JPS63263558A - Image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily edit and output image information by allowing the same parameter to define plural kinds of output format based on composition rules with respect to the image information in one page. CONSTITUTION:An image output means which outputs image information including document information, a parameter setting means which sets the output parameter which determines the output format of image information outputted by the output means, storage means in which the output parameter is stored, an image memory in which image information outputted by the output means is developed in bit units based on the output parameter set by the setting means or the output parameter stored in the storage means, and a control means which performs control to output image information of bit units to the image output means are provided. Thus, the format parameter based on complicated composition rules can be set and the image information is easily edited and outputted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image processing system for inputting and editing documents, images, etc.
The present invention relates to an advanced image processing system that arranges beautiful formats, including page numbers, columns, etc., and edits different information such as figures, images, tables, graphs, etc.

[Prior Art] Recently, word processors have become widespread, and document input is being mechanized and streamlined, but this is limited to streamlining character strings such as kana-kanji conversion, romaji-kanji conversion, etc.

Therefore, the above-mentioned word processors and the like do not yet have high-resolution output devices for printing or displaying commercial-grade documents, that is, documents that are easy to read and beautiful.

Furthermore, in the world of printing, there are no functions such as typesetting rules, such as devising the arrangement of characters. Therefore, it is unreasonable to expect these devices to produce documents of a certain level or higher.

On the other hand, in the world of printing, a vast amount of typesetting know-how has been accumulated as knowledge by experts, but the method of filling characters, formatting columns, etc. is left to the hands of those experts, and the production of high-quality documents is difficult. It requires a complicated process and is expensive. especially,
It is only possible to proofread the created document once it has been output in the form of a galley, etc., and by repeating proofreading and correction,
The problem was that long processes were repeated.

Similarly, when creating multicolumn text, drawing ruled lines between columns was a separate task, either by hand or by using a plotter after character development.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention was proposed in view of the problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to easily edit and output image information by making it possible to set format parameters based on complex formatting rules. The purpose is to provide an image processing system that can perform

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system that can extremely efficiently generate ruled lines between columns in a multi-column layout at the same time as developing an image or text.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The configuration of the present invention for achieving the above object includes an image output means for outputting image information including document information, and an output format for the image information output by the output means. a parameter setting means for setting an output parameter that determines the output parameter; a storage means for storing the output parameter; and a parameter setting means for setting an output parameter for determining the output parameter; The image forming apparatus is characterized by comprising an image memory that develops image information to be outputted in units of bits, and a control unit that controls the image information in units of bits to be outputted to the image output unit.

[Operation] In the above configuration, the output format is based on the typesetting rules,
For image information within one page, the same parameter defines multiple output formats.

It is considered possible, [Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail using the drawings.

FIG. 1-1 is an external connection diagram of an image processing system to which the present invention is applied. Note that the system is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a single device or even if a part of the system is changed.

31 is a microcomputer for system control;
It is a control unit (referred to as a workstation) that includes an internal memory comprised of RAM, ROM, etc., and an external memory comprised of a floppy disk or a fixed magnetic disk (referred to as a hard disk). 32 is an input section of the digital copying machine, which is a document reader that converts the document information of the document placed on the document table into an electrical signal using an image sensor such as a CCD, and 33 is an output section of the digital copying machine, which converts the document information of the document placed on the document table into an electrical signal. This is a high-speed printer that records images on a grain recording material based on information converted into electrical signals.

34 is an image file that has a storage medium such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk, and is capable of writing and reading a large amount of image information.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a microfile, which includes a microfilm search section and a microfilm reader section that converts the searched image information on the microfilm into an electrical signal using an image pickup device. 37 is a printer device such as a laser beam printer similar to the printer 33, but it is smaller and slower than the printer 33, and is set as necessary. Reference numeral 38 denotes a CRT device that displays image information photoelectrically read by a digital copying machine and a microfilm manual scanner (Soda), system control information, etc., and is a display section that performs document and image processing. Reference numeral 39 denotes a switching device that switches the connection between each input device using a signal from the control section 31. Cables 40 to 48 electrically connect each human-powered device. Reference numeral 50 denotes a keyboard provided in the control unit 31, and by operating this keyboard 5o, system operation commands, etc. are issued. Also, 61 is CR
This is a pointing device for instructing processing of image information on the T38, and the cursor on the CRT38 is arbitrarily moved in the X and Y directions to select and support a command image on the command menu. Reference numeral 51 denotes an operation panel for issuing operation commands for the digital copying machine, including setting keys for the number of copies, copy magnification, etc., and a copy key 55 for instructing to start copying.
It also has a numerical display, etc. Reference numeral 52 denotes a mode selection switch that determines whether the copying machine or the control section takes initiative in starting up the digital copying machine, and 53 and 54 indicate light emitting diodes (LEDs) that display the mode selection state of the mode selection switch 52. This is a display consisting of.

