Data processing system and editing device aided thereby

An editing apparatus inputs element data such as document or sentences by use of keyboards, sets a key corresponding to the data in a work station thereof, and is equipped with components for setting a special letter identification code which designates a specific character that cannot be input by conventional personal computers and/or word processors, and constructs a special character in response to that code, thereby making it possible to use personal computers and/or word processors for the entry of substantially all data needed by the editing apparatus.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to an editing apparatus aided by a data 
processing system. More particularly, the present invention is directed to 
an editing apparatus capable of easily editing an operating manual for an 
automobile or an electric appliance and the like or an ordinary book, 
magazine, newspaper etc. (simply referred to as a "book" hereinafter) 
within a short time. 
BACKGROUND ART 
In recent years, to edit books, editing apparatuses have been utilized 
which comprise a host computer including a data base (hereinafter referred 
to as a D/B), and small-scale computers (editorial purpose computers) 
connected to the host computer. The small-scale computers perform data 
input/output operations, whereas the host computer performs predetermined 
data processing by employing both the input data and the data registered 
in the D/B. These data are supervised in a page unit and data to be 
registered in the D/B among the data representing one page of the book are 
registered into the D/B. 
In an editing apparatus having an arrangement as described above, the 
small-scale computers perform various functions, but complex operations 
are required to operate the editing apparatus which accordingly requires a 
long operating time. As a result, even when simple data is to be input 
into the editing apparatus, a single small-scale computer may have to be 
occupied for a long time period. In addition, since the cost of a 
small-scale computer is high, it becomes very expensive to install a large 
number of smallscale computers. 
The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problems. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
To solve the above-described problems, a particular feature of the 
invention is that a key having a common format is added to element data 
such as a document, or sentences, pictures, and illustrations, and the 
data of one page is edited by employing the element data, the key, and 
data relating to layout. Input means capable of inputting the element data 
by means of keyboards, and setting means for setting the key corresponding 
to the data, are provided in a work station which includes personal 
computers and/or word processors. 
According to the present invention, data input operations for a document or 
the like are made easier, and thus the editing operation can be more 
simply effected. Particular advantages arise from the use of a large 
number of input means that can be provided at a relatively low cost. 
Furthermore, according to the invention, additional advantages arise from 
the use of a work station that includes specific character identification 
code setting means for setting an identification code by which a specific 
character is designated, discriminating means for judging the specific 
character identification code, and specific character converting means for 
converting predetermined element data, which is input subsequent to the 
specific character identification code, into the specific character. As a 
result, a specific character which usually cannot be input by personal 
computers, word processors or the like, can be input by such personal 
computers and/or word processors. There is a particular advantage in using 
personal computers and word processors as element data input devices in 
editing apparatuses according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings, the present invention will be described in 
detail. 
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a data processing apparatus 
according to one preferred embodiment of the invention. 
In the figure, a plurality of work stations 3-1 to 3-N (termed "editing 
means" in the drawing) for inputting/outputting data relating to 
documents, photographs, illustrations and the like are connected in an 
on-line mode to a system controller 2 used to control the editing 
apparatus. Since these devices are connected in the on-line mode to each 
other, the quantity of transferred data cannot be large, but the transfer 
speed of the data becomes high. These work stations receive information 
such as document data, photographs and illustrations by way of vector 
conversion. 
A CRT (cathode-ray tube) 6 is connected to the editing means 3-1, a printer 
7 is connected to the editing means 3-2, a scanner 8 is connected to the 
editing means 3-3, and a personal computer 9 and another CRT 10 are 
connected to the editing means 3-N. Furthermore keyboards 5-1 to 5-N are 
connected to the respective editing means 3-1 to 3-N. 
The system controller 2 (a medium-scale relay computer) is connected to a 
host computer 1. A book data base (D/B) 21, an element data base 22 and a 
layout basic data base 23 are connected to the system controller 2. The 
system controller 2 controls the editing means 3-1 to 3-N, and 
transfers/receives information in a page unit or an element (document, 
photograph, the illustration) unit constituting one page to and from the 
respective editing means. 
The host computer 1 is a large-scale general purpose computer such as an 
IBM 3090 or equivalent. The system controller 2, personal computers 4-1 to 
4-N, layout D/B 11, document D/B 12, image D/B 13 and machine sort 
information D/B 14 are respectively connected to the host computer 1. 
It should be noted that the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N may be 
exclusively used for editing, or for a general purpose other than editing, 
which is similar to personal computers 31-1 to 31-N (which will be 
discussed later). 
If the editing means 3-1 to 3-N are capable of inputting a language 
(referred to as "a specific language") other than the language input by 
the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N, software for inputting and processing 
said specific language by the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N is provided, 
for instance, in the system controller 2. A mode to input the specific 
language is selected by the keyboards (not shown) of the personal 
computers 4-1 to 4-N. For example, when the "A" and ":" keys are 
depressed, the software stored in the system controller 2 displays the 
character "A". This software may, instead, be stored in either the host 
computer 1 or personal computers 4-1 to 4-N. 
In addition, further software is provided in the system controller 2, for 
use by the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N to vector-convert document input. 
This is similar to the document input by the respective editing means 3-1 
to 3-N. 
The personal computers 31-1 to 31-N are employed to carry out jobs other 
than the editing work effected by the editing device of FIG. 2. The 
machines or parts surrounded by dotted line in FIG. 2 do not constitute 
part of the editing device of this invention. 
The host computer 1 obtains the data used for one book from the information 
stored in the data bases 11 to 14, and transfers this data to the system 
controller 2. The system controller 2 transfers the information of one 
page which has been edited in the editing means 3-1 to 3-N to the host 
computer 1. Data transfers between the system controller 2 and the host 
computer 1 are performed in a so-called "batch" transmission. When the 
data code system processed in the host computer 1 is different from the 
data code system processed in the editing means 3-1 to 3-N, code 
conversion of these data is performed in either the host computer 1 or the 
system controller 2. 
An operation of the data processing apparatus according to a preferred 
embodiment of the invention will now be described. 
Basically, the editing means illustrated in FIG. 2 can produce or edit a 
new book by either of two editing methods, as follows. 
(A) When a new book is newly produced in its entirety, all of the documents 
or sentences, illustrations, and photographs etc., to be written on each 
page of the new book must be newly input. This will be referred as "a 
first editing method". 
(B) When a new book is produced by utilizing other books which have 
previously been edited or produced in the editing apparatus, necessary 
portions of the previous books are utilized for the new book and only 
minimum portions required to produce the new book are newly input. This 
will be referred to as "a second editing method". 
FIGS. 3A to 19 relate to the production of a service manual (simply 
referred to as "a book" hereinafter) for a bike (autobicycle) in 
accordance with the above-defined first editing method. 
FIGS. 3A-3E are a flowchart of the first editing method according to the 
preferred embodiment of the invention. In a first step S1 (FIG. 3A), a 
basic layout code is input into the editing apparatus to which CRT 6 is 
connected (for instance, the editing means 3-1) by the keyboard 5-1. The 
basic layout code is used to set the size of a book to be newly produced, 
the number of characters, the number of columns and the column space in 
one page of the new book. 
FIG. 4 illustrates one example of the format of a basic layout code. The 
basic layout code includes a "layout code" portion having, for example, a 
6-byte code length, a "layout data" portion, and another data 
portion(referred to hereinafter as a "LEN") representing the data length 
of the layout data. 
The layout code portion provides data representing the product 
classification of the book to be produced, data indicating the location 
(country) for which the new book is destined, data representative of the 
sort of the new book, e.g., a service manual or shop manual and data 
representative of the layout of each page of the new book, e.g., a single 
frame or a double frame. 
The layout data portion of the basic layout code includes data representing 
the size of each page of the book, i.e., A6 vertical, A6 horizontal and so 
on, and data indicative of the number of lines, the space between lines, 
the number of characters, the letter size or style, presence of a ruled 
line, etc. This layout data thus defines the concrete layout of a page 
that is to be displayed on a screen of CRT 6. The layout code portion is 
used merely as an identification code of the layout data, and said layout 
code portion is converted into a document identification number and a page 
number as will be described later in connection with the steps S29 and S30 
of FIG. 3C. 
When entry of the layout data is accomplished, a LEN of the layout data is 
added in front of the layout data. As previously described, the basic 
layout code is produced from the layout code, the LEN of layout data, and 
layout data. 
Referring again to FIG. 3A, when the basic layout code is input, the 
editing means 3-1 transfers the basic layout code to the system controller 
2 which registers the basic layout code in the basic layout D/B 23 (step 
S2). After the basic layout code has been so registered, steps S3 to S24 
(FIGS. 3A-3C) effect entry of information relating to illustrations, 
photographs, document and the like which are to be arranged on each page 
of the book. Both illustrations and photographs are referred to as an 
"image" in the following description. 
In step S3, a judgement is made whether or not the information to be input 
corresponds to an image. When an image is entered, a temporary key having, 
for instance, a 6-byte length is entered into the editing means 3-3 by the 
keyboard 5-3 (step S4). The temporary key corresponds to an identification 
code of image data to be entered and is determined by the operator. "D", 
indicating that this temporary key relates to image data, is entered into 
the head byte of the temporary key. 
In the next step S5, the image is read out by the scanner 8. 
In step S23, the temporary key, LEN of the readout image data, and the 
image data are registered into the element D/B 22 as one element data. 
If a judgement is made in step S3 that no image is entered, another 
judgement is made in a step S6 whether or not a document or a sentence is 
entered. When a document (sentence) is entered, a temporary key is input 
into the editing apparatus 3-1 by the keyboard 5-1 or into any of the 
personal computers 4-1 to 4-N (step S7). As previously explained in 
reference to step S4, the temporary key has, for instance, a 6-byte 
length, and corresponds to an identification code of the document to be 
input which is determined by the operator himself. In this case, "T", 
indicating that the temporary key relates to a document, is input into the 
head byte of the temporary key. 
