JP3448874B2 - Document processing apparatus and document processing method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a document processing device and a document.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a document processing apparatus and a document processing method that give a document a logical hierarchical structure and process the editing and shaping output of the document according to the logical hierarchical structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a computerized document processing apparatus has been developed and added with various document processing functions in order to efficiently create various documents generated in document office work. In addition, a document form corresponding to a new medium called hypertext is being used as a document form that maximizes the characteristics of a computer without being restricted by the conventional form of a document printed on paper. This hypertext is a document form in which the old medium of paper is replaced with a new medium of computer. In the document form of this hypertext, the document is mainly divided by its logical unit (node), and the divided logical unit. A document processing device having a function of inputting / storing / editing a document of a structural unit is required. As such a document processing apparatus, for example, "flexible text layout system" described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 134561/1989.
A document processing device such as is known. In such a document processing device, a node, which is a logical unit of a document, is associated with a link to create and store a network-like flexible text, and layout information to a flat text is added to the network of the flexible text. Convert the stored flexible text to flat text based on the layout information to the flat text. By such layout processing, it is possible to create, edit, and manage a document with a single logical hierarchical structure.

[0003]

By the way, in the case of performing a document creation process using the document processing device as described above,
Documents are fragmented to create document constituent elements (document fragments), and one document is assembled from a set of document fragments to create one document. Next, a method of collecting one document from such a set of document fragments will be described.

Conventionally, there are the following two methods for writing a document. The first method is to first define the overall structure of the document, and then gradually describe the contents in detail according to that structure, the so-called "top-down" method. The second method is to describe each item related to the subject of the document as the author thinks, or search for related materials, and prepare fragments of these documents. There is a so-called "bottom-up" method in which a document structure is considered and a fragment of a document is applied to this structure.

In the "bottom-up" method, it is important to collect the fragments of related documents to be collected first, and many fragments such as the ideas of the author, the opinions of others, reference materials obtained from the outside, and others. In many cases, collecting ideas can create new ideas as fragments. In this "bottom-up" method, since the pieces of the document are put together as one document, the pieces of the document are linked to each other, the logical hierarchical structure of the document for the subject is assembled, and the appearance of the document is adjusted. Each document fragment here is not only related to a particular subject, but many are related to different subjects. Therefore, such a document fragment may be commonly referred to in many documents. Therefore, it is desirable that the collected document fragments be reusable elsewhere.

As described above, when many pieces of a document are collected, by combining many pieces and performing editing,
Since it is possible to create documents of various different subjects, a document data structure is formed and document processing is performed so that fragments of these documents can be reused in many documents. This can be expected to bring many benefits to the use of documents, such as improving the efficiency of document creation and reducing the area for document storage.

By the way, a document is one means of transmitting information from a creator to a reader about a certain subject, and
It can be considered as one transmission medium. Even in the case of a document having the same subject, it may be necessary to change the combination of document fragments and create a plurality of documents as documents having different document structures from different viewpoints. For example, in the case of transmitting information to readers having different characteristics, even if the subject is the same, different readers have different evaluations / attitudes toward the subject, such as items of understanding / interest. Therefore, in order to deal with readers of different characteristics in such cases, the author can change the items to be emphasized, change the order of the talk, omit certain items, and further refine certain items. It is desirable to create a plurality of documents having different document structures even for documents having the same subject, as described in 1. In this case, since the target subject is originally the same, the contents of each document component are often the same, and only the logical hierarchical structure of the document is recombined, and the above-mentioned work is performed by selecting logical components. Is possible.

However, in a document processing apparatus that handles only a single logical hierarchical structure as described above, when performing such work, a separate document file is prepared for each reader and based on a different logical hierarchical structure. As a document, a document corresponding to each reader must be created.
In addition, even if the content is the same in the unit of the document component,
Each of these document files must be copied, and the files must be created and saved as each document. In this case, since a plurality of document constituent elements having the same content are present in a plurality of document files, the content update / maintenance management of the document files of these document constituent elements becomes complicated. There is.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a document with a logical hierarchical structure and to perform the editing and shaping output processing of the document with the logical hierarchical structure. Document processing device and document for processing according to
It is to provide a processing method .

[0010]

To achieve the above object, the document processing apparatus according to the present invention has a basic configuration.
As a document , an individual document constituent element including document contents and a logical hierarchical structure for associating the individual document constituent element with each other are created.
A document processing device that
A logical hierarchy consisting of the document element to represent and multiple nodes
Display the logical hierarchical structure that represents the structural information that defines the structure
Display means, the displayed document component and the
Accepts instructions for the first node in the logical hierarchy
The instructing means and the instructed document constituent element in the first
The logical floor as a second node linked to the node
Logical hierarchy that edits structural information by adding to the layer structure
Structure editing means is provided.
In addition, the document processing method according to the present invention includes
Relationships between individual document components and the individual document components
A document processing method that creates a logical hierarchical structure
The document component that represents the document content of the document component and multiple
Information that defines the logical hierarchical structure composed of nodes
And a first step of displaying a logical hierarchy representing
The document components displayed and the logical hierarchy structure
Second step of receiving an instruction for the first node
And the designated document component to the first node
As a linked second node, it is added to the above logical hierarchical structure.
The third step of editing the structural information by adding
It is characterized by having.

