JP2975889B2 - Document layout editing device, document layout editing method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a document layout editing device, a document layout editing method, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a document is created, in order to accurately convey the contents, not only the contents themselves, but also the appearance is required. Therefore, it is important to lay out sentences and figures on paper (or a display screen) as appropriate, and to edit the layout in a beautiful appearance.

Conventionally, in a document creation apparatus such as a word processor or desktop publishing (DTP), a user himself / herself edits a layout by empirical know-how and trial and error with reference to layout examples existing in the world. Therefore, there is a problem that the layout editing requires excellent sensitivity and skill of the user, and also requires a considerable work time even with a skilled user.

In recent years, with the spread of personal computers, layout editing has become increasingly important in fields such as electronic mail communication, the Internet, and electronic publishing. In such a field, users who are skilled in layout editing are rather rare, and inexperienced users are common. Therefore, it is required that even such an inexperienced user can easily perform excellent layout editing in a short time.

[0005] In some cases, it is desired to change the impression received from a layout edited document that has already been created. For example, there is a case where a layout-edited document that feels “casual” is to be re-edited so as to feel “formal”. In such a case, a user who is unskilled in layout editing is often confused without knowing how to re-edit the layout.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus which is designed so that an impression received from layout editing can be easily adjusted in accordance with a user's subtle sensitivity. It is to change automatically by operation.
More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a document layout editing apparatus capable of editing such a layout, a document layout editing method, and a storage medium storing the method in the form of computer software.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, layout editing is performed by resetting document components of a layout-edited document in accordance with a change in the level of a plurality of impression words. The main point is to make changes.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document component analyzing unit which analyzes a logical structure of a document whose layout has been edited and whose layout is to be changed, divides the logical structure into constituent units, and analyzes the document constituent elements of each constituent unit. (5), a sentiment database (6) storing document components defined by a plurality of preset impression word levels, and a document component of a document whose layout editing is changed by searching the sentiment database. An impression word level selection unit (7) for selecting the level of each impression word to be performed, an impression word change unit (8) for receiving a change in the level of each impression word selected by the impression word level selection unit, and a sensitivity database are searched. A document component selecting unit (9) for selecting a document component corresponding to each impression word whose level has been changed via the impression word changing unit, and a layout divided by the document component analyzing unit. A document layout editing unit (10) for changing the document component to the document component selected by the document component selection unit and resetting the document component for each component unit of the document to be edited; Make a summary.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document component analyzing unit which analyzes a logical structure of a document whose layout has been edited and whose layout is to be changed, divides the logical structure into constituent units, and analyzes document constituent elements of each constituent unit. (5) and the document component are:
It is provided with an impression word / document component correspondence dictionary which stores a document component specified by a plurality of preset impression word levels as a format to be set for each component unit of the document upon layout editing. The sentiment database (6) and the impression words are those obtained by unifying impressions felt from a document whose layout has been edited by a simple and abstract linguistic expression. And an impression word level selection unit (7) for selecting the level of each impression word corresponding to the document component of the document whose layout editing is to be changed, and the level of each impression word selected by the impression word level selection unit are displayed. Display part (4)
And an impression word changing section (8) for receiving a change in the level of each impression word selected by the impression word level selecting section, and a search for an impression word / document component correspondence dictionary provided in the sensitivity database.
A document component selecting unit (9) for selecting a document component corresponding to each impression word whose level has been changed via the impression word changing unit, and a document for changing layout editing divided by the document component analyzing unit. A document layout editing unit (10) for changing layout editing by changing the document component to the document component selected by the document component selection unit and resetting the document component for each configuration unit. This is the gist.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for analyzing a logical structure of a document whose layout has been edited and for which layout editing is to be changed, dividing the document into constituent units, and analyzing document constituent elements of each constituent unit. Processing for storing a document component defined by a plurality of impression word levels determined, processing for selecting the level of each impression word corresponding to the document component of the document for which layout editing is changed, and each selected impression A process for receiving a change in the word level, a process for selecting a document component corresponding to each impression word whose level has been changed, and a selection of a document component for each component unit of the document for which layout editing is to be changed It is a gist of the present invention that the processing includes a process of changing the document component and setting it again.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for analyzing a logical structure of a document whose layout has been edited and whose layout is to be changed, dividing the document into constituent units, and analyzing document constituent elements of each constituent unit. An element is a format to be set for each structural unit of a document in layout editing, and an impression word / document component storing a document component defined by a plurality of preset impression word levels. The processing with the corresponding dictionary and the impression word is that the impression felt from the layout edited document is unified with a simple and abstract linguistic expression, and the impression word / document component correspondence dictionary is searched. A process of selecting the level of each impression word corresponding to the document component of the document whose layout editing is to be changed, a process of displaying the level of each selected impression word, and a process of displaying each impression word. And the process of accepting the change of the bell,
A process of searching the impression word / document component correspondence dictionary and selecting a document component corresponding to each impression word whose level has been changed, and a process of selecting a document component for which layout editing is changed,
The gist of the invention is to provide a process of changing the layout editing by changing the document component to the selected document component and resetting it.

