JP3547773B2 - User interface control device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention User interface control device In particular, in an interactive processing system in which a plurality of interface parts for executing a user interface function on a display screen of a display device are arranged on an operation screen panel of one window, it is possible to arrange many interface parts on the operation screen panel. Made it possible User interface control device It is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, in user-end data processing systems with improved man-machine interfaces such as workstations and personal computers, graphic user interfaces are created using a pointing device such as a mouse to create graphic user interfaces for application programs. Announced a graphic user interface creation support device that automatically generates the final source code and data file of a program including interface components by interactively arranging buttons and menus according to each user's preference Have been.
[0003]
In an interactive processing system having a plurality of interface components for executing a user interface function on the display screen of such a display device, when an operation panel on a display screen incorporating the interface components is created, the operation panel The information (interface component) is converted into a source program, and a source program for the interface component is created. Then, by compiling this source program and linking it with the main body of the application program, an interface component of the user interface function corresponding to the execution format is created. In this case, even when the specification of the interface component on the operation panel on the display screen is changed, it is necessary to change the corresponding part of the source program of the original program, compile again, and link with the application program body.
[0004]
As described above, in the construction of the user interface of this type of conventional data processing system, the operation of the user interface component for performing the interaction processing between the user and the system needs to be given as a program, and even when a part of the specification is changed. There is a problem that a complicated operation process is required.
[0005]
On the other hand, in the “interaction processing synthesis system” proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-266424, parts composed of visual data and operation description data of a database are provided on the system side, and these are provided. By combining them, the operation program of the user interface function of the computer application system is synthesized to facilitate the construction of the user interface. For this reason, in this interactive processing synthesis system, an interface component database unit that provides components composed of visual data and operation description data, an interface component editor unit that combines and combines the components of the interface component database unit, An interface synthesizing unit for synthesizing the dialogue processing unit based on the description of the interface component editor unit, whereby the dialogue processing unit of the computer application system can be configured by a simple method of combining the components. it can.
[0006]
Further, a "software prototype creation support device" described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-254538 is a proposal of an interface portion creation support device for creating a prototype of a man-machine interface portion of an interactive CAD system by graphic input. . In this software prototype creation support device, input graphics are individually registered in a database as components (menus) of a man-machine interface unit of an interactive CAD system, and are operated in accordance with a specified operation definition to operate as a prototype. Implement the function of Further, it is converted into the source code of the target system and output.
[0007]
Furthermore, a "man-machine interface" described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-24621 is a function that requires an editor in the man-machine interface. In advance It is proposed that a component unit is configured and each component unit has a parameter having a default value. This allows you to arbitrarily attach and remove parts used in an editor To Become.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when creating an operation panel on a display screen including a user interface component of an application program in this type of interactive processing system, a similar interface in which a part of the operation panel is changed is often created. Since it is impossible to change only the user interface parts, even when changing part of the specifications of the interface parts on the panel on the display screen, change the corresponding part of the source program of the original program and compile again. Then, a complicated operation of linking with the application program body is required.
[0009]
For this reason, devices and systems for supporting the creation of each user interface as described above have been proposed, and the source code for generating the graphic user interface components can be programmed by the user. Lami To reduce the labor required for training and improve productivity. Therefore, when creating a graphic user interface in an application program using such a user interface creation support device or system, the basic creation method is to use buttons and input / output on a single operation panel. This is performed in such a manner that interface components such as areas are freely arranged by mouse operation.
[0010]
By the way, when creating a user interface of an application program, if the number of interface parts to be arranged is large and the size of each interface part is large, the operation panel on which the interface parts are arranged must be large. As a result, the operation screen of the graphic user interface may become huge. For this reason, when the application program is executed, the window of the graphic user interface operation screen occupies most of the display screen of the display device, and in the worst case, the entire operation panel serving as the operation screen is displayed. There is a possibility that a problem that it cannot be performed may occur.
[0011]
On the other hand, in the conventional user interface creation support system, in such a case, for example, an interface component that is not used frequently is divided by function and created as another interface component, and the main operation screen is used. By pressing a button of one interface component, another window is opened to display a new operation screen panel, and the interface component group of the divided functions is displayed on the new operation screen panel. ing. As a result, the area of the main operation screen panel can be reduced. However, since a new operation screen panel is displayed in a separate window, a plurality of application programs can be displayed on the display screen of the display device with respect to one application program. This causes a state in which the windows of the operation screen panel are scattered.
