JP4192457B2 - Database construction apparatus, database construction method, database construction program, recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a database construction device, a database construction method, a database construction program, and a recording medium that can easily construct and update a database.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when a catalog creation request is received from a catalog creation requester (hereinafter referred to as a requester), a printer can create a catalog using a system to which DTP (Desktop Publishing) is applied. Has been done. For example, product information such as images of products to be listed in a catalog, documents such as product names, models, dimensions, and product introductions are stored in advance in the product database. Product information is read from the product database using a DTP computer, the layout of images and documents is determined, edited, and a sample is printed. Then, the client confirms the printed sample (layout, typographical error, etc.), and if there is a correction content, the correction content is entered in the sample. The printer modifies the data on the DTP by the DTP computer in accordance with the correction content entered in the sample. Then, the client confirms the revised sample printed matter, and if there is no change, prints and creates a catalog.
[0003]
On the other hand, the above-described product database is continuously used with information such as new products added at the next catalog production. Therefore, when the data on the DTP is corrected by the DTP computer, the printer needs to update the product database by reflecting the corrected content in the product database according to the correction content entered in the sample by the client. However, this product database update operation was performed by the printer to update the product database from the computer for the product database based on the correction contents entered in the sample.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the prior art, the printer performs the update operation of the data on the DTP and the update operation of the product database based on the correction contents of the sample entered by the client, that is, double input. It is necessary to perform work, and these update operations are a heavy burden on the printer, and the update operation takes a lot of time.
In addition, it is necessary to reflect the same update contents as the data update on the DTP for the product database, but there are cases where the product database cannot be reliably updated due to an operator error or the like. .
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, the purpose of which is to construct a database by creating a data structure file from a layout structure file, a database construction method, a database construction program, It is to provide a recording medium.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a database construction system for constructing a database from an electronic document in which elements constituting an electronic document are laid out in advance, and a rule for designating elements to be extracted from the electronic document Element name regularity defining means for reading information from a rule database for setting information or storing rule information in advance, Element name regularity specifying means for setting item information to be an item of a database for elements extracted from the electronic document, Based on the rule information specified by the element name regularity defining means, an element is extracted from the electronic document, and the extracted element is output as database information in association with item information set by the element name regularity specifying means. And a component extraction means.
[0007]
Further, the present invention is the above-described database construction device, further comprising element relation specifying means for generating link information for associating a plurality of elements as one group among the elements, wherein the constituent element extracting means includes the element The elements extracted from the electronic document are associated based on the link information generated by the relationship specifying means, and the item information is output in association with the item information.
According to the present invention, in the above-described database construction device, the electronic document includes information relating to a product catalog.
[0008]
Further, the present invention is a database construction method for constructing a database from an electronic document in which elements constituting an electronic document are laid out in advance, setting rule information for designating elements to be extracted from the electronic document, Item information to be database items is set in the elements extracted from the electronic document, the elements are extracted from the electronic document based on the rule information, and the extracted elements are extracted from the electronic document based on the item information. Are output as database information in association with each other.
[0009]
Further, the present invention is a database construction program for constructing a database from an electronic document in which elements constituting the electronic document are laid out in advance, and setting rule information for designating elements to be extracted from the electronic document; A step of setting item information to be an item of a database in an element extracted from the electronic document, a step of extracting an element from the electronic document based on the rule information, and an extracted element based on the item information And causing the computer to execute the step of associating the elements with the items and outputting them as database information.
[0010]
The present invention is also a computer-readable recording medium that records a database construction program for constructing a database from an electronic document in which elements constituting the electronic document are laid out in advance, and specifies an element to be extracted from the electronic document Setting rule information for the step, setting item information as items of a database in an element extracted from the electronic document, extracting an element from the electronic document based on the rule information, A database construction program for causing a computer to execute the step of outputting the extracted elements as database information in association with the elements based on the item information is recorded.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a database construction device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case where a data structure file is generated from an electronic document that is a layout structure file of a product catalog as shown in FIG. 2 and a database is constructed will be described. The data structure file here is a file that stores data that can be expressed by giving meaning to the element, designating the meaning, and includes DB, XML (extensible Markup Language), and the like. The layout structure file is a file for storing data that can designate and represent a position (layout) that represents an element, and includes DTP data, HTML (HyperText Markup Language), and the like.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a database construction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In this figure, an electronic document conversion unit 1 converts an electronic file output from an external device into data in a file format that can be processed by the database construction device, and outputs the converted data to a conversion data analysis unit 2. For example, the electronic document conversion unit 1 converts DTP document data transmitted from the outside into an intermediate file.