The gist of the invention described in claim 6 is that the document layout editing method described in claim 4 or 5 is stored in the form of computer software. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when a layout-completed document component is set corresponding to an impression word, another document component is set and the layout is changed without changing a specific document component. That is the gist.

According to the present invention, when a layout-completed document component is set corresponding to an impression word, another document component is set without changing a specific document component. The main point is to change.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the document layout editing method according to the eighth aspect is stored in the form of computer software.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of a document layout editing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

The document layout editing apparatus 1 includes a document input unit 2, a storage unit 3, a display unit 4, a document component analysis unit 5, a sensitivity database 6, a document component → impression word conversion unit 7, an impression word change unit 8, It comprises an impression word → document component conversion unit 9 and a document layout editing unit 10.

The document input unit 2 is used by a user of the document layout editing apparatus 1 to input a layout-edited document imported from outside. The document layout editing apparatus 1 changes the layout editing of the captured document according to the user's sensitivity.

The storage section 3 comprises a readable and writable semiconductor memory device, a magnetic memory device, a magneto-optical memory device and the like. The storage unit 3 stores the layout-edited document (hereinafter, referred to as the document) input via the document input unit 2.
A layout-edited document) and a layout-edited document created by the document layout editing unit 10 (hereinafter, referred to as a re-layout edited document) are stored.

The display section 4 comprises a display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display. And the display unit 4
Is a document to be laid out or a document to be laid out again, stored in the storage unit 3, or a document component →
The level (degree) of each impression word selected by the impression word conversion unit 7 or the level of each impression word changed via the impression word change unit 8 is displayed.

The document component analysis unit 5 analyzes the logical structure of the layout-edited document stored in the storage unit 3, divides the document into configuration units, and analyzes the document components of each configuration unit. By the way, a document consisting only of a document that has not been set for document formatting such as indentation and centering, font type and size of characters, and has not been subjected to layout editing is a plain document (or plain text or original text). Document, manuscript document). FIG. 2 shows an example of a plain document.

By analyzing the logical structure of a plain document, the plain document can be divided into constituent units. Here, the logical structure of a document refers to the structure of a document that is assembled by constituent units (logical attributes) such as a document creation date, a creation department, a creator, a title, a subtitle, a headline, and a body. FIG. 3 shows the result of analyzing the logical structure of the plain document shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows the result of dividing the constituent units of the plain document analyzed in FIG.

In order to perform layout editing, it is necessary to analyze the logical structure of a document, divide it into constituent units, and set document constituent elements for each constituent unit. Here, the document constituent element is a format to be set for each constituent unit of the document when editing the layout, and specifically, as shown in FIG. The font type and size, the title, the headline, the spacing between the text, the top and bottom margins of the paper, and the like. In this specification, the document components are also referred to as explanatory words. Each document component has a plurality of categories, and one of the categories is used.

