WO2003021537A1

WO2003021537A1 - Method and device for laying out a document

Info

Publication number: WO2003021537A1
Application number: PCT/FR2002/003003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dominique Goossens
Original assignee: Documents-Arts-Graphiques
Priority date: 2001-09-04
Filing date: 2002-09-04
Publication date: 2003-03-13
Also published as: FR2829263B1; FR2829263A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and device that can be employed by a user to lay out a document (1) which is intended to display a given format and to contain numerous subject fields (2-5) which can receive images, borders and/or zones of text to be positioned alongside one another. The inventive method consists in providing at least one first file, known as the query file, comprising, in digital format, numerous document characterisation questions which are each associated with a list of possible responses; and a second file, known as the composition file, comprising, in digital format, numerous documents which are each modelled in the form of a set of components, said components being organised according to a given layout and each corresponding to one of the subject fields of said document. Each document is associated with a series of recognition characters and each recognition character of a given series corresponds respectively to one of the responses in the list of possible responses to the characterisation questions from the query file. The user is then interrogated by using all or part of the questions from said query file and asking said user to select a response for each question from the list of corresponding possible responses. The sequence of responses given is saved so that a series of recognition characters, known as the stored series, can be defined. Subsequently, the composition file is used to find the document(s) for which the series of recognition characters corresponds to said stored series, known as the selected document, so that said document(s) can be supplied to the user.

Description

TITLE: Method and device for formatting a document

The invention relates to a method and a device for formatting a document intended to present a given format and to contain a plurality of object areas, in particular capable of accommodating images, friezes and / or text areas, positioned between them.

Although more particularly intended for the design of promotional visuals and / or commercial announcements, the invention may also be used for the design of any other type of document. Currently, to advertise promotional operations, posters are generally used bearing only the mention “sales”. The informative content of such posters is therefore particularly poor.

However, to create more elaborate posters, it is necessary to call upon professionals, in particular advertising agencies, if one wishes to obtain a satisfactory level of quality, more particularly with regard to the consistency of the positioning of the different elements. of the poster vis-à-vis the message to convey but also the harmonization of the colors used in the poster as well as the relevance of the images chosen according to the term addressed.

Such interventions have a cost which is deducted from that of promotional operations and reduces their profitability. In addition, their execution times may be incompatible with the reactivity often required in this type of operation. It can also be noted that when such posters are not created by the professional consulted for the usual communication campaigns, the graphic charters generally imposed are not respected, which affects the impact of the documents issued.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for formatting a document which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks and allow a user, even a non-professional one, to obtain a positioning of the various elements making up the document which is consistent with the message to be conveyed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for formatting a document which allow a user, even a non-professional user, to obtain by himself a harmonious result in terms of association of colors. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for formatting a document which allow a user, even a non-professional user, to obtain a coherent result in terms of thematic association of the different elements making up the document.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for formatting a document whose implementation costs are limited.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for formatting a document that can be implemented quickly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for formatting a document which allow compliance with graphic guidelines. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for formatting a document which allow progressive control of the results and rapid performance of new tests when the user is not satisfied.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear during the description which follows which is given for information only and which is not intended to limit it.

The invention relates first of all to a method of layout, by a user, of a document intended to present a given format and to contain a plurality of object areas, in particular capable of accommodating images, friezes and / or text zones, to be positioned between them, process in which: at least a first file, called a query file, comprising in digital form a plurality of questions for characterizing said document, each associated with a list of possible responses, is provided, and a second file, said to be of composition, comprising in digital form a plurality of documents each modeled as a set of components, organized according to a given layout and each corresponding to one of the object areas of said document, each document being associated with a series of identification characters, each character d identification of a said series corresponding respectively to one of the responses from the lists of possible responses to the questions of characterization of said interrogation file, the user is interrogated by exploiting all or part of the questions of said interrogation file and in him proposing for each question to choose its answer from the list of corresponding possible answers, - note takes the sequence of responses given to define a series of identification characters, called the memorized series, we use said composition file to find the and / or documents whose series of identification characters corresponding to said memorized series, says document selected, so that they can be supplied to the user.

