Patent Application
20240176971
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent application No. 2022-191881 filed Nov. 30, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a method, and a storage medium.
There is conventionally known a method of editing a document (document data) using application software (to be referred to as “application” hereinafter) on a personal computer. In this method, the paper size of a document can be changed to an arbitrary size. When changing the paper size of a document, the application generally enlarges/reduces an object such as a text or an image in the document in accordance with the change of the paper size, thereby performing adjustment to prevent the object from projecting from a paper sheet (original). However, in a case when the aspect ratio of the paper size is changed (for example, the paper size is changed from portrait to landscape), if an object such as a text or an image in a document is simply enlarged/reduced, spaces are generated on the upper and lower sides and the left and right sides of the document. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-322224 discloses a technique of, when changing the paper size, adjusting the aspect ratio of a table in a document in accordance with the aspect ratio of the paper size such that no spaces are generated in the document. The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-322224 is effective if the document is formed only by tables, and a document according to the aspect ratio of the paper size can be generated.
In the conventional technique, however, if the aspect ratio is similarly adjusted for a document including an object whose aspect ratio should be maintained, like a two-dimensional code such as a QR code® or a clip art of a character, the two-dimensional code or the character is distorted. Thus, the conventional technique has a problem that when adjusting the aspect ratio of a document to prevent spaces from being generated on a paper sheet, among objects included in the document, an object whose aspect ratio should be maintained is distorted. In addition, if an object whose aspect ratio should be maintained, for example, a two-dimensional code is distorted, data read from the two-dimensional code may be impossible.
The present invention provides a technique advantageous in suppressing distortion of an object included in a document caused by a change of the paper size of the document.
According to one aspect, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus for editing a document including a plurality of objects, including a change unit configured to, based on a user instruction, change a paper size of the document from a first paper size to a second paper size different from the first paper size, and an adjustment unit configured to adjust a size of the object included in the document based on the second paper size, wherein the adjustment unit adjusts the size of a specific object in the plurality of objects such that an aspect ratio of the specific object is maintained.
Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Hereafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note, the following embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention. Multiple features are described in the embodiments, but limitation is not made to an invention that requires all such features, and multiple such features may be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar configurations, and redundant description thereof is omitted.
As shown in
In step S101, the document selection unit 1103 selects a document that is an editing target. In the storage device 204, various documents according to application purposes are stored in advance as templates. For example, the display editing unit 1104 displays, on the display device 203, a list of document templates corresponding to the templates stored in the storage device 204 and accepts document selection from the user. The user selects, via the input device 201, a document to be used (a document that is an editing target) from the list of document templates displayed on the display device 203. Note that the document may be selected from documents prepared as templates in advance, as described above, or may be selected from documents created by the user in the past.
In step S102, the display editing unit 1104 displays, on the display device 203, the document selected, in step S101, from the documents stored in the storage device 204 in accordance with the user selection. The document displayed on the display device 203 is editable via the input device 201.
In step S103, the change acceptance unit 1105 accepts a change of the paper size for the document displayed in step S102. The change acceptance unit 1105, for example, displays a list of paper sizes as shown in
In step S104, the change processing unit 1106 changes the paper size of the document displayed in step S102 in accordance with the paper size accepted in step S103 (the paper size after the change). In this embodiment, the change processing unit 1106 functions as an adjustment unit that performs adjustment processing of adjusting, in accordance with the paper size of the document after the change, the size and position of each object included in the document based on information about each object, as shown in steps S105 to S117. Here, the information about each object in the document includes at least one of information about the type of an object, information about the content of an object, and information about the arrangement state of an object in the document. As indicated as a routine by steps S105 and S117, the change processing unit 1106 selects one object in the document as the adjustment processing target object, and repeats the processes of steps S106 to S116 until all objects in the document are processed. Thus, in this embodiment, the document layout is automatically adjusted in accordance with the change of the paper size of the document, thereby saving the user's labor to manually adjust each object in the document.
Details of the processes of steps S106 to S116 of the size change processing shown in
In step S106, the change processing unit 1106 determines whether the type of the target object that is one object in the document is a “text”, a “figure”, or an “image” (determines the type of the target object). Note that in this embodiment, a “figure” includes not only a rectangle, a circle, and the like but also a clip art having a pattern and a two-dimensional code such as a QR code®. In this embodiment, a figure such as a rectangle or a circle is an object created by the function of the document editing application 1102. A two-dimensional code is not limited to a two-dimensional code created by the function of the document editing application 1102, and if a photo/image file is loaded, and the specifications allow even a two-dimensional code included in the arranged photo/image file to be recognized, all two-dimensional codes included in the document can be the target. Alternatively, only a two-dimensional code created by the function of the document editing application 1102 may be handled as a two-dimensional code of this embodiment, and a photo/image file including a two-dimensional code may be handled not as a two-dimensional code but as an image object. If the type of the target object is “text”, the process advances to step S107, if the type of the target object is “figure”, the process advances to step S108, and if the type of the target object is “image”, the process advances to step S109.
