JPH08156334A - Character information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a character information processing device with which listing operation is easy and a high print quality of a created list can be obtained by taking measures to capture a designated surrounding pattern when one surrounding pattern out of two kinds of surrounding patterns stored for a paragraph is designated. CONSTITUTION: In a tape printing device, a control section 20 executes processing corresponding to information from an input section 10 and processing step at that time. Results of the processing are outputted for displaying or printing by an output section 30. For a kind of a surrounding pattern for surrounding a character string of a paragraph with ruled lines, an external frame surrounding pattern and a surface assembling surrounding pattern are stored. When one of the two kinds of surrounding patterns is designated for the paragraph, the designated surrounding pattern is captured. On the other hand, when the surrounding pattern is the same kind as a forward or a backward paragraph, a backward ruled line at a forward paragraph and a forward ruled line at a backward paragraph are not printed individually, but a predetermined linking ruled line is printed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character information processing apparatus for printing or transferring an input character string of one or more lines. For example, a tape printer in which a print medium is a tape or a stamp in which a transfer medium is stamped. It can be applied to a seal making device, which is a surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional tape printer, keys for inputting characters and the like are arranged on an operation panel, and a desired character string can be input in advance by operating these keys for inputting characters. In addition, the tape printing device is formed so that the tape can be sent out from the tape discharge port by driving the tape feeding mechanism, and the printing mechanism consisting of the thermal head and the tape cutting mechanism are sequentially arranged in the passage of this tape. It is designed to be done. When the print key is operated, the control means of the tape printer controls the tape feeding mechanism to feed the tape at a predetermined speed, and
The printing mechanism is controlled to print the character string input in advance on the fed tape. Further, even when the printing of the character string is finished, the control means of the tape printer continuously controls the tape feeding mechanism to feed the tape until the printed tape portion is outside the apparatus, and then the tape Stop running. After the user stops the tape running, the user operates the tape cutting mechanism to obtain a user-original label obtained by printing a desired character string.

Here, the conventional tape printing apparatus is provided with a character decoration function, a character string outer frame (enclosing ruled line) addition function, and the like so that various labels can be formed.

By the way, since a tape printing apparatus of this kind has recently become capable of printing a large number of lines (for example, a maximum of 4 lines), there is a user's request for printing a table, and a tape printing apparatus that can meet such a request is also available. Already proposed.

For example, when trying to form a label as shown in FIG. 8 (A), in the conventional tape printer, "first set", "Suzuki XX", "Takahashi ○○○" ,
A surrounding ruled line is specified for each character string "Sato ΔΔ" to form the label shown in FIG. 6 (A).

[0006]

However, in the conventional tape printer, in order to print the table,
A surrounding ruled line must be specified for each character string to be inserted into the ruled line of the table, and there is a problem that the tabulation operation is complicated.

In addition, since the ruled lines are double printed at the place where the enclosing ruled lines of each character string overlap, as shown in FIG. 6 (A), the ruled lines in the portion around the table become thicker than the ruled lines around the table. There are also challenges.

Further, when a plurality of character strings located in the same column of the table have different lengths, if the character strings are surrounded and ruled lines are specified, an unnatural table as shown in FIG. 6B is formed. If you try to avoid this, you have to insert spaces in the character strings as appropriate to align the lengths of the character strings located in the same column, and then enclose each character string and specify the ruled line. However, the tabulation operation was complicated.

Such a problem occurs not only in the tape printing apparatus but also in other character information processing apparatuses having similar character strings for the print medium and the transfer medium. For example, a resin is used as a stamp engraving surface, where the ultraviolet light receiving portion is cured and the portion other than the cured portion is removed by the action of a predetermined fluid, and the engraved surface is irradiated with light rays according to the input character string (transfer operation,
A similar problem arises also in the seal making apparatus in which the term of printing in this specification includes the transfer concept in some cases).

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a character information processing apparatus which is easy to tabulate and has high print quality of a table.

