A manuscript text composition system and a program storage medium for the same specify data groups with a plurality of dimensions using a parameter table having two or more dimensional coordinate axes to manage data. In pasting specific data, a manuscript text composition system and a program storage medium for the same make it possible to paste specific data after various processing has been conducted. In pasting specific data using templates that enable characters and images to be pasted in a replaceable manner using replacement detection keys, a manuscript text composition system and a program storage medium for the same set parameters used in each corresponding template, and specify the parameters by the replacement detection keys themselves so that each specific processing can be conducted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the invention 
This invention relates generally to a manuscript text composition system 
and a program storage medium for implementing the manuscript text 
composition system, and more specifically to a manuscript text composition 
system and a program storage medium for implementing the manuscript text 
composition system adapted so that a desired manuscript text can be 
prepared by placing replacement detection keys in templates, and whenever 
the existence of such replacement detection keys are detected, pasting up 
specific characters or character groups, or specific images at the 
positions of such replacement detection keys, and also adapted so that the 
aforementioned specific characters or character groups, or specific images 
being pasted can be effectively managed by providing parameter tables 
having two or more dimensional coordinate axes. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
In recent years, application fields have been expanding, where a large 
amount of data prepared in a hypertext format are displayed in the 
Internet, for example. To prepare a manuscript text suitable for such 
application fields, a template for a manuscript text is prepared, in which 
replacement detection keys are placed so that a specific manuscript text 
can be composed by pasting specific characters or character groups, or 
specific images at the locations of the replacement detection keys. 
That is, a template containing a sentence such as 
"Konnichiwa, XX-san, genki desuka" (Good day, XX-san, how are you?) 
is prepared, and a large number of first names, such as "Tanaka," 
"Nakamura," etc. to be pasted at the position of XX in the template are 
separately prepared in advance. Thus, a specific manuscript text such as 
"Konnichiwa, Nakamura-san, genki desuka" (Good day, Nakamura-san, how are 
you?) 
is composed by pasting a first name, such as "Nakamura" at the location of 
XX. 
Although preparing a specific manuscript text by the aforementioned pasting 
operation is one of preferable methods, it would become more and more 
difficult to effectively manage "data" corresponding to specific 
characters or character groups, or specific images being pasted as an 
increasing number of templates are required and enormous quantities of 
specific characters or character groups, or specific images being pasted 
have to be provided in advance. That is, link structures, particularly 
among data, have been increasingly complicated and unclear. 
As described above, the fact that link structures for specific data have 
become increasingly complicated and unclear has necessitated the 
development of methodology for effectively specifying those specific data. 
In pasting specific data in the aforementioned manner, it is often desired 
to identify data by color display, or by blinking or highlighting. 
Specific measures to implement this are also needed. Furthermore, in 
pasting specific data which are updated in time series, for example, some 
measures are needed, such as finding out and pasting the latest version of 
data that are updated from time to time. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide a manuscript text composition 
system that enables data to be managed by specifying data groups with a 
plurality of dimensions using a parameter table having two or more 
dimensional coordinate axes. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a manuscript text 
composition system that enables specific data to be pasted after various 
types of processing have been executed on them. 
It is still another object of this invention to provide a program storage 
medium that stores programs for implementing a manuscript text composition 
system that enables data to be managed by specifying data groups with a 
plurality of dimensions using a parameter table having two or more 
dimensional coordinate axes. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a program storage 
medium that stores programs for implementing a manuscript text composition 
system that enables specific data to be pasted after various types of 
processing have been executed on them. 
The manuscript text composition system of this invention has templates for 
any one or all of texts and images that specify with replacement detection 
keys that part of the texts can be replaced with specific characters or 
character groups, or part or all of the images can be replaced with 
specific images, and files that store the specific characters or character 
groups, and the specific images specified by the replacement detection 
keys; a compiler provided in the system creating an image generating 
program using one of the templates, the specific characters or character 
groups, or the specific images stored in the aforementioned files; a 
display unit provided in the system creates a manuscript text on which the 
specific characters or character groups and/or the specific images are 
pasted corresponding to one of the templates. The manuscript text 
composition system of this invention has a parameter table that specifies 
parameters corresponding to the specific characters or character groups, 
or the specific images in a tabular form having two or more dimensional 
coordinate axes so as to represent one of the templates by one or a 
plurality of rows in one coordinate axis in the parameter table. 
According to an embodiment of this invention, templates describe in such a 
manner that voice can be replaced. According to another embodiment of this 
invention, replacement detection keys in templates specify, by the 
existence thereof, cells at coordinate locations in a parameter table, 
specific file names or specific command names or specific conditional 
expression names, or a plurality of cells enclosed by a plurality of 
coordinate locations in the parameter table. When the replacement 
detection keys specify directly, by the presence thereof, specific file 
names, etc., parameters relating to the files specified are described in 
the parameter table. When specific command names, etc. are specified, 
processing, including replacement, is carried out after the specific 
commands, etc. have been executed. 
According to still another embodiment of this invention, the name of one 
template that has been specified as described above, a specific character 
or character group or a specific image to be replaced, a coordinate value 
specifying another cell in the parameter table, or a specific file name or 
specific command name or a specific conditional expression name is 
described in one cell of the parameter table. When a template name is 
described in any one or multiple given (predetermined) cells in the 
parameter table, a notation combining "a template identification mark with 
the template name" is used to indicate that the individual given 
(predetermined) cell or cells specify the template. When a specific file 
name, etc. is described in a cell of the parameter table, parameters 
relating to the file, etc. specified by the description are described in 
the parameter table. When a specific command name is described, 
processing, including replacement, is carried out after that specific 
command has been executed. 
According to still another embodiment of this invention, furthermore, a 
replacement detection key is recognized by the system when a predetermined 
mark character is identified as the replacement detection key, or a 
replacement detection key is made invalid or valid in the subsequent 
processing by a description that the replacement detection key having a 
predetermined mark should be made invalid or valid, or the type of 
processing is predetermined for each of combinations of predetermined 
specific marks. 
According to still another embodiment of this invention, moreover, a 
replacement detection key instructs, by the presence of the replacement 
detection key, that different pasting processing be carried out depending 
on whether or not a specific comparison object agrees with comparison 
conditions, or instructs, by the presence of the replacement detection 
key, that the description of a template be pasted in the description of 
another template. 
