JPH02186417A - Help information control method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To register a program condition at an arbitrary time by providing a help condition table to be executed and registered by means of each application program itself, and displaying help data corresponding to each condition by means of the help program activated by pushing a help key. CONSTITUTION:Application programs 401 to 406 concerning the document editing of a document editing device are layout editing programs, which edit documents prepared by the editing programs of a text, a figure, a graph, and an image and the respective editing programs so as to be integrated into a single document. Further a help program 408 realizes a help function, and prints the document by a program 407. These programs 401 to 408 are controlled as independent tasks by an operating system program 409. Further a help data retrieve table 501 is used for a program number 502 and a massage number 503, and a help data storing position 504 is retrieved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an information processing device having a help function, and in particular to help information control suitable for realizing the help function in integrated software consisting of a plurality of application programs. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus thereof.

[Conventional Contact] It has become widespread to provide a help function in information processing devices as a means of providing effective information to the user when the user does not know how to operate the device. There is.

An example of a help function in a conventional information processing device is the one shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 179016/1983. In other words, when the user is in a state where the user is unsure of the operation, for example, by pressing a specific key on the keyboard, the program running on the information processing device responds to the message that was output to the display device immediately before. help information, that is, information regarding operations, is displayed on the display device.

Further, in the help function of integrated software consisting of a plurality of application programs, each application program has a mechanism for realizing the help function independently.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above-mentioned conventional technology has the following problems. That is, it is only possible to provide help information corresponding to the message output immediately before, and when the help function is requested at any time, it is not possible to provide help information that reflects the more detailed state of the application program.

In addition, in integrated software consisting of multiple application programs, each application program has a similar mechanism for realizing the help function, so the mechanism of each application program becomes complex and it becomes difficult to realize the help function. Mechanisms are duplicated between each application program, increasing the total program capacity of the entire integrated software.

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

With the conventional method, the help function mechanism of each application program becomes complicated, the total program capacity of the entire integrated software increases, and it is difficult to refer to help information across different application programs. There was a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a help information control method and apparatus that allows each application program to store or register its own status at any time, and when a help function is requested, the help information control method and apparatus reflect the status of the application program. Our goal is to provide the following.

Another object of the present invention is to simplify the help function mechanism of each application program in integrated software consisting of a plurality of application programs, and to minimize the increase in the total program capacity of the integrated software by providing the help function. It is an object of the present invention to provide a help information control method and apparatus that further enables reference to help information belonging to an application program other than the one being executed at the time the help function is activated.

Another object of the present invention is to minimize the processing load on the application program when realizing a help function that displays a help message corresponding to the application program that always displays the frontmost window in a multi-window system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a help information control method and device that can easily change the display content of a help message in response to additions or changes in functions of an application program.

(Hereafter, margin) [Means to solve the problem] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has two aspects.

A help status table is provided to store information corresponding to the execution status of an application program, and while an application program is running, the contents of the help status table are updated sequentially according to the execution status, and at any time. In response to a help request from an operator, the content of the help status table at that time is referred to, and help information corresponding to the content is retrieved and output.

Further, in the help information control method according to the present invention, help information of a plurality of application programs is managed in a unified manner by a system program, and each application program is controlled while the program is being executed.

Notifies system programs of the current execution status.

When a help request is received from an operator, the system program interrupts the execution of the application program, starts the help program, and the help program responds by referring to the execution status notified to the system program. Search help data and output help information.

In the help information control method of the present invention, help information corresponding to a certain execution state of one application program can include help information regarding other application programs.

Also, in the help status table in the present invention.

A program identifier for each application program,
A message identifier corresponding to the execution state of the application program is stored in association with the message identifier.

Furthermore, in the present invention, a help data search table is used when searching for help data, and this help data search table includes the program identifier of each application program and the identifier of a message indicating the execution state of the application program. and the storage location of help message data for this message identifier are stored in association with each other.

Each help data or each help message data is divided into a display data section and a control data section.The display data section stores data for displaying help information on the display device, and the control data section stores the relevant data. A display position n of the display data on the screen of the display device, and a program identifier and a message identifier for specifying help data or help message data further required by the display data are stored in association with each other.