[0011]

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a paragraph consisting of a set of lines for which the number of lines, the combination of the character sizes of the lines, and the vertical / horizontal printing styles are desired to be changed. In a character information processing device that performs input processing or printing processing in units, as an enclosing pattern type that encloses a paragraph character string with ruled lines, an outer frame enclosing pattern that encloses the entire paragraph character string and a paragraph character string A table-grouping enclosing pattern consisting of a ruled line part that surrounds the whole and a horizontal ruled line part that extends along a character string and is located between lines is stored, and for the paragraph, two types of stored enclosing pattern are stored. When one is designated, the surrounding pattern fetching means that fetches the designated surrounding pattern for the paragraph, and the surrounding patterns for the paragraphs that follow one another are designated. When those of the same type, characterized by comprising a printing means for printing ruled lines for a given joint not print separately before borders Borders and rear paragraphs after the previous paragraph.

Here, a print image display control means for controlling the display of the print image is provided, and when the print image control means designates the surrounding patterns for the paragraphs that follow each other and the surrounding patterns are of the same type. ,
It is a preferable aspect to display a predetermined connecting ruled line without individually displaying the rear ruled line of the previous paragraph and the front ruled line of the subsequent paragraph.

[0013]

In the character information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the enclosing pattern capturing means includes an outer frame enclosing pattern enclosing the entire character string of the paragraph and a paragraph enclosing pattern as the type of the enclosing pattern enclosing the character string of the paragraph with ruled lines. A table-grouping enclosing pattern composed of a ruled line portion that surrounds the entire character string and a horizontal ruled line portion that extends along the character string and is located between lines is stored, and two types of stored two types are stored for a paragraph. When one of the enclosing patterns is specified, the enclosing pattern specified for the paragraph is taken in, and when the enclosing pattern is specified for adjacent paragraphs and the enclosing patterns are of the same kind. A predetermined connecting ruled line is printed without individually printing the rear ruled line of the preceding paragraph and the front ruled line of the subsequent paragraph.

As a result, it is possible to obtain a character information processing apparatus which is easy to perform a tabulation operation and has a high print quality of the table.

[0015]

【Example】

(A) Electrical Overall Configuration of Embodiment First, an electrical overall configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a tape printer will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.

In FIG. 2, this tape printer, like the other character information processing devices, is roughly divided into the input unit 10,
It is composed of a control unit 20 and an output unit 30, and the control unit 20 executes a process according to the information from the input unit 10 and a processing stage at that time, and outputs the processing result by the output unit 30. Alternatively, it is adapted to be printed out.

The input section 10 is composed of a key input section 11 provided with push-down keys, dial keys, etc., and a tape width detection sensor 12, although the detailed structure is omitted. The key input unit 11 generates character code data and various control data to be given to the control unit 20. The tape width detection sensor 12 detects the width of the loaded tape and provides the tape width information to the control unit 20. In practice, the tape is housed in a tape cartridge, and the tape cartridge is provided with a physical identification element such as a hole that defines the tape width. The tape width detection sensor 12 reads this physical identification element. Output tape width information.

As the control codes generated by the key input unit 11, there are also control codes relating to frames and tables such as "outer frame", "table set", and "round table set" described later.

The output unit 30 has a print configuration and a display configuration. For example, the tape / ribbon feed motor 31, which is a stepping motor, feeds the loaded tape or ink ribbon (not shown) to a predetermined printing position or the outside of the apparatus. The thermal head 32 prints on a running tape by thermal transfer.
Up to 128 dots can be printed at the same time. These tape / ribbon feed motor 31 and thermal head 3
2 are driven by a motor drive circuit 33 and a head drive circuit 34, respectively, under the control of the control unit 20. Cutting of the printed tape is performed by, for example, an external force from a user or a cutter (not shown) driven by a motor (not shown).

In the case of the tape printer according to this embodiment,
A liquid crystal display 35 is provided as a display unit,
The liquid crystal display 35 is driven by a display drive circuit 36 under the control of the control unit 20, and directly displays an input character string, various attribute information, and the like, and displays the attributes written around the liquid crystal display 35 of the apparatus body. An indicator that indicates whether the attribute corresponding to the character string shown is on or off is turned on.