[0012]
Here, the intermediate file is a layout structure file, and includes printing data, word processing data, markup language data (HTML (Hypertext) having appearance information when characters, images, graphics, etc. are output on paper or a screen. Markup Language), XML (Extensible Markup Language), and SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language)).
[0013]
The conversion data analysis unit 2 outputs an image based on the intermediate file output from the electronic document conversion unit 1 on the screen of the conversion data display unit 4. On the screen of the conversion data display unit 4, for example, information related to a catalog of office files for collecting documents as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed.
Also, the conversion data analysis unit 2 outputs the intermediate file output from the electronic document conversion unit 1 and the rule information output from the element name regularity definition unit 3 to the component extraction unit 7.
[0014]
The element name regularity definition unit 3 sets rule information for designating elements to be extracted from the electronic document. An example of this rule information is shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, among the rule information, the rule information for characters includes, for example, a typographic condition including at least one of a typeface name, size, color, deformation, and character advance of the character, a line head and a line end. A condition regarding the character position where a character including one or both of them is placed, a condition specifying the relationship between the preceding and following characters or other elements, and a condition specifying the character string contained inside It includes at least one of the conditions related to a certain included character.
In addition, when the object to be extracted is a character, the rule information for the image includes the condition regarding the file information including the condition of one or both of the file name and the file type, and the condition of one or both of the size and resolution of the image. It includes at least one of a condition regarding an image attribute including the condition and a condition regarding a layout attribute including one or both of the image rotation and magnification conditions.
Further, the rule information that is a common condition for characters and images includes a condition regarding a layout area including one or both of the size of the layout area and the frame line.
The element name regularity definition unit 3 has a rule database that stores rule information in advance, and reads the rule information from the rule database as necessary.
[0015]
Also, the elements here are the information that makes up the document such as headers and footers, headings and texts, and illustrations. In the case of product catalogs, in addition to product specifications such as product numbers and prices, Applicable to photographs, figures, logo marks, etc.
The rule information is input by an operator from an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse connected to the outside of the database construction device.
[0016]
The conversion data display unit 4 is a display device, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or a liquid crystal display device.
[0017]
The element relationship specifying unit 5 generates link information that associates each element as one group based on an instruction from an operator input via the input device. The link information is, for example, for explaining a product having information of characters and images in each layout area indicated by reference numerals (a), (b), (c), and (d) in FIG. This is information for associating that the data is. Thereby, which product is an image or a character is associated for each product. The layout area here is an area in which one image or one character string is set.
[0018]
The element name regularity specifying unit 6 sets item information that is an item in the database to elements such as characters and images extracted from the electronic document. This item includes, for example, “product number”, “model”, “dimension”, “price”, and the like.
[0019]
The component extraction unit 7 extracts elements from the electronic document based on the rule information specified by the element name regularity definition unit 3, and sets the extracted element information as item information set by the element name regularity specification unit 6. Corresponding data are output to the component output unit 8 as database information.
In addition, the component extraction unit 7 associates elements extracted from the electronic document based on the link information generated by the element relationship identification unit 5 and associates item information with each other and outputs it as database information.
[0020]
The component output unit 8 is a display device and outputs the database information output from the component extraction unit 7 on the screen. The component output unit 8 may use a display device common to the conversion data display unit 4. The component output unit 8 may be a data output device.
[0021]
Next, the operation of the database construction apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described using the flowcharts of FIGS. First, in FIG. 5, when an electronic document of DTP data is input from the outside (step A1), the electronic document conversion unit 1 converts the input electronic document into an intermediate file (step A2), and the converted intermediate document The file is output to the conversion data analysis unit 2 (step A3).
[0022]
Next, in FIG. 6, when an intermediate file, which is converted data, is input (step B1), the database construction device identifies the component (step B2) and extracts the identified component. (Step B3), the extracted component is output as database information from the component output unit 8 (step B4).
[0023]
Next, the component specifying process of step B2 in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG. The conversion data analysis unit 2 outputs the intermediate file output from the electronic document conversion unit 1 to the conversion data display unit 4 and displays it on the screen (step B21). At this time, for example, the display as shown in FIG.
