Abstract: Information that is required for laying out character string data is entered, as are character string data. The printing attributes for the data are then edited, and are employed to extract contour information. Thereafter, the extracted contour information is employed to determine the information that is to be used as a reference when laying out the character string data, and a layout position is specified. Then, the various data that are obtained are stored as printing data, and the character string data are laid out in a drawing area. Therefore, the printing data can be precisely and easily prepared, without the work efficiency of a user being deteriorated.

Abstract: Information that is required for laying out character string data is entered, as are character string data. The printing attributes for the data are then edited, and are employed to extract contour information. Thereafter, the extracted contour information is employed to determine the information that is to be used as a reference when laying out the character string data, and a layout position is specified. Then, the various data that are obtained are stored as printing data, and the character string data are laid out in a drawing area. Therefore, the printing data can be precisely and easily prepared, without the work efficiency of a user being deteriorated.

Abstract: Information that is required for laying out character string data is entered, as are character string data. The printing attributes for the data are then edited, and are employed to extract contour information. Thereafter, the extracted contour information is employed to determine the information that is to be used as a reference when laying out the character string data, and a layout position is specified. Then, the various data that are obtained are stored as printing data, and the character string data are laid out in a drawing area. Therefore, the printing data can be precisely and easily prepared, without the work efficiency of a user being deteriorated.

Abstract: Information that is required for laying out character string data is entered, as are character string data. The printing attributes for the data are then edited, and are employed to extract contour information. Thereafter, the extracted contour information is employed to determine the information that is to be used as a reference when laying out the character string data, and a layout position is specified. Then, the various data that are obtained are stored as printing data, and the character string data are laid out in a drawing area. Therefore, the printing data can be precisely and easily prepared, without the work efficiency of a user being deteriorated.

Abstract: Information that is required for laying out character string data is entered, as are character string data. The printing attributes for the data are then edited, and are employed to extract contour information. Thereafter, the extracted contour information is employed to determine the information that is to be used as a reference when laying out the character string data, and a layout position is specified. Then, the various data that are obtained are stored as printing data, and the character string data are laid out in a drawing area. Therefore, the printing data can be precisely and easily prepared, without the work efficiency of a user being deteriorated.

Abstract: The steps for designing a complex object of design are centralized, and the setting for processing programs started with the steps is greatly simplified, so that the load on the designer is reduced, and errors in design are also reduced. To that end, in the event of designing an object of design by a plurality of steps, the plurality of steps are displayed on a CRT display, judgment is made whether execution thereof is possible, and based on that judgment, executable steps are displayed in green, and non-executable steps are displayed in red. Setting of the parts necessary for design, and the setting of CAD tools started in the steps is performed by keyboard or mouse, and the steps of which the state has change are identified, and the color thereof is changed.