In step S107, the change processing unit 1106 determines whether another object exists immediately under the target object (“text”). In this embodiment, if the type of the target object is “text”, the processing branches depending on whether another object exists immediately under it. Whether another object exists is determined based on the region information of the “text” that is the target object and the region information of an object existing in a layer on the lower side of the “text”. More specifically, if an object that has a region completely including the region of the “text” exists in the lower layer, it is determined that another object exists immediately under the target object, and the process advances to step S111. On the other hand, if an object that has a region completely including the region of the “text” does not exist in the lower layer, it is determined that another object does not exist immediately under the target object, and the process advances to step S112.
In step S112, the change processing unit 1106 performs scaling (enlargement/reduction) processing and movement processing of the “text” in accordance with the paper size of the document after the change while maintaining the aspect ratio of the “text” that is the target object.
In scaling processing of the “text”, the font size of the “text” that is the target object is enlarged/reduced in accordance with the magnification of a side of a paper sheet with a lower scaling ratio. For example, when changing a paper size of 100 cm long×50 cm wide to a paper size of 50 cm long×30 cm wide, the font size of the “text” is changed to ½ (=50 cm÷100 cm) based on the magnification of the vertical side with the lower scaling ratio. At this time, the font size of the “text” is changed, but the aspect ratio of the font is not changed (maintained). This is because if the aspect ratio of the font is changed, the font is distorted if the change amount of the paper size is large, and the design of the “text” gives an impression different from that before the change of the paper size at high possibility.
In movement processing of the “text”, the position of the “text” that is the target object is moved in accordance with the change of the aspect ratio of the paper size of the document. For example, as shown in
In step S111, the change processing unit 1106 performs scaling (enlargement/reduction) processing and movement processing of the “text” while maintaining the relative size relationship and positional relationship between the “text” that is the target object and another object existing immediately under it.
For example, as shown in
In step S108, the change processing unit 1106 determines whether the “figure” that is the target object contacts an edge of a paper sheet before the change of the paper size. Whether the “figure” contacts an edge of a paper sheet before the change of the paper size, is determined by defining a rectangle surrounding the “figure” and determining whether at least two of the vertices of the rectangle are located on edges of a paper sheet. More specifically, based on the coordinate values of the vertices of the rectangle surrounding the “figure” and the coordinate values of the edges of the paper sheet, it is determined whether the “figure” contacts an edge of the paper sheet before the change of the paper size. There can also be considered a case where the “figure” that is the target object does not contact an edge of the paper sheet completely (without any deviation). For this reason, an allowable range (margin) may be set from an edge of the paper sheet, and it may be determined whether the “figure” contacts an edge of the paper sheet before the change of the paper size. If the “figure” does not contact an edge of the paper sheet before the change of the paper size, the process advances to step S110. On the other hand, if the “figure” contacts an edge of the paper sheet before the change of the paper size, the process advances to step S114.
In step S110, the change processing unit 1106 determines whether another object exists immediately under the target object (“figure”), like step S107. If another object does not exist immediately under the target object (“figure”), the process advances to step S112. On the other hand, if another object exists immediately under the target object (“figure”), the process advances to step S113.
Note that in a case where the target object is a “figure”, if the “figure” does not contact an edge of the paper sheet before the change of the paper size, steps S112 and S113 that are processes after that are basically the same as the processes in a case where the target object is “text”. Hence, in step S112, the change processing unit 1106 performs scaling (enlargement/reduction) processing and movement processing of the “figure” in accordance with the paper size of the document after the change while maintaining the aspect ratio of the “figure” that is the target object. However, in movement processing of the “figure”, (the position of) the reference point when moving the “figure” is always located at the center of the “figure”. In a case where the target object is “figure” as well, the aspect ratio of the “figure” is maintained, thereby suppressing distortion of the pattern held by a clip art or a two-dimensional code, as in a case where the target object is “text”. Also, in step S113, the change processing unit 1106 performs scaling (enlargement/reduction) processing and movement processing of the “figure” while maintaining the relative size relationship and positional relationship between the “figure” that is the target object and another object existing immediately under it.
In step S114, the change processing unit 1106 performs scaling (enlargement/reduction) processing and movement processing of the “figure” while maintaining the ratio of the “figure” with respect to the paper size after the change without maintaining the aspect ratio of the “figure” that is the target object. This is because if “figure” (except two-dimensional codes) contacts an edge of a paper sheet, spaces are noticeable unless the “figure” is scaled in accordance with the aspect ratio of the paper size after the change. More specifically, as shown in
In step S109, the change processing unit 1106 determines whether another object exists immediately under the target object (“image”), like step S107 or S110. If another object does not exist immediately under the target object (“image”), the process advances to step S115. On the other hand, if another object exists immediately under the target object (“image”), the process advances to step S116.