The program storage medium of this invention is a program storage medium in 
which a program for implementing the aforementioned manuscript text 
composition system is stored. 
The manuscript text composition system of this invention is capable of 
using the contents of parameters in terms of a plurality of coordinates by 
preparing templates having a description to carry out replacement using 
replacement detection keys, and describing various parameters to be used 
in the templates in a parameter table having multi-dimensional 
coordinates. The manuscript text composition system of this invention is 
capable of carrying out more complicated processing, including replacement 
upon checking conditions, for example, rather than simple replacement, by 
giving a replacement detection key itself a meaning corresponding to a 
specific processing or a meaning for more specific processing by adding a 
tag or extension. 
According to this invention, furthermore, the manuscript text composition 
system can be implemented by using a program for operating a computer in 
the aforementioned manner, and this program can be stored in various 
appropriate program storage medium.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 is a diagram of assistance in explaining the operating principle of 
this invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 refers to a parameter 
table, 2 to a template, and 3 to translated template contents, 
respectively. 
In this invention, a tool for easily creating hyper text markup language 
(HTML) based on the output data (in CSV format) of a spreadsheet program, 
for example, is given. 
This tool, that is, a manuscript text composition system is implemented 
using a program that operates a computer in the following manner. This 
program stores various program storage media suited for storing it. 
More detailed description will be given again separately, referring to FIG. 
1. Now assume that "Format 1.txt" shown in the figure is given as one of 
the template 2, and parameters relating to "Format 1.txt" are described in 
the second row, for example, of the parameter table 1 shown in the figure. 
In this case, 
(i) since data "Kotei A" are described in column "B" in the second row of 
the parameter table 1, corresponding to the position described as "@B@" in 
the third row of "Format 1.txt," data "Kotei A" are substituted in the 
third row of the translated template contents 3 for "@B@" given above, and 
(ii) "Zumen 1" "300" and "400" are substituted in the fourth row of the 
translated template contents 3 for the positions described as "@C@" "@B1@" 
and "@C1@" in the fourth row of"Format 1.txt." 
This is attributed to that data "Zumen 1" are described in "Column C and 
2nd Row," data "300" are in "Column B and 1st Row", and data "400" are in 
"Column C of 1st Row" of the parameter table 1. 
One cell (coordinate position C2) in the parameter table 1 is specified 
with only "C," as in "@C@" above, when the row position of that cell is 
known in advance (it is known in the above example that "Format 1.txt" 
whose parameters are described in the second row is being processed). One 
cell is specified with a coordinate value of "C1" as in "@C1@" when the 
row position of that cell is different from the row now being processed. 
In this invention where the template 2 is translated using the parameter 
table 1, what is expressed by two specific marks, such as "@ - - - @" 
above, is termed a "replacement detection key." 
In the translated template contents 3 shown in FIG. 1, symbols used have 
the following meanings: 
(a) &lt;HTML&gt; - - - &lt;/HTML&gt;: Denotes the start and end of a document. 
(b) &lt;TITLE&gt; - - - &lt;/TITLE&gt;: Denotes that " - - - " in between is displayed 
as a title on top of the screen. 
(c) &lt;HR&gt;: Denotes that a horizontal line is drawn after line feed. 
(d) &lt;BR&gt;: Denotes line feed. 
(e) &lt;A NAME= - - - &gt; - - - &lt;/A&gt;: Denotes the name of an anchor. Also 
denotes the name of a jump address expressed by &lt;A HREF=# - - - &gt; - - - 
&lt;/A&gt;, which will be described later. 
(f) &lt;IMG SRC=*** - - - &gt;: Denotes that a graphic in file *** is pasted. 
(g) ALIGN="left": Denotes that something is pasted on the left. 
(h) WIDTH=* or HEIGHT=*: denotes that the width is * or the height is *. 
(i) &lt;FONT COLOR= - - - &gt; - - - &lt;/FONT&gt;: Denotes that characters being 
displayed are displayed in " - - - " color. 
(j) &lt;A HREF=# - - - &gt; - - - &lt;/A&gt;: Denotes linkage (jump) to a location 
specified by " - - - ". 
Based on these definitions, the translated template contents 3 shown in 
FIG. 1 mean that 
(i) it is a manuscript written in HTML, 
(ii) its title is "TEST," 
(iii) a horizontal line is drawn under the title followed by line feed, and 
its anchor name is "Kotei A.", followed by line feed, 
(iv) A graphic form gif in File "Zumen 1" of a width of 300 and height of 
400 is pasted on the left, 
(v) character "Toritsukeru" is described in black color followed by line 
feed, 
(vi) the jump address is "Kensa Kotei", 
(vii) line feed, and 
(viii) end of a document. 
FIG. 2 shows a manuscript text displayed based on the translated template 
contents shown in FIG. 1. 
As described above, title "TEST" is displayed, anchor name "Kotei A" is 
displayed, the graphic form gif, a screw, for example in file "Zumen 1" is 
displayed at a desired location in a desired size, and character 
"Toritsukeru" is displayed in black color. The jump address, to which 
processing is advanced when its position is clicked with a mouse, is 
displayed as "Kensa Kotei". 
FIG. 3 is a diagram of assistance in explaining the configuration of a 
system embodying this invention. In the figure, numerals 1 and 2 
correspond to like numerals in FIG. 1. The parameter table is constructed 
in three dimensions, for example, the template 2 has a plurality of 
templates 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, - - - . 
Numeral 4 in the figure refers to a text file in which individual files 
specified by the aforementioned replacement detection keys are stored. 
Similarly, numeral 5 refers to an image file in which individual files 
specified by the replacement detection keys are stored, and numeral 6 
refers to a voice file in which individual pieces of voice information 
specified by the replacement detection keys are stored. 
Numeral 7 refers to a compiler for creating a screen generating program 
based on the contents of a specific template 2-i, the parameter table 1, 
the text file 4 and/or the image file 5 and/or the voice file 6 to be used 
as necessary. Numeral 8 refers to a screen generating program compiled by 
the compiler 7 so as to display screens in HTML, for example. Numeral 9 
refers to a replacement detection key designating section for which the 
operator specifies at the time of startup that predetermined marks, such 
as %, #, - - - are used as replacement detection keys used in this 
invention. (Those marks that were once designated as the replacement 
detection keys can of course be canceled later.) 
