JP2006047467A - Learning support program of sequential processing application software - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose a method for facilitating comprehension of application software to execute sequential processing and a method for enabling a user to comprehend operation procedures, to develop a learning support program using the method, and to provide a learning support program dealing with application software related to cash flow. <P>SOLUTION: In the learning support program of application software, in order to enable the user to learn the content and operation of application software to carry out a series of sequential processing from input to output, input data necessary for executing each of a plurality of learning steps that can be optionally selected and executed are prepared in a computer beforehand, and the learning procedures in the learning step are executed without data input processing other than the data input carried out for learning in the learning step. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an application software learning support program for allowing a user to understand the contents of application software for performing sequential processing and for instructing operation procedures.

  I often heard that I bought application software (business software) but I can't use it, and I don't know how to use it. Since recent applications have become more multifunctional, it can be said that one of the causes of difficulty in use is the increased degree of freedom in how to use them. It is the user's personality that thinks that more features are better for the same price. On the other hand, in order to extract and use the desired function from many functions, many condition settings and parameter settings are required. This is difficult for those who are not as familiar with programs and applications as they are with developing programs. Another point that is difficult to use is the lack of manuals and operating instructions. Manuals and explanations with poor explanations and explanations are out of the question, but there are many things that are difficult to understand despite being explained in detail. This is due to the heavy use of technical terms and the lack of specific explanations.

  When home video began to spread, some video software used to explain application software and operation. Recently, in addition to manuals and manuals, there are also products that sell tutor software (programs) attached to products. Tutor software is software (program) that has been devised so that users can understand application contents and operation methods by experiencing product application software on a computer screen. For example, in a tutor program for acquiring a programming language, in addition to explanation of language functions and grammar / structure, a means for actually creating a sample program is provided so that the user can create and execute the program specifically. Etc. As a result, through specific examples, the program language can be understood while operating the screen.

“A mesh division learning support system, a mesh division learning support program in CAE analysis, and a recording medium on which the mesh division learning support program is recorded” (Patent Document 1) is an experiential study of the difference in the results of meshes that have the most influence on the accuracy of CAE You can learn. In this system, CAE that navigates CAE analysis procedures, such as model creation procedures, mesh division procedures, material physical property definition procedures, fixed condition setting procedures, load condition setting procedures, analysis execution procedures, and result display procedures. An analysis procedure program is included, and the program is programmed to advance the process according to the input of each condition by the user.
JP 2003-295746 A

  As we have seen in the background art, manuals and manuals are necessary to make the user understand the application software and explain the operation in an easy-to-understand manner. The quality of manuals and operation manuals depends heavily on the user's application software learning and understanding speed. For this reason, recently, tutor software is attached to application software so that users can understand and understand the application while operating the screen. However, these tutors are programs that are independent from the application software, and even if they include pseudo-experience functions, methods such as learning in order from the input are taken, and the image of the entire software does not come out. It takes time to understand the contents.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to propose a method for facilitating the understanding of application software that performs sequential processing and a method for understanding operation procedures, and to enable development of a learning support program using the method. It is to be. In the present invention, provision of the learning support program corresponding to cash flow related application software is also considered.

  In order to solve the problem to be solved by the above invention, the invention described in claim 1 is a computer in which the user learns the contents and operation of application software that performs a series of sequential processing from input to output. Therefore, input data necessary for executing the learning step is prepared in advance, divided into a plurality of learning steps that can be arbitrarily selected and executed, and other than data input performed for learning in the learning step. A learning support program for application software for causing the learning procedure of the learning step to be executed without performing data input processing.

    The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that the application software for performing a series of sequential processing from input to output is application software related to cash flow. It is a program.

In the present invention, attention is paid to the characteristics of the sequential processing application software. If you look at the structure of sequential processing application software, it consists of input processing, arithmetic processing (processing that includes logical logic), and output processing, and a series of data flow (data processing flow) from input to output. Similar to the river flow. Recent software creates, modifies, and changes data through screen operations, and also outputs data on the screen. The user is related to the data input / output part, and it is not usually interrupted and operated during the arithmetic processing. On the other hand, there are also types of input data such as master data (master file creation data) and transaction data (temporary file data), and the creation order must proceed from the master to the transaction. Actually, the application software and logic flow are as follows: master registration → transaction input → (arithmetic processing) → output.

  Some types of applications require association between files or data items. In the cash flow related application software treated as an application in the present invention, it is necessary to associate a financial item with a cash flow item. This association must be done during master registration. But it is difficult to understand.

  Conventional learning support programs (tutor programs) explain the contents of software and operation methods along the flow of data. As described in the problem to be solved by the invention, it is difficult for the user (learner, application user) to grasp the whole image of the application and get bored on the way. Therefore, in the present invention, the idea is reversed and learning is performed in the reverse order to the data flow.

