JPH10161627A - Method and device for outputting and expanding character - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the frequency of access to a character font memory. SOLUTION: A character expansion processing part 2 groups the aggregation of character data on the basis of typeface, or character size, or typeface and character size. After the grouping is finished, it is questioned to a character management part 5 whether the character font corresponding to the i-th group (i is 1, 2...) is present in a character font work table 6 or not. When this character font is not present, the character management part 5 reads the corresponding character font from a character font memory 7, writes it to the character font work table 6, and asks a drawing processing part 8 to draw the character data belonging to the i-th group. When this request is received, the drawing processing part 8 uses the character font of the character font work table 6 to expand the character data belonging to the i-th group to a character dot pattern.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention divides character data to be printed into groups based on a typeface or character size or a typeface and a character size, and uses character fonts determined by the group for character data belonging to each group. The present invention relates to a character output developing method and device for developing a character dot pattern.

[0002] The characters used in newspapers and magazines include various typefaces and various character sizes in order to give an impact to readers. If more than one typeface or font size is used in a, you must access multiple fonts. For this reason, a process for reducing the number of accesses to the character font is required.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining conventional character output development. In the figure, 1 is a character space data file, 2 is a character development processing unit, 3 'is a character information table creation unit, 4' is a character information table, 5 is a character management unit, 6 is a character font work table, 7 Denotes a character font memory, and 8 denotes a drawing processing unit.

The character page data file 1 is composed of a plurality of character data. Character data is composed of a font name, a character size, a character code, and development coordinates. The font name indicates the appearance of characters such as Mincho and Gothic fonts, the character size indicates the size of characters such as 10 and 12 characters, and the character code is This is a given code, and the development coordinates indicate a position where a character is printed.

The character development processing section 2 has a character information table creating section 3 'and a character information table 4'. The character information table creator 3 'creates a character information table 4' for each page. In the first line of the character information table 4 ', the character data of the first line and the first digit of the page are written, and in the second line, the character data of the first line and the second digit are written. Hereinafter, the same applies.

When the character information table 4 'is created for one page of data, an inquiry is made to the character management unit 5. In the example shown, the font name is 1 and the character size is 1
An inquiry is made to the character management unit 5 as to whether or not the font in the character font work table 6 exists. Upon receiving this inquiry, the character management unit 5 checks whether or not a font having the font name 1 and the character size 1 exists in the character font work table 6. The character font to be read is read and written in the character font work table 6. The character font work table 6 exists in the main memory of the computer in a system having the character font on the computer, and exists in the memory of the printer in a system having the character font in the printer. The character font memory 7 exists on a magnetic disk, for example. Reference numerals 5, 6, 7
The dotted rectangle around the box indicates that the character management
It indicates that there is a relationship with the work table 6 and the character font memory 7.

After confirming that a character font having a font size 1 and a character size 1 exists in the character font work table 6, the drawing of the character data in the first and second lines of the character information table 4 'is performed. Request part 8. Upon receiving this request, the drawing processing unit 8 converts the requested character data into a character dot pattern using the character font in the character font work table 6, and converts the character dot pattern obtained as a result of the conversion. Write to page memory.

The character dot pattern corresponding to the character data in the first and second lines of the character information table 4 'is
After the data is expanded in the memory, it is inquired whether or not the font having the font name 2 and the character size 2 exists in the character font work table 6, and after confirming that the font exists, the third and fourth lines in the character information table 4 'are checked. The rendering processing unit 8 is requested to render the character data on the line.

The character dot pattern corresponding to the character data on the third and fourth lines of the character information table 4 '
After the data is expanded in the memory, it is inquired whether or not a font having the font name 1 and the character size 1 exists in the character font work table 6, and after confirming that it exists, the fifth and sixth lines in the character information table 4 'are checked. The rendering processing unit 8 is requested to render the character data on the line. Hereinafter, similar processing is repeated.

