JPH02135516A - data processing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To visually clarify a selected item and to cancel the mental anxiety of a user by displaying at least one pulldown menu or above in a rectangle and selecting a basic menu and selecting another basic menu while displaying. CONSTITUTION:A picture 20 displayed at a display part is composed of a basic menu 21 and an editing work area 26. A pulldown menu 22 displayed when a basic menu is selected is displayed at the editing work area 26 and a key cursor 23 to change a selection item 25 is displayed. Respective editing programs in an editing work part display the basic menu 21, which becomes the basis of the document work, display the data in the rectangular frame respectively individually in the editing work area 26 and edit the document data individually in the window. In such a manner, the selected item is visually clarified and the mental anxiety of the user can be eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a data processing device for document creation and data processing, and particularly to means for easily selecting functions.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional function selection for document creation is based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-138.
As shown in Figure 2 of Publication No. 452, first, select the basic menu to display a pull-down menu, select an item in the displayed pull-down menu using the keyboard or mouse, and then select the item to execute. By selecting an area, you could select a function.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

With the conventional method described above, if you accidentally select another basic menu, you must first specify the cancel area and close the pull-down menu before you can select another basic menu, which is difficult to use. There was a face. Furthermore, in order to select a function using a pull-down menu, you must select the basic menu, select an item in the pull-down menu, select the execution area, and move the mouse to each location and select the instruction, or correspond to each selection. I had to press a key. For this reason, there is a problem that operations become complicated, and because the execution and cancellation areas are narrow, it is easy to make mistakes in instructions with the mouse. Furthermore, when selecting a function, the user feels uneasy because it is difficult to determine whether the item he or she intended has been selected.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention provides a basic menu for specifying basic functions of data editing and a pull-down menu for specifying functions of each item in the basic menu in a data processing device that creates documents and processes data. means for storing, means for retrieving and displaying the basic menu from the storage means, means for selecting the displayed basic menu, and displaying at least one of the pull-down menus within a rectangle from the storage means by selection of the basic menu. The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with means for extracting and displaying, and means for enabling selection of another basic menu while the pull-down menu is displayed.

[Effect]

With the above technical means, even if you accidentally select a different basic menu from the one you intended when selecting a function and open a pull-down menu, you can still select another basic menu in that state. The recovery operation is easy.

In addition, since there is always one selection item when the pull-down menu is displayed, if the item you want to select is already a selection item, you only need to select the basic menu again, so there is no need to move your hand to another position.

The burden on the user during data processing can be reduced.

Furthermore, even if the item you want to select is not a selected item, you can execute it by selecting the item you want to select, and by visually highlighting the selected item, you can eliminate the user's psychological anxiety. It is possible to provide a data processing device that is easy to operate.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a document creation device will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a document creation device according to the present invention, in which numeral 1 denotes an input unit using a keyboard for inputting characters, a pointing device such as a mouse for indicating an operation target, and 2 a character input unit.

A display section such as a CRT display for displaying figures, etc.; 3 a storage section such as a semiconductor memory or a magnetic storage device;
The contents of the created document are stored.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a control section using a microprocessor or the like for controlling each of the above-mentioned sections, including an input control section 52g and a work section 6. It is composed of a menu management section 7. In this embodiment, the editing work unit 6 creates and edits the document.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 2. The screen 20 is composed of a basic menu 21 and an editing work area 26. A pull-down menu 22 that is displayed when the basic menu is selected (hereinafter referred to as the selection menu 27)
is displayed in the editing work area 26. The pull-down menu 22 displays item names, the item selected within the system when the pull-down menu is displayed (hereinafter referred to as 1 selection item 25), and a key cursor 23 for changing the selection item 25. .

Each editing program in the editing work section 6 displays a basic menu 21 that is the basis of one document work, and an editing work area 26.
Data is displayed in each unique rectangular frame (hereinafter referred to as a window), and document data is individually edited within the window.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the input section 1. In this embodiment, there is a keyboard 10 that uses keys to give work instructions, and a mouse that gives work instructions directly on a screen 2o displayed on one display unit 2. The keyboard 10 includes a "basic menu selection" key 12 for selecting the basic menu 21 shown in FIG. 2, and an "up and down cursor" key 13 for moving the key cursor 23 in the pull-down menu 22 up and down to change the selected item. Keys: ``Specify'' key 141 for selecting and executing the function item at the position of the cursor 23; ``Execute'' key 159 for executing the selection item 25; It consists of a JIS standard "Japanese syllabary" key 17 for inputting 162 characters, and an "end" key 20 for ending the editing program. The mouse is composed of an execution button 18 (hereinafter referred to as the left mouse button) for selecting a function to be operated, etc., and a cancel button 19 (hereinafter referred to as the right mouse button) for canceling the selected operation target. The mouse cursor 24 in FIG. 2 moves within the screen 20 following the movement of the mouse by the operator, and is used to indicate an object to be operated within the screen 20.

