JP2881891B2 - Electronic manual processor with hierarchical format. - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document processing apparatus that accesses a document having a document structure and performs search / reference, and more particularly, to a hierarchical document represented by a software manual. The present invention relates to an electronic manual processing device having a hierarchical format that enables a dialog with a document by storing the data in a computer and executing a command in the document.

[Conventional technology]

In a conventional document processing apparatus, for example, as described in JP-A-61-190653, when a document file is accessed, a document having a document structure is recognized using a heading to recognize the structure, and the document processing is performed. I was going.

In this method, a document of several hundred pages is searched / displayed by using a headline, so that a reference waiting time is long and a great amount of processing time is consumed.

Also, refer to “HITAC VOS3 TSS Command Manual (8090-
3-120-BO), Hitachi, Ltd., pp. 156-157, has a function of displaying a part of a document on a screen by a HELP command, but the document itself has no structure. It was a single document, and a screen showing this document,
It was separate from the screen for entering commands into the system.

On the other hand, since a software system is made up of hierarchical functions and a combination of several elements, an instruction manual for using the system generally has a hierarchical structure.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

The above prior art has the following problems (i) to (iv).

(I) A document having a structure is accessed using a heading. However, for a large document, the processing time is long and the utility is poor.

(Ii) There was a function of referring to a manual by inputting a command from a terminal device, but the manual is a single document, and no consideration is given to referring to a document having a hierarchical structure.

(Iii) No consideration is given to running the programs in the document.

(Iv) The screen for referring to the document and the screen for instructing the system are separate, and there is a problem in operability.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, to store a document having a hierarchical structure, to improve the operability of the system, and to reduce the processing time by an electronic device having a hierarchical format. Another object of the present invention is to provide a processing device for a structured manual.

That is, regarding the problem (i), a document having a hierarchical structure is stored in a file in a sectioned data set format,
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily access a document table of contents and an index in an electronic form by randomly accessing individual small documents (members) using the hierarchical structure.

Regarding the problem (ii), the index line is used as the first line of the document, or the hierarchical structure is traced using a table showing the relationship between the members. It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to refer to an arbitrary member using the hierarchical structure.

Regarding the problem (iii), instead of reading a small document, the description content of the small document is programmed and a single consultation program is executed.
The goal is to be able to reach conclusions through dialogue with the system. Alternatively, if the document is an instruction manual, the purpose is to correct the example in the document and immediately execute it.

Further, with respect to the problem (iv), it is another object of the present invention to execute a program or procedure in a document by inputting a command from a screen for referring to the document.

[Means for solving the problem]

To achieve the above object, an electronic manual processing device having a hierarchical format according to the present invention includes a manual processing device, and a file device for storing a partitioned data set,
The following processes (1) to (5) are performed.

(1) A large-scale document (paper manual) is divided into modules of chapters, sections, and sections, and stored as members in a section data set (file).

In this case, each member is given a unique name indicating the structural position of the member, and a row having an index pointer is added to each member, or an index pointer is provided for each member in order to indicate the hierarchical relationship between the members. Instead, a table representing a hierarchical relationship is added.

Thereby, the document can be freely searched from the table of contents and the index.

(2) By enabling the description of a subcommand for calling another member in the text, it is possible to call and display another text part of another quotation destination from the text, call a designated member from the table of contents, or index. Call the specified member from.

(3) A description for executing a program and a command procedure is included in a manual document, and the description is executed to interact with a user, provide consultation to the user, and perform dynamic animation. To provide explanations to the user. Alternatively, the procedure command can be described in a document, so that the example in the document can be modified and executed.

(4) A member call subcommand, a system command for executing a program, an operator command for executing a procedure command, and the like can be input. Thus, the user can operate the system by referring to the manual while viewing the electronic manual.

(5) The parent, brother, brother, and child members of one member determined from the hierarchical structure of the manual can be called immediately.
For parent, brother and brother members, select items are provided on the screen. For child members, reference members can be selected from the child through the partial table of contents and explanation in the document at the beginning of the member. To do.

