Method and apparatus for document formatting with efficient figure element layout manipulation

An apparatus for formatting a document, comprising:

• means for inputting document data representing the document including figure data representing figure elements of the document, and region data indicating a layout region on which the document is to be laid out;
• means for generating candidate layouts for each figure element to be laid out, each candidate layout representing a different overall appearance of the layout region resulting from a different layout position in the layout region at which each figure element is laid out;
• means for selecting one of the candidate layouts generated by the generating means;
• and
• means for formatting the document laid out in the layout region, realizing the different overall appearance of the layout region represented by the selected one of the candidate layouts.