1-2 is a block diagram of an image editing device. In this specification, the image collection including document editing is referred to as m-image collection. The same parts as in FIG. 1-1 are given the same reference numerals. H
A VRAM 4 develops data to be displayed on the display section 38 on a bitmap. For example, if it is character data,
A character pattern corresponding to the code is developed on the VRAM, and can be displayed by directly generating a cursor in the display area of the VRAM under software control.

H7, H8, and H9 are disks for data files; for example, H8 is an eight-speed disk (HD), and H7 is
It is a 5-inch floppy disk (FD).

H5 is a BMU (Bit Manipulation Unit), and devices (H7,) such as video ram H4, main memory, disk, etc.18. H9), transfer in word units between input/output devices such as printers is performed without going through the MPU. D MA C (Direct Memory 8cc
ESS Controller), and the following 16 types of logical operations are possible as function functions. If the data transfer source is A and the data transfer destination is B, for example, A (inverted), AB, A + B,
Logical 1 (blacked out), A+B
, B, A+B, A+B, AB, A+B, B.

A+B, Logical O (clear), AB, A
B, A, etc. It also has functions such as figure rotation and scaling, and supports 5 types of XY conversion (90° rotation, 180° rotation, 27° rotation, etc.).
0° rotation, X symmetry number, Y symmetry) conversion is possible.

Next, let's talk about the variable magnification function.
In addition to the function of reducing, 2/1, 3/2 to 1
15 steps of expansion on 6/15, 2/1, 3/2 to 1
Reduction in 15 steps of 6/15 is possible. Note that the magnification can be specified independently in the vertical and horizontal directions. In addition, in the case of reduction, the character (2
For value images), simply thin out, for photos (dithered images)
is thinned out and reduced in units of 4×4 boxes.

Next, H6 is an MPU (Micro Processor).
υnet). Also, the MPU section is HD/FD-IF
(interface), and the above disk H7
, H8, H9, PMEM, and IMEM, which will be described later, are controlled.

In FIGS. 1-2, HIO and H13 are printers with different pixel densities, and H12 is a reader that reads the original. In addition, Hlt and H14 are printers HIO and H14, respectively.
This is an interface provided corresponding to the printer) 113 and the reader H12.

H15 and H16 are program memories (PMF).

In M), a program for processing the M collection is appropriately selected from the hard disk H18 and executed. Also, keyboard 5
The data input from 0 is stored as code information in the main memory, which is also a text memory. In addition, data stored in main memory, data stored on disk, and data read from the reader are
memory! The data can be developed as bit data in the MEM, and the DMAC, XY conversion, scaling, etc. can be performed on the data stored in the PMEM via the BMU described above. A simple memory map in PMEM%H15 or H16 is shown in FIG. 1-3. p-t is
Document data In the text section, text data is stored as code information. P-2 is a document data format section, which will be explained later in FIG. 2, and includes data such as body text, heading section, non-pull, character types such as pillars, line pitch, character pitch, etc. P-3 is a line information table that performs positioning in memory and display. For example, (X+t,
XI2. XI3. =Y) Data is being stored.

Note that P-3 may be included in P-2.

Next, in the system configured as described above, functions relating to formats such as print formats and column formats prepared in advance of the document editing device of the present invention and calls to texts thereof will be explained. Regarding the format, it has the following functions.

