JP2002279336A - Search result display device of matrix data - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate a search by a user of a cell hit by the search in displaying a search result of matrix data. SOLUTION: This search result display device is provided with an input device for inputting search conditions, a matrix data file storing line and column data, a search execution means executing the search, a search result visual effect file for storing visual effects affecting on the cell hit by the search and the line and column including the cell, a display data preparation means preparing display data by producing the visual effect stored in the search result visual effect file on the search result, and a display for displaying the data outputted by the display data preparation means. This display device produces visual effects different from those of the other cells to the respective line and column cells, including the cell hit by the search.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a search result display device for effectively displaying, to a user, cells hit by a search in matrix format data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the personalization of computer systems, graphical user interfaces using a matrix (table) format have become widespread in order to process various types of data in general and in large quantities. When the number of rows and columns is large in this matrix format data, it becomes difficult for the user to visually search for a target cell. for that reason,
In order to improve the work efficiency of the user, it is necessary to provide a search function and guide the user to a target cell.

In a conventional data search in a matrix format in a general-purpose application, when a search is executed by specifying a search condition, a search start position, and a search direction, a cursor is moved to a cell that first matches the search condition, that is, a hit cell. By doing so, the user is led to the cell of the search result. For example, as shown in FIG.
When the cells of Result 2, Result 3 and Result 4 are obtained,
The cursor moves from the result 1 to each of the result 2, the result 3 and the result 4 cells, and leads the user to the target cell.

[0004]

However, in the above-described data search, the user compares the cell of the search result with another cell that is not the search result, or determines the cell of the search result based on the relationship with the other cell. In some cases, another cell is referred to in order to give a value, in which case the user's line of sight temporarily leaves the cell of the search result.

In this case, in order for the user to return to the original search result after referring to another cell, it is necessary for the user to search for the corresponding cell with his own eyes. However, in an extreme case, the matrix data is too large to fit on the screen of the display at one time, and the cell of the search result may be off the screen by referring to another cell.
In this case, it is necessary to move the display screen on the display left and right and up and down to find the cell of the search result, resulting in a heavy burden on the user.

As described above, in the conventional retrieval of matrix format data, the longer the distance between the user's line of sight and the cell of the search result, the more time and effort are required to find the cell of the original search result. In other words, this places a heavy burden on the user and lowers the work efficiency of the user.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem in the conventional retrieval of matrix format data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a matrix data search result display device capable of easily finding a cell of the search result.

In order to solve the above problems, an apparatus of the present invention comprises an input device for inputting a search condition, a matrix data file for storing row and column data, a search executing means for executing a search, and a search hit. And a search result visual effect file storing visual effects to be applied to cells and rows and columns containing the cells, and display data for creating display data by applying the visual effects stored in the search result visual effect file to the search results And a display device for displaying data output by the display data generating means.

[0009] The above apparatus further comprises data changing means for adding, updating and deleting data to the row and column data stored in the matrix data file. Further, the apparatus further includes a selection unit for selecting a column or a row to be displayed.

Therefore, in the apparatus of the present invention, in displaying the search result of the matrix data, not only the cell hit by the search but also the other cells in the column and row including the relevant cell are different from the other cells. Since the visual effect is displayed, even if the user refers to a cell other than the hit cell, the user can easily find the original cell by following the visual effect. Therefore, the work efficiency of the user is greatly improved.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a matrix data search result display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1001 is a keyboard,
An input device 1002 such as a mouse is a matrix data file for storing matrix data to be searched, and one storage area of a storage device such as a hard disk is used.
An output device 1003 displays the matrix data.
T display, liquid crystal display, printer and the like.

Reference numeral 1004 denotes search execution means;
Is a file for storing the contents of visual effects to be applied to search results; 1102 is display data creation for adding search results to matrix data extracted from a matrix data file and further applying visual effects to create output data Means. The output data created by the display data creation unit 1102 is sent to an output device and displayed. Note that the search execution unit 1004, the search result visual effect file 1101, and the display data creation unit 1102 are usually created as one application (program).

In FIG. 1 and the following figures, arrows indicated by broken lines indicate the flow of execution of the means, dotted arrows indicate the flow of data, and arrows indicated by solid lines indicate the execution of the means and the flow of data. I have.

In the above device, the user operates the input device 10
When a search condition is input via the search execution means 10
04 receives this search condition, and receives the matrix data file 1
A search is performed on the matrix data stored in the 002, and the cell position information (row position to column position) serving as the search result is output to the display data creation unit 1102. The display data creation unit 1102 retrieves the matrix data to be searched from the storage device 1002 and, based on the cell position information as the search result, retrieves the search result visual effect file 11.
Execute the visual effect stored in 01 to create display data. The result is output to the output device 1003 and displayed.

The search result visual effect file 1101 includes:
A visual effect to be applied to a cell of the search result and a row and a column including the cell is stored in advance as a set of a visual effect to the cell, a visual effect to the row, and a visual effect to the column.
In this case, the search result visual effect is, for example, coloring each cell hit by the search with a first color, and coloring the entire row including this cell with a second color excluding the hit cell.
This means work contents such as coloring a column with a third color.

