System for editing image data

There is provided a system for editing image data in which addition to and correction of image data constructed by a set of dot data can be effected in an extremely simple operation while attaining the matching between the parameters such as the width of a line, the radius, the inclination, and the size of characters of the added or corrected portion and those of the image data. A connected area included in the image data is stored in a connected area data buffer. When a desired point of the image data is specified, a diagram constituent parameter deriving section extracts a connected area adjacent to the specified point from the connected area data buffer and derives diagram constituent parameters such as the width of a line, the inclination, the radius of a circle, the central point, the size of a character string and the character pitch for the connected area. The parameters can be used when the edition is effected by an edition processing section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an image data editing system for effecting 
the edition of image data, for example, addition to or correction of image 
data, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for editing image 
data suitable for edition of image data represented by a set of dot data 
such as image data read by an image scanner or another image reader. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
Recently, an image filing system called an electronic filing system or 
optical filing system, for example, is used to file a large number of 
drawings including handwritten drawings as image data. The filing of the 
drawings makes it easy to manage the drawings, for example, store and 
retrieve the drawings, and is effective to reduce the space for reserving 
the drawings. 
This type of image filing system files and stores the drawings as image 
data. The image filing system is not only used to file the drawings but 
also desired to permit the addition to or correction of the filed 
drawings, that is, edition of the drawing data when the design is changed. 
Generally, in a computer-aided design (CAD) system, in order to simplify 
the diagram data processing, drawing data constructed by diagram 
constituents which are defined by character pattern data output from a 
character generator and vector data is used as drawing data or CAD data. 
In the conventional CAD system, when patterns such as lines, arcs or 
characters are added to the drawing data which are already stored in the 
memory device, diagram constituents defined by output data from the 
character generator and vector data are additionally provided in the same 
manner as in a case wherein ordinary CAD data is added. In this case, it 
is necessary to attain the matching between the width of lines, the 
curvature of curved lines and the size of characters, for example, of the 
diagram constituents to be added and those of the diagram constituents 
already stored. 
Image data obtained by reading the handwritten drawing by use of an image 
scanner, for example, is a set of dot data and does not have data of 
parameters such as the width of lines, the radius of curvature and the 
size of characters unlike the ordinary CAD data. Therefore, when a diagram 
is added to the diagram already drawn by dot data or the diagram is 
changed in the conventional CAD system and image filing system, the 
operator is required to effect the editing operation after determining the 
parameters such as the width of lines, the radius of curvature and the 
size of characters by trial and error in order to attain the matching 
between the width of lines, the radius of curvature and the size of 
characters of the newly added diagram and those of the diagram already 
drawn by the dot data. The operation of the operator for repeatedly 
determining the parameters such as the width of lines, the radius of 
curvature and the size of characters by trial and error is extremely 
troublesome and the efficiency of the editing operation is extremely low. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for editing 
image data in which addition to and correction or modification of image 
data constructed by a set of dot data can be attained in an extremely 
simple operation while attaining the matching between the parameters such 
as the width of lines, radius, inclination, and the size of characters of 
the added or corrected portion and those of the original image data. 
A method of editing image data according to the invention is to specify a 
desired connected area which is formed of connected-dot data and lies in 
image data represented as a set of dot data and to determine a diagram 
constituent and diagram constituent parameters corresponding to the image 
data from the image data of the connected area so as to effect the process 
of editing the image data by use of the diagram constituent parameters. 
The "connected-dot data" is the data which represents dots connected each 
other. 
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method is to 
specify a desired connected area which is formed of connected-dot data and 
lies in image data represented as a set of dot data, specify a diagram 
constituent corresponding to the connected area and determine diagram 
constituent parameters corresponding to the specified diagram constituent 
from the image data of the connected area so as to effect the process of 
editing the image data by use of the diagram constituent parameters. 
An apparatus of editing image data according to further aspect of the 
invention comprises an area specifying section for specifying a desired 
connected area which is formed of connected-dot data and lies in image 
data represented as a set of dot data; a diagram constituent parameter 
extracting section for deriving a diagram constituent and diagram 
constituent parameters corresponding to the image data from the image data 
of the connected area specified by the area specifying section; and an 
edition processing section for effecting the process of editing the image 
data by use of the diagram constituent parameters. 
