JP4322780B2 - Screen creation device, screen creation program and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention records a screen creation device that can reduce the trouble of editing an object included in a screen to be created, a screen creation program that implements the screen creation device in software, and such a screen creation program. The present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium.

  The programmable display has an interface with the host controller (PLC), displays the operating status of the device connected to the host controller, and accepts an operation input for giving a control instruction to the device from the screen. This is an operation-type display with a function. In general, since the programmable display has a graphic display function, it can display an operation panel, a switch, an indicator lamp, and the like, and serves as an operation terminal in the control system.

  The screen displayed on such a programmable display can be created independently by the user using screen creation software (drawing software) according to the specifications of the control system. When creating a screen, the user configures a desired screen using components, drawing functions, and the like provided by the drawing software in a personal computer or the like.

  The above parts are images representing switches, numeric keys, meter displays, graph displays, etc., and are prepared in advance in drawing software in a library format so that they can be combined and handled as actual parts. In addition, the above-described component is used in combination with an image representing the component and setting data for expressing the dynamic change of the image at a designated position on the screen. The setting data is stored in the memory of the programmable display as part of the screen data.

  The created screen is transferred to the programmable display device as screen data and stored. When the host controller is in operation, output components such as a meter display on the screen displayed on the display unit of the programmable display dynamically change according to the state of the device connected to the host controller. Further, an input operation on the screen to an input component such as a switch is given to the device as a control instruction.

  The user who uses the drawing software can specify the value that defines the appearance of the object included in the screen to be created and the function that specifies the function set for the object with a numerical value, or select the target from the menu. And so on. In this way, the user creates a screen for executing a display control operation suitable for a desired target system. Based on the screen created by the user, the drawing software generates screen data for displaying the created screen on the programmable display.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a drawing area management unit that displays a drawing area in which an object can be graphically edited on a display screen, and attribute values of an editing target object selected as an editing target among the objects arranged in the drawing area. Attribute value editing area management means for always displaying the attribute value editing area to be displayed in a list so as to be editable on the display screen; and editing control means for reflecting the result of editing in the attribute value editing area to the drawing area at a predetermined timing; There is disclosed a drawing device characterized by comprising:

According to Patent Document 1, all the attribute values are displayed in an editable state in the editable object selection operation, and the attribute value can be edited immediately after the object is selected. The attribute value of the object can be easily changed without disturbing the user's thought.
JP 2001-266171 A (publication date: September 28, 2001)

  However, the above-described conventional apparatus has a problem that it takes much time to edit the attribute of the object.

  That is, when a user who creates a screen using the drawing device of Patent Document 1 edits an attribute value of an object, the user selects the object as an editing target, and displays a list of object attributes in the attribute value editing area. There is a need to. Therefore, the user cannot know what attributes the unselected object has by simply viewing the object. Therefore, when examining the attribute of a certain object, it becomes necessary to select the object, which is troublesome.

  Further, it is necessary to find a portion displaying an attribute value to be set from the attribute value editing area to be displayed in a list, and it takes a lot of time and effort to set a desired attribute value. In particular, when the number of attributes set in the object increases, such a trouble becomes very large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize a screen creation device that can reduce the trouble of editing an object included in a screen to be created, and to realize the screen creation device in software. An object of the present invention is to provide a screen creation program and a computer-readable recording medium in which such a screen creation program is recorded.

  In order to solve the above problems, the screen creation device according to the present invention creates a screen including a graphically editable display element. Symbol display means for display in association with the display element, symbol input means for receiving input of the symbol by the user, and attribute value setting for setting the value of the attribute represented by the symbol received by the symbol input means Attribute value setting screen display means for displaying a screen is provided.

  According to said structure, the symbol which shows the attribute of the said display element linked | related with the display element contained in a screen is displayed by the symbol display means. At this time, the symbol is displayed, for example, in the vicinity of the display element or displayed superimposed on the display element by the symbol input means.

  By this symbol display, the present apparatus can inform the user of what attribute the display element has. That is, in this apparatus, unlike the conventional apparatus, when the user wants to know the attribute of the display element, an operation such as double-clicking the display element to open the attribute explanation screen is not required.

  Here, in this apparatus, when the user selects a symbol by double-clicking or the like, the input of the symbol by the user is accepted by the symbol input means. As a result, an attribute value setting screen for setting an attribute value represented by the symbol is displayed by the attribute value setting screen display means. Through this attribute value setting screen, the user can set the attribute of the display element represented by the selected symbol to an appropriate value.

  That is, unlike the case of using a conventional apparatus, a user who creates a screen using this apparatus does not need to search for an attribute item to be set again from the attribute value setting screen. As described above, this apparatus has an effect of reducing the labor for setting the attribute value of the display element as compared with the conventional apparatus.