[0024]
Next, the element name regularity definition unit 3 sets the input rule information when the rule information is input from the operator via the input device.
Next, the element relation specifying unit 5 selects the constituent elements between the layout areas via the input device from the operator, and when the element relation is instructed, the element relation specifying section 5 associates the selected constituent elements ( Step B23). Then, when an element name is designated for each layout area from the operator via the input device, the element name regularity specifying unit 6 sets the designated element name as an item of database information in each layout area. At the same time, the rule information input from the element name regularity definition unit 3 is associated with the item based on an instruction input from the operator via the input device (step B24). When this setting is performed for all layout areas, the process ends (step B25).
[0025]
Next, step B24 in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIG. When the element name is defined for each layout area from the operator via the input device (step B241), the element name regularity specifying unit 6 and the rule information input from the element name regularity defining unit 3 Associate items. Here, when the definition target of the component element name is an image (step B242), rule information for specifying image information is defined (step B243). When the definition target is a character (step B242), the character information is Rule information to be identified is defined (step B244). When the rule information of the data to be extracted is set for all items such as the product image, model, and dimensions, the definition of the component name ends (step B245).
[0026]
The component extraction unit 7 then associates the layout regions with each other based on the instruction from the element relationship identification unit 5 from the data in the intermediate file output from the conversion data analysis unit 2 The element name (item) specified by the element name regularity specifying unit 6 is set for the data in the region, and the data corresponding to the rule information set by the element name regularity defining unit 3 is extracted from the layout region Then, the extracted data is output to the component output unit 8 as database information in association with the element relation and the element name regularity.
[0027]
In the embodiment described above, on the screen of the converted data output device 4 in step A3 of FIG. 5, for example, information related to the product catalog as shown in FIG. 2 is output. Further, when each element constituting the product catalog is displayed as a layout area, each layout area is displayed as a rectangle as shown in FIG.
[0028]
Next, in the element relationship specifying unit 5, when the association between the elements is performed by the component element relationship specifying process in step B23 of FIG. 7, for example, as shown in FIG. The area is highlighted. Here, a case where an image and character information for explaining one group are associated is illustrated.
[0029]
Next, in the element name regularity specifying unit 6, when an item is set for the element name by the element name regularity specifying process of step B24 in FIG. 7, for example, as shown in FIG. It is set and displayed as the item name.
Further, the rule information defined in the element name regularity definition unit 3 is displayed for the font, color, character decoration, and the like of the character to be extracted as shown in FIG. Furthermore, when the component name and the rule information are associated in steps B241 to B245 in FIG. 8, for example, the setting shown in FIG. 10 (h) is set for the item shown in FIG. 10 (f). Is made.
[0030]
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example in which the data extracted by the component extraction unit 7 is made into a database. The data extracted by the component extraction unit 7 is
Data extracted from each associated element is stored as one product data as indicated by reference numeral (i). In addition, the item name defined by the element name regularity specifying unit 6 is set for each element of the product data indicated by the symbol (i) and stored in the corresponding item column of the database.
As described above, a data structure file can be generated from a layout structure file such as a product catalog, and a database can be constructed. If the element in the layout area is an image, the file name of the image is stored in the database.
[0031]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. Here, another embodiment of the association between the elements performed by the element relationship specifying unit 5 will be described.
In this embodiment, the element relationship specifying unit 5 has a relative position associating function for associating a reference layout area, which is a reference layout area, with a layout area corresponding to a relative position condition with respect to the reference layout area. The relative position condition is input by the operator from the input device described above. The relative position condition is a condition for specifying the positional relationship with the layout area to be associated with the reference layout area. For example, the target is linked from the coordinates of the four corners of the rectangle of the reference layout area. This is information for designating the distance and direction to the coordinates of the four corners of the layout area.
[0032]
Next, in this embodiment, an operation in which the element relationship specifying unit 5 associates each element based on the relative position will be described. First, the operator designates a reference layout area, which is a layout area serving as a reference for association, and sets a relative position condition for the reference layout area in the element relation specifying unit 5 via an input device. The element relationship specifying unit 5 searches for a layout area corresponding to the relative position condition with respect to the set reference layout area, and when the corresponding layout area is detected, the detected layout area and the reference layout area are determined. Associate.
[0033]
Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the configuration of the element relationship identification unit 5 in the third embodiment.
In this figure, a relative position information generation unit 51 determines a reference layout area, and uses the relative position information, which is information related to the relative position of the reference layout area to another layout area, for each layout area other than the reference layout area. Generate for.