[0012]
In addition, since a window of the operation screen panel is displayed in a plurality of windows as separate windows for each operation screen panel for one application program, each window control program for controlling the plurality of windows is provided. Is required. For this reason, the amount of programs for the user interface function becomes very large, and a large memory capacity is required when the application program is operated. In addition, a problem arises in that the handling load increases.
[0013]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of interface components for executing a user interface function on a display screen of a display device by using an operation screen panel of one window. Many interface components can be placed on the operation screen panel in the interactive processing system placed in User interface control device Is to provide.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a user interface control device according to the present invention provides a user interface for arranging a plurality of interface components for executing a user interface function on a display screen of a display device on an operation screen panel of one window. A control device, wherein data of the operation screen panel for arranging a plurality of interface parts at predetermined positions is used as page data. Display one page at a time in one window Multiple page data Individually Page management means for managing the plurality of page data in Display means for displaying an operation screen panel of a predetermined page, an interface component for page switching before or after the operation screen panel in the operation screen panel, and an operation on the interface component for page switching Control means for controlling the operation screen panel to switch to the display of the front or rear page according to
That is, a user interface control device used in an interactive processing system in which a plurality of interface components for executing a user interface function on a display screen of a display device are arranged on an operation screen panel of one window, and the interface components are arranged. Page management means (10) for managing the operation screen panel as a plurality of pages of each page data, and receiving a page switching instruction by an interface component for page switching of the operation panel constantly displayed in the operation screen panel. Panel page control means (13) for controlling switching of each page of the operation screen panel.
[0015]
[Action]
According to the present invention User interface control device Is an interactive processing system in which a plurality of interface components for executing a user interface function on a display screen of a display device are arranged on an operation screen panel of one window. Interface control device used in It has become. this User interface control device , An operation screen panel on which interface components are arranged by the page management means (10) Of each page data It is managed as multiple pages. Managed by the page management means (10) Page data Each page of the plurality of pages of the operation screen panel receives a page switching instruction by an interface component for page switching of the operation panel constantly displayed in the operation screen panel, and the panel page control means (13) displays the page. Each page of the operation screen panel on the screen To Control for switching is performed.
[0016]
As described above, in the interactive processing system here, when a plurality of interface components providing a graphic user interface function are arranged on the operation screen panel on the display screen, the operation screen panel is Of each page data Manage as multiple pages. That is, the concept of a page is introduced into the operation screen panel, and the operation screen panel of a plurality of pages is switched by turning each page. Thus, even if the operation screen panel is reduced in size, the operation screen panel can be provided as a plurality of pages, and many interface components can be arranged.
[0017]
In addition, even when an application program having a graphic user interface having a plurality of pages is executed, the window of the operation screen panel does not become large, and does not occupy most of the display screen of the display device. Further, the graphic user interface operation screen has only one window, and the display screen of the display device does not cause a state in which a plurality of operation screen panel windows are scattered for one application program.
[0018]
Thus, even when many interface components are used in the application program, only one window of the graphic user interface operation screen is required for one application program. Therefore, even when a large number of interface components are arranged on the operation screen panel of the user interface function, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of windows for controlling the interface components. If it's up The program can be small. Therefore, even when the application program is operated, a small memory capacity is sufficient, and the load of handling the application program does not increase.
[0019]
【Example】
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a dialog processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 10 is a graphic user interface component library, 11 is an application program main unit, 12 is an interface control unit, 13 is a panel page control unit, 14 is an operating system, 15 is a hardware system device, and 16 is a CRT display or the like. A display device, 17 is a keyboard of a character input device, 18 is a mouse of a pointing device, and 19 is a graphic user interface creation editor.
[0020]
The hardware system device 15 is composed of hardware such as a microprocessor, a main memory, and an I / O controller, and is a main device that performs basic data processing. An input / output device such as a display device 16, a keyboard 17, and a mouse 17 is connected to the hardware system device 15 to configure an entire hardware device including hardware control. The operating system 14 includes a system control program for basic input / output processing, memory management, system management, and the like, provides a system environment for operating individual application programs, and controls the entire system of hardware devices.
