JPH1055358A - Device and method for external character management, and computer readable medium stored with computer program performing external character management - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To handle external characters altogether by a decentralized system consisting of platforms having different code systems as to the external character management device. SOLUTION: One arbitrary code system is set as an external character management code system. When an external character registering means 2 registers an external character of an external character distribution source file 1 or when an external character taking-out means 5 takes an external character out of an external character management file storage means 3, a code converting means 6 converts the external character into the external character code of the external character management file or a distribution destination system according to a character code conversion table 6a and stores it in the external character management storage means 3 or an external character distribution destination file 4 if the code system of the distribution source or distribution destination system is different from the external character code management code system. An external character shifting means 8 converts the data format or size by a data format converting means 9 and registers it in the external character management file storage means 3, and an external character editing means 10 edits the external character management file in the external character management file storage means 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an external character management device, an external character management method, and a computer-readable medium storing a computer program for external character management, and more particularly to external character management for collectively managing external characters of multi-platforms having different code systems. The present invention relates to an apparatus, an external character management method, and a computer readable medium storing a computer program for performing external character management.

Conventionally, there is a distributed system in which information processing apparatuses of a plurality of different platforms are connected via a network. In such a distributed system, a character code system used in each platform is different. is the current situation. In a large computer, for example, JEF (Japanese processes)
It uses the sing Extended Feature (Sing Extended Feature) code system, and uses the UNIX (X / X
Open Co. , Ltd. Licensed in the United States and other countries)
(Extended UNIX code) code system,
In the case of personal computers, the shift JIS code system is mainly used. The difference is that characters are represented by one-byte, two-byte, or three-byte character codes, and how the characters are assigned to the character codes. Each of the code systems has a JIS area containing a standardized character set of non-kanji, JIS first-level kanji, and JIS second-level kanji. However, when a company manages customers or a local government manages personal names, there are naturally many characters that cannot be covered by the standard character set. For such characters, as well as non-standardized characters and graphics such as company logos, there is an external character area that the user can freely define, register, and use. By using defined external characters, non-JIS kanji and logo marks can be displayed and printed out on any platform having a different code system.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In a standardized character set, characters and character codes are clearly associated with each code system. Therefore, as long as the character set is used, the code is set in accordance with a predetermined conversion rule. By converting, it can be commonly used between systems. On the other hand, for external characters, when a distributed system is constructed by multiple platforms with different code systems, if an external character is defined in a certain code system, it is defined in common in all code systems in the distributed system. Must be. Therefore, if a new external character is created somewhere,
If the code system is the same, the character code can be used as it is, but if it is a different code system, the external character corresponding to the external character area assigned to that code system must be registered, and moreover, Code conversion is required to enable the use of external characters.

[0004] Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-27177
In the system described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7 (1995), when a character string is sent to another platform having a different code system, a character pattern is read from a font file and a character on the receiving side corresponding to the character code to which the character pattern is assigned. The code is converted based on the code conversion table, and the converted character code is transmitted. In this way, external characters can be unified between platforms with different code systems.

[0005]

Conventionally, external characters are distributed in consideration of a plurality of platforms having different code systems, and codes are also converted. However, character patterns for display or printing are mechanically converted in accordance with the format and size of the code system of the distribution destination, so that the character quality after conversion generally deteriorates. This is because, for example, when converting a dot format character pattern from one size to another size, the size is changed by mechanically adding or thinning bits, so depending on the character pattern This is because the pattern may be converted to an unintended pattern. Therefore, it is necessary for the distribution destination to check the character quality after the conversion, and in order to do so, it is necessary for each system after the distribution to check the converted external character by printing or displaying.

[0006] Further, if there is an external character that is determined to be required for formatting by the test printing or display of the converted external character at the distribution destination, the external character editor of the system is activated and the external character editor is used. It is necessary to shape the external character. Since the operation method of the external character editor differs for each system, the person who manages the external character needs to master the operation of the external character editor of all systems.