Numeral 10 refers to a terminal unit, including a display. 
In terms of image, a template 2-i represents a full page of text since 
"Title" is described at the topmost, a specific "Chart" at the left top, a 
specific "Sentence 1" at the right top, a specific "Sentence 2" at the 
lower part of the template 2-i, respectively. In practice, however, a 
template 2-i is provided using a description shown as "Format 1.txt" in 
FIG. 1, rather than an image representation. 
Now assume that the template 2-i corresponds with "Format 2" and parameters 
relating to "Format 2" are described in the third row of the parameter 
table 1. 
As a result of search of column A of the parameter table 1, a description 
on "Format 2" is found in the third row. This means that the third row is 
a row in which parameters relating to "Format 2" are described. As it is 
found out that "Format 2" is the name of a desired template, the 
manuscript of that template is read. 
To display an image corresponding to "Format 2" on the display of the 
terminal unit 10, the compiler 7 generates a screen generating program 8 
using a template 2-i (corresponding to Format 2), the contents of the 
parameter table 1, and the contents of any specific file supposed to be 
described in a "cell" of the parameter table 1 (it is assumed that the 
name of a specific text file and/or the name of an image file and/or the 
name of a voice file are described in the cell). The screen generating 
program 8 fetches the contents each of the text file 4 and/or the image 
file 5 and/or the voice file 6, as necessary, to display them on the 
display of the terminal unit 10. 
The manuscript text composition system of this invention, including the 
manuscript text composition system shown in FIG. 3, is implemented using a 
program for operating the computer, as described in the aforementioned 
description and a description which will be made in reference to the 
processing flow chart given below. This program is stored in various 
program storage media suitable for storing it. 
FIG. 4 is a processing flow chart. Numeral 1 in FIG. 4 denotes a parameter 
table. 
Now, let us take a simple example to facilitate the understanding of 
description, and assume that 
(i) template 2-i corresponds to a specific template Form 1, where there is 
a description that 
"Konnichiwa, %B2%/san, genki desuka" (Good day, %B%-san, how are you?) 
where "% - - - %" is a replacement detection key. 
(ii) parameters for Form 1 are described in the second row of the parameter 
table 1, and "Nakamura" is described as (Example 1) in the cell 
represented by the coordinate value of (B2), and "File.txt" is described 
as (Example 2). 
First, the case of (Example 1) will be described. 
Step (S1): Assuming that the second row in the parameter table 1 is to be 
processed, the second row is read. 
Step (S2): From the fact that "Form 1" is found described in a cell 
(coordinate position A2) of column A in the second row from which 
parameters were read in the parameter table 1, it is known that the 
corresponding template is "Form 1." 
Step (S3): Template "Form 1" is read. In this example, it is known that 
"Konnichiwa, %B2%-san, genki desuka" is described in template "Form 1," as 
shown above. 
Step (S4): Each word of the description is checked sequentially from "Kon" 
to "nichi" and "wa" - - - , to see if each word is a replacement detection 
key. 
Step (S5): Since the portion of description up to "Konnichiwa" has no 
replacement detection key, "Konnichiwa" is pasted as it is in the 
processing stage of Step (S5) at the moment. 
In the processing flow chart shown in FIG. 4, the processing is returned to 
Step (S3) again, where "%B2%" is read at this moment. 
Step (S4): YES is selected. Then, the processing proceeds to Step (S6). 
Step (S6): Replacement detection key "% - - - %" and replacement word "B2" 
are obtained. 
Step (S7): Since the replacement word is "B2," it is known that it 
indicates a "cell name," and YES is selected. 
Step (S8): With a cell name ("B2" in this case), access is made to the 
corresponding cell in the parameter table 1. 
Step (S9): Since the contents of the corresponding cell are "Nakamura" in 
this example (and since it has no tag or extension), NO is selected. Tags 
and extensions will be described later. 
Step (S10): The contents of the cell, "Nakamura", are pasted as they are. 
Thus, the processing up to "Konnichiwa, Nakamura" has been completed. 
Then, the processing is returned to Step (B3) to check sequentially each 
word from "sa", to "n", ",", "gen", "ki", "de", "su" and "ka". The 
processing further proceeds to Step (S4) and Step (S5) to create a 
manuscript text reading 
"Konnichiwa, Nakamura-san, genki desuka" (Good day, Nakamura-san, how are 
you?) 
Next, (Example 2) above will be described. 
Step (S1): Assuming that the second row in the parameter table 1 is to be 
processed, the second row is read. 
Step (S2): From the fact that "Form 1" is described in a cell of column A 
in the second row from which parameters were read in the parameter table 
1, it is known that the corresponding template is "Form 1." 
Step (S3): Template "Form 1" is read. In this example, it is known that 
"Konnichiwa, %B2%-san, genki desuka" is described in template "Form 1," as 
shown above. 
Step (S4): Each word of the description is checked sequentially from "Kon" 
to "nichi", "wa" - - - , to see if each word is a replacement detection 
key. 
Step (S5): Since the portion of description up to "Konnichiwa" has no 
replacement detection key, "Konnichiwa" is pasted as it is in the 
processing stage of Step (S5) at the moment. 
In the processing flow chart shown in FIG. 4, the processing is returned to 
Step (S3) again, where "%B2%" is read at this moment. 
Step (S4): YES is selected. Then, the processing proceeds to Step (S6). 
Step (S6): Replacement detection key "% - - - %" and replacement word "B2" 
are obtained. 
Step (S7): Since the replacement word is "B2," it is known that it 
designates "cell name," and YES is selected. 
Step (S8): With a cell name, access is made to the parameter table. 
Step (S9): Since the contents of cell "B2" are "File 1.txt" in this 
example, YES is selected. 
Step (S11): The processing proceeds to access by replacement detection key. 
Since the replacement key is "% - - - %" in this case, the processing 
corresponding to this replacement detection key is started. (Access by 
replacement detection key will be described later.) 
Step (S12): The file designated by replacement word "File 1.txt," that is, 
"File 1" is fetched. It is assumed here that the text of the File 1 file 
has a description of "Okinawa-shusshin no Nakamura" (Nakamura from 
Okinawa). 
