JP3637606B2 - Data processing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus, and more particularly to a data processing apparatus that processes each of a plurality of data when editing a file including a plurality of data created by programs having different functions.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A document is often often able to break its structure into two or more parts. Typical parts that make up a document include text, graphics, and tables. As a method of creating such a document having a plurality of components, conventionally, a plurality of dedicated programs specialized for specific functions such as a word processor and graphic software are used, and then each part is created. The combination method was mainstream. In this case, however, each part of the document is associated with each application program that created the document in a one-to-one correspondence. Therefore, if the created application program is not prepared or the program is not converted, the document There is a problem that cannot be opened.
[0003]
On the other hand, in a single program called integrated software in which a plurality of application programs having different functions are combined, all parts of a document can be created and combined. However, most of the integrated software is not suitable for creating advanced documents because each function is limited to a major function so that the device does not become large, and the functions are limited to low functions. Furthermore, in the case of a combination with a document created by another application program, the document cannot be opened unless the created application program is prepared or the program is converted, as in the case described above. is there.
[0004]
In some cases, a program having a dedicated editing function is assigned to each part of the document and each part is directly edited on the document. Such a method is expensive due to an increase in the types of programs and the total amount of programs, and is therefore only used in a part of relatively high-grade workstations.
[0005]
On the other hand, as one of conventionally known methods for automatically executing processing associated with access to a field of a file, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-13417 By registering pre-processing and post-processing to be executed when a field in the file is accessed, the associated processing is automatically performed simply by accessing the file field from the application program. There is something.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, even in the prior art, it was possible to associate each part of a document or file with a program. However, if a new document is created by using a part or all of a previously created document, a program that created the original document is required. In such a case, there is a problem that the reuse of each part of the document is extremely limited unless the program is the same. Although it is possible to cope to some extent by converting the document into a format required by another program, it is currently left to the user to select another program that seems appropriate. Such a problem is particularly serious when the original document creator and the new document creator are different.
[0007]
However, when the program can be substituted by a program having the same function, it is possible to expect the promotion of document reuse and the reduction of the burden imposed on the user by performing the process automatically. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a data processing apparatus that can promote document reuse and reduce the burden on the user when there is a process that can be substituted by a program having the same function.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A data processing apparatus according to the present invention is a data processing apparatus that processes each of a plurality of data when a file including a plurality of data created by a plurality of programs having different functions is provided. Storage means for storing the function to be performed and the format of data that can be processed by each program; selection means for selecting a program for processing data to be processed in the file from a plurality of programs based on the storage contents of the storage means; When there are a plurality of candidate programs selected by the selection means, the priority giving means for comparing the functions of the plurality of candidate programs and assigning priority to each of them, and the highest priority given by the priority order giving means configuration and I, comprising a data processing means for processing based on the candidate program of the processing target data To have.
[0009]
[Action]
In the data processing apparatus configured as described above, when receiving the data to be processed and an instruction applied to the data, the selection means includes a plurality of programs stored in the storage means among usable programs. Select based on the function to be provided and the format of the data that each program can process. At this time, when there are a plurality of selected candidate programs, the priority order assigning unit compares the functions of the plurality of candidate programs and assigns a priority order to each of them. As a result, a program that seems to be optimal for the processing target data can be identified from a plurality of programs. The data processing means processes the data to be processed according to the identified highest priority candidate program.
[0010]
【Example】
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a case where a plurality of programs having different functions is grouped as a theoretical system classified for each function, and one group manages, for example, three programs A, B, and C is taken as an example. explain. This group is realized in a form that itself is recognized as a single program on the execution environment. The data processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied to data processing when editing a file (not shown) including a plurality of data created by programs having different functions.
[0012]
To realize this function, specify the program storage unit 1 that stores three programs with different functions, and the function or combination of multiple functions that are required to receive an externally supplied instruction and execute the instruction. An instruction interpreting unit 2 for selecting a candidate, a candidate selecting unit 3 for selecting a usable program candidate from among the programs stored in the program storing unit 1, and an actual program selected from the programs selected as candidates Data is exchanged between the priority determining unit 4 for assigning priorities to each of the candidate programs in order to determine the program to be used and the selected program, and processing results are returned to the request destination A data processing unit 5 and a data processing unit 5 for converting data into an appropriate format as necessary when data is transferred And wherein the conversion unit 6 is provided.
[0013]
In addition, as information for selecting a candidate program, a function / program database as a storage means that includes a tag that links a function and a program that provides the function and holds arbitrary information that can be used as a reference for selecting the program 7 is provided. That is, the function / program database 7 manages detailed information regarding the program, the functions provided by the program, the data format that the program can process, and the data format of the processing result of the program. The candidate selecting unit 3 provides all necessary functions specified by the instruction interpreting unit 2 while referring to the management contents of the function / program database 7 and stores program candidates that can be used at the present time in the program storage unit 1. Select from the stored programs.