No document component is set for each component unit of the plain document. Conversely, a document in which the document component of each structural unit is not set is a plain document.

The sensibility database 6 comprises a readable semiconductor storage device, a magnetic storage device, a magneto-optical storage device, and the like. The sensibility database 6 stores document components defined by a plurality of preset impression word levels. In other words, the sensibility database 6 includes a dictionary in which the level of each impression word is associated with a document component (hereinafter referred to as an impression word / document component correspondence dictionary).

Here, the impression word is obtained by unifying the impression felt from a document whose layout has been edited by a simple and abstract linguistic expression, for example, “bright (brightness)”.
"Dark""practical(practical)""impractical""warm(warmth)""cold""powerful(powerful)""delicate"
It refers to words such as "flashy", "sober", "innovative (innovative)", and "old-fashioned".

By using such a plurality of impression words and individually specifying the level of each impression word, a subtle impression felt from a layout-edited document can be specifically expressed. For example, when the level of each impression word is set to three levels of “1” to “3”,
The level of "brightness" is "1", the level of "practicality" is "3", the level of "warmth" is "3", the level of "power" is "1", and the level of "flashy" Is designated as “2” and the level of “innovativeness” is designated as “1”.

FIG. 6 shows an example of an impression word / document component correspondence dictionary provided in the sensibility database 6. In this example, since the six impression words described above are used and the levels are changed in three stages, the combinations are 729 (= 3 ⁶ ) types. Also, the difference between the combination of all the impression word examples whose level is “1” and the combination of only the novelty level of “2” is the only difference between the categories used for title modification and headline modification. Has become. See FIG. 5 for title decoration and heading decoration.

Incidentally, the level of each impression word is a function of the corresponding document component. That is, the level of an arbitrary impression word corresponds to the sum total of the scores of the categories used for each document component corresponding to the impression word.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, document components of the impression word "brightness" include title font type, title size, title modification, and the like. As described with reference to FIG. 5, the categories of title font types include Mincho and Gothic. A score is set for each category of each document component corresponding to each impression word. For example, corresponding to "brightness",
The score for the Mincho font of the title font type is set to 3.5, and the score for the Gothic font is set to 5.5.

Which category to use in each document component is determined by the level of the impression word. For example, when the “brightness” level is “1”, the title font type is Mincho type, and when the “brightness” level is “3”, the title font type is gothic type. .

The “brightness” level corresponds to the sum of the scores of the categories used for the corresponding document components (title font type, title size, title modification,...).

Here, the six impression words (brightness,
Practicality, warmth, strength, flashiness, novelty)
The level of “brightness” is La and the level of “practicality” is L
b, the level of “warmth” is denoted by Lc, the level of “power” is denoted by Ld, the level of “flashy” is denoted by Le, and the level of “innovativeness” is denoted by Lf. And the level of each impression word (La ~
It is assumed that Lf) is set in three stages of “1” to “3”.

Each document component corresponding to La (title font type, title size, title modification,...)
, The score of the category used for the title font type is represented by ψa (A), the score of the category used for the title size is represented by ψa (B), the score of the category used for the title decoration is represented by ψa (C), and so on. Similarly, the score of the category used for the title font type corresponding to Lb is described as ψb (A), and the score of the category used for the title size is described as ψb (B).

Then, La is the sum of the scores of the categories used for the corresponding document components (= ψa (A) + ψa
(B) + ψa (C) +...) Is multiplied by a weighting coefficient Wa for normalizing the level into three levels. Similarly, Lb
Also, weight coefficients Wb to Wf are set for .about.Lf in order to normalize the levels into three levels.

