JP2726408B2 - Help information display device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a help function, and more particularly to a help information control method suitable for realizing a help function in integrated software including a plurality of application programs, and an apparatus therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an information processing apparatus, it is widely used to provide a help function as a means for giving effective information to a user when the user cannot understand how to operate the information processing apparatus. .

An example of a help function in a conventional information processing apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-179016. That is, when the user falls into an unknown operation state, for example, by pressing a specific key on the keyboard, the program executed by the information processing apparatus responds to the message output to the display apparatus immediately before that. The help information to be performed, that is, information about the operation is displayed on the display device.

[0004] In the help function of integrated software comprising a plurality of application programs, there is a mechanism for realizing the help function independently for each application program.

[0005]

The above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, only the help information corresponding to the message output immediately before can be provided, and when the help function is requested at any time, the help information reflecting the detailed state of the application program cannot be provided.

[0006] In addition, in integrated software comprising a plurality of application programs, each application program has a similar mechanism for realizing a help function, which complicates the mechanism of each application program and increases the help function. Is realized between the application programs, and the total program capacity of the integrated software as a whole increases.

Further, since the integrated software has an independent help function mechanism for each application program, it is impossible to refer to help information belonging to an application program other than the one currently being executed. is there.

As described above, according to the conventional method, the mechanism of the help function of each application program is complicated, the total capacity of the integrated software as a whole is increased, and help information is referred to across different application programs. There was a problem that it was difficult.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a help information display device which displays help information reflecting the state of an application program when a help function is requested.

Another object of the present invention is to increase the total capacity of the integrated software program by simplifying the mechanism of the help function in each application program and providing the help function in the integrated software including a plurality of application programs. Another object of the present invention is to provide a help information display device which can refer to help information belonging to an application program other than the one executed when the help function was activated.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-window system which implements a help function for displaying a help message corresponding to an application program which always displays the foreground window. Minimize the burden,
For adding or changing the function of the application program,
An object of the present invention is to provide a help information display device capable of easily changing the display content of a help message.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object,
The present invention provides, for example, a CPU, a memory unit, an input unit,
A help information display device for displaying help information on said display means of an information processing apparatus provided with a display means, said plurality of application programs being respectively executed by said CPU and interrupted in response to a help request from said input means And an operating system program executed by the CPU to control the information processing device and manage help message data corresponding to the execution state of each application program, and a set of a program identifier and a message identifier for each of the application programs And a first area in the memory means for storing a plurality of sets of the program identifier and the message identifier which are activated in response to the help request and executed by the CPU, and refer to a set of the stored program identifier and message identifier. The corresponding help message Searching Jideta providing help information display device characterized by comprising a Help program supplied to the display means.

[0013]

In the help information display device according to the present invention,
An operating system program manages help message data corresponding to an execution state of each application program, and the help program is started in response to a help request and stores the set of the stored program identifier and message identifier. The help message data corresponding to the set is retrieved with reference to the data, supplied to the display means, and displayed.

Therefore, by centrally managing the help function in a plurality of application programs,
An increase in the total capacity of the integrated software program can be minimized.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is a preferred embodiment for a document editing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a document editing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a central processing unit (hereinafter, CPU),
It executes programs related to document editing and controls peripheral devices. Reference numeral 2 denotes a main memory (hereinafter, referred to as MM), which stores a processing program related to document editing and data related thereto. The programs to be executed by the CPU 1 include a resident program that is always stored in the MM 2 and a program that is usually stored in a hard disk drive (hereinafter, HD) 13.
There are non-resident programs that are rolled in to MM2 or rolled out from MM2 to HD 13 as needed. 3 is a random access memory for video
VRAM), and includes a display unit 3a whose contents are displayed on the display device 7, and a non-display unit 3b used for temporarily saving data displayed on the display device 7.