The program identifier here may indicate the application program itself that called the display data, but by indicating another application program, help data can be mutually used between multiple application programs. can.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a help data management table that stores the program identification t of each application program in association with the storage location of the help data of each application program, and a help data management table that stores the program identification t of each application program in association with the storage location of the help data of each application program. A help message search table is prepared that stores the message identifier and the storage position of each help message data in relation to each other, and when searching for help message data, these two tables are used to store the help message data. The storage position above is calculated and output to the display device. These two tables have the same function as the help data search table described above.

At the time when each application program is installed into the information processing device, the storage location of the help data of each application program is registered in the help data management table.

Furthermore, in the present invention, in a multi-window system, a window management block is provided for managing information of each window displayed on the display screen, and each window management block has a frontmost pointer indicating the window management block of the frontmost window. A list is connected in the order that the windows overlap, and each window management block contains the program identifier of the application program that uses that window, and the help message identifier that should be displayed for the execution status of the application program that corresponds to that window. The configuration is such that a field is provided to hold the information.

Furthermore, in the present invention, a window management block is provided to manage information of each window displayed on the display screen in order to control help information in a multi-window system.

Each window management block may be configured to have a state table pointer that indicates the program identifier and message identifier on the above-mentioned help state table of the application program using the window.

The second configuration of the present invention has been mainly described with reference to the help information control method, but the following describes the help information control device or display method and device of the present invention.

It will be apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention that follows.

[Operation] In the information processing device adopting the help information control method according to the present invention, information corresponding to the execution state of each application program, such as a program identifier and a message identifier, is registered for a plurality of application programs, and the message identifier is , is updated sequentially according to the execution state as the application program is executed. Preferably, the help status table is commonly accessed by each application program.

In response to a help request from an operator at any time, corresponding help message data is retrieved and displayed in accordance with the contents of the successively updated help status table. Therefore, it is possible to provide help information that reflects the more detailed status of the application program.

By including help data related to application programs other than the application program whose execution was interrupted by the help request in the searched help data, it becomes possible to refer to the help data across different application programs.

Furthermore, by centrally managing the help functions of multiple application programs, it is possible to minimize the increase in the total capacity of 1M software programs.

In addition, in a multi-window system.

When a window opens, a new window management block is generated and inserted at the beginning of the window management block list. At this time, by the initial setting operation, the program number field of the generated window management block is set to the pro gamer 11 identifier of the application program that opened the window, and the help message identifier field is set to a predetermined initial value.

An application program opens a window.

If the application program wants to change the help message to be displayed in response to a change in its internal state, the application program sets the message number it wants to display in the help message identifier field of the corresponding window control block.

In a multi-window system, a help window for displaying searched help data is the frontmost window.

[Example] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

This embodiment is an embodiment suitable for a document editing device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a document editing device which is an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, l is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) that executes a program related to editing one document and controls peripheral devices. 2 is a main memory (hereinafter referred to as MM) in which a processing program related to editing one document and data related thereto are stored.

The programs to be executed by CPUL include a resident program that is always stored in MM2, and a resident program that is normally stored in the hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as HD) 13, and may be rolled into MM2 or transferred from MM2 to HD13 as necessary. There is a non-resident program being rolled out. 3 is a video random access memory (hereinafter referred to as VRAM).

Display section 3a whose contents are displayed on display device 7
and a non-display section 3b used for temporarily saving data displayed on the display device 7.

Instructions for editing, printing, and activating help functions.

Document input operations are performed via a keyboard (hereinafter referred to as KB) 4 and a mouse 5. Reference numeral 6 is a display controller (hereinafter referred to as CRTC), which is a display device (hereinafter referred to as CRT) that displays both sides of one document i4 collection work.
)7 control is performed. The contents of the display section 3a of the VRAM 3 are displayed on the CRT 7.

8 is a printer controller (hereinafter referred to as I)RC);
A floppy disk controller (hereinafter referred to as FDC) 10 controls a printer device (hereinafter referred to as WDP) 9 such as a wire dot printer that outputs documents, etc.;
A hard disk controller (hereinafter referred to as HDC) 12 controls a floppy disk drive device (hereinafter referred to as FD) 11 that reads and saves document data from a floppy disk. A hard disk device (hereinafter referred to as 1 (D) 1) that reads and saves data 5 and help data.
3, and 14 is a bus for communication between these peripheral devices 2 to 13 and the CPU 1.