As a result, La to Lf are given by the following equations (1) to (6).
Represented by La = (ψa (A) + ψa (B) + ψa (C) + ...) Wa (1) Lb = (ψb (A) + ψb (B) + ψb (C) + ...) Wb ... (2) Lc = (Ψc (A) + ψc (B) + ψc (C) + ...) Wc ... (3) Ld = (ψd (A) + ψd (B) + ψd (C) + ...) Wd ... (4) Le = (ψe (A) + ψe (B) + ψe (C) + ...) We (5) Lf = (ｆf (A) + ψf (B) + ψf (C) + ...) Wf ... (6) Document component → impression word The conversion unit 7 converts the document components of the layout-edited document analyzed by the document component analysis unit 5 into a plurality of impression words each having a designated level. That is, the document component → impression word conversion unit 7 searches the impression word / document component correspondence dictionary provided in the affective database 6 and selects the level of each impression word corresponding to the document component of the layout-edited document.

The impression word changing section 8 converts a document component to an impression word conversion section in accordance with a layout editing execution instruction given by a user of the document layout editing apparatus 1 using an instruction device (not shown) such as a keyboard and a mouse. The display unit 4 displays the level of each impression word corresponding to the document component of the selected layout-edited document 7. And the impression word changing unit 8
Accepts a change in the level of each impression word performed by the user using the pointing device after seeing the instruction on the display unit 4.

The impression word → document component conversion unit 9 converts each impression word whose level has been changed via the impression word change unit 8 into a document component. In other words, the impression word → document component conversion unit 9 searches the impression word / document component correspondence dictionary provided in the sensibility database 6, and obtains a document corresponding to each impression word whose level has been changed via the impression word change unit 8. Select the components.

The document layout editing unit 10 converts the document components of the layout-edited document stored in the storage unit 3 into impression words → documents for each structural unit analyzed by the document component analyzing unit 5. Change to the document component selected by the component conversion unit 9 and set again. Thus, by changing the document components of the layout-edited document,
The layout-edited document is re-edited to create a layout-edited document.

Next, the operation of the document layout editing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1, the layout-edited document input by the user via the plain document input unit 2 is stored in the storage unit 3. Then, the layout-edited document stored in the storage unit 3 is displayed on the screen of the display unit 4.

In S2, the logical structure of the document to be laid out stored in the storage unit 3 is analyzed by the document component analysis unit 5, and the document component analysis unit 5 divides the document into constituent units, and the document components of each constituent unit are analyzed. You.

In S 3, the dictionary for impression words / document components provided in the sensitivity database 6 is searched by the document component → impression word conversion unit 7, and the document configuration of the layout-edited document analyzed by the document component analysis unit 5. The level of each impression word corresponding to the element is selected.

In S4, the user uses the pointing device,
An execution instruction to change the layout editing of the layout-edited document is issued. Then, as shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10, the table showing the impression words corresponding to the document components of the layout-edited document selected by the document component → impression word conversion unit 7 and their levels are changed as shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. It is displayed on the screen of the display unit 4 by the unit 8. 9 shows an example using a radar chart, and FIG. 10 shows an example using a slider. In this example, the “brightness” level is “1”,
"Practicality" level is "3", "Warmness" level is "3", "Powerful" level is "1", "Fancy" level is "2", "Novelty" level Is selected as “1”. When the user who sees the display on the display unit 4 changes the level of each impression word using the pointing device, the impression word changing unit 8
The designation of the level of each impression word is accepted. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 9 or FIG.
Change it to something like "1".

In S 5, the impression word / document component correspondence dictionary provided in the sensibility database 6 is searched by the impression word → document component conversion unit 9, and each impression word whose level has been changed via the impression word change unit 8 is retrieved. The corresponding document component is selected.

