JP2001216068A - File icon display device and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a file icon display device for confirming the number of passing dates since an updated date or a final access date only by viewing an icon. SOLUTION: A CPU 11 registers or sets a file name for converting the display of an icon to be displayed on the display screen of a display device 13 and the change mode of the icon display in an icon conversion table in a storage device 16, and starts a file list application, and judges whether or not the file of an icon to be displayed on the display screen of the display device 13 is present, and when the pertinent file is present, the CPU obtains the extender of the file, and judges whether or not the icon for changing the display configuration is present, and when the pertinent icon is present, the CPU allows the display device 13 to display an icon corresponding to the number of passing dates since the present date on the display screen based on display change corresponding to the date mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a file icon display device and a storage medium therefor, and more particularly, to a file icon display device for changing the display mode of icons according to the update date and time of a file or the number of days elapsed from the access date and time. And its storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a file list is displayed on a personal computer or the like, an icon associated with an extension of a file name is added and displayed. As a result, it is possible to easily recognize the type of application to be executed by simply looking at the file icon without having to follow the extension.

Further, by changing the display method of a file, detailed information of the file can be displayed conventionally, and information such as a file size and a file update date and time can also be displayed.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional personal computer, since the means for confirming the update date and time of the file had to check the character string of the update date and time, usually, the update date and time were normally used. Sorts in the newest or oldest order, but when there are a lot of files to check, it is said that checking for similar character strings such as dates is also a part where humans can easily make mistakes. There was a problem.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a file icon display device capable of confirming the update date and time or the number of days elapsed since the last access date and time just by looking at the icon.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, a storage means for storing the update date and time or the access date and time for each file (for example, the storage device 16 in FIG. 1). File information), and an elapsed days calculation unit (e.g., for calculating the number of days elapsed after updating or accessing each file to be displayed).
(Step S14 or S15 of the icon display process executed by the CPU 11 in FIG. 7) and when displaying the icon corresponding to each of the display target files, the number of elapsed days of each display target file calculated by the elapsed day calculation means is used. The icon display changing means (for example, steps S18 and S19 of the icon display process executed by the CPU 11 in FIG. 7 and FIG.
And a display example in FIG. 4).

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the storage means stores the update date and time or the access date and time for each file, and the elapsed days calculation means updates the update or access for each display target file. Calculate the number of days elapsed,
When displaying an icon corresponding to each of the display target files, the icon display change unit changes the display mode of each icon based on the elapsed days of each display target file calculated by the elapsed days calculation unit. .

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, without referring to the properties and the like of each file,
It is possible to visually recognize that the update date and time or the access date and time of the file is old, and it is possible to improve the convenience in organizing those files. Then, by arranging unnecessary files, the memory of the device can be effectively used.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. First, the configuration will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an information processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an information processing apparatus 1 includes a CPU 1
1, an input device 12, a display device 13, a RAM 14, a transmission control unit 15, a storage device 16, and a storage medium 17. Each unit except the storage medium 17 is connected to a bus 18.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11
The RAM 1 stores various processing programs (including an operating system) executed by the information processing apparatus 1 stored in the storage device 16, various instructions input from the input device 12, or various data processed according to the various instructions.
4 and executes various processes according to the application program stored in the RAM 14 in response to the input instruction and the input data, and stores the processing results in the RAM 14.
And display it on the display device 13. Then, the CPU 11 stores the processing result stored in the RAM 14 in a storage destination in the storage device 16 which is instructed to be input from the input device 12.

The CPU 11 performs an initial setting process (FIG. 6).
Reference) to register a file name for converting the display of icons displayed on the display screen of the display device 13 and an extension for excluding conversion of the icon display in an icon conversion table or the like in the storage device 16, The change mode and the date mode of the icon display are set in a date mode table or the like in the storage device 16, and the file list application stored in the storage device 16 is activated.

Further, the CPU 11 executes an icon display process (see FIG. 7) to determine whether or not there is a file of the icon to be displayed on the display screen of the display device 13. Then, the file extension is acquired from the file information, and it is determined whether or not there is an icon for changing the display mode, and whether or not there is an icon for which the display change is excluded. If there is a corresponding icon, the CPU 11 determines a date mode for displaying the icon, and displays an icon corresponding to the number of days elapsed from the current date and time based on a display change according to the date mode. It is displayed on the display screen of the device 13.