FIG. 4 shows the software configuration of the document editing device of this embodiment. In the figure, 401 to 408 are application programs (hereinafter referred to as AP) related to document editing.
, 401 to 406 are text, figure,
This is a layout editing program that performs editing that integrates graph, table, and image editing programs, and each wording created by each of these editing programs into one document. 407 is a program for printing documents; 40
8 is a help program for realizing a help function. Zero or more programs 401 to 4.08 are each controlled as an independent task by an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as 05) 409. The 08409 performs everything from basic task control and input/output control to control that realizes multi-windows on a CRT screen, and also controls each AP.
and O8 is a program built-in processing program 4] for initial processing, which is loaded into the device at O.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the help data search table of the document editing device of this embodiment. The help data search table 501 includes a program number 502 as a program identifier representing the type of AP, and a message number 503 as a message identifier uniquely representing the status of each AP.
This is a table for searching the help data storage start position 504 on N[)13 where help data storing help information corresponding to the type and state of the AP exists.

The storage location of help data for each AP is automatically registered in the help data search table 501 each time each AP is installed in the document editing device.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of the help window displayed on the screen 601 of the CRT 7 when the help function is activated in this embodiment. Reference numeral 602 is a help window that displays help information given to the user, and specifically, display data 605 of help data is displayed. 60
3 is a rectangular area defined by the control data of the help data, and this will be referred to in the explanation of FIG. 6o4 is 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 the help data in this embodiment. 6 help data 701 consists of 1 display data section 702 and a control data section 703. 6 display data section 702 consists of text data 704 displayed as help information. The control data section 703 moves the mouse cursor 604 into the rectangular area 603 in the help window and presses the mouse 5.
Coordinate values 705a, 705 of the diagonal points of the rectangular area 603 for displaying new help data by pressing or clicking the mouse button provided in the rectangular area 603.
b, a program number 706 and a message number 707 that define the target help data. Help data 6 displayed in the help window 602 by the user
By referring to 05 and specifying the character string within the rectangular area 603 defined by the *i control data section 703,
A mechanism is realized that allows other help data to be referenced across different APs.

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

First, referring to FIG. 1, the processing up to the activation of the help program 110 will be described.

The operating system program (O3) 101 corresponding to the previous AP 401 to 40
Application program (AP) 1 corresponding to 8
02(7) At startup, AP102 program number 10
3 in the help status table 104 (105);
Note that the help status table 104 exists in a common area 106 on the MMZ that can always be read and written from each AP 102 and 08101. Also, each AP1
02, at a predetermined time point - For example, in the AP 102 that creates a text document, a message number 107 indicating the status of A and P (for example, executing a character string copying function) is registered in the help status table 104. (108
). The AP 102 determines its own state and generates and registers a message number not only when starting each function but also when changing the display screen as necessary. In this way, 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 (1,09), 08101
This help program 1 interrupts the running AP 102 and starts the help program 110 (ILI).
10, the contents of the help status table 104 are saved in the state before the help program was started.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the processing of the help program 110 will be explained. The started help program 110 is the sixth
A help window 602 for displaying the help data shown in the figure is opened (step 112). Then, the program number 103 and message number 107 of the AP immediately before the help program is started are read from the help status table 104 (step 113).

Next, the help data search table 501 shown in FIG.
Using the program number 103 and message number 107 read from the help status table 104 as search keys, search for the storage location of the corresponding help data 70 ] in the HD 13 as shown in FIG.
Step 114). Then, read out the help data 701 (Step 115)) Store the control data 703 of the help data 701 (Step 116), display data 7
02 in the help window 602 (step 117), and when the inside of the help window 602 is pointed by the mouse cursor 604 while the help data is being displayed (step 118), step 11
The coordinate values 705 of the control data 703 stored in step 6 are referred to (step 119), and the designated position is determined (step 120). For example, the program number 706 and message number 707 corresponding to the rectangular area 603 are acquired (step 121), the help data corresponding to the program number 706 and message number 707 is searched again using the help data search table 501 (step 114), Help window 60
2 (step 117).