Step (S13): In this example, the processing of pasting "Okinawa-shusshin no 
Nakamura" above is conducted. As a result, the processing up to this 
moment brings about the text up to "Konnichiwa, Okinawa-shusshin no 
Nakamura-san" (Good day, Nakamura-san from Okinawa). 
Then, the processing is returned to Step (S3), and part of the text up to 
"sa", "n", ",", "gen", "ki", "de", "su", and "ka" is sequentially 
processed in Step (S4) to Step (S5), and a manuscript text of 
"Konnichiwa, Okinawa-shusshin no Nakamura-san, genki desuka" (Good day, 
Nakamura-san from Okinawa, how are your?) is created. 
In this invention, various manuscript texts can be created from one 
template by using a parameter table 1 and giving predetermined 
descriptions in desired cells, as described above. This can of course be 
implemented merely by rewriting the contents of "cells". 
This invention, which is originally based on using the contents of cells, 
allows the "File 1.txt" specified by the contents of the aforementioned 
Cell B2, such as 
"Konnichiwa, %File 1.txt%/san, genki desuka", 
to be described directly in the description of the template 2-i. In this 
case, needless to say, NO is selected in Step (S7) shown in FIG. 7 when 
%File 1.txt% has been found out, and the processing proceeds to Step 
(S11). 
FIG. 5 shows an example of parameter table. In the figure, one cell is 
shown as specified by two-dimensional coordinates. 
In column A, column B, column C, - - - in the parameter table 1 shown in 
the figure, described are; 
Column A: Command or template name ("Command"is supposed to include 
"Conditional Expression.") 
Column B: Process name 
Column C: Graphic data name (file name) 
Column D: text of work description 
Column E: text of precautions 
Column F: Next process name (jump address) 
and a predetermined allocation is carried out for each of them. Each row, 
such as the first row, the second row, - - - , is shown as corresponding 
to each template. In the figure, for example, the second row gives 
parameters corresponding to template "Form 1." 
In this way, the contents of a description in each cell can be designated 
in terms of template name (that is, coordinates in the row), and in terms 
of process name, graphic data name, etc. (that is, coordinates in the 
column) by predetermining rows and columns at the startup of the system. 
Now, assume that the contents of cell "D2" in template "Form 1" are changed 
from "Uegawa kara shimeru" (Tighten the screw from above) to "oko kara 
shimeru" (Tighten the screw from the side), for example. In this case, if 
the description of "Yoko kara shimeru" exists in the corresponding 
parameters of the template "Form 10" in the third row in the figure, the 
description of"Uegawa kara shimeru" in Cell "D2" is replaced with "Refer 
to one cell below D2." This permits only the parameter "text of work 
description" in Form 1 to be replaced with "Yoko kara shimeru". 
In this case, the fact that the description of "Yoko kara shimeru" itself 
exists at the location of "text of work description," that is, coordinate 
"D3" in the Form 10 row can be known only if the operator remembers that 
"Yoko kara shimeru" is described in the template name of "Form 10." 
In this way, the advantage of the parameter table having a 
multiple-dimensional coordinate system can be fully utilized with 
increases in the contents of description in the parameter table. 
Although one row is supposed to correspond to one template in the 
description given above, it is needless to say that this is simply a 
standard form which permits a plurality of rows to be related to one 
template. In place of the above-mentioned standard form, parameters 
necessary for command name "GTT" can be described arbitrarily, as shown by 
"Graphic," "Text A" or "Text B" in the sixth row of FIG. 5, independently 
of the designation of the contents of rows, such as "Process Name," 
"Graphic Data Name (File Name)", - - - in the figure. 
FIG. 6 is a diagram of assistance in explaining an example where the 
contents of a cell can be designated by a replacement detection key for 
designating a cell. 
What kind of marks can be used as replacement detection keys will be 
described later. Now assume that there exists a replacement detection key 
such as 
".about.@Z3@.about." 
in a description in a template. ".about." denotes a description which 
includes no replacement keys, such as "Konnichiwa" or "san, genki desuka," 
as described in reference to FIG. 4, while "@- - - @" denotes a mark 
representing a replacement detection key. 
If there exists 
".about.@Z3@.about." 
it designates that the contents of a cell having coordinate (Z3) are 
replaced. In the example shown in FIG. 6, if "asahi" (in Example 1), for 
example, is described in a cell (coordinate Z3) in the parameter table 1, 
the result of replacing the above description 
".about.@Z3@.about." 
will be 
"asahi." 
If "B5" (in Example 2) is described in cell (coordinate Z3), it means that 
the contents of a cell (coordinate B5) are to be used. Since the contents 
of cell (coordinate B5) are described as "yuhi," the replacement result 
will be 
".about.yuhi.about." 
as shown in Example 2 in the figure. 
The contents of individual cells have various types, such as 
a type where the contents themselves of a cell ("asahi" in this case) are 
replaced, as in Example 1, 
a type where the contents of the cell indicate the coordinate of another 
cell ("B5" in this case), as in Example 2, 
a type where a text name (Text name "TITLE.txt" in this case) is described 
to indicate that the contents of the text called "TITLE.txt" are used for 
replacement, as in Example 3, and 
a type where a command name (or a conditional expression name) (Command 
name "-FILE. class" in this case) is described to indicate that command 
"-FILE. class" is executed prior to replacement, and the execution result 
is replaced (in the case of conditional expression, check is made to see 
if the conditional expression is satisfied, and the check result is used 
for replacement), as in Example 4. 
FIG. 7 is a diagram of assistance in explaining an example where the 
relative position of a cell is designated. 
When ".about.@Z3@.about." is described, as in the example shown in FIG. 6, 
it is indicated that the contents of cell (coordinate Z3) are used. Taking 
advantage of this, another cell can be designated by indicating its 
relative coordinate position from cell (coordinate Z3). 
When there exists a description of 
".about.@Z3+@.about." 
as shown in FIG. 7, a cell located in the same column of the next row, 
viewed from cell (coordinate Z3), that is, a cell of coordinate Z4, is 
designated. In terms of the example of the parameter table 1 shown in FIG. 
6, the contents of ".largecircle." in cell (coordinate Z4) are used for 
replacement. 