[0011]

In the document processing apparatus and the document processing method of the present invention, the individual document constituent elements including the document contents and the logical hierarchical structure that relates the individual document constituent elements are created, and the created logical hierarchy is created. based-out structure, performs document processing of a document having a logical hierarchical structure. In document processing, display means
The document component that represents the document content of the document component
Structural information that defines a logical hierarchical structure composed of several nodes
And a logical hierarchical structure that represents the information
The document component shown and the first in the logical hierarchy.
Accepts instructions for nodes in
The step of assigning the indicated document component to the first node
To the logical hierarchy as a second node linked to
Structural information is edited by adding. Such a document
By the processing, for example, a plurality of structural information defining a logical hierarchical structure that correlates a plurality of document constituent elements is created from different viewpoints with some of the document constituent elements being common. At the same time, a plurality of documents are processed according to the logical hierarchical structure of the created structure information. In this case, each of the created structure information items of the logical hierarchy structure specifies a document from a different viewpoint using a common document component, and the document specified by this structure information is a document component item. It is a document created from different points of view with some of the items common. Note that the document constituent elements here are individually edited, for example, for correction.

As described above, by separately creating the structural information that defines a plurality of logical hierarchical structures that use common document constituent elements, it is possible to easily create documents of different subjects or documents of the same subject but different viewpoints. It will be possible to create. Further, even when a plurality of documents are handled by these structure information, the same document constituent elements are used, and a plurality of document constituent elements having the same contents are not created (copied). Therefore, update the contents of the document file /
The maintenance load is reduced. The document created by the individual structural information of the logical hierarchical structure that defines the relationship between the common document structural elements created here is combined with the document structural elements according to the logical hierarchical structure of the instructed structural information by the layout processing means. Is converted into one document and output.

[0013] Further, when the document processing manages each by structural information the logical hierarchy to the document units, according to the structure information of the logical hierarchy structure of each document unit, performs the editing process of the document, where The processing for editing the structural information of the logical hierarchical structure and the processing for editing the document constituent elements are individually configured. As a result, the degree of freedom of the document editing process is increased, and the document editing process can be efficiently performed.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a document processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a keyboard, 2 is a CRT display, 3 is an input / output control unit, 4 is a document display control unit, 5 is a user interface,
Reference numeral 6 is a document editing control unit, 7 is a document layout processing unit, 8 is a logical hierarchical structure editing unit, 9 is a document constituent element editing unit, 10 is a document storage unit, and 11 is a disk device.

The document storage unit 10 controls the disk device 11 and stores the structural information of the logical hierarchical structure of the document and the document constituent elements (contents / attributes). In addition, the document storage unit 10 manages the stored document file from the document file format in the disk device 11, the structure information of the logical hierarchical structure of the document, and the document constituent element, if necessary. The document constituent element editing unit 9 edits a document constituent element (document constituent element card) that is the actual content of the document, and the logical hierarchical structure editing unit 8 defines a logical hierarchical structure between the document constituent elements. Edit information (logical hierarchical structure card). Further, as will be described later, the document layout processing unit 7 determines only the structural information of a document having a logical hierarchical structure configured by a logical hierarchical structure (link structure) that correlates the document constituent elements with each other. Performs layout processing to format and output a flat document, including the document specified by. In the layout process, the layout of the document is displayed on the formatted output viewer card.

The document edit control unit 6 controls the entire document processing apparatus, and includes an input / output control unit 3, a document edit control unit 6, a document layout processing unit 7, a logical hierarchy structure editing unit 8 and a document component editing unit. 9 and each subsystem of the document storage unit 10. In addition, the document edit control unit 6 operates a structured document editor as described below to perform a series of document processing here, and performs switching and control of processing of each subsystem related to document processing. The input / output control unit 3 includes a document display control unit 4 and a user interface 5, and the CRT display 2
Also, the keyboard 1 and a mouse of a pointing device (not shown) are controlled to control input / output in the document processing.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the concept of the data structure of a document handled by the document processing apparatus of this embodiment. The data structure of the document here is, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of commonly used document constituent elements 20 and individual individual document constituent elements 21a, 21b, 21c, 22a, 22b, 22c,
23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, ... Have a data structure in which they are individually associated with each other by a logical hierarchical structure 21 , 22 , 23 , and each document has a logical hierarchical structure 21 , 22 of a specific viewpoint. It has become a document of associating et Re <br/> and are structured by 23. For example, logical hierarchy
The document A related by 21 is an individual document constituent element 21a, 21b, 21c and a common document constituent element 20 which is a document constituent element b, a document constituent element d, a document constituent element g, and a document constituent element i. , And the document component k are associated and combined to form a document whose structure as one document is defined.

Similarly, the documents of the document B related by the logical hierarchical structure 22 are the individual document components 22a, 22b and 22c, and the common document component 20 which is the document component b and the document. The constituent element e, the document constituent element f, the document constituent element g, and the document constituent element m are associated and combined to form a document in which the structure as one document is defined. Note that the document constituent elements such as the document constituent element b, the document constituent element g, the document constituent element k, and the document constituent element m, which are the common document constituent elements 20 here, are incorporated in the logical hierarchical structure of the document A and the document B. Are the common document constituent elements, and each logical hierarchical structure 21 , 2
The respective document processing can be performed by editing only 2 and 23 .

In particular, when a plurality of documents having the same subject are created, since only a part of the documents is changed, many common document constituent elements 20 are used to define the relationship between them. Document creation processing can be performed by editing only the logical hierarchical structure. In this case, the individual document constituent elements stored in the document file are only the common document constituent elements for a plurality of documents and the structural information of the individual logical hierarchical structures that relate the relationships thereof with different logical hierarchical structures. Becomes As described above, in the data structure of the document handled by the document processing apparatus, it is possible to share the same document constituent element in a plurality of logical hierarchical structures. It is sufficient to update / maintain the content of the document, which reduces the load of document management.