Also, if the exit box 606 is pointed to by the mouse cursor 604, the help progera lx 110 closes the help window 602 (step 122);
The end of the help program 110 is notified to 08101 (step 123).

osioi terminates the help program 110 and resumes the suspended execution of the AP 102.

According to this example, A, P2O3 and OS 1.0]
A help status table 104 is provided in a common area 106 that can always be read and written from -.

When starting each AP 102, a program number 103 representing the type of the AP is registered in the help status table 104, and
A mechanism is provided to register the message number 107 indicating the execution status of the AP in the help status table 1.04 at appropriate times. The help program started by pressing the help key displays the help data corresponding to the program number 103 and message number 107 registered in the help status table 104 to realize the help function. The status can be registered in the help status table 104 as appropriate.

When the help function is requested, it becomes possible to provide help information that reflects the more sensitive state of the AP 102. Furthermore, the structure of the help function in each AP 102 can be simplified, and an increase in the total program capacity of the entire document editing apparatus due to the provision of the help function can be minimized.

Furthermore, by adding the control data 703 to the help data 701, the user can refer to the help data 605 displayed in the help window 602 and
By pointing within the rectangular area 603 defined by 03, other 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 differs from the previous embodiment in that after the help window is opened, the storage location of the help data in the HD 13 is searched using the help data search table 501. When reading help data, a help data management table is used instead of the help data search table 501. That is, the help data management table in this embodiment is a table that associates the program number representing the type of each AP with the storage location on the HD 13 of the help data of the AP, and the help data management table in this embodiment is a table that associates the program number representing the type of each AP with the storage location on the HD 13 of the help data of the AP. is stored in. Note that the help data in the embodiment is a collection of help message data.

FIG. 8 shows an example of its configuration, and this help data management table 801 has program numbers 8 and 8 representing the type of each AP.
02, the storage location 803 of the help data is held. The help data storage position 803 of each AP 401 to 407 (FIG. 4) is registered at an offset position from the top of the help data management table corresponding to the value of the program number 802 representing the type of each AP.

FIG. 9A shows the configuration of AP in this embodiment. Each AP901 consists of a program section 902 and a help data section 903, and the help data section 903 is
02 exists for each AP 901.

Further, the storage position of the help data section 903 within the AP 901 is described at the beginning 904 of the AP 90L as an offset position from the beginning of the AP 901. The help data section 903 consists of one help message search table 905 and one or more help message data 906.
Help message search table 905 is located at the beginning of help data 903.

FIG. 9B shows the structure of the help message search table 905 in this embodiment. This table is a table for searching the storage location 21908 of the help message data 906 corresponding to the message number 907 from the message number 907. The help message data storage location 908 is the help data section 9 in FIG. 9A.
It is indicated by the offset position from the beginning of 03.

Note that the configurations of the help window and help message data in this embodiment are the same as those in the previous embodiment, so the explanation will be omitted. Please refer to FIGS. 6 and 7.

Next, the help function processing in this embodiment will be explained using FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.

FIG. 10 shows help data storage position 8 in this embodiment.
11 is a diagram for explaining the process of registering 03 in the help data management table 801, and FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the process of searching and displaying the help message.

In FIG. 10, AP901 is the floppy disk 1
The embedded processing program 1001 (corresponding to 410 in FIG. 4) is provided in the form stored in F.
Read AP901 from floppy disk 1006 using
1 storage area 1007 (step 1002)
. The program incorporation processing program 1001 acquires the help data storage location 904 written at the beginning of the AP 901 to be incorporated (step 1003).

The help data storage location 904 is described as an offset value from the beginning of the AP 901.

The storage position of the help data 903 on the HD 13 is calculated from this offset value 904 and the position on the HD 13 where the AP 901 is actually stored (step 10
04), then enter the calculated storage location as program number 8 of the AP 901 in the help data management table 801.
02 (Fig. 8) (Step 1)
005).

Next, the process of displaying a help message will be explained with reference to FIG. When the help key is pressed, the O8 and the running APllol are notified that the help key has been pressed. The AP 1101 receives this notification and starts the help program 408 shown in FIG. 4 through step 1102) and input determination processing (step 1103).