  (1) A series of sequential processing is divided into input processing, arithmetic processing, and output processing. The system prepares all input data in advance, executes a series of processing consistently, and outputs the various outputs required. Output learning means to learn the method, (2) Input data correction learning means to execute the application by correcting a part of the input data prepared in advance by the system, (3) Input, processing, and output by the user (4) When there is master data (file) and transaction data (file) in the input process, the master data is prepared by the system first, and the transaction data that executes the process by inputting only the transaction data Input learning means and all data input to execute processing by inputting both master data and transaction data Learning means, (5) If there is any relationship between data items, provide learning means such as association learning means to learn how to associate, and learn application software in the reverse order of the data processing flow Take the way.

  In order to learn the application in the reverse order, data is required, which is prepared in advance by the learning support program system. Once the learning is complete, the user can freely create prototype data and learn through it. Such learning is called experiential learning.

  The flow of data processing is like that the input side is upstream of the river and the output side is downstream of the river. Data processing and screen operations by the user in the middle of the flow can be compared to a waterfall. By climbing the waterfall one by one from the downstream, you can understand the application software and master the operation method. Therefore, such a learning support method is called a “waterfall climbing learning method” in the present invention.

  The learning support program has a function of starting actual application software (hereinafter referred to as “AP”), passing data to the AP, and adding a description. Which stage (learning means) is executed can be selected by menu selection. However, the menu is arranged in order of learning from the waterfall climbing from the downstream, and if the learning is done in the order of the menu, it is devised so that the whole AP can be understood naturally. However, menu selection can be made randomly and skipping learning is also possible.

  As a specific application of the present invention, there is a learning support program for cash flow related AP. Cash flow is “cash flow”. As a result of the revision of the accounting system, only public companies are required to prepare a cash flow statement in addition to the balance sheet and profit and loss statement from the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003. The cash flow statement analyzes the company's cash flow over a period of time and attempts to clarify the cause of the increase or decrease. From this point of view, the viewpoint of cash flow management is indispensable for corporate management regardless of the scale of the company. This type of AP is batch and sequential. Therefore, it is easy to apply to the idea of the present invention. Specifically, it is as follows.

The cash flow related AP learning support program includes the following learning means. (1) Output that prepares all input data such as master data such as financial items and cash flow subjects and transaction data such as monthly data in advance, executes a series of processes, and learns how to output requested documents Learning means, (2) Transaction data input learning means for performing a series of processing after the learning support program performs the data input and association of the financial items and cash flow subjects in advance and allows the user to input monthly data. ) The above association is made in advance, master data and transaction data are input, all data input learning means for executing a series of financial processing, (4) master data and transaction data are prepared in advance, Association learning means to learn the association between subjects and cash flow subjects, (5) All functional studies to learn through all functions Means. The above learning is basically performed in ascending order of numbers, but skipping learning is also possible. The above learning
Output learning → transaction input learning → master transaction input learning → association learning → through learning

  When a person who doesn't know or knows about a computer buys application software, understands AP, and learns how to use it, it takes time to master the usage. It was also a cause to give up the use of software. The conventional AP learning method and the learning support software that supports it are based on this method.

  The problems of the conventional learning support program are explained first, but when using the AP software, the explanation was made in order from the input method, so the user cannot learn the whole picture of the AP software. Because I had to go away. On the other hand, the method for facilitating the understanding and operation guidance of the sequential processing application software of the present invention starts by first showing the user what the AP is doing and what it can do. For this reason, the user can execute the AP software without entering data, which is the most difficult task, and can view the results as a screen or printed document, what is being done, what can be obtained, etc. You can learn the big data flow and the accompanying output processing method. That is, according to the present invention, the user can be easily understood without getting bored by taking the opposite path to the conventional learning support method or tutor program.

  Cash flow management has become increasingly important in corporate management in recent years. The flow of cash (cash and cash equivalents) could not be clearly grasped only by the conventional balance sheet and income statement. On the other hand, if a cash flow statement is used, the cash flow for a certain period can be clarified. This is the reason why cash flow management has become important. However, associating items such as balance sheet and income statement with cash flow items is not always easy. Therefore, since the application learning learning program for cash flow related applications of the present invention applies the AP learning support method described above, first, difficult subject determination (or input) and association between subjects are performed later, and learning from the output first. (Experience) makes it possible for people to understand what cash flow is like. Then, learning from the waterfalls in the lower reaches one by one, so that the coral climbs up several waterfalls that exist in the river, finally entering financial items and associating financial items with cash flows To understand the difficult areas for users. This method of tracing the data flow is like climbing a waterfall, and is a method that allows the user to understand cash flow in a short time without getting bored.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is a method applied to sequential processing application software. Sequential processing AP roughly divides the flow of processing,
It consists of data input processing → arithmetic processing → data output processing. If you look more closely, it looks like Figure 1. Data input processing consists of master registration, association, and transaction data input. The association includes an association between items, and an association between tables like a database. Depending on the type of AP and the tool for creating the AP, setting of an arithmetic expression may be included. Therefore, the most difficult part for the user is the association. In addition, in the case of software with a high degree of freedom, setting of the AP execution environment and output format is included, but this is rather the previous stage of FIG. Since AP software is used here, AP software with a high degree of freedom is out of the range and is not considered here. Of course, it is possible to create a learning support program by the method advocated by the present invention in the previous stage of data input processing.