[0021]
The panel page control unit 13 is provided as a subsystem for performing page control of the operation screen panel of the user interface function when the user interface control unit 12 performs user interface control on the application program main unit 11. The user interface control unit 12 controls individual interface components arranged on the operation screen panel of a plurality of pages by the panel page control unit 13 to execute a user interface function when the application program main unit 11 operates. In such a system environment, the application program main unit 11 executes the application program.
[0022]
Here, a panel page control unit 13 is provided as a subsystem of the user interface control unit 12. The panel page control unit 13 performs each operation when the operation screen panel of the user interface is configured as a plurality of pages. Control to switch the page of the screen panel. In the operation screen panel having a plurality of pages, page data of the operation screen panel of each page is managed in the graphic user interface component library 10.
[0023]
In addition, such page data (operation screen panel data for each page) is newly created by the graphic user interface creation editor 19, edited, registered and managed in the graphic user interface component library 10. . The graphic user interface creation editor 19 provides an editor function for creating a comprehensive graphic user interface, such as creation of interface components, and creates graphic user interface data for each page.
[0024]
For this reason, the panel page control unit 13, the graphic user interface component library 10, and the graphic user interface creation editor 19 constitute a graphic user interface interface creation support device having a page function here.
[0025]
When the application program is being executed in the application program main unit 11, the panel page control unit 13 reads the page data specified by the user and replaces the necessary graphic user interface components with the operating system. 14 On the screen of the display device 16 (application window). On the other hand, when an action is performed by the user, the user action is transmitted from the keyboard 17 and the mouse 18 through the operating system 14 and further through the panel page control unit 13 and the user interface control unit 12 to the main body of the application program. The information is transmitted to the unit 11. At this time, the application program main unit 11 does not need to particularly know which page of the operation screen panel is being displayed. This is because the panel page control unit 13 and the user interface control unit 12 undertake the processing for switching the pages of the operation screen panel.
[0026]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of creating a first page when creating page data of an operation screen panel of a graphic user interface in the interactive processing system of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a second page creation example when page data of an operation screen panel of a graphic user interface is created in the interactive processing system of the present embodiment. 2 and 3, reference numeral 20 denotes a display screen of a display device, 21 denotes an edit window of a graphic user interface creation editor, 22 denotes an edit command area, 23 denotes an operation screen panel of the first page, and 24 denotes a current operation screen panel. Page display area, 25 is a parts palette, 26 is a previous page button, 27 is a back page button, 28 is a save button, 29 is a mouse cursor, 30 is an interface part button A, 31 is an interface part button B, and 32 is an interface Parts Table frame , 33 are interface components scroll bar Reference numeral 34 denotes an operation screen panel for the second page.
[0027]
The creator of the graphic user interface operates the mouse to move the mouse cursor 29, and selects and takes out each part for constituting the graphic user interface to be created from the parts palette 25, which is in the editing window 21. It is attached to a predetermined position on the operation screen panel 23. That is, here, for example, component elements such as graphic elements, text frames, and buttons of interface components are provided in the component pallet 25 as component components for constituting a graphic user interface. Therefore, the user operates the mouse to select and extract necessary parts from the parts palette 25 according to the instruction of the mouse cursor, and further continues the mouse operation to position the parts on the operation screen panel 23 for creating a graphic user interface. And paste. In the case of the embodiment shown here, buttons 30, buttons 31, a table frame 32, a scroll bar 33, a text frame, and the like of interface components are pasted on the operation screen panel 23.
[0028]
A current page display area 24 is provided below the operation screen panel 23. 24 The page number of the operation screen panel 23 currently being edited is displayed. The “current page 1 / total 2 pages” of this display indicates that there are a total of two pages of operation screen panels being created as the graphic user interface of the application program, and that the first page is currently being edited. ing. Although the editing of the page itself of each operation screen panel is not shown, the insertion, addition and deletion of the page can be performed by the page editing command provided in the editing command area 22. Then, the user edits the page of the operation screen panel on which the interface component is pasted.
[0029]
The editing operation of the graphic user interface on the operation screen panel 23 of the first page is completed. Pe Press the mouse button 27, that is, move the mouse cursor 29 backward. Pe When the mouse button is clicked with the mouse positioned over page button 27, page switching is performed under the control of the panel page control unit described above, and a screen as shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. As a result, the contents of the editing window 21 are switched to the operation screen panel 34 of the second page, and the editing of the operation screen panel 34 of the second page can be performed in the same manner as the editing of the first page. .