[Action]

In the present invention, a large-scale document such as a manual is divided into chapter, section, and section modules, and stored in a file device as a member of each partitioned data set.

As its structure, a section member is provided as a child of a chapter member, that is, a child, and an item member is provided as a child of the section member. Also, the member name is represented by the first eight digits, the first three digits are used as a manual name, a uniquely determined name is given, and the last five digits are used to distinguish the table of contents, the body, and the index. Furthermore, for the text,
The edition number, chapter number, section number, and section number are included in the five digits.

Through these operations, a manual having a large capacity can be decomposed into members of a size (about 2 to 5 pages) that can be understood by referring to the screen.

In order to indicate the structural position of the member, one of the following two methods is adopted.

(A) The first line of the member description has an index described by the member name, and the parent member name, younger member name (larger number of the same level), brother member name (number of the same level) of the own member. (Small is)) to represent the structure.

(B) The structure is represented by storing a table representing the hierarchical structure in a single member.

One record of this table includes the following fields.

Document module member name Document module level number However, a simple number or title point system number is used for the level number.

The member name of the member that stores the value of the attribute, search key, etc. of the document module for facilitating the search of the document module. However, this field does not contribute to the structure, and improves the efficiency in search processing. Granted for the purpose of doing.

When the processing device receives an instruction to display a parent member, a brother member, or a brother member from the terminal displaying the document, in the case of (a), the processing device reads the corresponding member from the index line of the member. Name, and in the case of (b), the member name of the member being displayed, its level number,
From the level numbers before and after, the parent, brother, and brother members are determined, the member names are read, and the members are read from the partitioned data set and displayed.

As a result, the hierarchical relationship between the members is represented, and a search can be performed using the hierarchical relationship.

Further, a subcommand for reading other members in the text is described in the text, and the text portion of another quotation destination is called and displayed from the text.

Specifically, the user positions the cursor on the line containing the description of the subcommand or the subcommand and presses the transmission key. This allows the processing device to determine the position of the cursor,
And, the subcommand is cut out from the displayed data, and the subcommand is interpreted and executed. Also,
If it is a subcommand that calls another member, the member specified by that subcommand is displayed.

In order to distinguish the subcommand from the description in the text,
A special character is added at the beginning of the subcommand, and only a space and character control information are allowed after the subcommand, and the subcommand serves as a delimiter.

This reduces the load on the user and improves operability.

In addition, a procedure command for executing a program or a command procedure specified in the manual document is described in the document.

Specifically, the user, like the above subcommand,
Position the cursor on the procedure command and press the send key. Accordingly, the processing device cuts out the procedure command from the position of the cursor and the displayed data. Whether the cut-out command is a subcommand or a procedure command is determined by a subcommand name table registered in the processing device. That is, if the cut-out command is found, it is determined that the command is a subcommand, and if it is not found, it is determined that it is a procedure command. If the command procedure called by the procedure command includes a command for calling and executing the consultation program, by executing the command, the system responds to the consultation through dialogue with the user. In addition, if a command for calling and executing the animation execution program is included, the user receives an explanation by animation. If a command for executing the program for executing the example is included, the example in the manual is immediately executed.

Thereby, the user interface can be improved and the load on the user can be reduced.

Further, an input area is provided in a part of the display screen, and a subcommand, a system command, or a procedure command is input here. Thereby, the processing device identifies the command in the input area, executes the command using the same procedure as the execution procedure of the subcommand or procedure command described in the manual document, and displays the result on the screen, or Have a dialogue.

Therefore, the user can freely refer to / operate the manual at any time while viewing the electronic manual.

Also, the characters of the parent, brother, and brother of the member being referred to are always displayed on the display screen.

Specifically, when the user positions the cursor on any of the character strings and presses the transmission key, the corresponding member is displayed. This allows the processing device to start from the position of the cursor,
It is determined whether it is a parent, an older brother, or a younger brother. In the case of (a) above, the corresponding member name is found from the index line of the member being referred to, and the member is displayed. In the case of (b), in the table indicating the hierarchical structure, the member name at the level immediately above the member name being referred to is the parent, or the member name immediately before in the same level is the brother, Since the next member name is one of the younger brothers, the member having the member name corresponding to the designated name is displayed on the screen.