In the subsequent step S8, the document or sentence is entered in the 
keyboard 5-1 or any one of personal computers 4-1 to 4-N. Then, in step 
S23, the temporary key entered in the previous step S7, LEN of the 
document entered in step S8, and this document are registered as one 
element data in the element D/B 22. 
In FIG. 5, there is shown one element data registered in step S23. 
When the data relating to the document which is entered in steps S7 and S8 
is input into the personal computer 4-1, the entered data is edited as one 
element data (see FIG. 5) in the system controller 2, host computer 1, or 
personal computer 4-1. 
If a judgement is made in step S6 that no document is entered, it is 
assumed that said input is machine sort information. Machine sort 
information is the data needed for repairs, tools to be used and the like 
for a bike. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of this 
embodiment, the machine sort information includes specification data, 
service data and torque data, which will be described in detail 
hereinafter. 
(A) Specification data is, for instance, repair data on the bike, data 
representative of repair items, and details which are entered into a list 
indicating the tool to be used, and is constructed of alphanumerical data 
and KANJI characters. In other words, specification data represents a type 
of engine oil, a tool to be used, and items needed for repairs such as the 
inner diameter of a cylinder, the outer diameter of a piston, and the 
like. 
(B) Service data is numerical data representative of, for instance, 
information needed for maintenance. It is entered into a list of 
maintenance data and has three different values, i.e., a maximum value, a 
minimum value, and a limit usage value (or a center value). Thus, 
maintenance data relating to the inner diameter of the cylinder comprises 
a typical maximum value, a minimum value, and the usable maximum value. 
Maintenance data concerning the outer diameter of the piston comprises 
typical maximum and minimum values, and the usable minimum value. As to 
data representing the capacity of an engine oil tank, the capacity of a 
coolant container, and the like, which does not discriminate between 
maximum and minimum values, the same values are input as both maximum and 
minimum values. 
(C) Torcue data is numerical data indicative of the fastening torque of 
screws for the bike (maximum value, minimum value, and center value), the 
diameter of a screw, and the number of required screws. As will be 
discussed hereinafter, and as shown in FIG. 8, torque data includes five 
pieces of numerical information, i.e., a maximum value, a minimum value, a 
center value (or the limit value for usage) and two other items of 
information. 
When a judgement is made that the input data is machine sort information, a 
machine sort code is entered which identifies the sort of bike to which 
the machine sort information to be input is related. As indicated in step 
S9 (FIG. 3B), this is done by utilizing any one of the personal computers 
4-1 to 4-N (e.g., personal computer 4-1) connected to the host computer 1. 
The machine sort code is constructed of, for instance, 8 bytes, and "K", 
which represents that the machine sort code is related to machine sort 
information, is input into the head byte of the machine sort code. 
In step S10, a judgement is made whether or not the machine sort 
information to be input is specification data. If the judgement is 
affirmative in step S10, then, an information identification code having, 
for instant, a 4-byte length is input in a step S11. At this time, "A", 
indicating that the information identification code is related to 
specification data, is input at the head byte of the identification code. 
In a next step S12, an item having, for example, a 3-byte length is 
entered. 
In a subsequent step S13, an image classification having, for instance, a 
2-byte length is input. Information representing the language of the 
specification data (for example, the language is Japanese, or English) is 
provided by this image classification. 
In step S21, specification data is entered by use of the personal computer 
4-1. 
In a subsequent step S22, the machine sort code, the information 
identification code, item and image classification information which have 
been input by the previous steps S9, S11, S12 and S13, the data status 
(which is automatically set in the host computer indicating the history of 
the specification information entered in the step S21, and the 
specification data are registered as one element data in the machine sort 
D/B 14 by means of the host computer 1. The format of one such element 
data is illustrated in FIG. 6. As also shown in FIG. 6, the data includes 
the machine sort code, the information identification code, the item, the 
image classification, and data status which, together, will be referred to 
as an element data key in the following description. 
If no specification data is input in the previous step S10, another 
judgement is made in step S14 whether or not service data is being 
entered. If service data is entered, an information identification code is 
input in a step S15, similar to the input done in the preceding step S11, 
but in this case "B" is input into the head byte of the information 
identification code. In the next step S16, the item is input, similar to 
the input executed in step S12. Then, in step S17, the image 
classification is entered (as in step S13). The function of the image 
classification information entered at the time of entry of service data 
will be discussed later with reference to a step S42. 
In step S21, service data is input by means of the personal computer 4-1. 
The service data provides three different values, i.e., a maximum value, a 
minimum value and a limit value of usage (or a central value). When these 
three data values are input in a specific unit in the editing device 
according to the preferred embodiment, these data are stored and also 
converted into other units to be stored thereafter. 
FIG. 7 illustrates a format of one element data (an element data key and 
service data) which is registered in the machine sort information D/B 14 
in the step S22. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the service data is constructed 
so as to be set in a first data section through a third data section. When 
the three data values are input, in step S21, in a preselected specific 
unit (for example "mm"), these data are set in the first data section. 
Although it is not shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, just before entry of the 
service data, a conversion classification (for example, 2-byte length 
data) is entered to indicate what other units the three data set in the 
first data section should be converted into. As a result, the three data 
entered in millimeter units into the first data section are converted into 
other units (e.g., inch units) designated by the conversion 
classification, and thereafter stored in the second data section. Then the 
three data in millimeter units stored in the first data section are 
converted into still other units designated by the conversion 
classification, and the resultant converted data are transferred to the 
third data section. 
Referring to FIG. 10, the above-mentioned conditions will now be described 
in greater detail. FIG. 10 illustrates only the service data (element 
data) portion of the data shown in FIG. 7. Assume that the entered service 
data constitutes information about the inner diameter of the cylinder of 
the bike, and that the minimum value is 56.003, the maximum value is 
56.018, and the limit value of usage is 56.08 (illustrated in FIG. 10 as 
the service limit) each of which is input in millimeter units. These 
numerical data are set in the first data section. If the conversion 
classification set before entry of the service data designates that 
millimeter units are to be converted into inch units, each of the data set 
in the first data section is converted into 2.2048, 2.2054, and 2.207 
inches, respectively and the converted data are set in the second data 
section. 
Each of the data set in the first data section is converted into still 
other units designated by the conversion classification, with these 
further converted data being set in the third data section. 
In other words, the function of the conversion classification is to 
automatically convert the service data into certain units other than the 
originally input units when the service data is entered in certain 
specific units, and these converted data are thereafter set into the 
second and third data sections. 
In steps S9 to S21, the respective data input by the personal computer 4-1 
are edited as the machine sort information data illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 
8 in the system controller 2, host computer or personal computer 4-1. 
Next, in step S22, the machine sort code, information identification code, 
item and image classification which have been entered in the previous 
steps S9, S15, S16 and S17, the data status (which is automatically fixed 
in the host computer 1) representing a history of the service data 
information entered in the step S21, and the service data information 
consisting of the first to third data sections, are registered as one 
element data in the machine sort information D/B 14 under the control of 
the host computer 1. 
If it is judged in step S14 that no service data is entered, i.e., the 
judgement of step S14 is negative, this means that torque information is 
entered. When torque information is to be entered, the information 
identification code is entered in step S18 in a manner similar to that 
described in reference to steps S11 and S15, but at this time "C" is input 
in the head byte of the information identification code. In the subsequent 
step S19, the item is input, similar to steps S12 and S16. Then, in step 
S20, the image classification is entered. The function of the image 
classification entered during entry of torque information is similar to 
the function of image classification which will be described hereinafter 
in relation to step S42. 
In the next step S21, the torque information is input into the personal 
computer 4-1. As noted previously, torque information is constructed of 
five pieces of data, i.e., a maximum value, a minimum value, a center 
value (or a limit value of usage), and two other pieces of data 
representative of other information, i.e., diameter and number (see FIG. 
8). In the editing device, when these five pieces of data are input in 
specific units, similar to the above-mentioned entry of service data, 
these data are stored, and at least the first three pieces of data, i.e., 
the data other than the two pieces of data representing diameter and 
number, are converted into other units and then stored. 
FIG. 8 illustrates the format of one element data (element data key and 
torque data) which is registered in the machine sort information D/B 14 in 
the step S22. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the torque data is arranged to be 
set in first to third data sections. In the step S21, when the torque data 
is entered in some particular unit (for example, "kg"), torque data in 
these units is set in the first data section. Although not shown in FIGS. 
3A-3E and 8, a conversion classification is input just before entry of the 
torque information, for use in converting the five pieces of data set in 
the first data section into certain different units. As a result, at least 
the three pieces of data input in the "kg" unit into the first data 
section (i.e., the three pieces of data other than the two pieces of data 
representative of other information among the five pieces of data 
constituting the torque information) are converted into a different unit 
(e.g.,"lb" unit) designated by the conversion classification. Then, the 
converted data is set in the second data section. 
In addition, at least the three pieces of data entered into the first data 
section in the "kg" unit are converted into still other units which are 
designated by the conversion classification, and thereafter the further 
converted data are set in the third data section. Thus, the conversion 
classification is used to automatically convert the torque data into units 
other than the units associated with the input torque data and these 
converted data are set into the second and third data sections in a manner 
similar to the case of the service data. 
Since the torque data concerning diameter and number are not required in 
different units, no unit conversion is needed for these two pieces of 
data. It may be possible, of course, to perform a unit conversion on these 
two pieces of data along with the conversions of the other three data. In 
this case, however, it is necessary to prohibit use of the converted two 
pieces of data. 
In the one element data illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, the byte lengths of 
the respective element data keys are identical to each other. 