The invention also relates to a device for formatting, by a user, a document intended to present a given format and to contain a plurality of object areas, in particular capable of accommodating images, friezes and / or areas of text, to be positioned between them, said device comprising digital processing means provided with: a first file, called an interrogation file, comprising in digital form a plurality of questions for characterizing said document, each associated with a list of possible answers, and a second file, called a composition file, comprising in digital form a plurality of documents each modeled in the form of a set of components organized according to a given layout and each corresponding to one object areas of said document, each document being associated with a series of identification characters, each identification character of a said series corresponding respectively to one of the responses from the lists of possible responses to the characterization questions of said file interrogation, - interrogation means of the user, able to exploit all or part of the questions of said interrogation file and to propose to him for each question to choose his answer from the list of corresponding possible answers, means for memorizing the series of responses given, capable of defining a series of identification characters, known as a memorized series, of means for exploiting said composition file, capable of finding the and / or documents whose series of identification characters corresponds to said series stored, said selected document, so that they can be provided to the user. The invention will be better understood on reading the following description accompanied by the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGS. 1 and 2 each illustrate an example of documents obtained by the process according to the invention, FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a embodiment of the device according to the invention, according to a first use, Figure 4 shows the device of Figure 3 above, according to another use.

The invention relates first of all to a method of layout, by a user, of a document intended to present a given format and to contain a plurality of object areas, in particular capable of accommodating images, friezes and / or text zones, to be positioned between them.

Figures 1 and 2 show an example of document 1 obtained by the method according to the invention. It presents, on a reduced scale, an A4 type format and contains four object areas, 2, 3, 4, 5, intended respectively to accommodate an image, text, a price and a frieze.

They are each provided with a different layout, adapted to the message you want to get across. In FIG. 1, it is for example a document making it possible to highlight a promotion relating to a product, represented in image 2 of said document. In Figure 2, on the other hand, it is a question of highlighting a price. The latter then occupies a larger space and area than in the document in FIG. 1. As for the image, it is transferred to the lower part and occupies a reduced space. To obtain such a result, according to the invention, at least a first file, called a query file, is provided, comprising in digital form a plurality of questions for characterizing said document, each associated with a list of possible answers, and a second file. , called composition, comprising in digital form a plurality of documents each modeled as a set of components. In each modeled document, the components are organized according to a given layout and each correspond to one of the object areas of said document. In said second file, each document is also associated with a series of identification characters, each identification character of a said series corresponding respectively to one of the responses from the lists of possible responses to the characterization questions of said file d interrogation.

The interrogation file includes for example a question relating to the nature of the message that the document must highlight, namely, is it a document intended to promote a product or a price. It may also include a question relating to the general appearance of the document, namely, is it a poster, a small poster, a calico, a kakemono or other. It can also include, among other things, a question relating to the number and nature of the object areas to be provided for in the document to be formatted, namely, should the document contain object areas intended to accommodate text and if so how much, should the document contain object areas intended to accommodate images and if so how much, should the document contain an object area intended to accommodate a frieze, should the document contain object areas intended to accommodate prices and if so how much. The list of questions and possible answers are established, for example, using a skilled person such as a communication professional, as well as the content of the second file which must make it possible to associate with the set of answers given to the various questions asked at least one document presenting a given layout, that is to say, a relative location and a relative size for each of the object areas making up the document in question.

However, still according to the invention, the user is questioned by exploiting all or part of the questions of said interrogation file and by proposing for each question to choose his answer from the list of corresponding possible answers, while storing as and as the sequence of responses is given to define a series of identification characters, known as a stored series. We then use said composition file to find the and / or documents whose series of identification characters corresponds to said stored series, called selected document, so as to be able to provide them to the user.