Instructions such as editing and printing, activation of a help function, and inputting of a document are performed by a keyboard (hereinafter, KB).
4. Performed via the mouse 5. Reference numeral 6 denotes a display controller (hereinafter, CRTC), which is a display device (hereinafter, CTC) for displaying a screen for performing a document editing operation.
RT) 7 is performed. The contents of the display unit 3a of the VRAM 3 are displayed on the CRT 7. Reference numeral 8 denotes a printer controller (hereinafter, PRC), which is a wire for outputting documents and the like.
Printer device such as a dot printer (hereinafter, WDP) 9
Is controlled. Reference numeral 10 denotes a floppy disk controller (hereinafter, referred to as FDC), which controls a floppy disk drive (hereinafter, referred to as FD) 11 for reading and storing document data from / to a floppy disk. Reference numeral 12 denotes a hard disk controller (hereinafter, HD)
C), a program related to document editing, document data,
And a hard disk drive (hereinafter, HD) 13 for reading and saving help data. Reference numeral 14 denotes a bus for performing communication between the peripheral devices 2 to 13 and the CPU 1.

FIG. 4 shows a software configuration of the document editing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG.
Reference numeral 08 denotes an application program (hereinafter, AP) related to document editing. Reference numerals 401 to 406 denote editing programs for editing text, graphics, graphs, tables, and images, and a layout editing program for editing each document created by the respective editing programs into one document. 407 is a program for printing a document, and 408 is a help program for realizing a help function. The above programs 401 to 408 are controlled by an operating system program (hereinafter, OS) 409 as independent tasks. OS40
Reference numeral 9 performs basic task control and input / output control to control for realizing a multi-window on a CRT screen. Further, each AP and OS is loaded into the apparatus by a program embedding processing program 410 for initial processing.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the help data search table of the document editing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The help data search table 501 stores, based on a program number 502 as a program identifier representing the type of the AP and a message number 503 as a message identifier uniquely representing the state of each AP, help information corresponding to the type and the state of the AP. This is a table for searching the help data storage start position 504 on the HD 13 where the help data exists. Each help data search table 501 contains
Each time P is incorporated into the document editing apparatus, the storage location of the help data belonging to the AP is automatically registered.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of a help window displayed on the screen 601 of the CRT 7 by activating the help function in this embodiment. A help window 602 displays help information given to the user.
Specifically, display data 605 of the help data is displayed. Reference numeral 603 denotes a rectangular area defined by the control data of the help data, which will be described in the description of FIG. Reference numeral 604 denotes a mouse cursor operated by the mouse 5. Reference numeral 606 denotes an end click box for instructing the end of the help function using the mouse 5.

FIG. 7 shows the structure of help data in this embodiment. The help data 701 includes a display data section 702 and a control data section 703. The display data section 702 stores text data 7 to be displayed as help information.
04. The control data unit 703 moves the mouse cursor 604 into a rectangular area 603 in the help window, and presses a mouse button provided on the mouse 5, that is, clicks on the mouse button to display another help data. , The coordinate value 70 of the diagonal point of the rectangular area 603
5a and 705b, and a program number 706 and a message number 707 which define the target help data. The user refers to the help data 605 displayed in the help window 602 and designates a character string in the rectangular area 603 defined by the control data unit 703, so that other help data is referred to between different APs. A possible mechanism is realized.

Next, a case where the help function is realized in the document editing apparatus having the system configuration according to the embodiment described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the mechanism of the help function in the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a processing flowchart of the help program.

First, referring to FIG. 1, the processing up to the start of the help program 110 will be described. The operating system program (OS) 101 corresponding to the OS 409 registers the program number 103 of the AP 102 in the help status table 104 when the application program (AP) 102 corresponding to the APs 401 to 408 is activated ( 105). It should be noted that the help status table 104 includes information on each AP 102 and OS 101
From the common area 106 on the MM2 from which data can be read and written at all times. In addition, each AP 102 registers a message number 107 indicating a status of the AP (for example, executing a character string copying function) in the help status table 104 at a predetermined time, for example, in the AP 102 that creates a text document. (108). The AP 102 determines its own state and generates a message number at the time of activation of each function and at the time of changing the display screen as necessary.
register. In this manner, the AP program number 103 currently being executed and the message number 107 of each AP
Are always registered in the help status table 104.

When the help key is pressed (109), the OS
101 interrupts the AP 102 being executed and starts the help program 110 (111). When the help program 110 is started, the help status table 104
Are saved before the help program is started.