(i), Registration of the format, (if), Partial modification of the registered format, (iii),
Formatting a Document, (iv) Partial Correction of Document Format First, before explaining the above (i) to (iv), format data will be explained. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing part of the data stored in the disk device H-8 or H-near shown in FIGS. 1-2. 9 is a format file table;
This is a table for determining which file of the format files 10 is to be selected. The document file 11 includes a text section 12 in which actual document data is stored, and a format section 13 in which formats corresponding to the documents are stored, and which format of the document file is selected using the document file table 14. Decide whether

Next, the format data stored in the format file 10 shown in FIG. 2 will be explained. Note that this 1-format data does not need to be stored in a file;
It may be stored in IMEM or PMEM as shown in Figure 3.

The format definition consists of the following three records. In other words, (a) Format definition header record section, (b) one body definition record section; (C) Multiple peripheral definition record sections It is.

The format definition header record section (a) is for managing the number of format definitions, but the details are omitted. The peripheral definition record section in (C) includes non-pull (page number) definitions, column (headings outside the margin) definitions, etc., but the details are omitted here. The text definition record section in (b) is a text definition, and has definitions of ``body'' and 1st column, for example, as shown in Figure 3.

Note that FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of parameters (terms) regarding the format. FIG. 4 shows the position of the printing plate, which shows how a document or the like is input and edited on a sheet, in the form displayed on the display section 38 (FIG. 1) such as a CRT. If the left side of the page is the binding margin, I, II, III, rV in the same figure
■: Ten (blank area at the top of the page), ■■: Noto (blank area on the binding side), ! ■! = fore edge (blank area on the opposite side of the binding margin of the page), ■: ground (blank area at the bottom of the page), and determines the position of the printing plate 16 in the paper 15.

The terms shown in FIG. 3 will be explained based on the specific example shown in FIG. 4. The "number of columns" included in the column definition in FIG. 3 indicates the number of "columns", and in the case of FIG. 4, there are two columns. Similarly, as is clear from the figure, "1 column alignment" means aligning the bottom rows of the columns. Further, "r rod length" indicates the rod length of the step, and is represented by ■ in FIG. "Number of rows" indicates the number of rows in one row. Further, "r stage interval" is the length between stages, and since there are two stages in the case of FIG. 4, it represents the interval (V) between the stages. The above is the data related to the "1 stage" definition shown in FIG.

The definition of "main text" includes data such as the font of characters, number of dots, size and spacing between characters, presence or absence of paragraph indentation, and color information.

In addition, when it is necessary to indicate the position on the paper using the XY coordinate system, such as the position information in the line information table (P-3) in Figure 1-3, the upper left of the paper is set as the origin (0), as shown in Figure 4. , 0), and a coordinate system is adopted in which the right direction is the positive direction of the X axis and the downward direction is the positive direction of the Y axis.

Next, functions (i) to (iv) regarding the above-mentioned format will be explained in detail.

Earthwork Vine X211 Figure 5 shows a flowchart of the form registration procedure. When a command for registering a format is input, a subroutine for registration shown in FIG. 5 is entered among the various functions of a WS (work station) including a display section 381, keyboard 50, etc. In this subroutine, first, in step S1, paper information such as paper size, paper placement direction, vertical/horizontal writing, etc. is input. Next, in step S2, column format information (for example, column format as shown in FIG. 4) is input. Specifically, the manpower of this tier format is, for example, the 6th
The display flow is as shown in (1) to (4) in the figure. In other words, as shown in (1) in FIG.
, pointing device (PD) 61 (Figure 1)
This is determined by inputting, for example, the two points indicated by the x marks in the figure. Then, in (2) of Figure 6, “
Input the number of stages (2 stages in the figure).

In (3) of Figure 6, the keyboard or PD61
For example, specify the x mark point, and specify ``r film width'' and ``distance between steps''.

After making the definitions as described above, in step (4) of Fig. 6, the ``text definition'' (see Fig. 3) of the font, dots, size, etc. of the characters to be used is performed.

Thus, by looking at the display screen as shown in (4) of FIG. 6, the operator can intuitively know the approximate number of lines and layout of the printing plate.

Returning to the flowchart in FIG. In step S3, non-pull (page number), column (heading outside i), and headings are further defined. This operation can also be done intuitively and manually while looking at the WS image, making it very efficient to set the format. It is stored in any one of files A, B, C, . . . in the file 10.

