JPH08160936A - Character string output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a character string which is rich in variation and expressing power through easy operation by specifying an optional figure and arranging a character string to be outputted along the segments constituting the figure. CONSTITUTION: A character and figure information conversion part 10 has a character string storage part 10-1, a figure information storage part 10-2, and an arrangement information generation part 10-3 and generate a character string with arrangement information on the basis of a character string and figure information in the character string storage part 10-1 and figure information storage part 10-2. The obtained character string with the arrangement information is temporarily stored in a data buffer 10-4 and then written in a hyper-outline memory 5-2. Namely, a prepared figure is merely specified and then the arrangement information defining a character arrangement area in the same shape with the segments constituting the figure is generated, segment by segment, and added to the character string to be outputted, so that the character string can be arranged and outputted along the segments constituting the figure.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character string output device for arranging and outputting a character string to be output along a line segment forming a figure in a document processing device such as a word processor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a document processing device such as a word processor, when an arbitrary character string is emphasized and output, inversion,
A method of emphasizing a desired character string by rotation, italics, etc. is known, but in the method of emphasizing a character string in this way, it can be modified only in a predetermined form, There is a problem that the degree of freedom is extremely low and the user's request cannot be fully satisfied. Therefore, the present applicant defines an area sandwiched by two line segments as a character arrangement area, and arranges and outputs a character string in this arrangement area, so that an arbitrary line can be formed along a straight line, an arc, a Bezier curve, or the like. As a technique for arranging a character string in a place, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-2553
No. 72, Title of invention: Character string output device, Japanese Patent Application No. 3-25
No. 5925, Title of the invention: A decorative character output device was proposed.

[0003]

As a result, the entire character string can be deformed and arranged in an arc shape, a wavy shape, etc., and it is possible to obtain an extremely varied character string. Is based on the premise that a character arrangement area and the like are input and created in advance, and the creation is not necessarily easy for a beginner, and improvement thereof has been demanded. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to arrange an output target character string along a line segment that constitutes a graphic by simply designating an arbitrary graphic.

[0004]

The means of the present invention are as follows. In a character string output device that sets a region sandwiched by two line segments as a character arrangement region and arranges and outputs a character string designated as an output target along the line segment in the character arrangement region, (1 ), The graphic storage means is for storing graphic information, and is a graphic memory for storing graphic information that has been input and created or that is prepared in advance. (2) The graphic designating means is a key input device for designating a graphic. (3) The reading means reads the graphic information designated by the graphic designating means from the graphic storing means. (4) Based on the graphic information read by the reading means, the generating means defines, for each line segment forming the graphic, the character arrangement area having the same shape as the line segment and the same as the graphic information. The arrangement information expressed in the coordinate system is generated. (5), the adding means adds the arrangement information generated by the generating means to the character string designated as an output target in advance. (6) When outputting the character string to which the arrangement information is added by the adding means, the output means arranges and outputs the character string in each character arrangement area indicated by the arrangement information. In addition, when generating the arrangement information indicating the character arrangement area for each line segment forming the figure, the generating unit generates new line segments facing each other for each line segment forming the figure, and Arrangement information may be generated in which an area sandwiched between the constituent line segments and a line segment newly generated in opposition thereto is used as the character arrangement area. In addition, the generation means determines the height of a character based on the character arrangement area and the number of characters in the character string when generating a new line segment that opposes each line segment that constitutes a figure, A new line segment may be generated according to the height. Further, the adding means divides the output target character string according to the character arrangement area of each line segment when adding the layout information generated by the generating means to the output target character string for each line segment forming the figure. The arrangement information of the corresponding line segment may be added to each of the divided character strings.