With the above arrangement, a cell as a search result and a cell as a non-search result (a cell not hit) in the same matrix as this cell can be displayed with a visual effect different from other cells. It is possible to find the original hit cell using the visual effects applied to the rows and columns even if the user moves the screen greatly to refer to the cell related to the hit cell Becomes easier. Thereby, the work efficiency of the user is improved.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a matrix data search result display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, search conditions input via the input device 1001 are stored in a search condition file, and a user adds, updates, and deletes data to the matrix data. In this case, the stored search condition is automatically executed for the changed data, and this is reflected in the search result.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 2101 denotes search condition storage means for writing a search condition input by the user from the input device 1001 into a search condition file 2102. 2
Reference numeral 001 denotes data changing means for executing addition, update, and deletion of matrix data by the user. The changed data is stored in the matrix data file 1002.

Reference numeral 2103 denotes an automatic search control unit, which controls the search execution unit 1004 in response to the data change performed by the data change unit 2001 to execute a search on the changed matrix data. At this time, the search conditions stored in the search condition file 2102 are used. The search result executed by the search execution unit 1004 is sent to the display data creation unit 1102, where a visual effect is applied, and output to the output device 1003.

Thus, even if the user changes data such as addition, update, or deletion of the matrix data, the search result can be automatically reflected on the changed matrix data, and furthermore, the result can be reflected in the result. Apply visual effects to facilitate cell search.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a matrix data search result display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the apparatus shown in FIG.
Further, a column selecting means 3101 and a selected column file 3102 are provided so that a user can select a column to be displayed when a search result is displayed. In FIG. 3, the column selecting function is provided in the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, but it goes without saying that the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 may be provided with the function.

In this apparatus, the user selects the column selecting means 3
When a column for displaying search results is selected by 101,
The data is stored in the selected column file 3102. In the display data creation unit 1102, the selected column file 310
2, only the column selected as the display target is displayed.

As a result, the number of columns displayed as search results can be reduced, and the range of movement of the cursor in the column (horizontal) direction is narrowed, so that the target cell can be prevented from being lost. .

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a matrix data search result display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is improved so as to be more user-friendly.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 4001 denotes an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse; and 4002, column selecting means for selecting a column to be displayed as a search result. The selected column is written in a selected column file 4003. . This choice is
For example, the processing is executed via a user graphical interface, the details of which will be described later. 4004
Is a search result visual effect storing means for selecting a visual effect for a cell hit by the search, and writing the selection result in the search result visual effect file 4017. The visual effect is, for example, a coloring of a hit cell, a row and a column including the cell.

The data change means 4005 is used to add, update, and delete data executed by the user from the input device 4001 via, for example, a user graphical interface.
An operation such as deletion is executed, and the result is written to the matrix data file 4012. The search condition storage unit 4006 writes the search conditions input from the input device 4001 via the user graphical interface into the search condition file 4007, for example.

The automatic search switch control means 4008 receives an instruction (for example, true if executed, false if not executed) from the input device 4001 by the user as to whether or not to execute automatic search.
Write 9

The automatic search control means 4010 is executed based on an instruction from the data change means 4005, refers to the automatic search switch file 4009, and if the value is true, drives the search execution means 4013 to change the value. Perform a search that includes data.

The search canceling means 4011 is driven in accordance with an instruction input by the user from the input device 4001 so as to return the visual effects of all the cells of the matrix data from the reflection state of the visual effects to the search results to the non-reflection state of the search results. An instruction is given to the display data creation means 4016.

The matrix data file 4012 is a file in which all matrix data is written, and is provided as a storage area on a main storage device or an auxiliary storage device of a computer. The search execution means 4013 is instructed by the user via the input device 4001, or
10, the search condition is received from the search condition file 4007, a search is performed on the matrix data stored in the matrix data file 4012, and the resulting position information of all cells is stored in the search result cell position file 4
014.

The output device 4015 is a CRT display,
A liquid crystal display or a printer. When instructed to display the search result by the search execution unit 4013, the display data creation unit 4016 refers to the selected column file 4003, and displays the column selected as the search result display target from the matrix data file 4012 as the display target. And outputs it to the output device 4015. At that time, the extracted matrix data is compared with the search result of the search result cell position file 4014, and the effect stored in the search result visual effect file 4017 is applied to the matching cells.

Specifically, matching cells are colored with a first color, rows containing the cells are colored with a second color, and columns are colored with a third color. Each color scheme can be specified by the user using the input device 4001 and the search result visual effect storage unit 4004.

When the search canceling means 4011 instructs to return the search result to the non-reflected state, the display data creating means 4016 outputs the extracted matrix data to the output device 4015 without coloring.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an example of an input screen configured as a user graphical interface. In particular, FIG. 5 shows a search screen for inputting search conditions, and FIG. 6 shows columns, rows and cells. 9 is a color scheme definition screen for confirming each color scheme. When the user clicks a “color scheme” button on the search screen in FIG. 5, a color scheme definition screen window shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, and the cells hit in the search and the colors applied to the rows and columns containing the cells are confirmed. You. The information for coloring is stored in the search result visual effect file 4017 in FIG.