This allows a user to benefit from a document having a format he has chosen and a plurality of object areas, intended to accommodate elements (image, frieze, text, price, ...) which he will also have chosen and whose layout will have been ensured thanks to the content and the use of said interrogation and composition files. He no longer has to ensure by himself the positioning of the different elements of the document but automatically has the layout that a professional would have used in the context in question. By way of example, as already mentioned, the document in FIG. 1 is that provided according to the method according to the invention when the user has indicated that he wishes to have a document intended for the promotion of a product. in poster format and containing an image, a text zone, a price zone and a frieze. The document in Figure 2 corresponds to the same series of responses except for the first identification criterion where the user will then have replied that he wishes a document allowing the promotion of a prize.

The interrogation file may also include questions relating, for example, to the nature of the installation structure, such as, in particular, eyelets, the choice of finishing options and / or others. Without necessarily playing on the layout, the answers to such questions can nevertheless be stored in order to be used later, especially during the final preparation of the document, once its informative content is known. They can also affect the cost of the document. In this regard, a third file, called an encryption file, may be provided, comprising in digital form the price for the preparation of a given document and, associating with each price, the list of characters for identifying said document.

We then use said encryption file to find the production price corresponding to said memorized series, and we warn the user of the price of preparing his document. We then wait for his agreement before providing him with the selected document (s). This information may also be used to establish direct invoicing for the document in question. Documents are provided to the user, for example, in their modeled forms. To complete their designs, the user only has to give content, in digital form, to said components, for example. We thus perform a layout of the document, planned modeled, with components, corresponding to the object areas of the document, empty of content, and we fill said object areas by assigning digital content to said components, before viewing said document in physical form. .

As already mentioned, a first of the object areas of the document to be laid out may be intended, for example, to accommodate an image, a second a frieze and a third a text area. To continue designing the selected document, we can then assign respectively to the corresponding components of said document a given image, modeled in digital form, a given frieze, modeled in digital form and a given text, modeled in digital form.

Said image and / or said frieze modeled could come for example from a database. Regarding the images, they may be available with a given aspect ratio. Depending on the aspect ratio of the corresponding object area of the selected document, the image contained in the database will be reduced and / or enlarged homotetically. With regard to the texts, they can be given directly by the user and / or be generated automatically, in particular when using a particular image requiring, for example for legal reasons, the presence of specific information on the document. , as is the case, for example, when promoting alcohol and / or cigarettes. However, as illustrated in FIG. 2, it is also possible to colorize the selected document chosen by the user by assigning a color, including black, gray and / or white, to all or part of the components, in particular provided monochrome, α ,, c ₂ , c ₃ , c ₄ , c-, c _k , q of the set of components defining said document, this according to given harmonization rules.

For this, at least one file 103, called harmonization file, is provided, comprising a plurality of families 104 of digitized colors f _1f f ₂ , j. ,, j ₂ , j ₂₃₎ i ₂₃ , j ₂₂ , i ₂₂ , j ₂₄ , i ₂₄ ... can be associated with each other within each family, at least according to certain combinations (f ,, j.,), (Tι, j ₂₃ ), (|, l ₂₃ ), .--, (τ ₂ , J ₂ ), (f ₂ , j ₂ ), (f ₂ , l ₂₄ ).

The colors to be combined can be given, for example, with the help of a person skilled in the art who understands the different rules of color harmonization.

In said harmonization file, said colors are identified, in particular, by means of a code associated with a decomposition of each color into a mixture of basic colors, for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, black, red, green and / or blue, the presence of each of the basic colors in the mixture being determined by a value which can range from 0 to 100. Of course, in said file, each color can be associated with at least one other. According to the method according to the invention, said harmonization file is then used to update all or part of the families of colors containing a color, called a reference color, chosen from the colors appearing in said file, and the at least one of the components of said set of components one of the colors that can be combined with said reference color and appearing in the family or families of colors updated with the latter.

A user, even a non-professional one, can thus, thanks to the invention, and in particular thanks to the provision of said harmonization file and to its operating mode, colorize documents according to a harmonious result.

To have a physical representation of said document 1, it is possible to view said set of components, for example, by display, in particular on a screen 7. Such a display is carried out, in particular, throughout the colorization process in order to be able to control its execution. It will also be possible to view said assembly by printing, in particular on a printer 6.