As a result, the parent, brother, and brother members of the referring member can be immediately referenced.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a document processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a section data set storing an electronic manual in one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, 21 is a display, 22 is a keyboard, 23 is a system processing device for controlling the entire system, 24
Reference numeral 25 denotes a manual processing device which is constituted by a RAM or the like and performs processing of a divided data set and processing of a hierarchical structure. Reference numeral 25 denotes a file device for storing a divided data set such as a manual data set having a hierarchical structure and a procedure data set.

As shown in Fig. 3, this section data set
Pointer 33 that has 31 at the beginning and points to its member 32
The directory and member data are combined into one.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a hierarchical structure of a manual according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of contents of members of a general table of contents according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 6 shows an example of the contents of a member of the chapter table of contents in the example, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing how members are named in one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a member of a table of contents according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a member of a general index according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. Fig. 11 is an example of the contents of the first member of the text in one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 12 is a member of section 1.2 of the main text in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an example of the contents of FIG. 13, and FIG.
It is an example of the contents of the member of section 1.2.2.

The manual used in this embodiment is divided into a table of contents, a text, and an index, and one member is "How to read and use the manual" for informing the user of the usage of the manual.

As shown in FIG. 1, in order to reduce the size of one member, the general table of contents is a single member as a member including the title of the text and the generic search. The contents of the members of the general table of contents are configured as shown in FIG. The members called from the members of the general table of contents are the chapter contents (chapter contents 11 to 1n in FIG. 1). this is,
A table of contents that contains the titles of chapters, sections, and sections within a single chapter,
Its contents are configured as shown in FIG.

Also, the text is logically a chapter part (Chapter 1 to Chapter n),
Clause section (Sections 1.1 to 1.n), section (Sections 1.1.1 to 1
1.1.n), each of which is one member.
For example, the parent in section 1.2 is chapter 1 and the brother in section 1.2 is chapter 1.
It is section 1.1, and my brother is section 1.3. The children of section 1.2 are section 1.2.1.

Also, to uniquely determine the member name of each member,
Assign member names as shown below.

(1) A part number, a chapter number, a section number, and a section number are assigned to the names of the members in the manual text so that each member has a unique name.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the eight digits indicating the member name of the main text are names (3
Digit) n ₁ n ₂ n ₃ , a symbol G indicating the main body of the manual, the edition number m ₁ , the chapter number m ₂ , the section number m ₃ , and the section number m ₄ .

(2) When the digitized manual is called, a member displayed first is newly added, and a part of the name of this member is set to HELP as shown in (b). This member has a role of a cover, and allows a member of the general table of contents, a member of the general index, and a member describing how to use the manual to be called from this member. An example of the contents of the HELP member is shown in FIG. 7. As a manual reference method, a method of referring to the table of contents or a method of referring to the index can be selected.

Also, members of the table of contents document, as in the FIG. 6 (c), is represented by _{n 1 n 2 n 3 GU1 1} 1 2 1 3, n 1 ~n 3 distinction manual cross like the body Is what you do. Also, 1 ₁ ~
1 ₃ shows a table of contents, overall contents as IDE, chapter leads thereunder Contents and 00m _3, using the chapter number. (C)
FIG. 8 shows an example of the contents of the members of the chapter table of contents shown in FIG.

Also, how to name members of the manual index
This is shown in FIG. Among them, the name of the member of the overall index is shown in, n ₁ ~ showing the distinction between manual mutual
After the n _3, put the "INDEX" shows a comprehensive index. Also, how to name index members called from the general index is shown in.

An example of the contents of the members of this comprehensive index is shown in FIG.
An example of the contents of the index member is shown in FIG. Examples of the contents of the body member called from the table of contents, index, or body member are shown in FIG. 11 (examples of members in Chapter 1 of the body), FIG. 12 (examples of members in Section 1.2 of the body), And Figure 13 (examples of members in section 1.2.2 of the text).