[0034]
The detection unit 52 detects whether or not a layout area corresponding to the generated relative position information exists even when another layout area is used as a reference.
When the detection unit 52 detects that there is a layout area corresponding to the relative position information even when the detection unit 52 uses another layout area as a reference, the link setting unit 53 displays the reference layout area and the relative position information. Association with the corresponding layout area is performed.
[0035]
Next, the operation of the element relationship specifying unit 5 in this embodiment will be described. Here, a case will be described in which elements are associated for each product in a product catalog on which nine types of lighting fixtures as shown in FIG. 13 are posted.
When the start of the association process is instructed from the above-described input device, the relative position information generating unit 51 of the element relationship specifying unit 5 determines the layout area indicated by the symbol (j) as the reference layout region, and this code (j) Relative position information from the reference layout area to other layout areas is generated for each layout area other than the reference layout area. For example, the relative position information is generated for all layout areas other than the reference layout such as code (k), code (l), code (m), code (p), code (r),. Done in Then, the relative position information generation unit 51 temporarily stores the generated relative position information.
[0036]
When the relative position information is generated, the detection unit 52 detects whether the layout area corresponding to the generated relative position information exists even when another layout area is used as a reference. In this detection, for example, the layout area at the relative position of the code (k) and the code (l) with respect to the reference layout area of the code (j) is based on the layout area in which the image indicated by the code (m) is set. In the case of the layout area, the layout areas indicated by the reference signs (n) and (s) correspond to the layouts at the relative positions of the reference signs (k) and (l) with respect to the reference layout area indicated by the reference sign (j). The relative position information of the area is continuously held.
[0037]
On the other hand, the layout area at the relative position of the reference (r) with respect to the reference layout area of the reference (j) has a relative position when the layout area in which the image indicated by the reference (m) is set as the reference layout area. Since there is no layout area at the same location, the relative position information of the layout area at the relative position of the reference (r) with respect to the reference layout area of the reference (j) is deleted.
[0038]
In this way, when another layout area is set as the reference layout area, if the layout area does not exist at the same relative position from the original reference layout area, the relative position information is deleted, and the original reference layout area is deleted. The relative position information is held when the layout area exists at the same relative position from.
[0039]
When the detection processing by the detection unit 52 is completed for all layout regions, the link setting unit 53 is used as a reference based on the relative position information held when the detection processing by the detection unit 52 is completed. The layout area associated with the layout area corresponding to the relative position information is associated with all layout areas. Thereby, for example, the layout areas of code (j), code (k), and code (l) are associated as one group, and layout areas of code (m), code (n), and code (s) are associated with each other. Associated as a group. Further, with respect to the other layout areas, the layout areas having the same relative positions as the code (j), the code (k), and the code (l) are associated as one group.
[0040]
Through the above-described processing, the nine types of products are associated as a group with respect to the image, model, price, and the like of the lighting fixture shown in FIG.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, when only the layout area indicated by the symbol (t) has different associations in other layout areas, the portions other than the portion indicated by the reference numeral (t) are associated based on the relative position information as the group described above. Processing may be performed, and the portion indicated by reference numeral (t) may be associated by an instruction from the input device described in the first embodiment.
[0041]
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the element relationship specifying unit 5 generates information already associated with each layout area as template link information, and the generated template link information is also generated between other layout areas (or other pages). The same association is performed between the layout areas.
For example, when there are a plurality of pages where layout areas are arranged as shown in FIG. 13, for example, the first page uses the association process of the third embodiment for each product. Association is performed, and template link information is generated based on the relative position between the associated layout regions. If the same layout area is also arranged on the next page, the generated template link information is used to associate the characters such as the image, model, and price of each product on this page as one product. Do.
[0042]
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the configuration of the element relationship identification unit 5 in the fifth embodiment.
In this figure, the link information storage unit 55 stores link information between the layout areas already associated.
The comparison unit 56 reads the link information of the corresponding database information, and compares each element of the read data with each element of the updated database information.
[0043]
Based on the comparison result of the comparison unit 56, the color arrangement unit 57 outputs elements that match the read data element and the updated database information element and elements that do not match using different expression methods. With this different expression method, for example, different colors are set in the layout area and output. The different representation methods may be distinguished by the type of a rectangular line indicating the layout area, or may be distinguished by hatching the layout area.