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the apparatus 
comprises an area specifying section for specifying a desired connected 
area which is formed of connected-dot data and lies in image data 
represented as a set of dot data; a diagram constituent specifying section 
for specifying a diagram constituent corresponding to the connected area 
specified by the area specifying section; a diagram constituent parameter 
extracting section for deriving diagram constituent parameters 
corresponding to the diagram constituent specified by the diagram 
constituent specifying section from the image data of the connected area 
specified by the area specifying section; and an edition processing 
section for effecting the process of editing the image data by use of the 
diagram constituent parameters. 
According to the method and apparatus of the invention, when a desired 
connected area in the image data is extracted prior to the editing 
process, necessary diagram constituent parameters are derived from the 
image data of the specified connected area. F/r example, when the 
connected area indicates a straight line, the parameters of the width of 
the line and vector of the central line thereof are derived. When the 
connected area indicates a circle, the parameters of the coordinates of 
the center point of the circle, the radius of the circle and the width of 
the line are derived. When the connected area indicates characters, the 
parameters of the inclination of the character, the character pitch and 
the size of the character are derived. The thus derived diagram 
constituent parameters are effectively used in the later editing process. 
Therefore, it becomes unnecessary to input parameters repeatedly by trial 
and error when addition to or modification of diagram constituent is 
effected, and as a result, the editing operation can be extremely 
simplified. 
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be 
set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will 
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the 
following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and 
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the 
instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the 
appended claims.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part 
of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the 
invention and, together with the general description given above and the 
detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to 
explain the principles of the invention. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
There will now be described embodiments of the invention with reference to 
the accompanying drawings. 
FIG. 1 shows the entire construction of an image editing system according 
to a first embodiment of the invention. 
An original drawing 2 is a handwritten drawing, for example, and read by an 
image scanner 4 and information thereon is received as image data into a 
central processing unit (CPU) 6. The CPU 6 is connected to a keyboard 8, a 
mouse 10, a display 12, an /ptical disk device 14 and a plotter 16 in 
addition to the image scanner 4. The keyboard 8 is used to input various 
data into the CPU 6 and the mouse 10 is used to input coordinate 
information into the CPU 6. The display 12 is used to display image 
information represented by image data. Image data read by the image 
scanner 4 or image data processed (edited, for example) by the CPU 6 can 
be stored into the optical disk device 14 by means of the CPU 6. Image 
data stored into the optical disk device 14 (or image data processed by 
the CPU 6) can be derived from the plotter 16 via the CPU 6. 
FIG. 2 shows the construction for effecting the process associated with the 
image editing operation in the CPU 6. The above function can be realized 
by executing the edition processing program in the CPU 6, &/r example. 
Therefore, the CPU 6 can be substantially regarded as having at least a 
run length processing section 22, connected area processing section 24, 
connected area buffer 26, diagram constituent parameter deriving section 
28 and edition processing section 30. 
Image data supplied from the image scanner 4 or optical disk device 14 to 
the CPU 6 is dot data corresponding to the matrix of an image screen. The 
dot data is converted to run length data represented by dot data string 
along the scanning line or by the length of run in the run length 
processing section 22. The run length data is collected for each connected 
area by means of the connected area processing section 24 and then stored 
into the connected area buffer 26. The connected area is an area formed by 
a set of run data connected to each other over adjacent lines. The 
connected area processing section 24 defines and extracts the connected 
area from the run length data and collects the run length data for each 
connected area. C/nnected area data stored in the connected area buffer 26 
is supplied to the diagram constituent parameter deriving section 28. The 
diagram constituent parameter deriving section 28 selectively derives 
diagram constituent parameters such as the width and inclination of a line 
necessary for drawing the diagram constituent represented by the image 
data from the connected area data supplied from the connected area buffer 
26. The diagram constituent parameters derived by the diagram constituent 
parameter deriving section 28 are supplied to the edition processing 
section 30. The edition processing section 30 effects the edition process 
for image data according to the edition command supplied from the keyboard 
8 or mouse 10 and the diagram constituent parameters, for example. 
