JPH08320781A - Method for generating user interface and method for processing information - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the user interface which matches a user or application. CONSTITUTION: In a step S301, the application name is acquired and in a step S302, it is decided whether setting information regarding the application name is registered; and the registered information or default information is read in according to the decision result and in a step S305, a main dialog is displayed on the display screen of a CRT according to the information. The main dialog includes items of 'detail setting' and 'dialog change' and respective processes are performed according to user's operation. In steps S308-S310, detail setting is performed and in steps S312-S316, the arrangement of operation parts (items) in the dialog is changed. When the settings are stored after the processes, 'OK' is selected in a step S320 and the settings are saved in the step S320. Thus, the registered selection information is read in the step S303 of a next process.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a user interface generating method and an information processing method, and more particularly to a user interface generating method and an information processing method for setting conditions for information processing via a display. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some user interfaces of this type of printer driver display a printer setting dialog for making various settings relating to print processing based on a request from an application program. In such a user interface, the user calls the printer setting dialog of the printer driver from the application and makes various settings necessary for printing. The printer driver reads an information file that is setting information about the printer and displays it as the current setting via the printer setting dialog. The user sets each item on the printer setting dialog, and then the printer driver updates and saves the information file with the information set according to the user's instruction.

[0003]

However, in the printer driver in the above conventional example, the printer setting dialog is single and fixed. However, it is difficult to say that the user interface regarding the setting operation is suitable for all users, because the setting or the item that changes the setting frequently changes depending on the user.

Further, for example, when using an application related to a word processor, there are many opportunities to set the number of print copies, but when using an application related to drawing, there are many opportunities to set scaling.
Items that are frequently changed vary depending on the application used. Even in such a case, the arrangement of the items in the setting dialog is single, so that it is not possible to provide the user interface according to the application.

Since only a single printer setting can be saved regardless of the type of application, double-sided printing is performed when using an application related to a word processor, for example, but when using an application related to drawing. When it was desired to use different settings for each application, such as when double-sided printing was not performed, it was necessary to redo the settings each time the application was changed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to realize a user interface suitable for a user or an application. For example, when generating print data suitable for a user or an application. It aims to provide a user interface for.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] and

In order to solve the above problems, a user interface generating method according to the present invention is a method of generating a user interface for setting conditions for information processing via a display device, and It is characterized by comprising a setting step of setting the condition based on the operation of the displayed dialog and a setting condition registration step of registering the set condition in association with the application name in use, and information for each application. Conditions for processing can be registered, and a user interface suitable for a user or application can be provided.

Further, before the setting step, a first judging step of judging whether or not the condition corresponding to the application name is registered, and if the condition is registered, the registered condition is registered. A dialog that displays the conditions
When the condition is not registered, the process further includes a display step of generating and displaying a dialog that displays the condition set in advance, so that the condition at the time of information processing regarding an unregistered application can be set in advance. The set conditions can be displayed, and even for unregistered applications, a user interface suitable for the user or the application can be provided.

Further, by further comprising a changing step of changing the arrangement of the operation part of the dialog and a registration step of registering the changed arrangement in association with the application name, a dialog suitable for each application can be displayed. The layout of the operation unit can be registered, and a user interface suitable for the user or application can be provided.

Further, before the setting step and the changing step, a second determination step of determining whether or not the layout corresponding to the application name is registered is further provided, and the display step registers the layout. If it is, based on the registered arrangement, if the arrangement is not registered, based on the preset arrangement, a step of generating and displaying a dialog displaying the condition, and By doing so, the layout of the operation unit of the dialog relating to the unregistered application can be set in advance, and even for the unregistered application, a user or a user matching the application
An interface can be provided.

Further, a method of generating a user interface according to the present invention is a method of generating a user interface for setting conditions for information processing via a display, and operating a dialog displayed on the display. It is characterized by comprising a changing step of changing the arrangement of parts and a registration step of registering the changed arrangement in association with the application name, and the arrangement of the operation portion of the dialog suitable for each application can be registered. It is possible to provide a user interface suitable for a user or an application.

Further, before the changing step, a determination step of determining whether or not the layout corresponding to the application name is registered, and, if the layout is registered, based on the registered layout. If the arrangement is not registered, based on the preset arrangement,
By providing a display step of generating and displaying the dialog in which the operation unit is arranged, the arrangement of the operation unit in the dialog regarding the unregistered application can be set in advance, and regarding the unregistered application, Can also provide a user interface adapted to the user or application.