When there exists a description of 
".about.@Z3-@.about.", 
as shown in FIG. 7, a cell located in the same column of one row preceding 
cell (coordinate Z3), that is, cell (coordinate Z2), is designated. In 
terms of the example of the parameter table 1 shown in FIG. 6, the 
contents of ".DELTA." in cell (coordinate Z2) are used for replacement. 
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the manner in which the replacement 
detection key is specified. 
What mark is used as a replacement detection key is specified at the 
startup of the system by the replacement detection key designating section 
9 shown in FIG. 3. 
"@ - - - @" shown in FIG. 8 indicates that the contents of " - - - " 
between @ are replaced as a replacement detection key. If designated 
appropriately in advance in replacing the same contents of " - - - " as a 
key, "% - - - %" in FIG. 8 can also be used. 
The replacement detection key uses the same marks of @ or % before and 
after the contents to be replaced, as in "@ - - - @" or "% - - - %", and 
the type of processing can be specified using different marks. That is, "! 
- - - !" shown in FIG. 8 means that the contents of " - - - " are a file 
name, and the file having that file name is replaced with the latest of 
the updated file, if it has an updating history. 
A pair of different marks can be used before and after the contents, as in 
"! - - - %" or "# - - - %" shown in FIG. 8. 
"% - - - !%" shown in FIG. 8 can be used when a mark that has been 
designated in advance as a replacement detection key, "!", for example, is 
used for other purposes than the replacement detection key by nullifying 
the mark "!". "%+!%" shown in FIG. 8 is for specifying that the mark "!" 
that has once been nullified as the replacement detection key is used 
again as a replacement detection key. 
FIG. 9 is a diagram summarizing the description of marks to be used. 
a) The replacement detection key normally uses the same marks before and 
after the contents, as in "% - - - %" or "# - - - #". 
b) A pair of different marks may be used before and after the contents, as 
in "% - - - #" or "@ - - - %". 
c) Combinations of different types of marks can be used, as in "%- - - - %" 
or "%+ - - - %" or "%! - - - %". 
d) Combinations of a plurality of the same marks can be used, as in "%% - - 
- %%" or "%% - - - %" or "% - - - %%". 
These marks to be used and the meanings thereof are designated by the 
replacement detection key designating section 9 shown in FIG. 3, as 
described above. 
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating various forms of the normal replacement 
instruction. In the figure, "% - - - %" denotes the normal replacement 
instruction. 
a) ".about.%B%.about.": The contents of column B in the parameter table are 
inserted at the time of replacement. 
b) ".about.%B1%.about.": The contents of a cell (coordinate B1) in the 
parameter table are inserted at the time of replacement. 
c) ".about.%B1:C2%.about.": The contents of cells enclosed by a rectangle 
defined by a cell (coordinate B1) in the parameter table as the left top 
corner and a cell (coordinate C2) as the right bottom corner are inserted 
at the time of replacement. 
d) ".about.%file.txt%.about.": The content of a file having a file name of 
"file.txt" are used at the time of replacement. 
e) ".about.%&lt;B1:C2&gt;file.csv.about.": The contents of cells enclosed by a 
rectangle defined by a cell (coordinate B1) in a parameter table having a 
table name of"file.csv" as the left top corner and a cell (coordinate C2) 
as the right bottom corner are inserted at the time of replacement. 
f) ".about.%&lt;OL TYPE=1&gt;file.txt%.about.": The contents of a file having a 
file name of "file.txt" are converted in a format specified by " - - - " 
(in this example, "OL TYPE=1") in &lt; - - - &gt;, and inserted at the time of 
replacement. 
g) ".about.%*.txt%.about.": The contents of a wild-card text file having an 
extension of ".txt", whose file name is not specified, are inserted at the 
time of replacement. 
h) ".about.%*abc.txt%.about.": The contents of a text file having a file 
name prefixed by "abc" and having an extension of ".txt" are inserted at 
the time of replacement. 
In the following, various processing forms using the replacement detection 
keys will be described. 
FIG. 11 is a diagram of assistance in explaining the processing conducted 
after the number of file versions has been managed. In the manner of 
processing shown in FIG. 11, a file being pasted is determined after 
candidate files being pasted are retrieved and checked for the number of 
their versions generated to compare with the scheduled date for compiling. 
a) ".about.+ - - - +.about.": If there is a file of one version newer than 
the current one (the scheduled date for compiling--the same applies 
hereinafter), it is selected as a file being pasted. 
b) ".about.+ - - - %.about.": The file of the latest version is selected as 
a file being pasted. 
c) ".about.- - - - -.about.": If there is a file one version older than the 
current one, it is selected as a file being pasted. 
d) ".about.- - - - %.about.": The file of the first version will be pasted. 
e) ".about.+ - - - -.about.": If there is any different version for the 
file designated by " - - - ", it is inserted at the time of replacement, 
with its display color changed. 
FIG. 12 is a diagram of assistance in explaining the manner in which 
repetition control is conducted. In the manner shown in FIG. 12, if there 
are a plurality of data being inserted for a certain template, replacement 
processing is repeated by that number. 
a) ".about.! - - - % - - - % - - - !": The processing designated by " - - - 
" in "! - - - !" is repeated by the number of data or the number of 
continuation rows designated by " - - - " in "% - - - %". 
That is, assuming that 
".about.!&lt;A NAME=%&lt;B1:B3&gt;%!.about." 
is described as a template, the contents of cell (coordinate B1) in the 
parameter table 1 are "AAA", the contents of cell (coordinate B2) are 
"BBB", and the contents of cell (coordinate B3) are "CCC", then, the 
processing is repeated three times as follows. 
&lt;A NAME=AAA&gt; 
&lt;A NAME=BBB&gt; 
&lt;A NAME=CCC&gt; 
FIG. 13 is a diagram of assistance in explaining replacement control for 
making a replacement detection key invalid or valid. In the manner shown 
in FIG. 13, a mark that has once been designated as a replacement 
detection key is made invalid in the subsequent processing, or a mark that 
has once been made invalid is made valid in the subsequent processing (the 
same as the case shown in FIG. 8). 
a) ".about.%-!%.about.": If this replacement detection key exists, the 
marks ! appearing in the subsequent processing are made invalid as one of 
the replacement detection keys. 
b) ".about.%+!%.about.": If this replacement detection key exists, the 
marks ! that have once been made invalid as the replacement detection keys 
are made valid again as one of the replacement detection keys in the 
subsequent processing. 
