Document processing apparatus, document processing method and computer program

Abstract

According to the present invention, a document processing apparatus capable of dynamically changing, according to contents data to be laid out, a layout on a template having an area where an extraction condition for extraction of the contents data from a database is set, the apparatus comprises an obtaining unit which obtains the contents data satisfying the extraction condition from the database; a determination unit which determines one or more of a plurality of sub-templates on which groups of contents data obtained by the obtaining unit should be laid out, from association information on association between the groups of contents data and the plurality of sub-templates for layout of the contents data; and a layout unit which lays out the groups of contents data in the area by laying out the groups of contents data on the one or more sub-templates determined by the determination unit, and which thereby produces output results.

1 . A document processing apparatus capable of dynamically changing, according to contents data to be laid out, a layout on a template having an area where an extraction condition for extraction of the contents data from a database is set, the apparatus comprising: 
 an obtaining unit which obtains the contents data satisfying the extraction condition from the database;    a determination unit which determines one or more of a plurality of sub-templates on which groups of contents data obtained by the obtaining unit should be laid out, from association information on association between the groups of contents data and the plurality of sub-templates for layout of the contents data; and    a layout unit which lays out the groups of contents data in the area by laying out the groups of contents data on the one or more sub-templates determined by the determination unit, and which thereby produces output results.    
   
   
       2 . The document processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a layout adjustment unit which lays out in the sub-templates the contents data obtained by the obtaining unit, and which performs layout adjustment, 
 wherein the layout adjustment unit performs layout adjustment according to the data size of the contents data.    
   
   
       3 . The document processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each sub-template has a partial display area for input of the contents data, and 
 the layout adjustment unit adjusts the laid-out position of the partial display area and the size of the partial display area in the sub-template according to the data size of the contents data.    
   
   
       4 . The document processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the layout unit lays out the layout-adjusted sub-templates layout-adjusted by the layout adjustment unit, by arranging the layout-adjusted sub-templates in the area.  
   
   
       5 . A document processing apparatus capable of dynamically changing a layout of contents data according to the contents data when laying out the contents data by using a template having an area where an extraction condition for extraction of the contents data to be laid out from a database is set, the apparatus comprising: 
 an obtaining unit which obtains the contents data satisfying the extraction condition from the database; and    a generation unit which newly generates a page having the area in a case where the contents data obtained by the obtaining unit cannot be laid out in the area.    
   
   
       6 . The document processing apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the generation unit repeats generating a page having the area until the contents data obtained by the obtaining unit is contained.  
   
   
       7 . The document processing apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the generation unit duplicates a predetermined page having the area.  
   
   
       8 . A document processing apparatus capable of dynamically changing, according to contents data to be laid out, a layout on a template having an area where an extraction condition for extraction of the contents data from a database and a division method are set, the apparatus comprising: 
 an obtaining unit which obtains the contents data satisfying the extraction condition from the database;    a setting unit which sets one of a plurality of division methods; and    a layout unit which lays out the contents data obtained by the obtaining unit, by dividing a document by one of the division methods set by the setting unit, when the contents data is laid out in the area, and which thereby generates document data.    
   
   
       9 . The document processing apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein one of document break, page break and line break is defined in the division methods, and the layout unit performs division processing for completing one document unit when the contents data obtained by the obtaining unit is laid out, if the division method is the document break, performs division processing for inserting a page break when the contents data obtained by the obtaining unit is laid out, if the division information is the page break, performs division processing for inserting a line break when the contents data obtained by the obtaining unit is laid out, if the division information is the line break, and lays out the contents data to be laid out in conformity with the template after division processing.  
   
   
       10 . The document processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a template generation unit which generates the template.  
   
   
       11 . The document processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a display unit which displays document data in which the contents data is laid out, as the contents data obtained by the obtaining unit is laid out in the area, and a printing unit which prints the data on the document as the contents data is laid out in the area.  
   
   
       12 . A document processing method capable of dynamically changing, according to contents data to be laid out, a layout on a template having an area where an extraction condition for extraction of the contents data from a database is set, the method comprising: 
 an obtaining step of obtaining the contents data satisfying the extraction condition from the database;    a determination step of determining one or more of a plurality of sub-templates on which groups of contents data obtained in the obtaining step should be laid out, from association information on association between the groups of contents data and the plurality of sub-templates for layout of the contents data; and    a layout step of laying out the groups of contents data in the area by laying out the groups of contents data on the one or more sub-templates determined in the determination step to produce output results.    
   
   
       13 . The document processing method according to  claim 12 , further comprising a layout adjustment step of laying out in the sub-templates the contents data obtained in the obtaining step, and performing layout adjustment in the sub-templates, 
 wherein the layout adjustment step includes performing layout adjustment according to the data size of the contents data.    
   
   
       14 . The document processing method according to  claim 12 , wherein the sub-template has a partial display area for input of the contents data, and the layout adjustment step includes adjusting the laid-out position of the partial display area and the size of the partial display area in the sub-template according to the data size of the contents data.  
   
   
       15 . The document processing method according to  claim 12 , wherein the layout step includes laying out the layout-adjusted sub-templates layout-adjusted in the layout adjustment step, by arranging the layout-adjusted sub-templates in the area.  
   
   
       16 . A document processing method capable of dynamically changing a layout of contents data according to the contents data when laying out the contents data by using a template having an area where an extraction condition for extraction of the contents data to be laid out from a database is set, the method comprising: 
 an obtaining step of obtaining the contents data satisfying the extraction condition from the database; and    a generation step of newly generating a page having the area in a case where the contents data obtained in the obtaining step cannot be laid out in the area.    
   
   
       17 . The document processing method according to  claim 16 , wherein the generation step includes repeating generating a page having the area until the contents data obtained in the obtaining step is contained.  
   
   
       18 . The document processing method according to  claim 16 , wherein the generation step includes duplicating a predetermined page having the area.  
   
   
       19 . A document processing method capable of dynamically changing, according to contents data to be laid out, a layout on a template having an area where an extraction condition for extraction of the contents data from a database and a division method are set, the method comprising: 
 an obtaining step of obtaining the contents data satisfying the extraction condition from the database;    a setting step of setting one of a plurality of division methods; and    a layout step of laying out the contents data obtained in the obtaining step, by dividing a document by one of the division methods set in the setting step, when the contents data is laid out in the area, and thereby generating document data.    
   
   
       20 . The document processing method according to  claim 19 , wherein one of document break, page break and line break is defined in the division methods, and the layout step includes performing division processing for completing one document unit when the contents data obtained in the obtaining step is laid out, if the division method is the document break, performing division processing for inserting a page break when the contents data obtained in the obtaining step is laid out, if the division information is the page break, performing division processing for inserting a line break when the contents data obtained in the obtaining step is laid out, if the division information is the line break, and laying out the contents data to be laid out in conformity with the template after division processing.  
   
   
       21 . The document processing method according to  claim 12 , further comprising a template generation step of generating the template.  
   
   
       22 . The document processing method according to  claim 12 , further comprising at least one of a display step of displaying data on a document in which the contents data is laid out, as the contents data obtained in the obtaining step is laid out in the area, and a printing step of printing the data on the document as the contents data is laid out in the area.  
   
   
       23 . A program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, the program enabling a computer to execute the document processing method according to  claim 12.