JP2008134961A - Variable printing document editing system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a variable print document editing system capable of easily confirming and correcting an allocation defect.
Received component data including field item data and information specifying field items transmitted, and measuring the maximum number of characters information for each field item of the component data, a character frame associated with the field item The variable printing document editing system is characterized in that the assigned character corresponding to the maximum number of characters of the field item is arranged and displayed in a character frame associated with the field item.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a system for editing a document to be subjected to variable printing and a method thereof in variable printing.

In this variable printing, a document in which a part of a document is replaced is continuously printed. For example, in direct mail, variable printing is performed while changing only the destination name in the text.

Conventionally, a variable print document has been edited using a DTP system.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for displaying a preview of the state of a document to be printed on an information processing apparatus using the set print format and print data in order to determine whether or not the print format setting information is acceptable. ing.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-63321 (pages 6 to 8, 13).

By the way, in the technique of Patent Document 1, in order to confirm whether or not the print format has been correctly set, the editor must visually check all the pages displayed in the preview. There was a drawback that it took time and effort.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such a conventional technique, and an object of the present invention is to provide a variable print document editing system that can easily confirm and correct an assignment defect.

The present invention solves the above problems by the following means. That is, the invention of claim 1 is a variable printing document editing system in which a part data server device and a document editing device are network-connected, wherein the print data server device includes information specifying field items and field item data. A storage unit that stores a component database that stores component data, a component data transmission unit that receives a component data transmission request, searches the component database, and returns the retrieved component data to the document editing device; The document editing apparatus includes: a component data receiving unit that receives component data from the component data server device; a maximum character number measuring unit that measures the maximum number of characters for each field item of the component data; Character frame assigning means for assigning a character frame, and component data in the assigned character frame Field item association means for associating field items, maximum character number arrangement means for arranging characters corresponding to the maximum number of characters of the measured field item in a character frame associated with the field item, and information for specifying the field item Variable printing characterized by comprising: a display unit for displaying a character frame including a character frame including the maximum number of characters, and a document creation unit for creating document data including character frame data. Document editing system.

Here, by assigning and displaying the maximum number of characters in each character frame, the editor can check the appearance of the character frames and the layout appearance with the sketch on the editing screen to find defects. It is possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the document editing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores the background data and an allocating unit that allocates the background data. It is.

On the editing screen, it is possible to display a character frame of the maximum number of characters existing in the part data, and it becomes easy to find a problem of the layout editing.

The invention of claim 3 is a variable printing document editing method using a parts database that stores parts data including field item data, the database searching method for extracting desired parts data, and the extraction Referring to the field item data of the component data, the maximum character number measuring step for measuring the maximum number of characters of each field item data, the character frame assigning step for assigning the character frame, and the component data in the assigned character frame A field item associating step for associating the field item, a maximum number of characters arranged in the character box associated with the field item, and displaying the maximum number of characters arranged in the character box associated with the field item, A document creation step for creating document data including character frames. A print document editing method according to claim Rukoto.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a variable printing document editing method using sketch data, wherein the layout page creation step is a procedure for creating a layout page in which a sketch is synthesized and displayed. Item 4. The printing document editing method according to Item 3.

The invention of claim 5 is a variable printing document editing method using a parts database for storing part data including field item data, wherein a character frame is assigned to a character frame including start position information and character size information. A character frame assigning step to be created; a field item associating step for associating a field item of component data with the created character frame; a step of searching the component database to extract desired component data; and the extraction A maximum number of characters measurement step for measuring the maximum number of characters of each field item data of the measured component data, and the characters corresponding to the maximum number of characters of the measured field item are arranged and displayed in a character frame associated with the field item. A maximum number of characters arrangement format display step, and a document creation step for creating document data including character frame data. A printing document editing method characterized by being made by the procedure including a flop, a.

The invention of claim 6 is a variable printing document editing method using sketch data, wherein the layout page creation step is a procedure for creating a layout page in which a sketch is synthesized and displayed. Item 6. The printing document editing method according to Item 5.

