JP2012113574A - Variable print system, printed matter design method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a variable print system that centrally manages design documents used in layout design and variable text design, optimizes the entire process, and improves program reusability.
A design document creation apparatus 10 of a variable print system 1 registers design document information 61 having data layout design data 62, layout design data 63, text processing design data 64, and item information data 65 in a database 60. When the layout design apparatus 20 reads the design document information 61 from the database 60, the object of the layout design tool 21 is automatically generated, and the layout design data 63 can be edited. Further, when the variable text shaping device 30 reads the design document information 61 from the database 60, the text processing flow of the text data shaping tool 33 is automatically generated, and the text processing design data 64 can be edited.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a variable print system that prints different contents for each customer.

For direct mail printing work to be mailed to a customer, a variable print system is used that creates a different one for each customer in accordance with the customer's attributes and needs.
In the variable print system, a layout person designs a layout of printed matter such as direct mail and creates a layout instruction file. In addition, a person in charge different from the person in charge of layout creates a variable data file including personal information data such as the customer's zip code, address, and name. Then, the variable data file is poured into the layout instruction file at the printer installation location, print data is created, and printing is performed by the printer (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-10-208071

Since the layout design and variable text data design are performed in completely different flows, as shown in FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1, there are two layout instructions: a layout instruction in layout design and a data specification in variable text data design. There will be different specifications. Here, the layout instruction and the data specification include partially overlapping information.
However, in the mechanism described in Patent Document 1, data input based on a layout instruction is performed in layout design and data input based on a data specification is performed in variable text data design. The whole process is not optimized. Further, when creating print data, there may be a problem that consistency is not achieved with respect to overlapping information.

  In addition, layout design and variable text design are implemented by using program development or tools, reusing previously created programs, or by inputting and setting from the beginning by the developer based on the design document. . As a method of reusing the program, if the printed material is a periodic item or a repeat item, the entire program can be reused, or the program can be partially stored in a shared place as a part and processed by another item. Or reuse it. However, in the past, parts were not centrally managed, and due to inferior reuse based on guesses from part file names and developer's rules of thumb, reliability could not be confirmed. Depending on the situation, there may be a bias in the reuse situation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and its purpose is to centrally manage design documents used in layout design and variable text design, optimize the entire process, and reuse programs. It is to provide a variable print system and the like that improve the performance.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the first invention provides a design document creation device that creates design document information of printed layout data and transaction data, a layout design device that generates the layout data, and the transaction data. A variable print system comprising a variable text shaping device to be generated and a database for storing the design document information, wherein the design document information includes layout design data, text processing design data, and the layout design data. And the data processing setting data for associating the text processing design data, the design document creating device comprises means for setting the design document information, the layout design device based on the design document information, Means for generating the layout design data; And Bei, the variable text shaping device, based on the design documents information, formats the variable text data, a variable print system, characterized by comprising means, for generating the transaction data.
According to the first invention, design documents used in layout design and variable text design can be centrally managed as design document information in a database, the entire process in the variable print system can be optimized, and the reusability of the program can be improved. .

The variable text shaping device according to a first aspect of the invention is a means for displaying an icon indicating a conversion process defined in the text processing design data with reference to the design document information; First updating means for updating the database according to the rearrangement.
As a result, the variable text shaping device acquires design document information from the database and automatically displays an icon indicating the conversion process defined in the text processing design data, so that the user does not need to input initial data. Work load is reduced.

The layout design apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention refers to the means for displaying a layout of a printed matter defined in the layout design data with reference to the design document information, and according to a change in the layout of the printed matter by a user, Second update means for updating the database.
As a result, the layout design device acquires design document information from the database and automatically displays the layout of the printed matter defined in the layout design data, eliminating the need for input of initial data by the user and reducing the workload. Is done.

The design document information in the first invention further includes editability information indicating whether or not the design document information can be overwritten and stored, and the design document creation device further sets the editability information. The first update unit and the second update unit store the design document information by overwriting the database when the editability information is possible, and the editability information is not In this case, the design document information is newly registered in the database.
Thereby, it is possible to control the reuse and editing of the items of the printed matter.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a design document creation device that creates design document information of printed matter layout data and transaction data, a layout design device that generates the layout data, a variable text shaping device that generates the transaction data, and a layout A printed matter design method in a variable print system comprising design data, text processing design data, and a database storing design document information having data layout setting data for associating the layout design data and the text processing design data. The design document creating device sets the design document information, the layout design device generates the layout design data based on the design document information, and the variable text shaping device. , Based on the design documents information, it formats the variable text data is a printed material design method which comprises the steps of: generating the transaction data.
According to the second invention, design documents used in layout design and variable text design can be centrally managed as design document information in a database, the entire process in the variable print system can be optimized, and the reusability of the program can be improved. .