[0044]
Based on the comparison result of the comparison unit 56, the link setting unit 58 associates the element of the read data with the element that matches the element of the updated database information.
[0045]
Next, the operation of the element relation identification device 5 in this embodiment will be described. The link information storage unit 55 sequentially stores link information between the associated layout areas when the database is constructed. Then, after the database is constructed or in the middle of construction, after the DTP document data is corrected, when an instruction to associate again is input, the comparison unit 56 of the element relation identifying device 5 associates again. According to the instruction, the link information of the database information that has been corrected is read out, each element of the read data is compared with each element of the updated database information, and the comparison result is output to the color arrangement unit 57. .
[0046]
Based on the comparison result of the comparison unit 56, the color arrangement unit 57 sets different colors for the elements in which the read data element and the updated database information element match and the elements that do not match in the layout area. To the link setting unit 58. The link setting unit 58 receives the comparison result of the comparison unit 56 via the color arrangement unit 57, and associates the element of the read data with the element of the updated database information.
[0047]
For example, among the layout areas in FIG. 16 code (u), when the layout area indicated by code (w) is corrected for data on the DTP and the above-described color arrangement processing is performed, as shown in FIG. In addition, among the layout areas in the code (u), the layout area shown in the code (w) is output on the screen with a different color.
This makes it easier for the operator to visually confirm the data in the layout area where the data has been corrected on the DTP.
[0048]
Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the configuration of the element relationship identification unit 5 in the sixth embodiment.
In this figure, an in-rectangular layout area detection unit 510 detects a layout area in a minimum circumscribed rectangle that includes a plurality of layout areas that are already associated. For example, as shown in FIG. 18, the minimum circumscribed rectangle referred to here is indicated by a code (a) that is already associated when the image area and the character region indicated by the code (a) are already associated with each other. This is the smallest rectangle (symbol (e)) outlined including the image area and the character area.
[0049]
The link setting unit 520 associates the layout regions in the minimum circumscribed rectangle detected by the in-rectangular layout region detecting unit 510 with each other.
[0050]
Next, the operation of the element relationship specifying unit 5 in this embodiment will be described. When the image area and the character area indicated by the symbol (a) are already associated with each other, and when the graphic area indicated by the symbol (c) is also associated, the in-rectangular layout area detecting unit 510 receives the input device from the operator. When an instruction for an association process using the minimum circumscribed rectangle is input, a layout area within the minimum circumscribed rectangle including a plurality of layout areas already associated is detected. Here, the layout area within the minimum circumscribed rectangle indicated by reference numeral (e) is detected.
[0051]
When the layout area in the minimum circumscribed rectangle is detected, the link setting unit 520 associates the detected layout areas in the minimum circumscribed rectangle with each other. As a result, the image area indicated by the symbol (A), the character area, and the graphic area indicated by the symbol (C) are associated with each other.
[0052]
When the association in the code (e) is completed, the association process using the minimum circumscribed rectangle is performed also in the other layout areas. As a result, when the image area and the character area indicated by the symbol (b) are already associated with each other, the layout region (the symbol (( F)) is detected, and the graphic area (symbol (d)) existing in the code (f) is also associated with the two layout areas of the already associated code (b).
[0053]
According to the embodiment described above, the printing company is not required to perform the input work twice based on the correction contents of the sample entered by the client, the work load is reduced, and the database is updated. Work time can be reduced.
In addition, it is possible to eliminate an operator's mistake and perform a reliable update operation on the product database.
[0054]
In order to realize the functions of the electronic document conversion unit 1, the conversion data analysis unit 2, the element name regularity definition unit 3, the element relationship specification unit 5, the element name regularity specification unit 6, and the component extraction unit 7 in FIG. 1. These programs may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed to perform database construction processing. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.
[0055]
Further, the “computer system” includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment) if a WWW system is used.
The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” dynamically holds a program for a short time like a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In this case, a volatile memory in a computer system serving as a server or a client in that case, and a program that holds a program for a certain period of time are also included. The program may be a program for realizing a part of the functions described above, and may be a program capable of realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system.
[0056]
The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes design and the like within a scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, rule information for designating an element to be extracted from an electronic document is set, item information to be a database item is set to an element extracted from the electronic document, and an element name Based on the rule information specified by the regularity definition means, elements are extracted from the electronic document, and the extracted elements are associated with item information and output as database information. It is possible to easily construct a database by generating a structured file, and to reduce the burden on the operator.