According to the present invention, it is possible to simply and surely confirm the print appearance in variable printing.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the overall configuration of a variable printing system 1 according to the present invention.

The variable printing system according to the present invention includes a document editing apparatus 100, a sketch creation apparatus 500, a variable printing apparatus 700, an editing data conversion apparatus 900, and a component data server apparatus 300 connected by a network.

The sketch creation device 500 creates sketch data and transmits it to the document editing device 100.

The part data server apparatus 300 searches the part data from the part database based on the designated search key, and transmits it to the document editing apparatus 100. Further, the part data server apparatus 300 searches the part database for part data including character data and image data based on the designated search key, and transmits the part data to the variable printing apparatus 700.

The document editing apparatus 100 creates document data using the sketch data received from the sketch creation apparatus 500 and the part data received from the part data server apparatus 300 and transmits the document data to the variable printing apparatus 700.

The edit data conversion apparatus 900 converts the document data received from the document edit apparatus 100 into print control data for the variable printing apparatus to be used, and transmits the print control data to the variable printing apparatus 700.

The variable printing apparatus 700 creates a variable printed material 799 using the part data received from the part data server apparatus 300 and the print control data received from the editing data conversion apparatus 900.

The document editing apparatus 100 is a personal computer controlled by a computer program. The computer program of the document editing apparatus 100 is commercially available DTP software. When a function is added to the computer program of the document editing apparatus 100, it can be realized by using a plug-in function and a C ++ program included in the computer program.

The sketch creation device 500 is a personal computer controlled by a computer program. The computer program of the sketch creation device 500 is commercially available image creation software.

The edit data conversion apparatus 900 is a personal computer controlled by a computer program. The component data server apparatus 300 is a server computer controlled by a computer program. The computer program of the component data server apparatus 300 is commercially available database software.

FIG. 2 is a detailed configuration diagram of the document editing apparatus 100.
The document editing apparatus 100 includes an allocation unit 110, a character frame allocation unit 120, a field item association unit 130, a component data transmission request unit 171, a component data reception unit 172, a background transmission request unit 173, and a background reception. Means 174, maximum character number measurement means 140, maximum character number arrangement means 160, document creation means 150, display means 180, and storage means 190 are provided.

The sketch transmission request unit 173 issues a sketch transmission request to the sketch creation device 500. The sketch receiving means 174 receives the sketch data 591 from the sketch creation apparatus 500 and stores it in the storage means. The assigning unit 110 assigns the stored sketch data 591.

The component data transmission request unit 171 is a unit that issues a search query for desired component data to the component data server apparatus 300. The component data receiving unit 172 receives the character data 393 and stores it in the storage unit 190. The storage unit 190 stores character data 393 including field item data.

The maximum character number measuring unit 140 measures the maximum number of characters for each field item of the stored character data 393.

The allocating unit 110 allocates the received background data to the allocated page data created by editing software.

The character frame assigning means 120 is a means for the editor to assign a character frame to the background data.

The field item association unit 130 associates the field item of the character data 393 with the character frame created by the editor.

In the present invention, the field item name is written in the character frame in the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a field item can be specified like a field item code number. Any information may be used.

The maximum character number arrangement means 160 selects the maximum number of characters of the field item data associated with the assigned character frame data from the maximum number of characters measured by the maximum character measurement means 140 for the character frame assigned by the editor. The dummy characters for the maximum number of characters are arranged in the character frame.

If the maximum number of dummy characters does not fit in the character frame, the size of the character frame is automatically increased in the horizontal direction so that the dummy characters can be accommodated. The editor confirms the character frame in which dummy character strings for the maximum number of character strings are arranged, and if the unity of design is lost due to the character frame protruding from the background data, the dummy character string is poured Change the position of the selected character frame. Alternatively, a measure such as changing the character size to be arranged can be performed.

The display means 180 is a means for displaying on the display a state in which the editor assigns a character frame to the sketch data and a result of arranging dummy characters for the maximum number of characters in the character frame.

The document creation unit 150 creates document data 198 including an edit tag. When the editor assigns a character frame based on the sketch data, assignment information such as position information and character dimension information at the upper left of the character frame is set, and document data 198 is created using an XML tag.

