Patent US 5,499,331

A document processing system for generating a layout structure of a document so as to conform to predetermined restriction conditions relating to document layout. Upon generating the layout structure, a detection unit detects whether or not the current document layout structure conforms to the restriction conditions. When the detection unit detects an unconformity between the layout structure and the restriction conditions, a backtrack range determining unit determines desired one of constituent elements forming the document logical structure for layout to be restarted taking a backtrack influence range into consideration.