The input device 12 includes a keyboard provided with a cursor key, numeric input keys, and the like, and a pointing device such as a mouse, and outputs to the CPU 11 a pressing signal of a key pressed on the keyboard and a mouse position signal.

The display device 13 is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tu).
be) and the like, and displays display data input from the CPU 11.

A RAM (Random Access Memory) 14 is
When the CPU 11 executes the above-described various processing programs, it forms a program storage area for expanding various programs and various data. When the CPU 11 executes the icon display processing, the CPU 11 stores an icon conversion table stored in the storage device 16. Extension and icon file name data, extension data in the conversion exclusion extension table, date mode data in the date mode table, color change degree data in the color change degree table, file information data of each file icon, etc. Form a memory area for temporary storage.

The transmission control unit 15 has a modem (MODEM:
The information processing apparatus 1 is configured by a MOdulator / DEModulator or a terminal adapter (TA), and controls communication between the information processing apparatus 1 and an external device via a communication line such as a telephone line or an ISDN line. The modem modulates the digital data processed by the CPU 11 into an analog signal in the frequency band of the telephone line in order to communicate with an external device such as a personal computer via the telephone line. Is a device that demodulates an analog signal input into a digital signal.
A terminal adapter is a device that converts an existing interface into an interface compatible with ISDN in order to communicate with an external device such as a personal computer via an ISDN line.

The storage device 16 stores programs and data in advance, and has a configuration including a storage medium 17 readable by the CPU 11, such as a magnetic, optical, or semiconductor memory. This storage medium 17
Includes a portable medium such as a CD-ROM and a fixed medium such as a hard disk. The storage medium 17 stores various application programs corresponding to the system,
The control program, the initial setting processing program, the icon display processing program, and the data processed by each processing program are stored, and the programs and data stored in the storage medium 17 are partially or wholly transmitted from a server or a client. It may be configured to receive from the transmission control unit 15 via a transmission medium such as a network line, and the storage medium 17 may be a storage medium of a server constructed on a network. Furthermore, the program may be transmitted to a server or a client via a transmission medium such as a network line, and installed in these devices.

The program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 17 may be received and stored from another device connected via a communication line or the like.
Another device connected via a communication line or the like may be provided with a storage device provided with the above storage medium, and may be configured to use programs and data stored in the storage medium 17 via the communication line. .

FIGS. 2 to 5 are diagrams showing various tables stored in the storage device 16 of the information processing apparatus 1. FIG. Each table is set by a user in an initial setting process described later, or is set in advance by a user or the like.

FIG. 2A shows an example of registration of an icon conversion table stored in the storage device 16.
The set extension and its icon file name are stored. FIG. 2B is an example of registration of the conversion exclusion extension table stored in the storage device 16. For example, in this figure, the extension “exe” is registered. Is stored.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams showing the degree of change in the change mode of the five types of icon display stored in the storage device 16. FIG. In step S3 of the initial setting process executed by the CPU 11, the user sets one of the icon display change modes. FIGS. 3A to 3C and FIGS. 4D to 4E show color change degree tables, color change degree tables, size change degree tables, shape change degree tables, and inclination change degree tables. Is a specific example, and the degree of each change is determined according to the set elapsed days. Further, the number of elapsed days in each table and the corresponding degree of change may be stored in the storage device 16 in advance, or may be arbitrarily set by the user in step S3 of the initial setting process. Good.

FIG. 5A is a specific example of file information stored in the storage device 16, and the file information includes at least a file name, an update date and time, a last access date and time, and the like. FIG. 5B shows an example of registration of the date mode table stored in the storage device 16. In the present embodiment, two types of modes, the update date mode (1) and the last access date mode (2), are used. Settings are selectable. The setting of the date mode determines the date and time from which the number of days elapsed until the current date and time of the information processing apparatus 1 is calculated.
FIG. 5C shows a specific example of the icon file information for display stored in the storage device 16. In the present embodiment, the file registered in the icon file information for display (FIG. Then, the icon display form of “test.xls”) changes.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The operations of the initial setting process and the icon display process executed by the CPU 11 of the information processing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. It should be noted that supplementing each flowchart described below, a program for realizing each function shown in the flowchart is stored in the recording medium 1 in the form of a program code readable by the CPU 11.
7 is stored. This program can also be transmitted in the form of a program code via a transmission medium such as a network line.