According to a third aspect of the invention, the storage device functions as a database that stores layout design data, text processing design data, and design document information having data layout setting data that associates the layout design data with the text processing design data. The layout design comprising: a plurality of computers each having the means for setting the design document information; and the means for generating the layout design data based on the design document information. A program for causing a device to function as the variable text shaping device including an apparatus and means for shaping variable text data based on the design document information and generating the transaction data.
By installing the program of the third invention on a general-purpose computer, the variable print system of the first invention can be realized.

  The present invention can provide a variable print system or the like that centrally manages design documents used in layout design and variable text design, optimizes the entire process, and improves program reusability.

The figure which shows the outline | summary of the variable print system 1 Hardware configuration diagram of design document creation device 10, layout design device 20, variable text shaping device 30, variable image editing device 40, and composition device 50 Diagram showing details of database 60 The flowchart which shows the flow of the registration process of the design document information 61 in the design document creation apparatus 10. The figure which shows an example of the reuse tab 105 of the digital design document creation tool screen 100 The figure which shows an example of the data layout setting tab 101 of the digital design document creation tool screen 100 The figure which shows an example of the layout design tab 102 of the digital design document creation tool screen 100 The figure which shows an example of the text processing design tab 103 of the digital design document creation tool screen 100 The figure which shows an example of the line deletion setting (blank) screen 160 The figure which shows an example of the item information tab 104 of the digital design document creation tool screen 100 The figure which shows an example of the XML file of the design document information 61 A flowchart showing a flow of layout design data editing processing in the layout design apparatus 20 The figure which shows an example of the layout design tool screen 200 The figure which shows an example of the layout design tool screen 200 The flowchart which shows the flow of the edit process of the text processing design data in the variable text shaping apparatus 30 The figure which shows an example of the text data shaping tool screen 210 The figure which shows an example of the text data shaping tool screen 210

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a variable print system and the like according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are given to components having substantially the same functional configuration, and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the variable print system 1.
The variable print system 1 includes a design document creation device 10, a layout design device 20, a variable text shaping device 30, a variable image editing device 40, a composition device 50, a database 60, a printer 70, and the like.

The design document creation apparatus 10 generates design document information 61 to be stored in the database 60. The design document creation apparatus 10 has a digital design document creation tool 11.
The digital design document creation tool 11 creates data corresponding to two design documents, a conventional layout design document and a print design document, and registers them in the database 60 as design document information 61. The database 60 is stored in an arbitrary storage device that allows the design document creation device 10, the layout design device 20, and the variable text shaping device 30 to read and write data.
Details of the database 60 will be described later.

  The layout design device 20 generates layout data 24 based on the design document information 61 and the layout definition file 22. The layout design apparatus 20 includes a layout design tool 21 and a conversion tool 23.

The layout design tool 21 is a tool for designing a layout without a user programming. That is, when the user sets various information using the GUI, the layout design device 20 generates the first transaction data 32 to be output to the variable text shaping device 30 and the layout definition file 22 by the function of the layout design tool 21. To do.
Here, “transaction data” is data excluding images and layouts in the print data. For example, in the VIPP (Variable Data Intelligent PostScript PrintWare) language, images are cached using a unique mechanism. In the VIPP language, there are (1) a native mode in which content is embedded, and (2) a VIPP PRO (DataBase) mode in which image / layout (DBM) and transaction data (DBF) are separately provided and combined on RIP. . In the embodiment of the present invention, as in the mode (2) of the VIPP language, the image / layout and the transaction data are managed separately.
Hereinafter, when simply described as “layout”, it means the layout of the printed sheet, and when described as “data layout”, it means various definitions relating to data.

The first transaction data 32 includes a command that is an instruction to the synthesizing device 50, a column list used in layout design, and the like.
The layout definition file 22 is general-purpose layout data that does not depend on the model of the printer 70 to be used and the type of printer control code.
The conversion tool 23 is a tool for converting layout data into data corresponding to the printer 70. That is, the layout design apparatus 20 converts the general-purpose layout definition file 22 into a format suitable for the printer control code of the printer 70 used in the variable print system 1 by the function of the conversion tool 23, and converts the layout data 24 into the format. Generate.