[0005]

The operation of the means of the present invention is as follows. Now, when an arbitrary figure is designated by the figure designating means, the reading means reads the designated figure information from the figure storing means. Then, the generation means defines, for each line segment forming the figure, a character arrangement area having the same shape as the line segment based on the figure information, and also generates arrangement information expressed in the same coordinate system as the figure information. This placement information is added to the character string designated as the output target. When outputting the character string to which the arrangement information is added, the output means arranges and outputs the character string in each character arrangement area indicated by the arrangement information along the line segment forming the figure. As a result, the character strings to be output are sequentially arranged and output along the line segments forming the figure. Therefore, by simply designating an arbitrary figure, the output target character string can be arranged along the line segment forming the figure.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a character string output device in a word processor. The main control unit 1 is a central processing unit that controls the overall operation of the character string output device according to various programs. When character string data or graphic data is input from the key operation unit 2, the main control unit 1 Captured to the display control unit 3, and the display device 4
To display output, store graphic data in the graphic memory 5-1 constituting the document memory 5, and store character string data in the text memory 5-3. When a print command is input from the key operation unit 2, the main control unit 1 gives the content of the document memory 5 to the print control unit 6 so that the printing device 7 prints it out, and the key operation unit 2 issues a save command. When is input, the contents of the document memory 5 are given to the external storage control unit 8 to be registered and stored in the external storage device 9. Further, the main control unit 1 takes in character string data and graphic data from the external storage device 9 via the external storage control unit 8 and stores them in the document memory 5.

The document memory 5 has a graphic memory 5-1, a hyper-outline memory 5-2, and a text memory 5-3. The graphic memory 5-1 has coordinate sequence data representing the graphic type and the graphic as graphic information. For storing a rectangular figure, a circular figure, a star figure, and the like. The hyperoutline memory 5-2 defines a region between two lines as a character arrangement region, and a character string arranged along the line segment in the character arrangement region is a data structure of graphic element + character string, that is, A memory unique to the present embodiment that stores a character string to which layout information that defines a character layout area that is a graphic element is stored, and its content is generated by the character / graphic information conversion unit 10. The layout information that defines the character layout area is represented by the same coordinate system as the graphic.
The text memory 5-3 stores character string data, and the main control unit 1 reads the character string data designated as an output target from the text memory 5-3.

The character / graphic information conversion unit 10 is a character string storage unit 1.
0-1, graphic information storage unit 10-2, arrangement information creation unit 10
-3, a graphic memory 5-1, a text memory 5-3
The above-mentioned character string with layout information is generated based on the contents of the above. When the output target graphic is designated by the key operation unit 2, the main control unit 1 transfers the designated graphic information to the character graphic information conversion unit 10. When the character string to be output is specified by the key operation unit 2, the main control unit 1 sets the specified character string to the character / graphic information conversion unit 10-2.
In the character string storage unit 10-1.

The layout information creating unit 10-3 creates a character string with layout information based on the character string in the character string storage unit 10-1 and the graphic information storage unit 10-2 and the graphic information. , Graphic information analysis unit 10-3A, character information analysis unit 10
-3B analyzes the graphic information and the character string, and the graphic / arrangement conversion unit 10-3C converts the graphic information into the layout information based on the analysis. The character string with the layout information thus obtained is temporarily stored in the data buffer 10-4 and then written in the hyperoutline memory 5-2.

Here, the operating principle of the technique that is the premise of this embodiment, that is, the technique of arranging a character string at an arbitrary place will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The character string arranged at an arbitrary location has a data structure as shown in FIG. That is, the data structure of this character string is in the form of graphic element + character string as described above, and the "pattern code" that defines the graphic element is formed by combining any two line segments. The pattern code "0" indicates that two lines are "straight line + straight line".
It indicates that the character arrangement area is composed of the combination of. The pattern code "1" is a combination of "straight line + bezier curve", and "2" is "bezier curve +
"Bézier curve" combination, "3" is "arc + arc"
It indicates that the character arrangement area is composed of the combination of. The "digit pitch" is a value of n representing the character width in n / 32, and defines the character pitch. In addition, "3
"2" indicates the maximum character width. In addition, "coordinate data" is a sequence of coordinates that defines the character arrangement area. The start and end points of a straight line part, the start point, control point and end point of a bezier curve part, the center and start angle of an arc part. , End angle, radius. The "character string data" is a character string arranged along the line segment in the character arrangement area, and the character string data is defined together with the number of characters.