In step S22, and as shown in FIG. 8, the machine sort code, information 
code, item and image classification which have been input in the steps S9, 
S18, S19 and S20, the data status (which is automatically set in the host 
computer 1) representative of the history of the torque data which has 
been input in the step S21, and the torque data information consisting of 
the first to third data sections are registered as one element data by the 
host computer 1 into the machine sort information D/B 14. 
In steps S22 or S23, when entry of one-image, one-document, or one piece of 
the machine sort information (these are referred to as "element data" 
hereinafter) is accomplished, a judgement is made in the next step S24 
(FIG. 3C) whether or not the entry of the element data is to be continued. 
If the entry of element data is to be continued, the control process is 
returned to the step S3. If the entry of element data is not to be 
continued, the editing of the book is commenced at step S25. The editing 
is performed in one page units. 
In step S25, a new book file is read out from the host computer 1 by any 
one of the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N connected to the host computer 1. 
FIG. 11 illustrates an arrangement of the new book file. As shown in FIG. 
11, the new book file is constructed of material supervision or ID 
information, staff-in-charge information, and starting page information. 
The material supervision or ID information is the title of a book to be 
newly produced or the supervising number. The staff-in-charge information 
is data representative of a staff person who is qualified or authorized to 
produce the new book. The starting page information indicates what page 
the book to be produced is commenced from, i.e., it indicates the first 
page of the new book. For instance, the second page may correspond to the 
starting page of a book to be distributed in Japan, whereas the eleventh 
page may correspond to the starting page of a book to be distributed in 
the United States. 
The staff-in-charge information can be used to effect security supervision 
of a newly edited book, for example. That is to say, information relating 
to a staff person who is permitted to produce a new book is previously 
registered in the host computer 1, and the new book can be edited by a 
particular staff person only when he has been registered in the new book 
file in the host computer 1. Such security supervision can also prevent 
the editing of a book which is not allowed to be edited or it can prevent 
a previously edited book from being unnecessarily and mistakenly revised 
by the editing device. 
The staff-in-charge information may be preferably encrypted or stored in a 
magnetic card. 
After the new book file is read out, predetermined data is input into this 
file at a step S26. When the predetermined data has been entered, as shown 
in a step S27, the new book file is transferred from the host computer 1 
to the system controller 2 and then registered in the book D/B 21. 
In the next step S28, the layout code (see FIG. 4) is entered by the 
keyboard 5-1, so that the basic layout code previously registered in the 
basic layout D/B 23 is called up to CRT 6. When the basic layout code is 
called up in the editing means, both the document supervision number and 
the page number to be edited are then input in step S29. The document 
supervision number is the title or the supervision or ID number of the new 
book, which is similar to the document supervision number of the new book 
producing file shown in FIG. 11. 
After the document supervision number and the page number to be edited are 
input in step S29, the editing means 3-1 converts the layout code portion 
of the basic layout code read in the step S28 into the document 
supervision number and the page number which have been input in the step 
S29, as illustrated in a step S30 and FIG. 12. 
Upon completion of the code conversion, the editing means 3-1 stores the 
document supervision number, the page number, the LEN, and layout data in 
the editing means 3-1 in a step S31. The document supervision number, page 
number, LEN and layout data will be referred as the "converted layout 
code" in the following description. 
In step S32, the basic layout is displayed on CRT 6 by employing the 
converted layout code. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the basic layout 
comprises a contour 101 of a page to be edited and a document entry region 
102. The basic layout shown in FIG. 13 is a double frame. 
In a subsequent step S33 (FIG. 3D), a judgement is made whether or not the 
image is displayed on CRT 6. To display the image, the temporary key (see 
FIG. 5) is entered by the keyboard 5-1 in a step S34 so as to call up one 
element data, i.e., the temporary key, the LEN of the image data to be 
called up, and the image data from the element D/B 22, and the image data 
called up is displayed on CRT 6. 
In step S35, by use of a mouse (not shown) connected to the keyboard 5-1, 
the image displayed on CRT 6 is moved to a desirable position on the basic 
layout. FIG. 14 illustrates an image of the screen of CRT 6 at that 
moment, which is similar to the illustration of FIG. 13. As shown in FIG. 
14, when the image is moved to the region denoted by "P", the upper left 
coordinates and lower right coordinates of the image are (X1, Y1) and (X2, 
Y2), respectively. When the image is transferred in this way, the upper 
left coordinates (X1, Y1) and lower right coordinates (X2, Y2) on the 
basic layout are entered into the editing means 3-1. While the image is 
moved, the size of the image may be enlarged or reduced in accordance with 
the capability of the editing means. Only the image can be moved over the 
document input region 102. 
In step S36, and as illustrated in FIG. 15, the temporary key portions of 
the 1-element data (consisting of the temporary key, LEN of image data to 
be called up, and image data) is converted into the element data key. As 
illustrated in FIG. 9, the element data key is constructed of the machine 
sort code, information identification code, item, image classification, 
and data status (which is automatically input in the host computer 1) 
representative of a history of image data, which is similar to the machine 
sort information including the specification information, service data 
information, and torque information. 
The conversion of the temporary key into the element data key in step S36 
is performed when an editor has entered the portions of the element data 
key other than the data status, and "D" is input in the head byte of the 
information identification code. The byte length of the element data key 
shown in FIG. 9 is identical to the respective byte lengths shown in FIGS. 
6 to 8. 
In step S37, the 1-element data consisting of the element data key, LEN of 
the image data corresponding to the element data key and the image data, 
and the coordinates (XI, Yl), (X2, Y2), are registered in the editing 
apparatus 3-1. 
In step S45, another judgement is made whether or not the editing of one 
page is completed. If not, the control process returns to step S33. 
If it is judged in step S33, that the image is not displayed on CRT 6, 
another judgement is made in step S38 whether or not a document or 
sentence is displayed. When the document or sentence is displayed, in a 
step S39 the temporary key (see FIG. 5) is entered by the keyboard 5-1, 
and the one element data consisting of the temporary key, LEN of the 
document data to be called up, and the document data themselves is called 
up from the element D/B 22, and the document data are displayed on CRT 6. 
By employing the mouse (not shown) connected to the keyboard 5-1, the 
document displayed on CRT 6 is moved to the desired position on the basic 
layout in a step S40. When the document is moved to the position indicated 
by the symbol "Q" on the basic layout shown in FIG. 14, the upper left 
coordinates and the lower right coordinates of the document are (X3, Y3) 
and (X4, Y4), respectively. After the document has been moved, both the 
upper left coordinates (X3, Y3) and the lower right coordinates (X4, Y4) 
of the document on the basic layout are input into the editing means 3-1 
(S40). 
In step S41, and as illustrated in FIG. 16, the temporary key in the one 
element data consisting of the temporary key, LEN of the called up 
document, and document data is converted into the element data key. 
Formats of these element data key, LEN of the called up document data, and 
document data are illustrated in FIG. 17. As shown in FIG. 17, the element 
data key corresponding to the document data is constructed of the sentence 
supervision number having a length of, for instance, 8 bytes, the detailed 
item code having a length of, for example, 6 bytes, the language 
information having a length of, for example, 2 bytes, and the data status 
(which is automatically added by the host computer 1) indicative of a 
history of the sentence or document data. 
The sentence supervision number is the data used to specify each document, 
and "B" is input into its head byte. The language information indicates 
the language in which the document data has been produced, for example, 
Japanese or English. The detailed item code is a classification code of 
the document or sentence. 
It should be noted that after the data status of the 1-element data shown 
in FIG. 17, an appropriate number of blanks are added to make the byte 
length of the element data key equal to that of the respective element 
data keys as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9. In other words, the byte lengths of 
the element data key portions of the document data, image data and machine 
sort information data are identical with each other. 
By employing the detailed item code, the editing means can retrieve the 
document or sentence. This document retrieval operation will be discussed 
later in a step S114. 
In step S37, the element data key, LEN of the document data corresponding 
to the element data key, and document data are registered as the 1-element 
data together with the coordinates (X3, Y3), (X4, Y4) into the editing 
means 3-1. 
If a judgement is made in step S38 that no document is displayed on CRT 6, 
this means that machine sort information is to be displayed. In step S42, 
the element data key of the machine sort information to be called up is 
input by the keyboard 5-1, whereby the machine sort information having 
1-element data, i.e., an element data key, specification information, 
service data information or torque information is called up from the 
machine sort information D/B 14 to the editing means 3-1, and then the 
specification information, service data information or torque information 
is displayed on CRT 6. 
In the preferred embodiment, the element data key is entered by the 
keyboard 5-1, and the machine sort information is directly called up via 
the host computer 1 and system controller 2 from the machine sort 
information D/B 14 to the editing means 3-1. However, alternatively, 
employing any one of the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N, the machine sort 
information may be called up from the machine sort information D/B 14 to 
be temporarily registered into the element D/B 22. Thereafter, the element 
data key may be input by the keyboard 5-1, and the machine sort 
information may be called up via the system controller 2 from the element 
D/B 22 to the editing means 3-1. 
It should be noted that display conditions or modes of the service data 
information and torque information among the machine sort information data 
are determined in accordance with the image classification information in 
the element data key and the conversion classification (not shown) 
described with reference to the step S21. 
As to the service data, for instance, as illustrated in FIG. 10, after the 
data set in the first data section has been automatically converted and 
set within the second and third data sections in accordance with the 
conversion classification information previously set, the service data is 
displayed on CRT 6 in the format illustrated in FIG. 25 in accordance with 
its conversion classification and image classification. FIG. 25 is a table 
representing one example of a relationship between the conversion 
classification, image classification and service data, which is displayed 
on the CRT. In FIG. 25, if the conversion classification is "10" and the 
image classification is "10", only the data set in the first data section 
(see FIG. 10) is displayed on CRT 6 in millimeter units. If the conversion 
classification is "10" and image classification is "20", the data set in 
the first data section is displayed in millimeter units, and subsequently 
the data set in the second data unit is displayed within parentheses in 
inch units. 