[0014]
In addition, the functions that were previously required and the programs used to realize them are stored, and used to obtain candidate programs with the simplest possible processing when selecting similar candidate programs in the future. Priority storage unit 8 for storing a priority table for the purpose of performing, and when a suitable candidate program is not found or it is impossible or difficult to specify a program to be used from among a plurality of candidate programs There is provided a user designation order table storage unit 9 for storing a user designation order table used in such a case. The priority order table stored in the priority order storage unit 8 can be updated when a candidate program is selected and executed.
[0015]
In addition, the user designation order table stored in the user designation order table storage unit 9 allows the user to specify the priority order of the program at an arbitrary time. The priority order determination unit 4 assigns a priority order to each of the candidate programs using at least one of the priority order table and the user designation order table. That is, from the search result of the function / program database 7, an instruction by the user is given to a candidate program having the same priority order while considering how much processing can be performed on the processing target data. Add.
[0016]
In the present embodiment, the format conversion unit 6 is provided inside the data processing unit 5, but the format conversion unit 6 is not necessarily realized within the group, and a general-purpose data formation conversion program 10 is provided. It is also possible to adopt a configuration realized by using.
[0017]
Next, a processing procedure in the data processing apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3, the processes in steps S1 and S2 are the instruction interpreter 2, the processes in steps S3 to S10 are the candidate selector 3, and the processes in steps S11 to S13 are the priority determination unit 4. The processes in steps S14 to S19 are executed by the data processing unit 5, respectively.
[0018]
When the command interpreter 2 receives a command and data from a user or an external program (step S1), the command interpreter 2 interprets the command to specify a function or a combination of a plurality of functions necessary for executing the command. (Step S2). Next, the candidate selection unit 3 searches the function / program database 7 for a function necessary for executing the instruction and a program realizing the function (step S3), and the function is the function / program database. 7 is determined (step S4).
[0019]
If at least one is registered, it is selected as a candidate program (step S5). If not registered, the user is inquired whether or not to register a new program (step S6). If a new program is registered by the user, the registered program is selected as a candidate program ( Step S7). If registration is rejected, the process cannot be continued and the process is interrupted due to an error (step S8). Subsequently, only usable programs are selected from the obtained candidate programs (step S9), and the number of candidate programs is confirmed at this point (step S10). Returning to S6, the user's instruction is requested.
[0020]
When one or more candidate programs are obtained, the priority order determination unit 4 compares the functions of these candidate programs and assigns priority to each of them (step S11). Then, it is determined whether or not a plurality of candidate programs can be specified as one (step S12). At this time, if there are a plurality of highest priority candidate programs and it is impossible or difficult to specify one, it is specified by a user instruction (step S12). When one candidate program is specified, the data processing unit 5 determines whether format conversion is necessary (step S14), and the data format requested by the selected program is different from the data format to be processed. In this case, data format conversion is performed (step S15).
[0021]
Then, the selected program is activated, and processing such as editing by the program is performed by giving the converted data and command (step S16). When the processing by the selected program is completed, it is determined whether or not format conversion is necessary for the processed data (step S17). If conversion is necessary, the data format is converted (step S18). Thereafter, the data is output to the request source (step S19). As is clear from the above description of operation, by grouping application programs by function, each group can behave like a single program.
[0022]
As described above, since two or more programs that provide similar functions are handled in a unified manner as a group, the programs can be handled in units of functions. Even if it cannot be used for some reason, it is possible to automatically execute the alternative program and proceed without any special operation. Therefore, this is effective when a new document is created by using a part of the document. In addition, since a new program can be used immediately by simply registering it with the group, the burden on the user for associating the data to be processed with the processing program is reduced.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, functions provided by a plurality of programs in a data processing apparatus that processes each data when editing a file including a plurality of data created by a plurality of programs having different functions. When the format of data that can be processed by each program is stored, a program for processing data to be processed is selected from a plurality of programs while referring to the stored contents, and there are a plurality of selected candidate programs When the functions of these multiple candidate programs are compared and given priority levels, and data processing is performed based on the highest priority candidate program, it can be substituted by a program having the same function , And that process can be done automatically, To, will be able to reduce the burden imposed on the user.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart (part 1) showing a procedure of data processing;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating a procedure of data processing;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Program storage part 2 Instruction interpretation part 3 Candidate selection part 4 Priority determination part 5 Data processing part 7 Function / program database 8 Priority table storage part 9 User designation | designated priority table storage part

Claims (1)

A data processing device that processes each of the plurality of data when editing a file including a plurality of data created by a plurality of programs having different functions,
Storage means for storing functions provided by the plurality of programs and data formats that can be processed by the programs;
Selection means for selecting a candidate program for processing data to be processed in the file from the plurality of programs based on the storage content of the storage means;
When there are a plurality of candidate programs selected by the selection means, priority giving means for comparing the functions of the plurality of candidate programs and giving a priority to each of them,
A data processing apparatus comprising: data processing means for processing data to be processed based on the highest priority candidate program assigned by the priority order assigning means .

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