[0058]
Further, according to the present invention, link information that associates each element as one group is generated, the elements extracted from the electronic document are associated based on the link information, and the item information is associated and output as database information Since it was made to do, the effect which can classify each element for every group and can construct | assemble a database is acquired.
[0059]
Further, according to the present invention, since the electronic document includes information related to the catalog of products, the database information can be generated from the print data in which elements for printing the catalog are laid out. Catalog information can be easily converted into a database.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a database construction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a conversion data display unit 4;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of rule information.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining association between elements;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the database construction device shown in FIG. 1;
6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the database construction device shown in FIG. 1;
7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the database construction device shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the database construction device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example when each element constituting the product catalog is displayed as a layout region. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining setting of association and rule information.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example in which data extracted by the component extraction unit 7 is made into a database.
FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of an element relationship specifying unit 5 in the third embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining association in another embodiment;
FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining association in another embodiment;
FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of an element relationship specifying unit 5 in the fifth embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a fifth embodiment;
FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of an element relationship specifying unit 5 in the sixth embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining an association process using a minimum circumscribed rectangle;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic document conversion part 2 Conversion data analysis part 3 Element name regularity definition part 4 Conversion data display part 5 Element relation specific | specification part 6 Element name regularity specific part 7 Constituent element extraction part 8 Constituent element output part 51 Relative position information generation part 52 Detection unit 53, 58, 520 Link setting unit 55 Link information storage unit 56 Comparison unit 57 Color arrangement unit 510 Intra-rectangular layout area detection unit

Claims (5)

A database construction device for constructing a database from an electronic document in which elements constituting the electronic document are laid out in advance,
An element name regularity defining means for storing rule information for designating elements to be extracted from the electronic document, and reading the rule information from the database;
When an element name is specified for each layout area via the input device, the element name specified for each layout area from the input device is assigned to the electronic document for each specified layout area. An element name regularity specifying unit that is set by associating with the rule information specified by the element name regularity defining unit as item information that is an item in the database for the element extracted from
Based on the rule information specified by the element name regularity defining means, an element is extracted from the electronic document, and the extracted element is associated with item information set by the element name regularity specifying means as database information. Component extraction means for outputting;
Among the elements, element relation specifying means for generating link information that associates a plurality of elements as one group,
The component extraction unit extracts an element from the electronic document based on the link information generated by the element relation specifying unit, associates the extracted element, and associates the item information and outputs it as database information. Has function,
The database construction device
Link information storage means for storing link information between layout areas associated at the time of construction of the database information;
After the database information is constructed or in the middle of construction, when an electronic document is updated in accordance with an instruction from the user and an instruction to perform association is input, the database information modified in accordance with the instruction is input. Comparison means for reading link information from the link information storage means and comparing each element of the read data with each element of the database information output by the component extraction means in response to an instruction from the user When,
Based on the comparison result of the comparison means, a color arrangement means for outputting an element in which the element of the read data matches the element of the updated database information and an element that does not match by different expression methods;
And having
An in-rectangular layout area detecting means for detecting a layout area in a minimum circumscribed rectangle including a plurality of layout areas already associated;
Link setting means for associating each layout area in the minimum circumscribed rectangle detected by the in-rectangular layout area detecting means,
The component extraction means extracts the elements in the layout area associated by the link setting means, associates the extracted elements with item information, and associates the elements in the layout area associated by the link setting means. A database construction device generating the database information. The database construction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic document includes information on a catalog of products. A database construction method in a database construction device for constructing a database from an electronic document in which elements constituting the electronic document are laid out in advance,
The element name regularity defining means of the database construction device,
Having a database for storing rule information for designating elements to be extracted from the electronic document, and reading the rule information from this database;
The element name regularity specifying means of the database construction device,
When an element name is specified for each layout area via the input device, the element name specified for each layout area from the input device is assigned to the electronic document for each specified layout area. Set by associating with the rule information specified by the element name regularity defining means as item information that becomes the item of the database for the element extracted from
Element relation specifying means of the database construction device,
Generating link information associating a plurality of elements as one group among the elements;
The component extraction means of the database construction device,