  In the screen creation device (this device) according to the present invention, it is preferable that the attribute further defines an appearance of the display element.

  According to said structure, the symbol which shows the attribute which is linked | related with a display element and prescribes | regulates the external appearance of the said display element is displayed by the symbol display means. Therefore, in this apparatus, it is possible to inform the user what attributes are present regarding the appearance of the display element. For this reason, for example, the user can know an attribute that is difficult to understand simply by visually recognizing the display element (for example, the rotation angle of the display element) by simply recognizing the symbol.

  Further, through the attribute value setting screen displayed by selecting a symbol, attributes that define the appearance of the display element, such as the color and rotation angle of the display element, can be set to appropriate values.

  That is, unlike the case of using the conventional apparatus, the user using this apparatus does not need to search for an attribute item that defines the appearance to be set from the attribute value setting screen. As described above, the present apparatus has an effect that the labor required for changing the appearance of the display element can be reduced as compared with the conventional apparatus.

  In the screen creation apparatus (this apparatus) according to the present invention, it is preferable that the attribute further defines a function set in the display element.

  According to said structure, the symbol which shows the attribute which is related with the display element and which prescribes | regulates the function set to the said display element is displayed by the symbol display means. Therefore, in the present apparatus, it is possible to inform the user what function is set in the display element. For this reason, it is not necessary for the user to select a display element by, for example, double-clicking, and to open a screen for explaining a function set in the display element. That is, the user can know what function is set for the display element only by visually recognizing the set symbol associated with the display element.

  Further, through the attribute value setting screen displayed by selecting a symbol, an attribute that defines the function of the display element, for example, the address of a device associated with the display element can be set to an appropriate value. That is, unlike the conventional apparatus, the user does not need to search for an attribute item that defines the function to be set from the attribute value setting screen.

  As described above, the present apparatus has an effect of reducing the labor for changing the function of the display element as compared with the conventional apparatus.

  In the screen creation device (this device) according to the present invention, it is preferable that the symbol display means displays the symbol representing the attribute whose value is settable.

  According to the above configuration, in the present apparatus, the symbol representing the attribute associated with the display element and having a value settable in the display element is displayed by the symbol display means. Thereby, the user can grasp | ascertain the attribute which can set a value now only by visually recognizing a symbol. That is, since the user is not informed about the attribute whose value cannot be set, when editing the display element, the user can concentrate on editing the attribute whose value is set to be editable.

  In the present apparatus, the attribute value can be reliably set on the attribute value setting screen displayed by the attribute value setting screen display means. Accordingly, there is no inconvenience that the attribute value cannot be set even though the attribute value setting screen is displayed, and the attribute value cannot be set.

  As described above, this apparatus has an effect of suppressing unnecessary operations when setting attribute values of display elements.

  In the screen creation device (this device) according to the present invention, the symbol is preferably an icon image representing the attribute.

  According to said structure, in this apparatus, the icon image showing the said attribute can be displayed by a symbol display means as a symbol. The icon image here means a figure, a picture or the like indicating what kind of attribute it is. Such an icon image can be displayed in a smaller space compared to the case where text describing the attribute is displayed.

  Thereby, in this apparatus, compared with the case where text can be displayed in association with the display element, there is an effect that the occupied space on the screen when the symbol is displayed can be further reduced.

  In order to solve the above problems, a screen creation device according to the present invention is a screen creation device that creates a plurality of screens including display elements that can be edited graphically. Symbol display means for displaying a symbol representing the screen switching function in association with the display element for which the screen switching function for displaying one as a switching screen is set, and symbol input means for accepting input to the symbol by the user And a creation screen changing means for changing a screen created by the apparatus to the switching screen when an input to the symbol by the user is received by the symbol input means.

  According to said structure, in this apparatus, the said screen switching function linked | related with the display element to which the screen switching function which displays any one as a switching screen among the several screens made as a switching screen is set. Is displayed by symbol display means. At this time, the symbol is displayed, for example, in the vicinity of the display element or displayed superimposed on the display element by the symbol input means.

  Here, when a user input to the symbol is accepted by the symbol input means, the screen created by the apparatus is changed to a switching screen displayed by the function of the display element by the creation screen changing means. At this time, in the present apparatus, the switching screen is created.

  Therefore, the user does not need to search for and specify other screens (switching screens) displayed by the function of a certain display element from, for example, specifications describing the screens to be created. Further, it is not necessary to find and select a switching screen from a menu screen or the like showing a list of screens that can be created in the present apparatus.

  As described above, the present apparatus has an effect of reducing labor when creating a plurality of screens.