[0010]

In the prior art, the character data is written in the character information table in ascending order of the character coordinates on the page without considering the character font at all.
Since character expansion processing is performed in the order of writing in the character information table, when trying to draw a group of character data in which multiple fonts and character sizes frequently occur, the same The number of unnecessary accesses to the character font memory, such as reading the character font a plurality of times, increases. The present invention has been made in view of the above point, and has as its object to provide a character output developing method and apparatus capable of reducing the number of accesses to a character font memory.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a character space data file, 2 is a character development processing unit, 3 is a grouping processing unit,
4 is a character grouping table, 5 is a character management unit, 6
Is the character font work table, 7 is the character font
A memory 8 indicates a drawing processing unit.

The character page data file 1 has a group of character data. This collection of character data is
It is passed to the character expansion processing unit 2. The grouping processing unit 3 of the character expansion processing unit 2 divides a group of character data into groups based on a font or a character size or a font and a character size, and stores the grouped character data in a character grouping table 4. Each character grouping table 4 has an index part and a data part,
In the index part, a font name, character size, the number of characters, and the like are written, and in the data part, a plurality of character data including a character code and development coordinates are written. The number of characters indicates the number of character data written in the table.

When the grouping process for the group of character data is completed, the grouping table is transferred to the character management unit 5 for each group of the character grouping table. The character management unit 5 copies the specified character font to the character font work table 6. After the designated character font is copied to the character font work table 6, the drawing processing unit 8
The character data belonging to the corresponding group unit is developed into a character dot pattern using the character font of (1).

According to the present invention, a group of character data is grouped based on a font or a character size or a font and a character size, and a character font corresponding to a character data group obtained as a result of the grouping is read from a character font memory. Since the character data belonging to the corresponding character data group is expanded into a character dot pattern using the read character font, the number of accesses to the character font memory is greatly reduced as compared with the conventional technology. I can do it.

[0015]

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 2 is a character development processing unit, 4 is a character grouping table, 5 is a character management unit, 6 is a character font work table, 7A and 7B are character font memories, 8 is a drawing processing unit, and 9 is a page. -Each memory is shown.

The character development processing unit 2, the character management unit 5, and the drawing processing unit 8 are realized by programs, and correspond to functions. The main loop first requests the character expansion processing unit 2 to perform processing, then requests the character management unit 5 to perform processing, and then requests the drawing processing unit 5 to perform processing.

The character expansion processing unit 2 includes a character grouping
Table 4 is provided. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the character page data is grouped based on the font. The font name: A indicates Mincho, for example, and the font name: B indicates Gothic, for example. If the character data read from the character page data file 1 belongs to the font A, the character data is stored in the font A of the character grouping table 4.
, And if the character data belongs to typeface B, the character data is written to the group of typeface B.

It is assumed that the character page data is grouped into a type A group and a type B group. It is also assumed that a character based on the character data belonging to the type A group is drawn first, and then a character based on the character data belonging to the type B group is drawn. First, the character management unit 5 is inquired as to whether or not the character font of the typeface A exists in the character font work table 6. The character management unit 5 includes a character font work table 6
It is determined whether or not a character font of type A is present. If not, all character fonts are read from the character font memory 7A of type A and written into the character font work table 6. Note that AAAAA indicates, for example, a 10-point character font, and BBBB indicates, for example, a 20-point character font.

After writing the character font stored in the character font memory 7A of the font A into the character font work table 6, the character font work table 6
Is requested to the drawing processing unit 8 to convert the character data of the group of the font A into the character dot pattern using the character font. Upon receiving this request, the drawing processing unit 8 converts the character data belonging to the group of the font A into the character dot pattern using the character font of the character font work table 6, and obtains the character obtained as a result of the conversion. Write the dot pattern to the page memory 9.

After writing a character dot pattern based on character data belonging to the type A group into the page memory 9, the character management unit 5 determines whether or not the character font of the type B exists in the character font work table 6. And requests the drawing processing unit 8 to draw a character based on the character data belonging to the font B.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol as FIG. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the character data of the character page data is grouped based on the font name and the character size.
Font name: AAAAA indicates, for example, 10 characters of Mincho,
A font name: BBBB indicates the same character as the 20-point Mincho.
Note that the character width: X1 and the character length: Y1 indicate the size of the character.

If the character data read from the character space data file 1 belongs to the typeface AAAA, it is written to the group of the typeface AAAA in the character grouping table 4, and if it belongs to the typeface BBBB, The data is written in the group of the typeface BBBB in the grouping table 4.

