Data processing apparatus and method for preparing data representative of supplemental figure attached to basic figure reproduced on output medium

A method for preparing output figure data used to output an output figure containing at least one basic figure, on an output medium such as a recording medium and a display screen, said method comprising the steps of:

• preparing basic figure data necessary to output said at least one basic figure on said output medium;
• determining, by utilizing a control program defining at least one standard supplement figure with respect to a shape and a size thereof and a relative position thereof to said at least one basic figure so as to partially overlap said at least one basic figure in a predetermined relation therewith and a characteristics of said at least one basic figure, a size and a position of said at least one standard supplement figure;
• preparing standard supplement figure data necessary to output said at least one standard supplement figure on said output medium, each of said basic figure data and said supplement figure data consisting of inside-indicating data indicating an area inside a corresponding one of said basic figure and said standard supplement figure, and outside-indicating data indicating an area outside said corresponding one of the basic figure and the standard supplement figure;
• and
• processing said basic figure data and said standard supplement figure data into the output figure data representing the overlapped at least one basic figure and at least one standard supplement figure as said output figure, such that an area inside said output figure is indicated by said inside-indicating data and an area outside the output figure is indicated by said outside-indicating data, said output figure containing at least one supplemental figure which is a portion of said at least one standard supplement figure. at least one basic figure, a size and a position of said at least one standard supplement figure;
• preparing standard supplement figure data necessary to output said at least one standard supplement figure on said output medium, each of said basic figure data and said supplement figure data consisting of inside-indicating data indicating an area inside a corresponding one of said basic figure and said standard supplement figure, and outside-indicating data indicating an area outside said corresponding one of the basic figure and the standard supplement figure;
• and
• processing said basic figure data and said standard supplement figure data into the output figure data representing the overlapped at least one basic figure and at least one standard supplement figure as said output figure, such that an area inside said output figure is indicated by said inside-indicating data and an area outside the output figure is indicated by said outside-indicating data, said output figure containing at least one supplemental figure which is a portion of said at least one standard supplement figure.

A data processing apparatus comprising:

• basic figure processing means for preparing basic figure data necessary to output two basic figures connected to each other, on an output medium such as a recording medium and a display screen;
• supplemental figure processing means for determining, by utilizing a characteristic of said basic figures, two standard supplement figures each one of which extends from a corresponding one of the connected two basic figures in a predetermined relation therewith so as to partially overlap the other standard supplement figure, and preparing supplemental figure data necessary to output on said output medium the overlapped portion of said two standard supplement figures as a supplemental figure, said supplemental figure being contiguous with each of said connected two basic figures;
• each of said basic figure data and said supplemental figure data consisting of inside-indicating data indicating an area inside a corresponding one of said connected two basic figures and said supplemental figure, and outside-indicating data indicating an area outside said corresponding one of the connected two basic figures and the supplemental figure;
• and
• output figure processing means for processing said basic figure data and said supplemental figure data into output figure data used to output the contiguous two basic figures and supplemental figure as an output figure, such that an area inside said output figure inside-indicating data and an area outside said output figure is indicated by said inside-indicating data.

A method for preparing output figure data used to output an output figure containing two basic figures connected to each other, on an output medium such as a recording medium and a display screen, said method comprising the steps of:

• preparing basic figure data necessary to output the connected two basic figures on said output medium;
• determining, by utilizing a characteristic of said basic figures, two standard supplement figures each one of which extends from a corresponding one of said connected two basic figures in a predetermined relation therewith so as to partially overlap the other standard supplement figure;
• preparing supplemental figure data necessary to output on said output medium the overlapped portion of said two standard supplement figures as a supplemental figure, said supplemental figure being contiguous with each of said connected two basic figures, each of said basic figure data and said supplemental figure data consisting of inside-indicating data indicating an area inside a corresponding one of said connected two basic figures and said supplemental figure, and outside-indicating data indicating an area outside said corresponding one of the connected two basic figures and the supplemental figure;
• and
• processing said basic figure data and said supplemental figure data into the output figure data representing the contiguous two basic figures and supplemental figure as said output figure, such that an area inside said output figure is indicated by said inside-indicating data and an area outside said output figure is indicated by said outside-indicating data.