First, the operation of the initialization processing executed by the CPU 11 of the information processing apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an initial setting process executed by CPU 11 of information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. This initialization processing is performed by the user when the display device 13 of the information processing apparatus 1 is used.
This is executed before performing an icon display process, which will be described later, on the icon displayed on the display screen.

When the information processing apparatus 1 starts the initial setting process, the CPU 11 allows the user to register an icon conversion table (step S1). In the present embodiment, FIG.
As shown in (a), an icon file name and an extension are set.

If the user does not want to convert the icon display, the CPU 11 allows the user to register the conversion exclusion extension table (step S2). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B, a file having an extension “exe” is set.

Then, the CPU 11 allows the user to set a desired mode from among five types of icon display change modes (see FIGS. 3 and 4) (step S3), and displays the date mode table (see FIG. 5 (b)). Make settings (Step S
4), the initial setting process ends.

Next, the operation of the icon display process executed by the CPU 11 of the information processing apparatus 1 will be described. FIG.
Is the CPU 11 of the information processing apparatus 1 in the present embodiment.
9 is a flowchart showing an icon display process executed by the user. When the power of the information processing apparatus 1 is turned on and the initialization processing of the information processing apparatus 1 ends, the CPU 11 starts the icon display processing.

In step S6, the CPU 11 determines whether there is a file for displaying an icon from the display icon file (see FIG. 5C). If there is no such file, the icon display process is terminated as it is. If there is a file to be displayed as an icon, the CPU 11 stores the file information of the file stored in the storage device 16 (see FIG. 5). (See (a)), and expands it in the RAM 14 (step S
7), an extension is acquired from the file information (step S8).

In step S9, the CPU 11 compares the extension of the file information acquired in step S8 with the extension of the icon conversion table (see FIG. 2A) and determines whether the file is a file for changing the display of the icon. Judge. If the file does not change the icon display, the icon display process is terminated as it is. If the file does not change the icon display, the process proceeds to step S10.

In step S10, the CPU 11
The acquired extension is the conversion exclusion extension table (FIG. 2B)
It is determined whether or not the extension registered does not change the icon display registered in (see). If it is a conversion exclusion extension, the process proceeds to step S6, where the CPU 11
From the display icon file (see FIG. 5 (c))
The same processing is repeated for the file for displaying the next icon. If the extension is not a conversion exclusion extension, C
The PU 11 acquires the current date and time from the operating system (step S11), acquires the current date mode registered in the date mode table, and
(Step S12).

At step S13, the CPU 11
It is determined whether the date mode stored in the RAM 14 is the update date mode or the last access date mode. If the mode is the update date mode, the process shifts to step S14 and C
The PU 11 subtracts the update date and time acquired from the file information loaded in the RAM 14 from the current date and time acquired from the operation system, and calculates the number of elapsed days.

If the mode is the last access date mode, the process shifts to step S15, where the CPU 11 subtracts the last access date and time obtained from the file information expanded in the RAM 14 from the current date and time, and Is calculated.

Then, the CPU 11 searches the change degree table of the icon display corresponding to the calculated elapsed days from each change degree table stored in the storage device 16 (step S16).

In step S17, the CPU 11
By the search, it is determined whether or not there is a change state of the icon display. If there is no change state of the icon display, the process returns to step S6, and the CPU 11 repeats the same processing for the file for displaying the next icon from the display icon file (see FIG. 5C).
If there is a change state of the icon display, the CPU
11 sets an icon whose display state has been changed (step S18), displays the corresponding icon on the display screen of the display device 13 (step S19), and proceeds to step S6 to display the icon for display. File (Fig. 5
(C), the same processing is repeated for the file for displaying the next icon.

As described above, the CPU 11 performs the above-described processing for all the files for displaying the icons from the display icon file (see FIG. 5C), and ends the icon display processing.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a change state of the file icon displayed on the display screen of the display device 13 will be specifically described. In steps S11 to S15 of the icon display process executed by the CPU 11 of the information processing apparatus 1 described above, for example, if the number of elapsed days is calculated to be 5 days by the CPU 11, in step S3, The icon display form does not change (step S
16-S17).

By the same processing, for example, when the elapsed days are 2
When it is calculated as 0 day, if the change mode of the file icon is change of color in step S3,
This icon is displayed on the display screen of the display device 13 in the tone of the color change degree “20” (step S16).
To S19, see FIG. 3 (a)). When the change mode is a color change, this icon is displayed in a lime color (see FIG. 3B). When the change mode is a size change, the icon size is changed to the original size. The icon is displayed at 0.8 times the size (see FIG. 3C), and if the shape is changed, the shape of this icon is displayed with one corner cut off as in Modification 1 (see FIG. If the change is a change in inclination, this icon is displayed at an angle of 30 ° (see FIG. 4E).