It should be noted that the frame or table is a character string (to be exact, a paragraph;
There is also provided an indicator that indicates that the definition of paragraph is given later) in a lighting state or a blinking state.

The control unit 20 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and has a CPU 21, a ROM 22, and
RAM23, character generator ROM (CG-R
An OM) 24, an input interface 25, and an output interface 26 are connected via a system bus 27.

The ROM 22 stores various processing programs and fixed data such as kana-kanji conversion dictionary data. The RAM 23 is used as a working memory and also stores fixed data related to user input. The RAM 23 is backed up even when the power is turned off.

The processing programs and fixed data stored in the ROM 22 and the data stored in the RAM 23 will be described in detail later. The ROM 22
Is a processing program 2 for specifying paragraph styles, which will be described later.
2a and a processing program 22b for printing are stored, and RAM is used when these programs 22a are executed.
The work area for 23 is used appropriately.

The CG-ROM 24 stores font information of characters and symbols prepared in the tape printer, and font information corresponding to code data specifying characters and symbols is given. Is output. Here, the font information stored in the CG-ROM 24 may be an outline font or a bitmap font.

The CG-ROM 24 also stores font information for front ruled lines, jointed rules, and rear ruled lines, which will be described later, for the outer frame, the table set, and the round table set.

The input interface 25 serves as an interface between the input section 10 and the control section 20.
The output interface 26 includes the output unit 30 and the control unit 20.
The interface between them.

The CPU 21 uses the processing program in the ROM 22 determined according to the input signal from the input unit 10 and the processing stage at that time, while using the RAM 23 as a working area, and if necessary, the ROM 22 and the RAM 2.
The fixed data stored in No. 3 is used as appropriate for processing, and the processing status and processing result are displayed on the liquid crystal display 35 or printed on a tape (not shown).

(B) Outer Frame, Table Set, Round Table Set (Enclosed Pattern) Hereinafter, the concept of paragraphs will be described, and then the outer frame, table set, and round table set (enclosed pattern) will be described with reference to the drawings. .

A paragraph is a collection of lines (including one line) that are stacked and printed on the tape width, and specify various printing effects (called paragraph style) such as the number of lines and the character size of each line. It is a unit. A label is formed by sequentially printing one or more paragraphs in the longitudinal direction of the tape. 3 (A), (B), and (C) are one paragraph,
A label consisting of two paragraphs and three paragraphs is shown. The outer frame, the table set, and the round table can be designated in such paragraph units.

As shown in FIGS. 4 (A1) and 4 (A2), the outer frame is a substantially quadrangular surrounding pattern that encloses the entire character string of the paragraph (the one shown in FIG. 4 (A1) is a thick frame, and FIG. 4 (A
The one shown in 2) is called a log frame). In the following, the left side, right side, upper side, and lower side that enclose the entire character string of a paragraph will be referred to as front ruled line, rear ruled line, upper ruled line, and lower ruled line, respectively. I will call it horizontal rule. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 (A3) and (A4), pictorial characters applied to the front ruled line and the rear ruled line are also prepared as the type of the outer frame. Large (full size) Small outer frame and pictogram (half size)
An outer frame is also available. 4 (A1) and (A
In the outer frame shown in 2), the front ruled line and the rear ruled line are treated in the same manner as the pictograms.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the table set includes a front ruled line, a rear ruled line, an upper ruled line, a lower ruled line surrounding the entire character string of a paragraph, and a horizontal ruled line (hereinafter referred to as a line space) provided between each line. (Referred to as ruled line), and is the first pattern introduced in this embodiment.

The round table set is also a kind of a surrounding pattern for the table set. As shown in FIG. 4C, the front ruled line and the rear ruled line of the table set shown in FIG. 4B have rounded corners. It is a surrounding pattern that has been held.

In the case of this embodiment, the table can be formed by designating the outer frame, the table set, and the round table set for each paragraph. In this tabulation, when the paragraph is composed of, for example, three lines and the lengths of the lines are different, the interval between the front ruled line and the rear ruled line is determined based on the length of the longest line.