As illustrated, said harmonization file consists, for example, of a table 107 in which each family brings together the colors that can be associated with a given color, each family occupying a number of successive lines defining a matrix 108. The cells of one 109 of said columns of each of the matrices are occupied, by a so-called input color, the cells of the other column (s) 110 to 112 of the matrix being free or occupied by one of the so-called output colors, can be associated with said input color, each output color of said matrix defining with its said input color one of said possible combinations within said family. Of course, such a structure is also possible by swapping the role of columns and rows.

This file is then used to detect said family of the reference color and, in the absence of such a family, all or part containing said reference color.

With such an organization of the harmonization file and such an operating mode of the latter, it is thus possible to quickly determine the colors that can be associated with a given color. It will indeed be the other colors of the family of said given color or, in the absence thereof, the input colors of the families selected.

However, according to another embodiment, said harmonization file can directly be constituted in a raw manner by pairs of colors which can be associated with each other.

The different components of said set of components can be colored successively for example, in the following manner.

First of all, one of said components, said first component to be colored, for example the background c, is assigned one of the colors called first associated color, appearing in the family of said reference color or among the colors of entry of the family or families updated with said reference color.

We then use said harmonization file to update the family of the first associated color or the family or families containing said first associated color and we attribute to all or part of the components, other than said first component to be colored, one colors appearing in the family or families of said reference color and / or said associated color and / or one of the starting colors of the family or families updated with said reference color and / or said first associated color . More precisely, one can attribute to one of said components, said second component to be colored, for example the frieze c other than said first component to be colored, a color, called second associated color, appearing in the family of said associated color or among the input colors of the family or families updated with said first associated color. We can attribute to all or part of said components, said third component to be colored, for example a character string c _k , other than said first component and second component to be colored, a color known as third associated color, appearing in the family of said first associated color or among the input colors of the family or families updated with said first associated color and different from said second associated color.

As regards the initial choice of said reference color, it can be carried out in a completely arbitrary manner.

According to another embodiment, one or more of said components, called pre-colored α, - c ₄ , are associated beforehand with at least one so-called predefined color, at least one of which is among the colors of said harmonization file and said reference color is chosen from said predefined colors. The one or more pre-colored components constitute, for example, a homogeneous sub-assembly 113 such as, in particular, an image 114 in which the or said predefined colors are dominant colors.

In order to limit the choice of possible colors when assigning a given color to a given component, it will be possible to select, in particular, randomly and / or as a function of imposed graphic charters, a limited number of colors among the colors used. day to color said component.

We can also make groupings between groups of updated colors. More precisely, it will be possible to select from the colors updated with said first associated color the possible predefined color or colors contained therein and to choose one of said predefined colors selected as said third color. associated.

If we return to the said structure of the harmonization file 103, it can be constructed as follows. For each matrix of said file, one 110 of the columns, respectively row not containing said input color, comprises the color which can be associated with said input color by proximity, another 111 of the columns, respectively row, not containing not said input color, including colors which can be associated with said input color as opposed. For those skilled in the art, the terms "by proximity" and "by opposition" have a meaning contained in the field of colorimetric harmony rules.

By way of example, if said input color is made up of a red tone, the color associated by proximity may be in browns, while the colors associated by opposition may be in blues and / or greens. Said table 107 may also include a fourth column 112, respectively row, in which the black, the white and the grays can be associated with a given input color, this for each matrix in question.

Such a structure could facilitate color selections. Thus, to color the first component to be colored, it will be possible to select from among the colors of the possible family of said reference color, said color associated by proximity and a limited number of colors associated by opposition and then choose one of the colors selected. We can do the same with said first associated color for the choice of said second associated color. In this way, color associations can be made according to certain themes.

As illustrated, said document 1 is for example, a poster, comprising at least a background 115 and object areas consisting of one or more images 2 as well as one or more character strings 3 and one or more friezes 5 As already mentioned, the said image or images 2 are defined, after modeling, by one or more said components c, - c ₄ and said background, the or said character strings and said frieze (s) are each defined after modeling by a component c ,, c _k , c ,.

