Apparatus and method for automatically outputting document having data dependent size

Claim 1

A document output apparatus comprising: (a) record memory means for storing a plurality of records, each record comprising a plurality of item data; (b) layout format memory means for storing data of column fields on a printing sheet in correspondence with each item data, data of X-coordinates on the printing sheet dividing each of the column fields; (c) Y-register means for storing data of a Y-coordinate on the printing sheet; (d) means for comparing, upon read-out of each record stored in said record memory means, a length of each item data in the read record with a length of a corresponding column field; (e) means for printing, on the printing sheet, the each item data at a printing position represented by the corresponding column field data in the layout format memory means and the Y-coordinate data in the Y-register means when the length of a the item data is shorter than the length of corresponding column field, and for printing the item data on a plurality of lines within the corresponding column field from a printing line position represented by the Y-coordinate data in the Y-register means when the length of the item data is longer than the length of corresponding column field; (f) counter means for storing data of a maximum line feed count of all the item data in the read record; (g) means for printing, on the printing sheet, each vertical rule having a length corresponding to the data in the counter means at a position represented by the corresponding X-coordinate data in the layout format memory means and the Y-coordinate data in the Y-register means; and (h) means for storing, on the printing sheet, a horizontal rule at an area represented by the X-coordinate field data in the layout format memory means and a Y-coordinate data updating the Y-coordinate data in the Y-register means in accordance with the maximum line feed count data in the counter means.

Claim 3

A method of outputting a document in an apparatus comprising data memory means for storing a plurality of records, each record comprising a plurality of variable-length item data, the method comprising the steps of: (a) reading out each record from said memory means; (b) comparing a length of each item data in the read record with a length of a column field which is designated in advance corresponding to each item data; (c) printing, on a printing sheet, the item data at a printing position represented by the column field and Y-coordinate data in a Y-register when the length of the item data is shorter than the length of a corresponding column field; (d) printing, on the printing sheet, the item data on a plurality of lines within the corresponding column field from a printing line position represented by the Y-coordinate data in the Y-register when the length of the item data is longer than the length of a corresponding column field; (e) setting, in a maximum line feed counter, data of a maximum line feed count of all the item data in the read record; (f) printing each vertical rule having a length corresponding to the data set in the maximum line feed counter at a position represented by corresponding X-coordinate data in a layout format memory and the y-coordinate data in the Y-register; (g) updating the Y-coordinate data in the Y-register in accordance with the data set in the maximum line feed counter; (h) printing a horizontal rule at an area represented by X-coordinate field data in the layout format memory and the updated Y-coordinated data in the Y-register; and (i) repeating the above steps for all the records stored in the data memory means.

Claim 4

A method of outputting a document in an apparatus comprising data memory means for storing a plurality of records, each record comprising a plurality of variable-length item data, the method comprising the steps of: (a) reading out each record from said memory means; (b) comparing a length of each item data in the read record with a length of a column field which is designated in advance corresponding to each item data; (c) printing, on a printing sheet, the item data at a printing position represented by the column field and Y-coordinate data in a Y-register when the length of the item data is shorter than the length of a corresponding column field; (d) printing, on the printing sheet, the item data on a plurality of lines within the corresponding column field from a printing line position represented by the Y-coordinate data in the Y-register when the length of the item data is longer than the length of a corresponding column field; (e) setting, in a maximum line feed counter, data of a maximum line feed count of all the item data in the read record; (f) printing each vertical rule having a length corresponding to the data set in the maximum line feed counter at a position represented by corresponding X-coordinate data in a layout format memory and the y-coordinate data in the Y-register; (g) updating the Y-coordinate data in the Y-register in accordance with the data set in the maximum line feed counter; (h) printing a horizontal rule at an area represented by X-coordinate field data in the layout format memory and the updated Y-coordinated data in the Y-register; and (i) repeating the above steps for all the records stored in the data memory means.