  Note that the screen creation apparatus described above may be realized by a computer. In this case, a screen creation program for causing the computer to operate the screen creation device by operating the computer as each of the above means and a computer-readable recording medium recording the screen creation program also fall within the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, in the screen creation device according to the present invention, the symbol display means displays the attribute value setting screen for setting the attribute value represented by the symbol displayed in association with the object. There is an effect that the labor for setting the attribute value can be further reduced.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control system 1 according to this embodiment includes a host computer 2, a programmable display 3, a PLC 4, a common network 5, a dedicated network 6, and a device 7.

  The host computer 2 and the programmable display 3 are connected to each other via a common network 5. On the other hand, the programmable display 3 and the PLC 4 are connected via a dedicated network 6. The common network 5 is a network such as a local area network (LAN) made of Ethernet (registered trademark) or the like capable of performing communication using a common communication protocol (common communication protocol). The dedicated network 6 is a network composed of a serial cable or the like that can perform communication using a communication protocol (dedicated communication protocol) unique to the PLC 4. The dedicated communication protocol is often different for each PLC4 model, such as for each manufacturing company or for each product even if it is the same company, because the PLC4 has been developed from a sequencer.

  The control system 1 according to the present embodiment connects the programmable display 3 and the host computer 2 respectively connected to each PLC 4 through a common network 5 and uses a dedicated communication protocol as a common communication protocol used in the common network 5. Adopts a common protocol defined independently. Furthermore, as will be described later, the programmable display 3 also has a function of converting a protocol, for example, by performing protocol conversion such as instruction code conversion, argument conversion, or control code conversion during transmission, The communication between the host computer 2 and the PLC 4 connected to the own device is relayed.

  In such a configuration, the programmable display device 3 operates as an HMI, and therefore has more computing power than the PLC 4, and therefore handles most of the communication. For example, it is possible to communicate directly from the host computer 2 to the programmable display 3 without going through the PLC 4 like downloading screen data. Therefore, the burden on the PLC 4 can be reduced, and the calculation capability required for the entire control system 1 can be reduced. Note that the programmable display 3 has a sufficient computing capacity while waiting for an operator's operation, so that protocol conversion can be performed without improving the computing capacity for protocol conversion.

  The PLC 4 captures output data output from the input device 7 via the input unit according to a control program (ladder program) created by the user, and gives the control data to the output device 7. As the input device 7, devices such as sensors (temperature sensors, optical sensors, etc.) and switches (push button switches, limit switches, pressure switches, etc.) are used. As the output device 7, an actuator, a relay, a solenoid valve, a display, or the like is used. These devices 7 are arranged in required portions of various target systems such as a production line. Further, the device 7 may be a specific area in the memory unit 32 described later for storing data manually input from an input device such as a touch panel 33 described later.

  The memory (device memory) in the PLC 4 stores data (word data and bit data) such as the state of the device 7 and the setting value of the device 7 in an area designated by the device address. In the memory, a word device is set as an area for storing word data such as numerical values as input / output data, and is designated by a word address (device address). The bit device is set as an area for storing bit data such as an on / off state, and is set by a bit address (device address). With such a setting, it is possible to control the devices 7 simply by accessing an arbitrary word device or bit device in the PLC 4, or to individually retrieve information relating to the state thereof.

  In the following description, the device address is appropriately referred to as an address.

  The programmable display 3 includes an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU, and realizes an operation function and a display function specific to the programmable display by executing a program (screen data) for input operation and display created by the user. It is a computer. The programmable display 3 suitably used as the HMI of the control system 1 is based on screen data determined by combining processing instructions (tags) to be described later, the operation when displaying the state of the device 7 on the screen, The operation for controlling the state of the device 7 in accordance with the operation on the screen is specified. This programmable display 3 acquires the state of each device 7 that displays the state on the display screen via the PLC 4 connected to the self-device through communication with the PLC 4 via the dedicated network 6. 34 has a function of displaying the status of each device 7. The programmable display 3 has a function of instructing the device 7 to control the state of the device in response to an operation on the touch panel 33 described later.

  The acquisition / change of the state of the device 7 may be instructed each time, or a cache is prepared in the programmable display 3, and the cache is accessed at the time of acquisition / change, and at predetermined time intervals or at predetermined intervals. Communication may be performed for each event to synchronize with the actual device address.

  The programmable display 3 includes an HMI processing unit 31, a memory unit 32, a touch panel 33, a display 34, and interface units (I / F in the figure) 35 and 36 in order to realize the above functions. Hereinafter, each main part of the programmable display 3 will be described in detail.

  The touch panel 33 is an input device provided for performing input on the display screen of the display 34. The display 34 is preferably a flat display such as a liquid crystal display or an EL display in order to make the programmable display device 3 thin.

  The interface unit 35 is a communication control unit for the programmable display 3 to communicate with the host computer 2 and the like on the common network 5, and is connected to the common network 5. Data is transmitted to and from the host computer 2 through communication via the common network 5. On the other hand, the interface unit 36 is a communication control unit for the programmable display 3 to communicate with the PLC 4, and is connected to the dedicated network 6. Data is transmitted to and from the PLC 4 by communication via the dedicated network 6.