Here, the input device shown in FIG. 3 has a key arrangement.

There are no special regulations regarding the number of keys, key positions, etc. Further, any input device may be used as long as it can realize the functions shown in this embodiment.

Each part constituting the control section 4 will be explained below.

4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the editing section 6, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the input control section 5, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the menu management section 7. Hereinafter, the process will be explained in order along the flow of the process.

In the editing work unit 6, first, in process 100, variables such as flags used in the system are initialized.

In this embodiment, rOJ is set in the menu mode, menu display flag, and pulldown open flag. In FIG. 5, the menu mode is a variable for determining whether a menu is being selected, and "O" means a state where a menu selection is not being made, and "1" means a state where a menu selection is being made. The menu display flag in FIG. 6 is a variable for determining whether or not to display the basic menu, and "0" indicates that the basic menu is displayed. "1" means not displayed. The pull-down oven flag is a flag that determines whether or not the pull-down menu is being displayed.
0" means not displayed, and "1" means displayed. In process 600, a window for editing and creation is opened, and in process 601, the storage location of the menu table 702o shown in FIG. 14 is set to MENU A.
Set to DR. In process 70, the menu management section 7 is requested to display the basic menu. Menu table 702
0° Menu management block 7030. Pulldown management block 7040. Each editing program within the editing work unit 6 has an area in the execution function area 705o.

The menu table 7020 includes a menu management block start address 7021 in which position information of a menu management block 7030 for managing the basic menu is stored.
and selection menu number 7 that stores the selection menu number.
051゜Selection item number 70 that stores the number 1 of the selection item
It consists of an execution function area start address 7022 in which position information of an execution function area 7050 consisting of 52 is stored.

The menu management block 7030 has the number of menus 7031 at the beginning, followed by the pull-down management block start address 7032 where the position information of the pull-down management block 7040 is stored, the number of items in the pull-down menu 7033. Item number of digits: 7034. Initial selection item number 7035. to ensure that selection item 25 is set when the pull-down menu is opened. Menu names 7036 are registered for the number of menus.

The pull-down management block 7o40 has an item number of digits 703.
The item name 7041 for 4 minutes is registered for the number of items 7033.

The menu management unit 7 performs processing 700 as shown in FIG.
It is determined whether the menu display flag is rOJ. If “0”, it is necessary to display the menu, so process 701
Displays the basic menu.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart for displaying the basic menu. In process 706, the menu number 7031 and menu name 7036 in the menu management block 7030 are referenced from the menu management block start address 7021 in the menu table 7020 shown in FIG. 14, and the menu name is displayed in the area of the basic menu 21. do. Furthermore, in step 708, partition lines are displayed between the basic menus as shown in FIG.

In process 701 of FIG. 6, after displaying the basic menu, process 7
At step 03, the menu display flag is set to "1".

After displaying the basic menu in step 7o in FIG. 4, the editing section 6 issues a key code request to the input control section 5 in step 602.

The input control section 5 is activated when there is a key code request from the editing section 6 and when the user gives an instruction from the input section 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the activated input control unit 5 checks the menu mode to determine whether a menu selection is being made in step 500. Menu mode rOJ indicates a state where no menu selection is made,
"1" indicates a state in which a menu selection is being made. When activated by the editing work section 6, since "0" has been set in process 100 in FIG. 4, the process moves to process 502. In process 502, it is determined whether the user has pressed the "r basic menu selection" key 12 in FIG. If the "basic menu selection" key is pressed, the menu mode is set to "1" in step 508, that is, a state in which menu selection is being performed, and the menu management section 7 is activated in step 71. In process 502, if it is not the "basic menu selection" key,
In process 504, it is determined whether the user's input is from the keyboard 10 or the mouse. In the case of a keyboard, the input key is converted into a key code in step 516, and the key code is delivered to the editing section 6 in 518. If the user's input is from a mouse in process 504, it is determined in process 506 whether the position of the mouse cursor 24 is within the basic menu area 21, and if it is within the area, in process 508. Set menu mode to “1”
Then, in process 71, the menu management section 7 is activated. If it is outside the area, the key code is passed to the editing section 6 through processes 516 and 518. In process 500, when the menu mode is "1", that is, menu selection is being performed, the menu management section 7 is activated in process 71.