Further, in the present embodiment, it is possible to describe subcommands so that the text portion of another cited reference can be called and displayed from the text, the specified member can be called from the table of contents, and the specified member can be called from the index. I do.

Figure 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a description format of the subcommand in one embodiment of the present invention, in FIG. 14, x ₁ ~x ₅ is a member name of the invoked member is the member name in the module prefix Five digits after removing the first three digits. For example, members call is if the text, x ₂ the knitting number, x ₃ second chapter number, section number to x _4, hit the section number to x _5. If no member is specified, an arbitrary subcommand for manual operation is described. Also at the beginning? Is a delimiter for distinguishing a sub-command from a text string or other procedure command. The delimiters after the subcommand are blank and character control information.

This allows, for example, the user to see FIG. 7 (HELP member)
When the cursor is placed on the? GUIDE number shown in FIG. 4 and the send key is pressed, the contents of the general table of contents of the member name ET1GUIDE shown in FIG. 4 are displayed on the screen.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a one-line record format of the electronic manual according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In Figure 15, 1 ₁ the record length, C ₁ represents the data content indicator indicating coding system, a field indicating whether a sub-command includes any number, and an indicator indicating whether including the search character string or the like Is a control field composed of, and data is manual data for display.

In the record format of the present embodiment, the record length of one manual line is variable. The control field C ₁ is
For example, Fig. 7 (HELP member) leftmost) GNX,) G
NΔ,) GN1 and the like. Of these, G is a code indicating the type of manual, and N indicates that the expression code is Japanese. Also, if the row characteristic is an index row,
X, Δ (blank) for the text, and 1 if one subcommand is included.

The number of subcommands is used to confirm the existence of subcommands at the time of execution.

For example, when the member (Chapter 1) in FIG. 11 is displayed, when the user moves the cursor to the line of? G112 and presses the send key, the manual processing device Find the mark and consider the subsequent string to be a subcommand for a manual processor. Next, read the directory of the section data set (Fig. 3) of the manual file,
Search for the member name of 2. If so, the contents of that member are loaded into memory, the currently displayed member is erased, and it is displayed. At the same time, the member name of the ET1G112 just displayed is added to the top of the call screen stack in the memory. This stack is provided in order to renew the contents of the member that the user has previously displayed again.

In this embodiment, a procedure command can be described in a manual document, and a program can be executed from the document.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the description format of a procedure command in one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 17 is an example of the contents of a member including a procedure command in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the contents of a procedure file according to an embodiment.

In FIG. 16, x ₁ ~x ₈ the name of procedure commands,% is an identifier indicating that the follow a procedure command (separator). Note that the delimiters after the procedure command are blank and character control information. The example of the contents of the member including the procedure command is 17th.
Shown in the figure.

In addition, this procedure command stores the expanded form as a member in the procedure file allocated in the partitioned data set format. FIG. 18 shows an example of the contents of the procedure file.

Thereby, for example, when the contents of FIG. 17 are displayed,
When the user moves the cursor to the line of% CNSLT82 and presses the send key, the manual processing device knows that the command is a procedure command, and passes the character string after% to the system processing device. When the system processing device finds that the passed command is not a system command, it searches the procedure command directory shown in FIG. If CNSLT82 is among the names in the directory, load the contents of that member into memory. Then, it interprets and executes one sentence at a time. When this is completed, control is passed to the manual processing device to restore the previous display contents.

Further, in the present embodiment, there is table of contents information for referring to modules (members) using the hierarchical structure of the digitized manual. For example, by providing the table of contents information for directly calling a child member at the head of the parent member, the child member can be referred to for a more detailed description while referring to the parent member. In addition, since the understanding is gradually refined, the table of contents is not provided to the grandchild members who make the logic leap, and is compacted.

For example, a table of contents for calling the text members of Chapter 1, Section 2 shown in FIG. 12 is arranged at the beginning of the text members of Chapter 1, shown in FIG. At the top of the table, a table of contents for calling a term from a section is placed.

Further, in addition to such a parent-child relationship reference, a parent member may be referred to in order to refer to a brother member or a brother member related to the member being referred to, or to refer to more general content.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a hierarchical relationship between members and a description format of an index line in one embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 19, (a) shows the hierarchical relationship of members, and (b) shows the description format of the index line.