Therefore, conventionally, it is good to migrate external characters collectively at the time of system introduction. However, when adding external characters in the middle of operation, even if adding a few characters at a time, the operation of the entire system is performed. However, there is a problem that it is not possible to efficiently cope with changes in the operation environment.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of such a point, there is no need to master the operation of the external character editor for the system being used, and collectively manage the external characters of all the systems in one place. It is an object of the present invention to provide an external character management device that can perform the external character management.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention for achieving the above object. The external character management device of the present invention unifies external characters in a distributed system in which a plurality of computer systems having different character sizes and character codes assigned to the characters are connected via a network. It is configured so that it can be managed. That is, the external character management device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 reads the external character stored in the external character distribution source file 1 and registers the external character, and the external character registration unit 2 registers the external character. External character management file storage means 3 for storing external characters in a file; external character extraction means 5 for performing processing of extracting external characters stored in external character management file storage means 3 and storing the same in external character distribution file 4; A code conversion unit 6 having a code conversion table 6a and performing conversion of an external character code according to the character code conversion table 6a when the external character registration unit 2 or the external character extraction unit 5 requires conversion of the external character code; and a character code conversion table 6a. The code conversion table updating means 7 for updating the external character and the external character stored in the external character management file storage means 3 are stored in different data formats and services. External character conversion means 8 for performing a process of converting the external characters into external characters, data format conversion means 9 for converting the data format and size at the time of external character conversion, and editing of external characters registered in the external character management file storage means 3. And an external character editing unit 10 for performing the operation.

According to the above configuration, when the external character registration unit 2 performs the registration process, the external character management code system of the distribution system is analyzed from the external character distribution source file 1 and the external character management file of the external character management file storage unit 3 is stored. External character distribution source file 1
When the external character management code system is different from the external character management code system, the external character code of the external character distribution source file 1 is code-converted by the code conversion means 6 and registered in the external character management file storage means 3. When the external character extracting means 5 performs the external character extracting process, when the external character distribution destination file 4 differs from the external character management file of the external character management file storage means 3 with the external character management code system, the external character code of the external character management file is converted by the code converting means 6. After the code conversion, it is stored in the external character distribution destination file 4. The external character transfer unit 8 converts the external character extracted from the external character management file storage unit 3 into the data format or size when converting the external character registered in the external character management file storage unit 3 between data formats or sizes. After the format or size is converted, it is registered in the external character management file storage unit 3. The external character editing unit 10 shapes and corrects a character pattern for the external character registered in the external character management file storage unit 3.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, the outline of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of the external character management device of the present invention.

The external character management apparatus according to the present invention is particularly suitable for a distributed system environment in which a plurality of computer systems having different character sizes and character codes assigned to the characters are connected via a network. External character registration means 2 for reading an external character stored in an external character distribution source file 1 distributed through a network or a storage medium and performing registration processing of the external character; and the external character registration means 2 An external character management file storage unit 3 for storing the external characters registered by the external character management file in an external character management file, and an external character extraction unit 5 for extracting external characters stored in the external character management file and storing them in the external character distribution destination file 4 And a character code conversion table 6a, and the external character registration unit 2 or the external character extraction unit 5 A code conversion means 6 for converting an external character code according to the character code conversion table 6a when the conversion is required, a code conversion table updating means 7 for updating the character code conversion table 6a, and a code conversion table stored in the external character management file. An external character transfer unit 8 for converting an external character into an external character having a different data format or size and registering it in another external character management file, and converting the data format or size when performing the transfer process by the external character transfer unit 8 , And an external character editing unit 10 for editing external characters registered in the external character management file storage unit 3.

According to the external character management device having the above configuration, when the external character registration unit 2 performs the external character registration process, the external character distribution source file 1 is analyzed to check the external character management code system of the distribution source system. Here, the external character management code system of the external character distribution source file 1 is the external character management file storage unit 3.
If the external character management file is different from that of the external character management file, the external character code of the external character distribution source file 1 is converted to the external character code of the external character management file by the code conversion means 7 and stored in a new external character management file. register.