This registration involves attaching an identification mark D to the format set in the above step, and writing the ID and storage address in association with each other in the format file table 9 (FIG. 2).

By the above means, multiple formats can be registered.

Note that numerical data indicating the format may be displayed along with the image indicating the format set as described above.

ii. Part of the registered format We will now explain the case where the format registered by the above procedure is called up and further modifications are made. Such corrections become necessary when actually creating columns.

FIG. 7 shows a menu (hereinafter referred to as a window) displayed on a portion of the display screen for calling up one format from a plurality of registered formats.

Five types of formats from "Report" to "Presentation" are displayed in the window of FIG. That is, the formats "report" to "presentation" are registered through the above-mentioned registration.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of a procedure for partially modifying a registered format file.

First, in step Sll of FIG. 8, in WS,
A menu as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. For example, (B) in the figure is the format of an "article", which is A4 (paper size), 10-point (font size), and 1 column (number of columns).

Next, in step S12, move the cursor (arrow 17 in FIG. 7) using the PD 61 and turn on the key of the PD 61 at the desired format, for example, "Report" in (A). The format contained in the format file A is selected through the format file table 9 and displayed on the CR7 display section 38 (FIG. 1) in the same manner as when it was registered (for example, in FIG. 4). Then, in step S13,
Parameters such as column r line length j and the like explained in FIG. 4 for format A will be corrected. This modification is carried out by intuitively modifying the numerical value or image using keystrokes or the PD 61. To register this modified format, the modified format may be written again or newly in the format file 10 shown in FIG. 2.

Next, when a command for formatting the document is input using the WS, the menu screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed, as in the case of correction (ii).

This screen is currently displayed superimposed on the document even if it is being processed on the screen.In order to make it easier to see the document even if it is superimposed, point the cursor i at the mouth at the bottom right of Figure 7. You can change the size of the window as you move the cursor. You can also move the entire window by pointing to the "format file" section at the top of the screen and moving it. Therefore, even if the text screen is not displayed, or even if the text screen is displayed, the window shown in Figure 7 can be moved or resized and displayed in an empty area on the text screen, and the window can be adjusted to match the text screen. The desired format can be easily selected.

Now, FIG. 9 shows a flowchart for formatting a document. Now, data n of the document section 12 is displayed on the screen of the display device 38.
It is assumed that the document shown in FIG. 1 (Figure 2) is displayed. Then, in step 521 of FIG. 9, a window with a list of format files shown in FIG. 7 is called up at an arbitrary position on the screen by key input from the WS, and
Then, the desired format, for example (A), is selected using the cursor 17. Then, format file A in Figure 2 is selected,
In step S22, the format A is copied to the portion a corresponding to the format A in the format section 13 of the format file 11 (see Figure 2). As a result, the format of the document currently being processed is deleted. Since the formatted output of the document is performed while formatting the text according to the new format within the document, the document being processed above is output in a completely new format by the above operations.

(iv) Part of the format of a document Next, a case will be explained in which a part of the format of an added document is modified by the procedure such as "Formatting a document" described above. First, we will explain how to call a document onto the display screen. FIG. 10 shows a flowchart for partially changing the format of a document.

In step S31, one document file 11 consisting of a format section 13 and a text section 12 is read out using the document file table 14 (FIG. 2), and the document is displayed in the format on the display section 38.

Next, in step S32, the parameters related to the format such as "number of stages", "column set", "r-rod length", "r-stage spacing", etc., are modified as necessary. In step S33, if you want to register this document, use the document file 1 in FIG.
1 or may be re-registered.

Next, inputting and editing work will be explained in detail using the functions of registering and modifying files in the above formats, formatting documents, and partially modifying them. The "composition process" here refers to the process of developing document data including image data in memory for screen display or printout based on the above-mentioned format data. For example, the document data text section P -1 (Fig. 1-3) is developed into the image memory H17 (Fig. 1-2) while referring to the document data format section P-2 (Fig. 1-3). .

FIG. 11-1 is a control flowchart of the image processing system having the above configuration functions, particularly regarding document image processing and typesetting. Note that the term "document" used here includes image data. Also, in order to simplify the explanation, explanations of the key controller etc. are omitted, and all control is performed by the MPU.
It is explained that it is managed by (H6).

