JP2946509B2 - Control method of interactive manual - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an interactive manual library, and in particular, incorporates an example appearing in a software manual or the like into a memory area as an example generation program in order to talk to a user. The present invention relates to a method for controlling an interactive manual for providing consultation to a user.

[Conventional technology]

A conventional manual is a document manual, that is, a document in which operation procedures and procedures are described on paper. However, the purpose of reading the manual by the user is not to read the commentary or to know the grammar of the operation, but ultimately to obtain the optimal procedure, procedure, or description for the user. The most valuable parts are
An example, an example.

As a conventional document manual, for example,
As shown in FIG. 2, there is a hierarchical manual in which documents are divided into chapters, sections, and sections described using a point system. In this method, the description of the chapter is higher than the description of the section, and the description of the section is higher than the description of the section. In the description at the upper level, a description common to the conceptual description or the lower level description is given, and in the description at the lower level, the description at the upper level has a detailed content. The user looks at the titles at the higher level and selects a title that suits the work purpose. Next, a description below that level is selected. By repeating such an operation, the user reads and understands a detailed work procedure or the like that suits the work purpose and understands it.

Conventionally, in a document other than a manual, a method has been used in which a keyword is provided to search for a target word, sentence, or description portion described in the document, and a search is performed based on the keyword. For example, in the method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-40528, keywords are enclosed with delimiters and stored together with document data, so that a keyword for search need not be separately input at a later date. A proposed method has been proposed. In the above method, of the data and the keywords stored in the document file storage unit, only the keyword is called by the keyword extraction unit. That is, the keyword extracting unit finds out delimiters in the data, extracts keywords surrounded by these delimiters, and stores them in the keyword storage unit. The keywords stored in the keyword storage unit are displayed to the user at the time of the search, and the search is executed based on this.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As described above, the conventional manual is merely referred to, and the user refers to the manual to determine the procedure to be used, the arrangement of the parameters, the order, or the procedure such as the command, and prepares the actual example. I needed to. In addition, although there is a document manual in a hierarchical format, a system for displaying it while freely searching for it has not yet been proposed. If possible, it would be desirable to have a manual that could provide the user with the most relevant examples interactively.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem and to provide a method of controlling an interactive manual that can provide an example of a procedure that the user wants to execute in an interactive manner when requested by the user. is there.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, a method for controlling an interactive manual according to the present invention comprises: (i) an interactive manual for sequentially displaying contents of a manual including at least a description of software in an interactive manner to an operator who refers to the manual. In the control method, an example generation program for generating an example of this software is provided in advance in a manual together with the description of the software, and the example generation program is executed based on an execution instruction input of the example generation program from an operator. Read and execute, generate and output an example of software.

(Ii) In the control method of the interactive manual described in (i) above, when the read example generation program is executed, data used in an example of software generated by the example generation program is executed in an interactive manner with an operator. And inputting the input data to generate an example of software.

(Iii) In the control method of the interactive manual according to any one of (i) and (ii) above, after outputting the software example, the operator is inquired about whether or not to execute the example generation program again. However, if the operator inputs an instruction not to re-execute the example generation program,
The contents of the manual including the description of the following software are displayed.

(Iv) In the interactive manual control method according to any one of (i) to (iii), it is determined whether or not an example generation program corresponding to the description of the software being displayed is prepared in advance. A first step, a second step for inquiring and displaying to the operator whether or not to execute the prepared example generation program, and a step prepared in advance based on the execution instruction input of the example generation program from the operator. And a fourth step of executing the read example generation program and generating and outputting an example of the software.

(V) In the control method of the interactive manual according to any one of (i) to (iv), an example of software generated by the example generation program is referred to and updated.

(Vi) In the method for controlling an interactive manual according to any one of (i) to (v), a call program for calling the example generation program is described in the manual, and the example generation program from the operator is described. The execution program is executed based on the input of the execution instruction to call the example generation program.

[Action]

Incorporating static document manuals into hardware is the first generation of manual mechanization,
Next, we talked to the user from the manual, conducted a consultation, and as a result, the actual example that the user wanted,
Passing procedures, etc. to the user is the second generation of manual mechanization, and is a dynamic manual. in this way,
In the present invention, the program takes the place of consultation for creating an example or the like that places the greatest burden on the user, and provides specific procedures, procedures or descriptions without errors. As an example generation program, a description language which is described in a primitive sentence format so as to be easily managed and modified, and which facilitates dialogue such as consultation is used.

According to the present invention, a separator for separating a document portion and a program portion is provided in one member in a manual library, and the existence of the corresponding program portion is indicated in one entry in the member directory. Then, by registering the title name, its attribute name, and its separator code in the entry, search for the corresponding program or description in the document part,
The program is executed according to a user's instruction.