  In the communication system configured as described above, output data from the PLC 4 is transmitted to the programmable display 3 and further connected to the host computer 2 or the common network 5 via the programmable display 3 ( (Not shown). Further, not only the data set in the programmable display 3 is directly transmitted to the PLC 4, but also the setting data transmitted from the host computer 2 or other devices is connected to the PLC 4 as the communication destination. Is transferred to the PLC 4 via.

  The HMI processing unit 31 performs various data processing in order to perform user screen display control and protocol conversion processing, which will be described later.

  The protocol conversion process is a process of converting from one communication protocol to the other communication protocol with reference to later-described protocol conversion data stored in the FEPROM 32b when the communication protocols in the networks 5 and 6 are different from each other. The protocol conversion process is realized by executing a protocol conversion program stored in the memory unit 32 by an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU. The display control process (display control function) will be described in detail later.

  The memory unit 32 includes memories such as a DRAM 32a, a FEPROM (Flash Erasable and Programmable ROM) 32b, and an SRAM 32c.

  The DRAM 32a is mainly used for work during arithmetic processing such as display control, and is also used for temporary storage of data exchanged with the PLC 4. In particular, the DRAM 32a has a state memory area for transferring the state (device address contents) of the device 7 stored in the input / output memory of the PLC 4 to / from the input / output memory.

  The SRAM 32 c is used for logging data obtained from the PLC 4 and storing setting value data (recipe data) to be given to the PLC 4.

  The FEPROM 32b is a rewritable read-only flash memory, and serves as a hard disk drive in a general personal computer. A flash memory does not have a movable part and is resistant to impacts, and thus operates stably even in a poor ambient environment.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the FEPROM 32b has areas for storing a display control system program, protocol conversion data, a communication protocol, and screen data.

  The display control system program is a program for realizing a basic function for performing image display control. Functions realized by the display control system program in the HMI processing unit 31 will be described in detail later.

  The protocol conversion data may be in any format as long as the communication protocol can be mutually converted between the dedicated network 6 and the common network 5, but in the present embodiment, data indicating the format of data transmitted on the dedicated network 6 A transfer format and a command conversion table indicating the correspondence between command codes transmitted in both networks 5 and 6 are stored.

  The communication protocol (dedicated communication protocol) is a protocol used in communication processing with the PLC 4, and is uniquely determined according to the model (manufacturer) of the PLC 4. This communication protocol includes a command code that instructs reading of data to the PLC 4. By combining this command code with an address associated with the control function of the PLC 4, data about a desired control function can be transmitted to the PLC 4.

  The screen data is data of a screen displayed on the programmable display 3, and includes a base screen to be displayed on the display 34, data of parts, a processing instruction word W described later assigned to each part, and the like. The screen data is created by the drawing editor 10 described later and downloaded to the FEPROM 32b. This screen data is stored in the FEPROM 32b as a screen file in a file format. This screen file is composed of a graphic data part and an address data part. The graphic data portion includes graphic data such as a circle and a rectangle, part data, a character string, a processing instruction word W, and the like. The address data part includes comments corresponding to the addresses and addresses set in the drawing editor 10 for data associated with addresses such as part data and processing instruction word W in the graphic data part.

  The comment includes an event name such as an operation state of the device, a code corresponding to the device 7 such as SW corresponding to the switch and a lamp, and an operation instruction. Comments can also be handled as variables. The comment defined as described above is associated with a desired input / output terminal number (device address described later) corresponding to the device 7 in advance.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the processing instruction word (tag) W included in the screen data is created for each event to be executed on the base screen. The processing instruction word W basically includes the file number F of the base screen on which the display control operation is to be executed, the event name T for specifying the operation content to be executed on the base screen, and the execution event for each execution event. A set of reference information I including one or a plurality of data to be referred to is provided.

  In the programmable display device 4 according to the present embodiment, as the above-described tag, a display tag indicating a correspondence between an area (display range) on the base screen and a device address of a device corresponding to display in the area, and on the screen An input tag indicating the correspondence between an area (input range) and an address corresponding to a touch input to the area is defined. Furthermore, in this embodiment, each tag can be associated with at least one of a plurality of unit screens.

  The display tag can display a predetermined graphic at a corresponding position on the base screen in conjunction with the operation of the touch panel 33. That is, the display tag includes the file number of the base screen 27 as the file number F, includes the event name that specifies the display of the display target such as a graphic as the event name, and specifies the display coordinate range of the display target and the display target to be called. It contains the file number and the address for referencing the display target when displaying.

