JP2006318168A - Setting program, recording medium, setting method and setting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow easy conversion of a setting program used for setting of a parameter or the like of equipment into multiple languages to reduce cost and a time necessary for development thereof. <P>SOLUTION: This setting program 4 comprises an execution program 4a and a text file 4b. The execution program 4a makes a personal computer 2 function as a setting device to a temperature controller 1, and its screen display is performed on the basis of character information read from the text file 4b. By translation of the text file 4b, localization can be performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a setting program used for setting parameters and the like of various devices such as a temperature controller and a measuring device, a recording medium on which the program is recorded, a setting method, and a setting device. The present invention relates to a setting program that is easy to handle.

  Conventionally, for example, in a temperature controller, setting of control parameters such as P, I, and D constants and a target temperature can be performed by operating a key while looking at the display unit of the temperature controller. In general, since the display section is a segment display, the display contents are difficult to understand, and the number of keys is limited, the user operates the keys while confirming the display contents in an operation manual etc. Numeric values and the like must be sequentially input, and the setting operation is complicated.

  For this reason, a parameter or the like is generally set in a temperature controller from a general-purpose personal computer using a setting program (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a setting, for example, setting items such as parameters are displayed in characters on the screen of a personal computer, and the user inputs a numerical value corresponding to the setting item by operating a keyboard or the like by communication. The temperature controller is set.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the setting of the temperature controller using a personal computer by such a setting program. In FIG. 8, 4 ′ is a setting program, and 2 is a personal computer that executes the setting program 4 ′. Reference numeral 1 denotes a temperature controller connected to the personal computer 2 via the communication cable 3.

On the liquid crystal display 5 of the personal computer 2, for example, “target value” is read from the setting program 4 ′ and displayed as a setting item, and the user operates the keyboard 7 or the like of the personal computer 2 to display the target value. A value to be set as is input.
JP 11-110004 A

  In order to make the setting program 4 ′ for setting parameters using such a personal computer 2 usable in a foreign country, that is, to localize, the characters to be displayed on the screen of the personal computer 2 are localized. It is necessary to correspond to a language (hereinafter also referred to as “local language”). As shown in FIG. 9, for example, by using a setting program 4′-1 corresponding to English as a localized language, Instead of the “target value” in FIG. 8 described above, “Set Point” is read from the setting program 4′-1 and displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 of the personal computer 2.

  Conventionally, characters to be displayed on the screen of the personal computer 2 are also incorporated as a program to create setting programs 4 'and 4'-1. For this reason, the procedure shown in FIG. It was necessary to create a setting program.

  In FIG. 10, the left side shows the work handled by the programmer who performs programming, and the right side shows the work handled by the local language learner who can understand and translate the local language.

  The programmer creates a setting program 4 'corresponding to a basic language before localization in a software development environment in which tools necessary for programming such as an editor, a compiler, and a debugger can be integrated and handled (S1).

  When the setting program 4 'corresponding to the basic language is localized, characters are also incorporated into the setting program 4' so that the programmer translates it into the local language in the software development environment. The part which needs to be extracted is extracted (S2).

  Next, the local language learner who can understand the local language translates the portion extracted as a text file into the local language in a general text editing environment such as a text editor (S3).

  Next, the programmer inputs the part translated by the local language learner in the software development environment and reconstructs the program (S4), thereby creating a setting program 4'-1 corresponding to the local language. The

  Further, the created setting program 4′-1 is tested in a test environment (S5), and the local language learner evaluates whether or not it is correctly displayed in the local language. The same operation is performed again for correction, and if there is no need for correction, creation of the setting program 4′-1 is completed.

  In general, programmers who perform programming in a software development environment rarely learn local languages other than English, for example, Spanish, Italian, etc. On the other hand, only the programmer can reconstruct the program by inputting the translated language in the software development environment. As mentioned above, the local language learner who can understand the local language and the technology to make the software. It is necessary to create a setting program by sharing the work with a programmer.