The variable text shaping device 30 generates second transaction data 52 based on the design document information 61, variable text data 31, and first transaction data 32. The variable text shaping device 30 has a text data shaping tool 33.
The variable text data 31 is information such as a store number in charge of a customer, a customer zip code, an address, and a name.
The text data shaping tool 33 is a tool for shaping transaction data. That is, the variable text shaping device 30 performs variable text data design based on the design document information 61, variable text data 31, and first transaction data 32 from the database 60 by the function of the text data shaping tool 33. Details of the function of the text data shaping tool 33 will be described later.

The variable image editing device 40 generates image data 53 that is a variable image that is different for each customer based on the variable image material data 41. The variable image editing device 40 has DTP software 42.
The DTP software 42 is software for editing an image. That is, the variable image editing device 40 performs image editing processing of the variable image material data 41 by the function of the DTP software 42 and generates image data 53.

The synthesizing device 50 includes a print data generation tool 54.
The print data generation tool 54 is a tool for generating print data corresponding to the printer 70. In other words, the composition device 50 uses the function of the print data generation tool 54 to add the second transaction data 52 generated by the variable text shaping device 30 to the layout data 51 generated by the layout design device 20 and the variable image editing device 40. The image data 53 generated by the above is synthesized for each customer, and the printer 70 is instructed to print.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer that realizes the design document creation device 10, the layout design device 20, the variable text shaping device 30, the variable image editing device 40, and the composition device 50. The hardware configuration shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and various configurations can be adopted depending on applications and purposes.
In the computer, a control unit 71, a storage unit 72, a media input / output unit 73, a communication control unit 74, an input unit 75, a display unit 76, a peripheral device I / F unit 77, and the like are connected via a bus 78.

The controller 71 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like.
The CPU calls a program stored in the ROM, the storage unit 72, and the like to a work memory area on the RAM and executes it, drives and controls each device connected via the bus 78, and realizes processing performed by the computer.
The ROM is a non-volatile memory and permanently holds a computer boot program, a program such as BIOS, data, and the like.
The RAM is a volatile memory, and temporarily stores programs, data, and the like loaded from the storage unit 72, ROM, storage medium, and the like, and includes a work area used by the control unit 71 for performing various processes.

The storage unit 72 is an HDD (hard disk drive), and stores a program executed by the control unit 71, data necessary for program execution, an OS (Operating System), and the like. Regarding programs, a control program corresponding to the OS, application programs, files, and the like are stored.
Each of these program codes is read by the control unit 71 as necessary, transferred to the RAM, and executed as various means by the CPU.

The media input / output unit 73 is a drive device that inputs / outputs data of a recording medium. For example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive, a CD drive (-ROM, -R, -RW, etc.), a DVD drive (-ROM). , -R, -RW, etc.) and a media input / output device such as an MO drive.
The communication control unit 74 has a communication control device, a communication port, and the like, is a communication interface that mediates communication via the network 13, and controls communication with other computers.

The input unit 75 inputs data and includes, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, and an input device such as a numeric keypad. An operation instruction, an operation instruction, data input, and the like can be performed on the computer via the input unit 75.
The display unit 76 includes a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitor, a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and a logic circuit (such as a video adapter) for realizing a video function in cooperation with the display device.
The peripheral device I / F unit 77 is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port or the like for connecting peripheral devices.
The bus 78 is a path that mediates transmission / reception of control signals, data signals, and the like between the devices.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing details of the database 60.
The database 60 holds design document information 61 having data layout design data 62, layout design data 63, text processing design data 64, and item information data 65.
The data layout design data 62 is data that associates data used for layout design with data used for text processing design, and includes information such as the column name of the variable text data 31 and the columns used in the layout design.
The layout design data 63 is layout information of printed matter, and includes a print position, font, size, attribute information, and the like of print items.
The text processing design data 64 has detailed information on conversion processing such as processing order of text formatting conversion processing performed by the text data formatting tool 33, check conditions such as error characters, white space, and the number of characters, sorting conditions, and barcode addition processing. .
The item information data 65 includes information such as a customer for each item of the printed matter, an item name, a charge, and editability information.

Next, the flow of the registration process of the design document information 61 in the variable print system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the registration process of the design document information 61 in the design document creation apparatus 10.
When the user activates the digital design document creation tool 11 on the design document creation device 10 and instructs creation of the design document, the design document creation device 10 creates new design document information for the user or reuses it. Ask what to do. When the user designates reuse (reuse in step S101), the design document creation apparatus 10 displays the digital design document creation tool screen and stores the design document information 61 in the database 60 based on the conditions input by the user. A search is performed (step S102), a list of design document information 61 is acquired (step S103), and displayed to the user. The user selects design document information to be reused from the list of design document information 61 (step S104).