  Also, the input tag enables the bit device set at a predetermined address position in the state memory area provided in the DRAM 32a to be reversed in conjunction with, for example, a touch operation on the touch panel 33. That is, the input tag includes the file number of the unit screen as the file number F, the event name specifying the operation of the touch panel 33 as the event name T, and the input coordinates that validate the input operation from the touch panel 33 as the reference information I The range and the address to which data should be rewritten in conjunction with the touch operation on the touch panel 33 are included.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the screen file is composed of one or a plurality of unit screen files UF1, UF2,... UFn (hereinafter simply referred to as “UF” when commonly described for all unit screens), and each unit screen. It is constituted by a project file PF composed of related graphic files FF1, FF2,... FFm to be called from the UF and displayed. In the project file PF, for example, each unit screen file UF is hierarchically called such that the unit screen file UF2 is called from the unit screen file UF1 serving as the main screen, and the unit screen file UF3 is further called from the unit screen file UF2. Associated. In addition, the unit screen file UF is configured as one unit screen file UF by collecting data in each element configured on the base screen into one.

  The display control function of the HMI processing unit 31 is configured to display screen data, set various data on the user screen, transmit the set data to the PLC 4, and display the data received from the PLC 4 on the user screen. This display control system program is realized by causing an arithmetic processing means such as a CPU included in the programmable display 3 to execute the display control system program. This display control function extracts the display tag related to the unit screen currently being displayed from the screen data, and reads the contents of the device address related to each display tag at a predetermined cycle for the display tag. The part of the expression format specified by the tag is displayed in the specified area on the screen in a form corresponding to the read value. On the other hand, when the display control function receives an input operation on the touch panel 33, the display control function searches the screen data for an input tag corresponding to the currently displayed unit screen and matches the input operation, and indicates the device address indicated by the input tag. (Data stored in the memory area specified by the device address) is rewritten according to the input result. Thereby, the programmable display 3 displays the state of the device 7 indicated by the screen data at a display position (parts, etc.) indicated by the screen data in an expression format indicated by the screen data, or allows an input operation by a part in the screen data. Can be controlled accordingly.

  The display control system program may create various instances for performing the above-described display processing and input processing based on the display tag and the input tag included in the screen data.

  Next, the host computer 2 will be described. The host computer 2 has a CPU, a memory (RAM, ROM, etc.), an external storage device (hard disk drive, MO drive, etc.), a display device and an input device (keyboard, mouse, etc.) like a general-purpose personal computer. ing. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the host computer 2 includes a drawing editor 10, a control unit 21, an interface unit (I / F in the figure) 22, and a data storage unit 24.

  The drawing editor 10 will be described later.

  The interface unit 22 is a communication control unit for performing communication with the programmable display 3 and is connected to the common network 5.

  The control unit 21 is a part that performs arithmetic processing including a CPU and a memory, and executes the drawing editor 10 that is an application program on the operating system. The host computer 2 functions as a screen creation device by causing the control unit 21 to execute the drawing editor 10. The drawing editor 10 is recorded on a recording medium configured to be separable from the host computer 2 and can be installed in the host computer 2 from this storage medium.

  The recording medium is a computer-readable recording medium, such as a tape system such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape, a magnetic disk system such as a flexible disk or a hard disk, an optical disk system such as a CD-ROM, MO, MD, or DVD, A card system such as an IC card (including a memory card) or an optical card is suitable. In addition, the program medium may be a medium that carries a fixed program including a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash ROM, or the like.

  Further, since the control system 1 has a system configuration that can be connected to a communication network including the Internet, the control system 1 may be a medium that dynamically carries the program so as to download the program from the communication network. However, when the program is downloaded from the communication network in this way, the download program may be stored in the host computer 2 in advance or may be installed from another recording medium.

  Next, the drawing editor 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a drawing editor 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to this figure, the drawing editor 10 (screen creation device) includes an object display unit 11, a symbol display unit 12 (symbol display unit), an attribute value setting screen display unit 13 (attribute value setting screen display unit), and a symbol input unit 14. (Symbol display means), an attribute value setting section 15, and a creation screen changing section 16 (creation screen changing means).

  The drawing editor 10 is a device that creates screen data used by the above-described programmable display device for screen display and device control.

  The object display unit 11 displays a graphic (object, display element) represented by each graphic file on a display (not shown) of the drawing editor 10 based on the graphic file included in the project file PF. The symbol display unit 12 displays a symbol indicating the attribute of the object in association with the object. At this time, the symbol display unit 12 displays the symbol so as to overlap with the object or in the vicinity of the object. Details of this will be described later. The attribute value setting screen display unit 13 displays on the display an attribute value setting screen for setting an attribute value represented by the symbol received by the symbol input unit 14.