It is assumed that the character page data is grouped into a type AAAA group and a type BBBB group. First, a character based on character data belonging to the typeface AAAA group is drawn, and then the typeface BB
It is assumed that a character based on character data belonging to the group BB is drawn. First, the character management unit 5 is inquired whether the font of the typeface AAAA exists in the character font work table 6. The character management unit 5 checks whether or not the character font of the typeface AAAA exists in the character font work table 6, and if not, determines whether the typeface AAAA exists.
Is read from the character font memory 7 and written in the character font work table 6. The character font memory 7 stores character fonts of various character sizes belonging to, for example, Mincho.

After writing all the AAAA character fonts stored in the character font memory 7 into the character font worktable 7, the character data of the group of the typeface AAAA are written using the fonts of the character font worktable 6. Is requested to the drawing processing unit 8 to convert the into a character dot pattern. Upon receiving this request,
The drawing processing unit 8 converts the character data belonging to the typeface AAAA group into a character dot pattern using the character font of the character font work table 6 and converts the character dot pattern obtained as a result of the conversion into a page dot. Memory 9
Write to.

After writing the character dot pattern based on the character data belonging to the font type AAAA group into the page memory 9, the character management unit 5 is inquired as to whether the font of the font type BBBB exists in the character font work table 6, Next, the rendering processing unit 8 is requested to render a character based on the character data belonging to the typeface BBBB.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the character expansion processing of the present invention. This flowchart shows the processing flow of the embodiment of FIG.

In step S1, one page of character data is read. In step S2, it is checked whether grouping has been completed for all character data. In the case of Yes, the process proceeds to Step S9, and in the case of No, Step S3
Proceed to.

In steps S3 and S4, it is checked whether or not a character grouping table having the same font name and character size exists. In the case of Yes, the process proceeds to step S6, and in the case of No, the process proceeds to step S5. Step S
In step 5, character information is stored in the empty table with reference to the table usage count. Note that the table use count indicates the leading empty table.

In step S6, it is checked whether the table is full. In the case of Yes, the process proceeds to step S8, and in the case of No, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the number of stored characters is checked and character information is stored. Step S
In step 8, character information is stored in an empty table with reference to the table usage count.

In step S9, a character inquiry is made to the character management for each group. In step S10, the drawing data is stored in the page memory. Step S11
Then, it is checked whether or not the drawing data storage is completed for all the group units. If yes, step S12
And returns to step S9 in the case of No. Step S
In step 12, an actual drawing process, that is, a printing process on paper based on the contents of the page memory is performed.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, a group of character data is grouped on the basis of a font, and in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the group of character data is grouped on the basis of a font and a character size. A collection of data may be grouped based on character size.

[0032]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a group of character data is grouped based on a font or a character size or a font and a character size,
Since the drawing process is performed on a group basis, the number of accesses to the character font memory can be reduced, and the time required for the character output development process can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a character expansion process according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Character space data file 2 Character development processing unit 3 Grouping processing unit 4 Character grouping table 5 Character management unit 6 Character font work table 7 Character font memory 8 Drawing processing unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A character output expanding method for expanding a set of character data into a character dot pattern and outputting the result, wherein the set of character data is grouped on the basis of a typeface or a character size, and a result of the grouping is provided. A character output developing method characterized by referring to a character font memory storing a character font for each obtained character data group and developing character data belonging to the character data group into a character dot pattern. . 2. A character output developing method for expanding a set of character data into a character dot pattern and outputting the result, wherein the set of character data is grouped based on a font and a character size, and a result of the grouping is provided. A character output developing method characterized by referring to a character font memory storing a character font for each obtained character data group and developing character data belonging to the character data group into a character dot pattern. . 3. A character expansion processing unit for grouping a collection of character data on the basis of a typeface or character size, and a character management unit for reading a specified character font from a character font memory and storing it in a character font work table. And a drawing processing unit for developing designated character data into a character dot pattern using the character font of the character font work table. 4. A character development processing unit for grouping a group of character data based on a font and a character size, and a character management unit for reading a specified character font from a character font memory and storing the character font in a character font work table. And a drawing processing unit for developing designated character data into a character dot pattern using the character font of the character font work table.