JP3765299B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus in which a series of operations performed by a user is registered as a macro, and processing can be executed with few operations using the registered macro.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a document editing apparatus or the like has a function of storing a series of operations as a macro and assigning it to a predetermined key as necessary. By executing the macro, a series of stored operations can be automatically executed sequentially. In general, when macro information is stored, it is assumed that the macro information is only used inside the apparatus, and is often stored using an internal code or the like.
[0003]
In addition, as described in Patent Document 1, it is also conceivable to register a series of operations as macros and use the macros as subprograms when programming operations in machine tools and the like. .
[0004]
Furthermore, macros are also used in communication devices and the like. For example, in the example of personal computer communication described in Patent Document 2, macros are used to automate communication procedures.
[0005]
As described above, in Patent Document 2, the communication procedure is automated, but for example, a communication apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus has a function of registering the operation performed by the user on the apparatus as a macro. It is coming. In recent years, these communication devices have become highly functional, and operations by users have become complicated. Therefore, the macro registration function is useful in order to simplify complicated operations.
[0006]
Such a communication apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus is shared by a plurality of users. Therefore, even if a macro is registered, it may be difficult to know who registered the macro for what purpose. If you know at least who registered, you can ask the registered user about the contents of the macro, but currently the registrant is unknown. Also, for example, when trying to edit a macro, there is no means for confirming whether or not the macro to be edited has been created in the past, and the contents of the macro had to be referred to. In particular, when a macro is expressed by an internal code as described above, even if it is registered by itself without decoding the internal code, it may not be distinguished from others.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-113815 [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-103184
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. Even when the apparatus is shared, the registered macro registrant can be confirmed, and the use of the macro can be promoted. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus that can easily edit a file.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of registering and using a macro, and stores an operation means for a user to operate, a series of operations for the operation means as a macro, and at least a registrant name of the macro The macro stored in the storage unit, the storage unit storing the storage unit, the display unit, the processing unit that performs processing according to the operation from the operation unit, and the interface that communicates with an external device The registrant name is displayed on the display means at the time of editing, and as the macro editing process, the macro stored in the storage means is converted into a character string, and the character string is read from the interface. It can be sent to an external device. Alternatively, as the macro editing process, a character string corresponding to the macro can be received from an external device through the interface, and the character string can be converted into a macro and registered in the storage unit together with a registrant name. Is.
[0010]
As described above, since the registrant name is displayed when the macro is edited, if the content of the macro is unknown, the content of the macro can be known by asking the displayed registrant. Further, by referring to the registrant name displayed at the time of editing the macro, for example, after confirming that the macro has been registered in the past, the macro editing work can be started. Furthermore, when editing a macro, the macro stored in the storage means can be converted into a character string, and the character string can be edited. At this time, an interface for communicating with the external device is provided, and a character string obtained by converting the macro is sent from the interface to the external device, and editing work can be performed on the external device. Conversely, a character string corresponding to a macro edited by an external device can be received through the interface, and the character string can be converted into a macro and registered in the storage means together with the registrant name. Since the macro can be edited as a character string in this way, editing can be easily performed. Even during conversion to the character string as described above, the registrant name can be confirmed, so that useless conversion processing can be reduced and the apparatus can be used efficiently.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an operation unit, 2 is a display unit, 3 is a processing unit, 4 is a storage unit, 5 is a macro table, and 6 is an interface unit. The operation unit 1 is an interface for a user to give an operation instruction to the apparatus, and is provided with various keys, switches, variable dials, and the like. The user can perform settings and instructions for the apparatus by operating the operation unit 1. Also, a series of operations can be registered as a macro, and execution of the registered macro can be instructed.
[0012]
The display unit 2 is used for presenting various information to the user from the apparatus. Along with the information displayed on the display unit 2, the user can easily input from the operation unit 1. In addition, when a macro is changed or edited, the name of the registrant who registered the macro can be displayed.