The document data 198 is an electronic document created by assigning character frames to the sketch data and arranging characters. The document data 198 created by the document editing apparatus 100 is assigned when creating data for printing. It corresponds to a pattern, and print data is created by combining the document data 198 and the component data (= character data or image data) transmitted from the component data server apparatus 300. Alternatively, the document data 198 is printed together with character data and image data at the time of printing.

Assignment means 110, character frame assignment means 120, field item association means 130, component data transmission request means 171, component data reception means 172, background transmission request means 173, background reception means 174, maximum number of characters The measurement unit 140, the maximum number of character arrangement unit 160, and the document creation unit 150 are computer programs. The sketch data 591 and the character data 393 are data readable by a computer program. The storage unit 190 is a semiconductor memory or a magnetic memory. The display unit 180 is an LCD display device or a CRT display device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the format of the character data 393. The first column of the character data 393 describes information for identifying each field item (= definition name information of each field item). The second and subsequent columns are character data (= character string) used for variable printing.

In FIG. 3B, character data 393 is illustrated. The first column is an example of definition name information “f # name, l # neme, address” of each field item. The second row shows an example of “Taro, Yamakawada Family, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 1-chome ABC32 Room”. The definition name information “character string of f # name” = “Taro”, the definition name information “character string of l # neme” = “Yamakawa Tajia”, and the definition name information “character string of address” = “Tokyo” This indicates that it is “ABC32 room in □□ 1-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo”.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of document data. The document data 198 includes header data 198a, background layout data 198b, character frame layout data 198c, and the like. The header data 198a, the background layout data 198b, and the character frame layout data 198c each include an edit tag described below.

In FIG. 4, document data 198 in XML format is illustrated. For the sketch layout data 198b, edit tags "<Baseimage> </ Baseimage>", "<BasestartX> </ BasestartX>", "<BasestartY> </ BasestartY>", and "<PageNo> </ PageNo>" are used. “<Baseimage> graphic.eps </ Baseimage> <BasestartX> 0 </ BasestartX> <BasestartY> 0 </ BasestartY> <PageNo> 1 </ PageNo>” is shown.

As an example of the character frame allocation data 198c, edit tags “<Field> </ Field>” “<Fieldname> </ Fieldname>”, “<Columnname> </ Columnname>” “<StartX> </ StartX>” “ <Field using <StartY> </ StartY>, <Font> </ Font>, <Fontsize> </ Fontsize>, <Fontcolor> </ Fontcolor>, <Position> </ Position> > <Fieldname> Address </ Fieldname> <Columnname> address </ Columnname> <StartX> 17 </ StartX> <StartY> 34 </ StartY> <Font> Mincho-R </ Font> <Fontsize> 12 </ Fontsize > <Fontcolor> 1 0.7 0 0 </ Fontcolor> <Position> 1 </ Position> ”. Here, “<Fieldname> </ Fieldname>” defines a character item. “<StartX> </ StartX>” and “<StartY> </ StartY>” define coordinate values (X, Y) of the start position of the character frame (for example, the upper left of the frame). Similarly, “<Font> </ Font>” is the font of the text to be placed in the text box, “<Fontsize> </ Fontsize>” is the font size, “<Fonttransform> </ Fonttransform>” Define the font deformation rate.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a display example of the background data 591. FIG. 5 illustrates a sketch assigned to the displayed assigned page data. The displayed background is a credit card usage detail, and an area 591a for assigning a user's address name field, an area 591b for assigning a usage detail description field, and the like are set.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the edit screen. FIG. 6A shows an editing screen 180a displaying a sketch 591. The edit screen 180a exemplifies an edit screen in which a character frame designating the start position of the character frame and the character size is assigned to the area 591a of the address name field of the background user.

FIG. 6B shows a character frame in which the field items “f # name” and “l # name” of the component data are associated with each other and a character frame in which the field items “address” of the component data are associated with each other. Is illustrated.