  For this reason, if there is a bug or an error in the translation, the programmer and local language learner must perform the above-mentioned work again, which requires a lot of man-hours and time. There is a problem that a series of work cannot be smoothly performed because it is not possible to judge whether the translation is correct or not.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and makes it possible to easily multi-language a setting program used for setting device parameters and the like, thereby reducing the time and cost required for its development. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

  That is, the setting program of the present invention is a setting program for performing settings for a device from a computer device connected to the device, and character information to be displayed on the display means of the computer device is obtained from a text file. It is read and displayed.

  Here, the computer device refers to a device that performs processing according to a program, such as a general-purpose personal computer or a workstation.

  The device and the computer device may be connected by wire such as a communication cable or may be connected wirelessly. The display means refers to a liquid crystal display, a CRT, or the like.

  Further, the character information displayed on the display means may be character information displayed on the display means, such as character information indicating the setting items and operation contents of the operation keys, or operation procedure guidance information.

  According to the present invention, when various settings are made from the computer device to the device, the character information read from the text file is displayed on the display means of the computer device. Therefore, the setting program is used in a foreign country. To localize, you only need to translate the text information in the text file. As in the past, programming is done in a software development environment that can handle integrated tools such as editors, compilers, and debuggers. The programmer and the local language learner do not need to share and localize the work, and the time and cost required for localization can be reduced.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the setting program includes the text file and an execution program that reads the character information from the text file and displays the character information on the display means.

  This text file is preferably editable so that its character information can be localized.

  According to this embodiment, since the setting program is divided into a text file and an execution program, in the case of localization, only the text file composed of character information displayed on the display means is localized. do it.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the setting program causes the computer device to display the setting means for displaying setting items for the device, operation input means for operating and inputting setting data corresponding to the setting items, and The setting data is made to function as setting means for setting the device via the communication means, and the character information to be displayed on the display means is made to function as a reading means for reading from the text file.

  Here, the setting item refers to an item to be set for the device, for example, various parameters that define the function of the device, target value, alarm value, etc. The number of setting items is usually plural. is there.

  The display means only needs to display at least setting items, and other displays, for example, guidance for setting operation procedures or display for prompting a setting operation may be performed.

  The display means may receive and display already set setting data read from the device via the communication means.

  According to this embodiment, by executing the setting program, the setting item for the device is displayed as character information on the computer device, and the user operates the operation input means to set the setting data corresponding to the setting item. By inputting, setting data is set in the device via the communication means.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the text file is composed of character data corresponding to the language of the country in which the setting program is used.

  According to this embodiment, a plurality of text files individually corresponding to the languages of a plurality of countries are prepared in advance, and the corresponding text file is used for each country in which the setting program is used. A text file corresponding to a language such as English can be translated into the language of the country in the country where the setting program is used.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, the text file rewrites character information corresponding to a language of a certain country into character information corresponding to the language of another country using a text editor installed in a computer device. Is possible.

  According to this embodiment, since the character information of the text file can be rewritten to character information corresponding to the language of another country using a general-purpose text editor, only the local language learner does not need a software development environment. In addition, it is possible to customize the display contents such as setting items according to the user's request at the site.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the setting item includes a parameter that defines a function of the device, and the device includes at least a controller, a measuring device, and a PLC (programmable logic controller). One of them.

  According to this embodiment, it can be suitably implemented for setting various parameters of devices such as a controller, a measuring device, or a PLC.

  The recording medium of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium in which the setting program according to the present invention is recorded.

  Here, the recording medium refers to, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, and the like.

  By reading the setting program of the present invention from a recording medium and causing a computer to execute it, various settings can be performed on the device from the computer, and the setting program is provided as a software package or the like. Can do.