Since the character string data with the layout information constructed in this way has the same coordinate system for the graphic information and the layout information, the character string can be made to follow the graphic. When a character string is arranged and output based on the column data, it becomes as shown in FIG. That is, FIG.
(A) shows an arrangement example when the pattern code is "0", and the upper straight line forming the character arrangement area is the start point (1),
It is defined by the end point (1) and the lower line is defined by the start point (2) and the end point (2), both straight lines are not parallel and the spacing is from the start point to the end point. It is getting wider gradually. When arranging and outputting a character string in a character arranging area sandwiched by two such straight lines, the character arranging area is equally divided by the number of characters in the character string, and the corresponding characters are placed in the character frame corresponding to the number of characters. Are placed. As a result, the character size gradually increases from the beginning of the character string, and a character string with a natural sense of depth can be obtained.

FIG. 3B shows an arrangement example when the pattern code is "2", and FIG. 3C shows an arrangement example when the pattern code is "3". The character string is along a Bezier curve or an arc. The character strings are arranged in a wide variety and can be varied. In addition,
In FIG. 3B, starting points (1) and (2), control points (1a), and (1) are used to draw two Bezier curves.
b), (2a), (2b), end points (1), (2) are required, and in FIG. 3 (C), to draw two arcs, radii (1), (2), center Requires coordinates, start angle, and end angle.

As described above, the technique which is the premise of this embodiment is 2
This is a technology in which if a straight line or a curved line of a book is defined, the character string is arranged in such a way that the characters fit between them. In the case of a straight line, the character arrangement area is specified by two start points and end points. The straight line is equally divided by the number of characters to determine a character frame in which one character can be stored, and the character is stored in it. In addition, 2
Even if the straight line of the book is a Bezier curve or a circular arc, it can be similarly applied.

Here, in the present embodiment, in order to specify the character arrangement area, a method of inputting and designating two line segments in advance is not adopted, but a graphic prepared in advance is used as the graphic memory 5-. The character string with the layout information is obtained by reading the data from No. 1 and automatically generating the layout information defining the character layout area from the coordinate string and adding the layout information to the output target character string. That is, by simply designating an arbitrary figure, the character string is automatically arranged along the line segment forming the figure. In FIG. 4, the character string is arranged along the line segment of the designated figure. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the data structure of the character string with arrangement information in this embodiment.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the graphic information (coordinate sequence data, etc.) already stored in the graphic memory 5-1 is fetched and used as the layout information as it is as one line segment forming the character layout area. If copied, the upper or lower lines that sandwich the character string will coincide with the line segments that make up the figure. Fig. 4 shows the case where the line segments that make up the figure are copied as lines located at the top of the character string. For circles, the figure information is copied as it is, and the lower line is automatically generated considering the height of the characters. To do. If the designated figure is a rectangle, the figure cannot be copied as it is because the figure is defined by diagonal coordinates. Therefore, the rectangle is decomposed into four straight lines based on the diagonal coordinates. The lower line opposite to the line of the book is automatically generated.

When arranging a character string in this way, the character / graphic information conversion unit 10 not only takes in the coordinate information of the graphic for copying, but also has the function of generating another line for sandwiching the character. , Has a function of dividing and arranging a character string for each line segment forming a figure, and FIG.
The character string data with the arrangement information as shown in (B) is generated and set in the hyper outline memory 5-2.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of a process of generating the character string data with arrangement information shown in FIG. Here, the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 will be specifically described with reference to the arrangement example shown in FIG. Now, an arbitrary figure stored in the figure memory 5-1 can be designated from the key operation unit 2 and the text memory 5-
An arbitrary character string stored in 3 is designated as the output target character string. Here, when the execution instruction of the process of arranging the character string along the graphic is input from the key operation unit 2, the main control unit 1 reads the graphic information designated as the output target from the graphic memory 5-1 and outputs the character graphic information. The character string specified as an output target is read from the text memory 5-3 while being set in the graphic information storage unit 10-2 in the conversion unit 10, and the character string storage unit 10-1 in the character / graphic information conversion unit 10 is read.
Set to. In this state, the main control unit 1 activates the character / graphic information conversion unit 10. Then, the character / graphic information conversion unit 10 operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 6 shows an example of the operation of the character / graphic information conversion unit 10.