As described above, the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment obtains the update date and time or the last access date and time from the file information of each file stored in the storage device 16, and obtains the current date and time. The number of elapsed days is calculated by comparison, and the display mode of the file icon is changed according to the calculated number of elapsed days.

Therefore, with the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the user does not have to display detailed properties of a file on the display screen of the display device 13 each time, and the update date or time of the file or the file is displayed depending on the icon display state. It is possible to visually recognize that the last access date and time is old. Therefore, the user can determine a file that is hardly accessed or a file that is hardly used, and the convenience in organizing those files can be improved. By organizing such unnecessary files, the memory 14 or the storage medium 17 of the information processing apparatus 1 can be effectively used.

The information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment
Five modes can be selected as the mode for changing the display mode of the file icon. If the user does not want to change the display mode of the file icon, the user can register it and display the file icon as it is. It was made possible.

Therefore, the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can change the file icon of each file in a desired display form according to the user's taste.

In the present embodiment, the case where the power supply of the information processing apparatus 1 is turned on and the icon display processing is started after the initialization processing of the information processing apparatus 1 is completed has been described. Can be performed during the operation of the information processing apparatus 1,
It is assumed that the icon display processing can be operated as needed when the information processing apparatus 1 is working.

[0045]

According to the first and fifth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to visually recognize that the update date / time or access date / time of a file is old without referring to the properties or the like of each file. Convenience when organizing files can be improved. Then, by arranging unnecessary files, the memory of the device can be effectively used.

According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, the file icon of each file can be changed in a desired display form according to the user's taste and preference.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the display mode of the file icon can be changed according to the attribute of each file, and only the icon of the file desired by the user can be changed. Therefore, user convenience in operation can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an information processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an example of registration of an icon conversion table stored in a storage device 16, and FIG.
9 is a registration example of a conversion exclusion extension table stored in a storage device 16.

3A is a specific example of a color change degree table, FIG. 3B is a specific example of a color change degree table, and FIG. 3C is a modified example of an icon display. is there.

FIG. 4D shows a specific example of the shape change degree table, and FIG. 4E shows a specific example of the inclination change degree table and a modified example of the icon display.

5A is a specific example of file information stored in a storage device 16, and FIG. 5B is a registration example of a date mode table stored in the storage device 16. FIG. 5C shows display icon file information stored in the storage device 16.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an initial setting process executed by the CPU 11 of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an icon display process executed by the CPU 11 of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 information processing device 11 CPU 12 input device 13 display device 14 RAM 15 communication control unit 16 storage device 17 storage medium 18 bus

Claims (5)

[Claims] A storage means for storing the update date and time or access date and time for each file; an elapsed days calculation means for calculating the number of days after update or access for each file to be displayed; When displaying an icon corresponding to the file, based on the elapsed days of each display target file calculated by the elapsed days calculation unit, the display mode of each icon is changed, and an icon display changing unit is provided. Characterized file icon display device. 2. A display form storing means for storing a plurality of color data corresponding to the elapsed days as a display form, wherein the icon display changing means performs a corresponding operation based on the elapsed days of each of the display target files. 2. The file icon display device according to claim 1, wherein the color data is read from the display form storage means, and the color of the icon of each file to be displayed is changed. 3. A display form storage means for storing a plurality of shape change data corresponding to the number of elapsed days as a display form, wherein the icon display change means responds based on the number of elapsed days of each of the display target files. 2. The file icon display device according to claim 1, wherein the shape change data to be read is read from the display form storage means, and the shape of the icon of each display target file is changed and displayed. 4. A file attribute storage unit for storing a file attribute for changing a display mode, wherein the icon display change unit is stored in the file attribute storage unit when displaying an icon of each of the display target files. 4. The file icon display device according to claim 1, wherein a display mode of an icon of a display target file corresponding to the file attribute is changed. 5. A storage medium storing a computer-executable program for displaying icons corresponding to a plurality of files, wherein the computer for managing the update date and time or access date and time for each file is provided. Executable program code, computer-executable program code for calculating the age of the file to be displayed, and displaying an icon corresponding to each file,
A storage medium storing a program having: a computer-executable program code for changing a display mode of each icon based on the elapsed days.