  The symbol input unit 14 receives input of symbols by the user. For example, when the user clicks on a symbol or double-clicks to select a symbol, the symbol input unit 14 receives such a symbol input by the user. The attribute value setting unit 15 sets an attribute value input by the user on the attribute value setting screen. Specifically, the attribute value input or selected by the user on the attribute value setting screen is stored in the project file PF as attribute value data. When the input to the symbol by the symbol input unit 14 is accepted, the creation screen change unit 16 changes the screen created by the apparatus to a switching screen. Details of this will be described later.

  Details of the drawing process by the drawing editor 10 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen edited by the user in the drawing editor 10 of the display control system 1. A main editing screen 101 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on a display (not shown) of the drawing editor 10. On the main editing screen 101, an editing screen 102 is displayed for editing. The edit screen 102 includes a plurality of objects OBJ. Here, in the editing screen 102 shown in FIG. 6, the objects OBJ1 to OBJ3 are displayed by the object display unit 11.

  A user who edits the editing screen 102 using the drawing editor 10 changes the appearance of the object OBJ or changes the function set in the object OBJ by appropriately setting the attribute of each object OBJ. In this way, the user edits each object OBJ and finally completes a screen to be displayed on the programmable display 3.

  At this time, the drawing editor 10 creates the unit screen file described above as data used to display the screen created by the user. Further, the graphic file described above is created as data representing the object OBJ (graphic) created and edited by the user. Furthermore, various tags are created based on the attribute value of the object OBJ and stored in a graphic file.

  In the editing screen 102 shown in FIG. 6, the symbol display unit 12 displays a symbol representing the attribute of the object OBJ in the vicinity of each object OBJ. Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the symbol SL1 is displayed near the object OBJ1, the symbol SL2 is displayed near the object OBJ2, and the symbol SL3 is displayed near the object OBJ3.

  Each of these symbols schematically indicates the attribute of the object OBJ. Therefore, the relationship between the object OBJ and the symbol displayed on the editing screen 102 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing that a symbol representing an object attribute associated with an object included in the editing screen is displayed. In the vicinity of the object OBJ shown in this figure, icon images IC1 to IC4 are displayed by the symbol input unit 14 as symbols. Each of these symbols schematically represents the attribute of the object OBJ and the function set in the object OBJ.

  For example, the icon image IC1 is an icon image representing the rotation attribute of the object OBJ. By visually recognizing that this icon image IC1 is displayed in the vicinity of the object OBJ, it can be seen that the user can rotate and display the object OBJ on the screen.

  The icon image IC2 is an icon image representing the font attribute of the object OBJ. By visually recognizing that this icon image IC2 is displayed in the vicinity of the object OBJ, it can be seen that the user can appropriately change the appearance of the text displayed on the object OBJ.

  The icon image IC3 is an icon image representing a variable indicating the address of a device assigned to the object OBJ. By visually recognizing that this icon image IC2 is displayed in the vicinity of the object OBJ, the user can know that some device is currently assigned to the object OBJ.

  The icon image IC4 is an icon image indicating that a text input function is set for the object OBJ. By visually recognizing that this icon image IC4 is displayed in the vicinity of the object OBJ, the user can know that the text input function is currently set for the object OBJ.

  As described above, when the symbol is displayed by the symbol input unit 14, the drawing editor 10 can first notify the user of what attribute the object OBJ has. That is, in the drawing editor 10, unlike the conventional apparatus, when the user wants to know the attribute of the object OBJ, the user does not need to perform an operation such as double-clicking the object OBJ to open the attribute explanation screen.

  In the drawing editor 10, these icon images do not simply represent the appearance or function of the object OBJ. That is, the user displays an attribute value setting screen for setting the attribute value represented by each icon image on the editing screen 102 by appropriately selecting (clicking, double-clicking, etc.) these icon images. Can do. Thereby, the user can appropriately change the attribute value of the object OBJ on the attribute value setting screen. Therefore, this example will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an attribute value setting screen displayed by the attribute value setting screen display unit 13 when a symbol input by the user is accepted by the symbol input unit 14. When the user selects the icon image IC1 displayed in the vicinity of the object OBJ shown in FIG. 7, an attribute value setting screen 103 as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. In other words, when the symbol input unit 14 receives an input to the icon image IC1 by the user, the attribute value setting screen 103 for setting the value of the attribute of the object OBJ (the rotation attribute of the object OBJ) represented by the icon image IC1 is: It is displayed on the edit screen 102 by the attribute value setting screen display unit 13.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the user inputs 90 in the text box on the attribute value setting screen 103 using the keyboard. The attribute value setting unit 15 receives this input value, outputs it to the object display unit 11, and reflects it in the project file PF. The object display unit 11 displays the object OBJ rotated by 90 degrees based on the set rotation attribute value (not particularly shown).