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the reuse tab 105 on the digital design document creation tool screen 100.
The digital design document creation tool screen 100 includes a data layout design tab 101, a layout design tab 102, a text processing design tab 103, an item information tab 104, and a reuse tab 105. When the user reuses design document information, the design document creation apparatus 10 displays a reuse tab 105 on the digital design document creation tool screen 100.

The reuse tab 105 of the digital design document creation tool screen 100 includes a customer 106, an item name 107, a person in charge 108, a list acquisition button 109, a design document information list 110, and the like.
When the user reuses the design document information 61, the user inputs a search condition to at least one of the customer 106, the item name 107, and the person in charge 108 and presses the list acquisition button 109. Acquires a list of design document information 61 satisfying the search condition from the database 60 and displays it on the design document information list 110. The user selects design document information 61 to be reused from the design document information list 110.
When the editability information is “permitted”, the user can edit the design document information 61 and overwrite and save the original data. On the other hand, if the editability information is “NO”, the user cannot overwrite the original data and save it, and registers it as new design document information 61.

When the user designates reuse (reuse in step S101), the design document creation apparatus 10 displays the contents of the design document information 61 selected by the user as a data layout setting tab 101, a layout design tab 102, and a text processing design tab. 103 and item information tab 104, respectively.
When the user designates new creation (new creation in step S101), the design document creation apparatus 10 sets the data layout setting tab 101, layout design tab 102, text processing design tab 103, and item information tab 104 to a state without data. Or set a default value.

Returning to the description of FIG.
The design document creation apparatus 10 displays the data layout tab 101 of the digital design document tool screen 100, and the user edits the data layout setting data 62 (step S105).

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data layout setting tab 101 on the digital design document creation tool screen 100.
The data layout setting tab 101 of the digital design document tool screen 100 includes an input data layout 121, an output data layout 125, column addition buttons 122 and 126, column deletion buttons 123 and 127, a CSV (Comma-Separated Values) header read button 124, 128 etc.

The input data layout 121 is header information of the variable text data 31 to be input, and has a list of column names such as “customer name”, “zip code”, “address 1”, “address 3”, “address 2”, and the like. . Usually, the column name of the input data layout 121 differs depending on the creator of the variable text data 31 (orderer of the printed matter).
The output data layout 125 is header information of the second transaction data 52 output by the variable text shaping device 30, and column names such as “name”, “zipcode”, “address1”, “address2”, “address3”, and the like. Have a list.
The column names of the input data layout 121 and the output data layout 125 are associated with each other. In the example shown in FIG. 6, “customer name” and “name”, “zip code” and “zipcode”, “address 1” and “address 1”, “address 3” and “address 2”, “address 2” and “address 3”. "Is associated.

When the column addition buttons 122 and 126 are pressed by the user, the design document creation apparatus 10 adds and displays new column names to the input data layout 121 and the output data layout 126, respectively, and stores the design stored in the database 60. This is reflected in the data layout design data 62 of the document information 61.
When the column delete buttons 123 and 127 are pressed by the user, the design document creation apparatus 10 deletes and displays the column names selected from the input data layout 121 and the output data layout 126, respectively, and is stored in the database 60. This is reflected in the data layout design data 62 of the design document information 61.
When an arbitrary file is designated by the user and the CSV header read buttons 124 and 128 are pressed, the design document creation apparatus 10 reads the header of the designated file, and enters the input data layout 121 and the output data layout 126, respectively. The information is displayed and reflected in the data layout design data 62 of the design document information 61 stored in the database 60.

Returning to the description of FIG.
The design document creation apparatus 10 displays the layout design tab 102 of the digital design document tool screen 100, and the user edits the layout design data 63 (step S106).

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the layout design tab 102 of the digital design document creation tool screen 100.
The layout design tab 102 of the digital design document tool screen 100 includes a fixed print item tab 131, a fixed image item tab 132, and a variable print item tab 133.

The fixed print item tab 131 is a screen for setting information related to text data to be fixedly printed on all printed materials, not for each customer.
The fixed image item tab 132 is a screen for setting information regarding image data to be fixedly printed on all printed materials, not for each customer.
The variable print item tab 133 is a screen for setting information such as font, size, position, and maximum number of characters for printing variable text data 31 that is different for each customer.

