JP2007164585A - Manual preparation tool - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manual preparation tool which can easily making a change after preparing a manual and reduces the burden of a manual preparation work by making it possible to easily obtain an image to be described in the manual. <P>SOLUTION: In the manual preparation tool 101, a control part 102 performs processing for recording buttons operated in operation contents and operation information indicating input information or the like inputted by an input operation as well as the operation contents for each operation of a manual originator and also performs processing for capturing an image displayed on the screen by a manual preparation object application and preparing an explanation note and a title. When a change/addition is performed to the manual, the operation information is used to perform processing for reproducing the operation contents up to the place where the manual contents are changed/added according to an operation sequence shown by an operation number ID 401. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a manual creation tool for creating a manual about the operation contents of a manual creation target application.

  New software that runs on hardware such as computers is emerging year by year. Furthermore, the operation method is not only to operate according to the display screen displayed on the display device etc., but also to display multiple types of display screens. Depending on the content of the operation, there are a lot of switching and complicated ones, and in order to use the detailed functions regardless of the basic functions of the software, the operator must look at the display screen and judge based on his / her own sense. It is difficult to rely on manuals with detailed descriptions of detailed functions. However, the software to be used does not necessarily have a manual attached to the software, and the manual is not always written in an easy-to-understand language in the language of the operator. Even if a manual exists, it does not cover all operations, and there are many things that are not described in detail functions. Because of this background situation, it is indispensable to create a manual for using the software.

  Several techniques are known to reduce the manual creation work for such software. In Patent Literature 1 below, explanation data of operation contents for each processing step of operation on software is freely combined and created as an operation manual and provided to the operator, and there is a language type instruction in the input data Has proposed a technique of editing and creating an operation manual in an instructed language and providing it to an operator.

  Patent Document 2 below is a creation method that uses a screen definition body that is composed of a record group that defines a display format of a screen displayed on software and that is used in a user program, and constitutes the screen definition body. From the record group, take the record that has the input item or output item in the item name field included in the screen definition body, and set the edit processing screen that displays the characters corresponding to the Japanese item name field of each record. The annotation information corresponding to each display is entered in the margin of each display on the edit processing screen, and these annotation information and the fields of each record are necessary for creating the screen operation manual. The data is associated with each other and stored in the operation manual data file, and the screen operation manual is created based on the stored data. It has been proposed to.

  In the one described in Patent Document 3, the software to be executed is held in the manual creation / utilization server, and the target system of the manual is held in the target system server. The manual creator uses the terminal to paste each necessary screen to be displayed in the manual on the target system to the manual creation screen, and input the explanation part of the manual by voice to each screen by voice input means By doing so, a manual is created. The one described in Patent Document 4 below includes an input interface for inputting information on a location where the designer changes the description according to the specification, a variable conversion unit that creates a variable from the input information, and a variable conversion unit Based on the definition of the entity reference part, database part, and entity reference part that define the variables created by the above, the character string in the template database part is referred to, and the variable content database part in the database part is referred to and synthesized. And a function of outputting a manual by the combining unit.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-165591 JP-A-5-274134 JP 2002-297793 A JP 2004-94487 A

  However, the techniques described in the above Patent Documents 1 to 4 show effective solutions for rework when changing some images displayed in the user program or target system described in the manual. In addition, it does not show how to easily obtain images described in the manual from applications, user programs, target systems, etc. by simple operation or processing. There was a problem that it was not done efficiently.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to make it easy to make changes after the manual is created and to easily acquire images described in the manual. This is to provide a manual creation tool that reduces the burden of manual creation work.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a manual creation tool for creating a manual about the operation contents of a manual creation target application.
Image capture means for capturing image information displayed on the screen during operation of the manual creation target application;
Character creation means for creating character information related to the image information in the image information captured by the image capture means in response to an operation of a manual creator,
Editing using the image information captured by the image capture means and the character information created by the character creation means, and a manual editing means for creating a manual;
An operation recording means for recording an operation procedure in which a manual creator operates the manual creation target application;
In the manual created by the manual editing means, an operation for reproducing the contents operated by the manual creator in accordance with the operation procedure recorded by the operation recording means from the start part to the changed part designated by the manual creator to change the contents. And a reproducing means.

