JPH0916589A - Character layout device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To automatically perform the layout of text data in accordance with a preliminarily determined rule and to easily correct data without rewriting a program. CONSTITUTION: Text data is divided by a grouping means 11 according to each character, a grouping is performed for each of these divided characters for each connected character and plural character strings are prepared. Attribute data such as the styles of type and rules, etc., is added to each of these character strings by an attribute data addition part 14. Subsequently, each character string is rearranged by a layout part, 15 in accordance with attribute data, and a typesetting and a layout are performed for text data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character layout device for typesetting and laying out characters in, for example, catalogs and leaflets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 10, a photograph (pictuer) of a product is printed on a catalog or a leaflet, and character data (hereinafter referred to as text data) necessary for the product shown in the photo, For example, "517-820 900 900
For W ... ¥ 54,700 ”is printed.

When creating such a catalog or leaflet, typesetting and layout of characters for text data are performed. The typesetting and layout of these characters have been done manually in the past, but when creating a large number of catalogs, leaflets, etc., there is a limit to the typesetting and layout, and in recent years large computer Characters are typeset and laid out by batch processing under program control.

Although there are certain rules in this typesetting and layout, for example, the outermost last character "outside size / 900 (1200) W × 350D × 400Hm / m" in the text data shown in FIG. There is virtually no rule of layout when a character overflow such as "m / m" overflows from the line.

Many of these layout rules are determined by discussions with customers, and often change each time. Moreover, even if the customer is the same, it differs depending on each person in charge.

For example, in a catalog, in a character layout for only a certain product, the product name of the product is left-justified,
There is a rule that the leaders are aligned at equal intervals, the prices are aligned with a "\" mark and a comma, and each space is arranged under them.

The procedure for creating a catalog using such rules is as follows. First, the text data necessary for the product catalog and the image data of the product are input and stored in the storage device. In this case, the product catalog is divided into small sets for each product, and the small sets are further divided into a character area and an image area. Then, the text data is stored in the character area, and the image data of the product is stored in the image area.

Next, position data on the product catalog is added to each small set and stored. Then, by the processing by the computer, the image data and the text data are displayed on the screen of the CRT display for layout, and the text data is allocated to the character area.
The image data of the product is assigned to the image area.

As described above, allocating the text data to the character area and the image data to the image area on the screen of the CRT display is referred to as DTP (Desk Top Publishing).
That.

When allocating the text data to the character area, the text data is allocated in accordance with a rule. At this time, the data such as coordinates, typeface, series, and width of image data is added and stored.

On the other hand, a layout program is created and stored so as to comply with the character typesetting rules and the character layout rules. After that, the text data is read by executing the program, and the layout of the text data is automatically performed on the screen of the CRT display. When the layout for this text data is completed, this text data is stored in the storage device.

[0012]

However, as a result of actually laying out the text data, the character overflow occurs as shown in FIG. 10 depending on the length of the character string of one line, and the character data does not fit within the width of the image data. There are cases where the line breaks without doing anything.

There are cases where the character layout in which the characters have overflowed are acceptable and cases where correction is required. It is decided by the customer or the person in charge. In addition, after the character layout, the word "new" may be added to the beginning of the product name of the product, and the correction of adding the character "New 517-820900 for 900W ... ¥ 54,700" may occur.

When a correction such as a character layout correction or a character addition is made, additional data such as a typeface or position data is additionally stored in the text data, and the program is rewritten to comply with these corrections. It will be.

After that, the rewritten program must be executed, the corrected data must be read, the text data must be laid out again, and the result must be stored in the storage device.

Therefore, the rules for the layout of the text data are determined by the customer or the person in charge, but each time a correction is made, the additional data or program must be newly rewritten and the text data layout program must be executed again. .

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a character layout device which can be automatically laid out according to a predetermined rule and can be corrected easily without rewriting the program.

[0018]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a character layout device for typesetting and laying out characters in accordance with a given rule, at least text data in which characters are arranged is divided into at least one character, and Grouping means for creating a plurality of character strings by grouping each divided character for each connected character and attribute data consisting of at least rules for each character string grouped by this grouping means. A character layout apparatus that includes attribute data adding means for adding and layout means for rearranging character strings in accordance with the attribute data and for formatting and laying out text data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the attribute data adding means is a character layout device for pre-storing at least attribute data indicating the mutual relationships among rules, typefaces, series, and long bodies. According to the third aspect, the attribute data adding means is a character layout device having a function of adding a plurality of attribute data to the character string in the order of priority.