When an external character is extracted from the external character management file to the external character distribution destination file 4 by the external character extraction means 5, first, the external character management code system between the external character management file and the external character distribution destination file 4 to be extracted is checked. Here, when the external character management code system is different between the extraction source and the extraction destination, the external character code of the external character management file is converted into the external character code of the external character distribution destination file 4 by the code conversion means 6 and stored in the external character distribution destination file 4. .

The code conversion table updating means 7 is adapted to update the character code conversion table 6a of the code conversion means 6 with a code system already under management when a code system used in the distributed system is added. Processing such as adding a correspondence table with character codes is performed.

When migrating an external character of a certain external character management file registered in the external character management file storage unit 3 to the external character management file having a different data format or size by the external character transfer unit 8, the data format of each file and Check the size of external characters. The external character data extracted from the external character management file storage unit 3 is converted by the data format conversion unit 9 into the data format of the migration destination or the size of the external character, stored in another external character management file, and registered in the external character management file storage unit 3. .

The external character editing means 10 includes an external character editor capable of handling a plurality of data formats. When editing an external character registered in the external character management file storage means 3, the external character management unit stores the external character. The data format and character size are checked from the file, the external character editor is started under the conditions, the necessary external character is formatted or corrected, and finally, the edited external character is stored in the original external character management file.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking as an example a case where the present invention is applied to a distributed system in which a plurality of computer systems are connected via a network.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an example of the distributed system. In the distributed system shown in FIG. 2, for example, a mainframe 11, a workstation (WS) 12, and a personal computer (PC) 13 are connected to a network 1
4 are connected to each other. A character code management unit 11a is connected to the main frame 11, and the character code system uses, for example, a JEF code. The workstation 12 has a character code management unit 12
a is connected, and its character code system is, for example, EU
C code is used. The personal computer 13 is connected to a character code management unit 13a and a floppy disk drive (FDD) 13b. The character code system of the character code management unit 13a uses, for example, a shift JIS code. A general-purpose computer 15 is connected to the network 14.
The general-purpose computer 15 has a central processing unit (CPU)
A hard disk 16, which is an external storage device, a CD-ROM drive 17, and a floppy disk drive (FDD) 18 are connected to form an external character management device.

An external character management program for managing external characters is initially provided by a CD-ROM 17a or a floppy disk 18.
a in the distribution storage medium. For example, CD-R
Assuming that the external character management program is stored in the OM 17a, the external character management program is read from the CD-ROM 17a, and becomes usable by being installed on the hard disk 16 as the external character management program 16a. The hard disk 16 stores an operating system (OS) 16b and an external character file 16c.

The external character management program 16a installed on the hard disk 16 is partially or entirely loaded on the memory 15b of the general-purpose computer 15 as needed, and executed. The external character management program 16a is controlled by the operating system 16b, and calls and executes a function (program) provided by the operating system as needed.

External characters of various character code systems in this distributed system, that is, external characters of the JEF code system, the EUC code system, and the shift JIS code system are collectively managed by the external character management program 16a. The external character management program 16a can register external characters, extract external characters, shift external characters, and edit external characters. At this time,
In the external character management device, an arbitrary code system that is considered effective for management is predetermined by the user as a management code system. In the following description, it is assumed that the management code system of the external character management device is defined in the JEF code system. Registration and retrieval of external characters can be requested not only from the external character management device using the general-purpose computer 15 but also from a terminal of the distributed system, for example, the workstation 12, through the network. The distribution in this case is CD
The processing is performed via a storage medium such as a ROM 17a, a floppy disk 18a, or a semiconductor memory (not shown) or the network 14. In the illustrated example, the external character distribution source file is provided by a CD-ROM 17a or a floppy disk 18a. When the external character is extracted from the floppy disk 18a, the external character extracted from the external character management device and whose data content is guaranteed is input to the character code management unit 13a through the floppy disk drive 13b of the personal computer 13, for example. .