The activated help program opens the help window 602 for displaying help data (step 1104), as shown in Part 6. In this figure, steps 1104 to 1117 show the help program.

The help program in this embodiment differs from the help program 110 (see FIG. 2) in the previous embodiment only in steps 1105 to 1111.

First, in step 1105, the help data management table 801 is read and the program number 802 of the APIIOI is matched.

The stored value r! of the help data section 903 on the HD 13!
1803 (step t1o6), then read out the help message search table 905 existing at the beginning of this help data section 903 (step 1107).
, message number 9 predefined by APIIOI
The stored value U908 of the help message data 906 corresponding to 07 is obtained (step 1108). To determine this message number 907, the help status table 104 of the first embodiment described above can be used.

The storage location 908 of the help message data 906 is
Since it is written as an offset value from the beginning of the help data section 903, this offset value 908 and the value stored in the help data section 903 on the HD 13 '? 1803 to FI D 1 of the help message data 906
3 is calculated (step 1109). Reading step 111o of the next help message data 906
From then on, steps 115 to 123 (second
(Fig.), so the explanation will be omitted.

According to this embodiment, each time an AP 901 (FIG. 9A) is installed in a document editing device or the like, the location on the HD 13 where the help data 903 of the AP 90L is stored is stored in the help data management table 801 (FIG. 8). The control data 703 (Fig. 7) is added to the help message data 906 that is registered and displayed as help information, and in the displayed help message 605 (Fig. 6), the control data part 703
By pointing within the rectangular area 603 defined by , other help message data can be referenced across different APs. In other words, in this embodiment, in integrated software consisting of a plurality of APs, each time each AP is incorporated into an information processing device such as a document editing device, the storage location of the help message of the AP is stored in a memory area common to each AP. By registering the message in the help data management table provided in the help message, it is possible to realize a mechanism that allows other help messages to be referenced across different APs.

In this embodiment, the help data management table is provided in a memory area common to APs.

As in the previous embodiment, the help program is integrated into one AP4
08, the help data management table does not need to exist in a memory area common to each AP.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail using the drawings.
The feature of this embodiment is that it implements a help function that always displays a help screen for the frontmost window in a multi-window system. That is, in this embodiment, the program number and message number of the AP using the window are set in a window management block having a list structure that manages the status information of each window displayed on the display screen. It is something to keep. Note that the help function in this embodiment is based on the help data search table 5 in the first embodiment.
01, but it goes without saying that a method using the help data management table 801 and the help message search table 905 in the second embodiment may also be used.

Now, a method of operating the multi-window system of this embodiment will be explained using an example of multi-window display on both sides 1201 shown in FIG. 12. In this example,
Consider a window control method that displays windows as shown in FIG. 12 in one-to-one correspondence with each AP. I202,1
Reference numeral 206 is a display example of a window, and here, an editing operation can be performed only on the window 1202 displayed in the foreground. Editing operations and window operations are performed using the mouse cursor 12, which is moved by moving the mouse 5.
Move 03 over the referent.

This can be done by pressing a button on the mouse 5.

The contents of the editing data and the mouse pointer 1204 are displayed in the window, and the user can press the exit box 1205.
When an area called `` is specified with the mouse 5, the API that currently has a window open will erase the window and end the editing process. or.

When you point to the window 1206 behind you with the mouse 5, the specified window 1202 appears! & It will be displayed in front and you can edit the AP that is using that window.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a window management block that holds information such as attributes and status of each window in order to realize multi-window control as described above. The window management blocks 1300 of each window are connected by link pointers 1302 in the order of overlapping windows from the frontmost pointer 1301, and a program number 130 indicating the program using each window.
3. Window type information 130 indicating the type of window
4. Window size/position information 1305 that holds the display position and display size on both sides of the displayed window
, and fields such as help message number 1306 of the help to be displayed. The values of the frontmost pointer 1301 and the link pointer 1302 should be set to the platform rQJ that does not have the window management block 1300 shown in the fifth order.

In this embodiment, each window management block 130
Program number 1303 within 0 and message number 1
The storage area 306 corresponds to the help status table 104 in the first embodiment, and therefore a help status table 104 exists for each window.