In the menu management section 7, as shown in FIG.
0 determines the menu display flag. Processing 70 in FIG.
Since the basic menu flag is set to "1" in the process, the process moves to process 710. In process 710, it is determined whether the user's input is from the keyboard or the mouse. In the case of input from a keyboard, processing according to the key code is performed in process 72.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the key operation 72. In process 720, the key code is changed to "
It is determined whether the "basic menu selection" key 12 is selected, and if it is the "basic menu selection" key, it is checked in step 721 whether the pull-down menu 22 shown in FIG. 2 is displayed.

If it is not displayed, in step 725 the basic menu corresponding to the key is displayed in the selection menu 27 as shown in FIG.
In step 726, the selected basic menu number (hereinafter referred to as the selection menu number) is set to the selection menu number 7051 in the execution function area 7o50 shown in FIG. Next, in process 727, a pull-down menu display process is performed, and in process 728, the return code is set to "continue menu selection process".

Figure 1 is a flowchart when displaying a pull-down menu.

In process 7o01, menu management block 7 in FIG.
The size of the pull-down menu is calculated from the number of items 7033 and the number of item digits 7034 in 030, a window that fits the size is displayed, and in process 7002, the items in the pull-down management block 7040 are displayed from the pull-down management block start address 7o32. Name 7041 is displayed in the window.

Next, process 700 for making the item indicated by the initial selection item number 7035 in the menu management block 7030 a selection item.
3) Execute initial selection item number 7035 in function area 70
Set selection item number 7o52 in 50 (processing 70
04). In process 7005, the key cursor 23 is displayed at the initial selection item position, and finally, in process 7006, the pull-down open flag is set to "1".

In the above pull-down menu display process, by always setting the initial selection item, if the initial selection item is the same as the item the operator is trying to select, the selection will be made by the process 722, 723, 724 of FIG. 7, which will be explained later. Processing can be simplified.

Furthermore, by resetting the initial selection item number 7035 to a previously selected number or a frequently used number within the system, usability is further improved.

If the pull-down menu has already been displayed in process 721 of FIG. 7, the pull-down menu is deleted in process 722, and the pressed "basic menu selection" is
It is determined whether the basic menu number 7051 of the key and the selection menu number 7051 are the same. If they are the same, in step 724, the return code is set to indicate that the menu selection process has been completed and that it has been executed. By this process, when the pull-down menu is displayed, the function you want to select is already selected as selection item 2.
In the case of No. 5, the function can be selected by pressing the basic menu key corresponding to the displayed pull-down menu, so the function can be selected with a simple operation. Processing 72
If different in 3, process 725, 726, 727, 7
28, and a pull-down menu corresponding to the designated "basic menu selection" key is displayed. With this process, if the user opens another pull-down menu by mistake, it is possible to open another pull-down menu without canceling the previous pull-down menu, making it easier to recover from the user's mistake. I have to. In process 720, if the key is other than the "basic menu selection" key, in process 729 it is determined whether the key code is a "designation" key.

In the case of the "specify" key, in process 737, the selected item 25 is changed to unselected item 28 as shown in FIG. 15, and in process 738
, the function item where the key cursor 23 is located is set to the selection item 29. In process 739.

The execution function area 70 shows the selected item number as shown in FIG.
50 is set to selection item number 7052, and a waiting time of 500 ms is created in process 740.

FIG. 16 shows a flowchart for creating a 500m5 wait. In process 7401, the number of loops for 500 ms is set, in process 7402, 1 is subtracted from the number of loops, and in process 7403, it is determined whether the number of loops has reached rOJ, and if it has not reached rOJ, Processing 7402 is performed again. In the case of rOJ, the process ends.

In this embodiment, the waiting time was set to 500 m5, but this waiting time is not particularly defined. Also,
In this embodiment, the method of displaying the selected items is changed to notify the operator of the selected items, but a message or the like may also be used to notify the operator of the selected items.

After process 740, the pull-down menu is deleted in process 741, and in process 742, the return code is set to indicate that the menu selection process has been completed and that it has been executed. This process makes it clear to the operator which item is selected, even if the key cursor and selection are different, without worrying about not knowing which item is selected until the function is executed. You can eliminate the feeling. Further, if it is possible to accept cancellation while displaying this selection item, incorrect operations can be avoided.