Next, the memory 15 of the general-purpose computer 15
An outline of the processing of the external character management device when the external character management program 16a loaded in “b” is executed by the central processing unit 15a will be described.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of processing of the external character management device. The external character management device includes an external character collective management unit 21, an external character management database 22, an external character management file group 23, a file access function 24, a code conversion function 25, and a data format arranged so as to surround the external character management file group 23. Conversion function 26 and code conversion function 2
5, an external character code conversion table 27, an external character editor 28 corresponding to a plurality of data formats, and a code conversion table updating unit 2 for updating the conversion table of the external character code conversion table 27.
9 and a management code system setting unit 30.

The external character batch management unit 21 manages the entire external character management device. The external character management file group 23 is managed by the external character management database 22, and the external character registration, external character extraction, external character migration, and external character editing are performed. , The updating of the external character code conversion table 27 by the code conversion table updating unit 29 and the setting processing of the management code system as the external character management device by the management code system setting unit 30 are controlled. The file access function 24 performs open / close, read / write of the external character management file of the external character management file group 23,
The code conversion function 25 converts an external character code into a JEF code of a management code system from another code system based on the external character code conversion table 27 when conversion of an external character code between code systems is required when taking in or extracting an external character. In addition, the code conversion is performed from the JEF code system to the target character code, and the data format conversion function 26 converts the data format when shifting the external character.

The external character management file group 23 includes, for each typeface of characters, such as Mincho and Gothic, for example, for each data format such as dot, vector, and true type.
And an external character management file created for each size. When displaying the external characters managed by the external character management device on a monitor (not shown) to the user, the external character collective management unit 21 displays the external characters in a tree structure by classifying them by typeface, format and size. I am trying to do it. The external character editor 28 is compatible with any data format of, for example, dot, vector, or true type, and has a function of converting between data formats. Therefore, the user can edit without being conscious of the data format. For example, when editing an external character in a vector format, the editing can be performed in a dot format. When the editing is completed, the edited result is converted into a vector format and stored in a corresponding external character management file.

The process of the external character management device is as follows. When registering an external character, the external character distribution file 31 provided from the distributor system is read, and if the distributor system is not a JEF code system, the code conversion function 25 uses the JEF code conversion function 25 to execute the JEF code conversion. The external character code conversion to the code system is performed, and the file access function 24
Is performed to write the external character management file, and the external character is registered.

When a registered external character is extracted, the external character management file from which the character is extracted is read by the file access function 24. If the target character code system is not the JEF code system, the code conversion function 25 executes the conversion from the JEF code system. After converting the external character code into the external character code system, the external character code is written in the external character distribution file 32 and brought to the distribution destination system or transferred to the network. At this time, typeface, size,
It does not convert the data format because it only retrieves the completed characters whose data format is guaranteed.

When shifting from a registered external character to another external character having a different data format and size,
The external character management file of the conversion source is read by the file access function 24, and conversion to the target data format is performed by the data format conversion function 26. in this case,
Since they are the same JEF code, no code conversion is performed, and the external character of the target data format is written by the file access function 24. When the user instructs the migration of the external character, the external character management file group 23
Is displayed in a tree on the monitor screen, external characters that have already been registered are distinguished from external characters that may be registered.For example, using a pointing device such as a mouse, By dragging and dropping a character string representing an external character that is registered into a character string representing an external character that may be registered, the transition of the external character can be started.

The external character editor 28 reads the registered external character management file using the file access function 24 and edits the external character. After editing, the editing result is written to the original external character management file by the file access function 24. Here, a method of activating the external character editor 28 will be described. First, when the external character management file group 23 is displayed as a tree on the monitor screen, a list of external characters of the designated size is displayed by double-clicking a character string representing the size of the registered external character with a pointing device. Is done. The external character editor 28 can be started by double-clicking on the part displaying the target external character from the list.