In step 5tot, the MPU waits for input from the keyboard 50, PD 61, or the like.

If there is an input (YES), it is determined whether it is an instruction to call up a document or image (step 5102). If NO in step 5101, it is not directly related to the present invention and will therefore be omitted here. YES in step 5101
In the case of S, the process advances to step 5103, where it is determined whether there is no document data on the IMEM or PMEM and the initial state is a blank page. In the initial state (No.
) performs formatting processing in step 5104) of newly loading document data from the disk H8 or the like onto the memory, step 5126, and then proceeds to step 5105 and step 5106. This typesetting process will be further explained below in FIG. 12-1.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 5103 that the state is not in the initial state (YES), the document exists on IMEM or PMEM, so the process proceeds directly to steps 5126 and 5.
Proceeding to steps 105 and 5106, the document data developed on the VRAM (H4 in FIG. 2) is formatted and an edit menu is displayed on the CRT 38. An example of this displayed state is shown in FIG. 11-2. Next, in step 5107, an input from the keyboard 50 or PD 61 is awaited.

The input explained in step 5iot is, for example, by moving the cursor on a part of the menu on the screen using the PD61, etc.
4 icons showing readers, cabinets, manuscript paper, etc.
In contrast, the input in step 5107 is the same as in step 5tot. or move the cursor over the document 101 displayed on the screen.

By doing this, the position in the document is determined by line information table P-3 (
Figures 1-3). If there is an instruction to move the cursor in step 5107, the cursor (indicated as CR in the figure) moves to step 5109.
, move it as a position cursor. However, P.D.
When the start point and end point of an area of character strings or image data are indicated using arrows and arrows (indicated as AR), that area is specified. "Range specification" on the keyboard or in part of the menu
When the key is specified, the cursor CR is set as a range cursor (steps 5too, 5ill).

Next, in step 5112, part of the menu (11th-
At 100) in FIG. 2, when editing commands such as line alignment are input, each editing command is executed at step 5113. Further, when an "instruction to insert a format command" is input in step 3118, the format command is inserted in step 5119, and the following is inserted into the document data.
For example, code data such as "Start of Heading" and "End of Heading" are inserted. Further, when a "layout" command is input, the layout command is executed in steps 5120 and 5121. "Print" instructions, e.g.
When the "Printer" icon is designated by the PD 61, the control moves to print processing in steps 5122, 5128, and 5123, and the designated document is printed out from the printer 33 according to the format.

Step 5124. In step 5125, other applications such as document update are performed.
For example, if you specify the mode for creating a new table,
In step 5125, a new document is stored on the disk H8, the document is recalled, and the document is updated, and after the completion of the process, the process returns to step 5101. Also, step 511
Steps 4 to 5117 are display control steps when displaying with only a portion corrected or when correcting and displaying the entire area, depending on the state of the corrected portion after each command is executed.

1 Five Lid I In addition to the system configuration and image (document) IA processing flow described above, typesetting processing will be explained in detail below. The text portion pt of the document data shown in Figure 1-3 contains commands that instruct reference to formats such as "heading", "non-pull", "column", "text definition", etc., and the command is inserted. It consists of code data including character strings etc. to be displayed. The typesetting process refers to the above p
This is a process of developing the character code data of -t into actual bit image data.

Hereinafter, the formatting process will be further explained with reference to the drawings. First, an example will be described in which document data that does not include any formatting commands is displayed on the screen, and formatting commands are inserted into it to form a document.

Figure 12-1 shows the code data of a sentence that does not include any formatting commands, and is written in the disk memory H8 and PM of Figure 1-2.
This is stored in EM (H2S, H2S).