If the conversion classification is "20" and image classification is "10", 
only the data set in the second data is displayed in inch units. When the 
conversion classification is "20" and image classification is "20", the 
data set in the second data is displayed in inch units, and subsequently 
the data set in the first data unit is displayed within parentheses in 
millimeter units. 
When the conversion classification is "40", the data and units display is 
the same as in the conversion classification "10" but the decimal point is 
a comma rather than a period. 
In a manner similar to steps S35 and S40, the machine information data is 
positioned on the basic layout and the coordinates thereof is input in a 
step S43. In a subsequent step S44, the element data key and its 
coordinates information selected from the 1-element data, as illustrated 
in FIGS. 6 to 8, are registered into the editing means 3-1. Not only the 
element data key, but also the respective element data together with the 
coordinates information thereof, may of course be registered. 
When a judgement is made that the editing of one page is finished in the 
step S45, the format of one page data is converted in step S46 into 
another format shown in FIG. 18. This conversion is executed in the 
editing means for performing the editing (the editing means 3-1 in this 
case). As shown in FIG. 18, the one page data converted in the editing 
means is constructed of the following data: 
(a) The converted layout code which has been converted in step S30 (see 
FIG. 12); 
(b) The coordinates entered in steps S35, S40 or S43, and the element data 
key of the 1-element data arranged in the region designated by said 
coordinates. When a plurality of element data (image data, document data, 
or machine sort information data) are arranged within one page, plural 
sets of the coordinates and element data key should be stored for one 
page. The coordinates and element data key are set subsequent to the 
converted layout data. A set of coordinates and element data keys will be 
referred to as a "layout for editing" data portion in the following 
description; and 
(c) The element data key of the element data arranged within one page, LEN 
of the element data, and the element data. When a plurality of element 
data are inserted in one page, plural sets of the element data key, LEN, 
and element data should be arranged for one page. In other words, the 
number of the 1-element data constituted of the element data key, LEN and 
element data is same as that of a pair of the coordinates and element data 
key contained in the layout for editing data portion. 
The element data key, LEN and element data are set subsequent to the layout 
for editing data portion. When the element data is machine sort 
information no LEN is present in front of the element data (see FIGS. 6-8) 
and therefore only the element data key and element data are set. These 
data arranged behind the layout for editing data portion will be referred 
to an element data group in the following description (see FIG. 18). 
Although not shown in FIG. 18, an end code for indicating that one page 
data is completed is added at the end of the final element data. 
When one page data is converted as illustrated in FIG. 18, the resultant 
converted one page data is registered via the system controller 2 in the 
book D/B 21 in the step S47. 
In the next step S48 (FIG. 3E), one page data which has been converted in 
step S46 is transferred to the host computer 1. If the host computer 1 is 
not in operation due to a holiday or the like, the processes up to step 
S47 may be repeatedly performed, and several pages of data which have been 
registered in the book D/B 21 may be transferred later after the host 
computer 1 is back in operation. 
In step S49, the above-described one page data is duplicated and the format 
thereof is converted into that illustrated in FIG. 19 in the host computer 
1. FIG. 19 illustrates one page layout information which is converted in 
the host computer 1 so as to be registered for registration in the layout 
D/B 11. 
The one page data transferred to the host computer 1 is distributed and 
stored in the respective D/B's (i.e., layout D/B 11, document D/B 12, 
image D/B 13 and machine sort information D/B 14) connected to the host 
computer 1. The data conversion executed in step S49 is performed so as to 
store in the layout D/B 11, only the information relating to layout among 
the one page data. More particularly, as is obvious from a comparison of 
FIGS. 18 and 19, in step S49 both LEN and the element data are removed 
from the element data group of the 1-page data. In a next step S50, the 
data converted in step S49 is registered in the D/B 11. 
In step S51, the element data group is copied by employing the 1-page data 
which was transferred to the host computer 1 in the previous step S48. In 
step S52, the data relating to the document data among the element data 
group is registered in the document D/B 12. In step S53, t he data 
relating to the image data among the element data group is registered in 
the image D/B 13. 
In step S54, a judgement is made whether or not the edited one page data is 
to be printed. If no printing operation is to be carried out, the control 
process is advanced to a step S57. If the printing operation should be 
performed, the control process is advanced to a step S55. 
In step S55, both the reference supervision number and page are entered by 
use of the keyboard 5-2, so that the 1-page data registered in the book 
D/B 21 is called up into the editing means 3-2. In step S56, the 1-page 
data is printed out by the printer 7. 
In step S57, a judgement is made whether or not the next page should be 
edited. When the next page is to be edited, the control process is 
returned to the step S28. Conversely if the next page is not to be edited, 
the control process is ended. 
In accordance with the first editing method described above, a new book is 
produced or edited. 
Referring now to FIGS. 20A to 24, in a manner similar to the description on 
the first editing method, a description will be given of the second 
editing method used to produce a service manual for a bike or the like. 
FIGS. 20A-20G are a flowchart illustrating the second editing method 
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the respective 
steps shown in FIG. 20A-20G, reference numerals that are the same as those 
in FIG. 3A-3E indicate the same or similar processing operations. 
According to the second editing method, in a step S25 (FIG. 20A), a new 
book editing file which has been registered in the host computer 1 is 
first called up by employing any one of the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N 
(for instance, the personal computer 4-1) connected to the host computer 
1. Since the arrangement of this new book editing file is identical to 
that shown in FIG. 11, a further description thereof is omitted. 
After the new book editing file is called up, predetermined data, i.e., the 
material supervision number, staff-in-charge information and the starting 
page are entered into the file in a step S26. Then, in a step S27, the new 
book editing file is transferred by the host computer 1 to the system 
controller 2 and registered in the book D/B 21. 
In step S101, referring to one or more books which had been produced 
previously in the editing device (referred to as "original books"), a 
selection is made of the pages of the original books that are to be 
utilized to produce a new book. For example, the page selection might 
select the 21st to 30th pages of a first original book for use in 
producing the 1st to 10th pages of the new book, the 46th to 50th pages of 
a second original book for use in producing the subsequent 11th to 15th 
pages of the new book, and the 31st to 40th pages of the first original 
book for use in producing the succeeding 16th to 25th pages thereof. This 
process step is performed while an operator actually observes the original 
books. 
In a next step S102, the material supervision number and the page number of 
a selected page of the original book are input by way of the personal 
computer 4-1, and 1-page data (see FIG. 19) is copied in the host computer 
1 from the layout D/B 11. In step S103, a new material supervision number 
and the new page number of the book to be newly edited are input into the 
personal computer 4-1. In step S104, both the document supervision number 
and the page number in the 1-page data copied in step S102 are rewritten 
by the new material supervision number and the page number of the new book 
input in step S103. 
FIG. 21 illustrates the data rewriting operation executed in step S104. The 
1-page data of the original book which has been called up and copied in 
step S102 is shown in the upper portion of FIG. 21. In step S104, as 
illustrated in the lower portion of FIG. 21, only the material supervision 
number and page number portions of this data are rewritten by those of the 
new book. 
In step S105, the 1-page data produced in this way is stored in the host 
computer 1. 
In step S106, a judgement is made whether or not the rewriting of the 
material supervision number and the page number has been completed for the 
new book. More particularly, in accordance with the previous example, a 
judgement is made whether or not all of the 21st to 30th pages of the 
first original book, the 46th to 50th pages of the second original book, 
and the 31st to 40th pages of the first original book have been converted 
into the 1st to 25th pages of the new book. If the rewriting operation is 
not completed, the control process is returned to step S102 but if the 
rewriting operation is completed, the control process is advanced to a 
step S107 (FIG. 20B). 
In step S107, the element data or both the LEN and element data 
corresponding to the element data keys of the 1-page data converted in the 
step S104 are called up from the respective D/B's 12 to 14. These data are 
added after the respective element data keys of the 1-page data, i.e., the 
1-page data converted in step S104 is rearranged in a complete form as 
shown in FIG. 18. 
In step S108, a judgement is made whether or not such element data has been 
added to all pages of the new book. If all pages have not yet been 
rearranged in the foregoing manner, the control process is returned to 
step S107. When all pages are so rearranged, the control process is 
advanced to a step S109. 
In step S109, the data of the new complete book is transferred from the 
host computer 1 to the system controller 2. 
In step S110, all pages of one complete book are registered in the book D/B 
21 by the system controller 2. As noted previously, editing can be 
effected even when the host computer 1 is not in operation for some reason 
if all pages of one complete book are registered in the book D/B 21 
connected to the system controller 2. 
In step S111, the new material supervision number and the page number of 
the new book are entered by the keyboard 5-1 into the editing apparatus 
3-1. In step S112, the input page data of the new book is read out from 
the book D/B 21 to be registered in the editing means 3-1. Then, in a next 
step S113, the page called up from the book D/B 21 is displayed on CRT 6. 
In step S130, a judgement is carried out whether or not the 1-page data 
displayed on CRT 6 requires editing, i.e., whether or not the pages which 
have been copied from the original books for the new book in steps S102 to 
S104 can be utilized as is, without any further editing. If no further 
editing is required, the control process advances to step S46 (FIG. 20G). 
If further editing is required, the control process is advanced to a step 
S114 (FIG. 20C). 
In step S114, a retrieval operation is performed by any one of the personal 
computers 4-1 to 4-N to determine whether or not elements of an original 
book (including the original book selected in the previous step S101) can 
be utilized for editing the page of the new book displayed on CRT 6. The 
retrieval method will be discussed later with reference to FIGS. 22 to 24. 