  Master registration and association between the items are basically performed when the AP software is first used. In addition, master registration processing is performed when it is necessary to change, add, or modify. On the other hand, transaction data is input temporarily (irregularly) when data is generated or at a point when data is collected to some extent (periodically). Recently, some of these parts are on-line and data can be collected (input) at any time. Arithmetic processing is internal processing of the computer and is basically not seen by the user. When the user sets an arithmetic expression, calculation using the arithmetic expression is also performed by the arithmetic processing. The result is output in the output process. The forms include file output, screen output, and printing. The output to a file is to store the result temporarily or semi-permanently, and the screen output and printing can be referred to and used repeatedly as long as the result output file exists.

  FIG. 2 shows the flow of learning performed by the AP software learning support program. Basically, the flow is the reverse of the data processing flow of FIG. Association learning is the last part because it is the most difficult part, and learning after grasping the entire AP is an efficient learning method. The learning of output processing is through learning of AP software, and is useful for understanding the whole picture of AP. Of course, the system (learning support program) prepares master data and transaction data for that purpose. In this learning, the user learns how to output which result. This gives you an overall picture of what the AP is doing and what it can do.

  In transaction input process learning, a method of inputting transaction data is learned. The system prepares the master and association for that purpose. When transaction data can be input, it is executed through the AP software. This allows you to learn how to enter transaction data and understand how transaction data affects results. Master registration is a way to learn how to create a master file. However, the association is performed in advance by the learning support program. When master registration is complete, run through and check the results. In addition to learning how to register master data, this will help you understand how the master works.

  Association learning defines associations between items of various masters. When only association learning is performed, master data and transaction data are prepared in advance by a learning support program so that they can concentrate on association learning. Once the association is made, run through and get the result. As a result, the user can not only learn the association operation but also understand the relationship between the items. In particular, the association needs to understand the AP. In the present invention, since the whole picture of the AP can be grasped through learning of each step such as output processing, transaction input processing, master registration processing, etc., if learning in each previous stage is completed, association learning is also performed. It has become easier. As described above, it is a feature of the present invention that learning from the exit side (downstream) not only learns the operation of each stage but also deepens the understanding of the AP itself.

  Each stage in FIG. 2 is called “waterfall”, and learning is called “waterfall climbing”. In the above-described waterfall climbing, each processing step is performed one by one, but it is also possible to skip skipping and climb several waterfalls at the same time depending on the degree of learning. For example, master registration learning and association learning can be performed in pairs, or master registration learning, association learning, transaction input learning, and the like can be performed simultaneously. Specifically, let's look at the learning support program of the cash flow statement creation program.

  Here, the cash flow calculation document creation program (AP software) is referred to as “Kanryu-sensei”, and the learning support program is referred to as “waterfall climbing classroom”. FIG. 3 shows the learning steps of the waterfall climbing classroom. Step 1 is an output / print operation experience, Step 2 is a monthly data input experience that is transaction data in this software, Step 3 is a master course registration / change experience, Step 4 is an association / change experience, Step 5 Consists of each step of full-function experience. “Kanryu-sensei” is a product, and in practice it is a program that runs independently. However, at the time of learning, it is activated in the waterfall climbing classroom. Steps 1 to 5 correspond to waterfall climbing 1 to 5. All or part of the data entry is done by a waterfall climbing classroom instead. In addition, the waterfall climbing classroom provides screen splitting, explanatory text addition and explanation screens. In the table, a circle mark indicates that data and association are performed in a waterfall climbing classroom, and a user operation is a process marked with a circle mark.

  FIG. 4 shows a main menu screen when the waterfall climbing classroom is activated. Menu selection is done with the keyboard or mouse. Since the menu can be selected at random, you can start from anywhere. However, if a beginner learns from the waterfall climbing 1 in order, it will be able to understand and operate the cash flow calculation document creation AP (Professor Kinryu) naturally and easily.