In process 729, if the key is other than "specified", process 730
Determine whether the key code is the "execute" key. "execution"
In the case of a key, processes 741 and 742 are performed.

In process 730, if the key is other than "r run", process 731
, it is determined whether the key code is the "r cancel" key. "cancel"
In the case of a key, the pull-down menu is deleted in process 735, and in process 736, the return code is set to indicate that the menu selection process has been completed and that it has been canceled.

If it is determined in process 731 that the key is not the "r cancel" key, then in process 732 it is determined whether the key is either the upper or lower "cursor" key. In the case of the "cursor" key, the key cursor is moved either up or down in step 733, and "menu selection continues" is set in the return code in step 734. [cursor"
If the key is not a key, processing 734 is performed and the process ends.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mouse button OFF→ON process 75 in FIG. 6, which is activated when the left mouse button 18 in FIG. 3 is pressed. First, process 750
, the mouse cursor position changes to basic menu 21 in Figure 2.
If the pull-down menu has already been opened in process 751 and the mouse cursor is located outside the basic menu that is currently open in process 752, this means that another basic menu has been selected, so the pull-down menu cannot be deleted. Process 753), Set the basic menu at the mouse cursor position to the selection menu Process 754), Set the selected menu number to the selection menu number 7051 in the execution function area 705o shown in FIG. 14 (Process 755), and finally In process 756, "Continue menu selection" is set in the return code.

In process 752, if the basic menu is open,
Since the function item currently being selected and displayed has been selected, in step 756, the return code is set to "Continue menu selection" without changing the state.

If the pull-down menu is not displayed yet in process 751, it is newly selected, so processes 754 and 75 are performed.
Do 5,756.

If the mouse cursor position is outside the basic menu area in process 750, it is determined in process 757 whether it is within the pull-down menu, and if it is within the pull-down menu, the function item is selected, so the key cursor is moved to the function item where the mouse cursor is located. After making the selected item an unselected item (processing 759), making the item at the key cursor position a selected item (processing 760), moving the selected item number to the selected item number 7052 in the execution function area 7050. Set. Finally, processing 756 is performed.

In process 757, if it is outside the pull-down menu, it means that the displayed pull-down menu has been canceled, so the process 762) cancels the pull-down menu, and sets "menu selection end" and "cancel" to the return code (process 763).

FIG. 9 shows the mouse button ON-+ON processing 7 in FIG. 6 that is activated when the mouse cursor 24 is moved using the mouse while the left mouse button 18 in FIG. 73 is pressed.
7 is a flowchart showing the operation of step 7. FIG. Processing 770
The position where the left mouse button is pressed is determined, and if it is within the basic menu, it is determined whether the pull-down menu is being displayed (771), and if it is being displayed, the basic menu corresponding to the currently displayed pull-down menu is being selected. Therefore, please set "Continue menu selection" in the return code.
82) Finish.

In process 771, if the pull-down menu is not displayed, the mouse cursor 24 is determined to be in the basic menu when the left mouse button is pressed (process 772),
If it is in the basic menu, change it to the selection menu 77
6) If it is outside the basic menu, set it to an unselected menu (
Process 774) Process 782 is performed.

In process 770, if the position when the left mouse button was turned on is within the pull-down menu, the current mouse cursor position is determined to be within the pull-down menu (process 777).
, if it is in a pull-down menu, move the key cursor to the item where the mouse cursor is located (process 778), make the selected item an unselected item (process 779), and then make the item at the key cursor position a selected item (process 780) , Execute the selected item number Selected item number 705 of function area 7050
2 (process 781), and if in process 777 the current mouse cursor position is outside the pull-down menu, only process 782 is performed.

Figure 10 shows the mouse button 0N- in Figure 6 that is activated when the left mouse button in Figure 3 is released from the pressed state.
) is a flowchart showing the operation of the OF process 79. In process 790, the mouse cursor position when the left mouse button is turned on is determined, and if it is within the pull-down menu, it is determined whether the current mouse cursor position is also within the pull-down menu (process 798), and whether it is within the pull-down menu. For example, since the item currently pointed to by the mouse cursor has been selected, the pull-down menu is deleted (process 793), and the return code is set to "end of menu selection" and "execute" (process 794).

In process 798, if it is outside the pull-down menu, set the return code to "Continue menu selection" (process 7
96).