Next, a method for realizing the help function of this embodiment, which consists of the system configuration described above, will be explained using FIGS. 14 and 15.

FIG. 14 is a diagram explaining the O8 help control process in this embodiment, and FIG.
This is a processing flow of a help program that actually displays a help message.

First, referring to FIG. 14, a description will be given of the processing up to the startup of the help program 1403. The 0S1401 starts the AP1402 in response to the user's operation (
Step 1410), APL 402 requests OS 1.401 to open a window (1430);
On the other hand, 031401 displays the window in the foreground of the CRT screen (step 1411), creates the window management block 1300, and creates the value of the foreground pointer 1301 in the window management block 130.
After setting the link pointer 1302 to 0, the value of the frontmost pointer 1301 is changed to indicate the created window management block, and the created window management block is inserted at the beginning of the list (step 1412).

At this time, the program number field 1307 of the window management block 1300 should be set to the program number of the AP 1402 that has requested to open the window.
．． 13) The help message number 1306 is set to "0" as a default (step 1414).

AP1402 issues a help message change request to 081401 according to its internal state (step 143).
1) and 051401.1i Find the window management block 1300 that has the same program number 1303 value as the requested AP number by tracing the list from the frontmost pointer 1301 (step 14.15).
, sets the number specified by the AP 1402 to the help message number 1306 (step 14.1.6).

Also, when the window behind is pointed with mouse 5,
Step 141: 081401 displays the window in the foreground? ), and at the same time reconnects the window management block to the top of the list (step 1418).

When the AP that was displaying the window requests 0S1401 to erase the window (step 1.432), 031401LICRT7 (7) erases the window from the screen (step 1419) and removes the corresponding window management block from the list. Delete (step 1420).

When the help key is pressed, 031401 displays the running AP
1402 is interrupted and a help program 1403 is started (step 1421), which displays a help message for the frontmost window.

Next, the processing flow 1501 of the help program 1403 will be explained in detail using the 15th @.

The started help program 1403 first starts with 0814.
When the help program 1403 was started on 01,
081401 requests information acquisition of the help message of the frontmost window (step 1502). In response, 081401 reads the program number 1303 and message number 1306 from the window management block 1300 indicated by the frontmost pointer 1301, and executes the help program 140.
Notify 3.

Next, after opening the window displaying the help message (step 1503), 0S1401 refers to the help data search table 5o1 (see FIG. 5) based on the obtained program number 1303 and help message number 1306. and H of the corresponding help message data.
D 13 , find the storage position [504 (step 15
04), help message data from TID13 to MM
2 (step 1505), a help message is displayed in the window based on the last read data (step 1506), and an input from the user is waited for. Then, the help program 1403 requests the OS 1401 to close the window and exit (step 1507).
, 081401 erases the window, terminates the help program 1403, and then restarts the operation of the APL 402.

In addition to the embodiments described above, FIG. 16 shows a modification of the mechanism for determining which help message to display in the present invention.

First, each window 12 displayed on the CRT screen
Regarding 02 (Figure 12), program number! ;J71
604 and message number 1605 is provided. A current pointer 1602 is provided that points to the field corresponding to the window 1202 displayed in the foreground. Also, each window management block 1600 is connected in order by a front pointer 1301 and a link pointer 1302.
is provided with a state table pointer 1601 that points to the field of the help state table 1603 corresponding to each window 12o2. Each program number 1604 in the help status table 1603 indicates the AP4 that displayed the window 1202 when the window 1202 was displayed.
Program numbers from 01 to 408 are set. In addition.

This setting is performed via the state table pointer 1601 of the window management block 1600.

Further, each AP 401 to 408 sets a message number corresponding to its execution state in the field within the message number 1605 pointed to by the current pointer 1602. When the help function is requested, the help program selects the progera 11 number 16 from the field of the help status table 1603 pointed to by the current pointer 1602.
04 and message number 1605, search for and display the corresponding message data 906. Note that in this modification, the help status table 1603 has multiple A
It is provided in a storage area on the MMZ that is provided in common for P401 to P408.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the program number and message number were used as the program identifier and message identifier stored in the help status table. Any address that can uniquely identify each AP may be used, such as the above address or the address of a table that manages the APs 401 to 408.