The variable print item tab 133 includes item No. 134, item name 135, font name 136, size 137, X138, Y139, number of characters 140, attribute 141, alignment 142, condition 143, remarks 144, item addition button 145, item deletion button 146, etc. Have
The item NO 134 is a unique number of the item of the variable text data 31.
The item name 135 is the name of the item of the variable text data 31 and has values such as “large address 1”, “large address 2”, “large address 3”, and “small address 1”.
The font name 136 is a font name for printing the items of the variable text data 31 and has a value such as “MS Mincho”.
The size 137 is a character size for printing the items of the variable text data 31, and has values such as “9pt” and “7pt”.

X138 and Y139 are the values of the X coordinate and the Y coordinate related to the upper left vertex of the text box (rectangular object) in which the variable text data 31 item is printed.
The number of characters 140 is the maximum number of characters that can be printed for an item of the variable text data 31.
The attribute 141 indicates the attribute of the item of the variable text data 31 and indicates that it is a 1-byte character or a 2-byte character.
The alignment 142 indicates an alignment position in a text box (rectangular object) in which items of the variable text data 31 are printed, and has values such as “left”, “center”, and “right” alignment.
The condition 143 indicates a condition for printing the item of the variable text data 31. When the setting button is pressed by the user, the design document creating apparatus 10 displays a condition input screen. The user inputs a printing condition (for example, a predetermined item is not NULL) on the condition input screen.
The remark 144 indicates remarks regarding the items of the variable text data 31. When the setting button is pressed by the user, the design document creating apparatus 10 displays a remark input screen. The user inputs an arbitrary character string on the remark input screen.

The item addition button 145 is a button for adding an item to be printed.
The item deletion button 146 is a button for deleting the item selected on the variable print item tab 133.

The design document creation apparatus 10 refers to the layout design data 63 of the design document information 61 stored in the database 60 and refers to the item NO 134, the item name 135, the font name 136, the size 137, X138, Y139, the number of characters 140, the attribute 141, Specific values are displayed in the alignment 142, the condition 143, and the remarks 144, respectively.
The editing result by the user is reflected in the database 60.

Returning to the description of FIG.
The design document creation apparatus 10 displays the text processing design tab 103 of the digital design document tool screen 100, and the user edits the text processing design data 64 (step S107).

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the text processing design tab 103 on the digital design document creation tool screen 100.
The text processing design tab 103 of the digital design document tool screen 100 includes a processing order 151, a processing name 152, a setting 153, a pull-down menu 154, a processing addition button 155, a processing deletion button 156, and the like.

The text processing design tab 103 is a screen for the variable text shaping device 30 to set text shaping conversion processing for the variable text data 31.
The processing order 151 indicates the order in which the conversion processing is performed.
The process name 152 indicates the name of the conversion process.
The pull-down menu 154 is a list of conversion processes. The user selects a desired conversion process from the pull-down menu 154.
A setting 153 is a column for displaying a detailed setting button for each conversion process.
The process addition button 155 is a button for adding a conversion process.
The process deletion button 156 is a button for deleting the conversion process.

When the user instructs to add conversion processing for deleting a line (blank) on the text processing design tab 103 of the digital design document creation tool screen 100, for example, the design document creation device 10 displays a screen for performing detailed settings. To do.
Here, the line deletion (blank) conversion process means a text shaping process for deleting a line including only a blank.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the line deletion setting (blank) screen 160.
The line deletion setting (blank) screen 160 includes an input field 161, a target field 162, an add button 163, a delete button 164, an OK button 165, a cancel button 166, and the like.

The input field 161 shows a list of fields that are not targets among the fields that can be the target of the row deletion (blank) conversion process.
The target field 162 shows a list of fields to be subjected to the row deletion (blank) conversion process.
The add button 163 is a button for adding the field selected in the input field 161 to the target field 162.
The delete button 164 is a button for returning the field selected in the target field 162 to the input field 161.
The OK button 165 is a button for storing the contents set in the row deletion setting (blank) screen 160 in the database 60.
The cancel button 166 is a button for closing the line deletion setting (blank) screen 160 without storing the contents set in the line deletion setting (blank) screen 160 in the database 60.
The design contents in the text processing design tab 103 are stored in the text processing design data 64 of the design document information 61 held in the database 60.

Returning to the description of FIG.
The design document creation apparatus 10 displays the item information tab 104 of the digital design document tool screen 100, and the user edits the item information data 65 (step S108).