(C) Paragraph Style Correction Processing Next, the paragraph style correction processing, in particular, the processing for specifying the outer frame, table group or round table group will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Here, as the attribute type of the paragraph style, the outer frame, the addition or non-addition of the table or the round table, the combination of the character size of each line, the vertical writing / horizontal writing, and the character allocation (centering, advancement) , Etc.) etc.

The user may use the key input unit 11 to instruct the paragraph style correction with the cursor positioned at the paragraph to be modified.

At this time, the CPU 21 starts the paragraph style correction program shown in FIG. Then, first, in step 100, the style stored in the text area set so far for the target paragraph is copied to the style fetch buffer, and then the initial setting screen is displayed.

Here, the setting screen is composed of a title indicating the attribute type and setting candidates for the title (attribute type) (already set values when the title is displayed for the first time), and no title is selected. Sometimes, the title side is displayed in a selectable state, and when the title is selected, the title side is displayed in a selected state. As the initial setting screen, for example, the combination attribute of the character size of each line is displayed.
Further, as the title, not only the style attribute but also a title indicating the end of designation (no setting candidate) is prepared.

When the title side is displayed in a selectable state, the CPU 21 determines the operation key in step 102. Candidate change key (eg cursor key)
When is operated, in step 103, the CPU 21 switches and displays the display title (and the options accompanying it), and returns to the operation key determination step 102. On the other hand, when the selection key is operated, the setting value fetching process or the ending process according to the title at that time is executed.

For example, if the selection key is operated while the title "frame / table" relating to the addition / non-addition of the outer frame, the table set or the round table set is displayed as the title, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 104. , The set values so far are displayed in a selectable state, and the operation key is determined in step 105. The default value for the title "frame / table" is "none", which does not add an outer frame or a table. The setting values other than "None" are displayed as numbers indicating the type of outer frame, table set or round table set, and front ruled and rear ruled characters (dot pattern).
And.

When the candidate change key is operated, CP
The U21 returns to the operation key determination step 105 after switching the setting value candidate to another candidate for display in step 106. When the select key is operated, the CPU
In step 107, the step 21 takes in the setting value candidates that are being displayed at that time, in step 108, displays the next title (for example, “designated end”) according to the defined display order, and returns to step 102. At this time, when setting values other than “None” are displayed in a selectable state, the display indicator showing ON / OFF of the attribute blinks, and the selection key confirms the selection of setting values other than “None”. Sometimes the display indicator is turned on.

When the selection key is operated while "End of designation" is displayed as the title, the CPU 21 requests in step 109 to modify the text area of the paragraph style stored in the style import buffer. After storing in the style area attached to the sentence of the paragraph, the character input screen for instructing the paragraph style correction is displayed in step 110, the paragraph style correction processing is terminated, and the state returns to the character input enabled state.

The CPU 21 operates the selection key when the titles of other attributes such as the combination of the character size of each line, the vertical writing / horizontal writing, and the character allocation (middle justification, front justification, evenness, etc.) are displayed. Then, the subroutine SUB for it is executed. The process at this time is the outer frame,
This is almost the same as the selection process of the setting value related to the addition / non-addition of the table set or the round table set.

As described above, the CPU 21 can take in the setting of whether or not to add an outer frame, a table set or a round table set to each paragraph.

(D) Printing Process Next, the printing process will be described with reference to the schematic process flowchart of FIG. 1 and the printing explanatory diagram of FIG. In particular, the printing process will be described from the surface to which the surrounding pattern such as the outer frame, the front set and the round front set is applied.

Even when a print image is requested to be displayed, the same processing as in FIG. 1 (expansion processing to the print buffer)
Is executed.

When the print key is operated while the character string is displayed on the liquid crystal display 35, the CPU 21
Start the processing program shown in FIG.
In step 20, an initial process of determining a predetermined value for printing and recognizing the number of paragraphs N is performed, and the parameter n defining the number of print paragraphs is set to 1, and the process proceeds to step 121. For example, according to the tape width detected by the tape width detection sensor 12, the basic size of the outer frame, the front ruled line and the rear ruled line of the table set or the round table set, the margin distance between the paragraphs, and the like are determined.