In step S115, a judgement is made whether or not an element usable in the 
new book editing operation has been found in the retrieval operation. If 
some relevant elements are found, the element data key of the retrieved 
relevant elements are input in the personal computer (for example, 4-1) in 
a step S116. In step S117, the 1-element data called up by the above 
retrieval operation is transferred to the system controller 2, and is 
registered in the element D/B 22 under the control of the system 
controller. Then, in a step S118, a judgement is made whether or not the 
retrieval operation is to be continued. If it is to be continued, the 
operation is returned to the step S114. 
If an element usable for editing the new book is not found in the step 
S115, the 1-element data retrieved in the step S114 is cleared in a step 
S132. The data stored in D/B's 12 to 14 is not cleared at this stage. 
In step S119, a judgement is made whether or not the input image data, 
document data or machine information data is a newly input element. If the 
element is not newly input, control is returned to step S118. When the 
element is newly input, the control process is advanced to step S3 (FIG. 
20E). Since the processes effected in steps S3 to S23 are same as those 
denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. 3A-3G, the descriptions 
thereof are not repeated here. After the control process defined by step 
S22 (FIG. 20F) or S23 (FIG. 20E) is completed, control is returned to step 
S119. 
If it is determined in step S118 that the retrieval operation is not to be 
continued, another judgement is made in step S33 (FIG. 20D) whether or not 
the image is to be displayed on CRT 6. If the image is to be displayed, 
the temporary key or element data key of the image to be displayed is 
input by the keyboard 5-1 in step S120, and the predetermined image is 
read out from the element D/B 22 and then displayed on CRT 6. 
In the next step S35, the image is moved to the desired position and the 
coordinates thereof are input. 
In the step S121, a judgement is made whether or not the temporary key was 
input in the previous step S120. When the temporary key has been input, it 
is converted into the element data key in step S36. The data conversion 
has been described with reference to FIG. 3 (FIG. 31-3E), so no further 
description is given here. 
If the judgement is that no temporary key was entered in step S121, or 
after the process of step S36 is accomplished, the element data key, LEN 
of the image data corresponding to the element data key and the image data 
itself are registered as one element data into the editing means 3-1 
together with the coordinates input in step S35. 
If a judgement is made in step S33 that the image is not to be displayed, 
another judgement is made in step S38 whether or not a document or 
sentence is to be displayed. When a document is to be displayed on CRT 6, 
the temporary key or element data key to be displayed is entered by the 
keyboard 5-1 in a step S122, and the predetermined document is called up 
from the element D/B 22 to be displayed on CRT 6. In a subsequent step 
S40, the document is moved to the desired position and the coordinates 
thereof are entered. 
In step S123, a judgement is made whether or not the temporary key was 
input in the previous step S122. When the temporary key has been input, it 
is converted into the element data key in step S41. This key conversion is 
carried out in the same way as the conversion effected in the preceding 
step S36. If it is judged that no temporary key was input in step S123, or 
after the process effected in the step S41 is accomplished, the element 
data key, and both the LEN and the sentence data of the document data 
corresponding to the element data key, are registered as one element data 
into the editing means 3-1 together with the coordinates input in the 
preceding step S35. 
If a judgement is made in step S38 that no sentence is to be displayed, it 
is judged that machine sort information is displayed, and the control 
process is advanced to a step S131. In step S131, the element data key of 
the machine sort information to be displayed is entered by the keyboard 
5-1 and the predetermined machine sort information is called up from the 
element D/B 22 to be displayed on CRT 6. In the next step S43, the machine 
sort information is moved to the desired position and the coordinates 
thereof are input. In step S44, the element data key is registered, 
together with the coordinates entered in step S43, in the editing 
apparatus 3-1. 
When process step S37 or S44 is completed, a judgement is made whether or 
not the 1-page data displayed on CRT 6 has been edited. If not, the 
process is returned to the step S33. If editing is completed, then the 
process is advanced to step S46 (FIG. 20G). In step S46, the edited one 
page data is converted in editing means 3-1 to the form illustrated in 
FIG. 18. In the next step S124, the converted one page data is updated in 
the book D/B 21. Since the processes defined in the next following steps 
S48 through S57 are the same as those denoted by the same reference 
numerals of FIGS. 3A-3E, the explanations thereof will not be repeated 
here. If in step S57, the judgement is made that it is necessary to edit a 
next page, the control process is returned to the step S111 (FIG. 20B). 
Although in the foregoing explanation with reference to FIGS. 20A-20G, the 
retrieval operation was executed before the 1-page data was edited in 
steps S33 and thereafter, and the necessary data were read out of the D/B 
12 through 14 to be registered in D/B 22, these processes may be performed 
during the editing operation. 
A detailed description will now be given of the document data retrieval 
operation (step S114 of FIG. 20C). The retrieval operation of step S114 is 
performed by use of any one of the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N. 
FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing portions of tables, used for 
document data retrieval, which have been previously set in the document 
D/B 12. A symbol "0" indicated in the respective tables of FIG. 22 
represents "null", or that no data is entered. As illustrated in FIG. 22, 
a plurality of document data retrieval tables, each consisting of an index 
(referred to as "ID") and a title, have been input and set in document D/B 
12. The byte length of the ID is set to be equal to that of the detailed 
item code (6 bytes in the preferred embodiment) so as to correspond to the 
detailed item code of the element data key which in turn corresponds to 
the document or sentence data shown in FIG. 17. 
In an a-table of FIG. 22, different data such as A, B, C, and so on, are 
respectively input only in the head byte (first byte) of an ID having a 
6-byte length. 
In a b-table of FIG. 22, the common data of "A" is input in the first byte 
of each ID, and the different data of "A, B, C" are respectively input in 
the second byte thereof. 
In a c-table of FIG. 22, the common data of "B" is entered in the first 
byte of each ID and the different data of "A, B, C" are entered, 
respectively, in the second byte thereof. 
In a d-table of FIG. 22, the common data of "AA" is input in the first and 
second bytes of each ID, and the different data of "A, B, C" are entered, 
respectively, in the third byte. 
In an e-table of FIG. 22, the common data of "AB" is input in the first and 
second bytes of each ID, and the different data of "A, B, C" are entered, 
respectively, in the third byte thereof. 
Similarly, in an f-table of FIG. 22, the common data of "AAA" is input in 
the first to third bytes of each ID, and the different data of "A, B, C" 
are entered, respectively, in the fourth byte thereof. 
In a g-table of FIG. 22, the common data of "AAB" is input in the first to 
third bytes of each ID, and the different data of "A, B, C" are entered, 
respectively, in the fourth byte. 
Thus, the respective tables in document D/B 12, used for the document data 
retrieval operation, are formed in a hierarchical structure as illustrated 
in FIG. 23. 
In practice, each of the tables is formed by the following method. In 
correspondence to the respective ID's in the a-table of the first rank 
where the data has been input in only the first byte of each ID, each 
title (auto-bike, automobile, or special-purpose car etc.) representative 
of the first highest concept of the document data is input. In 
correspondence to each of ID's in the b-and c-tables of the second rank, 
where the data has been input in only the first and second bytes of each 
ID, another title (explanation, or notice etc.) representative of the 
second highest concept is input. Similarly, a further title (structure 
explanation, operating or handling manual etc.) representative of the 
third rank concept is input in the d and e-tables of the third hierarchy, 
and a still further title (twelfth month maintenance, or sixth month 
maintenance, etc.) indicative of the fourth rank concept is input in the f 
and g-tables of the fourth hierarchy. Data that is the same as the ID 
representative of the lowest concept is previously input in the detailed 
item code of the element data key shown in FIG. 17. Then retrieval of the 
document data is performed as illustrated in FIG. 24. 
It should be noted that the lowest rank data need not be set in the table 
of the sixth hierarchy, but may be set in a table higher than the sixth 
hierarchy. 
FIG. 24 is a flowchart of the retrieval method performed in step S114 
according to one preferred embodiment of the invention. As previously 
described, the retrieval operation is carried out by any one of the 
personal computers 4-1 to 4-N. 
In step S150 of FIG. 24, first "n" is set to be 1. In step S151, the ID of 
the n-th hierarchy or rank is input by, for instance, personal computer 
4-1. In step S152, the (n+1)th hierarchy data containing the n-th rank ID 
in its ID is selected from the table for the document data retrieval 
operation. 
In step S153, a judgement is made whether or not the (n+1)th rank data is 
present, namely, whether the (n+1)th rank data has been selected in step 
S152. If yes, then all titles of the (n+1)th rank are displayed in step 
S154. Then, after 1 is added to "n" in step S155, the control process is 
returned to step S151. 
When a judgement is made in step S153 that the (n+1)th hierarchy data is 
not present, the control process is transferred to the step S156. In step 
S156, the 1-element data containing the n-th rank ID in its detailed item 
code (i.e., the 1-document or 1-sentence data shown in FIG. 17) is called 
up via the host computer 1 from the document or sentence D/B 12 and 
displayed in the personal computer 4-1. 
Consequently, when the tables used for document data retrieval are 
constructed as in FIG. 22, and "A" is input as ID only to the first byte, 
the b-table of the second hierarchy or rank, where "A" is set in the first 
byte, is selected and displayed as indicated by arrow P. Then, when "AA" 
is input in the first and second bytes as ID, the d-table of the third 
rank where "AA" is set in the first and second bytes, is displayed as 
denoted by arrow Q. Similarly, when "AAA" is entered as ID in the first to 
third bytes, the f-table of the fourth rank where "AAA" is set in the 
first to third bytes, is displayed as shown by arrow R. Furthermore, when 
"AAAA" is input as ID into the first to fourth bytes for the retrieval 
operation, the list of the fifth rank (not shown), where "AAAA" is set in 
the first to fourth bytes, is displayed as denoted by arrow S. 