To refer to one entry in the directory, the user instructs to display the contents of the entry. The purpose is for the user to understand the description of the selected entry and to create an example. When using the example generation program, there are two access methods. First, when an entry is selected, the description contents and related contents of the entry are displayed using the attribute and the title name, so that the title name whose attribute is an example is selected, and the document having the title is selected. Display the part. This method looks at the title and attributes at the beginning of the entry and goes directly to the location of the instance. The other one is
After selecting an entry, while reading through the document content of the entry, a description of the example may appear, and this is the only way to enter reference to the example.

Either way, when displaying the example part,
If the document includes an example generation program, a message is displayed on the screen as to whether or not to generate the example by a program, and the user is inquired. If the user simply refers to the document, the program part enclosed by the separators is skipped, and only the contents of the document are displayed on the screen. However, when the user instructs the execution of the program, the processing shifts to the processing of the program portion surrounded by the separator. After the dialogue with the user, the example optimized for the user is written out to a file specified by the user, and then an inquiry is made as to whether or not to generate the example again by a program. Then, read the document again, or stop referring to the entry, and return to the directory (table of contents)
Return to

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of an interactive manual library according to the present invention.

The interactive manual library is stored in directory 1
And a document storage unit 13. The directory 2 in the directory section 1 contains the name of the upper title of the manual (here, the chapter title) and a pointer to the member. The library has a plurality of members, one member 3 of which is shown in FIG.
In the member 3, a lower directory section 4 and an in-member document section 10 are stored. The in-member directory section 4 is configured in units of entries, and one entry includes five fields. One of those fields is an attribute 6 of the document part, and one is an indicator 7 for distinguishing between the title names of other members and those in their members. , The title name of the entry is a title name in another member, and if *, it is a title name in the member. Further, the remaining one of the fields is a code 9 of a separator surrounding the program part. Only when the content of the attribute 6 in this entry is an actual example, the code 9 of the separator is valid. The code 9 of the separator is desirably a character string or a character that can be printed. Here, a symbol of% is used.

In the document section 10 in the member, there are respective areas to which the title (3) indicated by the title name 8 and the description of “activation of the automated monitor” and the display of the example indicated by the attribute 6 are added. In the region where the example is displayed, the separator 9 has φ
If not, there is an example 11 written as a document and a program unit 12 for generating an example that is optimal for the user. The program section 12 is surrounded by the character% defined by the separator 9 to make it easy to distinguish the program section from the document section.

When the user instructs the monitor system to use the interactive manual library, the manual is read in accordance with the processing procedure of the manual library reference system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the processing procedure according to the present invention of the control method of the interactive manual of the present invention.

First, from directory 2 in directory area 1,
A table of contents is displayed (step 1). Next, when a title name for referring to the contents is input (step 2), a directory 2 having the title name is searched from the input title name (step 3). From the obtained directory 2, a member 3 containing a document having the title is obtained (step 4). The directory 4 in the member 3 is found, and the attribute and the title are displayed (step 5).
A title name for referring to the content or input as to whether or not to read through from the beginning (step 6). When the end key is pressed in the input processing, the manual system ends.

Next, by inquiring whether or not to read (step 7), when reading is instructed by the user, the display pointer is set to the head position of the member 3 (step 8). In addition, when the title name is input and the user selects a title (3) automation monitor shown in FIG. 1 and an entry whose attribute is an example, steps 9 to 13 are executed. At that time, the display pointer is set to the position having the attribute and the title name (step 9). The contents of the document indicated by the display pointer are displayed on the screen (step 10). Next, it is determined whether or not the attribute of the display location is an example and whether or not a program exists (step 11). If there is, whether or not to execute the example generation program is displayed in a control field on the screen. (Step 12). Next, the user inputs whether or not to execute the example generation program (step 13). When the execution of the example generation program is selected, steps 14 and 18 are executed, and the document is skipped until the separator 9 is encountered (step 18).

Then, program 12 in FIG. 1 is encountered. Since this sentence is a command, its description language is determined (step 19).
An interpreter for interpreting and executing the description language is called, and control is transferred (step 20). This is the program in Figure 1.
Interpret and execute 12.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the procedure of the command CALL INT-AOM (accurately, a part of the command procedure) of “(3) Starting the automation monitor” in FIG.

When this program is executed, an "example of starting the automation monitor" is generated. Since this is a call statement, a command procedure having the procedure name INT-AOM in the procedure library is called. This is a substantial example generation program, an example of which is shown in FIG.
The command procedure converts the example shown in FIG. 3 into a format most suitable for the user.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the command procedure INIT-AOM, and FIG. 4 is a command procedure IN called by the command CALL INIT-AOM in FIG.
This is the data section in IT-AOM.

In FIG. 4, data is described at addresses 1 to 72 and 73 to 80.
Rows in the data are indicated at the addresses as # 1, # 5, # 10,... # 45. This data section is the one to be processed.

The procedure shown in FIG. 7 generates job control statements and parameters in the work area while interacting with the user, using the data part of the example shown in FIG.