The one or more components c _r c _k pre-colored then consist, for example, of said image 2, provided digitized and / or of the components of said image 2, the component defining said background constituting said first component to be colored, said one or more components c, the at least one frieze constituting the at least one second component to be colored, the at least one component c _k of the at least one character string constituting the at least one third component to be colored. So, for example, to colorize the poster (1), we first choose a color of image 2 as the reference color and we choose the background color, the color of the frieze and finally the color of the character string, according to the proposed harmonization solutions.

It should be noted that such a colorization method could also be applied to documents modeled in the form of a set of components, without said document having necessarily been laid out according to the method mentioned above.

However, as illustrated in FIG. 4, it is also possible to assign visual content to the selected document chosen by the user by assigning a decoration to all or part of the components of the set of components defining said document, according to rules of data association.

For this, at least one file 203, called an association file, is provided, comprising a plurality of families 204 containing on the one hand a digitized decoration d |, d _j , d _k , and on the other hand one or more codes L, , i ₂ , i ₃ , j. ,, k., for characterizing said decoration d _j , d _j , d _k . Said decors may consist of, for example, an image, a photo, or the like and said codes may consist of different words, as developed below. The decorations to be associated can be given, for example, by a person skilled in the art, such as a publicist.

According to the process in accordance with the invention, the said facility is then used association file 203 for updating all or part of the families 204 containing a characterization code j. ,, k. ,, identical to at least one of the characterization codes i ₂ , i ₃ called basic, of said file and one or more of the components c _{2 of} said set of components is assigned the decoration d _j of one or other of the families updated with the said basic characterization code (s).

A user, even a non-professional one, can thus, thanks to the invention and in particular thanks to the provision of said association file and to its operating mode, design documents provided with decorations presenting a coherent theme.

To have a physical representation of said document, it is possible to view said set of components, for example, by display, in particular on screen 7.

As already mentioned on the subject of colorization, this display can be carried out, in particular, throughout the process of assigning visual content in accordance with the invention, this in order to be able to control its execution. We can still view said set of components by printing, in particular, on the printer 6.

According to a particular mode of implementation of the method in accordance with the invention, one chooses a decoration d ,, said to start, in said association file 203, it is assigned to one of said components c, of said set of components and one uses at least one of the characterization codes i ₂ , i _{3 of} said starting decoration d _| as the basic characterization code. The theme of the decorations assigned to the document is thus determined by the decor of the first component to which visual content is attributed.

We could, for example, define all or part of said decorations using three characterization codes, namely: a first code L ,, j _1f k ₁ said to be of product, capable of describing what said decor represents, - a second i ₂ , said to be intermediate, capable of describing the place and / or the universe commonly associated with what the said decoration represents, a third code i ₃ , called semiological, capable of describing what is intellectually evoked by what is said decoration.

Said association file 203 is then made up, in particular, of a table 207 comprising: - in the first column, respectively in the first row, in each row, respectively in each column, and said decor d _| , d _j , d _k digitized, for example identified by an address, in the second column, respectively in the second line, on each line, respectively in each column, the product code L ,, j. ,, k., of the decoration is finding on the same line, respectively in the same column, in the third column, respectively in the third line, in each line, respectively in each column, the intermediate code i ₂ , possibly of the decoration being in the same line, respectively in the same column, - in fourth column, respectively in fourth row, on each row, respectively in each column, the semiological code i _3, if any, of the decoration found on the same row, respectively in the same column.

Such a structure makes it possible to systematize searches for identical identification codes.

More precisely, one could use as base code undit intermediate code l ₂ and / or said semiological code l _{3 of} said association file and update the said product code or codes j _{1 (} k., Identical to said base code for assign the corresponding code or codes d _j d _k , to one c ₂ or more of said components.

Said document 1 consists, for example, of a poster intended to present, as object areas, at least one image 2 and a background 209, respectively modeled in the form of a first component c, and of a second component c ₂ . We then attribute to said first component c, a decoration d., Of said association file and we use said decoration as the starting decoration. Thus, said second component c ₂ is assigned one d _j of the sets set day with the intermediate code i ₂ and / or the semiological code i ₃ of the decoration d ₁ of the first component.