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 3, when editing the operation screen panel 34 of the second page in the editing window 21, for example, when the user wants to return to editing the operation screen panel 23 of the first page, Operate the cursor 29 and move the cursor to the position before the edit command area 22. Pe When the page button 26 is pressed, the editing window 21 switches to the operation screen panel 23 of the first page again, and the editing can be performed.
[0031]
In the operation screen panel 34 on the second page here, buttons 35 and buttons 36 of the interface components are arranged on the operation screen panel 34. When each page of the operation screen panel is edited and the editing operation of all pages is completed, the save button 28 in the edit command area 22 is pressed. This indicates that the editing work for creating the graphic user interface has all been completed. Thereby, the data of the operation screen panels of all the edited pages are saved in the file, and registered as the page data file of the graphic user interface component library 10.
[0032]
FIG. 4 is a first explanatory diagram illustrating an operation example using the operation screen panel of the graphic user interface having a plurality of pages in the interactive processing system of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a second explanatory diagram showing an operation example using the operation screen panel of the graphic user interface having a plurality of pages in the interactive processing system of the present embodiment. 4 and 5, reference numeral 40 denotes a display screen of the display device, 41 denotes an application window, 42 denotes a page movement command area of an operation screen panel, 43 denotes an operation screen panel of the first page, and 44 denotes a current page of the operation screen panel. A display area, 45 is a previous page button, 46 is a rear page button, 47 is a mouse cursor, 48 is an interface component button A, 49 is an interface component button B, 50 is a second page operation screen panel, and 51 is an interface. Buttons C and 52 of the component are buttons D of the interface component.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 4, when an application program having a graphic user interface having a plurality of pages is started, an application window 41 is opened on the display screen 40. When the application window 41 is opened, first, the operation screen panel 43 of the first page is displayed, and the user interface function such as the buttons 48 and 49 of the interface components arranged on the operation screen panel 43 of the first page is displayed. Control becomes possible.
[0034]
When the user wants to end the interface operation on the operation screen panel 43 of the first page and perform another interface operation in the application program, the user moves the mouse cursor 47 to the page movement command area 42 of the operation screen panel. Is clicked. As a result, this action is detected, and the application window 41 is switched to the display of the operation screen panel 50 of the second page as shown in FIG. 5 under the control of the panel page control unit 13 described above. Then, it becomes possible to control the user interface function by the interface component on the operation screen panel 50 of the second page.
[0035]
In the application window 41 here, a current page display area 44 is provided on the upper side of the operation screen panel, and the current page display area 44 displays the current page of the operation screen panel of a plurality of pages. Page number is displayed. For example, the display of "currently 2 pages / all 2 pages" indicates that the operation screen panel displayed in the application window has a total of two pages, and the second page is currently displayed.
[0036]
As described above, in the interactive processing system of the present embodiment, the operation screen panel for arranging a plurality of interface components providing the graphic user interface function on the display screen in the application program has a multi-page configuration. It is possible to arbitrarily switch operation screen panels provided over a plurality of pages by turning each page. Thus, by switching a plurality of operation screen panels in one application window, an interactive processing system having a more user-friendly and space-efficient graphic user interface is provided.
[0037]
Next, the components for configuring the interactive processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention User interface control devices (user interface control unit and panel page control unit) Other application examples and modified examples will be described.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, only the “previous page” button and the “back page” button are provided as interface buttons for controlling the page movement of the operation screen panel of each page. By inputting data from the keyboard, any specified Pe The display may be switched to the display on the operation screen panel of the page.
[0038]
(2) In the above-described embodiment, the button for page movement is provided in a command area different from the operation screen panel of each page. However, the button of the interface for page movement control is also provided on the operation screen panel. Combined as buttons for interface parts in each page of the panel Including You may do it. In this case, each page of the operation screen panel needs an interface button for page movement control, but by this, the page movement of the operation screen panel always moves to the “previous page” and the “back page”. In addition to moving, the interface content of page movement control can be set to the button according to the page of each operation screen panel. For this reason, a movement button corresponding to the operation screen of each page can be set.