In FIG. 6, a “column color” button is further provided.
When the "row color" button and the "cell color" button are clicked, a color designation screen window shown in FIG. 7 is displayed.
Therefore, if a color to be used for coloring is selected in this window and the "OK" button is clicked, the window returns to the window shown in FIG. 6 and the selected color is displayed in any of the columns, rows, and cells. By clicking the button, the selected color is stored in the search result visual effect file 4017.

Each window screen shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 constitutes a part of the retrieval result visual effect storage means 4004 in FIG. The search screen in FIG. 5 includes a column selection unit 4002, a search result visual effect storage unit 4004,
The search condition storage unit 4006 and a part of the automatic search switch control unit 4008 are configured.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of a search result. As shown in the figure, the search result cell I2 (FIG. 11)
, Cell C4 (corresponding to “result 2”), cell G7 (corresponding to “result 3”) and cell M9
(Corresponding to “Result 4”) is colored with the first color shown in the color scheme definition screen of FIG. 6, the column including these cells is colored with the second color, and the row is colored with the third color. I have.

When coloring a column, cells hit by the search are not colored with the row and column colors. Further, when the row and the column to be colored in a portion other than the hit cell cross each other, in the illustrated embodiment, the color of the row is colored with priority.

In the search screen shown in FIG. 5, the check box "automatic search" constitutes a part of the automatic search switch control means 4008 shown in FIG. The value is true, and conversely, unchecking this box causes the value in file 4009 to be false.

The search condition storage means 400 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a "search condition" field in FIG.
Button, enter your search criteria in this field,
When the “execute search” button is clicked, the search conditions are stored in the search condition file 4007 in FIG.

In FIG. 4, the automatic search control means 4009 is activated when the data is changed by the user by the data changing means 4005, and the automatic search switch file 4
If the value of 009 matches true, the search condition file 40
The search condition is taken out from 07 and inputted to the search execution means 4013, where the search is executed.

The column selection means 4002 in FIG. 4 includes the column selection definition screen in FIG. 9, and selects a column position displayed in the "selectable column" field on this screen, and clicks an arrow button. The selected column is moved to the "selected column" field. When the selection is completed and the “OK” button is clicked, the selected column is displayed in the selected column file 40.
03.

The display data creating means 4016 of FIG. 4 refers to the selected column file 4003 when displaying the search result,
The matrix data is displayed only for the column positions stored here. FIG. 10 illustrates the search that results in FIG.
FIG. 10 shows a display example when the columns selected in the window of FIG. 9 are A, C, and G. FIG.

In this display, it should be noted that in the search result display screen of FIG. 8 (FIG. 10A), the selected column is not simply extracted and moved. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 10B, since the column I and the column M are not selected as the display targets, the cells A2 and A9 which are colored as the rows related to the cells I2 and M9 are no longer colored. , And the cell C2 is also colored not by the row color but by the column color.

In each of the above embodiments, the coloring of cells is adopted as a visual effect. In addition to the coloring, font changes such as bolding or underlining characters in the cells, inversion,
Flashing or the like can be adopted as a visual effect.
It is also possible to color the cell frame to emphasize or blink it.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the selection display is performed only for the column. However, the selection display function may be provided for the row, or for the row and the column. A selection function may be provided. The configuration in this case can be easily realized by providing the same means and file for the row as the column selecting means 4002 and the selected column file 4003.

[0047]

As described above, according to the embodiments of the present invention, in the apparatus of the present invention, when displaying the matrix data, the user can search the hit cell and other rows and columns related to this cell. The cell can be displayed with a visual effect, so even if you move the cursor or move the screen to refer to another cell during a search, you can visually check the cell position of the search result. Is easy to confirm. Therefore, the time and effort for returning to the cell of the search result is greatly reduced, and the work efficiency of the user is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a matrix data search result display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a matrix data search result display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a matrix data search result display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a matrix data search result display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a color scheme definition screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a color designation screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of a search result.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a column selection definition screen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of search result display.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a conventional search result display example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1001 Input device 1002 Matrix data file 1003 Output device 1004 Search execution means 1101 Search result visual effect file 1102 Display data creation means 2001 Data change means 2101 Search condition storage means 2102 Search condition file 2103 Automatic Search control unit 3101: Column selection unit 3102: Selected column file

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B075 ND20 PQ02 PQ22 5E501 AA02 BA03 BA09 CA02 CB02 CB09 EB05 FA23 FB03 FB23 FB28

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An input device for inputting search conditions, a matrix data file for storing row and column data, a search execution means for executing a search, and a cell hit by the search and a row and a column including the cell A search result visual effect file for storing a visual effect, display data creating means for creating display data by applying a visual effect stored in the search result visual effect file to the search result, and output by the display data creating means. And a display device for displaying the search result data. 2. The matrix data search result display according to claim 1, further comprising data changing means for adding, updating, and deleting data to row and column data stored in said matrix data file. apparatus. 3. The matrix data search result display device according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit for selecting a column or a row to be displayed.