Next, an example of processing when the document processing is performed by the document processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be specifically described. First, the editing process of the logical hierarchical structure will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a structured document editor in document processing. In this logical hierarchical structure editing process, the structured document editor that operates in the document editing control unit 6 is activated, and C is input via the input / output control unit 3.
The window 30 is displayed on the RT display 2. In the window 30, the editing windows of the logical hierarchical structure cards 31, 32 and 33 operating in the logical hierarchical structure editing unit 8, the editing window of the document component card 34 operating in the document component editing unit 9, and the document layout process. The window of the shaping output viewer card 35 operating in the section 7 is displayed to edit each document.

Each logical hierarchical structure card 31,
The windows 32 and 33 display / display the logical hierarchical structure of the document corresponding to the logical hierarchical structure card as a tree structure.
The window of the document component card 34 is an edit window for performing editing, and the window of the document component card 34 is an edit window for editing the document contents of the document components that can be the respective document contents. When the user performs document processing, first, in order to create the document content data of the document component, the editing window of the corresponding document component card is opened as a subwindow on the window 30 of the structured document editor, and the document content is displayed. Display texts / figures, etc., and perform document creation and document editing operations. Then, on the window 30 of the structured document editor, the structure information (logical hierarchical structure card) that defines the logical hierarchical structure between them is defined from a different point of view by using common document components. A plurality of documents will be created, and a document will be created that reflects each logical hierarchy.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Here, the document creator activates the document edit control unit (structured document editor) 6 via the input / output control unit 3 by using an input means such as a keyboard and a mouse, and the document layout processing unit 7 and the logical hierarchy structure. Concrete editing unit 8, the document component editing unit 9
It is assumed that the window 30 of the structured document editor for performing the document processing in cooperation with is displayed.

First, the general operation will be described. When neither the logical hierarchical structure card nor the document component card has been created at all, when creating the logical hierarchical structure card and the document component card, which are elements for creating a document, from the bottom up By such an operation, a logical hierarchical structure card and a document component card are created. To create each document component card, a document component card window is opened in window 30 and the contents of the document component card are created. As elements of the content of the document component card, as will be described later, in addition to characters, figures, images, etc., information (link information) indicating a link of another document component card is provided at an arbitrary position of each of these elements. Can have as. Therefore, the document creator interactively inputs each element of the document content in the edit window of the document component card, displays each element of the created document content in the window, and displays the document component card. create. At the same time, the link information is used to appropriately link the cards. The contents of the window display of each created document constituent element card, that is, the document constituent element card data, is controlled by the document editing control unit 6 and is stored in the document storage unit 10.
Stored in. Of course, each document component card can have attributes such as a card type and parameters of each card, for example, by opening a property sheet (attribute input sub-window), which will be described in detail later.

In this way, the document constituent element cards are created and the links between these cards are made.
Managed by the document editing control unit 6, the logical layer structure editing unit 8, and the document layout processing unit 7 based on the input instruction information, the tree structure of the logical layer structure card is converted into a logical layer structure. to reflect the logical hierarchy data is created Rutotomoni, as shown in a window 32, graph display (e.g., display of the tree structure chart) is performed. Here, each node displayed in the graph is called a box.

[0025] Figures 4-8 are diagrams showing document component card, logical hierarchy structured over de, and a specific example of the relationship between the windows of the shaped output viewer card. FIG. 4A shows the relationship between three document component cards each having link information among the document component cards.
(B) shows an example of an independent document component card having no link information between other document component cards.
Further, FIG. 4 (C) shows an example of a logical hierarchy structured over de displaying the link information between the document component card in a tree structure. That is, the document component card 36 here
a is the document component card 36 according to the link information L2.
The document component card 36a is linked to the document component card 36c by the link information L3. These link information L2, L3 link relation by the logical hierarchy structured over de 37 is displaying in the tree structure chart. The document component card 36d in FIG. 4B is an independent document component card that does not have link information between other document component cards, but if necessary, the document component card 36d can be replaced with another document component card 36d. The editing process that gives the relationship of Further, the structural information (link information) relating to the logical hierarchical structure between the document component card 36a, 36b, 36c shown in FIG.
Separately held by a logical hierarchy structured over de 36e shown in,
It is edited by the editing window of the logical hierarchy structured over de 36e.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the layout editing by the tree structure graph in the editing window of the logical hierarchical structure card and the document layout configuration according to the instruction. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the link information L1, L2, L in the logical hierarchy card editing window 37 is displayed.
Edit the link relation by 3, and create the structural information of the logical hierarchical structure displayed in the resulting tree structure graph.
For example, when the "Layout" button for instructing the layout process is clicked, the document layout configuration based on the structural information of the logical hierarchical structure is output in the output window 38 of the shaping output viewer card. Looking at such a document layout configuration, when the document creator further inserts an image figure 38a as shown by a broken line in the document in the document layout configuration of the shaping output viewer card, the editing process is performed in the logical hierarchical structure. In the card editing window 37, by editing the link relationship by the link information L1, L2, L3, the original document component card is not edited, and the image figure 38a necessary for the correction is added.
You only have to edit the above.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, in the editing process, a logical hierarchical structure card "copy" of the tree structure graph of link information L1, L2, L3 from the logical hierarchy card "Japanese climate" 36e is used. In the edit window 37a of "Japanese climate", a process of further adding the link information L4 to the tree structure graph of the link information L1, L2, L3 is performed. As a result, the logical hierarchical structure card "Japanese climate"
Is the link information L1, as in the edit window 37b.
It becomes a tree structure graph of L2, L3, L4.
Document component card 3 designated by link information L4
Nine image graphics are added to the document layout configuration in the original shaped output viewer card 38.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the tree structure graph of the link information L1, L2, L3, L4 in the logical hierarchical structure card and the plurality of document component cards represented by the graph. FIG. 7A shows link information L
FIG. 7B shows a logical hierarchical structure card 36f having structural information of a tree structure graph of 1, L2, L3, L4, and FIG. 7B shows between the document component cards equivalent to the structural information of the logical hierarchical structure card 36f. Shows the relationship. That is, the relationship indicated by the structure information of the logical hierarchical structure card 36f of FIG. 7A is, as shown in FIG. 7B, the document constituent element card 36a here is the document structure by its link information L2. Linked to the element card 36b,
The link information L3 links the document component card 36c, and the link information L4 links the document component card 36d. Documents having such a structure include link information L1, L2,
The document layout has a structure in which the link relationship of L3 and L4 is reflected. To confirm that, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, in the edit window 37c of the logical hierarchical structure card, the link information L1, L2, It is easily confirmed by performing a layout process from the tree structure graph in which the link relationship of L3 and L4 is reflected.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining how layout processing is performed in the edit windows 37c of a plurality of logical hierarchical structure cards in order to confirm a plurality of document layout configurations. Here, the editing window 37c of a plurality of logical hierarchical structure cards is opened, and the link information is edited in each of them, and the resulting structural information of the logical hierarchical structure displayed in the tree structure graph is created and the layout processing is performed. By clicking the "Layout" button for instructing, the document layout configurations based on the structural information of the respective logical hierarchical structures are output in the output windows 38c of the plurality of shaped output viewer cards.