That is, in the command procedure INT-AOM, first,
The job control statement is copied to the work area (step 71), and an inquiry is made as to whether or not to secure the executable library as a private library (step 72). With a positive response,
The file entity name & A and the volume serial number & B are input (step 74). Next, & A, & B of line # 5 in the data
Is substituted for the input value, and the FD statement is copied to the work area (step 76). Next, the input value is substituted for & B of line # 10 in the data, and the ASSGN statement is copied to the work area (step 77). On the other hand, if there is a negative response to the above inquiry, the system library is used, and therefore, the lines # 5 and # 10 in the data are deleted (step 7).
Five). Then, in any case, the EXEC statement is copied to the work area (step 78).

Next, a description is given as the MODE parameter, and N, S, L
Is selected and entered in & C, and the MODE parameter is copied to the work area (step 79). Next, a description is given as the CALL parameter, and the user is made to select whether the CALL parameter is required (step 80). If not needed, the CALL parameter is not copied to the work area (step 81). If required, add A, O with explanation and put in & D. Copy the CALL parameter to the work area (step 82). Next, INTV
Select a value from 1 to 60 as the AL parameter. And
The default interpretation value 5 is shown with an explanation. Put the input value in & E. Copy the INTVAL parameter to the work area (step 83). Similarly, STOP, PWOFF, ALRM, URLIB,
The SCHEDULE parameter is obtained, the value is substituted, and the value is transferred to the work area (step 84). Then, the 1 * sentence and 1 & sentence are transferred to the work area (step 85). Finally, the head address and length of the work area are set as contact information (step 86).

In this way, job control statements and parameters are generated in the work area, and when this is completed, control proceeds to step 21 in FIG. 5, where the contents of the work area are written out to the source sentence library as members (step 21). Next, control is transferred to the editor, and the automatically generated example can be referenced or modified (step 17). Here, when the editor is completed and the example generation is completed, the screen returns to step 10 in FIG. 5 in order to return to the initially displayed screen.

As described above, in this embodiment, by incorporating the example generation program in the manual reference system, an example without errors can be easily provided to a user who does not have the ability to create an optimum example. be able to.
In addition, since a program is also created for each actual example,
It requires a relatively small program and can be easily developed. Also, by referring to the interactive manual library, if it is difficult to understand, it takes a little time for the dialogue. However, the user receives a manual consultation and obtains a procedure on what to do as a user. And an example of the procedure can be obtained.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the system can consult the user for procedures, procedures, and descriptions optimized by the user, even if the user does not have the ability to create an example. Can be provided more easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of an interactive manual library according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a table of contents of a conventional hierarchical document manual, and FIG. FIG. 4 shows the contents of the description of the actual example as a document in ") Starting the Automated Monitor", FIG. 4 shows the data part in the command CALL INIT-AOM in FIG. 1, and FIG. A flowchart showing an embodiment of a processing procedure according to the present invention of a control method of a shape manual,
FIG. 6 shows "(3) Starting the automatic monitor" in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the command procedure shown in FIG. 1: directory part in the manual library, 2: directory, 3: one member in the manual library, 4: directory part in the member, 5: one entry in the directory part in the member, 6: document part Attributes: 7: Indicator for distinguishing whether the document is in its own member or another member, 8: Title name, 9: Separator code, 10: Document part in member, 11: Document as document Example: 12: Program section for generating an example best suited for the user; 13: Document storage section.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06F 15/00 G06F 9/06

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for controlling an interactive manual in which the contents of a manual including at least a description of the software are sequentially displayed in an interactive manner to an operator who refers to the manual. An example generation program for generating an example is provided in the manual in advance, and the example generation program is read and executed based on an execution instruction input of the example generation program from an operator, and an example of the software is generated. A method for controlling an interactive manual, characterized in that the output is performed by a computer. 2. The method of controlling an interactive manual according to claim 1, wherein when the read example generating program is read, the read example generating program is used in an interactive manner with the operator in an example of software generated by the example generating program. A method for controlling an interactive manual, comprising inputting data and generating an example of the software using the input data. 3. The method of controlling an interactive manual according to claim 1, wherein, after outputting an example of the software, the operator determines whether or not to execute the example generation program again. And displaying the contents of the manual including the description of the following software when the operator inputs an instruction not to re-execute the example generation program. 4. The method for controlling an interactive manual according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the example generation program corresponding to the description of the software being displayed is prepared in advance. A first step of performing, a second step of inquiring and displaying to an operator whether or not to execute the previously prepared example generation program, and an execution instruction input of the example generation program from the operator, A third step of reading the pre-prepared example generation program; and a fourth step of executing the read example generation program to generate and output an example of the software. Control method of interactive manual. 5. The interactive manual control method according to claim 1, wherein an example of said software generated by said example generating program is referred to and updated. Control method. 6. A method for controlling an interactive manual according to claim 1, wherein a call program for calling said example generating program is described in said manual, and said manual is generated by said operator. A method for controlling an interactive manual, characterized in that the above-mentioned calling program is executed based on an execution instruction input of an example generation program to call the above-mentioned example generation program.