In order to satisfy the above requirements and define a hierarchical structure, an association in the hierarchical structure is defined by one of the following methods.

(1) Method of using an index line This is to provide an index at the head of a member.

For example, when there is a hierarchical relationship as shown in FIG. 19 (a) and reference is made to section 1.1.2 of the main text, as shown in FIG. Member name (n) of the sibling member at the same level as the member (Section 1.1.2)
₁ n ₂ n ₃ G1113 (Section 1.1.3)), member name of brother member (n ₁ n
₂ n ₃ G1111 (Section 1.1.1)), member name of parent member (n ₁ n ₂ n
₃ Describe G111Δ (Section 1.1). In addition, / indicates a delimiter and Δ indicates a blank symbol.

Similarly, in Section 1.2.2 shown in FIG. 13, the member name of the elder brother member of this member is ET1G1121, which is Section 1.2.1. The parent member is in section 1.2, and ET1G112 is the member name.

 The screen display of these members will be described.

FIG. 20 is a screen display example of members of the first chapter of the text in one embodiment of the present invention.

In this case, if the user moves the cursor to the * previous item * and presses the send key, the manual processing device will show that the control field in the member of Chapter 1 shown in FIG. 11 indicates an index line.) Search for a string. When the index line is found, the first member name separated by / (slant) is looked up. Since the member name is blank, it is determined that there is no brother member at the same level, and an input command is issued again on the screen and waits.

When the user positions the cursor on * next item * and presses the send key, the manual processing device reads the second member name separated by /. Since the member name is ET1G12, the member of the second chapter having the member name is read out from the manual section data set shown in FIG. 3 and displayed. Then, an input instruction is finally issued, and the system waits for the next instruction from the user.

When the user places the cursor on * higher item * and presses the send key, the manual processing device learns the selection of the higher item from the position of the cursor, and is surrounded by / in the index line of the displayed member. Read the member name in the third field. In this case, since Chapter 1 is being displayed, ET1GU10
1, that is, the table of contents member name in Chapter 1 is found, and the member having that member name is read from the manual classified data set and displayed on the screen.

Thus, the display of the parent member is completed. Finally, an input instruction is issued to the terminal in order to wait for the next instruction from the user.

(2) Method of Using Member Name Level Number Correspondence Table FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display in section 1.2 of the main text according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of contents of a member having a member name of a member storing a key and a member having a search key.

In FIG. 21, reference numeral 210 denotes a command input line (input area) for inputting a command for manual operation.

In FIG. 22, (a) shows the contents of the member name ET1CCNV, and (b) shows the contents of the member name ET1D11. In addition,
In (a), * 1 is the record length, * 2 is the level number (01: HELP (cover) level, 02: General table of contents level, 03: Chapter table of contents and general index level, 04: Chapter, index level, 05: Section (Level, 06: item level), * 3 is a member name of a member of HELP, table of contents, text, index, and * 4 is a member name of a member holding a search keyword. (B) is an example of the contents of a member holding the * 4 search keyword in (a), and is composed of an attribute and a small item heading.

In this embodiment, when the cursor is placed on the * next item * in FIG. 21 and the transmission key is pressed, the manual processing device causes the member name ET1CCNV in FIG. 22 in the manual classification data set (FIG. 3). Scans the * 3 field to find a line with the member name ET1G112 of the currently displayed member. It looks for the next 05 in the line below it since the level number is 05. However, before hitting the next 05, it hits the level number 04 of the member name ET1G12.

This indicates that there is no brother member as a term in section 1.1, so do nothing and issue an input command to the terminal,
Wait for the next command.

On the other hand, when the cursor is placed on the * previous item * and the transmission key is pressed, the manual processing device goes to search for the level number 05 before the line of ET1G112. As a result, the previous line
Since 05 is found, the older member having the member name of ET1G111 is read from the manual classification data set and displayed, and an input command is issued to the terminal.