In step S6, the document layout editing unit 10 creates a re-layout edited document based on the document components selected by the impression word → document component conversion unit 9. The created relayout edited document is stored in the storage unit 3. Then, the relayout edited document stored in the storage unit 3 is displayed on the screen of the display unit 4.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a layout-edited document. FIG. 12 shows an example of a re-layout edited document created by re-layout editing the layout-edited document shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained. (1) The document component of the document whose layout editing is to be changed (the document to be edited) is analyzed by the document component analyzing unit 5. Corresponding to the analyzed document component, the document component → impression word conversion unit 7 searches the impression word / document component correspondence dictionary provided in the sensibility database 6 and selects a plurality of corresponding impression word levels. . The level of each of the selected impression words is displayed on the display unit 4 by the impression word changing unit 8. The user who sees the display changes the level of each impression word individually via the impression word changing unit 8 according to his / her sensitivity. The impression word / document component correspondence dictionary provided in the sensibility database 6 is searched by the impression word → document component conversion unit 9 corresponding to the changed level of each impression word, and the corresponding document component is selected. The layout editing of the layout-edited document is changed by the document layout editing unit 10 according to the selected document component.

(2) The user can freely change the level of each impression word using the pointing device while looking at each impression word displayed on the screen of the display unit 4. Here, each impression word is set in advance, and the user simply changes the level. Therefore, even an inexperienced user in layout editing can change the level of each impression word without hesitation.

(3) Even a user who is unskilled in layout editing sees the level of each impression word corresponding to the document component of the layout-edited document displayed on the display unit 4 to obtain an impression received from the layout-edited document. Can be accurately analyzed and evaluated. Then, in order to realize the layout editing desired by the user, it is possible to clearly recognize which impression word level should be changed and how. For example, if you want to re-edit the layout of a document that has been edited to feel "casual", so that it feels "formal", lower the levels of "flashiness" and "innovativeness" It is easy to see that the level of "sex" should be increased.

(4) From the above (1) to (3), the impression received from the layout editing can be automatically changed by a simple operation according to the user's subtle sensibility. By the way, if the created re-layout edited document is different from the expected one, the level of the impression word is changed again, and the re-layout edited document is created again.
By repeating this operation, even a user unskilled in layout editing can perform desired layout editing by cut and try.

The above embodiment may be modified as described below, and the same operation and effect can be obtained in such a case. (1) When the document layout editing unit 10 changes and resets the document components for each structural unit of the layout-edited document, the specific document components are not changed and are left unchanged. Can be set.
For example, when the text font type in the layout-edited document is “Mincho”, an impression word → document component conversion unit 9
Even if the body font type selected by the user is "Gothic", the body font type in the re-layout edited document can be left as "Mincho".

(2) The operation of the document layout editing apparatus is replaced with software processing in a computer. (3) The present invention is applied to layout editing of a document including not only a sentence but also a chart.

(4) The level of the impression word is not a whole number but a real number. Although the embodiments have been described above, technical ideas other than the claims that can be grasped from the embodiments will be described below along with their effects.

(A) In the document layout editing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, a storage section (3) for storing a document whose layout editing is to be changed and a document created by the document layout editing section (10). Document layout editing device equipped with

In this way, while performing necessary processing,
Each document can be reliably held. (B) In the document layout editing device of (a),
A document layout editing device including a display unit (4) for displaying a document stored in the storage unit (3) or the level of each impression word selected by the impression word level selection unit.

In this way, the user can give a reliable processing instruction while looking at the display on the display unit. By the way, in this specification, a storage medium is any type that can store computer software, such as a readable and writable semiconductor storage device, a magnetic storage device storage medium, and a magneto-optical storage device storage medium. May be. Specifically, semiconductor ROM, floppy disk,
It includes a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a phase change disk, a magnetic tape, and the like.

[0056]

According to the invention as set forth in any one of the first to third and seventh aspects, the impression received from layout editing is automatically changed by a simple operation in accordance with the delicate sensibility of the user. It is possible to provide a document layout editing device capable of performing the above.

According to the invention described in any one of the fourth, fifth, and eighth aspects, the impression received from the layout editing is automatically changed by a simple operation in accordance with the delicate sensibility of the user. Can be provided.