[0039]
(3) In the above-described embodiment, the page switching of the operation screen panel is performed by the user operating the mouse, and the page switching of the operation screen panel is actively instructed for the page display of each operation screen panel. However, the application program may automatically switch to the operation screen panel of the most suitable page at that time according to the state of the internal data being processed. In addition, when the user performs the interface operation, it is possible to save the trouble of switching the pages of the operation image panel each time.
[0040]
(4) In the above-described embodiment, the pages are switched by clicking the "previous page" button and the "back page" button, but an interface component such as a scroll bar is used as an interface for the page movement control. In such a case, the page of the operation screen panel can be moved continuously. Also, the whole page is allocated to the scroll bar The A jump function may be provided to immediately switch to an arbitrary page so that the page can be displayed.
[0041]
(5) Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, one operation screen panel is displayed in the edit window and the application window, but the operation screen panel displayed in one window is divided into an arbitrary number in accordance with a user's instruction. By doing so, a plurality of pages may be displayed at one time. Thus, for example, it is possible to operate a plurality of pages at the same time without switching each page, thereby improving operability.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As explained above, Clearly According to the operation screen panel of the graphic user interface Manage as page data Since there are a plurality of pages, even when many interface components are used in the application program, the interface components can be arranged in a small window with good space efficiency. For this reason, when many interface components are arranged on the operation screen panel of the user interface function, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of windows as in the related art. Therefore, for interface control to start Program Memory size at runtime Small enough. Therefore, even when the application program is operated, a small memory capacity is sufficient, and the load of handling the application program does not increase.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a dialog processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exemplary view for explaining an example of creating a first page when creating page data of an operation screen panel of a graphic user interface in the interactive processing system according to the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of creating a second page when creating page data of an operation screen panel of a graphic user interface in the interactive processing system of the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a first explanatory diagram showing an operation example using an operation screen panel of a graphic user interface having a plurality of pages in the interactive processing system of the embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a second explanatory diagram showing an operation example using the operation screen panel of the graphic user interface having a plurality of pages in the interactive processing system of the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10: Graphic user interface component library, 11: Application program main unit, 12: User interface control unit, 13: Panel page control unit, 14: Operating system, 15: Hardware system device, 16: Display device, 17: Keyboard, 18: mouse, 19: graphic user interface creation editor, 20: display screen of display device, 21: edit window, 22: edit command area, 23: operation screen panel of the first page, 24: current page display area, 25 ... Parts palette, 26 ... Previous page button, 27 ... Back page button, 28 ... Save button, 29 ... Mouse cursor, 30 ... Interface part button A, 31 ... Interface part button B, 32 ... Interface part table frame, 3 Scroll bar of interface component, 34 Operation panel panel of second page, 35 Button C of interface component, 36 Button D of interface component, 40 Display screen of display device, 41 Application window, 42 Page move command area, 43: Operation screen panel of the first page, 44: Current page display area, 45: Previous page button, 46: Back page button, 47: Mouse cursor, 48: Button A of interface parts, 49 ... Buttons B, 50 of the interface component: Operation screen panel of the second page, 51: Button C of the interface component, 52: Button D of the interface component.

Claims (2)

A user interface control device for arranging a plurality of interface components for executing a user interface function on a display screen of a display device on an operation screen panel of one window,
Page management means for individually managing a plurality of page data which are displayed one page at a time in one window as data of the operation screen panel for arranging a plurality of interface parts at predetermined positions, as page data;
Display means for displaying an operation screen panel of a predetermined page in the plurality of page data , and an interface component for page switching before or after the operation screen panel in the operation screen panel;
A user interface control device comprising: control means for performing control for switching the operation screen panel to display a previous or next page in accordance with an operation on an interface component for switching the page. A user interface control method for arranging a plurality of interface components for executing a user interface function on a display screen of a display device on an operation screen panel of one window,
A step of individually managing a plurality of page data for displaying one page at a time in one window as data of the operation screen panel for arranging a plurality of interface parts at predetermined positions as page data;
Displaying an operation screen panel of a predetermined page in the plurality of page data , and an interface component for page switching before or after the operation screen panel in the operation screen panel;
Controlling the operation screen panel to display a previous or next page in accordance with an operation on the interface component for switching the page.

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