JP2610695B2 - Input example display method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an input example display method of a spreadsheet apparatus that displays a table and performs various spreadsheet calculations by inputting data in the table. .

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, in a spreadsheet of this type, a mathematical expression composed of functions such as an absolute value, a square root, and a sum is input to a grid of a table, and a numerical value calculated based on the mathematical formula is input to the grid. It has the function of displaying within.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in this type of spreadsheet, when inputting a mathematical expression into a cell of a table, it is necessary to input it while referring to a manual on how to use a function and an input example. There was a problem that it did not become.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when inputting a mathematical expression, displays an input example according to a function format, a method of use, and an input situation, and refers to the expression to refer to them. The present invention provides a method of displaying an input example of a spreadsheet device, which enables the user to input an input.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention sets an arbitrary function formula at an arbitrary position of a displayed table and calculates input data based on the set function formula. In the device, input examples of various functions are stored in advance, and an input example corresponding to the function and a table position where a cursor is located are read based on an input example display instruction relating to a predetermined function from outside, and the read input example is read. And displaying information indicating a table position corresponding to the table position where the cursor is located.

(E) Function The present invention provides a spreadsheet apparatus that sets an arbitrary function formula at an arbitrary position of a displayed table and calculates input data based on the set function equation. Is stored in advance, and an input example corresponding to the function and a table position where the cursor is located are read out based on an input example display instruction regarding a predetermined function from the outside, and a table where the cursor is located in the read input example is read. The information indicating the table position corresponding to the position is displayed in combination.

(F) Embodiment Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a personal computer.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a keyboard provided with keys for inputting functions such as numerical keys, character keys, and function keys, and a release key, an area designation key, an input position change key, an execution key, and a page feed key. , An absolute value, a square root, a summation, and other functions are input to the control unit 2.

The control unit 2 performs various spreadsheet processing described later by a spreadsheet program written in a program memory 3 composed of a ROM.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a data memory including a RAM for storing spreadsheet data input from the keyboard 1.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a format memory that stores formats, usages, and input examples for various functions such as an absolute value, a square root, and a sum.

 Reference numeral 6 denotes a display device including a CRT display device.

2 to 4 are explanatory diagrams showing display examples when a mathematical expression is input.

As shown in FIG. 2, in inputting a mathematical expression, each function is assigned to a function key of the keyboard 1, the function is displayed at the bottom of the display screen, and the function is input. In this operation, a key for setting a mathematical expression input mode is pressed, and after a screen as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed, a mathematical expression including a function and an argument is input at the current cursor position.

In this case, when the function key is input, the function stored in association with the function key is input, and when the shift key (or a control key such as a control key) and the function key are simultaneously pressed, the function format and the usage , And an input example corresponding to the input situation is displayed. Of course, the display of the function format, the method of use, and the input example may be performed by other key processing.

Then, when the shift key and the function key are pressed in the input state where the function explanation is not displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 2, the input explanation of the corresponding function as shown in FIG. , The input format, the input method of the argument, and the input example are displayed.

In addition, when there are a plurality of input explanations of the function, as shown in FIG. 4, a page is displayed at the upper right of the input explanation, and the next page and the previous page are displayed in the function explanation section of the screen. Displays the operation method of. In this case, the display is changed to the explanation of the next page by the conversion / next candidate key and to the explanation of the previous page by the previous candidate key.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an input example of a table. As shown in FIG. 5, when the cursor C is located at the position of the fourth row and the fourth column, for example, when calculating the average value of a certain area, As a table calculation, an average value of a region (a region from the first column to the third column of the fourth row) or a region (a region from the first row to the third row of the fourth column) is often obtained. Therefore, as an input example, as shown in FIG. 6, the current position of the cursor C is detected, and an area or an equation for calculating the average value of the area is displayed. That is, an input example of average (row 4 column 1 to 3)... Equation for calculating the average value of the area Average (row 1 to 3 column 4)... Equation for calculating the average value of the area is displayed.