[0013]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] A preferred first embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a computer system according to a typical embodiment of the present invention. The CPU 1 is a CPU that executes a series of processes according to flowcharts described below. ROM
Reference numeral 2 is a ROM that stores program instruction sequences executed by the CPU 1. The RAM 3 is a RAM that functions as a main memory or a work area of the CPU 1. The KBC 5 is a keyboard controller that controls a keyboard (KB) 9 or a pointing device (not shown). The HDC 6 is a hard disk (HDD) 1 that stores a boot program, application programs, printer drivers, data files, and the like.
A hard disk controller that controls access to 0. CRTC7 is a CRT display (CR
T) 11 is a CRT controller for controlling. POR
T8 is connected to the printer (PRT) 12 and connected to the printer 1.
2 is a communication port that executes a communication control process with 2. The system bus 4 is a system bus for connecting the above devices. Further, 101 is a computer main body, 10
0 is a computer system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing a program and files related to the printer driver according to this embodiment. The HDD 10 has an application program 21, a printer driver 22, a communication driver 23, and a setting file 24. The HDD 10
Is an application program 21, a printer driver 22, a communication driver 23, and a setting file 24.
May be stored in the ROM 2.

The application program 21 is a program for realizing a word processor or the like, creates print data, and passes it to the printer driver 22. The printer driver 22 converts the data received from the application program 21 into a data format readable by the printer 12, and passes the data to the communication driver 24. The communication driver 23 supplies the data passed from the printer driver 22 to the printer 12 via the communication port 8. The setting file 24 is
This is a file that stores setting information and the like used in the driver 22. The CPU 1 executes the above process.
Take control. The printer 12 creates a print image based on the received data and outputs it on a recording sheet.

When the application program 21 requests the printer driver 22 to display the printer setting dialog, the printer driver 22 sets the printer based on the information stored in the setting file 24. A dialog is created and displayed on the display screen of the CRT display 11. When the setting is changed using the keyboard 9 or the pointing device in the printer setting dialog, the printer driver 22 updates the contents of the setting file 24.

In the present embodiment, there are two types of printer setting dialogs, a main dialog and a child dialog. Further, it is assumed that there are five setting items of paper size, orientation, number of prints, double-sided printing, and scaling. In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the setting of the above-mentioned five items. There may be a plurality of child dialogs. The size of buttons such as “OK” and “Cancel” on the setting dialog to be described later is assumed to be fixed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the printer driver 22 according to this embodiment. The application program 21 is the printer driver 2
When issuing a printer setting request to the printer 2, the application program 21 passes various information to the printer driver 22. As one of the pieces of information, an application name that identifies the application program 21 is included.

First, in step S301, the printer driver 22 determines that the application program 2
Get the application name from the information passed from 1. Next, in step S302, it is determined whether or not the application name passed to the setting file 24 is registered. When the application name is registered, the process proceeds to step S303, and the screen information corresponding to the application 21 is read from the setting file. On the other hand, if the application name is not registered, the process proceeds to step S304, the default screen information is read from the setting file 24, and the process proceeds to step S305. In step S305, the main screen is read based on the screen information read in step S303 or S304.
A dialog is displayed on the display screen of the CRT 11.

FIG. 4 shows the data stored in the setting file 24.
It is a figure which shows an example of the screen information regarding one application program 21. In this example, the application name has “CWORD”, and the setting information items are “paper size”, “direction”, “number of prints”, “
It has "duplex printing" and "scaling".
Each item has a “resource ID”, a size required for display (x direction and y direction), and “position information.

The position information is information that indicates at which position in each dialog the item should be placed. For example, "11" means the first place from the top of the main dialog, "12" means the second from the top of the main dialog, and "13" means the main. It means to place the third from the top of the dialog. Also, "2
"1" means that it is placed first from the top of the child dialog, and "22" means that it is placed second from the top of the child dialog. If there are multiple child dialogs, they can be identified. It goes without saying that it is sufficient to give the position information.

The setting file 24 stores screen information for a plurality of applications 21 in the above format.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the main dialog displayed in step S305. Step S30
When displaying the main dialog in 5, the dialog box is first displayed based on the size (x direction and y direction) of each item (paper size, orientation, number of prints) to be displayed.
Determine the size of the box (At this time, determine the size of the dialog box considering that 4 buttons of "OK", "Cancel", "Detail setting" and "Change dialog" are displayed) . Next, the main dialog box is displayed by drawing each item according to the resource ID. According to the screen information (FIG. 4), it can be seen that the three items of “paper size”, “direction”, and “number of prints” are arranged in order from the top.