According to the fourth aspect, the attribute data adding means arranges the character strings in the horizontal direction and changes the lines in the vertical direction to arrange the character strings in the horizontal direction. This is a character layout device having a function of adding attribute data between them, adding attribute data to the entire one row in the horizontal direction, and adding attribute data between one row of character strings arranged in the vertical direction.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the layout means is a character layout device having a function of rearranging the character strings according to the attribute data in order from the attribute data having a higher priority until the arrangement of the text data conforms to the rule.

[0022]

According to the first aspect, when the text data is input, the text data is divided into at least one character by the grouping means, and the respective divided characters are grouped for each connected character. To create multiple strings.

Attribute data such as typefaces and rules is added to each of the grouped character strings by the attribute data adding means. After that, the layout means rearranges the character strings according to the attribute data to typeset and lay out the text data.

Thus, the text data can be automatically laid out according to a predetermined rule, and the correction can be easily performed by rewriting the attribute data without rewriting the program.

Moreover, since the text data is divided, attribute data is added to each of them, and the attribute data are related to each other, management is easy and correction can be easily dealt with.

According to the second aspect, the prestored attribute data, that is, at least the attribute data indicating the mutual relations of the rule, the typeface, the series, and the long body is read and added to each character string.

According to the third aspect, when the attribute data is added to the character string, each attribute data is added in the order of priority. According to claim 4, when a plurality of character strings are arranged in the horizontal direction and a few character strings are arranged in the vertical direction,
Attribute data is added between the character strings in the horizontal direction, the attribute data is added to the entire row in the horizontal direction, and the attribute data is added between the character strings arranged in the vertical direction.

According to the fifth aspect, the program is executed according to the attribute data having a higher priority to rearrange the text data, and if the arrangement of the text data does not conform to the rule by this rearrangement, the attribute data of the next priority is assigned. According to this, the program is executed to rearrange the text data, and thereafter, the attribute data is read and the rearrangement of the character string is repeated until the arrangement of the text data conforms to the rule in the order of higher priority.

[0029]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a character layout device. The main control unit 1 is composed of a CPU and the like. The main control unit 1 is connected to a scanner 4 and a keyboard 5 via input units 2 and 3, respectively, and a CRT via a display control unit 6. The display 7 is connected.

An image storage device 8, a character data storage device 9, and an attribute data disk 10 are connected to the main control unit 1, and writing and reading access to each data is possible.

It should be noted that the image storage device 8 and the character data storage device 9 do not have separate storage devices, and even if the storage region is divided into an image region and a text region by using one storage device. Good.

The attribute data disk 10 stores at least attribute data consisting of rules and their mutual relations in a tabular form. This attribute data is, for example, a rule, a typeface, a series, a long body, a line feed, or the like.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a table for series and long fields as attribute data. A table like this
Not only one, but each table that stores, for example, rules, typefaces, series, long fields, and relationships between them is stored.

The main control unit 1 stores the image data input from the scanner 4 through the input unit 2 in the image storage device 8 and stores the character input from the keyboard 5 through the input unit 3, that is, the text data as the character data. It has a function of storing in the device 9 and further reading out the image data and the text data stored in these storage devices 8 and 9 and sending them to the display control unit 6 to display them on the CRT display 7.

Further, the main control section 1 includes the grouping means 11
Has a function of issuing a command to the dividing unit 12 and the group unit 13, the attribute data adding unit 14, and the layout unit 15 and operating them.

The grouping means 11 has a function of dividing the text data into at least one character and grouping the respective divided characters for each connected character to create a plurality of character strings. .

Of these, the dividing unit 12 divides the text data into at least one character, for example, the text data "S-.
If it is "07", it has a function of dividing into "" S ""-"" 07 "".

The group unit 13 has a function of grouping the characters divided by the dividing unit 12 into respective connected characters, and in this case, has a function of creating a character string with [S-07] as one group. ing.

The attribute data adding section 14 has a function of reading the attribute data stored in the attribute data disk 10 for each character string grouped by the grouping means 11 and adding it to each character string.

