Method and apparatus for processing a document by utilizing an image

Abstract

A document processor for processing a document image which includes both a table formed by a plurality of ruled lines, and characters to generate vector data defining the ruled lines comprises an image input device for reading an image of the document, a display for displaying the document image and a processor for processing the document image. The processor corrects a skew of the input document image, detects a successive black pixel area included in the skew-corrected image, detects a character area based on a size of a rectangle which circumscribes the successive black pixel area, and converts the image to a second document image having characters deleted and including only the ruled lines. Those line segments detected by horizontally scanning the second document image which are longer than a predetermined threshold are determined as horizontal temporary lines, and those segments detected by vertically scanning the second document image which are longer than a predetermined threshold are determined as vertical temporary lines, and data defining positons and sizes of those lines are stored. A plurality of horizontal temporary lines which are adjacent to each other are consolidated into one solid line and defining data for the horizontal ruled lines are determined. Similarly, a plurality of vertical temporary lines are consolidated and defining data for the vertical ruled lines are determined.