The diagram constituent parameter deriving section 28 includes a 
neighboring area extracting section 42, straight line processing section 
44, corner processing section 46, area processing section 48, circle 
processing section 50, arc processing section 52 and character string 
processing section 54. 
The neighboring area extracting section 42 extracts a connected area lying 
adjacent to a coordinate point defined by coordinate point data input from 
the mouse 10. One of the straight line processing section 44, corner 
processing section 46, area processing section 48, circle processing 
section 50, arc processing section 52 and character string processing 
section 54 is selected according to diagram constituent selecting 
information specified by the keyboard 8 or other suitable means. 
The straight line processing section 44 functions when a straight line is 
specified by the diagram constituent selecting information, and derives 
diagram constituent parameters of the line of the target connected area, 
for example, the vector of the core or central line, the 7idth and 
inclination of the line, and the position of a point at which a 
perpendicular drawn from a specified coordinate point intersects the line 
at right angles. 
The corner processing section 46 functions when a line having a corner is 
specified by the diagram constituent selecting information, and derives 
diagram constituent parameters of the line having a corner of the target 
connected area, for example, the coordinate /f the line having a corner. 
The area processing section 48 functions when the area of a diagram is 
specified by the diagram constituent selecting information, and derives 
diagram constituent parameters of the area of the target connected area, 
for example, the value of the area. 
The circle processing section 50 functions when a circle is specified by 
the diagram constituent selecting information, and derives diagram 
constituent parameters of the circle of the target connected area, for 
example, the central point of the circle, the radius of the circle and the 
line width of the circle. 
The arc processing section 52 functions when an arc is specified by the 
diagram constituent selecting information, and derives diagram constituent 
parameters of the arc of the target connected area, for example, the 
central point, the radius, the line width of the arc and the angles 
respectively made by lines passing the start and end points of the arc. 
The character string processing section 54 functions when a character 
string is specified by the diagram constituent selecting information, and 
derives diagram constituent parameters of the character string of the 
target connected area, for example, the size (height, width) of the 
character, the character pitch and the inclination of the character. 
Diagram constituent parameters derived by the straight line processing 
section 44, corner processing section 46, area processing section 48, 
circle processing section 50, arc processing section 52 or character 
string processing section 54 are supplied to the edition processing 
section 30 and used for the edition processing of the image data. 
Next, the operation of the diagram editing system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is 
explained in detail. 
In this system, in order to simplify the processing of image data, the 
image data is previously collected in the run length connected area and 
stored in the data buffer 26. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when diagram 
data represented as a set of dot data D along a scan line L is input to 
the run length processing section 22, it is converted to run length data 
RL as shown in FIG. 4. When the run length data RL is input to the 
connected area processing section 24, the connected area processing 
section 24 checks whether or not each run length data connected each other 
in the direction orthogonal to the scan line direction, that is, whether 
or not adjacent lines are connected to each other, and extracts connected 
areas J1 to J14 as shown in FIG. 5, for example. The run length data items 
of the connected areas J1 to J14 are stored into the connected area data 
buffer 26. 
The process effected when the image data is edited is explained below. 
FIG. 6 shows the operation procedure effected by the operator when the 
image data is edited. 
When editing the image data, the operator first selects a diagram 
constituent which is an object to be edited (step S1). That is, the 
operator selects one of a straight line, line having a corner, area, arc 
and character string as the diagram constituent to be edited and inputs 
the same to the system by use of the keyboard 8, for example. 
Next, the operator specifies and inputs a coordinate point adjacent to the 
diagram to be edited to the system by operating the mouse 10 (step S2). 
The operation of specifying and inputting a coordinate point is effected 
for one to three positions according to the diagram to be edited. When a 
desired coordinate point is specified by the operator, one of the 
following processes is started according to the diagram constituent 
specified in the step S1 in this system. 
