Patent ID: 8713430

Claim:
A layout method for generating a document using a template, the layout method comprising: setting a strut between first and second areas; specifying a current width of the first and second areas which are connected by the strut, the current width being variable; specifying a preferred width of the first and second areas which are connected by the strut; calculating a value which is half of the square of the difference between the preferred width and the current width for each of the first and second areas; specifying an edge whose position can be changed; determining, when an edge of the first area is specified, a position of the edge of the first area such that a sum of the calculated value for the first area and the calculated value for the second area is a minimum value; determining a position of the first and second areas based on the determined position of the edge of the first area; setting a font size synchronization constraint to the first and second areas; and changing, when a font size of the first area is changed from a first font size to a second font size and the font size synchronization constraint is set, the font size of the second area to the second font size.