FIG. 6C shows an editing screen 180c in which characters of the maximum number of characters are further arranged. An editing screen 180c in which characters corresponding to the maximum number of characters in each character frame are arranged is illustrated (FIG. 6). The editing screen shows an example in which the character frame in which the maximum number of characters is arranged overlaps the ruled line of the background.

In this way, by checking the maximum number of characters in the component data and formatting a dummy character in the character frame, it is possible to visually verify whether or not it overlaps with other character frames or background patterns. If they overlap, move the starting point of the character frame to correct the assignment.

FIG. 7 is a detailed configuration diagram of the sketch creation device 500. The sketch creation apparatus 500 includes a sketch creation unit 510, a sketch transmission unit 520, and a storage unit 590. The storage unit 590 stores background part data 599.

The sketch creation means 510 edits the sketch part data 599 to create the sketch data 591. The sketch transmission means 520 transmits the created sketch data 591 to the document editing apparatus 100.

The background creation means 510 and the background transmission means 520 are computer programs. The sketch component data 591 is data that can be read by a computer program. The storage unit 590 is a semiconductor memory or a magnetic memory.

FIG. 8 is a detailed configuration diagram of the component data server apparatus 300. The component data server apparatus 300 includes a component data transmission request accepting unit 320, a search result transmitting unit 330, and a storage unit 390. The storage unit 390 stores a parts database.

The component database stores component data as material data for variable printing, and the component data is composed of character data such as personal information and product information and image data used for each item.

The part data transmission request accepting unit 320 accepts a part data transmission request from the document editing apparatus 100. As an example of a part data transmission request, an item name to be edited by the document editing apparatus 100 is input as a search key and transmitted to the part data server apparatus 300. The search means 310 searches the print database using the item name included in the parts transmission request as a search key, and extracts related character data and image data. The search result transmission unit 330 transmits the extracted component data and image data to the document editing apparatus 100.

The search means 310, the part data transmission request reception means 320, and the search result transmission means 330 are computer programs. Character data and image data are data that can be read by a computer program. The storage unit 390 is a semiconductor memory or a magnetic memory.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the procedure of document editing processing according to the present invention.
(1) The background creation means 510 of the background creation device 500 creates the background data 591 to which the background is assigned. (Step S1a)
(2) The sketch transmission means 520 of the sketch creation device 500 transmits the sketch data 591 to the document editing device 100. (Step S1b)
(3) The allocating unit 110 of the document editing apparatus 100 allocates the received background data 591 to the allocated page data. (Step S1c)
(4) The part data transmission request unit 171 of the document editing apparatus 100 receives an input of a character string including an item name and transmits it to the part data server apparatus 300. (Step S2a)
(5) The component data transmission request accepting unit 320 of the component data server apparatus 300 receives the data from the component data transmission requesting unit 171. (Step S2b)
(6) The search means 310 of the component data server apparatus 300 creates a search key from the character transmission request, searches the component database, and selects the corresponding character data 393. (Step S2c)
(7) The search result transmission unit 330 of the component data server apparatus 300 transmits the selected character data 393 to the document editing apparatus 100. (Step S2d)
(8) The component data receiving unit 171 of the document editing apparatus 100 receives the transmitted character data 393. (Step S2e)
(9) The maximum character number measuring unit 140 of the document editing apparatus 100 measures the maximum number of characters of each field item data of the received character data 393. (Step S2f)
(10) The character frame assigning unit 120 of the document editing apparatus 100 assigns a character frame based on the displayed background picture or the already assigned character frame. (Step S3a)
(11) The field item association unit 130 of the document editing apparatus 100 associates the field item of the character data 393 with the assigned character frame. (Step S3b)
(12) The maximum number of character arrangement unit 150 of the document editing apparatus 100 checks the maximum number of characters of the field item associated with the character frame with reference to the maximum number of characters of the measured field item, and determines the maximum number of dummy characters. Place and display in a text frame. (Step S3c)
At this time, if the editor determines that it is inconvenient to assign a character frame in which dummy characters corresponding to the maximum number of characters are arranged, the process returns to step S3a. At that time, the process may return to step S3a while displaying the dummy characters for the maximum number of arranged characters, or may return to step S3a with the dummy characters for the maximum number of arranged characters being hidden.
(13) The document creation unit 150 of the document editing apparatus 100 creates document data 198 including an edit tag. (Step S4a)

When the editor assigns a plurality of character frames to the sketch data, a dummy character is arranged for each character frame, and the editor confirms the layout and adjusts the position of the character frame. Specifically, steps 3a to 3c in FIG. 9 are repeated.