Next, the flow of operations and processing operations for specifically creating a document will be described. When creating a document from the top down, first open a window for editing a logical hierarchical structure card, for example, create a logical hierarchical structure card with a required document name, and from that logical hierarchical structure card, In accordance with the structure information of the logical hierarchical structure defined here, the document component card which becomes the node of the element of the logical hierarchical structure is sequentially created. In this case, since it is created from the logical hierarchical structure card, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, in the edit window 37a of the logical hierarchical structure card, a box associated with the link information L1 is created,
The document component card 36a is created. Similarly, a box associated with the link information L2 is created, and the corresponding document component card 36b is created. Similarly, a box associated with the link information L3 is created, and the corresponding document component card 36c is created. After that, the document creator creates one document by linking the individual document constituent element cards according to the structure information of the logical hierarchical structure.

Next, in order to create a document with the same subject and a different viewpoint based on the document having the logical hierarchical structure created here, a new document constituent element card created here is used to newly create a document. Create a logical hierarchy card. In a newly created logical hierarchical structure card, link pointers defining the logical hierarchical structure can be arbitrarily deleted / moved / newly created, and links between link pointers can be changed. Therefore, specifically, the structural information of the logical hierarchical structure card created in the process of creating the previous document component card is copied, and the correction and change processing of the structural information of the copied logical hierarchical structure card is performed. Thus, the editing process is performed to create the structural information of the logical hierarchical structure of the document having the same subject and different viewpoints.

A concrete example will be described with reference to FIG.
After transferring the logical hierarchical structure card 36e as shown in (C), a box associated with the link information L4 is created,
By clicking the box, the window of the document component card 39 is opened. As a result, an empty window is opened, and editing is performed in this window to create the document component card 39 as shown in FIG. 6, for example. In this way, a virtual document (a document based on the logical hierarchical structure information in the logical hierarchical structure card) is created while mutually reflecting the link relationship between the respective document component cards and the link information held by the logical hierarchical structure card.

In the editing process of the document constituent elements, as described above, each function of the ordinary text editor is used for the editing processing of the contents of the document constituent element card. In addition to that, deletion / addition / movement operations for link pointers that refer to other document component cards are possible. In the document editing process here, all data processing is performed in the card format. The unit that stores and edits the structural information that defines the logical hierarchical structure of a document is a logical hierarchical structure card. The logical hierarchical structure card defines the logical hierarchical structure from a different point of view with respect to a set of document component cards. It is possible to create a plurality of logical hierarchical cards. As a result, a set of document component cards can be commonly used, and a plurality of documents can be configured / configured.
Can be edited.

Further, each document constituent element card here has a data structure capable of giving a layout attribute to each, and as will be described later, the layout attribute of each individual document constituent element card is The layout process is performed on the entire document by taking over the information.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the card layout attribute definition window. When giving a layout attribute to a document component card, for example, a sub-window 40 of layout parameter properties for setting layout parameters as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed, and a title parameter 42 and a paragraph for the document component are displayed. Parameter 43
Set each layout attribute such as. In order to open the sub-window 40 of such layout parameter properties, the "LayoutParam" button of the document component card (34; FIG. 3) is pressed (the mouse cursor is moved to the button position and clicked). By this operation, the sub-window 40 for defining the card layout attributes shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. Therefore, in the sub-window 40 of the layout parameter properties, the values of the items such as the title parameter 42 and the paragraph parameter 43 are set, and “Apply By pressing the "" button 41, the layout attribute for each card is set.

Next, the operation for editing the structural information defining the logical hierarchical structure of the document with the logical hierarchical structure card and changing the document having the logical hierarchical structure according to the structural information of the edited result to a flat format will be described. To do. In this conversion operation, select the logical hierarchy card of the document you want to change to a flat format, and select "Layou
When the “t” button is pressed, the document layout processing unit 7 is activated, the layout process is performed, and the document form converted into a flat document is displayed on the window screen.
In the layout processing of the document layout processing unit 7,
According to the structure information of the logical hierarchical structure by the logical hierarchical structure card, the links of each tree structure are sequentially traced, and the document of the hierarchical structure is converted into a flat document and output.