Next, a detailed process flow of registering an external character, extracting an external character, transferring an external character, and editing an external character by the external character management device will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when registering an external character.

When registering an external character from the external character distribution file to the external character management file, first, an input for registering the external character is received (step S1). Here, there are two methods for accepting input. One is when a request for registration of an external character is directly made in the external character management device, and the other is when there is a request for registration of an external character from another system via a network. It is. At the time of reception, the name of the file storing the external character to be registered, that is, the external character distribution file name and the registration destination information are specified as input information. As the registration destination information, the typeface, size, and data format to be registered are specified. If no registration information is specified, default information contained in the file is specified. Next, the validity of the input information, such as whether the input information input at the input reception is correct, is checked (step S2), the external character distribution file is opened (step S3), and the header information of the external character distribution file is read. Is performed (step S4). The read header information is analyzed to check the number of characters to be distributed, the code system of the distributor system, and the data format and size of the external characters of the distributor system (step S5). Next, the external character management file specified by the registration destination information is opened at the input reception (step S6).

Here, a loop process is performed, and it is checked whether or not a loop has been performed for the number of circulating characters (step S7). Since the number of characters in circulation is checked at the time of analysis of the header information, it is checked whether the loop processing has been performed for the number of characters. If the loop process has not been performed for the number of characters, the external character data to be registered is extracted from the external character distribution file in units of one character (step S8).

Next, it is checked whether the code system of the external character distribution file is different from the management code system of the external character management file to be registered (step S9). If the code system of the external character distribution file is different from the management code system of the external character management file to be registered, code conversion is performed to obtain a code in the management code system (step S10). The code of the external character distribution file is used. For example, if the management code system is J
If it is EF and the code system of the external character distribution file is EUC, the EUC code is converted to the corresponding JEF code. Thereafter, the external character is registered in the external character management file (step S11). Then, step S7
When the processing from step S11 to step S11 is repeated for the number of characters, end processing such as file closing is performed (step S12).

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing for extracting an external character. When extracting external characters from the external character management file to the external character distribution file,
First, an input for taking out an external character is received (step S21). Here, there are two methods for accepting input. One is a case where a request for extracting an external character is issued directly from the external character management device, and the other is a request for extracting an external character from another system via a network. It is. At the time of reception, first, as input information, extraction information including the font, size, and data format of the external character to be extracted is input. Furthermore, as input information,
An external character distribution file name for storing the extracted external character, a distribution system code system, and a range of the character code to be extracted are specified. Then, the validity of the input information is checked, such as a check of a character string for the input information when the user has input or when a retrieval request is made via the network (step S22). Next, the external character management file to be opened is specified from the input information (step S23). The external character management file is specified from the font, size, and data format input as the extraction information. Then, the external character management file to be extracted is opened (step S24), and the external character distribution file for storing the extracted external character is opened (step S25).

Here, a loop process is performed, and it is checked whether or not the loop has been performed for the number of characters to be extracted (step S26). The number of characters to be extracted specifies a range of character codes to be extracted as input information, and the number of characters is determined from this information. Next, it is checked whether the management code system of the external character management file is different from the code system of the distribution destination system (step S27). here,
If the management code system of the external character management file is different from the code system of the distribution system, code conversion is performed,
The corresponding code in the management code system is obtained from the code system of the distribution destination system (step S28), and if not different, the code of the management code system is used as it is. For example, if the management code system is JEF and the code system of the distribution destination system is shift JIS, the code conversion is performed because the code systems are different. Here, since the range of the character code to be extracted is specified by the shift JIS of the code system of the distribution destination system, the code of the specified character code range of the shift JIS is changed to the JEF of the management code system.
Find the corresponding code for Thereafter, the external character data is extracted from the external character management file (step S29), and the external character is stored in the external character distribution file using a code in the code system of the distribution destination system (step S30).