(a) Straight Line Process 
When the specified diagram constituent shows a straight line, the straight 
line processing section 44 of FIG. 2 functions, and as shown in FIG. 7, a 
connected area J lying adjacent to a coordinate point P specified by the 
operator is derived out from the data buffer 26 by the neighboring area 
extracting section 42 and the central line vector V of the straight line, 
the 7idth W of the line, the inclination .theta. of the line and the 
position of a point at which a perpendicular drawn from the specified 
coordinate point P intersects the line at right angles are derived as the 
diagram constituent parameters of the straight line of the connected area 
J, for example. The parameters are used to extend a straight line or add a 
straight line which intersects at right angles with a straight line. 
The flowchart of FIG. 13 shows the process by the straight line processing 
section 44. 
First, a preset area A including the specified coordinate point P of the 
connected area as shown in FIG. 7 is clipped by means of the neighboring 
area extracting section 42 (step S11). The reason why part of the 
connected area is clipped is to limit the number of data items to be 
processed and enhance the processing speed in the data processing 
operation. Then, the outline of the connected area in the preset area A is 
extracted (step S12) and short vectors of a central line are extracted 
according to the outline (step S13). The short vectors can be easily 
obtained by sequentially deriving an intermediate point between crossing 
points, at which a line intersecting at right angles with the outlines 
crosses the respective outlines, at a preset interval along the outlines. 
Next, a long vector is created by combining the short vectors derived in 
the step S13 (step S14) for line-elongation. The long vector can be easily 
obtained by use of the least square method which is well known in the art 
and therefore the detailed explanation for the procedure is omitted here. 
Next, the long vector obtained in the step S14 is compared with the 
outlines (step S15), and it is defined that the long vector extends out of 
the connected area J when they cross each other, then it is determined 
that the diagram constituent has not been correctly specified and a 
message of "specification error" is displayed (step S16). If there is no 
excessive extension of the long vector beyond the boundary, the diagram 
constituent parameters are derived based on the long vector and the 
outlines (step S17) and the diagram constituent parameters are displayed 
on the display 12 (step S18). 
(b) Corner Process 
When the specified diagram constituent shows a line having a corner, the 
corner processing section 46 of FIG. 2 functions, and as shown in FIG. 8, 
the coordinate of a crossing point between two lines passing adjacent to 
two coordinate points P1 and P2 specified by the operator, that is, the 
coordinate of a corner point XP is derived as the diagram constituent 
parameter. The coordinate of the corner point can be used as a reference 
point when the editing operation is effected. 
The flowchart of FIG. 14 shows the process of the corner processing section 
46. 
Steps S21 to S25 are the process for deriving a central line vector of a 
line lying adjacent to the first specified coordinate point P1 and steps 
S26 to S30 are the process for deriving a central line vector of a line 
lying adjacent to the second specified coordinate point P2. The processes 
and the display of "specification error" in the step S31 are substantially 
the same as those in the case of the process for the line shown in FIG. 
13. That is, a preset area of the connected area adjacent to the first 
specified coordinate point P1 is clipped by means of the neighboring area 
extracting section 42 (step S21). Then, the outline of the clipped area of 
the connected area is extracted (step S22) and short vectors of the 
central line are extracted based on the outline (step S23). Next, the 
short vectors obtained in the step S23 are processed for line-elongation 
to create a long vector (step S24). After this, the outlines and the long 
vector obtained in the step S24 are compared with each other (step S25 and 
when they cross each other, it is defined that the long vector exceeds the 
range of the connected area J, then it is determined that the diagram 
constituent has not been correctly specified and a message of 
"specification error" is displayed (step S31). If there is no excessive 
extension of the long vector beyond the boundary, a preset area of the 
connected area adjacent to the second specified coordinate point P2 is 
clipped by means of the neighboring area extracting section 42 (step S26). 