The attribute data adding section 14 has a function of adding a plurality of attribute data to each character string in the order of priority. For example, when adding a plurality of attribute data to the text data "S-07", for example, as shown in Fig. 3 (a), from the table of series and long fields, "14pt, long field 1 → 14pt, long field" 2 → 14pt, long body 3 →
The attribute data is added in the order of priority, such as "→ 10pt, long body 1 → 10pt, long body 2 → 10pt, long body 3".

Further, the attribute data adding section 14 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in 0, when the character strings are arranged in the horizontal direction and the lines are arranged in the vertical direction, attribute data is added between the character strings arranged in the horizontal direction, and the attribute is applied to the entire row in the horizontal direction. It has a function of adding data and adding attribute data between character strings arranged in a line in the vertical direction.

The layout section 15 executes a layout program and rearranges the character strings in accordance with the attribute data added to the character strings. The text data has a high priority until the arrangement conforms to the rule. It has a function of rearranging the character strings in order from the attribute data in accordance with the attribute data to format and layout the text data.

Incidentally, FIG. 4 is an external view of the present apparatus. The main control unit 1, the respective input units 2 and 3, the display control unit 6, the grouping means 11, the attribute data adding unit 14 and the layout unit 15 are shown.
Are incorporated in the same housing.

Next, the operation of the apparatus constructed as described above will be described with reference to the flow chart of the typesetting and layout shown in FIG. Divide catalogs and leaflets into small sets,
Further, the image area and the text area in the small set are divided and stored in the image storage device 8 and the character data storage device 9.

That is, the image data in the catalog, leaflet or the like read by the scanner 4 is input to the image storage device 8 through the input unit 2 and stored in a small set of image areas in the image storage device 8.

Further, the text data in the catalog, leaflet, etc. keyed in from the keyboard 5 can be obtained by step #
1 is input to the character data storage device 9 through the input unit 3 and stored in a small set of text areas in the character data storage device 9. This text data is stored in a stretchable rectangular area.

The text data of this small set is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), "S-07, (700W × 250D × 300Hm / m withstand load 28Kg), 51
7-800700, ..., \ 8,300 ", which is stored in the character data storage device 9.

On the other hand, the attribute data disk 10 stores a table showing the mutual relation of the attribute data including, for example, rules, typefaces, series, and long fields, for example, a table for series and long fields as shown in FIG. .

Next, the dividing section 12 of the grouping means 11
In step # 2, the text data is divided into at least one character. For example, in the case of the above-mentioned text data, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the divided data "" S ""-"" 07 "" (700W "...""\""
Divide into 8 "", "" 300 "". That is, at least one character "S"
And "-" and "07".

Next, in step # 3, the grouping unit 13 groups these divided characters for each connected character to create each character string. For example, the divided data in FIG. 6 (b) is grouped by assigning a rectangle to each connected character as shown in FIG. 6 (c). That is, [S-07] [(700W × 250D × 300Hm / m withstand load 28K
g)] [517-800700] [...] [\ 8,300].

Here, the character enclosed by the brackets [] (rectangle in FIG. 6) is one grouped character string,
Character strings (1) (2) (3) (4) so that they can be identified respectively in FIG.
There are ...

Next, the attribute data adding section 14 makes a step #
In 4, the respective attribute data stored in the attribute data disk 10 is read for each grouped character string, and these attribute data are added to each character string in the order of priority.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6 (d), the character string (1)
From the table of series and long field for “S-07” of, “14pt, long field 1 → 14pt, long field 2 → 14pt, long field 3 →
The attribute data is added in the order of priority, such as "→ 10pt, long body 1 → 10pt, long body 2 → 10pt, long body 3".

The order of these attribute data can be changed as desired, and the data may be added as shown in FIG. 3 (b), for example. In the text data, the first row in the horizontal direction is formed by each of the character strings (1) and (2), and the line feed is further performed in the vertical direction to generate the respective character strings (3) (4) (5) in the second row. Is forming.

For such text data, the attribute data addition unit 14 causes the character strings (1) and (2) arranged side by side in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. Attribute data is added between each of 3), 4) and 5).

Further, the attribute data adding section 14 sends the attribute data to the entire row of the character strings (1) and (2) in the horizontal direction and the entire row of the character strings (3), (4) and (5). The attribute data is added between the character strings in a row arranged in the vertical direction, that is, between the character strings (1) (2) and the character strings (3) (4) (5).