This data is subjected to typesetting processing (step 512 in Figure 11-1).
If step 6) is performed, all character strings (sentences) are considered to be the main text. Figure 12-4 is a detailed diagram of the document data format section in Figure 1-3.
Referring to the main text definition part P-1 in Figure 4, it is developed into bit image data based on the information such as "r character type", "character spacing", and "line leading" defined there, and the 12-2 part is displayed on the screen.
It is displayed as shown in the figure (step 5t in Figure 11-1).
os), here, everything is considered to be the main text, so of course there are no "headings" etc.Next, use the pointing device PD61 or keyboard 5° to operate the range cursor (OR) from within this character string to display the document. The middle range specification process selects and instructs the part "This is the heading section" in the displayed image (steps 5tto, 5 in Figure 11-1).
ttt). Then, as shown in FIG. 12-3, the portion where the range has been designated is shaded with diagonal lines for black and white and transposition, resulting in a display screen showing that the range has been designated.

Next, by pointing with the arrow AR the icon (picture) displaying the "Main Heading" command displayed at the bottom of the screen shown in Figure 12-2, the above character string can be changed to "
It is recognized as having the attribute of ``major heading'', and step 51
19 (No. 11-1.

Through the format command insertion execution processing shown in Figure 12-5, the format commands ``Start of Major Heading'' and ``End of Major Heading'' are inserted into the document data on the code data, as shown in Figure 12-5. Then, based on the data shown in FIG. 12-5, typesetting processing (step 5127 in FIG. 11-11)
Then, the heading part P in the format definition shown in Figure 12-4
- “Character type” defined separately from the main text with reference to II.
, "character spacing", "line spacing", and other information to actually expand the character string of the "major heading" onto a memory (for example, IMEM).

FIG. 12-6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display when a character larger than that of the "main text definition" is set as the character type of the "main heading" in the above steps.

Above, we have explained the typesetting process using "Heading" as an example, but each time the development of one page of image (document) data is completed, the same format definition "Nonpull" (P-r in Figure 12-4) is applied.
V), "Column" (P-III in Figure 12-4), etc., which needs to be output for each page. Non-pull (page number) may be output depending on the position, character type, etc. Similarly, if the "column" definition specifies that the main heading character string should be used as social information, the column can be set in the same way. Expand and output to the expanded position.

Furthermore, the "r interstage group" will be explained in detail. The ``column group'' here refers to ruled lines drawn between columns of a multi-column text. First, since the ``r-interval group'' process is a function of the above-mentioned ``composition process'', the process up to the execution of the ``r-interval group'' process will be explained using FIG. 13-1. In step 5201 of Fig. 13-1, document data is read from the H8 data file, and in step 5202, the first code data position is set in the "document buffer pointer" and the top edge position of the printing plate is set in the "r-stage sentry position pointer". Set as initial data.

As shown in Figure 13-6, these "document buffer pointer", "r crotch end position pointer", "r crotch end position pointer", "r crotch end position pointer", etc. It is placed on PMEM at H15 in the figure. The read document data is examined character by character by the document data pointer in step 5203, and then in step 52
At o5, it is determined whether the data is a text code or a format command.

If it is a formatting command, it is checked in step 3207 what kind of processing the command instructs, and if it is a "single column" command or "multi-column" command, step 3208 is executed.
Performs column alignment processing for the data immediately above the "Align one column" format command.

An example of column alignment processing is shown in FIG. 13-3. (a) in Figure 13-3 shows 1 at point a in the figure when the two-column text is being developed
Indicates when the "column alignment" formatting command is detected. Due to the column alignment process, the first column 502 (Figure 13-3 (a)) is
Move to '503' in the upper right of Figure 13-3(b), and go to 501
is moved to the lower right corner at 5°4, the bottom edges of the first and second columns of the text are aligned, and below this, 505 "R-column group without two columns" is expanded, and the "crotch end position pointer" ( No. 13-6
The position of the bottom end of the row is set in (Figure).

Next, if the "inter-column group" drawing instruction is set in the "document data format section" shown at P-2 in FIG. 1-3, the "r-column group" process is executed in step 5210. At this time,
The above (i), (ii), (1ii).

According to the format registration, modification, etc. procedure (iv), the "r interval group definition" must be registered in the "document data format section" shown in FIG. 1-3, P-2.