Next, the contents of each block of the processing elements in the document processing apparatus according to this embodiment will be described in more detail. Here, together with the description of the data structure of the document component card and the data structure of the logical hierarchical card, the process of creating the logical hierarchical card, the card hierarchical structure analysis process, the document component card addition process, and the document component card deletion process are performed. The respective processes required when the document process is performed by the card format data process, such as the document layout process and the document component card layout parameter determination process, will be sequentially described.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining an example of the data structure of a card object (document component card). As shown in FIG. 10, the card object 50 is composed of a card property 51 representing its attribute, a card content 52 representing its substance, and a higher-level card list 53 described later. Card object 50
Can be any object, and its type is determined by the contents of the card property 51. The contents of the card property 51, that is, the attributes of the card, can be held by a plurality of next links which will be described later. In FIG. 10, necessary attributes are added by the linked attribute lists 51a and 51b. For example, if the character string of the attribute name indicated by the attribute name of one attribute list is a layout parameter, the attribute value is an object representing the layout parameter. The card content 52 is an element list included in the content of the card. Similar to the card property 51, this element list can have a plurality of next elements. Each element list 52
Each of a and 52b is composed of an "element type" indicating its type and an "element content" of its content entity. For the element type, for example, types such as “paragraph text”, “graphic”, “table”, “image”, and “link pointer” are set. In the case of the element list 52a, the element type "T" indicates that it is text, and the element content indicates the element object that is the substance of the text.

Further, each document structure element card can designate a plurality of types of card objects.
These are added to the list of element contents by the pointer as element contents in the order of appearance of the document structure element. The "element contents" of the element list have different structures depending on the element type. The element type "L" of the element list 52a indicates a link pointer, and is data that refers to a lower card. The next link is as above
This is a link that represents the list structure. The value of the next link, the link pointer, and the like is “0” in the final element of the list, indicating that the next element does not exist. The upper card list 53 indicates the card pointer for linking with the upper card, and
In 0, card pointers 53a and 53b are provided, and these are linked to the upper card as another card object.

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining an example of the data structure of a card object as a logical hierarchical structure card.
The logical hierarchical structure card here has a data structure similar to that of the card object described above, but is realized as a special form of the card object of the document structure element card described above.

The card object 60 of the logical hierarchical structure card has card properties 61, which represent the attributes of the card object, like the above-mentioned card object 50.
It is composed of a card content 62 showing the substance of the substance, and an upper card list 63. In the card content 62 here, only the link pointers in the card content of the top card are collected, and the card (card object of the document component card) referenced by each link pointer is expanded to create a document in a logical hierarchical structure. It has a data structure that forms a list structure.

Further, regarding the link pointers in the list of the card contents 62 here, similarly, only the link pointers are recursively collected to form a data structure as a list structure. In this list structure, each node (by the card name of each node) represents a card object (document component card) and is represented by a card property called a card name. In each node (62a-62h),
Child links holding associations with subordinate card groups (62d to 62h), card groups of the same level (62a to 62c)
There is a next link that holds the association with. With the card object having such a data structure, it is possible to follow all the link pointers of the cards which are directly or indirectly referenced from the top card. In addition, in order to high-order card and the link, the higher card list 6
Card pointers 63a and 63b from 3 are provided, and linked with the upper card of the card object in another logical hierarchical structure card.

Next, the process of creating a logical hierarchical structure card will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a logical hierarchy structure card creation process. This will be described with reference to FIG. In the process of creating the logical hierarchical structure card, the structured document editor is activated by the document edit control unit 6 to start the process. First, in step 71, when it is detected that the "Create" button on the window screen 30 of the structured document editor is detected, then in step 72, a card creation submenu is displayed. Thus, in step 73, when the user selects "logical hierarchical structure card" from the appearing submenu, the structured document editor then in step 74 prompts the user to "instruct the root card with the mouse. Please display ”message and request the instruction of the document element card which is the root card of the logical hierarchical structure. For example, the top document component card is selected as the root card.

On the other hand, in step 75, by moving the mouse cursor into the root card to be selected here and clicking the mouse button, the user gives an instruction to select the target card to the structured document editor. . For example, when each window of the logical component card and the document component card as the root card is displayed on the window 30, by clicking a predetermined area of the document component card, etc. A selection instruction is given. Then step 76
Then, the process proceeds to step S8 to specify the root card from the current mouse cursor position and take out the card (document component card) from the document storage unit 10. In this process, for example, from the content data of the instructed route card, the content data is discriminated, the link destination is inspected, and the link pointer is collected. Then, the same operation is repeated recursively for the cards indicated by the collected link pointers, thereby advancing the process for taking out the target card.

Through such a series of processing, a plurality of cards (document component card) which can be traced directly / indirectly from the root card are taken out. Since the logical hierarchical structure composed of the taken out cards is expressed as a tree structure, in the next step 77, hierarchical structure analysis processing is executed on the taken out cards to generate structural information of the logical hierarchical structure. Then, a logical hierarchical structure card is created. Then, in step 78, the hierarchical structure of the created logical hierarchical structure card is displayed in a graph. In the graph display of the hierarchical structure of the cards, the document component cards that are the respective node elements are displayed as boxes with the names of the cards. The hierarchical relationship is represented by links between boxes.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the card hierarchical structure analysis processing. Next, with reference to FIG. 13, a process of obtaining a tree structure that becomes a logical hierarchical structure by tracing the link structure of the card will be described. In this process, first, in step 81, the list variable List is initialized to an empty list. Then, in step 82,
An analysis target card is added to the list variable List. Next, in step 83, it is determined whether or not there is an unanalyzed element in the card. If there is no unanalyzed element, the process proceeds to step 84, the return process is performed, and the process ends. In addition, if there is an unanalyzed element in the card in the determination processing of step 83, the process proceeds to step 85, and the head element of the unanalyzed elements in the card is taken out. Then, in step 86, it is determined whether or not the extracted element is a link pointer. If it is not a link pointer, it is not an element having a hierarchical structure, and therefore the process returns to step 83 and the processing for the next unanalyzed element is continued.