The document editing apparatus 100 may create the sketch data 591 to which the sketch is assigned.

FIG. 10 is an example of a dummy character display processing procedure according to the present invention.
A procedure for displaying dummy characters on the editing screen 180c in FIG. 6 will be described using the character data 393 illustrated in FIG.

The maximum number of characters for each field item in the character data 393 is “4 characters (8 bytes)” for the field item “f # name” and “4 characters (8 bytes)” for the field item “l #”. The maximum number of characters (maximum number of bytes) of “neme” is “4 characters (8 bytes)” of “Yamakawada family”, and the maximum number of characters (maximum number of bytes) of field item “address” is “Setagaya-ku, Tokyo ▽▽ 2-chome *” * It is “24 characters (48 bytes)” of “Room 114” (FIG. 10 (1)).

Therefore, 24 characters (for example, ◯) are placed in the character frame associated with “address” ((2)). In the character frame associated with “f # name” and “l # name”, four characters are arranged as “f # name” and four characters are arranged as “l # neme”. (3).

In this way, the maximum number of characters can be calculated, and the character frame area can be automatically expanded and contracted to be displayed with the maximum number of characters.

FIG. 11 is a detailed configuration diagram of the edit data conversion apparatus 900.
The edit data conversion apparatus 900 includes a document reception unit 920, a printing apparatus designation unit 910, a control code conversion unit 930, a control data transmission unit 940, and a storage unit 990. The storage unit 990 stores a control code correspondence table 997.

The control code correspondence table 997 is data that includes printing device designation information and associates predetermined data (for example, edit tags) of the document data 198 with printer control codes of the printing device.

The document receiving unit 920 receives the document data 198 from the document editing apparatus 100. The printing device designation unit 910 receives input of printing device designation information. The control code conversion means 930 selects the control code correspondence table 997 of the received printing apparatus designation information, and uses this to convert predetermined data of the received document data 198 into a printer control code. Control data 998 is created. The control data transmission means 940 creates control data using the converted document data and transmits it.

The document receiving unit 920, the printing device specifying unit 910, the control code converting unit 930, and the control data transmitting unit 940 are computer programs. The storage unit 990 is a semiconductor memory or a magnetic memory. The control code correspondence table 997 is data readable by the computer program.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the procedure of variable printing processing.
(1) The document editing apparatus 100 transmits the document data to the editing data conversion apparatus 900. (Step S1)
(2) The document receiving unit 920 of the editing data conversion apparatus 900 receives document data from the document editing apparatus 100. (Step S2)
(3) The control code conversion unit 930 of the edit data conversion apparatus 900 converts the edit tag of the document data into a control code by using the control code correspondence table 997 of the designated printing apparatus, and creates control data 998. (Step S3)
(4) The control data transmission unit 940 of the edit data conversion apparatus 900 transmits the control data 998 to the variable printing apparatus 700. (Step S4)
(5) The variable printing apparatus 700 receives the transmitted control data 998. (Step S5)
(6) The component data server apparatus 300 transmits the character data 393 and the image data 395 to the variable printing apparatus 700. (Step S6)
(7) The variable printing apparatus 700 receives the transmitted character data 393 and image data 395. (Step S7)
(8) The variable printing apparatus 700 creates print data using the received control data 998, character data 393, and image data 395. (Step S8)
(9) The variable printing apparatus 700 performs variable printing using the print data to create a variable printed material 799. (Step S9)

FIG. 13 is an example of a variable printed material 799.
The variable printed material 799 is printed with a sketch, characters, and an image.

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it has become possible to simply and reliably confirm the print appearance in variable printing.