The layout section 15 performs steps # 5 to # 7.
Repeat, read each attribute data added to each character string, then run the layout program,
The character strings are rearranged according to the attribute data added to the character strings, and the text data is formatted and laid out.

That is, to explain the character string "S-07", for example, the layout unit 15 first typesets and lays out the text data in accordance with the attribute data "14pt.long body 1" having the highest priority, and the result is When the text data cannot be completely filled in, the text data is formatted and laid out according to the attribute data “14pt · long body 2” having the second highest priority.

If the typesetting / layout of this text data does not fit into the text area, the layout section 15 determines that the attribute data with the third highest priority, "14pt.
・ If you format and lay out the text data according to "long body 3" and it still cannot fit in the text area,
The typesetting and layout of the text data is repeated by changing the attribute data having the fourth highest priority and the attribute data having the fifth highest priority in order.

The result of typesetting and laying out the text data in this manner is displayed on the CRT display 7 as needed by the display control unit 6. Then, if the text data resulting from typesetting and layout matches the rules and attribute data,
Formatting and layout for text data is completed.

For example, the text data shown in FIG. 10 where the character overflow occurs is automatically laid out into the text data which meets the rules and the attribute data shown in FIG. 7 by repeating the typesetting and the layout as described above.

As shown in FIG. 6C, when the text data is corrected by bringing the character string "made of steel with black circles" after the inner dimension, the text data is as shown in FIG. 6C. Since each character string enclosed in a rectangle is managed by adding attribute data, it is easy to correct by simply replacing the attribute data in the order of arranging each group of "outer dimension", "inner dimension" and "steel". Can handle.

Further, when it is not within the width of the image data like the text data shown in FIG. 8, the series of the attribute data is lowered and the typesetting / layout is performed again.
It is easy to put it within the width of the image data like the text data shown in FIG.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the text data is divided into characters by the grouping means 11, and the divided characters are grouped for each connected character to create a plurality of character strings. Then
Attribute data such as a typeface and rules is added to each of these character strings by the attribute data adding unit 14, and then the layout unit 15 rearranges the character strings according to the attribute data to format and lay out the text data. Therefore, the text data can be automatically laid out according to a predetermined rule, and the correction can be easily performed by rewriting the attribute data without rewriting the program.

In addition, since the text data is divided, the attribute data is added to each of them, and the attribute data are related to each other, the management is easy and the correction can be easily dealt with.

[0066]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a character layout device which can automatically perform layout according to a predetermined rule and can easily perform correction without rewriting the program.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a character layout device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a table in an attribute data disc.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a priority order of attribute data added to a character string.

FIG. 4 is an external view of the device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of typesetting / layout.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation action of typesetting / layout.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the results of typesetting and layout.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a layout in which a character overflow occurs.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a result of typesetting / layout in which a character overflow is corrected.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a layout in which a character overflow occurs in the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Main control unit, 4 ... Scanner, 5 ... Keyboard, 7 ... C
RT display, 8 ... Image storage device, 9 ... Character data storage device, 10 ... Attribute data disk, 11 ... Grouping means, 12 ... Dividing section, 13 ... Group section, 14 ... Attribute data adding section, 15 ... Layout section.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A character layout device for typesetting and laying out characters according to a given rule, wherein at least text data in which the characters are arranged is divided into at least one character, and the respective divided characters are connected. Grouping means for creating a plurality of character strings by grouping each of the above-mentioned characters, and attribute data adding means for adding at least attribute data consisting of the rules to each of the character strings grouped by the grouping means. And a layout means for rearranging the character strings in accordance with the attribute data to form and layout the text data. 2. The character layout apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute data adding means stores in advance attribute data indicating at least mutual relationships among rules, typefaces, series, and long bodies. 3. The character layout device according to claim 1, wherein the attribute data adding means has a function of adding a plurality of attribute data to the character string in order of priority. 4. The attribute data adding means, when arranging the character strings in the horizontal direction and changing the rows in the vertical direction to arrange the character strings in the horizontal direction, the character strings arranged in the horizontal direction. It is characterized by having a function of adding attribute data between them, adding attribute data to the entire one row in the horizontal direction, and adding attribute data between the one row of character strings arranged in the vertical direction. The character layout device according to claim 1. 5. The layout means has a function of rearranging the character strings in accordance with the attribute data in order from the attribute data having a higher priority until the arrangement of the text data conforms to the rule. Character layout device.