First, the layout information creating unit 10-3 accesses the graphic information storage unit 10-2, and determines the graphic type according to the pattern code included in the graphic information (step S1). Here, a process of determining the height of the character string to be arranged is performed as a process common to each figure type.
In this case, basically, a value obtained by dividing the length of a line segment forming a figure by the number of characters is determined as the height of the character, and thus the shape of the character frame for accommodating one character is close to a square. However, in the case of a rectangle, “8” is added to the number of characters in order to prevent the characters from overlapping at the four corners.

That is, when the figure type is a rectangle, the process proceeds to step S2, and the lengths of the straight lines of the four sides forming the rectangle are obtained from the coordinate sequence information (diagonal coordinates) of the figure. Then, the arrangement information creating unit 10-3 adds "8" to the number of characters and divides the length of the four sides by the value of the number of characters + 8 to determine the height of the character (step S3). The reason for determining the height of the character in this way is to generate another line to sandwich the character string. It should be noted that it is necessary to perform processing for preventing overlapping of characters at the corners of a polygon defined by continuous straight lines instead of a figure defined by diagonal coordinates such as a rectangle. Further, in a figure such as a rectangle in which overlapping of characters is considered, it is necessary to divide the character string according to each side.

Here, in the case of a rectangle, the process proceeds to step S4, where the layout information creating unit 10-3 adds 8 to the number of characters, and sets the number of characters to the number of characters that should follow the line segment of the rectangle, and the length of each side. Divide the total number of characters by. At this time, when inconvenience occurs, such as when the number of characters in the character strings along opposite sides is not equal, the total number of characters is increased by one character (the increased part becomes a blank), and the number of characters on opposite sides is increased. Should be matched. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, the long side is determined to be 8 characters and the short side is determined to be 6 characters. Then go to step S5
The arrangement information creation unit 10-3 adds blank codes to both ends of each character string divided in association with the four sides of the rectangle.
This is to prevent overlapping of characters on both sides of each side. In FIG. 4 (A), "□ inside a rectangle" (□ indicates a blank space) is applied as a character string along the first side. Will be done. Also, the character string along the second side is "□
The character string becomes “□”, and the character string along the third side becomes “when it is aligned with □”.

Next, the start point (1) and the end point (2) are generated corresponding to the straight lines of the four sides forming the rectangle (step S6), and at the same time, parallel to the straight lines of the four sides, In order to generate another line located inside, based on the height of the character obtained in step S3, the coordinate position obtained by translating the start and end points of the four sides of the rectangle by the height of the character is set. The start point (2) and the end point (2) of the other line are set (step S7). Then, the arrangement information creating unit 10-3 has a rectangular shape 4.
The start point (1) and the end point (1) that form the side, the start point (2) and the end point (2) of the line parallel to these, and the character strings and the like assigned to each side are written. The data is stored in the data buffer 10-4 in the graphic information conversion unit 10 (step S16).