Based on the rule information specified by the element name regularity defining means, an element is extracted from the electronic document, and the extracted element is associated with item information set by the element name regularity specifying means as database information. and outputs, to extract elements from the electronic document based on the link information generated by the element relation specifying means, with associating the extracted element, and outputs it as database information in association with the item information,
The comparison means of the database construction device is
Link information of database information corresponding to an electronic document to be detected by referring to link information storage means for storing link information between layout areas associated at the time of construction of the database information. Is read from the link information storage means, each element of the read data is compared with each element of the updated database information,
The color arrangement means of the database construction device is
Based on the comparison result of the comparison means, the element of the read data and the element of the updated database information match and the element that does not match are output by different expression methods,
The in-rectangular layout area detecting means of the database construction device,
Find the layout area within the smallest bounding rectangle that contains multiple layout areas already associated,
The link setting means of the database construction device,
Each of the layout regions in the minimum circumscribed rectangle detected by the in-rectangular layout region detecting means is associated with each other,
The component extraction means extracts the elements in the layout area associated by the link setting means, associates the extracted elements with item information, and associates the elements in the layout area associated by the link setting means. A database construction method characterized by generating the database information . A computer for constructing a database from an electronic document in which elements constituting the electronic document are laid out in advance,
An element name regularity defining means for storing rule information for designating elements to be extracted from the electronic document, and reading the rule information from the database;
When an element name is specified for each layout area via the input device, the element name specified for each layout area from the input device is assigned to the electronic document for each specified layout area. Element name regularity specifying means to be set by associating with the rule information specified by the element name regularity defining means as item information to be an item in the database for the element extracted from
Based on the rule information specified by the element name regularity defining means, an element is extracted from the electronic document, and the extracted element is associated with item information set by the element name regularity specifying means as database information. A component extraction unit that outputs and extracts an element from the electronic document based on the link information generated by the element relation specifying unit, associates the extracted element, and associates the item information and outputs the database information ,
Among the elements, element relation specifying means for generating link information that associates a plurality of elements as one group,
A link of database information corresponding to an electronic document to be detected by referring to link information storage means for storing link information between layout areas associated at the time of construction of the database information. Comparison means for reading information from the link information storage means and comparing each element of the read data with each element of the updated database information;
A color arrangement means for outputting, based on the comparison result of the comparison means, an element in which the element of the read data and the element of the updated database information match and an element that does not match by different expression methods;
Intra-rectangular layout area detecting means for detecting a layout area within a minimum circumscribed rectangle that includes a plurality of layout areas already associated,
While functioning as a link setting means for associating each layout area in the minimum circumscribed rectangle detected by the in-rectangular layout area detecting means,
The component extraction means extracts the elements in the layout area associated by the link setting means, associates the extracted elements with item information, and associates the elements in the layout area associated by the link setting means. A database construction program for functioning to generate the database information . A computer for constructing a database from an electronic document in which elements constituting the electronic document are laid out in advance,
An element name regularity defining means for storing rule information for designating elements to be extracted from the electronic document, and reading the rule information from the database;
When an element name is specified for each layout area via the input device, the element name specified for each layout area from the input device is assigned to the electronic document for each specified layout area. Element name regularity specifying means to be set by associating with the rule information specified by the element name regularity defining means as item information to be an item in the database for the element extracted from
Based on the rule information specified by the element name regularity defining means, an element is extracted from the electronic document, and the extracted element is associated with item information set by the element name regularity specifying means as database information. A component extraction unit that outputs and extracts an element from the electronic document based on the link information generated by the element relation specifying unit, associates the extracted element, and associates the item information and outputs the database information ,
Among the elements, element relation specifying means for generating link information that associates a plurality of elements as one group,
A link of database information corresponding to an electronic document to be detected by referring to link information storage means for storing link information between layout areas associated at the time of construction of the database information. Comparison means for reading information from the link information storage means and comparing each element of the read data with each element of the updated database information;
A color arrangement means for outputting, based on the comparison result of the comparison means, an element in which the element of the read data and the element of the updated database information match and an element that does not match by different expression methods;
Intra-rectangular layout area detecting means for detecting a layout area within a minimum circumscribed rectangle that includes a plurality of layout areas already associated,
While functioning as a link setting means for associating each layout area in the minimum circumscribed rectangle detected by the in-rectangular layout area detecting means,
The component extraction means extracts the elements in the layout area associated by the link setting means, associates the extracted elements with item information, and associates the elements in the layout area associated by the link setting means. A computer readable recording medium storing a database construction program for causing the database information to function.

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