribute 2, attribute 1, and attribute 0. If the number of fonts cannot be reduced to one until the end, the last font is selected from the fonts set in the font table flag.

By using the above functions, when a European document is created on the host computer 300, fonts are created using the priority order of attributes as shown in the priority order information of FIG. By selecting, the stroke weight and style settings are given priority over the typeface / subtypeface, and when a Japanese document is created,
By selecting a font using the priority order of attributes as shown in (B), it is possible to print by giving priority to the setting of the typeface / subtypeface over the stroke weight.
As described above, by appropriately changing the priority order of the attributes used for font selection for each document to be printed, it is possible to select the optimum font for the document.

As described above, by making it possible to set the priority order of attributes at the time of selecting a font by the input data from the host computer 300, it becomes possible to select a character as intended by the operator. . Although it has been described in the above embodiment that the priority order of the newly changed attribute is stored in the RAM, it may be stored in the non-volatile memory. According to this, since the contents are retained even after the power is turned off, when printing the same document, the font is selected in the conventional state.

Although data for determining the priority order of attributes is sent from the host computer 300, it does not necessarily have to be performed by an operator who operates the host computer. For example, since it is possible to identify whether the document to be printed is a Japanese sentence or an English sentence, the attribute priority order data may be automatically generated and output based on the identification result.

<Description of Second Embodiment> The above-described embodiment (first embodiment)
In the embodiment), the priority order of attributes has been described in 7 steps from attribute 6 to attribute 0. However, stroke weight and style are often used when actually setting the priority order of attributes.
It is considered that there is not much need for the user to change the priority of the two types of attributes, the typeface and the subtypeface, which is set higher. Therefore, the priority information flag (instruction command from the host computer,
Or, the contents are changed by the operation panel), and by this flag, it is determined which of the typeface or subtypeface, the stroke weight or the style, has the higher priority,
An example of font selection will be described as a second embodiment.

The operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Incidentally, the program corresponding to the same processing is naturally stored in the ROM in the CPU 1.

When there is a font attribute instruction in the command or operation panel setting, the attribute table of FIG. 5 is rewritten and font search processing is performed including other attributes set at that time. This process will be described below.

First, in step S31, a font is selected in accordance with the graphic set attribute selection rules. At this time, if it is not possible to narrow down to one font, the font selection process according to the character pitch or character size is performed in steps S32 and S33. If the font cannot be narrowed down even by this, the process proceeds to step S34, and it is determined whether to give priority to the typeface / subtypeface or the style / stroke weight based on whether the priority flag is on. .

If the priority flag is on, the process proceeds to steps S35 and S36 to first select fonts by giving priority to the attributes of the typeface / subtypeface, and then step S3.
7. In S38, font selection by style / stroke weight is performed.

When the priority flag is off, the process selects fonts in preference to the style / stroke weight attributes in steps S39 and S40, and the fonts in the typeface / subtypeface in subsequent steps S41 and S42. Perform selection processing.

In any case, it is the same as in the first embodiment described above that it is decided that the font will be finally used when it is narrowed down to one font.

By setting the priority order of the font attribute selection for the attributes thus limited, it is possible to perform a simple process in conformity with the reality.

In the embodiment, the description has been made assuming that there are seven types of attributes (judgment processing has seven stages), but the number of types is not limited to this. For example, in the case of only outline fonts, the attributes of character pitch and character size are not required,
There are five types of attributes.

Further, not only the priority of only the limited attributes may be exchanged, but also the level of the attributes may be the same, or the attributes may be ignored, so that the user's usage environment may be dealt with in detail. Of course.

Further, in the embodiment, the laser beam printer is described as an example of the printer engine unit of the printing apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this.
It can also be applied to an inkjet printer or the like described below.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an ink jet recording apparatus IJRA to which the present invention can be applied. In the figure, the carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward / reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has pins (not shown). Then, it is reciprocated along the guide 5003 in the directions of arrows a and b. This carriage HC
Inkjet cartridge IJC is mounted on. A paper pressing plate 5002 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage. 5
Reference numerals 007 and 5008 denote photocouplers for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this area, and checking the motor 501.
3 is a home position detecting means for switching the rotation direction of the motor 3. Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, which performs suction recovery of the recording head via the opening 5023 in the cap. 5
Reference numeral 017 is a cleaning blade, and 5019 is a member that allows this blade to move in the front-rear direction, and these are supported by a main body support plate 5018. Needless to say, a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example instead of this form. Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves in accordance with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage, and the movement of the driving force from the driving motor is controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. To be done.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that the desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. As long as the desired operation is performed at the timing, any of the above can be applied to this example.

The constituent elements of the present invention can be incorporated in the control configuration of the ink jet printer as described above, and the present invention is not limited to the laser beam printer and can be applied to the above ink jet printer and other systems. it is obvious.

Further, although the printing apparatus has been described as an example in the embodiment, the present invention is characterized in that a font is selected from a plurality of fonts according to attributes, and based on this idea, it operates on a host computer, for example. It is also applicable when selecting a font used by an application such as document processing.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the font is selected by the attribute, it is possible to surely select the intended font.

[0049]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the contents of a font table according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional structure diagram of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an attribute priority order when a default attribute priority order is changed in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of font selection information instructed from the outside.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of font selection processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of font selection processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of font selection processing in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of another printing unit to which the embodiment is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 Receive buffer 3 Font memory 4 Font table 5 Page buffer memory 6 Bitmap memory 7 Printer engine section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A font selection method for selecting one font from a plurality of types of fonts, setting a plurality of attributes for specifying a font, and selecting a font that matches the attributes. A font selection method characterized by externally changing the priority of each attribute for narrowing down, and narrowing down fonts according to the changed priority of attributes. 2. A font storage unit that stores a plurality of types of fonts together with a plurality of attributes that represent the characteristics of the font, an instruction unit that indicates a plurality of attributes that represent a desired font, and an individual instruction A font selection device comprising: means for performing a process of checking a font that matches the attribute of (1) according to a predetermined order of attributes to narrow down the corresponding font and means for changing the order of the predetermined attributes.