Then, when writing the contents of the data buffer 10-4 to the document memory 5, the main control unit 1 adds an identifier indicating that it is a character string with arrangement information and stores it in the hyperoutline memory 5-2. To do. FIG. 5 is FIG.
FIG. 5A shows a data structure in the hyper-outline memory 5-2 corresponding to the specific example shown in FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5A shows a state where circle and rectangle information has already been stored in the graphic memory 5-1 as graphic information. FIG. 5B shows a character string with arrangement information in the hyperoutline memory 5-2 generated by designating a rectangle and a circle as graphic information. In this case, "1" is set in the hyper outline memory 5-2 as a character string identifier with arrangement information. Here, in the case of a rectangle, “0” indicating “straight line + straight line” is set as the pattern code.
In addition, the start point of the coordinate data forming the upper side of the rectangle is "0,
0 ", the end point is" 16.0 ", and the start point of the line parallel to the upper side generated in consideration of the height of the character is" 0,
2 "and the end point is" 16, 2 ". Then, the character string data “□ inside the rectangle □” with blanks added at both ends is set in association with the upper side of the rectangle. Similarly, the pattern code, coordinate data, and
The character string data is set in the hyper outline memory 5-2. At this time, the number of storage locations (character frames) on the last one side may become larger than the number of characters due to the increase in the number of arranged characters described above. In such a case, the blank code for the increased number of characters is used as the character. I am trying to add it at the end of the row.

On the other hand, if the graphic type is a circle system, step S
The processes of 8 to S11 and S16 are performed. That is, the arrangement information creating unit 10-3 obtains the entire length of the circumference (arc) (step S8), and divides this length by the number of characters to determine the height of the character (step S9). Then, the coordinate sequence data of the graphic information, that is, the center coordinates, the start and end angles are copied as they are as the upper curve forming the character arrangement area (step S10), and the radius is the radius (1).
As it is, the radius (2) is generated as a value obtained by subtracting the height of the character from the radius (1) and another curve along the inside of the circle-shaped figure, that is, the lower curve forming the character arrangement area. Yes (step S11). Then, these coordinate string data are stored in the data buffer 10-4 together with the character string (step S16). FIG. 4B shows a case where a circle is designated as the graphic information and the character strings are evenly arranged and output inside the circle along the line segment.
In the case of a circle, if the number of characters in the character string is 7 or more, a well-balanced character string arrangement is obtained.

If the figure type is a Bezier curve or the like, steps S12 to S16 are performed. That is, the arrangement information creation unit 10-3 finds the length along the curve of the figure (step S12), and determines the height of the character by dividing this length by the number of characters (step S12).
13). Then, the arrangement information creating unit 10-3 copies the parameters forming the figure as it is as the upper curve forming the character arrangement area (step S14), and the curve is translated by the height of the character. A lower curve forming the arrangement area is generated (step S1).
5). Then, these coordinate string data are stored in the data buffer 10-4 together with the character string (step S1).
6).

When the operation of the character / graphic information conversion unit 10 is completed by this, the main control unit 1 causes the character / graphic information conversion unit 10 to operate.
The character string with arrangement information is fetched from the internal data buffer 10-4 and stored in the hyperoutline memory 5-2. The contents of the hyper-outline memory 5-2 are read in response to the output command, and the character string is arranged and output along the line segments forming the figure.

Although FIGS. 4 and 6 described above show the case where the upper portion of the character string is placed along the line segment forming the figure, the user determines whether the line segment is placed along the upper portion or the lower portion of the character string. It can be arbitrarily selected, and when the selection is instructed from the key operation unit 2, the corresponding processing is performed. FIG. 7 shows a specific example in which the lower portion of the character string is placed along the line segment forming the figure. Here, if a straight line or a Bezier curve is input as an underline in advance as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7B, an underlined character string along which the character string is placed is obtained. Even in this case, the same processing as described above can be realized.

As described above, in the present embodiment, by simply designating a graphic prepared in advance, for each line segment forming the graphic, layout information defining a character layout area having the same shape as the line segment is arranged. Since this is generated and this arrangement information is added to the output target character string, the character string can be arranged and output along the line segment that constitutes this graphic. In this case, since the graphic information and the layout information of the character string with the layout information have the same coordinate system, the character string can be made to follow the graphic. Further, since the height of the character is determined based on the number of characters and the length of the line segment forming the figure, the larger the number of characters, the smaller the character size, and the smaller the number of characters, the larger the character size. Further, in the case of a figure in which a straight line is bent, such as a rectangle, it is possible to prevent overlapping of characters at the bent portion and to divide and arrange the character strings in good balance on each side. Further, it is possible to arbitrarily select whether the upper portion of the character string or the lower portion of the character string is arranged along the line segment forming the figure. Here, in the case where the lower part is selected, if a line to be an underline is input as graphic information, a character string with an underline rich in variation can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the character string is arranged and output along with the graphic along with the line, but it is also possible to output only the character string without outputting the graphic. In the above embodiment, the case where the character string is arranged inside the rectangle or the line segment of the circle is shown. For example, when a smaller rectangle or circle exists in the rectangle, the outer shape A character string may be arranged on the inside figure along the line segment.