When the cursor is pressed on the * higher item * and the send key is pressed, the manual processing device displays the member name ET1CCNV (22nd item).
In figure), the level number 05 of the displayed member name ET1G112
The level number 04, which is one less than the above, is searched upward from the line of the displayed member. Then, the member name ET1G11 is found. That is, since the member name of the parent member is known, the parent member is read from the manual classification data set and displayed. Then, the input command is finally issued to the terminal.

In order to allow the user to freely refer to / operate the manual at any time while viewing the electronic manual, an input area for a character string to be keyed is provided in a part of the screen. For example, the command input line 210 at the bottom of FIG. 21 is shown.

In the manual processing device according to the present embodiment, a command or the like input on a command input line is processed as the same as a subcommand or a procedure command described in a document. The commands used in this embodiment are as follows.

(1) Subcommand to call other members (2) First? Subcommand to add letters and operate on electronic manuals.

(3) Procedure command.

(4) A system command which is an element of a procedure command and is processed by the system processing device.

 The subcommand (2) is shown in FIG.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of a subcommand in one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 23, PRINTΔ [NAME] of item No. 1 is NAME
A subcommand to output the contents of the member with the member name indicated by to the printer of the host or terminal.
TITLE is a subcommand to display the sub-item title included in the displayed member on the screen. RETURN of item No. 3 is
Subcommand for returning to the screen immediately before the current screen, based on the displayed screen, FINDΔ [INΔTHEΔFAMILY] of item No. 4
Δ / character string / is a subcommand for searching for a specified character string from all members connected to that member, including the member being referred to, and displaying the member containing that character string. Is a subcommand that displays the reference parts in the text one after another if there is more than one that matches the character string specified by the FIND command.
KEY is a subcommand for displaying the search key of the member being referred to, and END of item No. 7 is a subcommand for terminating the online manual and returning control to the system processing device. Note that Δ indicates one blank character, and [] can be omitted.

For example, the operation subcommand of item No. 6 is effective when members indicating the hierarchical structure of the manual are incorporated as shown in FIG.

That is, using the member name of the currently displayed member,
The member ET1CCNV is searched, and the member name for the member search of * 4 of the hit line is read, and the member having the member name, that is, (b) in FIG. You can know.

In this case, the manual processing device stacks this member name on the display member name stack, and decrements the stack pointer by one when the user inputs a RETURN command. Then, since the member name of the previously displayed member is found, the member having that member name is displayed.

Finally, the processing procedure of this manual processing device will be described.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the manual processing device in one embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, when the system processing device is in a state of waiting for input, the user inputs a system command “ONLI” from the terminal.
NE MANUAL ET1 ". Then, the system processing unit learns that the command name is" ONLINE MANUAL ",
Activate the manual processor and pass ET1 as data to the manual processor.

Thereafter, the manual processing device performs the following processing.

First, a data set having the character string ET1 passed from the system processing device at the end of the data set name and having a data type of manual (type name: MNL) is searched from the online disk. If it is found, as the member name of the cover, the prefix ET1 of the member name indicating the passed manual name and the character string indicating the display member HELP
The name of ET1HELP, which is the member name
Search in the directory of the manual classification data set shown in the figure. If found, display that member (240
1).

In this case, the format of the manual display screen is the format shown in FIG.

That is, the upper 19 lines are used as a manual display area, and writing of data is prohibited. However, if there are subcommands and procedure commands, they can be selected by placing the cursor on them and pressing the send key. This area is called a text display area. On the 20th line from the top, the corresponding item can be selected by placing the cursor on the character string of * next item *, * previous item *, * higher item * and pressing the send key. Writing is prohibited. This area is called a parent sibling selection area. In the second line from the bottom, writing is permitted, and subcommands, procedure commands, system commands, and the like can be input. The bottom line is an error message display area.

When the manual initial screen is displayed, an input command is issued to the terminal device (2402). As a result, the manual processing device enters an input waiting state.

In this state, if the user presses the transmission key, the input wait is completed, and control is transferred to this processing. Here, the error message area of the screen display buffer is cleared, and it is determined whether or not the input data is the code of the END key (2403).

As a result, if the END key has been pressed, the manual processing device is terminated, and control is transferred to the system processing device (2410).