Then, the outline of the connected area in the clipped area is extracted 
(step S27) and short vectors of a central line are extracted based on the 
outline (step S28). Next, a long vector is created by subjecting the short 
vectors obtained in the step S28 to the line-elongation process (step 
S29). After this, the outlines and the long vector obtained in the step 
S29 are compared with each other (step S30), and when they cross each 
other, it is defined that the long vector exceeds the range of the 
connected area, then it is determined that the diagram constituent has not 
been correctly specified and a message of "specification error" is 
displayed (step S31). If it is determined in the step S30 that there is no 
excessive extension of the long vector beyond the boundary, two long 
vectors corresponding to the two specified coordinate points P1 and P2 can 
be derived. When two long vectors are thus derived, the coordinate of a 
crossing point therebetween is derived (step S32) and the coordinate of 
the crossing point is displayed as the diagram constituent parameter of 
the corner (step S33). 
(c) Area Process 
When the specified diagram constituent shows an area, the area processing 
section 48 of FIG. 2 functions, and as shown in FIG. 9, a connected area J 
lying adjacent to the coordinate point P specified by the operator is 
extracted by the neighboring area extracting section 42 and the area of 
the connected area J lying adjacent to the coordinate point P is derived 
as the diagram constituent parameter. F/r example, when unnecessary dots 
are included in the image, it is convenient to use the area of the 
connected area in order to selectively remove the unnecessary dots. 
In this case, the area processing section 48 accumulatively adds the run 
lengths of the connected area J lying adjacent to the coordinate point P 
specified by the operator (step S41) to derive area information of the 
connected area J as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 15. Then, for example, 
when the thus derived area information is smaller than a preset area 
value, the isolated infinitesimal connected area is removed from the image 
data. Like the black connected area in the white area of the image data, a 
white connected area in the black area of the image data can be derived in 
the same manner as described above. 
(d) Circle Process 
When the specified diagram constituent shows a circle, the circle 
processing section 50 of FIG. 2 functions, and as shown in FIG. 10, a 
connected area J lying adjacent to both of the coordinate points P1 and P2 
specified by the operator is extracted by the neighboring area extracting 
section 42 and the central point O, the radius R and the line width W of 
the circle constructed by the connected area J are derived as the diagram 
constituent parameters, for example. 
The flowchart of FIG. 16 shows the process effected by the circle 
processing section 50. 
Like the case of the straight line shown in FIG. 13, in the case of a 
circle, short vectors of a central line are derived from the connected 
area (step S51) and arc information approximated to a series of short 
vectors is derived by approximating the short vectors obtained in the step 
S51 to an arc form (step S52). The curvature of an arc necessary at the 
time of arc approximation can be easily derived from the rate of variation 
in the inclination of the short vectors. Further, the line width of the 
arc information is derived (step S53). Then, the thus derived parameters 
are displayed as the diagram constituent parameters of the circle (step 
S54). 
(e) Arc Process 
When the specified diagram constituent shows an arc, the arc processing 
section 52 of FIG. 2 functions, and as shown in FIG. 11, a connected area 
J lying adjacent to three coordinate points P1, P2 and P3 specified by the 
operator is extracted by the neighboring area extracting section 42 and 
the central point O, the radius R, the line width W of the arc and angles 
.theta.s and .theta.e made by lines respectively passing the start and end 
points of the arc are derived as the diagram constituent parameters, for 
example. 
The flowchart of FIG. 17 shows the process effected by the arc processing 
section 52. 
Like the case of the circle shown in FIG. 16, in the case of an arc, short 
vectors are subjected to the arc-approximation. That is, short vectors of 
the central line are derived from the connected area J (step S61) and arc 
information approximated to a series of short vectors is derived by 
approximating the short vectors obtained in the step S61 to an arc form 
(step S62). Further, the line width for a portion near the second 
specified coordinate point P2 is used as the line width of the arc 
information (step S63). Then, an angle made by a line connecting the 
central point and the first specified coordinate point P1 which is the 
start point of the arc and an angle made by a line connecting the central 
point and the third specified coordinate point P3 which is the end point 
of the arc are derived (step S64). Then, the thus derived parameters are 
displayed as the diagram constituent parameters of the arc (step S65). 