Next, referring to FIG.
The processing of No. 10 will be described. Activated help program 1
10 opens a help window 602 for displaying the help data shown in FIG. 6 (step 11).
2). Then, the program number 103 and the message number 1 of the AP immediately before the help program is started
07 is read from the help status table 104 (step 113). Next, the program number 103 and the message number 10 read from the help status table 104 using the help data search table 501 shown in FIG.
7 is used as a search key to search for the storage location of the corresponding help data 701 in the HD 13 as shown in FIG. 7 (step 114). Then, the help data 701
Is read (step 115), the control data 703 of the help data 701 is stored (step 116), and the display data 702 is displayed in the help window 602 (step 117). While the help data is being displayed, the mouse cursor 6
04 (step 118), the coordinate values 705 of the control data 703 stored in step 116
Is referred to (step 119). Then, the designated position is determined (Step 120), and if the inside of the rectangular area 603 specified by the control data 703 is designated, the program number 706 and the message number 707 corresponding to the rectangular area 603 are obtained ( Step 121),
The help data corresponding to the program number 706 and the message number 707 are searched again by the help data search table 501 (step 114) and displayed in the help window 602 (step 117).

If the end box 606 is designated by the mouse cursor 604, the help program 11
0 closes the help window 602 (step 1
22), the end of the help program 110 is notified to the OS 101 (step 123). The OS 101 terminates the help program 110 and resumes the execution of the AP 102 that has been interrupted.

According to this embodiment, the AP 102 and the OS 1
01, a help status table 104 is provided in a common area 106 in which reading and writing are always possible.
Program number 1 representing the type of the AP at the time of startup of 102
03 is registered in the help state table 104, and a mechanism for registering the message number 107 indicating the execution state of the AP in the help state table 104 as appropriate is provided. And the help program started by the help key is
By displaying help data corresponding to the program number 103 and the message number 107 registered in the help status table 104 to realize the help function, each AP 102 appropriately changes its status to the help status table 104.
When the help function is requested, it is possible to provide help information reflecting a more detailed state of the AP 102. Also, each A
It is possible to simplify the mechanism of the help function in P102 and minimize the increase in the total program capacity of the entire document editing apparatus due to the provision of the help function. further,
By adding the control data 703 to the help data 701, the user refers to the help data 605 displayed in the help window 602, and designates the inside of the rectangular area 603 defined by the control data 703, thereby providing another help. Data can be referenced across different APs.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is different from the previous embodiment in that after the help window is opened, the help data search table 501 is used to search for the storage location of the help data in the HD 13, and when the help data is read, the help data is replaced with the help data search table 501. Use a management table. That is, the help data management table in the present embodiment includes a program number indicating the type of each AP,
This is a table for associating the help data of the P with the storage position on the HD 13, and is stored at a predetermined position on the HD 13. Note that the help data in the embodiment is a set of help message data.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration. The help data management table 801 holds a storage position 803 of the help data corresponding to the program number 802 indicating the type of each AP. APs 401 to 407 (Fig. 4)
Of the help data is registered at an offset position from the top of the help data management table corresponding to the value of the program number 802 indicating the type of each AP.

FIG. 9A shows the configuration of the AP in this embodiment. Each AP 901 includes a program section 902 and a help data section 903, and a help data section 903.
Exists for each AP 901 as data in each AP 902. Further, the storage position of the help data portion 903 in the AP 901 is described at the head 904 of the AP 901 by an offset position from the head of the AP 901. The help data section 903 includes one help message search table 905 and one or more help message data 90.
6, the help message search table 905 is
It is at the beginning of the help data 903.

FIG. 9B shows the structure of the help message search table 905 in this embodiment. This table stores the message number 90 from the message number 907.
7 is a table for searching a storage position 908 of the help message data 906 corresponding to No. 7; The help message data storage position 908 is indicated by an offset position from the head of the help data section 903 in FIG. 9A. Note that the configurations of the help window and the help message data in the present embodiment are the same as those in the previous embodiment, and thus the description is omitted. Please refer to FIG. 6 and FIG.

Next, the help function processing in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a process of registering the help data storage location 803 in the help data management table 801 in the present embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a process for searching for and displaying a help message. It is a figure for explaining.