If it is not the END key (2403), it is determined whether the input data is a scroll key code (2404).

As a result, if the scroll key is pressed, the screen is scrolled and displayed (2411).

The scroll keys include an upward scroll and a downward scroll, each of which replaces 2/3 of the number of lines on the screen.
Therefore, based on the member name of the currently displayed member, the member is read again from the manual segmented data set, and the upper scroll is displayed again from the line 13 lines after the topmost line being displayed. If the data before or after the 13th line is out of the range of the member data, the data from the top or bottom of the member is displayed.

If it is not the scroll key (2404), it is determined whether the cursor position passed from the hardware as a part of the input data is in the text display area (1st to 19th lines) (2405).

As a result, if it is in the text display area, the flow advances to step 2412 to cut out a command character string.

In this case, the control field on the line where the cursor is
Check that the command number is included. That is, forward from the cursor position, Or search for% special character to end of line. Then, if a special character is found, the character from the special character to the character immediately before the subsequent delimiter is cut out as a command character string.

If it is not in the text display area (2405), it is determined whether the cursor is in the command input area (2406).

As a result, if it is in the command input area, step 2413
To cut out the command string. In this case, the portion from the first character of the command input area to immediately before the space character delimiter is cut out. Indicates a subcommand? If at the beginning, as a flag? Set? Is extracted as a command string from the character following

If the cursor is not in the command input area (240
6) It is determined whether the cursor is in the parent sibling selection area (2407).

As a result, if it is in the parent sibling selection area, the corresponding member is displayed (2420).

In this case, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 22,
The corresponding members are displayed by (1) using an index row or (2) using a member name / level number correspondence table.

If the cursor is not in the parent sibling selection area (240
7), it is determined that the cursor is out of the area, and an error message of the cursor position error is set in the error message area of the screen display buffer (2408).

Further, the manual text or the like stored in the screen display buffer is displayed on the terminal (2409), and the process returns to step 2402.

After the command character string is cut out in steps 2412 and 2413, it is determined whether or not the first character of the command character string contains a character (?) Indicating a subcommand (2414).

As a result, if there is a character that indicates a subcommand,
After processing the subcommand (2418),
Return to 2402.

In this case, if the subcommand is a subcommand for calling a member, the? Strip characters and prefix ET1 to the beginning of the rest of the string
The corresponding member is read from the manual section data set with the member name to which is added. Then, the first 19 lines are transferred to the body display area of the screen display buffer. Then, the member names to be displayed are stacked on the member name stack so that the screen display members can be nested, and the value of the stack pointer is incremented by one.

If the subcommand is one of the command formations shown in FIG. 23, each process is performed.

(1) PRINT The member having the member name indicated by the operand currently being displayed or the operand is read from the partitioned data set and output to the printer.

(2) LISTUP Only the small item titles of the currently displayed member are picked up from the member data and displayed on the screen. If the display cannot be completed, input of a scroll key and corresponding processing are performed in this processing.

(3) RETURN Decrement the value of the stack pointer of the member name stack by one. Then, the member name indicated by the stack pointer, that is, the member name of the previously displayed member is taken out, the member having that member name is picked up from the sorted data set, set in the screen display buffer, and displayed.

(4) If there is a member ET1CCNV (FIG. 22) indicating the hierarchical structure of the FIND member, scan itself and members at lower levels as viewed from the currently displayed member using the character string described by the operand. . Then, the place where it was found is displayed.
Here, when displaying a member other than the member being displayed, the member name of the member to be displayed is stacked on the stack, and the value of the stack pointer is incremented by one.

Here, the depth of the stack is finite (depth = 20), and when it becomes larger, the area containing the bottom member name is released.

(5) NEXT The processing of the FIND command of (4) is performed, but it is assumed that the scanning start point is from the position following the character string position previously found.