Overall configuration of variable printing system according to the present invention Detailed configuration diagram of document editing apparatus 100 according to the present invention Part data format and examples Document data example (XML format) Example of sketch Example of edit screen Detailed configuration diagram of sketch creation device 500 Detailed configuration diagram of the component data server apparatus 500 Procedure of document editing processing according to the present invention Example of dummy character display processing procedure according to the present invention Detailed configuration diagram of edit data conversion apparatus 900 Variable printing procedure Variable printed matter

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Variable printing system 100 by this invention Document editing apparatus 110 Assignment means 120 Character frame assignment means 130 Field item correspondence means 140 Maximum character number measurement means 150 Document creation means 160 Maximum character number arrangement means 171 Component data transmission request means 172 Component data reception means 173 Background transmission requesting means 174 Background receiving means 180 Display means 180a Editing screen 180b Partially expanded editing screen 180c Editing screen 190 with the maximum number of characters arranged Storage means 198 Document data 198a Header data 198b Background layout data 198c Character frame allocation data 300 parts data server apparatus 320 parts data transmission request accepting means 330 search result transmitting means 390 storage means 393 character data 393b field item 395 image data 500 sketch creation apparatus 510 Background drawing creation means 520 Background sending means 590 Storage means 591 Background data 591a Area for assigning user's address name field 591b Area for assigning usage description entry field 599 Background part data 700 Variable printing device 900 Edit data conversion device 910 Printing device designation means 920 Document receiving means 930 Control code converting means 940 Control data transmitting means 990 Storage means 997 Control code correspondence table 998 Control data

Claims (6)

In the document editing system for variable printing in which the component data server device and the document editing device are network-connected,
The print data server device includes:
Storage means for storing a component database for storing information specifying field items and component data including field item data;
A component data transmission unit that accepts a component data transmission request, searches a component database, and returns the retrieved component data to a document editing device;
A server device comprising:
The document editing device includes:
Component data receiving means for receiving component data from a component data server device;
Maximum number of characters measuring means for measuring the maximum number of characters for each field item of component data,
A character frame assigning means for assigning character frames;
A field item association means for associating a field item of component data with the assigned character frame;
Maximum number of character arrangement means for arranging the characters for the maximum number of characters of the measured field item in a character frame associated with the field item;
A display means for displaying a character frame including information for identifying a field item and a character frame in which a maximum number of characters are arranged;
Document creation means for creating document data including character frame data;
A document editing system for variable printing, characterized by comprising: The document editing device includes:
Storage means for storing background data;
An assigning means for assigning the sketch data;
An editing device comprising:
The document editing system for variable printing according to claim 1. A variable printing document editing method using a parts database storing part data including field item data,
Searching the database to extract desired part data;
With reference to the field item data of the extracted component data, a maximum character number measuring step for measuring the maximum number of characters of each field item data;
A character frame assigning step for assigning character frames;
A field item association step for associating a field item of component data with the assigned character frame;
A maximum number of characters arranged appearance display step for arranging and displaying characters corresponding to the maximum number of characters of the measured field item in a character frame associated with the field item;
A document creation step for creating document data including character frames;
A document editing method for printing, which is performed by a procedure including: A variable printing document editing method using background data,
The allocation page creation step creates an allocation page in which a sketch is displayed in a synthesized manner.
The printing document editing method according to claim 3, wherein the printing document editing method is performed according to a procedure. A variable printing document editing method using a parts database storing part data including field item data,
A character frame allocating step for allocating a character frame and creating a character frame including start position information and character dimension information;
A field item association step for associating a field item of component data with the created character frame;
Searching the parts database and extracting desired parts data;
A maximum number of characters measurement step of measuring the maximum number of characters of each field item data of the extracted component data;
A maximum number of characters arranged appearance display step for arranging and displaying characters corresponding to the maximum number of characters of the measured field item in a character frame associated with the field item;
A document creation step for creating document data including character frame data;
A document editing method for printing, which is performed by a procedure including: A variable printing document editing method using background data,
The allocation page creation step creates an allocation page in which a sketch is displayed in a synthesized manner.
The printing document editing method according to claim 5, wherein the printing document editing method is performed according to a procedure.

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