In FIG. 10, the AP 901 is provided in a form stored in a floppy disk 1006. The program embedding processing program 1001 (corresponding to 410 in FIG. 4) uses the FD 11 (FIG. 3) to execute the AP 901. Is read from the floppy disk 1006 and stored in the program storage area 1007 on the HD 13 (step 1).
002). The program embedding processing program 1001 is:
A help data storage position 904 described at the head of the AP 901 to be incorporated is obtained (step 1003). Since the help data storage position 904 is described by an offset value from the head of the AP 901, the storage position of the help data 903 on the HD 13 is calculated from the offset value 904 and the position on the HD 13 where the AP 901 is actually stored. Is calculated (step 1004). Next, the calculated storage location is stored in the help data management table 801.
Is registered at a position corresponding to the program number 802 (FIG. 8) of the AP 901 (step 1005).

Next, processing for displaying a help message in FIG. 11 will be described. When the help key is pressed, the OS and the executing AP 1101 are notified that the help key has been pressed. The AP 1101 receives this notification (Step 1102), and performs an input determination process (Step 1).
103), the help program 40 shown in FIG.
8 is started. The started help program opens a help window 602 for displaying help data shown in FIG. 6 (step 1104). In addition,
In this figure, steps 1104 to 1117 indicate a help program. The help program according to the present embodiment includes the help program 110 (see FIG. 2) according to the previous embodiment, and steps 1105 to 1111.
Only in that

First, in step 1105, the help data management table 801 is read, and the AP 1101 is read.
Help data section 9 corresponding to program number 802 of
The storage position 803 on the HD 13 is acquired (step 1106). Next, the help data section 90
Help message search table 90 existing at the top of 3
5 is read (step 1107), and the storage position 908 of the help message data 906 corresponding to the message number 907 defined in advance by the AP 1101 is obtained (step 1108). This message number 907 is determined by the help status table 1 of the first embodiment described above.
04 can be used. Help message data 9
06 is described by an offset value from the head of the help data section 903, the storage position 908 of the help message section 903 is obtained from the offset value 908 and the storage position 803 of the help data section 903 on the HD 13. The position on the HD 13 is calculated (step 11
09). From the reading step 1110 of the next help message data 906, the subsequent steps are performed in step 11 of the previous embodiment.
5 to 123 (FIG. 2), and a description thereof will be omitted.

According to the present embodiment, the AP 901 (9A)
Each time the figure 901 is incorporated into a document editing device or the like, the
Is registered in the help data management table 801 (FIG. 8) where the help data 903 is stored, and control data 703 (FIG. 7) is added to help message data 906 displayed as help information. In the displayed help message 605 (FIG. 6), by pointing within the rectangular area 603 defined by the control data section 703, other help message data can be referred to between different APs. That is, in this embodiment, in the integrated software composed of a plurality of APs, each time each AP is incorporated into an information processing apparatus such as a document editing apparatus, the storage location of the help message of the AP is changed to each A.
By registering in a help data management table provided in a memory area common to Ps, a mechanism that can refer to other help messages between different APs can be realized.

Although the help data management table is provided in the memory area common to the APs in this embodiment, the help program is stored in one AP 40 as in the previous embodiment.
In the case where the help data management table 8 is independent, the help data management table does not need to be present in the memory area common to each AP.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The feature of the present embodiment is an embodiment that realizes a help function of always displaying a help screen for the foreground window in a multi-window system. That is, in the present embodiment, the program number and the message number of the AP using the window are set in the window management block having a list structure for managing the status information of each window displayed on the display screen. It is something to keep. The help function in this embodiment will be described using the help data search table 501 in the first embodiment. However, the help function is based on the help data management table 801 and the help message search table 905 in the second embodiment. Needless to say, there is no problem.