(6) If there is a member ET1CCNV (Fig. 22) indicating the hierarchical structure of the DISPLAY member, to display the search keyword of the member,
The member name ET1D11 is known from the * 4 field of the member ET1CCNV of the partitioned data set, and the contents of the member are displayed. This screen is only for the purpose of knowing the outline of the contents of the member and is temporary, so that the member name is not put on the stack. When a response input is waited and a RETURN command is input, the member displayed before decrementing the stack pointer by 1 is displayed again, and this processing ends.

(7) END Perform the same processing as in step 2410 to complete the processing of the manual processing device.

In step 2414, if a character indicating a subcommand is not included, it is determined that the command is a procedure command, a system command, or an erroneous command, and the following character string is issued as a service request to the system processing device, and control is performed. (2415).

 SVRΔ command character string where Δ is a blank character string.

Further, in step 2416, control is transferred from the system processing device to the manual processing device, and it is checked whether the completion code of the system device is normal.

As a result, if the completion code is normal, the last displayed member is displayed again (2419).

That is, the most recently displayed contents and member names are saved when the service request is issued, and the displayed contents are restored to the screen display buffer and displayed. At this time, the stack pointer is not moved.

In step 2416, if the completion code indicates an error, an error message corresponding to the code is set in the error message area of the screen display buffer (2417).

In this embodiment, when storing a manual document, a divided data set is adopted. However, a similar effect can be obtained if the data set has a hierarchical structure.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, a manual or the like of a large document is hierarchically divided and stored in a section data set, so that the manual can be referred to electronically relatively easily.

In addition, by providing an index line at the head of each member or having a member storing a table defining a hierarchical structure of member names, it is easy to refer to the parent, brother, and brother members.

Furthermore, by allowing subcommands and procedure commands to be described in the document, it is possible to call other text members or execute a consultation program corresponding to the description contents of the manual, and consult the user through dialogue. .

Also, by selecting a command from the text, it is possible to show an explanation of the animation or execute an example.

Further, by providing a command input area in the display screen, the user can freely refer to the manual, operate, execute the program and the procedure.

Also, in the description of the upper member, describe the title of the lower member and the call command, move the cursor to the subcommand and press the send key to trace the lower hierarchical structure to obtain more detailed contents. It is possible to understand step by step faster.

As described above, by storing a manual document having a hierarchical structure, the user interface can be improved and the processing time can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a hierarchical structure of a manual according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a document processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. Explanatory drawing showing the internal configuration of a data set, 4th
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a member of a general table of contents according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a chapter member according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a HELP member according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a member of a table of contents according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a member of a general index according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of Chapter 1 of the main text in one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the members in Section 1.2 of the main text in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 1 shows an example of the contents of members in section 1.2.2 of the main text in one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a description format of a subcommand in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a record format of one line of an electronic manual in one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a description format of a procedure command according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of contents including a procedure command according to an embodiment of the present invention. Example of file contents
FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the hierarchical relationship of members and the description format of an index line in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of members in Chapter 1 of the main text in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 21 shows an example of the present invention.
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of a section, FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a hierarchical structure, a member having a member name of a member storing a search key, and a content example of a member having a search key according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of a subcommand in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a manual processing device in one embodiment of the present invention. 21: display, 22: keyboard, 23: system processing device, 24: manual processing device, 25: file device, 31: member name, 32: member, 33: pointer, 210: command input line.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06F 17/30 G06F 17/21 JICST Scientific and Technical Reference File

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A document processing system comprising: a file for storing a manual document including a table of contents, an index, and a text, and searching / displaying a document stored in the file. Means for dividing the manual document into hierarchical modules, assigning a name indicating a structural position to each module, adding an index pointer indicating a hierarchical relationship between modules, and storing the module, A means for calling a specified module in the text using the hierarchical relationship indicated by the index pointer by a subcommand for writing and calling the module, and a means for dynamically executing the content of the manual described in the text. The program in the manual document and the command registered in the system library are executed by the procedure command. Means for executing a command procedure, a user selects a subcommand described in a manual document and a procedure command, and causes the system to interactively execute the electronic manual processing. apparatus. And means for inputting the subcommand and the procedure command from a predetermined input area on a display screen. The command input to the input area allows the function of the command described in a manual document and a system library to be input. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function of the procedure command registered in the electronic manual is executed.