Said poster could also include another object area consisting of a frieze 10 modeled in the form of a third component c ₃ . The third component c ₃ may be assigned one and / or the other of the decorations brought up to date with the intermediate code and / or the semiological code of the decoration of the first component c, and so on in the presence of other components in said set 202 of components.

It should be noted that such a method of assigning visual content could be applied to a document modeled as a set of components without its layout having been carried out according to the method described above.

The mention also relates to a layout device, by a user of a document intended to present a given format and to contain a plurality of object areas, in particular capable of accommodating images, friezes and / or text areas, to be positioned between them. Said device is intended, in particular, for the implementation of the layout method described above.

It includes digital processing means provided with: a first file, called a query file, comprising in digital form a plurality of questions for characterizing said document, each associated with a list of possible answers, and a second file, called composition, comprising in digital form a plurality of documents each modeled as a set of components organized according to a given layout and each corresponding to one of the object areas of said document, each document being associated with a series identification characters, each identification character of a said series corresponding respectively to one of the responses from the list of possible responses to the characterization questions of said interrogation file, - interrogation means of the user , able to use all or part of said query file and to offer it for each question of choosing one's answer from the list of corresponding possible answers, of means for memorizing the series of answers given, capable of defining a series of identification characters, called memorized series, of means for exploiting said composition file, capable of find the document or documents whose series of identification characters corresponds to said stored series, called selected document, so that they can be supplied to the user. Said digital processing means are constituted, for example, by a microcomputer of conventional type comprising a central unit 8.

Said digital processing means may also include, in particular, means for viewing the selected document or documents. It could be, for example, said screen 7 and / or said printer 6, connected to the central unit 8. The said selected document or documents are displayed in modeled form and / or in physical form showing the location and the size of the object areas, for example, using dotted lines, as in Figures 1 and 2. Said digital processing means may also include, for example, user interface means, such as a keyboard and / or a mouse, not shown.

Said digital processing means may be distributed, said interrogation and / or composition files, at least, being located at the level of a server connected by a network, in particular the Internet, to the microcomputers of the user or users, provided provided said display and interface means as well as means for accessing said network, the other means of said processing means being provided at the server. However, said interrogation file may include the list of questions already mentioned. Said digital processing means may also be provided, in particular, with the encryption file already mentioned and be provided capable of using said file to find the production price corresponding to said stored series. They will then also include, possibly, means for informing the user of the price for preparing his document and for waiting for his agreement before providing him with the selected document or documents.

Said digital processing means are further provided with means for supplying said document in modeled form and with means for giving content, provided in digital form, to the components of said modeled document.

As already said, one of the first object areas is, for example, intended to accommodate an image, a second is intended to accommodate, for example, a frieze and a third is intended to accommodate, for example, a text area. Said digital processing means may then further comprise, optionally, allocation means, capable of assigning respectively to the components of the selected document chosen by the user, an image, modeled in digital form, a frieze, modeled in digital form and a given text modeled in digital form. In this regard, the device according to the invention may include a device for colorizing the selected document chosen by the user, capable of assigning a color to all or part of the components of the set of components defining said document, according to rules data harmonization. Said colorization device can be used for the implementation, in particular, of the colorization process mentioned above.

By "colorization" of an object is generally meant the assignment of one or more colors to an object, including black, gray and / or white, whatever its initial state, c that is to say, without color, in black and white and / or provided with other colors. In such a case, said digital processing means further comprise: at least one file 103 called harmonization file, comprising a plurality of families of digital colors that can be associated with each other within each family, at least in certain combinations, means for using said harmonization file to update all or part of the families of colors containing a so-called reference color, chosen from the colors appearing in said file, means for assigning to at least one of the components of said set of components one of the colors which can be combined with said reference colors and appearing in the family or families of colors updated with the latter.

Said harmonization file presents, for example, the structure mentioned above and the means for exploiting said file consist of detection means, capable of revealing the family of a said color and, in the absence of such a family, all or part of the families containing said color.