In this way, the input example stored in the format memory 5 is changed to an input example corresponding to the current input status based on the cursor position, and displayed as an optimal input example according to each function.

In the above-described display example, when the description of the function format is unnecessary, the function format can be erased with the release key. The function format explanation window is automatically deleted when the position of the table to be input is changed, when the range is surrounded by specifying the area, or when the formula is determined (when the execution key is pressed).

If the description of the function format includes a plurality of pages, the function formats are sequentially displayed by a page feed key. Further, when another function input is performed at the time of displaying the function description, the display is changed to the other function description.

Note that the formula input displays a list of functions in a window,
In the method of selecting a function by moving the cursor and inputting a function, the cursor is moved to the function to be displayed in the function list window and a certain key (which key can be assigned) is input. When done
Display function format.

Next, the contents of the processing operation of the control unit 2 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

First, in the formula input mode as shown in FIG. 2, when a key is pressed, when it is a function input key, that is, when it is a function key (step 11), whether it is pressed simultaneously with the shift key or the control key is determined. Is checked (step 12), and if pressed simultaneously, the function format and input example are displayed (step 12).
13) If only the function key is pressed, perform normal function input processing (step 14), and
Return to 11.

When the pressed key is the release key (step
15) Check whether the function format and input example are being displayed (step 16). If the function format and input example are being displayed, delete the function format and input example (step 17). If not, cancel the formula. (Step 18), and the process ends.

When the pressed key is the area designation key (step 19), the processing A described later is performed (step 20), the area designation processing is performed (step 21), and the process returns to step 11.

When the pressed key is the input position change key (step 22), the process A is performed (step 23), the input position change process is performed (step 24), and the process returns to step 11.

When the pressed key is the execution key (step
25) Perform the process A (step 26), determine the formula (step 27), and end the process.

When the pressed key is the page forward key for the previous page or the next page (step 28), it is checked whether the function format and the input example are being displayed (step 28).
29) If it is being displayed, it is further checked whether there is more than one description of the function format (step 30). If there is more than one description, the page is changed (step 31). If no display is being made in step 29 and if there are not a plurality of sheets in step 30, a buzzer sounds (step 32) and the process returns to step 11.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of the processing A shown in FIG. 7, and as shown in FIG.
It is checked whether the function format and the input example are being displayed (step 51). If the function format and the input example are being displayed, the function format and the input example are deleted (step 52).

In this way, when inputting a mathematical expression, by displaying an input example according to the format of the function, the method of use, and the state of the input, the operability of the operation can be improved.

(G) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, an input example of a function is displayed at the time of setting a function expression in the spreadsheet apparatus, so that it is not necessary to refer to a manual, and the input operation speed is improved. Can be done. At this time, information indicating a table position corresponding to the table position where the cursor is located is displayed in combination with the input example, so that an optimal input example can be displayed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention,
2 to 4 are explanatory diagrams showing display examples at the time of inputting mathematical expressions, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an input example of a table, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display of an input example according to an input situation, 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the operation of the embodiment. 1 ... keyboard, 2 ... control unit, 3 ... program memory, 4 ... data memory, 5 ... format memory, 6 ... display device.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A 1-312619 (JP, A) JP-A 1-231112 (JP, A) JP-A 60-14291 (JP, A) 61064 (JP, U) Turbo Pascal 6.0 User's Guide, Borland Japan Co., Ltd., (April 10, 1990), p. 285

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A spreadsheet apparatus for setting an arbitrary function expression at an arbitrary position of a displayed table and calculating input data based on the set function expression, comprising: An example is stored in advance, and an input example corresponding to the function and a table position where the cursor is located are read out based on an input example display instruction relating to a predetermined function from the outside, and the read example is read in accordance with the table position where the cursor is located. An input example display method characterized by displaying information indicating a table position in combination.