Similarly, the message identifier may be anything that can uniquely identify each message, such as an address on a fixed disk where the message is stored.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, in integrated software consisting of a plurality of application programs,
Each application program itself determines its execution state in two ways.
By providing a help status table for each application program and realizing the help function by a method in which the help program started by pressing the help key displays help data corresponding to the status, each application program can change its own status at any time. It is possible to register the state,
When a help function is requested, it becomes possible to provide help information that reflects the more detailed status of the application program.

Furthermore, the structure of the help function in each application program can be simplified, and an increase in the total program capacity of the entire integrated software due to the provision of the help function can be minimized.

Furthermore, by adding control data to help data, when a user refers to help data, a mechanism is provided that allows users to refer to other help data across different application programs by issuing instructions determined by the control data. It can be realized.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining the mechanism of the help function in the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flowchart of the help program in the first embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 3 is an application of the present invention. A block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an information processing device such as a sentence D krX collection device, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the software configuration in the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of a help data search table; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of a help window displayed on the display device upon activation of the help function according to the present invention; FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the structure of the help data management table in the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 9A and ff19B are the application programs in the second embodiment of the present invention, respectively. . and a diagram showing an example of the structure of a help data search table,
FIG. 10 is a diagram explaining the process of registering the help data storage location in the help data management table in the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. A diagram for explaining display processing, FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining multi-window display in the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a list-structured window in the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the configuration of the management block, FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the start-up process of the help program in the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 15 is the process of the help program in the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining another method for determining a help message in the third embodiment. 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.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method for controlling help information displayed on a display screen of an information processing device, which provides a help status table that stores information corresponding to the execution status of an application program, and During execution, the memory contents of the above help status table are updated sequentially according to the execution status, and in response to a help request from an operator at any time,
Referring to the contents of the above help status table at that time,
A help information control method for searching and outputting help data corresponding to the content. 2. The help information control method according to claim 1, wherein the help status table is stored in a memory area that is commonly accessed by the application program. 3. The help information control method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the help status table stores a program identifier for identifying the application program and a message identifier according to the execution status of the application program. 4. When searching for the above help data, help data that associates the storage location in the storage means of the corresponding help message data with the program identifier of each application program and the message identifier according to the execution state of each application program. 2. The help information control method according to claim 1, further comprising referring to a search table. 5. When searching for the above help data, a help data management table that associates the program identifier of each application program with the storage location of the help data of the application program in the storage means, and the execution status of each application program are used. 2. The help information control method according to claim 1, further comprising referring to a help message search table in which a corresponding message identifier is associated with a storage position of the corresponding help message data in the storage means. 6. The help information control method according to claim 5, characterized in that, when an application program is installed in the information processing device, a storage position of help data of the application program in the storage means is registered in the help data management table. . 7. Allocating each of the application programs to each of the multi-windows that can be displayed on the display screen, and referring to the contents of the help status table corresponding to the application program allocated to the frontmost window when requesting help. The help information control method according to claim 1. 8. The help according to claim 1, wherein the help data includes, in addition to the display data displayed on the display screen, control data consisting of a plurality of sets of program identifiers and message identifiers of the application program. Information control method. 9. After displaying the help data on the display screen, it is determined whether the input by the operator is another help request or not according to the above control data, and if it is another help request, the other help request is executed according to the control data. 9. The help information control method according to claim 8, further comprising searching for other help data corresponding to the help request. 10. A help information control method in an information processing device, wherein help information of a plurality of application programs is centrally managed by a system program, and each application program transmits the current execution state to the system program while the program is being executed. When a help request is received from the operator, the system program interrupts the execution of the application program and starts a help program, and the help program updates the execution state notified to the system program. In reference to,