In step S115, as shown in
In step S116, the change processing unit 1106 performs scaling (enlargement/reduction) processing and movement processing of the “image” while maintaining the relative size relationship and positional relationship between the “image” that is the target object and another object existing immediately under it. For example, assume a case where a “figure” that is another object exists immediately under an “image”, as shown in
As described above, in this embodiment, for each of objects included in the document, it is determined whether the aspect ratio should be maintained when changing the paper size of the document, in accordance with the type, the content, and the arrangement state of the object. This determination is done by the change processing unit 1106, as described above (steps S106 to S110). For an object whose aspect ratio should be maintained in the objects included in the document, the change processing unit 1106 adjusts the size and position of the object such that the aspect ratio of the object is maintained. In other words, when adjusting the aspect ratio of the document in accordance with the paper size of the document after the change, the size and position of each object are adjusted in accordance with the type, the content, and the arrangement state of each object in the document. This can suppress distortion of an object whose aspect ratio should be maintained in the objects of the document. More specifically, it is possible to suppress distortion of a pattern held by a clip art or a two-dimensional code in a document.
In this embodiment, a case where the aspect ratio of a “text” or “figure” that is an object in a document is maintained has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, to permit some distortion in a “text” or a “figure” in a document, an allowable range may be provided for (the change rate of) the aspect ratio of these. In this case, the size of the “text” or “figure” is adjusted such that the aspect ratio is maintained within a predetermined allowable range. For example, the aspect ratio of a “text” or “figure” is adjusted until it exceeds the predetermined allowable range, and beyond the predetermined allowable range, the aspect ratio of the “text” or “figure” is not adjusted anymore.
Also, in this embodiment, a case where a “text” or “figure” in a document is moved in accordance with the aspect ratio of the paper size has been described as an example. An allowable range may be provided for the moving range. In this case, the “text” or “figure” in the document is moved until it exceeds a predetermined moving range, and beyond the predetermined moving range, the “text” or “figure” is not moved anymore.
Alternatively, a plurality of candidate documents (layouts) created while changing the conditions of the presence/absence of adjustment of the aspect ratio, the above-described allowable range (the change rate of the aspect ratio), or the moving range may be displayed, and a document (layout) desired by the user may be selected from the plurality of candidate documents. For example, the change processing unit 1106 adjusts the size of an object included in a document using a plurality of different aspect ratios, thereby generating a plurality of candidate documents including objects corresponding to the plurality of aspect ratios. The plurality of candidate documents thus generated are displayed on the display device 203, and the user selects, via the input device 201, one candidate document as a document after the change of the paper size from the plurality of candidate documents displayed on the display device 203.
In this embodiment, a case where if the target object included in the document is a “figure”, and the “figure” contacts an edge of a paper sheet, the size and position of the “figure” are adjusted without maintaining the aspect ratio of the “figure” has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, whether to maintain the aspect ratio of the “figure” may be determined in accordance with the content of the “figure”. More specifically, if (the content of) the “figure” is an object painted in one color, or if it is an object such as a table, it is considered that some distortion of the “figure” is permitted, and therefore, the aspect ratio of the “figure” may not be maintained. Also, depending on the ratio of the “figure” that is the target object in contact with an edge of a paper sheet (the arrangement state in the document), whether to maintain the aspect ratio of the “figure” may be determined, or the method of scaling processing or movement processing may be changed. Note that the ratio of the “figure” in contact with the edge of the paper sheet includes, for example, the number of sides of the “figure” in contact with the edge of the paper sheet in addition to the number of vertices of the “figure” in contact with the edge of the paper sheet. For example, if the “figure” hardly contacts the edge of the paper sheet, the aspect ratio of the “figure” may be maintained. If two or more sides of the “figure” contact the edges of the paper sheet, the aspect ratio of the “figure” may not be maintained.
In this embodiment, a case where the aspect ratio of a “text” is maintained independently of the content of the “text” that is the target object has been described as an example. However, whether to maintain the aspect ratio of the “text” may be determined in accordance with the words of the “text” or the font type. For example, if the “text” includes only alphanumeric characters, or if the influence of the font on the design is little even if the “text” is distorted, the adjustment of the aspect ratio of the “text” may be permitted.
In this embodiment, a case where the document editing application 1102 (change processing unit 1106) automatically determines whether to maintain the aspect ratio of each object included in a document has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the user may set, of objects included in a document, an object whose aspect ratio should be maintained. More specifically, a setting unit is provided, which is configured to set a condition associated with an object whose aspect ratio should be maintained when changing the paper size of a document in accordance with a user setting (input). For each object included in a document, it is determined, based on the condition set by the setting unit, whether the aspect ratio should be maintained when changing the paper size of the document.
Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MP)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-191881 | Nov 2022 | JP | national |