According to the foregoing method, such a retrieval operation can be 
effected to locate documents or sentences such as twelfth month 
maintenance manual registered with respect to the structure of, for 
example, an auto-bike. When such a retrieval operation is performed for 
the list of the lowest rank, a judgement can be made whether or not the 
required document data is registered in the document D/B 12. When the 
necessary data is retrieved, the retrieved data can be utilized to edit a 
new book by registering the retrieved data in the element D/B 22 as 
previously described with regards to step S117. 
Although the above explanation refers to the retrieval of document data, 
image data or machine sort information may be similarly retrieved. That is 
to say, if a plurality of retrieval tables of the type illustrated in FIG. 
22 are set in the image D/B 13 and in the machine sort information D/B 14, 
and if ID's of the retrieval tables are input into the items (3-byte 
length; see FIGS. 6 to 9) in the element data key of the image data and 
machine sort information, the above-described retrieval operation may be 
performed. 
Although in the preceding description, the machine sort information and 
image data were registered in respective different D/B's (i.e., machine 
sort information D/B 14 and image D/B 13), they may be registered in a 
common D/B since the machine sort information shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 has 
the same format as that of the image data shown in FIG. 9. 
Also when the image and document data were input in the previous 
embodiment, the temporary key was input first and converted into the 
element data key in the actual editing operation. However, the temporary 
key may need not be input first and, instead, the element data key may be 
input at the beginning, which is similar to the entry of the machine sort 
information data. 
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention having the 
above-described arrangement, the host computer 1 in FIG. 2 may be a 
large-scale general purpose computer which enables the materials or 
elements to be supervised, and the system controller 2 may be a 
medium-scale relay computer for connecting the host computer 1 and 
respective editing means 3-1 to 3-N, which enables the data to be 
supervised in page units or book units so that a new book can be produced 
by utilizing an original book or elements of the original book previously 
produced by the editing device. In consequence, new books can be 
efficiently produced. When, for instance, a service manual, a shop manual, 
or the like are to be produced by the editing device, if the new manual is 
to be similar to an original book which has been already produced, the new 
manual can be produced within an extremely short time and at low cost 
since a major part of the original book can be utilized for editing the 
new manual. 
The editing device according to this invention may be utilized not only to 
produce service manuals or shop manuals, but also to produce general 
books, magazines and newspapers. 
In the foregoing description, when the new book was produced by utilizing 
information in a previously edited book, the layout information read out 
from the layout D/B 11 was reconstructed into 1-page data in the host 
computer 1. It is of course possible to perform such a process in the 
system controller 2. Similarly, under the control of the system controller 
2, the 1-page data may be resolved into the information in the element 
unit and layout information. It should be also noted that when the element 
data of the machine information was input in the previous description, the 
element data key was entered at the beginning without entry of the 
temporary key. However, the temporary key may be first entered, which is 
similar to the element data relating to document, sentence and image 
information. 
Although the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N were connected to the host 
computer 1 in the above description, the present invention is not limited 
to this example; for instance, they may be connected to the system 
controller 2. Furthermore, the machine sort information data were input by 
the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N, in the previous explanation. These 
personal computers 4-1 to 4-N may be operated as word processors, and used 
to enter document data into either the host computer 1 or system 
controller 2. 
A concrete construction of the present invention will now be described by 
reference to FIG. 26, which is a functional block diagram illustrating one 
preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 26, the same 
reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 denote the same or similar parts. 
In FIG. 26, keyboard 106 is equivalent functionally to keyboards 5-1 to 5-N 
illustrated in FIG. 2, key input means 163 is equivalent functionally to 
the keyboards of personal computers 4-1 to 4-N illustrated in FIG. 2, and 
scanner 107 has a function similar to that of scanner 8 in FIG. 2. 
Similarly, first display means 109 is equivalent functionally to CRT's 6 
and 10 in FIG. 2, and second display means 164 is equivalent functionally 
to the CRT's of personal computers 4-1 to 4-N. Also, second element memory 
means 110 is equivalent functionally to element D/B 22 in FIG. 2, second 
layout memory means 111 is equivalent functionally to basic layout D/B 23 
in FIG. 2, and page memory means 112 is equivalent functionally to book 
D/B 21 of FIG. 2. 
In FIG. 26, keyboard 106 is connected to basic layout code setting means 
101, first element inputting means 102, first temporary key setting means 
151, layout code converting means 114, and element data key converting 
means 152. Key input means 163 is connected to second display means 164, 
second element inputting means 161 and second temporary key setting means 
162. The layout code setting means 101 sets the basic layout code (see 
FIG. 4) entered in the step S1 of FIG. 3A. The first temporary key setting 
means 151 sets the temporary key shown in FIG. 5. 
As previously described with reference to FIG. 5, "D" is input into the 
head byte of the temporary key which is added to the image data, and "T" 
is input into the temporary key which is added to the document data. In 
the editing means 3-1 to 3-N, a determination is made based upon the data 
of these head bytes whether the data in question is image data or document 
data, and the respective element data are handled in accordance with the 
sort of the data in question. 
If the temporary key is of 6 bytes as illustrated in FIG. 5, identification 
data of the element data chosen by an operator is entered as the remaining 
5 bytes other than the head bytes. In this case, numerical data is set, 
for example, in the lower 3 bytes and the numerical data may be 
automatically carried up after the element data is entered. That is, when 
the numerical data is set to "001", for example, at the beginning of the 
entry of the element data, the numerical data may be stepped up to "002", 
"003", etc., every time element data is entered. 
The first element inputting means 102 vector converts the document or 
sentence data entered by keyboard 106, or the image data and the like 
input by the scanner 107, and the second element inputting means 161 
vector converts document data entered by the key inputting means 163, or 
the machine sort information data. 
The layout code converting means 114 converts the layout code in the basic 
layout code entered through the basic layout code setting means 101 into 
the document supervision number and pages. 
The element data key converting means 152 converts the temporary key into 
the element data key shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Said temporary key is 
entered through the first or second temporary key setting means 151 or 
162, and stored in the second element memory means 110. The element data 
key converting means 152 may convert the temporary key into the element 
data key by directly inputting the element data key from the keyboard 106. 
Otherwise, during the data key conversion, the respective codes 
constituting the element data key may be displayed on the display device, 
and these codes may be sequentially selected in a so-called "dialogue" 
type processing operation with an operator. As to the image information, 
these codes are the machine sort code, information identification code and 
so on shown in FIG. 9. 
The basic layout code setting means 101 is connected to the second layout 
memory means 111 in the memory means 113. The second layout memory means 
111 is connected to the layout code converting means 114. 
The first and second element inputting means 102 and 161 and the first and 
second temporary key setting means 151 and 162 are connected to the second 
element memory means 110 in the memory means 113. The second element 
memory means 110 is connected to the element data key converting means 
152. 
The element data key converting means 152 is connected to coordinates 
setting means 104, first page data setting means 105, and second page data 
setting means 133. The coordinates setting means 104 outputs to the first 
display means 109, the element data key output from the second element 
memory means 110 and the element data corresponding to said element data 
key, and also sets the positional coordinates of the element data moved by 
operating a mouse 108, and further outputs the coordinates information to 
the first display means 109, first page data setting means 105 and second 
page setting means 133. 
The layout code converting means 114 calls up an arbitrary basic layout 
code stored in the second layout memory means 111, converts it into the 
converted layout code illustrated in the lower portion of FIG. 12, and 
then provides the converted layout code to the first page data setting 
means 105 and first display means 109. 
The first page data setting means 105 is operated to produce a completely 
new book, and produces one page data, as illustrated in FIG. 18, by 
employing the element data key and element data output from the element 
data key converting means 152, the converted layout code output from the 
layout code converting means 114, and the coordinates information output 
from the coordinate setting means 104, and then outputs the one page data 
to page memory means 112 in the memory means 113. 
It should be noted that first element inputting means 102 is connected to 
first display means 109 by a broken line, which indicates that when a 
document or the like is entered by keyboard 106, the data of the document 
or the like is displayed on the first display means 109. 
Page memory means 112 is connected to layout converting means 121 and 
element converting means 122. Layout converting means 121 eliminates LEN 
and element data from the element data group of the 1-page data (see FIG. 
18) stored in the page memory means 112 to produce the layout information 
illustrated in FIG. 19. Layout converting means 121 are connected to first 
layout memory means 125 which is further connected to an information 
processing means 124. First layout memory means 125 corresponds to the 
layout D/B 11 in FIG. 2. 
Element converting means 122 copies the element data group out of the 
1-page data stored in page memory means 112, and resolves the copied 
element data group into some element units. Element converting means 122 
are connected to first element memory means 123 which is further connected 
to information processing means 124. First element memory means 123 
comprises the document D/B 12, image D/B 13, and machine sort information 
D/B 14. 
First layout memory means 125 is further connected to a page identification 
data changing means 131. When a new book is produced by utilizing 
information from one or more other books which have been previously edited 
by the editing device and stored in first layout memory means 125 and 
first element memory means 123, page identification data changing means 
131 reads the necessary layout information out of the layout information 
stored in first layout memory means 125, and rewrites the material 
supervision number and page number (namely, the page identification data 
identifying the page of the layout information) of the layout information 
into the material supervision number and page number of the book to be 
newly produced. The data entry for said rewriting operation is carried out 
by the keyboard 106. 
Page identification data changing means 131 and first element memory means 
123 are connected to an element data adding means 132. Element data adding 
means 132 reads out of first element memory means 123, the element data of 
the layout information (see FIG. 19) output from the page identification 
data changing means 131, which corresponds to the respective element data 
keys set behind the layout for editing, and then adds said element data to 
the element data key. 