Further, in the judgment processing of step 86,
If it is determined that the taken out element is the link pointer, the process proceeds to step 87 to follow the link pointer, and the card (lower card) referred to by the link pointer is taken out from the cart storage unit. Next, step 8
In 8, the card layout process is executed on the lower card in order to confirm the lower card taken out on the CRT display. Then, in the next step 89, the list of processing results is added to the list variable List,
In order to continue the process for the next unanalyzed element, the process returns to step 83 and the process from step 83 is continued.

Next, the editing function of the logical hierarchical structure card will be described. The structural information of the logical hierarchical structure card can be edited by adding a document component card and deleting a document component card. The document component card addition process and the document component card deletion process will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the card addition process, and FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the card deletion process. A description will be given with reference to these flowcharts.

First, referring to FIG. 14, the process of adding the document component card will be described. In this card addition process,
By pressing the "Edit" button on the logical hierarchy card,
The process is started by selecting the "add card" menu item that appears as a submenu. That is, in step 91, when the structured document editor determines that the "Edit" button of the logical hierarchical structure card is pressed, the logical hierarchical structure editing unit 8 is activated, and in the next step 92, the card editing submenu is displayed. . On the other hand, when the user selects "add card" in step 93, next, in step 94, a message "please point the card to be added with the mouse" is displayed to inform the user of the addition target. Request card instructions.

In response to this, the user has to step 95.
In, the user points the card to be added by moving the mouse cursor into the card (window) to be added and clicking the mouse button. According to the instruction of the target card, in the processing of the next step 95, the addition target card object is specified from the current mouse cursor position, and taken out from the document storage unit 10. Next, in step 97, in order to request the user to instruct the upper card of the addition target card, a message "Please instruct the addition target higher card with the mouse" is displayed.
On the other hand, the user moves the mouse cursor on the window of the logical hierarchical structure card into the addition target upper card box and clicks the mouse button in step 98, similarly to the above-described processing, to thereby delete the upper card. Instruct the box.

As a result, the target upper card box is designated, and in step 99, the upper card object to be added is specified from the box and taken out from the document storage unit 10. Then, in step 100, a link pointer to the additional card object is added to the card content of the addition target upper card object. In order to link another card to the added card, in the next step 101, a link pointer to the addition target higher card object is added to the higher card list of the addition target card object. Then, in the next step 102, the node of the addition target card is added to the list of child links of the addition target card node. Then, in the next step 103, the hierarchical graph is displayed again so that the added element card can be confirmed. Through such a series of processing, the element card linked to the designated box is added. Further, the boxes and links of the cards to be added that have undergone the additional processing are displayed in the logical hierarchical structure card.

Next, the process of deleting the document structure element card will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In this card deletion processing, as in the editing operation in the above-mentioned card addition processing, by pressing the "Edit" button of the logical hierarchical structure card, the menu item "Delete card" that appears as a sub-menu is selected. Is started. That is, when the "Edit" button of the logical hierarchy card on the screen is pressed in step 105, the card edit submenu is displayed in the next step 106. In step 107, the user selects "delete card". To do. When the card deletion menu is selected, next, in step 108, a message display "please specify the deletion target card with the mouse" is displayed to request the user to specify the deletion target card.

On the other hand, in step 109,
Move the mouse cursor inside the card box to be deleted,
Point the target card by clicking the mouse button. According to the instruction of the target card, in the processing of the next step 110, the delete target card object is specified from the box on the window of the logical hierarchical structure card, and is taken out from the document storage unit 10. Next, step 1
At 11, the document storage unit 10 identifies the upper card object to be deleted from the upper card list of the card object to be deleted and retrieves it. And step 1
In 12, the upper card list of the card object to be deleted is set to an empty list. Then, in another example, in which the cards are not retained in step 110 to relink between each card after the deletion process, step 11
In 3 again, the upper card object to be deleted is specified and retrieved from the box in the document storage unit, and in the next step 114, the upper card content to be deleted is scanned, and if there is a link pointer to the deletion target, it is deleted. To do. Then, in the next step 115, the graph of the hierarchical structure is displayed again so as to confirm the deleted element card. Through the series of processes described above, the process of deleting the document component card is performed, and the card to be deleted and the subordinate card group disappear from the logical hierarchical structure card.

Next, a layout process for converting a virtual document into a flat document based on the logical hierarchical structure information indicated by the logical hierarchical card will be described. FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of layout processing. This layout process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this document layout process, first, at step 116, layout parameters of the document component card are determined. Next, in step 117, it is determined whether or not there are any unlaid out elements in the document component card. If there are no unlaid out elements, the process ends. If there is an unlayout element, the layout process for the unlayout element should be performed, and the process proceeds to step 118, where the head element of the unlayout elements in the card is taken out. Then, in the next step 119, it is determined whether or not the fetched element is a link pointer.

[0054] When it is determined not to be the link pointer is determined in the step 119, the next step 12
At 0, the elements of the document component card are laid out and displayed on the shaping output viewer card (35; FIG. 3) according to the layout parameters. Then, in order to process the next unlayout element, the process returns to step 117,
The processing from step 117 is continued. If the extracted element is the link pointer in the determination processing of step 119, the layout processing is performed on the document component card indicated by the link pointer, so the processing proceeds to step 121. . In the next step 121, the document component card referred to by the link pointer is taken out from the document storage unit 10. Then, in step 122, a card layout process is executed on the taken out document component card. That is, the processing from step 16 is recursively performed on the extracted document component card. After the completion of the card layout process in step 122, the process returns to step 117 to continue the process for the unlaid out elements of the original document component card, and the process from step 117 is continued.