(f) Character String Process 
When the specified diagram constituent shows a character string, the 
character string processing section 54 of FIG. 2 functions, and as shown 
in FIG. 12, a straight line connecting two coordinate points P1 and P2 
specified by the operator is used as a reference line, one or more 
connected areas, for example, four connected areas J1 to J4 in the case of 
FIG. 12 lying adjacent to the reference line are extracted by the 
neighboring area extracting section 42, and the size (for example, the 
height H and width W of the characters), the character pitch PI and the 
inclination .theta. of the characters (character string) constructed by 
the connected areas J1 to J4 are derived as the diagram constituent 
parameters, for example. 
The flowchart of FIG. 18 shows the process effected by the character string 
processing section 54. 
First, the inclination .theta. of a straight line connecting the first and 
second specified coordinate points P1 and P2 is derived (step S71). Then, 
the connected areas are sequentially extracted from the first specified 
coordinate point P1 towards the second specified coordinate point P2 by 
the neighboring area extracting section 42, and if characters of sizes 
exceeding the preset size range of characters previously set or prepared 
in the system, such characters are removed (step S72). Next, the connected 
areas J1 to J4 extracted in the step S72 are rotated by the angle .theta. 
derived in the step S71 (step S73) and the character size is derived based 
on the range in which the connected areas J1 to J4 which have been rotated 
are present (step S74). After the character sizes of all of the characters 
in the character string of the connected areas J1 to J4, the average 
character size and character pitch are derived (step S75). Then, the thus 
derived parameters are displayed as the diagram constituent parameters of 
the character string (step S76). 
The diagram constituent parameters thus derived are not only displayed but 
also stored as required. 
The operator effects the editing operation of image data such as addition 
or correction of image data without troublesome setting of parameters by 
using the diagram constituent parameters derived in the above-described 
manner (step S3). 
For example, when a straight line is extended, the operator selects a 
straight line as the diagram constituent in the step S1 and then specifies 
a coordinate point adjacent to a target line to be extended in the step 
S2. By the above operations, the diagram constituent parameters of the 
target line, for example, the central line vector V, the width W and the 
inclination .theta. of the straight line and the position at which a 
perpendicular drawn from the specified coordinate point P intersects the 
straight line at right angles are derived by means of the straight line 
processing section 44 according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 13. Then, 
the operator effects the operation of extending the target straight line 
in the step S3. At this time, the operator can easily effect the operation 
of extending the target straight line by using the diagram constituent 
parameters of the target line derived in the above-described manner, that 
is, the central line vector V, the width W and the inclination .theta. of 
the target straight line. 
As described above, since the operation of editing image data is effected 
by use of the diagram constituent parameters which have been derived by a 
simple operation prior to the image data editing operation, the 
troublesome operation of setting parameters becomes unnecessary, thereby 
making the editing operation extremely simple. 
FIG. 19 shows the construction for effecting the process associated with 
the image data editing operation of the image data editing system 
according to a second embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 19, portions 
which are substantially the same as those of FIG. 2 are denoted by the 
same reference numerals and the detailed explanation thereof is omitted. 
In the first embodiment described before, a diagram constituent is 
specified by the operator and only the parameters specified by the diagram 
constituent are derived. In contrast, in the image data editing system of 
the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 19, processes for the 
extracted connected areas are effected by applying the extracted connected 
areas to all of the diagram constituents of, for example, the 
above-described straight line and circle, and the best matching result is 
output as the parameters so that the suitable diagram constituent can be 
substantially automatically specified. In this case, time required for 
effecting the process becomes longer than that in the first embodiment, 
but the operation can be more simplified. 
That is, in this case, the CPU 6 is substantially regarded as having at 
least a run length processing section 22, connected area processing 
section 24, connected area buffer 26, diagram constituent parameter 
deriving section 62, edition processing section 30 and parameter selecting 
section 64. 
Connected area data stored in the connected area buffer 26 is supplied to 
the diagram constituent deriving section 62. The diagram constituent 
deriving section 62 derives diagram constituent parameters such as the 
width and inclination of a line which are necessary to draw the diagram 
constituent represented by image data for all of the diagram constituents 
based on the connected area data supplied from the connected area buffer 
26. The parameter selecting section 64 selects those of the diagram 
constituent parameters of the respective diagram constituents derived by 
the diagram constituent deriving section 62 which are best matched with 
the connected area data, that is, the diagram constituent parameters of 
the diagram constituent which have the least contradiction with respect to 
the connected area data and supplies the selected parameters to the 
edition processing section 30. 