Said means for assigning at least one of the components of said set of components of a given color consist of: means for displaying a palette 120 comprising all or part of the colors updated by said detection means, - pointing means, not shown, capable of allowing the selection in said palette 120 of a chosen color and the assignment of said chosen color to the component or components to be colored.

The device according to the invention comprises for this, for example, window display means, as is known to those skilled in the art, a first window being defined by said set 102 of components and a second window by said pallet 120.

The device according to the invention may also comprise means for associating beforehand with one or more of said components a so-called predefined color, at least one of which appears among the colors of said harmonization file. These could be means of inserting pre-modeled and / or pre-colorized images. The device according to the invention may also possibly include means for selecting some of the colors updated using said detection means, this according to certain criteria, as previously mentioned. The colors appearing in said palette 120 will then be those that have been selected.

It should be noted that such a colorization device can be used without necessarily having to deal with digital processing means allowing a layout. In such a case, the latter must nevertheless authorize modeling in digital form of the document to be colored in the form of a set of components.

The device according to the invention may also include a device for assigning visual content to the selected document chosen by the user, capable of assigning a decor all or part of the components of the set of components defining said document, according to given association rules.

For this, said digital processing means are furthermore provided with: at least one file 203, known as an association file, comprising a plurality of families 204 containing on the one hand a digitized decoration d _| , d _j , d _k and on the other hand one or more codes i _1f i ₂ , i ₃ , j. ,, for characterizing said set, means for exploiting said association file, capable of revealing all or part families 204 containing a characterization code identical to at least one of the characterization codes, said to be basic, of said association file, of means for assigning to one or more of said components of said set of components the decoration of the '' one or the other of the families updated with the said basic characterization code (s). Said device for assigning visual content may be used, in particular, for implementing the method for assigning visual content mentioned above.

In this regard, said device may also include means for choosing a decor of said departure from said association file.

Said means for assigning to one or more of the components of said set of components the decoration of one or other of the families updated with the said basic characterization code (s) are then provided capable of further enabling assignment of said starting decoration to one of said components and said means for exploiting said association file are provided capable of updating all or part of the families containing a characterization code identical to at least one of the characterization codes said starting decor.

All or part of said decorations can be defined using three characterization codes, namely a product code, an intermediate code and a semiological code, as previously indicated. As for said association file 203, it may consist of a table 207 as described above.

Said means for exploiting said association file are then provided capable, moreover, of using as said basic code said intermediate code and / or said semiological code of said file and updating the said code or codes of products identical to said basic code in order that the corresponding decor or decorations can be assigned to one or more of said components by said means for assigning a decor.

According to the method for assigning visual content mentioned above, it should be noted that provision may be made for a display of decor to be chosen as the basic decor and / or decorations updated from said basic decor.

For this, said device for assigning visual content comprises, for example, window display means, as was previously mentioned in relation to the colorization device, a first window this time being defined by said set of components and a second presenting the decor (s) to choose. The device conforms to the invention may also include for the same purpose, in particular, pointing means, allowing the selection of the chosen decoration and its assignment to the components to be illustrated.

It should be noted that such a device for assigning visual content could be used without using digital processing means allowing a layout. Said digital processing means will nevertheless be able to authorize modeling in digital form of the document processed.

In general, it may be noted that the use of digital processing means advantageously make it possible, according to the functionalities usually encountered with such means, to modify, store and / or copy the work carried out, this without difficulty even for a non-user. professional.

Naturally, other modes of implementation within the reach of ordinary skill in the art could have been envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of layout, by a user, of a document intended to present a given format and to contain a plurality of object areas, in particular capable of accommodating images, friezes and / or text areas, to be positioned between them, method in which: at least a first file, called a query file, is provided, comprising in digital form a plurality of questions for characterizing said document, each associated with a list of possible answers, and a second file, said to be of composition , comprising in digital form, a plurality of documents each modeled as a set of components, organized according to a given layout and each corresponding to an object area of said document, each document being associated with a series of characters called d 'identification, each character of identification of a said series corresponding respectively to one of the responses from the lists of possible responses to the questions s for characterizing said interrogation file, the user is interrogated by exploiting all or part of the questions of said interrogation file by proposing for each question to choose his answer from the list of corresponding possible answers, - the sequence of responses given to define a series of identification characters, called stored series, we use said composition file to find the and / or documents whose series of identification characters corresponds to said stored series, said selected document, so to be able to provide them to the user.