In this way, the layout process here is started by the user's instruction to execute the layout, and the shaping output viewer card of the window screen for outputting the layout result is created. The layout result is displayed on the shaped output viewer card. In this layout processing, the document constituent element card corresponding to the top node of the logical hierarchical structure is taken out from the document storage unit 10, and the document layout processing unit 7 performs the layout processing of the document constituent element card as described above. Therefore, all the document component cards defined by the structure information of the logical hierarchical structure card can be accessed from this top node card through the link pointer. The layout process of the document component card performed by the document layout processing unit 7 is performed by recursively expanding all the document component cards referred to by the link pointer. Therefore, by performing the layout process on the top card, the layout of the entire document whose structure is defined by the logical hierarchical structure card can be performed.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing in detail the process (step 116) for determining the layout parameter of the document component card in FIG. The layout parameter determining process of the document component card is basically a process of determining the layout parameter for the corresponding document component card from the layout parameters of the upper card. When this process starts, first,
In step 123, the layout attributes are searched for in the properties of the document component card. Then, step 124
At, it is determined whether or not the layout attribute exists. If the layout attribute exists, the process proceeds to step 125, the value of the layout attribute is determined as the layout parameter, and the process ends. If it is determined in the determination processing of step 124 that the layout attribute does not exist for the card, the layout parameter of the upper card is set as the layout parameter of the document component card.
At, it is determined whether the document component card is the top card. If the result of this determination is that the card is the top card, the process proceeds to step 127,
The process ends with the default value as the layout parameter. If the document component card is not the top card in the determination process of step 126, the process ends the process in step 128 with the layout parameter of the upper card as the value of the layout parameter of the document component card. To do.

As described above, the layout processing unit determines the layout parameter when executing the layout processing of the document constituent element card, and the value of the layout parameter has the layout attribute of the document constituent element card to be laid out. If so, use that value. When the layout attribute is not included, the value of the parameter used in the layout process of the upper card is used. When there is no upper card, that is, in the case of a top node card, a parameter with a predetermined default value is used.

After the layout parameters are determined in this way, each element of the document contents is sequentially taken out from the card contents, and the contents of the document component card are followed by the shaping output viewer card according to the instruction indicated by the attribute value. Layout the document content above. At this time, if the content of the element is a link pointer, the document layout processing is recursively applied to the document constituent element card referred to by the link pointer.

As described above, according to the document processing apparatus of the present embodiment, document processing in document units consisting of the contents and attributes of a document is performed by a plurality of respective document constituent elements and the respective document constituent elements. And the structural information of the logical hierarchical structure that correlates the two are stored, and document processing is performed based on the stored logical hierarchical structure. For this reason, in the document processing, the editing process of the document constituent elements is performed, and the plurality of edited document constituent elements are commonly used to provide the structural information that defines the logical hierarchical structure that relates the plurality of document constituent elements. A plurality of document constituent elements can be created in common from the different viewpoints. As a result, it becomes possible to easily create a document using a common document component from a different point of view by using the structure information of a plurality of logical hierarchical structures.

In the embodiments described above, the case where each document component card has layout information individually has been described. However, for example, a logical hierarchical structure card or the layout of the entire document in the top document component card. Obviously, it is possible to provide information and, besides the top document component card, individual layout information that does not affect other document component cards.

Further, each document constituent element card does not have link information, the element cards are linked only by the tree structure graph of the logical hierarchical structure card, and the entire layout is arranged on the logical hierarchical structure card. It is obvious that the same effect can be obtained even if the information is provided.

[0062]

As described above, according to the document processing apparatus and the document processing method of the present invention, the editing processing of the document constituent elements is individually performed, and, for example, a plurality of logical layers using common document constituent elements are used. Edit the structure information of the structure individually
By performing document different subject matter by creating a document, or it is possible to easily created using document components documents viewpoints different even in the same subject. Also, when handling multiple documents with the same subject but different viewpoints , editing the structural information of the logical hierarchy of the document
By performing the processing separately, it is possible to use common document components, and
The maintenance load is reduced.

Further, according to the document processing apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of pieces of structural information having a logical hierarchical structure are created even when a plurality of documents are handled, but in a document file, at least one document constituent element is included. The department uses common document components, and its contents can be updated / maintained efficiently. Further, each document unit can be individually managed by the structure information of the logical hierarchical structure, and when the document editing process is performed according to the logical hierarchical structure of each document unit, the editing process is performed in the logical hierarchical structure. Processing and
Since the editing process of the document component can be performed individually, the degree of freedom of the document editing process is increased, and the document editing process can be efficiently performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a document processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the concept of a document data structure handled by the document processing apparatus of this embodiment,

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a structural document editor in document processing,

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between three document component cards each having link information among the document component cards in FIG. 4, and FIG. The figure which shows the example of the independent document constituent element card which does not have the link information between document constituent element cards, and FIG.4 (C) is the logic which displays the link information between document constituent element cards in a tree structure. is a view to showing an example of a hierarchical structured over de.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between layout editing by a tree structure graph and its document layout structure in an editing window of a logical hierarchical structure card;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of a document creation process by editing a tree structure graph of a logical hierarchical structure card;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a tree structure graph of link information L1, L2, L3, L4 in a logical hierarchical structure card and a plurality of document component cards represented by the graph. .