In addition to the "OK" and "Cancel" buttons, this main dialog also includes a "Detailed Settings" button for making more detailed settings and a "Dialog Change" button for changing the item layout of the dialog. Has been.

In the state where the main dialog is displayed, the operation by the user is waited in step S306, and if there is an operation, the process proceeds to step S307. In step S307, if the user's operation is the selection of the "detailed setting" button, the process proceeds to step S308 to create and display a detailed setting dialog (child dialog). In this display, the size of the detailed setting dialog is determined based on the size (x direction and y direction) of each item (double-sided printing, scaling) displayed in the detailed setting dialog in the screen information (FIG. 4) (at this time, , The size is determined in consideration of displaying the OK button and the cancel button), and the detailed setting dialog is generated by drawing each item based on the resource ID. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the detailed setting dialog created as described above.

Next, in step S309, detailed setting processing is performed based on the user's operation, and step S31
At 0, the detailed setting dialog is deleted from the display screen of the CRT 12, and the process returns to step S306.

On the other hand, in step S307, if the user's operation is not the selection of the "detailed setting" button, the process proceeds to step S311.

In step S311, if the user operation is to select the "change dialog" button, the flow advances to step S312 to change dialog screen (child dialog).
Is displayed. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a dialog change screen. In the dialog change screen, which item is currently assigned to the main dialog and the advanced settings dialog,
The order in which they are arranged is shown.

In this dialog change screen, the user can change the arrangement of each item. For example,
When you want to place "Paper Size", which is an item located in the main dialog, in the advanced settings dialog, drag "Paper Size" from the list 710 of main dialog items on the left side with the pointing device described above, It may be moved to the detailed setting dialog item list 720 on the right side. If you want to place "Scaling" in the detailed settings on "Double-sided printing", drag "Scaling" from the list 720 of detailed setting dialog items with the pointing device and move it to "Double-sided printing". Good.

In step S313, after the dialog change processing is performed based on the above-mentioned user's operation, the updated screen information is saved in the setting file 24 in step S314. At that time, which application 2
In order to identify whether it is the screen information set in 1,
The application name acquired in step S301 is also registered.

Next, in step S315, the dialog change screen 700 is erased from the display screen of the CRT 12, and in step S316, the main dialog is recreated and redisplayed based on the changed screen information, and then in step S306. Return.

If it is determined in step S311 that the user operation is not the "change dialog" button, the process advances to step S317. In step S317, the operation of the user is awaited, and if the operation is the selection of the "cancel" button,
In step S321, the main dialog is erased and a series of printer setting processing ends.

If it is determined in step S317 that the user operation is not the "cancel" button, then step S318 is performed.
Proceed to. In step S318, waiting for a user operation,
If the operation is not the selection of the "OK" button, the item setting process according to the operation in step S319, that is,
After performing the processing of setting the "paper size", the "direction", and the "number of prints", the process returns to step S306. In step S318, the "detailed setting" is performed by the user operation.
Alternatively, if "change dialog" is selected, no processing is performed in step S319 and step S319 is performed.
Return to 306.

On the other hand, in step S318, if the user operation is the selection of the "OK" button, step S320.
At, the set information is saved in the setting file 24. At this time, as described above, the application name acquired in step S301 is also registered.

Next, in step S321, the main dialog is erased from the display screen of the CRT 12, and the series of printer setting processing is ended.

As described above, by allowing the user to arbitrarily change the dialog, it is possible to provide a user interface adapted to the user or the usage situation. In addition, by registering the above changes for each application, the user
An interface can be provided. [Second Embodiment] In the present embodiment, one type of printer setting dialog is used. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the printer driver 22 according to this embodiment. When the application program 21 issues a printer setting request to the printer driver 22, the application program 21 passes various information to the printer driver 22. As one of the pieces of information, an application name that identifies the application program 21 is included.

First, in step S801, the printer driver 22 determines that the application program 2
Get the application name from the information passed from 1. Next, in step S802, it is determined whether or not the application name passed to the setting file 24 is registered. If the application name is registered, the process advances to step S803 to read the screen information corresponding to the application 21 from the setting file. On the other hand, when the application name is not registered, the process proceeds to step S804, the default screen information is read from the setting file 24, and the process proceeds to step S805. In step S805, the printer setting dialog is displayed on the display screen of the CRT 11 based on the screen information read in step S803 or S804.