FIG. 14 is a diagram of assistance in explaining template fetch processing. 
To avoid having too many templates, this processing makes it possible to 
fetch an alternative template in a current template so as to use the 
contents of the alternative one that are similar in functions to the 
contents of the current one. 
a) ".about.%# - - - %.about.": A description is given in the name of an 
alternative template being fetched in " - - - " of "# - - - " so as to 
fetch the contents of the alternative template in the contents of a 
current template. 
If there exists a description of 
".about. - - - %#hina1% - - - .about." 
in part of the contents of a current template, for example, and if the 
template "hina1" has a description of 
".about. - - - %B1%.about.%C2% - - - .about.". 
processing is conducted on the assumption that part of the contents of the 
current template also has the contents of 
".about. - - - %B1%.about.%C2% - - - .about.". 
FIG. 15 is a diagram of assistance of explaining the state of processing 
corresponding to the processing after the number of versions has been 
controlled, as shown in FIG. 11. In the figure, numeral 5 refers to an 
image file shown in FIG. 3, in which there exists a graphic identified by 
the name of "file 1.gif". Now, assume that the first version (no. of 
versions: 01) of the graphic was prepared on Apr. 14, 1996, the second 
version (no. of versions: 02) on Apr. 18, 1996, the third version (no. of 
versions: 03) on May 3, 1996, the fourth version (no. of versions: 04) on 
May 4, 1996, the fifth version (no. of versions: 05) on May 11, 1996, and 
the latest version (no. of versions: 06) on May 13, 1996, respectively. 
Numeral 10 refers to a terminal unit shown in FIG. 3. 
Assume that a description of 
".about.%file1.gif%.about." 
is given in a certain template to use a specific file "file1.gif" as 
described above. In this case, if the replacement detection key of "% - - 
- %" indicates simply replacing " - - - ", and replacement is conducted on 
the reference date of May 3, 1996, for example, then, a graphic Q shown in 
FIG. 15 is pasted. 
If a description of 
".about.+file1.gif+.about." 
is given in that template, check is made to see if there exists any file 
one version newer than the third version based on the reference date of 
May 3, 1996. If any, the fourth version, that is, a graphic R shown in the 
figure that was prepared on May 4, 1996, is pasted. The display image 
shown on the terminal unit 10 in FIG. 15 schematically represents the 
state where the graphic R of the fourth version was pasted. 
If a description of 
".about.-file1.gif-.about." 
is given in the template, check is made to see if there exists any file one 
version older than the third version based on the reference date of May 3, 
1996. If any, the second version, that is, a graphic P shown in the figure 
that was prepared on Apr. 18, 1996 is pasted. 
FIG. 16 is a diagram of assistance in explaining the pasting processing 
after the existence of a tag has been detected and the relevant data has 
been processed. 
Now, assume that the contents of a certain template instructs to refer to a 
cell of coordinate (K3), for example, in the parameter table 1. A 
description of 
OL TYPE=&lt;OL TYPE 1&gt;file1.txt 
is given in the cell, and a description of 
&lt;FORM&gt; 
&lt;OL TYPE1&gt; 
&lt;L1&gt;DATA1 
&lt;L1&gt;DATA2 
&lt;L1&gt;DATA3 
&lt;/FORM&gt; 
is given in a file designated by "file1". 
Step (S14): Cell (coordinate K3) is accessed, as stated in the above 
assumption. 
Step (S15): The existence of the leading tag given by &lt; - - - &gt; in the 
contents of the cell is detected. 
Step (S16): Next, the existence of the extension given by ".txt" is 
detected. 
Step (S17): Since there exists a description of "file1.txt" in the contents 
of cell (coordinate K3), a file designated by "file1" is accessed, and the 
contents of files shown as examples at the right top of FIG. 16 are 
sequentially read one by one. This will be described in detail later, 
referring to FIG. 4. Now, the processing proceeds to Step (S11) shown in 
FIG. 4, entering 1 of tag-wise processing. 
In tag-wise processing, &lt;OL TYPE1&gt;, for example, instructs preparation of a 
table describing each data by adding numbers "1", "2" and "3" to the head 
of DATA1, DATA2 and DATA3, as shown in Table L shown at the right bottom 
of FIG. 16. 
&lt;CHECK BOX&gt; instructs preparation of a table describing each data by adding 
small squares .quadrature. to the head of each data, as shown in Table M 
at the right bottom of FIG. 16. 
Furthermore, &lt;RADIO&gt; instructs preparation of a table describing each data 
by adding small white circles .largecircle. at the head of each data, as 
in Table N shown at the right bottom of FIG. 16. 
Step (S18): &lt;FORM&gt;, &lt;OL TYPE1&gt; - - - are sequentially read from file 
"file1", and &lt;LI&gt;DATA is also read. In this case, NO is selected because 
it is not the end of all rows. If YES is selected, the processing proceeds 
to Step (S22), resulting in the end of Form. 
Step (S19): Preparation is made for adding a tag-wise leading word, that 
is, numeral "1" in this case, to the head of DATA1, and numeral "1" is 
added. 
Step (S20): DATA1 is read. 
Step (S21): Obtain "1 DATA1", and the text is pasted. Then, return to Step 
(S18). 
The processing proceeds in the following manner. 
The processing goes to Step (18), Step (S19), Step (S20), and Step (S21), 
and "2 DATA2" is pasted. And then, the processing repeats the cycle of 
Step (S18), Step (S19), Step (S20), and Step (S21), and "3 DATA3" is 
pasted. Finally, the processing goes to Step (S22). 
In the case of the aforementioned &lt;CHECK BOX&gt;, 
.quadrature. DATA1 
.quadrature. DATA2 
.quadrature. DATA3 
are pasted. In the case of &lt;RADIO&gt;, 
.largecircle. DATA1 
.largecircle. DATA2 
.largecircle. DATA3 
are pasted. Small squares with diagonals, and double circles shown in FIG. 
16 are the marks added appropriately to predetermined data. 