[0029]

According to the present invention, the character string to be output can be arranged along the line segment which constitutes the graphic by simply designating an arbitrary graphic, so that it is possible to change the character string by an extremely simple operation. It is possible to obtain expressive character strings.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a character string output device of a word processor according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a basic principle on which the present embodiment is based, showing an example of a data structure of a character string with arrangement information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a basic principle on which the present embodiment is based, specifically showing a state in which a character string with arrangement information as shown in FIG. 2 is arranged according to this arrangement information.

4A and 4B are diagrams showing an example of character arrangement in the present embodiment, FIG. 4A showing an example of arrangement when a rectangle is specified as a figure, and FIG. 4B showing an example of arrangement when a circle is specified.

FIG. 5 shows an example of data storage in a graphic memory 5-1 and a hyper outline memory 5-2 which form the document memory 5, and FIG. 5A shows a case where circle and rectangle graphic information is stored in the graphic memory 5-1. No data is stored in the outline memory 5-2, and (B) is added with the layout information generated for aligning the predesignated output target character string with the graphic in the graphic memory 5-1. The figure showing the state where a character string was stored in hyper outline memory 5-2.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the character / graphic information conversion unit 10 in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an application example in which a character string with an underline is arranged along an input underline.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main Control Section 2 Key Operation Section 3 Display Control Section 4 Display Device 5 Document Memory 5-1 Graphic Memory 5-2 Hyper Outline Memory 5-3 Text Memory 6 Print Control Section 7 Printing Device 10 Character Graphic Information Conversion Section 10-1 Character string storage unit 10-2 Graphic information storage unit 10-3 Layout information creation unit 10-3A Graphic information analysis unit 10-3B Character information analysis unit 10-3C Graphic / location conversion unit 10-4 Data buffer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A character string output in which a region sandwiched by two line segments is used as a character arrangement region and a character string designated as an output target is arranged and output in the character arrangement region along the line segment. In the apparatus, a graphic storage means for storing graphic information, a graphic designating means for designating a graphic, a reading means for reading the graphic information designated by the graphic designating means from the graphic storing means, and a read means for reading the graphic information. Generating means for each line segment forming the figure based on the figure information, defining the character arrangement area having the same shape as the line segment, and generating arrangement information expressed in the same coordinate system as the figure information; Addition means for adding the arrangement information generated by the generation means to a character string designated in advance as an output target, and a character string to which the arrangement information is added by the addition means are output. In this case, an output means for arranging and outputting the character string is arranged in each character arrangement area indicated by the arrangement information, and the output target character string is sequentially arranged and output along the line segments forming the figure. A character string output device characterized in that 2. The generating means, when generating the arrangement information indicating the character arrangement area for each line segment forming a figure, generates a new line segment facing each other for each line segment forming the figure. The arrangement information is generated such that an area sandwiched between a line segment forming a figure and a line segment newly generated opposite thereto is set as a character arrangement area. String output device. 3. The generating means determines the height of a character based on the character arrangement area and the number of characters in a character string when generating a new line segment facing each line segment forming a figure, The character string output device according to claim 1, wherein a new line segment is generated according to the height of the character. 4. The adding means adds an output target character string to a character arrangement area of each line segment when adding the layout information generated by the generating means to the output target character string for each line segment forming a figure. The character string output device according to claim 1, wherein the character string output device further divides the character string and adds the arrangement information of the corresponding line segment to each of the divided character strings.