  According to the manual creation tool according to the present invention, it is possible to easily make changes after the manual is created, and to reduce the burden of manual creation work by making it easy to obtain images described in the manual. Is possible.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image capture means captures image information displayed on the screen during the operation of the manual creation target application, and the character creation means uses the manual creator's characters such as a keyboard and a mouse. Text information related to this image information is created in the image information captured by the image capture means in response to the input operation of the text or text, so it is easy to obtain image information during operation of the manual creation target application and explain the image It is possible to reduce the burden of manual creation work by creating character information on the image and creating a manual using these image information and character information. In addition, the operation recording means records the operation procedure by which the manual creator operated the application to be manually created, and in the manual created by the manual editing means, the operation replay means specifies the change of contents from the start by the manual creator. Because the contents operated by the manual creator are played back according to the operation procedure recorded by the operation recording means up to the changed part, it is not necessary to repeat the operation contents up to the changed part every time the manual creator makes a change. Changes can be made after the manual is created easily and efficiently.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a manual creation tool 101 in the present embodiment. The manual creation tool 101 includes a control unit 102 that controls each means of the following manual creation tool 101, an application control unit 103 that controls a manual creation target application that operates on a computer, for example, and a manual. An operation recording unit 104 that records operation information including operation contents when the manual creator operates the creation target application according to the operation order, and a manual creation target application described in a series of operations of the manual creation target application operated by the manual creator A capture recording unit 105 that captures image information to be captured, an explanatory text / title creation unit 106 that creates information about the image information captured by the capture recording unit 105 and information about the title, and an operation recording unit 104. An operation information file 107 including recorded operation information, an operation recording table 108 in which an operation procedure of the operation information recorded by the operation recording unit 104 is recorded, and a captured image file including image information captured by the capture recording unit 105 109, a capture information table 110 that stores information about image information captured by the capture recording unit 105, an explanation table 111 and a title table that store information on the explanation / title created by the explanation / title creation unit 106. 112, the operation information file 107, the operation record table 108, the captured image file 109, the capture information table 110, the explanation table 111, and the title table 112 are read out, and the manual is edited. A manual editing unit 113 to be created, an operation reproduction unit 114 for reproducing an operation sequence when the manual creator operates the application to be manually created, and manual data edited and created by the manual editing unit 113 and manual creation The display unit 115 displays a creation screen.

  The operation recording unit 104 records the operation contents when the manual creator operates the manual creation target application for each operation information indicating one operation, stores the operation contents in the operation information file 107, and the operation information for each operation information. It has a function of storing it in the operation record table 108 in association with the operation file name of the information and the operation number ID indicating the operation order number.

  The capture recording unit 105 displays an image or display displayed on the display unit 115 during the operation of the manual creation target application according to the operation of the manual creator when the manual creator operates the manual creation target application. Among the screens, it has a function of capturing and acquiring image information and the like described in a manual from a manual creation target application and storing it in a captured image file 109.

  The explanatory note / title creation unit 106 creates an explanatory note and its title related to image information based on character information such as characters and sentences input by the manual creator using an operation means such as a keyboard and a mouse. Is stored in the explanation table 111 or the title table 112.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a manual creation tool screen in the manual creation tool 101. The manual creation tool screen 201 includes an outline portion 202 indicating a title of an explanation portion regarding each operation content in accordance with an operation sequence in the manual creation target application, and an explanation regarding image information captured from the manual creation target application and described in the manual. Manual editing portion 203 having a character input box for inputting character information such as a sentence and a title, a capture button 204 for capturing image information from a manual creation target application, and image information and title edited in the manual editing portion 203 On the manual creation tool screen 201, a preview portion 205 for displaying a preview of how a manual has been created using character information such as explanatory text and a manual creation target application are displayed on the manual creation tool screen 201. Consisting of manual creation target application operation section 206. for work.