A screen 1 shown in FIG.
An operation method of the multi-window system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to a multi-window display example on 201. In this embodiment, a window control method for displaying a window as shown in FIG. 12 in a one-to-one correspondence with each AP is considered.
Reference numerals 1202 and 1206 denote window display examples. Here, an editing operation can be performed only on the window 1202 displayed on the foreground. The editing operation and the window operation can be performed by moving the mouse cursor 1203 which is moved by moving the mouse 5 on the pointing target and pressing the mouse 5 button. In the window, the contents of the editing data and the pointing object 1204 of the mouse are displayed. When the user points an area called an end box 1205 with the mouse 5, the AP 1 which is currently opening the window deletes the window and executes the editing process. finish.
In addition, when the window 1206 behind is pointed by the mouse 5, the window 1202 instructed is displayed on the foreground, and the editing operation of the AP using the window can be performed.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a window management block for holding information such as the attributes and status of each window in order to realize the above-described multi-window control. Window management block 1300 for each window
Are linked by a link pointer 1302 from the foreground pointer 1301 in the overlapping order of the windows, a program number 1303 indicating a program using each window, window type information 1304 indicating a window type, a displayed window Window size / position information 1305 for holding the display position and display size in the screen, and a help message number 1306 of the help to be displayed. Frontmost pointer 13
01 and the value of the link pointer 1302 are set to “0” when the following window management block 1300 does not exist.

In this embodiment, the storage area of the program number 1303 and the message number 1306 in each window management block 1300 corresponds to the help status table 104 in the first embodiment, and therefore, the help status for each window The table 104 will exist.

Next, a description will be given of a method for realizing the help function of the present embodiment having the system configuration described above in the fourteenth embodiment.
This is performed using FIG. 15 and FIG.

FIG. 14 is a view for explaining the help control processing of the OS in this embodiment, and FIG. 15 is a processing flow of a help program for actually displaying a help message using a window.

First, the processing up to the start of the help program 1403 will be described with reference to FIG.
The OS 1401 responds to the operation from the user by the AP 1402
(Step 1410), the AP 1402 requests the OS 1401 to open a window (14).
30). In contrast, the OS 1401 sets the window to C
In addition to displaying on the foreground of the RT screen (step 1411), a window management block 1300 is created, the value of the foreground pointer 1301 is set to the link pointer 1302 of the created window management block 1300, and then the value of the foreground pointer 1301 Is changed to indicate the created window management block, and the created window management block is inserted at the top of the list (step 141).
2).

At this time, the window management block 1
The program number of the AP 1402 that requested to open the window is set in the program number field 1307 of 300 (step 1413), and the help message number 1306 is set to “0” as a default (step 1414).

The AP 1402 responds to the internal state by
When a help message change request is issued in step S1401 (step 1431), the OS 1401 obtains a window management block 1300 having the same program number 1303 as the requested AP number by examining the list from the frontmost pointer 1301 to check the list. (Step 14
15), AP 14 is added to the help message number 1306.
The number specified by 02 is set (step 1416).

When the window behind is designated by the mouse 5, the OS 1401 displays the window on the foreground (step 1417), and at the same time, reconnects the window management block to the top of the list (step 1418). ).

The AP displaying the window requests the OS 1401 to delete the window (step 1).
432), the OS 1401 deletes the window from the screen of the CRT 7 (step 1419) and deletes the corresponding window management block from the list (step 1420).

When the help key is pressed, the OS 1401 suspends the running AP 1402, and the help program 1
403 is started (step 1421), and this help program displays a help message for the foreground window.

Next, the processing flow 1501 of the help program 1403 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The activated help program 1403 is:
First, when the help program 1403 is activated, the OS 1401 requests the OS 1401 to acquire the information of the help message in the foreground window (step 1502). OS140
1 corresponds to the program number 130 from the window management block 1300 indicated by the foreground pointer 1301.
3 and the message number 1306 are read out and notified to the help program 1403.

Next, the OS 1401 opens a window for displaying a help message (step 1503).
On the basis of the obtained program number 1303 and help message number 1306, the help data search table 50
1 (refer to FIG. 5), the storage position 504 of the corresponding help message data on the HD 13 is obtained (step 1504), and the help message data is transferred from the HD 13 to the M.
Read to M2 (step 1505). A help message is displayed in the window based on the last read data (step 1506), and waits for an input from the user. Here, when the end box of the window is designated by the mouse 5, the help program 1403 requests the OS 1401 to close the window and end (step 150).
7). The OS 1401 erases the window, terminates the help program 1403, and resumes the operation of the AP 1402.

FIG. 16 shows a modification of the mechanism for determining a help message to be displayed in the present invention in addition to the above-described embodiment.