According to the sixth or ninth aspect of the present invention, the impression received from the layout editing can be automatically changed by a simple operation in accordance with the delicate sensibility of the user. A storage medium storing the editing method in the form of computer software can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

4 display unit 5 document component analysis unit 6 sentiment database 7 document component as impression word level selection unit → impression word conversion unit 8 impression word change unit 9 impression word as document component selection unit → Document component conversion unit 10 Document layout editing unit

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Koji Takemura 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-4-14170 (JP, A) JP-A-1- 169660 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06F 17/21-17/27

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A document component analyzing unit (5) for analyzing a logical structure of a document whose layout has been edited and for which layout editing is to be changed, dividing the document into constituent units, and analyzing document constituent elements of each constituent unit, and an impression word. Kansei database (6) storing document components specified for each structural unit in the unit document according to the level of the document, and impression words corresponding to the document components of the document whose layout editing is changed by searching the Kansei database An impression word level selection unit (7) for selecting a level; an impression word change unit (8) for receiving a change in the level of the impression word selected by the impression word level selection unit; A document component selection unit (9) for selecting a document component corresponding to an impression word whose level has been changed via a document, and a document for changing layout editing divided by the document component analysis unit For each structural unit, the document components, the document layout editing unit to reconfigure and change to the selected document elements of a document component selection unit (10) and the document layout editing device equipped with. 2. A document component analysis unit (5) for analyzing a logical structure of a document whose layout has been edited and for which layout editing is to be changed, dividing the document into constituent units, and analyzing document constituent elements of each constituent unit. An element is a format that should be set for each structural unit of a document when editing a layout, and an impression word or document that stores document components specified for each structural unit in a unit document according to the level of the impression word The sentiment database (6) provided with the document component correspondence dictionary and the impression words are obtained by unifying the impression felt from the layout-edited document by a simple and abstract linguistic expression, and the impression provided by the sentiment database An impression word level selection unit (7) for searching a word / document component correspondence dictionary and selecting an impression word level corresponding to the document component of the document whose layout editing is to be changed; A display unit (4) for displaying the level of the impression word selected by the impression word level selection unit; an impression word change unit (8) for receiving a change in the level of the impression word selected by the impression word level selection unit; A document component selection unit (9) for searching a provided impression word / document component correspondence dictionary and selecting a document component corresponding to the impression word whose level has been changed via the impression word changing unit; The document whose layout editing is changed by changing the document component to the document component selected by the document component selecting unit and resetting the document component for each structural unit of the document whose layout editing is changed by the division. A document layout editing device comprising a layout editing unit (10). 3. A process for analyzing the logical structure of a document whose layout has been edited and for which layout editing is to be changed, dividing the document into constituent units, analyzing the document constituent elements of each constituent unit, and the level of impression words in the unit document. A process for storing document components specified for each structural unit, a process for selecting an impression word level corresponding to a document component of a document for which layout editing is to be changed, and a process for changing the level of the selected impression word. Acceptance processing, processing to select the document component corresponding to the impression word whose level has been changed, and changing the document component to the selected document component for each structural unit of the document for which layout editing is to be changed A document layout editing method comprising the steps of: 4. A process of analyzing a logical structure of a document whose layout has been edited and of which layout editing is to be changed, dividing the document into constituent units, and analyzing document constituent elements of each constituent unit. It is provided with an impression word / document component correspondence dictionary that stores the document components that are specified for each component unit in the unit document according to the level of the impression word that is the format to be set for each component unit of the document Processing and impression words mean that impressions felt from a document whose layout has been edited are unified with a simple and abstract linguistic expression, and a dictionary for impression words and document components is searched and layout editing is changed. Selecting the level of the impression word corresponding to the document component of the document to be processed, displaying the level of the selected impression word, and receiving a change in the level of the selected impression word Processing, searching the impression word / document component correspondence dictionary, selecting the document component corresponding to the impression word whose level has been changed, and processing the document for each structural unit of the document for which layout editing is to be changed. A document layout editing method comprising: changing a component to a selected document component and resetting it to change layout editing.