  The manual creation target application operation portion 206 includes “Next” for operating the progress of the playback operation when the manual creator plays back the operation contents when operating the manual creation target application according to the operation order. ”Button 207 and a“ return ”button 208 for operating the rewind operation.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation record table 108 in which operation information is recorded according to the operation order of the manual creation target application recorded by the operation recording unit 104. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation record table 108 includes an operation number ID 401 indicating an operation order when the manual creator operates, and an operation information file name 402 including the operation content when the manual creator operates. Stored in association.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation record table 108 when the manual created by the manual creation tool 101 is changed. In this operation record table 108, as shown in FIG. 5, the operation number ID 501 is associated with a new operation information file name 502 in which some operation contents have been changed, and stored as the operation record table 108 after the change. Has been.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a capture information table 110 that stores information related to image information. As shown in FIG. 6, the capture information table 110 shows a capture image ID 601 for identifying each piece of image information captured by the capture recording unit 105 and an operation order when the manual creator for the image information operates. An operation number ID 602 and an image file name 603 for image information are stored in association with each other.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the capture information table 110 when the manual created by the manual creation tool 101 is changed. In this capture information table 110, as shown in FIG. 7, a capture image ID 701, an operation number ID 702, and an image file name 703 for image information captured by partially changing the image information by the capture recording unit 105 are associated with each other. And stored as the capture information table 110 after the change.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a title table 112 that stores titles related to image information. As shown in FIG. 8, the title table 112 stores a capture image ID 801 for identifying each piece of image information and a title 802 for the image information in association with each other.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an explanation table 111 that stores an explanatory text relating to image information. In the explanation table 111, as shown in FIG. 9, a capture image ID 901 for identifying each piece of image information, and explanatory text information explaining the operation contents on the screen displayed by the image information and the screen configuration are displayed. A description 902 including the associated description is stored.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a manual created by the manual creation tool 101. On the display screen 1001 displaying this manual, as shown in FIG. 10, image information indicating the operation content in the manual creation application and an explanatory text relating to this image information are displayed. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a directory structure 1101 for the manual shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the manual creation tool 101 in the present embodiment will be described in detail using the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when the manual creation tool 101 is activated in response to an operation of the manual creator, the control unit 102 of the manual creation tool 101 creates a new manual or changes / adds the contents of the already created manual. Is determined (step S301).

  Next, when it is determined that a new manual is to be created, the control unit 102 performs the following steps S302 to S302 until all operation contents according to the operation order in which the manual creator operates the manual creation target application are completed. The process of S307 is repeatedly executed for each operation when the manual creator operates the manual creation target application (step S302).

  Next, the control unit 102 performs processing for operating the manual creation target application according to the operation content when the manual creator operates (step S303). In the manual creation tool screen 201 shown in FIG. 2, in response to a manual creator performing a selection operation for selecting one of a plurality of types of applications in the manual creation target application operation portion 206, the application control unit In step 103, the selected application is activated on the manual creation target application operation unit 206 as a manual creation target application. Then, according to the contents operated by the manual creator, a process for operating the manual creation target application is performed on the manual creation target application operation portion 206.

  Next, the control unit 102 performs a process of recording and writing operation information including operation content operated by the manual creator in the operation information file 107 and the operation recording table 108 by the operation recording unit 104 (step S304). The operation information includes the operation contents of each operation of the manual creator who operates the manual creation target application, the buttons operated by the manual creator according to the operation contents, and the information indicating the input information input by the input operation as the operation information. The process of recording and storing in the operation information file 107 is performed. Also, the operation number ID 401 indicating the operation order of the operations is set, and the operation number ID 401 and the operation file name 402 of the operation information are associated with each other and stored in the operation record table 108 as shown in FIG. The operation file name 402 may be automatically set by the control unit 102 in accordance with the operation order, or may be set by inputting by a manual creator.