Element data adding means 132 is connected to page memory means 112. Page 
memory means 112 is furthermore connected to second page setting means 133 
and first display means 109. 
Second page data setting means 133 is operated to produce a new book which 
is similar to some book previously edited, and modifies the one page 
information by employing the 1-page information output from page memory 
means 112, the data in the element unit output from element data key 
converting means 152, and the positional coordinates of the element data 
output from the coordinates setting means 104. Thereafter, the modified 
1-page information is output into the page memory means 112. The second 
page data setting means 133 directly returns 1-page information 
transferred from the page memory means 112 to the page memory means 112 
when no data in the element unit is output from the element data key 
converting means 152. First element memory means 123 is furthermore 
connected to second element memory means 110. 
The basic layout code setting means 101, first element inputting means 102, 
first temporary key setting means 151, coordinates setting means 104, 
first page data setting means 105, second page data setting means 133, 
layout code converting means 114, and element data key converting means 
152 are provided in the editing means 3-1 to 3-N or system controller 2, 
each shown in FIG. 2. The key inputting means 163, second display means 
164, second element inputting means 161, and second temporary key setting 
means 162 are provided in the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N shown in FIG. 
2. The layout converting means 121, element converting means 122, page 
identification data changing means 131, and element data adding means 132 
are provided in the host computer 1 or system controller 2 shown in FIG. 
2. 
A description will now be given of how a new book is produced in an editing 
device having the above-described arrangement. 
First, information designating the 1-page basic layout is entered by the 
keyboard 106. This information is arranged into the basic layout code 
shown in FIG. 4 in the basic layout code setting means 101. This basic 
layout code is stored in the second layout memory means 111. The entry and 
storing operation of the basic layout is performed plural times if 
required. 
Then, the temporary key corresponding to the element data to be input is 
entered. When the element data input subsequent to the element data key 
are image data such as photographs, illustrations and so on, and a 
specific inputting means such as the scanner 107 or the like is required 
to enter these input data, the temporary key is input by the keyboard 106 
(such as the keyboard 5-1 connected to the editing means 3-1 shown in FIG. 
2). When the element data are characters, symbols, documents and the like 
which can be input by key operation, the temporary key is entered from the 
keyboard 106 or key inputting means 163 (any of the personal computers 4-1 
to 4-N in FIG. 2). 
The data of the temporary key other than the head byte thereof is a code 
arbitrarily determined by an operator to identify the element data to be 
input by the operator of the editing means, and does not supervise the 
element data in the first element memory means 123 or second element 
memory means 110. The temporary key is set in a form as illustrated in 
FIG. 5 in the first temporary key setting means 151 or second temporary 
setting means 162. 
If the temporary key is entered by the keyboard 106, then the document or 
machine sort information is entered by the keyboard 106, the image is read 
by the scanner 107, and these data are output to the first element 
inputting means 102. If the temporary key is input by the key inputting 
means 163, thereafter the document or machine sort information is entered 
by the key inputting means 163, and these data are output via the second 
element inputting means 161. In the first or second element inputting 
means 102 or 161, LEN of the element data is added to the element data, if 
required. This data is output together with the temporary key to the 
second element memory means 110 and stored therein. A plurality of entry 
and storing operations for the temporary key and element data are carried 
out, if required. 
With the above-described operation, editing data such as document and 
machine sort information comprising characters and symbols are entered by 
the key inputting means 163. 
When the entry of various element data is accomplished, the editing or 
arranging operation of the element data is commenced by the editing 
device. 
First, the basic layout code, by which the layout data of the page to be 
edited is set, is read out from the second layout memory means 111 by 
inputting the layout code from the keyboard 106, and output to the layout 
code converting means 114. In the layout code converting means 114, the 
layout code portion of the basic layout code is converted into the 
material supervision number and page input as shown in the lower code 
portion of FIG. 12. The converted layout code is output to the first page 
data setting means 105 and first display means 109, and as illustrated in 
FIG. 13, the basic layout corresponding to the converted layout code is 
displayed on the first display means 109. 
When an operator inputs the temporary key corresponding to element data to 
be displayed on the basic layout by means of the keyboard 106, element 
data having the element data key is output to element data key converting 
means 152 from the second element memory means 110. In the element data 
key converting means 152, as previously described, the temporary key is 
converted to the element data key. 
The element data key, and the element data or LEN and the element data 
output from the element data key converting means 152, are supplied to the 
first page data setting means 105 and coordinates setting means 104. The 
coordinates setting means 104 outputs the element data to the first 
display means 109. 
When the element data displayed on the first display means 109 is moved by 
the mouse 108, the positional coordinates corresponding to the moved 
position thereof is set by the coordinate setting means 104, and the set 
coordinates are transferred to the first page data setting means 105. A 
plurality of element data are displayed at predetermined positions of the 
basic layout, if required to perform editing of the page. 
When the editing of one page has been completed, in response to the output 
signals from the layout code converting means 114, element data key 
converting means 152 and coordinates setting means 104, the first page 
data setting means 105 produce the one page data as illustrated in FIG. 
18. The one page data is constructed of the converted layout code output 
from the layout code converting means 114, layout for editing code 
consisting of the positional coordinates output from the coordinate 
setting means 104 and also the element data key of the element data 
corresponding to the positional coordinates, and the element data group 
consisting of the element data key which constitutes the layout for 
editing and the element data corresponding to said element data key. 
The 1-page data produced in the first page data setting means 105 is stored 
in the page memory means 112. The amount of edited 1-page data stored in 
the page memory means 112 is equal to the pages needed to constitute the 
book to be edited. These page data are forwarded to a hard copy producing 
apparatus (not shown). 
The 1-page data stored in page memory means 112 is transferred to layout 
converting means 121 where layout information as represented in FIG. 19 is 
produced from the 1-page data. The layout information is transferred to 
the first layout memory means 125 and stored therein. 
The 1-page data stored in the page memory means 112 is also transferred to 
the element converting means 122. In element converting means 122, the 
element data group is copied from the 1-page data, and the copied element 
data group is resolved into 1-element units and thereafter transferred to 
the first element memory means 123. The document (or sentence) element 
data among the resolved element data group is stored in the document D/B 
12 in the first element memory means 123, the image element data is stored 
in the image D/B 13, and the machine sort information is stored in the 
machine sort information D/B 14. 
A new book can be produced in accordance with the above-described method, 
and the data of the edited new book is resolved into layout data and 
element data, and then respectively stored for use in future editing 
operations. Element data such as document and images stored in the 
above-mentioned D/B's may also be called up therefrom when it is desired 
to merely observe said element data for some purpose other than editing. 
When an element data key which corresponds to the element data to be 
observed is input by the keyboard 106 or key input means 163, the element 
data requested is displayed on the first display means 109 if said element 
data key is input through the keyboard 106, and on the second display 
means 164 if said element data key is input through the key input means 
163. 
A description will now be given of how a previously edited book can be used 
to produce a similar new book. 
After an operator determines which pages of a previously edited book are 
available to edit the new book e.g. by actually observing the previously 
edited book, the reference supervision number and page (or page 
identification data) of the previously edited book are entered to read out 
from the first layout memory means 125 the 1-page data which is available 
for the new book. The readout data is transferred to the page 
identification data changing mean 131. 
When the reference supervision number and page of the new book to be 
produced are entered by the keyboard 106 or other key inputting means 163 
(not shown) connected to the page identification data changing means 131, 
the reference supervision number and page of the readout data are changed 
into the entered reference supervision number and page in the page 
identification data changing means 131. 
The element data adding means 132 reads out from the first element memory 
means 123, the element data of the changed 1-page data which corresponds 
to the element data key set after the layout for editing, and adds said 
element data to the end of the element data key. With this operation, one 
page data can be established. 
After the complete 1-page data is stored in the page memory means 112, it 
is transferred to the first display means 109 and displayed, and also 
transferred to the second page data setting means 133. An operator judges 
whether or not the one page data must be changed while observing the 
display of said one page data on the first display means 109. If a 
judgement is negative, the resultant information is output from suitable 
means (not shown), the one page data is transferred to the page memory 
means 112, and furthermore said data is resolved into element data and 
layout data in the layout converting means 121 and element converting 
means 122. In this case, since the element data has been already stored in 
the first element memory means 123, only the layout data is output to the 
first layout memory means 125 to be stored in it. 
When some particular element data among the 1-page data displayed on the 
first display means 109 is to be deleted or changed into other element 
data, or when the 1-page data displayed on the first display means 109 
should be edited, the element data key corresponding to said particular 
element data is entered, so that the element information, i.e., the 
element data key and element data are read out from the first element 
memory means 123 and registered into the second element memory means 110. 
This readout operation may be performed by either the keyboard 106 or key 
inputting means 163. 
If the necessary element data is not stored in the first element memory 
means 123, the temporary key and element data are newly entered to be 
registered in the second element memory means 110. That is to say, the 
second element memory means 110 stores the element information consisting 
of the temporary key and element data, and the element information 
consisting of the element data key and element data. The second element 
memory means 110 is energized by appropriate means (not shown) and outputs 
the necessary element data and element data key, or the element data and 
temporary key to the element data key converting means 152. When the 
element data and temporary key are called up, the element data key 
converting means 152 converts the temporary key into the element data key 
entered by the keyboard 106, and outputs them. On the other hand, when the 
element data and element data key are called up, the element data key 
converting means 152 outputs the element data key without any conversion. 
The element data key and element data output from the element data key 
converting means 152 are transferred to the coordinates setting means 104 
and second page data setting means 133. The coordinates setting means 104 
outputs the element data to the first display means 109, and sets the 
positional coordinates of the element data which are determined by the 
mouse 108 to supply them to the second page data setting means 133. 