An example of "r-stage group definition" is shown in FIG. 13-4. here"
The type, thickness, etc. of ruled lines when developing "inter-level groups" are defined. Further, the details of the flag string in this are shown in FIG. 13-5, in which a flag F1 etc. which instructs whether or not to draw "r-stage group" is defined. FIG. 13-7 illustrates an example of the relationship between the "r-stage group developed by these r-stage group definitions" and definition items. In the example of Figure 13-7, assuming that the left side is the binding margin, 15 is the outer circumference of the paper, 16 is the outer circumference of the printing plate, 18 is the main body of the text, 17 is the "column group" part, a
is the thickness of the r crotch end position, b is the crotch end position, d is the thickness of the r tier group, ■ is the top, ! ■ is "Nodo J", III is "
"Fore-edge", ■ indicates "rod length" (inside the film), ■ indicates "r interval", ■ indicates "ground", ■ indicates "hanmen height", and ■ indicates "hanmen width".
Note that it goes without saying that unnecessary items may be deleted or new necessary items may be added to these items of ``r-stage group definition'' depending on the characteristics of the image processing system.

Also, if it is not a "1 column alignment" command, it is checked in 5211 whether it is a "heading" command, and if so, "heading" processing is performed in 5212, otherwise "other command" processing is performed in 5213.Next, step 5214 ,3215
, 3216. Step 5217. Step 5203 continues until the column currently being formatted is completed.

If finished, step 5218.5219゜5220
．． 5221, page break processing is performed. That is, if the "r inter-column group" drawing instruction is set in the "document data format section" shown in Figure 1-3 P-2, "r crotch end position pointer" is set to "r crotch end position pointer". ``Print surface bottom edge position'' is set, and r is set in step 5219.
"Inter-column group" processing is executed, and in step 5220, page end processing such as columnar text printing and page number printing is performed.The above processing is repeated until the end of the code data.

Next, the flow of "R stage trace processing of 5210 and 5219 in FIG. 13-1" will be explained in more detail using FIG. 13-2. First, in step 5301, the XY
Calculation of coordinates will be explained using FIG. 13-7. That is,
Since the example in Figure 13-7 is in horizontal writing, the coordinates of both ends of the "inter-column group" are: X-X5tart, x, n, IIA - "noto" +
r-stage film + r-stage interval ÷ 2'', and the Y coordinate of one end point of the ruled line is Y 5tart
= 'crotch end position pointer value', Y,, d m r crotch end position pointer value' 0 Next, in step 5302, the number of stages defined in the format is set in the number of rows counter (Figure 13-6). " is set to 0. Next, in step 5303, the "interval interval counter" is decremented by 1, and steps 5303, 3304, 5305, and 5306 are repeated until it is not 0. That is, in step S305, (X 5tart l Y 5tart) and (
X and , Y-1d) in Figure 13-4.
According to the ruled line type, ruled line thickness, etc., specified in the "interval group definition" part, "r inter-stage group" is drawn, and in step 5306, the sum of "r-membrane" and "r-interval" is plotted at the current X coordinate. Add and obtain the X coordinate of the next ruled line. From then on, the process described above is repeated every time the "align one column" command is detected or a page ends, but unlike conventional Wanido processors and typesetting machines,
Once you have registered the "r interval group definition" in the "Document data format section" in Figure 1-3 P-2, there is no need to instruct the drawing of the "r interval group" again. The "interstage group" is automatically expanded.

The system of the embodiment described above has the format i<
The display displays parameter definitions, headings, page numbers, columns, etc., character filling and arrangement based on typesetting rules, and its printing format, and enables quick document editing using the keyboard and pointing device. realized the function. In particular, it is possible to generate ruled lines between columns in multi-column composition extremely efficiently at the same time as images and text are developed.

In addition, it uses format definitions, and by inputting format definition parameters once, it is possible to obtain output with a uniform format throughout the document, and the format of the entire document can be easily changed by changing only the format definition. There is.

In addition, the printer that outputs the document or image uses format parameters such as print format and column format that are predefined to configure the document output by the above means υ) and develops the document or image according to the formatting rules. a display device that displays a document formatted in the same way as the above-mentioned output, and a keyboard, pointing device, etc. that can be used to input text, images, and copy text on the document displayed by the display device. It is characterized by having an editing function that performs document editing such as insertion, deletion, and replacement, and always reflects the printed state after conversion.

Furthermore, the text and images on the display are handled manually, 6
Document and image editing such as editing, copying, inserting, deleting, and replacing, as well as command processing related to formatting and typesetting, can be performed using either a keyboard or a pointing device.