A help information control method for searching and outputting help information corresponding to the execution state. 11. A help information display method for displaying help information in the foreground window among multiple windows that can be displayed in a superimposed manner on the display screen of an information processing device capable of executing multiple application programs, the method comprising: each of the above application programs; allocates each window to the window, draws video data in at least one window, stores the execution status of each of the above application programs, updates the stored contents according to the execution of the application program, and provides help from the operator. It is characterized by referring to the stored execution state in response to a request, searching for a corresponding help message, drawing the help message data as video data in the foreground window, and displaying it on the display means. How to display help information. 12. The help information display method according to claim 11, wherein a program identifier for identifying the application program and a message identifier for identifying the help message are used as the execution state. 13. The help information display method according to claim 12, wherein the program identifier and the message identifier are stored in a help status table provided in a common area of memory means that is commonly accessed by each of the application programs. . 14. A help information control device for an information processing device comprising a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU), a memory means, an input means, and a display means, the help information control device being provided in the memory means and executed by the CPU. a help state table storing at least one execution state of an application program; means for updating the contents of the help state table according to the execution state of the application program; and in response to a help request input from the input means; The invention is characterized by comprising means for referring to the contents of the help status table, means for searching for help message data corresponding to the contents of the help status table, and means for supplying the help message data to the display means. Help information control device. 15. Allocating each of the above application programs to each of the multi-windows that can be displayed on the display means,
15. The help information control method according to claim 14, further comprising referring to the contents of the help status table corresponding to the application program assigned to the foreground window at the time of requesting help. 16. The help according to claim 14, wherein the help status table stores a program identifier for identifying the application program and a message identifier for identifying the help message as the execution status of each of the application programs. Information control device. 17. Claim 14, wherein the help status table is provided in a common area of the memory means that is accessed by each of the application programs.
17. The help information control device according to 5 or 16. 18. A help data search table is provided in the memory means as a means for searching the help message data,
17. The help information control device according to claim 16, wherein the help data search table associates the storage position of the corresponding help message data in the memory means with the program identifier and message identifier for each of the application programs. . 19. As means for searching the help message data, there is provided a help data management table that associates the program identifier of each application program with a help data storage location in the memory means, and a help message corresponding to the message identifier. 17. The help information control device according to claim 16, further comprising a help message search table that associates data storage locations. 20. Claim 1, wherein when an application program is installed into the information processing device, a storage location of help data of the application program in the storage means is registered in the help data management table.
9. Help information control method described in 9. 21. A control device for controlling a help function of an information processing device comprising a CPU, a memory means, an input means, and a display means, each of which is executed by the CPU and interrupted in response to a help request from the input means. and a plurality of application programs executed by the CPU to control the information processing device, manage help message data corresponding to the execution status of each of the application programs, and receive reports of the execution status from each of the application programs. an operating system program; a help status table stored in the memory means and storing a program identifier and a message identifier as an execution status corresponding to each of the application programs; activated by the help request and executed by the CPU; and a help program that refers to a stored execution state of an interrupted application program, searches for help message data corresponding to the execution state, and supplies the help message data to the display means. Control device. 22. A help data search table provided in the memory means that associates the program identifier and the message identifier with the storage position in the memory means of the help message data of each of the application programs, and according to the help data search table. 22. The control device of claim 21, wherein said help program examines said help message data. 23. A help data area for storing the help message data is provided in the memory means, and in addition to the display data displayed on the display means, the display position of the display data is stored in the area as the help message data. 23. The control device according to claim 21 or 22, wherein control data consisting of a corresponding program number and a message number is stored. 24. A help information display device for displaying help information on the display means of an information processing device comprising a CPU, a memory means, an input means, and a display means, each of which is executed by the CPU and receives a help request from the input means. a plurality of application programs that are interrupted depending on the application program; an operating system program that is executed by the CPU and controls the information processing device and manages help message data corresponding to the execution state of each of the application programs; a first area within the memory means for storing a plurality of sets of program identifiers and message identifiers for each program; 1. A help information display device comprising: a help program that searches for help message data corresponding to the set by referring to one of the sets, and supplies the help message data to the display means. 25. Allocating each of the above application programs to each of the multi-windows that can be displayed on the display means,
25. The help information control method according to claim 24, further comprising referring to a set of the program identifier and message identifier corresponding to an application program assigned to the foreground window at the time of a help request. 26. The referenced set of program identifier and message identifier corresponds to help message data of an application program different from the application program interrupted in response to the help request. help information display. 27. For each of the above application programs, a second area is provided in the memory means for storing the program identifier, the message identifier, and the storage location in the memory means of the help message data, and the above is executed according to the second area. 25. The help information display device according to claim 24, wherein a help program searches said help message data.