  In the setting method of the present invention, setting items for the device are displayed on the display means of the computer device, and the setting data corresponding to the setting items input via the operation input means of the computer device are transmitted via the communication means. A setting method for setting to the device, wherein character information is displayed on the display means based on character information read from a text file.

  According to the present invention, since the display of character information such as setting items on the display means is performed based on the character information read from the text file, the setting method can be used in a foreign country by using the text file corresponding to the localized language. Can be implemented.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the text file can rewrite character information corresponding to a language of a certain country into character information corresponding to a language of another country using a text editor installed in a computer device. It is.

  According to this embodiment, it is possible to rewrite the character information corresponding to the language of another country using a general-purpose text editor, so that it can be easily localized only by a local language learner. Accordingly, display contents such as setting items can be customized.

  A setting device according to the present invention is a setting device that performs setting for a device, a display unit that displays a setting item for the device, an operation input unit that operates and inputs setting data corresponding to the setting item, Setting means for setting data to the device via communication means, and reading means for reading character information to be displayed on the display means from a text file are provided.

  According to the present invention, since the display of character information such as setting items for the device in the display means is performed based on the character information read from the text file, by using the text file corresponding to the language of the localization destination, The device can be set using the setting device.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the text file can rewrite character information corresponding to a language of a certain country into character information corresponding to a language of another country using a text editor installed in a computer device. It is.

  According to this embodiment, it is possible to rewrite the character information corresponding to the language of another country using a general-purpose text editor, so that it can be easily localized only by a local language learner. Accordingly, display contents such as setting items can be customized.

  According to the present invention, the character information read from the text file is displayed on the display means of the computer device that performs the setting for the device. Therefore, for localization, it is only necessary to translate the character information of the text file. As described above, it is not necessary for the programmer who performs programming in the software development environment and the local language learner to share the work and localize, and the time and cost required for localization can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a setting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and parts corresponding to those in FIG. 8 are given the same reference numerals.

  In this embodiment, a description will be given by applying to the case where a parameter or the like is set from a general-purpose personal computer 2 as a computer device to a temperature controller 1 as a device.

  The temperature controller 1 includes a display unit 1a capable of segment display, and includes a plurality of operation keys 1b for performing various settings. The operation key 1b is viewed while viewing the display on the display unit 1a as in the prior art. It is possible to set control parameters such as P, I, and D constants and target values by operating.

  Further, by connecting a personal computer 2 on which a recording medium such as a CD-ROM in which the setting program 4 according to the present invention is recorded, to the temperature controller 1 through the communication cable 3, a keyboard 7 of the personal computer 2 is obtained. It is possible to set control parameters, target values, etc. for the temperature controller 1 by operating the mouse.

  Communication between the temperature controller 1 and the personal computer 2 is performed using, for example, a standardized communication interface such as RS232C, and the temperature controller 1 and the personal computer 2 each have a corresponding communication unit. ing.

  Setting of control parameters and the like from the personal computer 2 to the temperature controller 1 is basically performed in the same manner as in the conventional example.

  In this embodiment, the setting program 4 is different from the setting program 4 ′ in FIG. 8 described above so that the setting program 4 can be easily localized, and an execution program 4a for causing the personal computer 2 to execute setting processing; And a text file 4b for display on the liquid crystal display 5 of the personal computer 2.

  The execution program 4a is a program for executing processing necessary for setting the temperature controller 1 from the personal computer 2, and is a program common to each country independent of language. This execution program 4a is for causing the personal computer 2 to function as a setting device for the temperature controller 1 as in the conventional setting program. The display on the liquid crystal display 5 of the personal computer 2 is from the text file 4b. It is read and displayed.

  On the other hand, the text file 4b depends on the language displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 of the personal computer 2, and is composed of character information corresponding to the language of the country in which the setting program 4 is used.