[0013]
The processing unit 3 controls each unit in the apparatus and provides various functions provided by the apparatus. In particular, it provides a function for registering a series of operations as a macro, a function for executing a registered macro, a function for changing a registered macro, and the like. Further, in this example, a function of converting a registered macro into a character string (script) and outputting it from the interface unit 6 and a function of registering a macro input externally as a character string are also provided. It is controlled so that the registrant's name can be confirmed by registering the name of the registrant when registering a new macro or registering externally, and by displaying the registrant on the display unit 2 when the macro is changed. . The registered macro is associated with a predetermined key (or some key operations) of the operation unit 1, and the operation of the key performs a series of operations registered with the corresponding macro. Similar functions are executed sequentially.
[0014]
The storage unit 4 stores various information that needs to be stored in the apparatus. In particular, the registered macro is managed by the macro table 5 here. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the macro table. In this example, each macro is associated with a macro name, a registrant, a registration date and time, and registration contents. Here, each macro number and the key of the operation unit 1 are associated with each other, but may be associated with an arbitrary key. The registered contents may be stored separately and associated with a pointer or the like. In the present invention, since the registrant is stored for each macro as in this example, it is possible to confirm who registered the macro even when the apparatus is shared. Note that the macro table shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and other various types of information may be registered.
[0015]
The interface unit 6 is for exchanging information with an external device. The specific configuration is arbitrary, and various known interfaces can be applied. Through the interface unit 6, the registered macro can be scripted and transferred to an external device, or the scripted macro can be received and registered through the interface unit 6.
[0016]
Next, an example of an operation related to a macro in the embodiment of the information processing apparatus described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of macro registration processing. The operation shown in FIG. 3 is started when the user performs a predetermined macro registration operation from the operation unit 1. Here, one or a plurality of macro keys are provided in the operation unit 1, and a series of operations are registered as macros in each macro key. The same applies to each of the following operation examples.
[0017]
In S11, it is determined whether or not a macro key for registering a macro has been operated, and the operation of the macro key is awaited. When the macro key is operated, it is determined in S12 whether a series of operations has already been registered for the macro key. When a series of operations is not registered and newly registered, a series of operations is registered as it is.
[0018]
For macro registration, a sequence of key operations performed by the user before the macro end key is operated from the operation unit 1 is stored. That is, in S13, it is determined whether or not the operation unit 1 has been operated, and the process waits until the operation is performed. When the operation is performed, it is determined in S14 whether or not the operation is an operation of a macro end key. If it is not the operation of the macro end key, the performed operation is additionally registered in the macro in S15, and the process returns to S13. Each time an operation is performed in this manner, the operation is additionally registered in the macro. When the macro end key is operated, in S16, in response to the input of the macro name, the registrant name, etc., and the information such as the current date / time is added to the series of operations up to that time, the operation is performed in S11 It is registered in the macro table 5 in association with the macro key. When registration is completed, a message such as “registration completed” is displayed on the display unit 12 in S17. Alternatively, a list of macros registered from a recording unit (not shown) may be recorded and output. In this way, the macro registration operation is completed. Thereafter, an operation corresponding to the registered operation can be automatically executed by operating the corresponding macro key.
[0019]
If a series of operations has already been registered in the macro key operated in S11, the registered registrant name and registration date and time are displayed on the display unit 2 in S18 and updated for the user. Confirm. The user refers to the displayed registrant name. For example, if the user has registered in the past, the contents of the macro are known, and if the macro is registered by someone else, the displayed registrant. You can find out what the macro is by querying. After confirming the registrant name of the macro, the user can determine whether or not the macro can be changed.
[0020]
Upon receiving an instruction from the operation unit 1 by the user, in S19, it is determined whether or not the instruction is an instruction to change a registered macro. If an instruction to change the macro is given, the process proceeds to S13 to receive a series of operations and update the macro as described above. The registered contents so far are discarded.
[0021]
If the macro is not changed, the process ends. In this case, since the registered contents of the macro are maintained as they are, it can be used as a function for confirming the registrant name and registration date and time of the macro.