  Thus, in the drawing editor 10, the user can call the attribute value setting screen 103 for setting the rotation attribute of the object OBJ by selecting the icon image IC1 representing the rotation attribute. Therefore, unlike the conventional apparatus, it is not necessary to search again for the attribute item to be set from the attribute value setting screen showing the list of attributes. As a result, the user can more quickly access the attribute value setting screen 103 for setting an attribute to be set.

  That is, the drawing editor 10 can reduce the trouble of setting the attribute value of the object OBJ as compared with the conventional apparatus. This is the same when the user selects the icon image IC2 to the icon image IC4.

  For example, when an input to the icon image IC2 by the user is received by the symbol input unit 14, the attribute value setting screen display unit 13 edits the attribute value setting screen for setting the font of the text displayed on the object OBJ. It is displayed on the screen 102. As a result, the user selects a font to be changed on the displayed attribute value setting screen. Thereby, the font of the text displayed in the object OBJ is set by the attribute value setting unit 15.

  When an input to the icon image IC3 by the user is received by the symbol input unit 14, the attribute value setting screen display unit 13 displays an attribute value setting screen for selecting a variable to be assigned to the object OBJ on the editing screen 102. indicate. As a result, the user selects a variable to be assigned to the object OBJ on the displayed attribute value setting screen. Thereby, the selected variable is set by the attribute value setting unit 15.

  Furthermore, in the drawing editor 10, the user can set not only the attribute that defines the appearance of the object OBJ but also the attribute that defines the function set in the object OBJ through the icon image (symbol). As described above, the icon image IC4 shown in FIG. 7 is a symbol representing one function of the object OBJ. More specifically, the icon image IC4 shown in FIG. 7 represents that the object OBJ has a function of receiving text input.

  When an input by the user to the icon image IC4 is received by the symbol input unit 14, the attribute value setting screen display unit 13 edits the attribute value setting screen 104 for setting an attribute value related to the text input function of the object OBJ. It is displayed on the screen 102. This attribute value setting screen 104 is shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an attribute value setting screen displayed by the attribute value setting screen display unit 13 when a symbol input by the user is accepted by the symbol input unit 14.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the attribute value setting screen 104 has columns for setting attribute values related to the text input function set in the object OBJ, such as data animation, keypad input / keyboard input, and interlock. Is provided. Therefore, the user sets the details of the text input function in the object OBJ by inputting these attribute values on the attribute value setting screen 104. These attribute values are also received by the attribute value setting unit 15 and stored in the project file PF.

  As described above, in the drawing editor 10, the icon image IC4 indicating the attribute defining the function (text input function) set in the object OBJ is displayed by the symbol display unit 12 in the vicinity of the object OBJ. Therefore, the drawing editor 10 can first inform the user what functions are set in the object OBJ.

  For this reason, the user does not need to open the screen for explaining the function set in the object OBJ by selecting the object OBJ by double-clicking. That is, the user can know that the text input function is set for the object OBJ only by visually recognizing the icon image IC4 set in the vicinity of the object OBJ.

  Further, the user can set an attribute defining the function (text input function) of the object OBJ to an appropriate value through the attribute value setting screen 104 displayed by selecting the icon image IC4. That is, unlike the conventional apparatus, the user does not need to search for the attribute item that defines the text input function to be set from the attribute value setting screen 104.

  As described above, the drawing editor 10 can reduce the trouble of changing the function of the object OBJ as compared with the conventional apparatus.

  Another example of the object OBJ and symbols displayed on the screen will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating that a symbol representing an object attribute associated with an object included in the screen is displayed.

  In the vicinity of the object OBJ shown in this figure, icon images IC1 to IC3 and icon image IC5 are displayed by the symbol input unit 14 as symbols. Each of these symbols schematically represents the attribute of the object OBJ and the function set in the object OBJ.

  A screen switching function is set in the object OBJ shown in FIG. Here, the screen switching function is to display any one of a plurality of screens displayed on the programmable display 3 as a switching screen. That is, when the operator selects the object OBJ shown in FIG. 10 on the programmable display 3, the displayed screen is switched to the switching screen described above.

  Here, the icon image IC5 is a symbol representing the screen switching function. By displaying the icon image IC5 in the vicinity of the object OBJ, the user knows that the above-described screen switching function is set for the object OBJ. Further, the number 2 is displayed in the icon image IC5 as shown in FIG. This number is the number of the switching screen that is switched when the object OBJ is selected.

  Here, when the user selects the icon image IC 5 in the drawing editor 10, a screen for creating the switching screen described above is displayed on the display instead of the editing screen 102. In other words, when the input of the icon image IC5 by the user is received by the symbol input unit 14, the creation screen changing unit 16 changes the screen created by the drawing editor 10 from the editing screen 102 to the editing screen having the number 2. And change. In this example, the creation screen changing unit 16 displays an editing screen 105 shown in FIG. 11 as a screen for editing the switching screen. Thereby, the user can edit the edit screen 105.

