Abstract: In a book editing apparatus, an element data key possessing a format common to various kinds of element data such as documents, illustrations, and photographs which jointly compose one page of a book to be edited, is assigned to each of the various kinds of element data for enabling data concerning the elements to be handled as common data. The data for one page of an already edited book is decomposed into data concerning layout and other data concerning elements for storage. The data for one page of a book to be edited is composed of data concerning layout and previously stored data concerning desired elements.

Abstract: An editing apparatus inputs element data such as document or sentences by use of keyboards, sets a key corresponding to the data in a work station thereof, and is equipped with components for setting a special letter identification code which designates a specific character that cannot be input by conventional personal computers and/or word processors, and constructs a special character in response to that code, thereby making it possible to use personal computers and/or word processors for the entry of substantially all data needed by the editing apparatus.

Abstract: An editing means where edited data are controlled in units of at least one page. A computer decomposes the data in units of at least one page into data on elements and data on layout and transfers the decomposed data to relevant D/B's for further control. Element data keys (or temporary keys) of a format in common to various kinds of element data such as documents, illustrations, and photographs forming one page are attached to the various element data. Thus, the one page data are formed of the keys and the data, the basic layout for one page, and the positional coordinates of the element data on the layout.

Abstract: An editing apparatus includes two levels of security protection which assure that the apparatus can be utilized only by certain operators, and that each such operator can access only certain data stored in the apparatus. An operator wishing to use the apparatus inputs an operator security number and a data identification number, and the operator is permitted to use the editing apparatus only if the input operator security number is memorized in the apparatus and the input data identification number is also memorized in the apparatus as a number that corresponds to the input operator security number.

Abstract: In a data processing system, data processing is carried out in accordance with data fed in from an input, the results of the data processing are displayed on a display, and the data processing being carried out is interrupted when it is necessary to display a help image. A help image memory and an associated help image revising facility are provided to store help image data which can be freely revised (added, corrected and/or deleted). An operator can revise the stored help image data and read necessary help images out of the memory to the display at any time.