2. Method according to claim 1 in which said interrogation file comprises at least: a question relating to the nature of the message that the document must highlight, - a question relating to the general appearance of the document, a question relating to the number and nature of the zones objects to be included in the document to be laid out.

3. Method according to claim 1 wherein: a third file, called an encryption file, is provided, comprising in digital form the price for the preparation of a given document and associated with each price, the list of characters identifying said document , we use said encryption file to find the production price corresponding to said stored series, we warn the user of the price of developing his document and we wait for his agreement before providing him with the selected document or documents.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said document is provided in modeled form and content, provided in digital form, is given to its said components.

5. Method according to claim 1 wherein: - a first of the object areas is intended to accommodate an image, a second is intended to accommodate a frieze, a third is intended to accommodate a text area, the corresponding components are respectively assigned to the selected document chosen by the user a given image, modeled in digital form, a given frieze modeled in digital form and a given text modeled in digital form.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said selected document is colorized chosen by the user by assigning a color to all or part of the components of the set of components defining said document, according to given harmonization rules.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein visual content is assigned to the selected document chosen by the user by assigning a decoration to all or part of the components of the set of components defining said document, according to given association rules.

8. Device for formatting, by a user, a document intended to present a given format and to contain a plurality of object areas, in particular capable of accommodating images, friezes and / or text areas, to be positioned between them, said device comprising digital processing means provided with: a first file, called integration file, comprising in digital form a plurality of questions for characterizing said document, each associated with a list of possible answers, and a second file, called a composition file, comprising in digital form a plurality of documents each modeled in the form of a set of components organized according to a given layout and each corresponding to one of the object areas of said document, each document being associated with a series of identification characters, each identification character of a said series corresponding respectively to one of the responses of the lists of possible answers to the questions of characterization of said interrogation file, of means of interrogation of the user, suitable for ex take advantage of all or part of the questions in said interrogation file and suggest to him, for each question, to choose his answer from the list of corresponding possible answers, means for memorizing the series of answers given, capable of defining a series of characters of identification, known as stored series, of means for exploiting said composition file, capable of finding the and / or documents whose series of identification characters corresponds to said stored series, known as selected document, so as to be able to supply them to the 'user.

9. Device according to claim 7, in which said interrogation file comprises at least: a question relating to the nature of the message that the document must highlight, a question relating to the general appearance of the document, - a question relating to the number and nature of the object areas to be provided for in the document to be laid out.

10. Device according to claim 7, in which said digital processing means are further provided with: a third file, called an encryption file, comprising in digital form the price for the preparation of a given document and associated with each price the list of characters for identifying said document, said processing means being provided capable of using, said encryption file to find the processing price corresponding to said stored series, means for notifying the user of the price of processing his document and to wait for his agreement before providing him with the selected document (s).

11. Device according to claim 8 wherein said digital processing means are further provided with means for supplying said document in modeled form and with means for giving content, provided in digital form, to the components of said modeled document.

12. Device according to claim 7, in which: a first of the object areas is intended to accommodate an image, a second of the object areas is intended to accommodate a frieze and a third of the object areas is intended to accommodate a text area, said means digital processing systems are furthermore provided with attribution means capable of assigning respectively to the components of the selected document respectively chosen by the user a given image, modeled in digital form, a given frieze, modeled in digital form and a given text, modeled in digital form.

13. Device according to claim 7 comprising a device for colorizing the selected document chosen by the user, capable of assigning a color to all or part of the components of the set of components defining said document, according to given harmonization rules.

14. Device according to claim 7 comprising a device for assigning visual content to the selected document chosen by the user, capable of assigning a decor to all or part of the components of the set of components defining said document, according to given association rules.