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the item information tab 104 on the digital design document creation tool screen 100.
The item information tab 104 of the digital design document tool screen 100 is a screen for setting the item information of the printed material. The customer 106, the item name 107, the person in charge 108, the editability information check box 111, the DB registration button 112, and the like are displayed. Have.

The customer 106 indicates customer information for each item of the printed matter.
The item name 107 indicates a name for each item of the printed matter.
The person in charge 108 indicates the name of the person in charge who edited the design document information 61 related to the printed item.
The editability information check box 111 indicates whether or not the design document information 61 relating to the printed item can be edited. When the editability information check box 111 is not checked, the user can edit and overwrite the design document information 61 of the item. When the editability information check box 111 is checked, the user cannot overwrite the design document information 61 of the item and registers it as new design document information 61 in the database 60. In the variable print system 1, it is possible to control whether the reuse of the design document information 61 is permitted or not based on the editability information.
If the user designates reuse in step S101 (reuse in step S101), if the editability information of the design document information 61 selected in the reuse tab 105 is “No”, the design document is displayed. The creation apparatus 10 fixes the editability information check box 111 in a checked state. That is, the user cannot remove the check.
The DB registration button 112 is a button for storing the setting contents in the item information tab 104 in the database 60. The setting contents in the item information tab 104 are stored in the item information data 65 of the design document information 61 held in the database 60.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an XML file of the design document information 61.
The XML file of the design document information 61 is divided into an item information data portion 171, a data layout design data portion 172, a layout design data portion 173, a text processing design data portion 174, and the like.
The item information data portion 171 corresponds to the item information data 65. The data layout design data portion 172 corresponds to the data layout setting data 62. The layout design data portion 173 corresponds to the layout design data 63. The text processing design data portion 174 corresponds to the text processing design data 64.

  As described above, the design document creation apparatus 10 of the variable print system 1 centrally manages the design document information 61 used in layout design and variable text design. The user selects items of layout design data 63 used in the layout design document 20, text processing design data 64 used in the variable shaping device 30, layout design data 63 and text processing design data 64 in the design document creation device 10. The associated data layout design data 62 and item information data 65 holding information for each item can be edited together.

Next, the flow of layout design data editing processing in the layout design apparatus 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of layout design data editing processing in the layout design apparatus 20. In the layout design apparatus 20, only the layout design data 63 of the design document information 61 can be edited.

When the user activates the layout design tool 21 in the layout design device 20, the layout design device 20 searches the design document information 61 from the database 60 based on the search conditions specified by the user (step S201), and the design document information. A list of 61 is acquired (step S202), and a list of design document information 61 is displayed.
When the user selects design document information from the list of design document information 61 (step S203), the layout design device 20 reads the selected design document information 61 from the database 60 (step S204) and displays the layout design data screen 200. (Step S205). When the user performs additional editing of the layout design data 63 (Yes in step S206), the layout design data 63 is edited on the layout design data screen 200 displayed on the layout design device 20 (step S207).

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the layout design tool screen 200.
The layout design tool screen 200 includes an address object 201, an address object 202, a barcode object 203, a QR (Quick Response) code object 204, a guidance type object 205, a car image object 206, a set object list 207, and the like.

The address object 201, the address object 202, the barcode object 203, the QR object 204, the guidance type object 205, and the car image object 206 are different for each customer.
The alphabet before the item name in the set object list 207 represents the type of the object, “T” means text, “I” means image, “Q” means QR code, and “B” means bar code.
The layout design apparatus 20 refers to the layout design data 63 of the design document information 61 stored in the database 60, and each object of the set object list 207 is an address object 201, a destination object 202, a barcode object 203, a QR code. An object 204, a guidance type object 205, and a car image object 206 are displayed.

  In the layout design tool screen 200 shown in FIG. 13, the user performs layout design related to a printed matter such as direct mail by changing the arrangement of each object or adding or deleting objects. The user operates the layout design data 63 by dragging and dropping an object such as the address object 201, the address object 202, the barcode object 203, the QR code object 204, the guidance type object 205, and the car image object 206. Can be edited.

FIG. 14 shows an editing example on the layout design tool screen 200 of FIG. In the layout design tool screen 200 of FIG. 14, the arrangement of the barcode object 203 and the QR code object 204 is changed.
The layout design apparatus 20 reflects changes in the arrangement of the barcode object 203 and the QR code object 204 in the layout design data 63 of the design document information 61 stored in the database 60. Specifically, the layout design device 20 changes the X coordinate and Y coordinate data of the upper left vertex of the barcode object 203 and the QR code object 204.