FIG. 9 shows 1 stored in the setting file 24.
It is a figure which shows an example of the screen information regarding one application program 21. In this example, the application name has “CWORD”, and the setting information items are “paper size”, “direction”, “number of prints”, “
It has "double-sided printing" and "scaling." The setting file 24 stores screen information for a plurality of applications 21 in the above format.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the printer setting dialog displayed in step S805. In the state where the printer setting dialog is displayed, the operation by the user is waited in step S806, and if there is an operation, the process proceeds to step S807. In step S807, if the user operation is not the "cancel" button selection, step S8
Go to 08. In step S808, if the user's operation is awaited and the operation is not the selection of the "OK" button, the item setting process according to the operation in step S809, that is, "paper size", "direction", "number of prints", After performing the setting processing of “double-sided printing” and “scaling”, the process returns to step S806.

On the other hand, in step S808, if the user operation is the selection of the "OK" button, step S810.
In step S811, the set information is saved in the setting file 24. Then, in step S811, the printer setting dialog is erased from the display screen of the CRT 12, and the series of printer setting processing ends.

As described above, by holding the setting information for each application, it becomes unnecessary to reset the setting corresponding to each application even when the printer 12 is used while switching a plurality of applications.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, a user interface suitable for a user or an application can be realized.

[0044]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a computer according to a representative embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing a program and files related to the printer driver according to the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a printer driver 22 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of screen information regarding one application program 21 stored in a setting file 24 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main dialog according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a detailed setting dialog according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a dialog change screen according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the printer driver 22 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of screen information on one application program 21 stored in a setting file 24 in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a printer setting dialog according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 System Bus 5 Keyboard Controller 6 Hard Disk Controller 10 Hard Disk 11 CRT Display 12 Printer 100 Computer System 101 Computer Main Body

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A method of generating a user interface for setting conditions for information processing via a display, comprising a setting step of setting the conditions based on an operation of a dialog displayed on the display. And a setting condition registration step of registering the set condition in association with the name of an application in use, the method of generating a user interface. 2. A method for determining whether or not the condition corresponding to the application name is registered before the setting step.
And a dialog for displaying the registered condition when the condition is registered, and a dialog for displaying the preset condition when the condition is not registered. The user according to claim 1, further comprising a display step of generating and displaying.
How to generate the interface. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: a changing step of changing a layout of the operation unit of the dialog, and a layout registration step of registering the changed layout in association with the application name. Claim 2
How to generate the described user interface. 4. Before the setting step and the changing step, the method further comprises a second determination step of determining whether or not the layout corresponding to the application name is registered, and the display step registers the layout. If
If the arrangement is not registered on the basis of the registered arrangement, it is a step of generating and displaying a dialog displaying the condition based on the preset arrangement. The method for generating a user interface according to claim 3. 5. The dialog includes a main dialog that displays main items of the condition and one or more child dialogs that display auxiliary items of the condition, and the changing step includes the main dialog. The method for generating a user interface according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a dialog changing step of changing an item displayed in the dialog and an item displayed in the child dialog. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the condition is a condition for generating print data, and the information processing is a process for generating print data according to the condition. How to generate the user interface described in Section. 7. An information processing method, comprising: the user interface generation method according to claim 1; and an execution step of an application provided for the information processing. 8. A method of generating a user interface for setting conditions for information processing via a display device, comprising a changing step of changing the arrangement of an operation unit of a dialog displayed on the display device, and a changing step. A placement registration step of registering the placement in association with the application name. 9. A determination step of determining whether or not the layout corresponding to the application name is registered before the changing step, and based on the registered layout if the layout is registered. 9. If the arrangement is not registered, a display step of generating and displaying a dialog in which the operation unit is arranged based on the preset arrangement is included. How to generate a user interface for. 10. The dialog includes a main dialog that displays main items of the condition and one or more child dialogs that display auxiliary items of the condition, and the changing step includes the main dialog. The method for generating a user interface according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising a dialog changing step of changing an item displayed in the dialog and an item displayed in the child dialog. 11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the condition is a condition for generating print data, and the information processing is a process for generating print data according to the condition. How to generate the user interface described in Section. 12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11.
An information processing method, comprising: a method for generating a user interface according to the above section; and an execution step of an application provided for the information processing.