Like the diagram constituent deriving section 28, the diagram constituent 
deriving section 62 includes a neighboring area extraction section 42, 
straight line processing section 44, corner processing section 46, area 
processing section 48, circle processing section 50, arc processing 
section 52 and character string processing section 54. The straight line 
processing section 44, corner processing section 46, area processing 
section 48, circle processing section 50, arc processing section 52 and 
character string processing section 54 sequentially function in a serial 
or parallel fashion. All of the processing results of the straight line 
processing section 44, corner processing section 46, area processing 
section 48, circle processing section 50, arc processing section 52 and 
character string processing section 54 are supplied to the parameter 
selecting section 64. 
The operation procedure effected by the operator at the image data editing 
time is shown in FIG. 20. 
When image data is edited, the operator first specifies and inputs a 
coordinate point adjacent to the target diagram to the system (step S81). 
The operation of specifying and inputting the coordinate point is effected 
for one to three positions according to the target diagram. When a desired 
coordinate point is specified by the operator, diagram constituent 
parameters for all of the diagram constituents previously prepared are 
derived in the system and those of the diagram constituent parameters 
which are most suitably applied to the target diagram are selected. Then, 
the operator uses the thus derived diagram constituent parameters to 
effect the edition of image data such as addition or correction of image 
data without effecting the troublesome parameter setting operation (step 
S82). 
The flowchart of FIG. 21 shows the processes in the diagram constituent 
parameter deriving section 62 and parameter selecting section 64 in 
detail. 
That is, the straight line process (step S91), corner process (step S92), 
area process (step S93), circle process (step S94), arc process (step S95) 
and character string process (step S96) which are respectively shown in 
FIGS. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are sequentially effected by means of the 
straight line processing section 44, corner processing section 46, area 
processing section 48, circle processing section 50, arc processing 
section 52 and character string processing section 54 and then the diagram 
constituent parameters of the diagram constituent which is best matched 
with the actual target connected area are selected from the diagram 
constituent parameters obtained in the steps S91 to S96 (step S97). 
In the image data editing system of the second embodiment, the diagram 
constituent parameters of a desired connected area are derived by simply 
specifying the desired connected area by the operation of the operator and 
the thus derived parameters are used in the succeeding editing process. 
Therefore, in a case where image data constituted by a set of dot data is 
corrected, it is not necessary for the operator to set parameters by trial 
and error, making it possible to significantly enhance the efficiency of 
the editing operation. 
Further, a method of specifying the connected area is not limited to the 
method effected by specifying the coordinate point or points in the 
above-described manner, but a method of specifying a rectangular area and 
extracting a connected area lying in the rectangular area may be used, for 
example. 
Further, only the width W and inclination .theta. of the straight line may 
be used as the diagram constituent parameters of the straight line. 
Character fonts may be used in addition to the size, character pitch and 
inclination of the characters as diagram constituent parameters of a 
character string when a plurality of types of characters or a plurality of 
character fonts can be used for the characters. 
Further, different types of lines or fully painted patterns may be used 
instead of the above diagram constituents as target diagram constituents. 
For example, as diagram constituent parameters associated with the types 
of lines, it is possible to use the form of line (for example, 
determination of solid line, broken line, one-dot chain line or two-dot 
chain line), the line pitch of dashes when the line form is a broken line, 
the length of the dash and the distance between the dash and dot when the 
line form is a one-dot chain line, and the length of the dash, the 
distance between the dash and dot and the distance between the dots when 
the line form is a two-dot chain line, for example. As diagram constituent 
parameters associated with the fully painted patterns, it is possible to 
use the types of fully painted patterns, the direction of the fully 
painted pattern and the dimensions of specified portions of each fully 
painted pattern, for example. 
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled 
in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited 
to the specific details, representative devices, and illustrated examples 
shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made 
without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive 
concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.