[0022]
Here, all the contents are changed when the macro is changed, but it is also possible to make the contents already registered editable by adding functions such as step feed, step insertion, and step deletion, for example. . If a macro key operation can be included in an operation to be registered, a new macro that partially uses another macro can be easily created.
[0023]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a macro writing process. As described above, in this example, the registered macro is scripted and output from the interface unit 6 to the outside. When the user performs a predetermined macro writing operation from the operation unit 1, the operation shown in FIG. 4 is started.
[0024]
In S21, it is determined whether or not a macro key in which a macro to be output externally is registered, and the macro key operation is awaited. When the macro key is operated, information such as a series of operations, a registrant, and a registration date / time associated with the macro key is read from the macro table 5 in S22. In step S23, information such as the macro name, registrant name, and registration date / time of the macro is displayed on the display unit 2. The user may determine whether or not the macro should be written from the displayed macro name, registrant name, registration date and time, and the like. If you have registered in the past, you know the content, and if it is registered by someone else, the name of the registrant will be displayed.
[0025]
The user instructs from the operation unit 1 whether or not to write the macro. In S24, the instruction is judged, and when the instruction not to write is received, the writing process is finished as it is. When an instruction to write is received, in the processes after S25, each code is sequentially converted into a character string for a series of registered operations. Here, the macro is assumed to be composed of normal key operations and conditional clauses (including control such as repetition).
[0026]
First, in S25, it is determined whether or not it is a key operation code. If it is a key operation code, it is converted into a character string corresponding to the key operation in S26. The character string at this time may differ depending on the previous key operation, or conversion to the character string may be suspended until the subsequent key operation. When the conversion of the key operation for one step into the character string is completed, it is determined in S29 whether or not a series of operations registered as a macro is completed, and if not completed, the process returns to S25.
[0027]
If it is determined in S25 that the code is not a key operation code, it is determined in S27 whether the code is a conditional clause code. If it is a conditional clause code, in S28, it is converted into a character string indicating the conditional clause and a character string indicating the condition. Furthermore, if it is a code for control indicating repetition, it is converted into a corresponding character string. When the conversion to the character string is completed, it is determined whether or not a series of operations registered as a macro has been completed in S29, and if not completed, the process returns to S25. If it is not a key operation or a conditional clause, the process proceeds to S29 as it is.
[0028]
In this way, each code registered as a macro is sequentially converted into a character string in S26 or S28. When all the codes are converted into character strings, the process proceeds from S29 to S30, and the character strings converted so far are transferred to the external device through the interface 6. In this way, the process of writing the character string corresponding to the registered macro ends.
[0029]
Here, an example of externally outputting a macro registered in one macro key has been shown. However, by executing the above-described S25 to S29 on a plurality of macros, character strings corresponding to the plurality of macros are externally output. It is also possible to do. In this case, it is desirable to be able to identify the character string corresponding to each macro.
[0030]
The macro output as a character string to the external device in this way can be edited in the external device using, for example, an editor. Then, the edited character string can be returned to the apparatus again and registered as a macro. In addition, a character string newly created in the external device can be input to the device and registered as a macro. Hereinafter, an example of processing at this time will be shown.
[0031]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a macro reading process. As described above, this example shows an example of a macro registration function that is input as a character string from the external device through the interface unit 6. When the user performs a predetermined macro reading operation from the operation unit 1, the operation shown in FIG.
[0032]
In S41, the character string sent from the external device is received. In S42, the received character string is analyzed in order. Here, the macro is assumed to be composed of normal key operations and conditional clauses (including control such as repetition).
[0033]
First, in S43, it is determined whether or not the character string indicates a key operation. If the character string indicates a key operation, the character string is converted into a code indicating a key operation and added to the macro in S44. To do. The code to be converted at this time may differ depending on the conversion result so far, or may be suspended until the subsequent analysis of the character string proceeds. When the process for a single character string is completed, it is determined in S47 whether or not the received character string is completed, and if not completed, the process returns to S42.