By the way, in the above embodiment, depending on the amount of data, it may take a lot of time to convert document code data into character font patterns and graphic data into graphic patterns and display them after typesetting processing. Immediately after the data has started to be displayed on the display device 38, even after recognizing that the operation sound is data that does not need to be displayed, the display cannot be interrupted, and there is a risk of wasting time. In order to prevent this, a means for interrupting the display may be provided.

That is, after the "composition process" is completed, a routine for detecting keyboard input may be provided in the development processing task that reads the font of characters or images and develops it into IMEM.
To detect keyboard input, for example, if there is a keyboard input, an interrupt is generated. This interrupt routine analyzes the input, and if it recognizes that it is a predetermined interruption command, the execution of the task of the expansion process currently being executed is stopped. By doing so, operability is improved.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, the present invention makes it possible to set format parameters based on complicated formatting rules, and provides an image processing system that can easily edit and output image information. In particular, it is possible to generate ruled lines between columns in a multi-column layout extremely efficiently at the same time as images and text are developed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1-1 is an external connection diagram of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 1-2 is a block diagram of an image editing device; Fig. 1-3 is a diagram showing a memory map in PMEM; Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of the data stored in the disk device H8, Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the format data stored in the format file 10 shown in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of the format data stored in the format file 10 shown in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a flowchart of format registration; Figures 6 (1) to (4) are diagrams showing the flow of display in manual formatting; Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram of format menu display; Figure 8 is a flowchart of the process of partially modifying a registered format file, Figure 9 is a flowchart of the process of formatting a document, Figure 10 is a flowchart of the process of partially changing the format of a document, Figure 11-1 is a control flowchart including document processing and typesetting processing in an image processing system, Figure 11-2 is a diagram showing an example of document data and editing menu display, and Figure 12-1 is a diagram of text code data that does not include any formatting commands. Figure 12-2 is a diagram showing how information is stored in memory; Figure 12-2 is a diagram showing an example of an image display of information developed into pit image data; Figure 12-3 is a diagram showing how ranges are specified on the screen. , Figure 12-4 is a diagram showing data related to typesetting processing on PMEM, Figure 12-5 is a diagram showing how text code data including format commands are stored in memory, and Figure 12-6 is a diagram showing data related to typesetting processing on PMEM. Figure 13-1 is a flowchart of the typesetting process including the "r-column group" process, and Figure 13-2 is the "r-column group" process. ” processing flowchart, Figure 13-3 is a diagram showing an example of executing a column alignment statement, Figure 13-4
Figure 13-5 shows the details of the flag string of the "r interval group" definition in the format. Figure 13-6 shows how the "interval group" definition in the format is stored. FIG. 13-7 is a diagram showing data related to "interstage group" processing on PMEM. FIG. 13-7 is a diagram showing the relationship between "r interstage group" and definition items. In the figure, 10...format file, 11...document file, 1
2...Text section, 13...Form section, 14...Document file table, 15...Paper, 16...Handplate, 3
1... Workstation, 32... Image reader, 37... Image printer, 38... Display unit,
50...Keyboard, 61...Pointing device, H4...VRAM, H5...BMU, H6...
MPU%H15...PMEM%H17...IMEM
, 17... Cursor (AR). Patent applicant Canon Co., Ltd. Figures 1-3 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4! Figure 5 (1'') (2) Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 12-1 Figure 23 Figure 126 Figure 3-2 Figure 13-3 Figure 13-4 Figure 13-6 Figure 13-5

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) an image output means for outputting image information including document information; a parameter setting means for setting output parameters that determine the output format of the image information output by the output means; and the output format is set according to typesetting rules. Based on this, multiple output formats for the same parameter are defined for image information within one page, and further, a storage means for storing the output parameters, and an output parameter set by the setting means or stored in the storage means. an image memory that expands the image information output by the output means in bit units based on output parameters that have been output, and a control unit that controls the image information in bit units to be output to the image output unit. An image processing system comprising: (2) The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the output parameter includes format information regarding at least part of the image information regarding ruled lines between columns. (3) The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the output parameters include format information regarding at least line types of ruled lines.