Returning to the description of FIG.
After the editing of the layout design data 63, when the editability information set in the item information data 65 of the design document information 61 is “permitted” (Yes in step S208), the layout design device 20 displays the edited design document information 61. Is overwritten and updated in the database 60 (step S209). When overwriting is updated, the data in the layout design portion 173 of the XML file of the design document information 61 shown in FIG. 11 is rewritten.
On the other hand, when the editability information set in the item information data 65 is “No” (No in step S208), the layout design device 20 newly registers the edited design document information 61 in the database 60 (step S210).

  As described above, the layout design apparatus 20 acquires the design document information 61 from the database 60 and reads the design document information 61 to automatically display each object on the display unit 76. Further, the layout design apparatus 20 updates the database 60 in accordance with the user's editing instruction. Specifically, the layout design apparatus 20 overwrites and updates or newly registers the design document information 61 in the database 60 according to the editability information set in the design document information 61.

Next, the flow of text shaping conversion processing in the variable text shaping device 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 17.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of editing processing of text processing design data in the variable text shaping device 30. In the variable text shaping device 30, only the text processing design data 64 of the design document information 61 can be edited.

When the user activates the text data shaping tool 33 on the variable text shaping device 30, the variable text shaping device 30 retrieves the design document information 61 from the database 60 based on the retrieval condition specified by the user (step S301). A list of design document information 61 is acquired (step S302), and a list of design document information 61 is displayed.
When the user selects design document information from the list of design document information 61 (step S303), the variable text shaping device 30 reads the selected design document information 61 from the database 60 (step S304), and displays the text data shaping tool screen 210. It is displayed (step S305). When the user additionally edits the text processing design data 64 (Yes in step S306), the text processing design data 64 is edited on the text data shaping tool screen 210 displayed on the variable text shaping device 30 (step S307). .

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of the text data shaping tool screen 210.
The text data shaping tool screen 210 is a screen for displaying an icon representing text shaping conversion processing performed on the variable text data 31. In the text data shaping tool screen 210 of FIG. 16, an external character icon 211a, a blank icon 211b, a character count icon 211c, a text processing icon list 212, and the like are displayed.

The external character icon 211a is an icon representing a text formatting conversion process for deleting an external character.
The blank icon 211b is an icon representing a text formatting conversion process for deleting a blank.
The number-of-characters icon 211c is an icon representing text formatting conversion processing for extracting a line exceeding the maximum number of characters for each column.
In the text formatting conversion processing flow shown in FIG. 16, the input variable text data 31 is processed in the order of external character processing, blank processing, and character count processing.
The text processing icon list 212 is a list of icons indicating text formatting conversion processing in which a program is defined.

  The variable text shaping device 30 refers to the text processing design data 64 of the design document information 61 stored in the database 60, and sets conversion processing icons (in the example of FIG. 16, an external character icon 211a, a blank icon 211b, A character number icon 211c) is displayed.

  On the text data shaping tool screen 210, the user inserts an icon in the flow for performing the text shaping conversion processing performed on the variable text data 31 by dragging and dropping the icon in the text processing icon list 212. By adding or deleting or rearranging the icons of the text formatting conversion processing flow, the editing of the text formatting conversion processing is instructed. Then, the variable text shaping device 30 updates the text processing design data 64 of the design document information 61 held in the database 60 in accordance with a user instruction.

FIG. 17 shows an editing example on the text data shaping tool screen 210 of FIG. In the text data shaping tool screen 210 of FIG. 17, a sort icon 211d is added before the flow of text shaping conversion processing consisting of an external character icon 211a, a blank icon 211b, and a character count icon 211c.
The sort icon 211d is an icon representing text formatting conversion processing for rearranging according to a predetermined rule.
In the changed text formatting conversion processing flow, text formatting conversion processing is performed on the input variable text data 31 in the order of sort processing, external character processing, blank processing, and character count processing.

Returning to the description of FIG.
After editing the text processing design data 64, if the editability information set in the item information data 65 of the design document information 61 is “Yes” (Yes in step S308), the variable text shaping device 30 edits the edited design document. The information 61 is overwritten and updated in the database 60 (step S309). When overwriting is updated, the data in the text processing design portion 174 of the XML file of the design document information 61 shown in FIG. 11 is rewritten.
On the other hand, when the editability information set in the item information data 65 is “No” (No in Step S308), the variable text shaping device 30 newly registers the edited design document information 61 in the database 60 (Step S310). .