FIG. 8 shows an editing window 3 of a plurality of logical hierarchical structure cards for confirming a plurality of document layout configurations.
7C is a diagram for explaining how the layout process is performed in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a card layout attribute definition window,

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of a card object (document component card);

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a card object as a logical hierarchical structure card;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of creating a logical hierarchical structure card;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a card hierarchical structure analysis process;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a card addition process,

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a card deletion process,

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of layout processing,

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing in detail the process of determining the layout parameters of the document component card in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Keyboard, 2 ... CRT display, 3 ... Input / output control part, 4 ... Document display control part, 5 ... User interface, 6 ... Document edit control part, 7 ... Document layout processing part,
8 ... Logical hierarchical structure editing unit, 9 ... Document component editing unit, 1
0 ... Document storage unit, 11 ... Disk device, 20 ... Common document constituent elements 21, 22, 23 ... Logical hierarchical structure, 21
a, 21b, 21c, 22a, 22b, 22c ... Individual document components, 30 ... Window (structured document editor), 31, 32, 33 ... Window (logical hierarchical structure card), 34 ... Window (document component card) ), 35 ... Window (formatted output viewer card), 3
6a, 36b, 36c, 36d ... Document component card,
36e, 36f ... Logical hierarchical structure cards, 37a, 37
b, 37c ... Window (logical hierarchical structure card), 3
8, 38c ... Window (formatted output viewer card), 4
0 ... Layout parameter properties subwindow,
41 ... "Apply" button, 42 ... title parameter,
43 ... Paragraph parameter, 50 ... Card object (document component card), 51 ... Card property, 52 ...
Card contents, 53 ... Upper card list, 60 ... Card object (logical hierarchical card), 61 ... Card property, 62 ... Card contents, 63 ... Upper card list .

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/21-17/26 G06F 17/30

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A document processing apparatus for creating individual document constituent elements including document contents and a logical hierarchical structure for associating the individual document constituent elements, wherein the document represents the document contents of the document constituent elements. Display means for displaying a constituent element and a logical hierarchical structure representing structural information defining a logical hierarchical structure composed of a plurality of nodes; and for the displayed document constituent element and the first node in the logical hierarchical structure. An instruction means for receiving an instruction, and a logical hierarchical structure editing means for editing the structural information by adding the instructed document constituent element as a second node linked to the first node to the logical hierarchical structure. A document processing device comprising: 2. A document having a logical hierarchical structure is created based on the created logical hierarchical structure by creating individual document structural elements including document contents and a logical hierarchical structure relating the individual document structural elements. A document processing device for performing document processing, and display means for displaying a document constituent element representing the document contents of the document constituent element and a logical hierarchical structure representing structural information defining a logical hierarchical structure composed of a plurality of nodes. An instruction means for receiving an instruction to the displayed document constituent element and a first node in the logical hierarchical structure; and the designated document constituent element as a second node linked to the first node. A logical hierarchical structure editing means for editing structural information by adding to the logical hierarchical structure, and referring to document constituent elements according to the edited logical hierarchical structure, each document editing process is performed. A document processing apparatus comprising: a document edit processing unit. 3. A document having a logical hierarchical structure is created based on the created logical hierarchical structure by creating individual document structural elements including document contents and a logical hierarchical structure relating the individual document structural elements. A document processing device for performing document processing, and display means for displaying a document constituent element representing the document contents of the document constituent element and a logical hierarchical structure representing structural information defining a logical hierarchical structure composed of a plurality of nodes. An instruction means for receiving an instruction to the displayed document constituent element and a first node in the logical hierarchical structure; and the designated document constituent element as a second node linked to the first node. A logical hierarchical structure editing means for editing structural information by adding to the logical hierarchical structure, and a document constituent element is combined and converted into a document according to the logical hierarchical structure of the structural information. A document processing apparatus comprising: a layout processing unit. 4. A document processing method for creating individual document constituent elements including document contents and a logical hierarchical structure for associating the individual document constituent elements, the document representing the document contents of the document constituent elements. A first step of displaying a constituent element and a logical hierarchical structure representing structural information defining a logical hierarchical structure composed of a plurality of nodes; a first step in the displayed document constituent element and the logical hierarchical structure; A second step of receiving an instruction for a node, and a third step of editing the structural information by adding the instructed document constituent element as a second node linked to the first node to the logical hierarchical structure. And a document processing method. 5. An individual document constituent element including document contents and a logical hierarchical structure for associating the individual document constituent elements are created, and based on the created logical hierarchical structure, a document having a logical hierarchical structure is created. A document processing method for performing document processing, comprising: displaying a document constituent element representing the document contents of a document constituent element; and a logical hierarchical structure representing structural information defining a logical hierarchical structure composed of a plurality of nodes. A second step of receiving an instruction for the displayed document component and the first node in the logical hierarchical structure; a second step of linking the instructed document component to the first node; The third step of editing the structural information by adding as a node to the logical hierarchical structure, and referring to the document constituent elements according to the edited logical hierarchical structure, each document editing process And a fourth step of performing the following. 6. A document having a logical hierarchical structure is created based on the created logical hierarchical structure by creating individual document structural elements including document contents and a logical hierarchical structure relating the individual document structural elements. A document processing method for performing document processing, comprising: displaying a document constituent element representing the document contents of a document constituent element; and a logical hierarchical structure representing structural information defining a logical hierarchical structure composed of a plurality of nodes. A second step of receiving an instruction for the displayed document component and the first node in the logical hierarchical structure; a second step of linking the instructed document component to the first node; The third step of editing the structural information by adding it to the logical hierarchical structure as a node of the above, and according to the logical hierarchical structure of the structural information, the document constituent elements are combined and converted into a document. And a fourth step of exchanging.