The above steps S26 to S30
After repeating the processing up to the number of characters, the header information of the external character distribution file is set (step S31). Although the header information includes information on the number of stored characters, the number of external characters actually extracted from the external character management file is not the same as the number of characters initially specified as the range of character codes to be extracted. The header information is set after the external character is stored in the external character distribution file. Finally, end processing such as file closing is performed (step S3).
2).

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing when shifting external characters. When converting the external character data format or size of one external character management file and migrating the external character to a different external character management file,
First, extraction information, migration destination information, and a range of a migration character code are specified as input information. The information of the external character font, size and data format is specified for the extraction information and the migration destination information, and for the range of the migration character code, a single character can be specified or multiple characters can be specified by specifying the range . And
The validity of the input information is checked, such as a character string check for the input information (step S4).
1). In addition, when the user instructs the transition of the external character, preferably, the information of the font, the size, and the data format is selected from among the character strings displayed in a tree on the screen.
A method of inputting the input information of the shift of the external character is adopted by dragging and dropping the character string of the conversion source onto the character string of the conversion destination by a pointing device. Alternatively, for example, “migration” may be selected and designated from a menu, and input information may be input through a dialog box that appears.

Next, the external character management files at the source and the destination are specified from the input information (step S42).
The specification of the external character management file of the extraction source and the migration destination is based on the font of the input extraction information and the migration destination information,
This is done from the size and data format. Then, the external character management file to be extracted is opened (step S
43), the external character management file of the transfer destination is opened (step S44).

Here, a loop process is performed, and it is checked whether the loop has been performed for the number of characters to be shifted (step S45). The number of characters to be shifted is determined from the range of the shifted character code specified as the input information. Next, the external character data is extracted from the external character management file of the extraction source (step S46), the extracted external character is converted into a specified font, size, and data format (step S47), and the converted external character is converted to the destination external character management file. Register (step S48). In the case of migrating external characters,
Since the management code systems are all managed by the same code system, no code conversion is required. When the processing from step S45 to step S48 is repeated for the number of characters, finally, end processing such as file closing is performed (step S49).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when editing an external character. When editing an external character with an external character editor that can handle a plurality of data formats, first, as input information, information on extracting a font, size and data format for specifying an external character management file to be extracted, Specify the character code to be edited. For example, when the external character is displayed on the screen as a tree, by double-clicking the character string representing the size of the target external character with a pointing device, the information representing the external character is specified internally as input information extraction information. Will be. Next, the validity of the input information is checked (step S51), and the external character management file to be extracted is specified from the input information (step S52). When external characters are displayed in a tree on the screen, double-clicking the character string representing the size of the target external character with a pointing device will cause the external character management file from which the character is extracted to be specified internally. Become. Next, the specified external character management file is opened (step S53),
The external character to be edited is read (step S54). At this time, a list of external characters of the specified size is displayed on the screen in the order of code numbers, for example. Double-click the part displaying the target external character from the list to start the external character editor. (Step S5
5). At this time, the data format of the external character management file to be extracted is determined, and the external character editor is started and executed in a mode for editing the data format. For example, if the data format is a vector format, the external character editor is started in a mode for editing in the vector format. When the editing is completed, the edited external character is stored in the original external character management file (step S56), and the external character management file is closed (step S5).
7). FIG. 8 shows the data structure of the external character management database.

In the external character management device, the external character management file is managed by the external character management database. As an example, the external character management database is configured in a tree shape by tables 41 and 42 of overall management information, a font table 43, a data format table 44, and a size information table 45.

In the table 41, the number of external character management files, the external character management code system, and the offset to the table 42 are set. The number of external character management files is the number of external character management files registered in the external character management file group, and the external character management code system is determined in advance by the user as the management code system by the management code system setting means. Contains column information.

In the table 42, the number of fonts and the font table offset are set. As the number of fonts, for example, "2" is entered if two types of fonts, "Mincho" and "Gothic" are registered.

In the font table 43, a font identifier, a font name, the number of formats, and a data format table offset are set for each font. For example, if the font is Mincho, the font identifier is “a0”, the font name is “Mincho”, and the number of formats is “dot”, “vector”, and “true”. 3 "is entered.