[0034]
If the analyzed character string does not indicate a key operation, the process proceeds to S45 to determine whether the character string indicates a conditional clause. If it is a character string indicating a conditional clause, it is converted into a code indicating a conditional clause and added to the macro in S46. At this time, the character string representing the condition is also converted into a code. Of course, the character string that performs control such as repetition is also converted into a corresponding code. When the process for a single character string is completed, it is determined in S47 whether or not the received character string is completed, and if not completed, the process returns to S42. If it is not a character string indicating a key operation or a conditional clause such as a comment sentence, for example, the process proceeds directly to S47.
[0035]
In this way, the character string received from the external device is sequentially converted into a code in S44 or S46. When the processing is completed for all received character strings, the process proceeds from S47 to S48, and input of necessary items such as a macro name and a registrant name is accepted from the operation unit 1 to which macro key is registered. At this time, if an attempt is made to perform registration in association with a macro key in which a macro has already been registered, the name of the registrant and the date and time of registration are displayed on the display unit 2 to prompt the user to confirm. Also in this case, by displaying the registrant name, it is possible to easily confirm the registered contents even when the apparatus is shared.
[0036]
In S49, the macro composed of the code converted in the processes up to S47 is registered in the macro table together with information such as the macro name, the registrant name, and the current date (registration date) input in S48. When the registration is completed, a message such as “registration changed” is displayed on the display unit 12 in S50. Alternatively, a list of macros registered from a recording unit (not shown) may be recorded and output. In this way, a macro can be registered by inputting a character string from an external device.
[0037]
By using the above-described macro writing process and reading process, macro editing can be performed using a familiar editor or word processor on the external device. For example, it is possible to generate a macro by operating from the operation unit 1 to some extent, and edit a control part such as a conditional clause and repetition on an external device to complete the macro. It can be done easily. In addition, a macro can be newly created on an external device, and the productivity of the macro can be improved.
[0038]
Here, an example is shown in which a character string is input from an external device for each macro. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the above-described processing may be automatically repeated so that a plurality of macros can be registered in a lump. Further, for example, it is possible to omit the input in S48 by including a description about a macro name, a registrant name, etc. in a character string input from an external device.
[0039]
Further, a function may be provided that uses the macro reading process as described above and that can immediately execute the macro read from the external device. By using this function and instructing temporary macro registration and execution, it is possible to control the apparatus from an external apparatus.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, a series of operations can be registered as a macro, and the registrant name can be registered together with the macro, so that the registrant name can be confirmed. It was. This makes it possible to work while confirming who has registered even when the device is shared. For example, it is possible to confirm whether or not the device has been registered by yourself so as not to delete another person's macro by mistake. Can be. Further, there is an effect that it is possible to ask the registrant if the content is unknown.
[0041]
Also, it provides a function to output the registered macro as a character string to the external device and register the character string received from the external device as a macro, so that the macro can be easily edited and created in the external device. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a macro table.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of macro registration processing;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a macro writing process.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a macro reading process.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Operation part, 2 ... Display part, 3 ... Processing part, 4 ... Memory | storage part, 5 ... Macro table, 6 ... Interface part.

Claims (2)

  An operation means for a user to operate, a storage means for storing a series of operations on the operation means as a macro, and storing at least the registrant name of the macro in association with each other, a display means, and an operation from the operation means A processing unit that performs processing according to the interface and an interface that communicates with an external device, and displays the registrant name on the display unit when editing the macro stored in the storage unit, An information processing apparatus characterized in that, as the macro editing process, the macro stored in the storage means can be converted into a character string, and the character string can be transmitted from the interface to an external device.   An operation means for a user to operate, a storage means for storing a series of operations on the operation means as a macro, and storing at least the registrant name of the macro in association with each other, a display means, and an operation from the operation means A processing unit that performs processing according to the interface and an interface that communicates with an external device, and displays the registrant name on the display unit when editing the macro stored in the storage unit, As the macro editing process, it is possible to receive a character string corresponding to a macro from an external device through the interface, convert the character string into a macro, and register it in the storage unit together with a registrant name. Processing equipment.

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