In process 790, if it is inside the basic menu, it is determined whether the current mouse cursor position is inside the basic menu when the button was turned on (process 791), and if it is inside the basic menu, if the pull-down menu is being displayed (process 792) Since the selected item has been selected and executed, the pull-down menu is deleted (process 793), and the return code is set to "menu selection completed" and "execute" (process 794).

In process 792, if the pull-down menu is not displayed, it means that a new basic menu has been selected, so the pull-down menu is displayed (process 795), and the return code is set to ``Continue menu selection J'' (process 7).
96) By displaying the pull-down menu when the button is OFF in this way, you can move the mouse cursor to the item you are trying to select in the pull-down menu without releasing your hand from the button. This allows you to avoid erroneous operations such as when you release the button and select a different item than you intended.

In process 791, if the mouse cursor is off the basic menu when the button was turned on, it is determined whether the pull-down menu is displayed (process 797), and if the pull-down menu is displayed, "continue menu selection processing" ( Process 796), and if it is not displayed, it is "cancelled" (Process 799).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart when deleting the pull-down menu. In process 70, the selected menu is set to an unselected menu, in process 7012, the pull-down open flag is set to "0", and in process 7o13,
Clear the pull-down menu window.

When the process 71 in FIG. 5 is completed, the process 510
If the return code is determined in step 512 and the selection of 5 menus continues, the process ends and the next input from input section 1 is waited for. If the menu selection has been completed, the menu mode is set to rOJ in process 512, In process 514, it is further determined whether the return code indicates whether the menu "Cancel" is "Execute".

If it is "Cancel", it ends, and if it is "Execute", it is processed in step 516.
Convert it to the key code I- of "menu selection" and process 5.
At step 18, it is passed to the editing section 6.

When a key code is requested from the input control unit 5 in process 602 in FIG. 4, when the user inputs the key code using the keyboard 10 or the mouse in FIG. It is converted into a key code and passed to processing 602.

For example, when the user presses the "end" key 20 in FIG.
If it is the “end” key, process 6.
At step 08, the window for editing the document is deleted. If the key is other than the "end" key, in step 606, editing work is performed according to the key code.

〔Effect of the invention〕

With the above technical means, even if you accidentally select a basic menu other than the one you intended when selecting a function and open a pull-down menu, you can still select another basic menu in that state. This makes the recovery operation easy.

In addition, there is always one selection item when the down menu is displayed, so if the item you want to select is already selected, you can simply select the basic menu again, so there is no need to move your hand to another position. , it is possible to reduce the burden on the user during data processing. Furthermore, even if the item you want to select is not selected, you can execute it by selecting the item you want to select, and by making the selected item visually clear, it eliminates the user's psychological anxiety and makes it easier to operate. A data processing device can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram when applied to the document creation device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen on the display unit, and FIG.
4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the editing section, FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the input control section, FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the menu management section, and FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the input control section. is a flowchart showing the operation when a key is pressed, Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the operation when the left mouse button is turned on from OFF, and Figure 9 is a flowchart when the mouse is moved with the left mouse button in the ON state. Figure 10 is a flowchart that shows the operation when the left mouse button is turned from ON to OFF, Figure 1 is a flowchart that shows the operation when opening the pull-down menu, and Figure 12 is the flowchart that shows the operation when the pull-down menu is closed. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation when displaying the basic menu, FIG. 14 is a table configuration diagram for displaying the basic menu, pull-down menu, and setting executed function items, FIG. 15 is a diagram showing items selected when the designation key is pressed, and FIG. 16 is a wait time creation flowchart. 1... Input section, 2... Display section, 3... Storage section, 4
. . . control section, 5 . . . input control section, 6 . . . editing work section, menu management section. Bird 4 concave tail'l concave 6 pattern 5 (lb 2'1 till L 447?,!+h'+

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a data processing device that creates documents or processes data, a basic menu that specifies the basic functions of data editing and the functions of each item in the basic menu are specified. means for storing a pull-down menu; means for retrieving and displaying the basic menu from the storage means; means for selecting the displayed basic menu; A data processing device comprising: means for displaying data retrieved from a storage means; and means for making it possible to select another basic menu while displaying the pull-down menu. 2. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for setting at least one selection item when displaying the pull-down menu. 3. In the data processing device according to claim 1, while the pull-down menu is being displayed, selection within the pull-down menu is made by selecting, by the selection means, a basic menu corresponding to the pull-down menu being displayed. A data processing device characterized by comprising means for selecting and executing an item. 4. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for selecting and executing an item by selecting an item in the pull-down menu using the selection means. Device. 5. A data processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for displaying items to be selected and executed for a certain period of time.