In the data format table 44, a format identifier, a format name, a number of sizes, and a size information table offset are set for each data format. For example, if the data format is a dot format, "b0" is entered as the format identifier, "dot" is entered as the format name, and the number of sizes is entered as the number of sizes of the format.

In the size information table 45, a size identifier, a vertical size, a horizontal size, a vertical letter size, and a horizontal letter size are set for each size. The size identifier is, for example, a vertical size × a horizontal size of “30 × 3”.
0 ", vertical letter size x horizontal letter size is" 28x2
In the case of the size of “8”, the size is “c0”, and in the case of other sizes, the size is “c1”.

Here, the typeface identifier of the typeface table 43,
The format identifier of the data format table 44 and the size identifier of the size information table 45 are used for information of a file name for specifying the external character management file. For example, the external character management file name is “a0b0c0”
If the size of the dot format of Mincho is “30 × 30
(28 × 28) ”. When the registered external character is displayed as a tree on the screen, the font name is “Mincho”, the format name is “dot”, and the size is “30”.
× 30 (28 × 28) ”.

FIG. 9 shows the data structure of the external character distribution file. The external character distribution file to be distributed includes a header information section 51 and an external character data section 52. The header information section 51 includes a distributor system code system length, a distributor system code system name, a font name length, a font name, a vertical size / horizontal size, a letter vertical size / letter horizontal size,
The external character data section 52 includes information on the external character format type and the number of external characters, and the external character data section 52 includes an external character code, an external character data length, and external character data for each external character code.

In the header information section 51, if the code system of the distribution source system is, for example, JEF, this JEF is 1
Since the byte character is 3, the distributor system code system length is "3" and the distributor system code system name is "JEF". If the typeface is Mincho, the character Mincho consists of two two-byte Kanji characters, so the font name length is "4",
The font name is "Mincho". As the external character format type, information representing a format such as a dot, vector, or true type is input. The number of external characters is the number of external characters stored in the external character data section 52.

In the above-described embodiment, the external character management device of the present invention is applied to Japanese kanji characters, but may be applied to other characters. For example, a 7/8 bit system (ISO / IEC 646: 1991, ANSI X)
3.4-1986 (ASCII), etc., or a system representing one character with 16 bits or more (ISO / IEC 10646-
11993 UCS-2).

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, external character registration means, external character management file storage means, external character extraction means, data format conversion means, code conversion means, external character transfer means, external character editing means .

For this reason, when the user sets one specific code system as the external character management code system, the code conversion means capable of converting the character in the external character area causes the management code system to be input and output when the external character is input and output. Can be converted to the system code system of the output destination, so that it becomes possible to unify the external characters of a plurality of systems with a specific management code system and collectively manage them. Also, since a plurality of external character data formats can be mutually converted by the data format conversion means, when migrating to generate an external character, the quality of the external character after the migration can be confirmed on the system. By performing test printing and display for each system after the transfer, it is not necessary to check the external character quality, and the number of checking steps at the transfer destination can be reduced.

Further, by providing an external character editing means capable of handling a plurality of external character data formats, intensive external character editing can be performed. In addition, learning of the operation of the external character editor for each system and the external character editor can be performed. This eliminates the need for editing, and can save man-hours for generating external characters.

Further, since the external character quality checking man-hour and the external character editing man-hour in the distributed system are reduced, early measures can be taken against the change of the external character environment, and the system operation rate can be improved.