The CPU 21 at step 121
It is determined whether or not the paragraph specified by the parameter n is to add an outer frame, a table set, or a round table set. If it is not a paragraph to be added, in step 122, the CPU 21 prints the character string of the paragraph according to the style of the paragraph (excluding the outer frame, table group, and round table group), and then step 1
Make sure that you have not finished printing the last paragraph in 23,
In step 124, the parameter n is incremented by 1, and the process returns to step 121.

The printing process of the character string in step 122 includes the process of forming the front margin (when the paragraph is the first paragraph) and the process of ensuring the inter-paragraph distance to the next paragraph. When the printing of the final paragraph is completed, a rear margin forming process (not shown) is performed and the series of printing processes is completed.

If the paragraph defined by the parameter n is to add an outer frame, a table set, or a round table set, the CPU 21 determines in step 125 that the previous rule is printed with the rear ruled lines and the subsequent ruled ruled lines. As a connecting rule (Fig. 6, FG
(Interval) is printed. If the connecting rule is printed, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 126.
If it is determined that the front ruled lines have been printed in step S1, and the connecting ruled lines have not been printed, the CPU 21 determines in step 127 that the front ruled line (dot pattern) that is the outer frame, the table set, or the round table set specified in the paragraph. (FIG. 6, between BC) is printed.

Thereafter, in step 128, the CPU 21 prints the character string of the paragraph and the horizontal rule (the upper rule, the lower rule, and the line rule if there is a line rule). In addition, before and after the character string, as shown in FIG. 6, a distance between paragraphs is secured. Further, in this embodiment, the horizontal ruled line is not easily formed as a dot pattern, and a predetermined position of the print buffer is changed to an on dot by software, or the content of the print buffer is transferred to the thermal head 32. In doing so, the off-dots at a predetermined position are forcibly changed to on-dots for printing. The position of the horizontal rule is automatically determined by the combination of the width of the loaded tape and the character size of each line (for example, stored in the ROM 22 as table information).

Next, in step 129, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the next paragraph is to add an outer frame, a table set or a round table set, and if it is to add it, step 1
At 30, it is further determined whether the types are the same. If the next paragraph also provides the same type of outer frame, table set, or round table set, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 13
In No. 1, a joint ruled line (which is also prepared as a dot pattern) is printed as a rear ruled line, and the next paragraph does not add an outer frame, a table set or a round table set, or a different one is added. Then, the CPU 21 prints the specified rear ruled line in step 132, and then executes step 1
Make sure that you have not finished printing the last paragraph in 23,
In step 124, the parameter n is incremented by 1, and the process returns to step 121. In addition, after printing the rear ruled line, as shown in FIG.
As shown in, the distance between paragraphs is secured.

In the case of this embodiment, the thick frame shown in FIG. 4 (A1) and the table set shown in FIG. 4 (B) are treated as the same kind, and the log frame shown in FIG. It is designed to be treated as the same kind as the round table set shown in FIG.

Incidentally, FIG. 1 is shown so that the features of this embodiment can be easily understood. Therefore, although the relationship between the expansion processing to the print buffer and the transfer processing to the thermal head 32 has not been clarified, it is possible to transfer all to the thermal head 32 after expanding all to the print buffer. And the transfer to the thermal head 32 may be performed in parallel.

Now, the m-1 paragraph is a paragraph without an outer frame, a table set, or a round table set, and the m paragraph is called a "first set" with a thick frame, as shown in FIG. 7 (A). As shown in FIG. 7 (B), the m + 1 paragraph is a paragraph related to a character string, and as shown in FIG. 7B, a three-line character string “Suzuki XX”, “Takahashi ○○○”, and “Sato △△” accompanied by a table With such a paragraph, a table as shown in FIG. 7C is obtained by the processing program shown in FIG.