  Next, the control unit 102 executes the processing of steps S303 and S304 until all the operation contents according to the operation order in which the manual creator operates the manual creation target application are completed. When an image displayed on the screen is displayed on the screen during operation, the following steps S305 to S307 are executed.

  Next, the control unit 102 operates the manual creation target application by operating the manual creation target application on the manual creation target application operation part 206, and the capture button 204 is pressed with a mouse or the like on the screen displayed on the control unit 102. It is determined whether or not (step S305).

  Next, when the manual creator presses the capture button 204 (YES in step S305), the control unit 102 displays the screen on the manual creation target application on the manual creation target application operation portion 206 by the capture recording unit 105. Processing to capture the captured image is performed (step S306). In the setting operation for setting the image information capture range in the manual editing portion 203 (not shown), “select entire application” in the range of the entire manual creation target application displayed on the manual creation target application operation portion 206, Alternatively, a range for capturing image information is determined in accordance with a setting operation performed by selecting any one of “select only active portion” or the like in a selection range in which a manual creator selects a range to be captured. Then, the image information in the determined capture range is captured and acquired on the display screen displayed in the manual creation target application on the manual creation target application operation portion 206, and stored in the captured image file 109. Further, the captured image ID 601 is set to the captured image information by a number indicating the order of the image information captured by the manual creation target application, for example. The operation number ID 401 indicating the operation order of the operation at the time when this image information is displayed in the manual creation target application is read from the operation record table 108, the captured image ID 601, the read operation number ID 601, and the captured image information image. The file name 603 is associated and stored in the capture information table 110 as shown in FIG. The image file name 603 may be automatically set by the control unit 102 according to the operation order, or may be set by inputting by a manual creator. In addition, when capturing and acquiring image information and storing it in the captured image file 109 and the capture information table 110, an arrow, a character, or a symbol indicating a part to be described in the image information according to an input operation of the manual creator Alternatively, numbers may be added and stored.

  Next, the control unit 102 performs processing for creating an explanatory text and a title related to the captured image information (step S307). When the manual creator inputs an explanatory text and a title related to image information in a text input box for inputting the text of the manual editing portion 203 and text information of the title, the captured text ID 601 is stored in the capture information table by the explanatory text / title recording unit 106. As shown in FIG. 9, the captured image ID 901 and the information of the explanatory text 902 are associated with each other and stored in the explanatory table 111 as shown in FIG. Further, the captured image ID 801 and the information of the title 802 are associated with each other and stored in the title table 112 as shown in FIG.

  Here, the control unit 102 uses the captured image information and the description and title information thereof to perform a process of displaying a preview of the actual manual creation on the preview portion 205. From this preview-displayed screen, the manual creator can check the state of the image information, the description, and the title in the actual manual. The processes in steps S305 to S307 described above are repeatedly executed when an image to be posted on the manual is displayed as an image displayed on the screen during the operation of the application to be manually created.

  As described above, the control unit 102 operates the manual creation target application until all the operation contents according to the operation sequence in which the manual creator operates the manual creation target application are completed for the processing from steps S302 to S307. When each operation of the manual creation target application is completed, each information stored in the operation information file 107, the operation record table 108, the capture information table 110, the explanation table 111, and the title table 112 is stored. Based on this, the manual editing unit 113 performs processing for creating a manual (step S308). Editing operations such as displaying operation information indicated by the operation file name 402 in accordance with the operation order indicated by the operation number ID 401 and displaying a screen configured using image information, an explanatory note, a title, and the like are performed. As shown in the figure, a process for creating a manual is performed. This manual data is created, for example, in an HTML data format.

  If it is determined in step S301 that the contents of the manual that has already been created are to be changed / added, the control unit 102 performs the following step S309 until the manual creator finishes changing / adding the contents of the manual. The process of .about.S314 is repeatedly executed for each operation for changing / adding the contents of the manual (step S309).