It is to be noted that the same effect can be obtained even if the management of the external character management file is performed by the code system of each system without defining the management code system and the code conversion is performed simultaneously with the change of the data format and the size at the time of migration. Can be played. However, in this case, even if the data format is the same, if the system is different, it is treated as a different data format.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of an external character management device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a distributed system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a process performed by the external character management device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when registering an external character.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process when extracting an external character.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when shifting an external character.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when editing an external character.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data structure of an external character management database.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a data structure of an external character distribution file.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 external character distribution source file 2 external character registration means 3 external character management file storage means 4 external character distribution destination file 5 external character extraction means 6 code conversion means 6a character code conversion table 7 code conversion table updating means 8 external character migration means 9 data format conversion means 10 external characters Editing means

Claims (6)

[Claims] An external character management device connected via a network to a distributed system in which a plurality of computer systems having different character sizes and character codes assigned to the characters are connected via a network. External character registration means for reading external characters stored in the external character distribution source file and performing registration processing of the external characters; and storing an external character management file for storing the external characters registered by the external character registration means in an external character management file. Means, external character extracting means for performing processing of extracting an external character stored in the external character management file storage means and storing it in an external character distribution file, and having a character code conversion table, the external character registering means or the external character extracting means. The character code conversion when the code system of the distribution source or distribution destination system is different Code conversion means for converting an external character code according to the following; code conversion table updating means for updating the character code conversion table according to the code system to be managed; and extracting the external characters stored in the external character management file storage means External character transfer means for converting the external character into a different external character having a different data format and size and storing the converted external character in the external character management file storage means; An external character management device comprising: a data format conversion unit for converting to a size; and an external character editing unit for editing an external character registered in an external character management file storage unit. 2. A management code system for setting a code system of an external character management file registered in the external character management file storage means to any one code system that is considered to be effective for management by a user as an external character management code system. The external character management device according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit. 3. An external character management method for managing an external character in a distributed system in which a plurality of computer systems having different character sizes and character codes assigned to the characters are connected via a network. One specific code system is designated as a management code system in advance and centrally managed at one place. If the code system of the distribution source or distribution system is different from the management code system, the external character of the code system of the distribution source system A method of managing external characters, wherein a code is converted to an external character code of the management code system, or an external character code of the management code system is converted to an external character code of a code system of a distribution destination system and distributed. 4. When the external character stored in the external character distribution source file is read and is different from the management code system of the distribution destination, the external character is converted into the external character code of the management code system and registration processing is performed. If the code system of the distribution system is different from the management code system, the external character is extracted and converted to the external character code of the distribution system, and the external character is extracted and stored in the external character distribution file. A computer program that causes a central processing unit to perform a transition process of reading, converting to an external character having a different data format or size, and registering it as another typeface, and performing an editing process on the registered external character. Computer readable media. 5. An external character registration means for reading an external character stored in an external character distribution source file and performing registration processing of the external character,
An external character management file storage unit that stores the external characters registered by the external character registration unit in an external character management file, and a process of extracting the external characters stored in the external character management file storage unit and storing the extracted external characters in the external character distribution destination file External character extraction means, code conversion means for converting external character codes when the code system of the distribution source or distribution system is different from the management code system in relation to the external character registration means or the external character extraction means, and the external character management file An external character transfer unit that extracts an external character stored in a storage unit, converts the external character into another external character having a different data format or size, and stores the converted external character in the external character management file storage unit. Data format conversion means for converting the size, and external character management file Medium storing a computer program allowed to operate the general purpose computer as external character management apparatus and a external character editing means for performing editing with respect to registered in the storage means external character. 6. An external character registration means for reading an external character stored in an external character distribution source file and registering the external character,
An external character management file storage unit that stores the external characters registered by the external character registration unit in an external character management file, and a process of extracting the external characters stored in the external character management file storage unit and storing the extracted external characters in the external character distribution destination file External character extraction means, code conversion means for converting external character codes when the code system of the distribution source or distribution system is different from the management code system in relation to the external character registration means or the external character extraction means, and the external character management file An external character transfer unit that extracts an external character stored in a storage unit, converts the external character into another external character having a different data format or size, and stores the converted external character in the external character management file storage unit. Data format conversion means for converting the size, and external character management file Operation allowed to computer program a general purpose computer as external character management apparatus against registered in the storage means external character and a external character editing means for editing.