Form output control apparatus, form output control method, and computer readable program

• US 7,865,818 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2007
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamanakajima, Kazunari
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Stephen S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vaughn; Gregory J
• Application Number:
  US11/765,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20070300146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 715/200, 715/201, 715/203, 715/204, 715/221, 715/224, 715/225, 715/226, 715/243, 715/251, 715/230, 715/232
• US Class Current: 715/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates

Abstract

An apparatus places contents data of plural records of a database, in a template, which is represented by template data, and outputs the template data in which the contents data are inserted. The apparatus stores the template data defining a field area in which the contents data are placed, and sets replacement information for replacing annotation information to be placed in the template. When the contents represented by the contents data of the plural records are placed in the field area defined by the template data, the annotation information of each record is replaced with the replacement information.

Claims

1. An apparatus having a processor and being configured to place contents data of plural records of a database in a template, the apparatus comprising:

a storage unit configured to store the template on which the contents data are placed;

a setting unit configured to set, via the processor, a replacement mark for replacing annotation information placed in the template;

a replacement unit configured to replace, when the contents data of the plural records is placed in a field area defined by the template, the annotation information of each record with the replacement mark set by the setting unit; and

a placing unit configured to place the replacement mark replaced by the replacement unit on a position for the annotation information on which the annotation information of each record is placed, and to place the annotation information of each record on a position different from the position for the annotation information.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the template further defines an output method of outputting the replaced annotation information, and wherein the placing unit decides a position where the replaced annotation information is placed according to the defined output method.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the replacement unit puts together the annotation information by inserting a page, on which the annotation information is placed, into pages of the template, in which the contents data is placed.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the replacement unit puts together the annotation data in an annotation output field area defined in a page of the template, in which the contents data is placed.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a generating unit configured to generate a first group from a plurality of records including first annotation information and a second group from a plurality of records including second annotation information.

6. A method to place contents, which are represented by contents data of plural records of a database, in a template, the method comprising:

setting a replacement mark for replacing annotation information representing an annotation to be placed in the template on which the contents data are placed;

replacing, when the contents represented by the contents data of the plural records are placed in a field area defined by the template, the annotation information of each record with the set replacement mark; and

placing the replacement mark on a position for the annotation information on which the annotation information of each record is placed, and placing the annotation information of each record on a position different from the position for the annotation information.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the template further defines an output method of outputting the replaced annotation information, and wherein the replaced annotation information is placed in a position decided according to the defined output method.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the replacing comprises:

inserting a page, on which the annotation information is placed, into pages of the template.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the replacing comprises:

placing the annotation information in an annotation output field area defined in a page of the template.

10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising generating a first group from a plurality of records including first annotation information and a second group from a plurality of records including second annotation information.

11. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer program which when executed causes an apparatus to execute operations comprising:

inserting data of a plurality of records in a template;

setting a replacement mark for replacing annotation information to be inserted in the template on which the contents data are placed;

replacing, when the contents represented by the contents data of the plural records are inserted in a field area defined by the template data, the annotation information of each record with the set replacement mark; and

placing the replacement mark on a position for the annotation information on which the annotation information of each record is placed, and placing the annotation information of each record on a position different from the position for the annotation information.

12. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the template further defines an output method of outputting the replaced annotation information, and wherein the replaced annotation information is placed in a position decided according to the defined output method.

13. The computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the replacing comprises:

inserting a page, in which the annotation information is inserted, into pages of the template.

14. The computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the replacing comprises:

inserting the annotation information in an annotation output field area defined in a page of the template.

15. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11, further comprising generating a first group from a plurality of records including first annotation information and a second group from a plurality of records including second annotation information.