  The conventional setting program is configured such that characters to be displayed on the screen of the personal computer are also incorporated as a program, whereas the setting program 4 of this embodiment determines the operation as a setting tool. The program is divided into a portion of a common execution program 4 a that does not depend on the language and a portion of a text file 4 b that depends on the language displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 of the personal computer 2. The execution program 4a and the text file 4b may be recorded on the same recording medium or may be recorded on individual recording media.

  According to the setting program 4 having such a configuration, when the execution program 4a is executed to display, for example, a setting item or the like on the liquid crystal display 5 of the personal computer 2, the corresponding character code is obtained from the text file 4b. For example, the character code corresponding to the “target value” is read from the text file 4 b and displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 of the personal computer 2.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, the text file 4 b-1 corresponding to English is used as the text file 4 b, thereby executing the execution program 4-1 and displaying the setting items on the personal computer 2. In such a case, since the corresponding character code is read from the text file 4b-1 and displayed, the character code corresponding to “Set Point” is replaced with the text file instead of the “target value” in FIG. 4b-1 is read and displayed.

  The setting of parameters and the like for the temperature controller 1 is performed in the same manner as before, and the setting items such as parameters are displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 of the personal computer 2, and the user can input the operation of the keyboard of the personal computer 2 or the like. The setting data corresponding to the setting item is input by operating the means, and the setting data is transmitted to the temperature controller 1 via the communication cable 3 and written in the storage unit of the temperature controller 1 for setting. It is.

  In addition, parameters already written in the temperature controller 1 may be received via the communication cable 3 and displayed on the liquid crystal display 5, and after confirming the contents thereof, the parameters may be rewritten as necessary.

  Next, a procedure for localizing the setting program 4 of this embodiment so that it can be used in a foreign country will be described with reference to FIG. 3 corresponding to FIG.

  The programmer creates a program in a software development environment in which tools necessary for programming such as an editor, a compiler, a debugger, etc. can be integrated and handled (S1), and an execution program 4a common to each country and a basic language before localization A setting program 4 including a text file 4b corresponding to the above is created.

  When the setting program 4 is localized, the local language learner translates characters read from the text file 4b in a general-purpose text editing environment such as a text editor, and the text file 4b corresponding to the local language. -1 is created (S2).

  The edited and created text file 4b-1 and the execution program 4a common to each country constitute a setting program 4-1 corresponding to the local language.

  This setting program 4-1 is tested in a test environment (S3), and a local language learner evaluates whether or not it is correctly displayed in the local language. If no correction is necessary, the creation of the setting program 4-1 ends.

  In this way, localization can be performed by a local language learner who translates and edits the text file 4b in a general-purpose text editing environment such as a text editor installed in a personal computer. It is not necessary for the programmer to program in a software development environment in which tools necessary for programming such as a debugger can be integrated and handled, and the time and cost required for localization can be reduced.

  Furthermore, the display contents of the setting items can be easily customized at the site according to the user's request. For example, the set items of the temperature controller 1 include a plurality of set temperatures. Instead of displaying “set temperature 1” and “set temperature 2”, “furnace inlet temperature”, “ It is also easy to display such as “exit temperature”.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining display processing by a setting program corresponding to English.

  In the execution process of the execution program, for example, when there is a display request for ID002 (step n1), the corresponding display content is searched (step n2). In this example, the character corresponding to ID002 is retrieved from the text file 4b corresponding to English. The code is acquired (step n3), and the character, for example, “Write” is displayed at a corresponding position on the screen of the personal computer 2 (step n4).

  The display of “Write” is, for example, a display prompting writing of setting data in an input area for inputting setting items.

  In this way, the execution program 4a causes the personal computer 2 to execute processing for making various settings for the temperature controller device 1, and the display content of the screen display in the processing is changed to the text file 4b. The program is the same as that of the setting program of the conventional example, except that it is read from and displayed.

  Therefore, in the setting program 4 of this embodiment, it is possible to easily localize the setting program 4 by translating the character information of the text file 4b into the localized language.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of a personal computer screen for explaining the localization of a text file. In this figure, an example in which a text file corresponding to English is localized into Japanese is shown.