  Next, the control unit 102 selects, from the title displayed on the outline portion 202 of the manual creation tool screen 201, the part of the manual content to be changed / added by the manual creator as shown in FIG. When the operation is performed, the part to be changed / added is recognized from the information of the selected title (step S310).

  Next, the control unit 102 performs a process of reproducing the operation contents of the manual creation target application up to the place where the selected manual contents are changed / added (step S311). Using the operation information stored in the operation information file 107 and the operation record table 108, the operation of the button performed by the manual creator with the operation content included in the operation information, the input operation of the input information, and the like are performed with the operation number ID 401. In accordance with the operation order shown, up to the position immediately before the operation number ID 401 corresponding to the title information selected in step S310, the contents of operations performed by the manual creator in the manual creation target application operation part 206 on the manual creation target application operation part 206 are automatically performed. Process to reproduce and reproduce.

  Next, the control unit 102 performs a process of recording the contents of the changed / added manual (step S312). After playing back the operation contents of the manual creation target application up to the place where the manual content is changed / added, in the same manner as in step S304, the manual creator has operated the manual creation target application on the manual creation target application operation part 206. Processing to record the operation content after the addition is performed. For the operations after the change / addition performed by the manual creator, together with the operation details for each operation after the change / addition, the buttons operated by the manual creator with the operation details and the input entered by the input operation Information indicating information or the like is recorded as operation information, and as shown in FIG. 5, a process of storing in the operation information file 107 and the operation record table 108 is performed. For example, when the manual creator performs an operation after change / addition at a location indicated by “4” or later as the operation number ID 401, the operation file name 502 of the operation information after the change is an operation number after “4”. Stored in association with the ID 501.

  Here, the control unit 102 reproduces the operation content of the manual creation target application up to the place where the manual content is changed / added, and when the place to be changed / added is adjusted by the manual creator, Performs processing to reproduce the operation contents of the manual creation target application up to a point. When the manual creator presses the “next” button 207 on the manual creation target application operation part 206, the operation order indicated by the operation number ID 401 is advanced by the number of times the manual creator is pressed, and the manual creation target application is operated. Performs processing to reproduce the contents. When the manual creator presses the “return” button 208 on the manual creation target application operation part 206, the operation order indicated by the operation number ID 401 is rewound by the number of times the manual creator has pressed, and the manual creation target application Performs processing to reproduce the operation content.

Next, when the manual creator performs an operation after changing / adding the manual creation target application, the control unit 102 displays a capture button 204 for an image displayed on the screen during the operation of the manual creation target application. When pressed by a mouse or the like, the image information is captured and a description or title is created (steps S312 and S313) in the same manner as steps S306 to S307. On the display screen displayed by the manual creation target application on the manual creation target application operation portion 206, the image information of the capture range set in advance is captured and acquired, and as shown in FIG. Processing to be stored in the information table 110 is performed. For example, when image information is captured at the location indicated by “5” as the operation number ID 602 by the operation of the manual creator, the image information of the changed operation content is stored in association with the operation number ID 702 of “5”. The

  Next, the control unit 102 performs a process of creating a descriptive text and a title related to the image information of the changed operation content (step S314). When the manual creator inputs an explanatory text and a title regarding the image information of the operation content after the change in the text input box for inputting the text of the manual editing portion 203 and the text information of the title, the explanatory text / title recording unit 106 Using these input explanation text and title information, processing for storing in the explanation table 111 and title table 112 is performed. For example, when the image information is captured at the location indicated by “5” as the capture image ID 801 and 901 by the operation of the manual creator, the description and title related to the image information of the operation content after the change is capture of “5”. It is stored in the explanation table 111 and the title table 112 in association with the image IDs 801 and 901.

  As described above, the control unit 102 repeatedly executes the processes from step S309 to S314 for each work for changing / adding the manual contents until the manual creator finishes changing / adding the manual contents.