(E) Effect of the Embodiment As described above, in the character information processing apparatus of the above embodiment, not only the outer frame but also the table set and the round table set are used as the enclosing pattern for enclosing the character string of the paragraph. If a table set or a round table set is specified, the spacing between the front ruled line and the rear ruled line is based on the length of the longest line even if the character strings of each line in the paragraph are different. Since it is decided, it is not necessary to make the lengths of the character strings in each line uniform, and there are also enclosing patterns for table and round table sets. Of these enclosing patterns, the enclosing patterns of each line are specified according to the specified enclosing pattern. Since the character string is printed,
Unlike the conventional character information processing device, it is not necessary to perform an enclosing operation for each character string of each line in a paragraph.

Further, the character information processing apparatus of the above-mentioned embodiment operates so as to connect the surrounding patterns when the outer frames, the table sets or the round table sets (enclosing patterns) of the paragraphs that follow each other are of the same kind. Therefore, the tabulation operation can be simplified and the usability can be improved.

(F) Other Embodiments In the above embodiment, the surrounding pattern used for tabulation has the front ruled line and the rear ruled line, but it may be a pictogram. Further, the connecting ruled line is not limited to the line. Further, when the front ruled line, the rear ruled line, or the connected ruled line is linear, instead of using the dot pattern read from the CG-ROM 24, a predetermined dot in the print buffer is changed to an on dot by software. It may be formed by.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the tape printer, but it can be applied to other character information processing devices which require the display of the character input screen. For example, the invention can be applied to a stamp making device, and in this case, a transfer image on the stamp marking surface is displayed.
The term "print" in the claims includes "transfer" in this case.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, as the type of the enclosing pattern that encloses the character string of the paragraph with the ruled line, the outer frame enclosing pattern enclosing the entire character string of the paragraph and the character string of the paragraph. A table-grouping enclosing pattern consisting of a ruled line part that surrounds the entire text and a horizontal ruled line part that extends along the character string and is located between lines, and two stored enclosing pattern patterns are stored for each paragraph. When one is designated, the surrounding pattern capturing means that captures the designated surrounding pattern for the paragraph, and the surrounding pattern is designated for the paragraphs that follow, and when the surrounding patterns are the same type, Since the printer has a printing unit that prints a predetermined connecting ruled line without individually printing the rear ruled line of the previous paragraph and the front ruled line of the subsequent paragraph, character information with high table print quality that facilitates tabulation operations Processor It can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a paragraph concept.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing several examples of a surrounding pattern according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a paragraph style correction process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram that supplementarily describes the printing process of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a table according to an example.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a defect of the conventional tabulation method.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Input part, 11 ... Key input part, 12 ... Tape width detection sensor, 20 ... Control part, 21 ... CPU, 22 ... ROM,
23 ... RAM, 30 ... Output part, 31 ... Tape / ribbon feed motor, 32 ... Thermal head, 35 ... Liquid crystal display.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Chieko Aida 2-10-18 Higashi-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside King Jim Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tomoyuki Niimura 2-10-18 Higashi-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo In stock company King Jim (72) Inventor Yoshiya Toyozawa 3-5 Yamato, Suwa, Nagano Seiko Epson Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyasu Kurashina 3-5 Yamato, Suwa, Nagano Seiko Epson Co., Ltd. In (72) Inventor Go Hosokawa 3-5 Yamato, Suwa, Nagano Seiko Epson Corporation

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A character information processing apparatus for performing input processing and print processing in units of paragraphs, which is a set of lines for which the number of lines, the combination of the character sizes of each line, and the vertical / horizontal writing print style are to be changed, As an enclosing pattern type that encloses the character string of a paragraph with ruled lines, an outer frame enclosing pattern that encloses the entire character string of the paragraph, and a ruled line part that encloses the entire character string of the paragraph and the line spacing that extends along the character string. The table surrounding pattern consisting of the horizontal ruled line portion and the
When one of the stored two kinds of surrounding patterns is designated, a surrounding pattern fetching means for fetching the designated surrounding pattern for the paragraph and the surrounding patterns for the preceding and succeeding paragraphs are designated. Character information processing characterized by including printing means for printing a predetermined connecting ruled line without individually printing the rear ruled line of the preceding paragraph and the front ruled line of the following paragraph apparatus.