  First, when the text file before localization is opened with a text editor such as Notepad, the code number and the corresponding English are displayed as shown on the screen 5A.

  The language learner of the localization destination sequentially translates this English as shown in the screen 5B, and after all the translations are finished as shown in the screen 5C, edits and saves it to the localization destination Japanese. A corresponding text file is obtained, and a setting program corresponding to Japanese is obtained by this text file and an execution program common to each country.

  It is also possible to execute the execution program using the text file at the time when the translation is partially completed, and confirm whether or not the display up to that time is correctly performed.

  FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams showing examples of text files 4b and 4b-1 before and after localization and a display screen of the personal computer 2 by the text files 4b and 4b-1.

  In each figure, (a) and (b) respectively show text files 4b and 4b-1 and a display screen.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the contents of the corresponding operation keys 6 on the personal computer screen are displayed in characters corresponding to the language of the text files 4b and 4b-1.

  In the above-described embodiment, the setting program is composed of an execution program and a text file. However, as another embodiment, the setting program is composed only of the execution program and used in combination with the text file when setting the device. You may make it do.

  The setting program according to the present invention is not limited to being provided by being recorded on a recording medium, but may be provided via a network such as the Internet.

  In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the setting of the temperature controller. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to the setting of a measuring device such as a digital panel meter and other devices such as a PLC.

  The present invention is useful for setting parameters and the like for devices such as a temperature controller.

It is a schematic block diagram of the setting apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 after localization. It is a figure for demonstrating the procedure of localization. It is a flowchart of a display process. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of a text file. It is a figure which shows the text file before localization and a corresponding screen display. It is a figure which shows the text file after localization, and a corresponding screen figure display. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 1 of a prior art example. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 2 of a prior art example. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 3 of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Temperature controller 2 Personal computer 3 Communication cable 4,4-1 Setting program 4a Execution program 4b, 4b-1 Text file 5 Liquid crystal display 6 Operation key 7 Keyboard

Claims (12)

A setting program for setting a device from a computer device connected to the device,
A setting program for reading and displaying character information to be displayed on a display means of the computer device from a text file.   The setting program according to claim 1, further comprising: the text file; and an execution program that reads the character information from the text file and displays the character information on the display unit.   The setting program causes the computer device to display the setting item for the device, the operation input unit for operating and inputting the setting data corresponding to the setting item, and the setting data via the communication unit. The setting program according to claim 1, wherein the setting program is configured to function as a setting unit configured to set in the device, and to function as a reading unit that reads the character information displayed on the display unit from the text file.   The setting program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the text file includes character information corresponding to a language of a country in which the setting program is used.   The text file can rewrite character information corresponding to a language of a certain country to character information corresponding to a language of another country using a text editor installed in a computer device. 2. The setting program according to item 1.   The setting program according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the setting item includes a parameter that defines a function of the device.   The setting device according to claim 1, wherein the device is at least one of a controller, a measuring device, and a PLC (programmable logic controller).   A computer-readable recording medium in which the setting program according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is recorded. A setting method for displaying setting items for a device on display means of a computer device, and setting data corresponding to the setting items input via the operation input means of the computer device to the device via communication means Because
A setting method comprising: displaying character information on the display means based on character information read from a text file.   10. The setting according to claim 9, wherein the text file can rewrite character information corresponding to a language of a certain country to character information corresponding to a language of another country using a text editor installed in a computer device. Method. A setting device for setting a device,
Display means for displaying setting items for the device, operation input means for operating and inputting setting data corresponding to the setting items, setting means for setting the setting data in the device via communication means, and the display means A setting device comprising: reading means for reading out character information to be displayed from a text file.   12. The setting according to claim 11, wherein the text file can rewrite character information corresponding to a language of a certain country into character information corresponding to a language of another country using a text editor installed in a computer device. apparatus.

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