  As described above, in the manual creation tool 101 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 102 includes the operation content for each operation of the manual creator who operates the manual creation target application, and the manual creator using the operation content. Information indicating the button operated by the user, information indicating input information input by the input operation, and the like is recorded as operation information and stored in the operation information file 107 and the operation record table 108. Further, when the capture button 204 is pressed, a process for capturing an image displayed on the screen by the manual creation target application on the manual creation target application operation part 206 is performed, and a description or title relating to the captured image information is created. Process.

  For this reason, the manual creator can prepare a manual with the details of the operation of the manual creation target application on the manual creation target application operation part 206, and the manual creation target application is operating by pressing the capture button 204. It is possible to easily and efficiently create a manual on which the captured image information is posted.

  In addition, when changing or adding the content of a manual that has already been created, the control unit 102 changes the manual content according to the operation order indicated by the operation number ID 401 using the operation information stored in the operation record table 108. -Since the process of replaying the operation contents of the manual creation target application is performed up to the part to be added, the manual creator repeatedly operates the manual creation target application from the beginning up to the part to be changed / added each time the change / addition is made. This eliminates the need for manual operation, reduces the time spent on manual creation, reduces the burden on the manual creator, and makes it possible to easily and efficiently make changes and additions after manual creation.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, by pressing the capture button 204, the image information is captured for the image displayed on the screen while the manual creation target application is operating. However, not only the image information but also the image information is captured. , An operation for storing moving image information obtained by reproducing operation information of a series of continuous operation contents from a predetermined ID of operation number ID 401 to subsequent IDs, and continuously reproducing the operation information as a moving image in the manual in the same manner as the image information. The contents may be displayed. In this case, for example, a predetermined operation number ID such as “2” of the operation number ID 401 is selected, the “Start” button is pressed, and the “End” button is pressed with the subsequent operation number ID such as “4”. Then, a process of placing a moving image in which the operation content of the operation information in the range from the start to the end is posted in the manual is performed.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the manual creation tool in this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the manual creation tool screen of the manual creation tool in this Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the manual preparation tool in this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation recording table of the manual preparation tool in this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation record table after the change of the manual preparation tool in this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the capture information table of the manual creation tool in this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the capture information table after the change of the manual creation tool in this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the title table of the manual creation tool in this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the title table after the change of the manual creation tool in this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the manual which the manual creation tool in this Embodiment produced. It is explanatory drawing which shows the directory outline | summary of the manual of the manual creation tool in this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

101 Manual Creation Tool 102 Control Unit 103 Application Control Unit 104 Operation Recording Unit 105 Capture Recording Unit 106 Description / Title Recording Unit 107 Operation Information File 108 Operation Recording Table 109 Captured Image File 110 Capture Information Table 111 Description Table 112 Title Table 113 Manual Editing unit 114 Operation playback unit 115 Display unit 201 Manual creation tool screen 202 Outline portion 203 Manual editing portion 204 Capture button 205 Preview portion 206 Manual creation target application operation portion 207 "Next" button 208 "Back" buttons 401, 501, 602 702 Operation number ID
402, 502 Operation information file name 601, 701, 801, 901 Captured image ID
603, 703 Image file name 802 Title 902 Description 1001 Manual 1101 Directory structure

Claims (1)

In the manual creation tool to create a manual about the operation contents of the manual creation target application,
Image capture means for capturing image information displayed on the screen during operation of the manual creation target application;
Character creation means for creating character information related to the image information in the image information captured by the image capture means in response to an operation of a manual creator,
Editing using the image information captured by the image capture means and the character information created by the character creation means, and a manual editing means for creating a manual;
An operation recording means for recording an operation procedure in which a manual creator operates the manual creation target application;
In the manual created by the manual editing means, an operation for reproducing the contents operated by the manual creator in accordance with the operation procedure recorded by the operation recording means from the start part to the changed part designated by the manual creator to change the contents. A manual creation tool characterized by comprising reproduction means.

Images