FIG. 17 is a diagram of assistance in explaining the manner in which a 
plurality of templates are specified. In the parameter table 1 shown in 
FIGS. 1, 3 through 5, the column in which the name of template is 
described in a given horizontal row is defined as column A, so that the 
existence of a template name can be checked merely by searching the 
predetermined column A in the parameter table 1. 
Even different templates, however, may have the same parameters for 
instructing replacement processing with a replacement detection key. Take 
as a simple example "Format 1" that is a template. "Format 1" has a 
description of 
"Konnichiwa%C%san, genki desuka", 
and the contents of cell C is "Nakamura". In "Format 2" as another 
template, on the other hand, has a description of 
"%C%san, omedeto" (%C%san, congratulations), 
and the contents of cell C is "Nakamura". 
If there exist "Format 1" and "Format 2", and both "Format 1" and "Format 
2" are processed in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 through 5 as 
described above, parameters for "Format 1" have to be pasted in a 
horizontal row in the parameter table 1, while parameters for "Format 2" 
in another horizontal row. In the most complicated case, the same contents 
of "Nakamura" would have to be described in cell C in each of the 
horizontal rows. When "Nakamura" is changed to "Tanaka", for example, the 
contents of cell C in each of the horizontal rows would have to be 
rewritten separately to "Tanaka". 
In the example shown in FIG. 17, the contents of a certain cell, cell C, 
for example, are used in common to output separate sentences. That is, an 
expression of 
"template identification mark+template name+separation symbol+output 
destination name" 
is used as the rule for this processing, and two or more of this expression 
are described in cells in the same horizontal row of the parameter table 
1. 
Now, assume that mark "!" is used as the template identification mark, 
"Format 1" as the template name, and ":" as the separation symbol, 
respectively. To output data by setting the output destination name as 
"Sentence 1", the above expression will be 
"!Format 1: Sentence 1". 
Similarly, the above expression for outputting data by setting the output 
destination name as "Sentence 2" using "Format 2" will be 
"!Format 2:Sentence 2". 
If the contents of template "Format 1" are 
"Konnichiwa%C%san, genki desuka", 
and the contents of template "Format 2" are 
"%C%san, omedeto", 
then, 
"!Format 1: Sentence 1" 
is described in an appropriate cell (A) in a horizontal row of the 
parameter table 1, 
"!Format 2: Sentence 2" 
is described in an appropriate cell (B), and "Nakamura" is described in 
cell C, as shown in FIG. 17. 
With this expression, when the parameter table 1 is read in Step (S1), as 
shown in the flow chart in FIG. 4 above, 
"!Format 1: Sentence 1" and "!Format 2: Sentence 2" 
are found out, and templates "Format 1" and "Format 2" are obtained, as in 
Step (S2), and 
"Konnichiwa%C%san, genki desuka" for Format 1 and 
"%C%san, omedeto" for Format 2 
are found out. At this time, the contents of cell (C), "Nakamura", are 
pasted, as described above, and 
"Konnichiwa Nakamura san, genki desuka" for Sentence 1 and "Nakamura san, 
omedeto" for Sentence 2 
are output to two separate output destinations. In this case, if the 
contents of cell (C) above are changed to "Tanaka", "Nakamura" in 
Sentences 1 and 2 above is changed to "Tanaka". 
FIG. 18 is a diagram of assistance in explaining the manner in which 
replacement is conducted after conditions for comparison have been 
checked. 
In outputting a desired sentence, it is desired that if an object agrees 
with certain conditions (if it is true), a first sentence should be 
output, and if the object does not agree with the conditions (if it is 
false), a second sentence should be output. 
The example shown in FIG. 18 is to meet such a demand. That is, an 
expression of 
"%comparison column="condition value": true replacement column: false 
replacement column%" 
is used as the rule for processing. 
Now, assume that 
i. template name "Form 10" is described in column A, "Kotei 1" in column B, 
no description is given in column C, and "Basho 1" is described in column 
D of the first horizontal row, 
ii. no description is given in columns A, B and C, "Basho 2" is described 
in column D of the 2nd horizontal row, 
iii. no description is given in column A, "Kotei 3" is described in column 
B, no description is given in column C, and "Basho 3" is described in 
column D of the third horizontal row, and 
iv. no description is given in column A, "Kotei 4" is described in column 
B, no description is given in columns C and D of the fourth horizontal row 
in the parameter table 1, as shown in FIG. 18. 
The terms used in the above rule have the following meanings: 
Comparison row: Row being compared and judged 
"Condition value": Strings for comparing with the contents of a comparison 
row 
True replacement column: Column in which strings of characters to be 
replaced when the result of comparison between a comparison column and the 
condition value is true (equal) are registered. 
False replacement column: Column in which strings to be replaced when the 
result of comparison between a comparison column and the condition value 
is false (not equal) are registered. As described in reference to FIG. 7 
above, descriptions may include replacement columns suffixed by + or -. 
Replacement column + (Ex.: D+): To be replaced by the contents of the 
replacement column in the next row (Ex.: column D). If the replacement 
column is in the final row, it is replaced by the contents of the 
replacement column in the leading row (Ex.: column D). 
Replacement column - (Ex.: B-): To be replaced by the contents of the 
replacement column in the preceding row (Ex.: column B). If the 
replacement column is in the leading row, it is replaced by the contents 
of the replacement column in the leading row (Ex.: column B). 
In the above example, assume that a description of 
"Kyo no shigoto wa %B=" ": B-:B% de okonai, Basho wa %D=" ": D+:D% desu" 
is given in a template. 
In the first row in the parameter table 1, 
(a) column B is false because it is not equal to empty (non-description), 
and therefore the contents of column B, that is, "Kotei 1" is replaced, 
and 
(b) column D is false because it is not equal to empty (non-description), 
and therefore the contents of column D, that is, "Basho 1" is replaced. 
In the second row in the parameter table 1, 
(c) column B is true because it is equal to empty (non-description), and 
therefore the contents of cell "B-", that is, "Kotei 1" is replaced, and 
(d) column D is false because it is not equal to empty (non-description), 
and therefore the contents of cell "D", that is, "Basho 2" is replaced. 
In the third row in the parameter table 1, 
(e) column B is false, and "Kotei 3" is replaced, and 
(f) column D is false, and "Basho 3" is replaced. 
