PURPOSE: To smooth operation for proceeding from minirough to rough layout and to improve layout editing efficiency by processing layout information generated with the minirough in spread page units.

CONSTITUTION: A minirough display picture is formed on a display device 4 by the 1st layout drawing means 1a based on the total number of characters, character sizes, the number of columns, and the number of lines inputted on a keyboard 2a. Namely, columns 12a and 12b are displayed in a page frame 11a, columns 13aW13d are displayed in a page frame 11b, and columns 14a and 14b are displayed in a page frame 11c. Then, the page frame 11b is selected by using a pointing device 2b and enlarged and displayed on the display device 4 by an image magnifying means 1b to obtain a minirough selection picture. Then, the left upper point P1 of the column 13d is picked by using the pointing device 2b and moved by a column moving means 1c to a point P2 as a movement destination to obtain a column-moved ruled-line picture. Then, diagonal points Q3 and Q4 are indicated with a color belt 21 and the 2nd drawing means 1d draws a photograph frame 22.