First, a help status table 1603 for storing a program number 1604 and a message number 1605 is provided for each window 1202 (FIG. 12) displayed on the CRT screen. Then, a current pointer 1602 that points to a field corresponding to the window 1202 displayed on the foreground is provided. Each window management block 16 connected in order by the forefront pointer 1301 and the link pointer 1302
00, a status table pointer 1601 that points to a field of the help status table 1603 corresponding to each window 1202 is provided. Help status table 160
3 in the window 1202
A that displayed the window 1202 when was displayed
Program numbers of P401 to 408 are set. This setting is performed via the status table pointer 1601 of the window management block 1600.

Each of the APs 401 to 408 stores the message number corresponding to the execution state in the current pointer 160.
2 is set in the field in the message number 1605 pointed to. Then, when the help function is requested, the help program acquires the program number 1604 and the message number 1605 from the field of the help status table 1603 pointed to by the current pointer 1602, retrieves the corresponding message data 906, and displays it. In this modification, the help status table 1603 is used.
Is provided in a storage area on the MM2 provided commonly to the plurality of APs 401 to 408.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been made using the program number and the message number as the program identifier and the message identifier stored in the help status table.
It is sufficient that each AP can be uniquely identified, such as an address on a fixed disk in which the APs 1 to 408 themselves are stored, or an address of a table or the like that manages the APs 401 to 408. Similarly, the message identifier is the same as the address on the fixed disk where the message is stored.
It is sufficient if each message can be uniquely identified.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the integrated software composed of a plurality of application programs, each application program is provided with a help status table for registering its execution status, and is activated by pressing a help key. By realizing the help function by displaying the help data corresponding to those states, each application program can register its own state at any time. When this is done, it becomes possible to provide help information reflecting a more detailed state of the application program.

Further, it is possible to simplify the mechanism of the help function in each application program and minimize the increase in the total program capacity of the integrated software as a whole by providing the help function.

Further, by adding control data to the help data, when the user refers to the help data, by giving an instruction defined by the control data, another help data can be referred to between different application programs. A possible mechanism can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a mechanism of a help function according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a help program according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus such as a document editing apparatus to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a software configuration according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a help data search table according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a help window displayed on a display device by activating a help function according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of help data according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a help data management table according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of an application program and a help data search table according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a process of registering a help data storage position in a help data management table according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a process of searching for and displaying a help message according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining multi-window display according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a window management block having a list structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a start process of a help program according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a process of a help program according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining another mechanism for determining a help message in the third embodiment.

[Brief description of reference numerals]

101: operating program, 102: application program, 104: help status table,
110 help program, 501 help data search table, 801 help data management table, 905
... help message search table, 1603 ... help status table.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Koeda 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Microelectronics Equipment Development Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. 292 Hitachi, Ltd. Microelectronics Device Development Laboratory (72) Inventor Keiichi Nakane 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. Microelectronics Device Development Laboratory (72) Inventor Masaki Fujiwara Ibaraki 1-1-1, Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City Hitachi, Ltd. Taga Factory (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Masuda 1-1-1, Higashitaga-machi, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. Taga Factory (56) References JP Sho 61-234426 (JP, A) 62-269223 (JP, A)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A help information display device for displaying help information on said display means of an information processing apparatus comprising a CPU, a memory means, an input means, and a display means, wherein said help information display apparatus is executed by said CPU. A plurality of application programs that are interrupted in response to the help request; an operating system program that is executed by the CPU to control the information processing device and manage help message data corresponding to an execution state of each of the application programs; A first area in the memory means for storing a plurality of sets of a program identifier and a message identifier for each of the application programs; and a program identifier which is started in response to the help request and executed by the CPU to execute the stored program identifier. And message awareness A help program for retrieving help message data corresponding to the set by referring to one set of the separate sets and supplying the help message data to the display means. 2. The application program is assigned to each of the multi-windows that can be displayed on the display means, and a set of the program identifier and the message identifier corresponding to the application program assigned to the foreground window at the time of help request is assigned. The help information display device according to claim 1, wherein the help information display device is referred to. 3. The program identifier and the message identifier referred to above correspond to help message data of an application program different from the application program interrupted in response to the help request. Item 2. The help information display device according to item 1. 4. A second area in said memory means for storing said program identifier, said message identifier, and a storage location of help message data in said memory means for each of said application programs, 2. The help information display device according to claim 1, wherein the help program searches the help message data according to an area.