  FIG. 5 shows the main menu screen of Mr. Kinryu started from the waterfall climbing classroom when waterfall climbing 1 is selected. The explanatory text displayed on the screen and necessary data are given from the waterfall climbing classroom. Therefore, there are no screen divisions or explanations for the product teacher. FIG. 6 shows a monthly processing menu screen, but the user cannot freely perform master registration or data input in the waterfall climbing 1. The user can do what kind of output. There are a direct method and an indirect method in the output selection menu, and a method for selecting a result of performing CF calculation (cash flow calculation) is selected. FIG. 7 is a cash flow statement output instruction screen, which is displayed when [Direct method] of [CF statement output] is selected on the monthly processing menu screen of FIG. When the “output period” and “monetary unit” are appropriately selected and executed, a cash flow calculation sheet is obtained. Thus, since there is no troublesome data entry processing such as master registration and monthly data in the waterfall climbing 1, a beginner can easily obtain a cash flow calculation statement and a checkout statement.

The description of the waterfall climbing 2 and 3 is omitted, and the association of the waterfall climbing 4 will be described. As can be seen from the table of FIG. 3, in the waterfall climbing 4, the master registration has already been completed, and the user can perform association operations, monthly data input operations, and various CF document output operations. When “Taki Climbing 4” is selected in the main menu (see FIG. 4) of the water climbing classroom, the main menu (see FIG. 5) of Mr. Kinryu is displayed. Therefore, Main menu Change processing menu Financial item change Change processing menu ======= ========================
Change processing → Change financial item → Insert item → Change financial item association

Financial item association change Change processing menu ==================
→ Change financial item association → (Select next process)

Processing is performed in this order. Note that the upper item of the partition line ========== represents the screen name of Mr. Kanryu, and the lower item represents operations on the screen.

  FIG. 8 shows a change processing menu. When “change financial item” is selected here, the financial item change screen shown in FIG. 9 appears. FIG. 9 shows a state in which bills receivable are registered (inserted) as financial items and the relationship with each code is set (see “Bills Receivable” on the third line of the financial item change table in FIG. 9). The code description is on the right edge of the screen. If “Register” is selected here, the process moves to the change process menu and the next process can be selected. In this way, by proceeding with learning while looking at actual operations and accompanying explanations, what is the cash flow and how is the relationship between the financial item and the cash flow item naturally? You can understand. Although the operation on the way was omitted, the feature of the water climbing classroom is that by learning from the downstream area, you can learn individual contents and operations while looking at the whole picture. FIG. 10 is a print example of the cash flow checkout table. The fact that such output is obtained at the first stage (waterfall climbing 1) also plays a major role in understanding the overall picture of the AP.

  When using application software, it takes time to master the usage. Therefore, the period until proficiency is shortened by using the same software as conventional software. However, if it becomes a little complicated application software, it is necessary to educate users. Education software for that purpose is auxiliary software important for application software.

Among software used for management, software based on a new concept is difficult for those who have used old software. For example, cash flow management, which has become increasingly important in corporate management in recent years, eliminates the point that it has not been possible to clearly grasp the flow of cash (cash and cash equivalents). However, the application software learning support program of the present invention is useful because there is a difficulty in associating items such as balance sheets and profit and loss statements with cash flow subjects.

It is explanatory drawing of the flow of the data processing in sequential processing application software. It is a figure for demonstrating the method of making content understanding and operation guidance of the sequential processing application software of this invention easy in the flow of data processing. It is a figure for demonstrating the experience learning step of the cash flow related application software learning support program of this invention. It is a main menu screen of the water climbing classroom which is a cash flow related application software learning support program of the present invention. It is a main menu screen of CF related software and Mr. Kinryu executed under the control of a waterfall climbing classroom which is a cash flow related application software learning support program of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a monthly processing menu screen of CF-related software / Kanryu-sensei executed under the control of a waterfall climbing classroom, which is a cash flow-related application software learning support program of the present invention. It is a cash flow calculation output instruction screen of CF-related software / Kanryu-sensei executed under the control of waterfall climbing classroom which is a cash flow-related application software learning support program of the present invention. It is a CF-related software / Kanryu-sensei change processing menu screen executed under the control of a waterfall climbing classroom, which is a cash flow-related application software learning support program of the present invention. It is a financial subject change screen of CF related software and Mr. Kinryu, which is executed under the control of a waterfall climbing classroom which is a cash flow related application software learning support program of the present invention. It is an example of a print result of a cash flow checkout table output from CF-related software / Kanryu-sensei executed under the control of a waterfall climbing classroom, which is a cash flow-related application software learning support program of the present invention.

Claims (2)

In order to cause the user to learn the contents and operations of application software that performs a series of sequential processing from input to output, to execute the learning step in a plurality of learning steps that can be arbitrarily selected and executed Application software learning support program for preparing input data necessary for the learning step and causing the learning procedure of the learning step to be executed without performing data input processing other than data input performed for learning in the learning step . 2. The learning support program for application software according to claim 1, wherein the application software for performing a series of sequential processing from input to output is application software related to cash flow.