In the fourth row in the parameter table 1, 
(g) column B is false, and "Kotei 4" is replaced, and 
(h) column D is true, and the contents of cell "D+", that is, "Basho 1" is 
replaced. 
As shown in FIG. 18, from the above results, the first row becomes 
"Kyo no shigoto wa "Kotei 1" de okonai, basho wa "Basho 1" desu". 
(Today's work will be performed in accordance with "Process 1", and the 
site of work is "Site 1".) 
The second row becomes 
"Kyo no shigoto wa "Kotei 1" de okonai, basho wa "Basho 2" desu". 
(Today's work will be performed in accordance with "Process 1", and the 
site of work is "Site 2".) 
The third row becomes 
"Kyo no shigoto wa "Kotei 3" de okonai, basho wa "Basho 3" desu". 
(Today's work will be performed in accordance with "Process 3", and the 
site of work is "Site 3".) 
The fourth row becomes 
"Kyo no shigoto wa "Kotei 4" de okonai, basho wa "Basho 1" desu". 
(Today's work will be performed in accordance with "Process 4", and the 
site of work is "Site 1".) 
FIG. 19 shows the flow chart of processing shown in FIG. 18. 
Step (S23): Input data in one row of the parameter table 1. 
Step (S24): Check to see if the data is described. If the data is not 
described, the processing is ended. 
Step (S25): Check to see if the row in question has any template 
designation. 
Step (S26): If any, input that template. 
Step (S27): Retrieve cells in that row. 
Step (S28): Check to see if there are any corresponding cells. 
Step (S29): Fetch the value of the cell being judged. 
Step (S30): Compare the fetched cell value with the condition value. 
Step (S31): Check to see if the comparison result is true or false. 
Step (S32): If true, fetch the true replacement column. 
Step (S33): If false, fetch the false replacement column. 
Step (S34): Check to see if the column in question has a + or - symbol. 
Step (S35): Check to see if the mark is + or -. 
Step (S36): Check to see if the current row is the final row. 
Step (S37): Check to see if the current row is the leading row. 
Step (S38): Replace with the cell value in the next row. 
Step (S39): Replace with the cell value in the leading row. 
Step (S40): Replace with the cell value in the leading row. 
Step (S41): Replace with the cell value in the preceding row. 
Step (S42): Replace with the cell value in the current row. 
In this invention, the contents of a cell is checked in Step (S9) to see if 
the contents have a file name, etc., or a tag or extension. Based on the 
check results, various types of access processing are conducted in Step 
(S11), according to the replacement detection keys. 
Various types of processing as described in reference to FIGS. 10 through 
19 above are performed in Steps (S12) through (S13) after classifying them 
into various types of corresponding access processing in Step (S11), 
except for simple replacement processing, such as ".about.@**@.about." or 
".about.%**%.about.". 
In connection with this, tags and extensions in HTML language will be 
outlined in the following, though they have already been described briefly 
in relation to the translated template contents 3 shown in FIG. 1. 
As is well known, HTML language is a language to allow a WWW browser to 
display information on the computer screen. 
Tags are used in HTML language to define the rules for displaying 
information, usually described by enclosing a character or string with &lt; 
and &gt;. In the following, some tags are shown. 
&lt;HTML&gt; - - - &lt;/HTML&gt;: Denotes that the enclosed portion " - - - " is HTML 
language. 
&lt;HEAD&gt; - - - &lt;/HEAD&gt;: Denotes that the enclosed portion is a portion in 
which document information is stated. 
&lt;BODY&gt; - - - &lt;/BODY&gt;: Denotes that the enclosed portion is the contents 
displayed by the browser. 
&lt;TITLE&gt; - - - &lt;/TITLE&gt;: Denotes that the enclosed portion is the title 
displayed on the title bar of a window. 
&lt;H&gt; - - - &lt;/H&gt;: Denotes that document is displayed in the font (bold) and 
point size specified in the enclosed portion; &lt;H1&gt; being the maximum point 
size and &lt;H6&gt; the minimum size. 
&lt;UL&gt; - - - &lt;/UL&gt;: Used to create an unnumbered list. 
&lt;LI&gt;: Denotes LISTITEM, prefixed with .circle-solid., usually described 
between &lt;UL&gt; and &lt;/UL&gt;. 
(Ex.) &lt;UL&gt; (Display result) 
&lt;LI&gt; Tokyo .circle-solid.Tokyo 
&lt;LI&gt;Osaka .circle-solid.Osaka 
&lt;LII&gt;Nagoya .circle-solid.Nagoya 
&lt;/UL` 
&lt;BR&gt;: Denotes LINE FEED. 
&lt;HR&gt;: Denotes adding a horizontal line. 
&lt;IMG SRC="front.gif"&gt;:Image data is read from a front.gif file for display 
on the screen. 
Typical extensions are as follows: 
______________________________________ 
file.txt Text file 
file.doc Document file (for word processing) 
file.csv Table file separated by commas 
file.gif Graphic file 
file.jpg Graphic file (image-compressible) 
file.dxf Drawing file (Auto CAD's CAD file) 
file.c Source file written in C language 
file.cpp Source file written in C++ language 
file.exe Excutable file 
file.class Part excutable file for JAVA language 
file.for Source file written in FORTRAN language 
file.java Source file written in JAVA language 
file.html Source file written in HTML language 
file.BAT Batch file 
______________________________________ 
Industrial Applicability 
As described above, this invention provides templates having a description 
for performing replacement processing using replacement detection keys, 
and a parameter table having multiple-dimensional coordinates in which 
various parameters used in the templates are described. This enables the 
contents of the parameters to be used from the viewpoints of multiple 
dimensions, thus making it easy to use expressions, such as "B+" and "B-" 
described above, or expressions that identify a rectangle, such as 
"B1:C2". 
This invention is adapted to impart to replacement detection keys meanings 
for coping with specific processing, and meanings for coping with as many 
types as possible of specific processing by adding tags and extensions. 
This makes it possible to conduct not only simple replacement processing 
but also more complicated processing, such as replacement conducted after 
conditions have been checked. 
Furthermore, this invention makes it possible to implement a manuscript 
text composition system as described above using programs for operating 
the computer; and the programs can be stored in various appropriate 
program storage media for storing them.