  As described above, the variable text shaping device 30 acquires the design document information 61 from the database 60 and automatically displays the text shaping conversion process flow by reading the design document information 61. Further, the variable text shaping device 30 updates the database 60 in accordance with the user's editing instruction. Specifically, the variable text shaping device 30 overwrites the design document information 61 in the database 60 or newly registers it according to the editability information set in the design document information 61.

  As described above, in the variable print system 1 of the present invention, the design document creation apparatus 10 stores the design document information 61 including the data layout design data 62, the layout design data 63, the text processing design data 64, and the item information data 65. Register in the database 60. When the layout design apparatus 20 reads the design document information 61 from the database 60, the layout design tool 21 automatically displays the object of the layout design tool 21, and the user can edit the layout design data 63. When the variable text shaping device 30 reads the design document information 61 from the database 60, the variable text shaping device 30 automatically displays the text shaping conversion process flow of the text data shaping tool 33, and the user can edit the text processing design data 64. It becomes possible. The variable print system 1 centrally manages design document information 61 corresponding to two design documents, a conventional layout design document and a print design document, in the database 60, the layout design tool 21 of the layout design device 20, and the variable text shaping device 30. By automatically displaying data by the function of the text data shaping tool 33, initial data input work by the user becomes unnecessary, and the work load is reduced.

In addition, by setting the customer, item name, and person in charge as keywords for searching the design document information 61 as the item information data 65, the design document in the design document creation device 10, the layout design device 20, and the variable text shaping device 30 is set. The search for the information 61 is facilitated.
Furthermore, by setting the editability information of the design document information 61, the reuse and editing of items can be controlled.

  The preferred embodiments of the variable print system and the like according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea disclosed in the present application, and these naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ......... Variable print system 10 ......... Design document creation device 11 ......... Digital design document creation tool 20 ......... Layout design device 21 ......... Layout design tool 22 ......... Layout definition file 23 ......... Conversion Tool 24 ......... Layout data 30 ......... Variable text shaping device 31 ......... Variable text data 32 ......... First transaction data 33 ......... Text data shaping tool 40 ......... Variable image editing device 41 ......... Variable image material data 42... DTP software 50... Synthesizer 51... Layout data 52... Second transaction data 53... Image data 54. ……… Design document information 70 ……… Printer

Claims (6)

A design document creation device that creates design document information of layout data and transaction data of printed matter, a layout design device that generates the layout data, a variable text shaping device that generates the transaction data, and the design document information are stored. A variable print system comprising a database,
The design document information includes layout design data, text processing design data, and data layout setting data for associating the layout design data with the text processing design data,
The design document creation device
Means for setting the design document information;
Comprising
The layout design apparatus includes:
Means for generating the layout design data based on the design document information;
Comprising
The variable text shaping device includes:
Means for shaping variable text data based on the design document information and generating the transaction data;
A variable print system comprising: The variable text shaping device includes:
Means for referring to the design document information and displaying an icon indicating a conversion process defined in the text processing design data;
First update means for updating the database in response to addition, deletion, and rearrangement of the icons by a user;
The variable print system according to claim 1, further comprising: The layout design apparatus includes:
Means for referring to the design document information and displaying a layout of a printed matter defined in the layout design data;
Second update means for updating the database in response to a change in the layout of the printed matter by a user;
The variable print system according to claim 2, further comprising: The design document information further includes editability information indicating whether it can be overwritten and stored,
The design document creation device further includes:
Means for setting the editability information;
Comprising
The first update unit and the second update unit store the design document information by overwriting the database when the editability information is possible, and store the design document when the editability information is not. The variable print system according to claim 3, wherein information is newly registered in the database. Design document creation device for creating layout data and transaction data design document information, layout design device for generating layout data, variable text shaping device for generating transaction data, layout design data, text processing design A printed matter design method in a variable print system comprising: data and a database storing design document information having data layout setting data for associating the layout design data and the text processing design data,
The design document creating device sets the design document information;
The layout design device generating the layout design data based on the design document information;
The variable text shaping device shaping variable text data based on the design document information and generating the transaction data;
A printed matter design method comprising: The storage device functions as a database that stores layout design data, text processing design data, and design document information having data layout setting data that associates the layout design data with the text processing design data,
Multiple computers, each
Means for setting the design document information, the design document creation device comprising:
Means for generating the layout design data based on the design document information, and the layout design apparatus comprising:
The variable text shaping device comprising: means for shaping variable text data based on the design document information and generating the transaction data;
Program to make it function.

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