After the changes (or editing) of the 1-page data displayed on the first 
display means 109 have been accomplished by repeating the above mentioned 
operation if required, the second page data setting means 133 rearranges 
the 1-page data transferred from the page memory means 112 as the edited 
1-page data. More particularly, the second page data setting means 133 
erases the element data, the element data key and the positional 
coordinates thereof among the 1-page data transferred from the page memory 
means 112 and overlaps said element data by the element data newly set on 
the layout during editing. The element data key corresponds to the element 
data. Also, the second page data setting means 133 adds the element data 
newly set on the layout during editing, the element data key corresponding 
to said element data and the positional coordinates of said element data. 
Thus, the edited or changed 1-page data is output from the second page data 
setting means 133 to the page memory means 112 to be stored therein. Then, 
the 1-page data is output to the layout converting means 121 and element 
converting means 122 in the page unit or book unit. The layout converting 
means 121 and element converting means 122 resolve the output data into 
the element and layout data, and output the resolved data to the 
respective first layout memory means 125 and first element memory means 
123 to be stored therein. Any data which have been previously stored in 
the first element memory means 123 are not doubly stored therein. 
Using the above-described operations, when a new book is to be produced 
that resembles a previously edited book, common element data can be used 
without any modification, thereby greatly shortening the time required to 
produce the new book. 
FIG. 31 is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of the 
invention. The reference numerals in FIG. 31 which are the same as those 
in FIG. 26 denote the same or similar circuit elements. 
In FIG. 31, a special letter identification code setting means 165 outputs 
a specific character identification code when a symbol entered by the key 
inputting means 163 corresponds to a specific character or letter which 
cannot be entered directly by the keyboard. A document producing (or 
processing) means 166 produces a document by employing the data entered by 
the key inputting means 163, and the code output from the special letter 
identification code setting means 165, and outputs the resultant document 
data. The document producing means 166 is provided with the second element 
inputting means 161 shown in FIG. 26 and means for editing (moving, 
copying or the like) the input document. In other words, the personal 
computers 4-1 to 4-N (in the embodiment of FIG. 31) function as word 
processors. 
A special letter identification code discrimination means 167 judges 
whether or not the document data output from the document producing means 
166 contains a special letter identification code. If yes, then the 
judging means 167 transfers a symbol output subsequent to the special 
letter identification code and a character or letter output subsequent to 
the symbol to a special letter construction means 168. If the judgment is 
negative, the symbol or character of the document data is directly output 
to a second element memory means 110. 
The special letter construction means 168 produces a predetermined specific 
character or letter code based on the symbol and character output 
subsequent to said symbol which are derived from the special letter 
identification code discrimination means 167, and outputs the specific 
character code to the second element memory means 110. 
The second temporary key setting means 162, key inputting means 163, second 
display means 164, special letter identification code setting means 165, 
and document producing means 166 are equipped within the personal 
computers 4-1 to 4-N shown in FIG. 2. The special letter identification 
code discrimination means 167 and special letter construction means 168 
are provided within the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N, host computer 1, or 
system controller 2 shown in FIG. 2. 
A description will now be given of how documents or sentences, for instance 
in French, are produced by the work stations (that is, personal computers 
4-1 to 4-N) in an editing apparatus having the above-described 
construction according to this invention. 
In general, the work stations connected to the host computer function as 
word processors. An operator produces a document by using the word 
processor function. However, as in ordinary word processors, these work 
stations can only enter certain alphabets, numerals and basic symbols. If 
an effort is made to enter the French character "e", this character cannot 
be directly entered through an ordinary keyboard because no key for that 
French character is provided in the keyboard. 
According to the editing apparatus of this invention, a specific character 
identification code is first output from the code setting means 165 
instead of the entry of the specific character "e", and thereafter a 
symbol indicative of " " and an alphabet "e" are continuously entered from 
the key inputting means 163. 
When, for instance, the French word "temperature" is entered by the key 
inputting means 163, an operator first enters the characters "temp" by the 
keyboard connected to the key inputting means 163. However, the specific 
character "e" to be input subsequently cannot be directly entered from the 
keyboard without modifying this character. Accordingly, the special letter 
identification code is output by code setting means 165, thereafter both 
the symbol " " and the character "e" are continuously input by the key 
inputting means, and then the remaining characters "rature" are entered, 
so that the entry of said French word is accomplished. 
In the document producing means 166, the document is produced based on the 
special letter identification code entered by the special letter 
identification code setting means 165 and by the symbol as well as 
characters input by the key inputting means 163, and the document so 
produced is output to the second display means 164. At the same time, this 
document is output as document data to the special letter identification 
code discrimination means 167. In this case, the data format of the 
above-described French word "temperature" output from the document 
producing means 166 is "temp# erature". It should be noted that "#" 
represents the special letter identification code. Even if the special 
letter identification code is input, this code itself is not displayed on 
the second display means 164; instead the symbol and characters entered 
subsequent to special letter identification code are displayed in 
different colors, or with different brightness. Accordingly, they can be 
discriminated from the remaining characters. 
In the special letter identification code discrimination means 167, a 
judgement is made whether or not the document data output from the 
document producing means 166 contains the special letter identification 
code, namely "#". If not, then this document data is directly output to 
the second element memory means 110 without any modification. 
When the special letter identification code is present in the output 
document data, the symbol entered subsequent to the special letter 
identification code and the characters input subsequent to the symbol are 
supplied to the special letter construction means 168. In this example, 
both the symbol " " and character "e" are output to the special letter 
construction means 168 which then generates the predetermined specific 
character "e" composed of the symbol " " and the letter "e", and outputs 
it to the second element memory means 110. 
As apparent from the foregoing description, in the embodiment of FIG. 31 
specific characters which cannot be entered by simply operating a 
conventional work station as a word processor, but which may be entered 
only by way of a small-scale computer, can be input even by the work 
station. As a result, there is no need to employ a large quantity of 
expensive small-scale computers requiring complex operations, and editing 
work can instead be efficiently performed by conventional work stations. 
FIG. 27 is a block diagram of a still further preferred embodiment of this 
invention. The reference numerals in FIG. 27, that are the same as those 
in FIG. 26 denote the same or similar circuit components. 
As is apparent from a comparison of FIGS. 26 and 27, the page 
identification data changing means 131, element data adding means 132 and 
second page data setting means 133 shown in FIG. 26 have been omitted in 
the preferred embodiment of FIG. 27. In the FIG. 27 embodiment, although a 
new book cannot be produced by employing the layout data and element data 
of a previously edited book, the new book can be edited by using the 
element data unless the element data used for editing the previously 
edited book is erased from the second element memory means 110. As is 
similar to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 26, the element data of the 
produced book can be utilized in the information processing means 124 for 
performing processes other than editing. 
FIG. 28 is a functional block diagram of another embodiment of the 
invention. The reference numerals in FIG. 28 that are the same as those in 
FIG. 27 denote the same or similar circuit components. As is obvious from 
a comparison of FIGS. 27 and 28, the layout converting means 121, element 
converting means 122, first element memory means 123 and first layout 
memory means 125 have been omitted in the embodiment of FIG. 28. As a 
result, data of a previously edited book cannot be stored after being 
resolved into the element information and layout information, and element 
information cannot be utilized in information processing means other than 
the editing apparatus (the information processing means 124 shown in FIG. 
27). However, unless the data relating to the edited element is erased in 
the second element memory means 110, common element data can be commonly 
utilized when a book similar to a previously edited book is to be 
produced, in a manner similar to the editing apparatus shown in FIG. 27. 
FIG. 29 is a functional block diagram of modification of the embodiment 
shown in FIG. 28. In FIG. 29, the converted layout code setting means 120 
connected to keyboard 106 directly sets the converted layout code. Since 
the layout code should be set every time each page is edited, this 
embodiment is preferably not used to edit a book having a large number of 
pages. However, it has the advantage of being a simpler circuit 
arrangement than the preferred embodiments shown in FIGS. 26, 27 and 28. 
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a modification of the embodiment 
shown in FIG. 29. The reference numerals in FIG. 1 which are the same as 
those in FIG. 29 denote the same or similar circuit elements. In the FIG. 
1 embodiment, since the element data key must be set every time the 
element data is entered, it is preferable that this embodiment not be used 
to edit a book requiring numerous element data. However, the FIG. 1 
embodiment is much simpler in construction than the embodiments shown in 
FIGS. 26, 27, 28 and 29. 
FIGS. 30, 32, 33 and 34 are functional block diagrams of still further 
preferred embodiments according to this invention in which, respectively, 
the specific character or letter can be entered, and the second element 
inputting means 161 shown in FIGS. 1, 27, 28 and 29 have been replaced by 
the special letter identification code setting means 165, document 
producing means 166, special letter identification code discrimination 
means 167 and special letter construction means 168. 
As is apparent from the foregoing descriptions, the present invention makes 
is possible for simple editing data (machine sort information) consisting 
of numbers and symbols as well as document data to be produced by work 
stations (personal computers, word processors etc.) and to be directly 
entered without any modifications. In consequence, a small-scale computer 
needs to be utilized only when the entry of complex data such as images of 
photographs and illustrations requires specific input devices, or when 
editing utilizing said complex image data is performed, and there is no 
need to provide a large number of such small-scale computers. As a result 
the editing device can be manufactured at low cost. 
Moreover, the entry of simple data such as document and machine sort 
information which is effected only by a keyboard operation, can be 
performed by simple work stations without employing complex small-scale 
computers. As a result, time required to enter the data can be shortened 
and more efficient editing can be achieved. 
In addition, according to this invention, a document written in specific 
characters other than usual alphabets, e.g., a French or German document, 
can be readily handled, so that the wider application of word processors 
can be effected.