  Therefore, when a user who uses the drawing editor 10 wants to edit another screen (switching screen) displayed by the function of a certain object OBJ, this screen is used as a specification document describing the editing screen 105 to be created, for example. There is no need to search and specify from the etc. Further, it is not necessary to find and select the switching screen from a menu screen or the like showing a list of screens that can be created in the drawing editor 10. Furthermore, there is no need to worry about what screen the edited screen is, and the screen to be edited can be switched by simply selecting a symbol.

  As described above, the drawing editor 10 can reduce time and labor when creating a plurality of screens.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various change is possible in the range shown to the claim. In other words, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately changed within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, the symbol displayed by the symbol display unit 12 is not limited to the icon image described above, but may be text describing the attribute of the object OBJ. However, in the drawing editor 10, the symbol display unit 12 preferably displays an icon image as a symbol. The icon image here means a figure, a picture, or the like indicating what kind of attribute the object OBJ has. Such an icon image can be displayed in a smaller space compared to the case where text describing the attribute is displayed. Thereby, compared with the case where a text can be displayed near the object OBJ, the space occupied on the screen when the symbol is displayed can be further reduced.

  Further, when displaying the attribute value setting screen for setting an attribute, the attribute value setting screen display unit 13 may simultaneously display a column for inputting the value of another attribute related to the attribute. Good. In this case, since the user can change a certain attribute and other attributes related to this attribute at a time, editing of the object OBJ can be performed more efficiently.

  Further, in the drawing editor 10, the symbol display unit 12 may display a symbol indicating an attribute whose value is settable. In this case, in the drawing editor 10, a symbol representing an attribute whose value can be set in the object OBJ is displayed near the object OBJ by the symbol display unit 12. Thereby, the user can grasp | ascertain the attribute which can set a value now only by visually recognizing a symbol. That is, since the user is not informed about the attribute whose value cannot be set, when editing the object OBJ, the user can concentrate on editing the attribute whose value is set to be editable.

  In addition, the attribute value setting screen 104 displayed by the attribute value setting screen display unit 13 can reliably set the attribute value. Accordingly, there is no inconvenience that the attribute value cannot be set because the attribute value cannot be set even though the attribute value setting screen 104 is displayed. That is, in this way, unnecessary operations can be suppressed when setting the attribute value of the object OBJ.

  Further, the symbol displayed by the symbol display unit 12 may be a symbol representing some attribute related to the object OBJ. That is, the attribute represented by the symbol may be, for example, a data attribute or a data type attribute (bit, word) that can be acquired from a device that is a control target of the programmable display 3.

  Further, data necessary for the symbol display unit 12 to display a symbol in the vicinity of the object OBJ, such as data relating to the symbol and data indicating the relationship between the object OBJ and the symbol, is stored in an integrated manner with the project file PF. It may be stored in a unique file different from the project file PF.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used as a screen creation device that creates a screen to be displayed on a display-type control device such as a programmable display that displays and controls the status of devices operating in a target system.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the drawing editor 10 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the display control system 1 including the drawing editor 10 which concerns on one implementation mobile phone of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the program structure stored in FEPROM of the programmable display in the said control system. It is explanatory drawing which shows the basic format of the instruction | indication processing word contained in the screen data of the user screen displayed with the said programmable display. It is a figure which shows the structure of the screen file stored in FEPROM. It is a figure which shows the screen which a user edits in the drawing editor 10 of the display control system 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows that the symbol showing the attribute of an object linked | related with the object contained in an edit screen is displayed. It is a figure which shows the attribute value setting screen which the attribute value setting screen display part 13 displays, when the input of the symbol by a user is received by the symbol input part. It is a figure which shows the attribute value setting screen which the attribute value setting screen display part 13 displays, when the input of the symbol by a user is received by the symbol input part. It is a figure which shows that the symbol showing the attribute of an object linked | related with the object contained on a screen is displayed. It is a figure which shows the switching screen changed by the creation screen change part, when the input of the symbol by a user is received by the symbol input part.

Explanation of symbols

10 drawing editor (screen creation device)
11 Object display section 12 Symbol display section (symbol display means)
13 attribute value setting screen display section (attribute value setting screen display means)
14 Symbol input section (symbol input means)
15 Attribute value setting unit (attribute value setting means)
16 Creation screen change part (Create screen change means)

Claims (8)

Viewing including display elements editable graphically, the screen creating device for creating multiple screen displayed on the programmable display device,
An object display means for displaying the display element in which a screen switching function for displaying any one of the plurality of screens as a switching screen is set ;
A symbol display means for displaying a first symbol representing the screen switching function and the number of the switching screen in association with the display element ;
Symbol input means for receiving input to the first symbol by the user;
A screen creation device comprising creation screen change means for changing a screen created by the device to the switching screen when an input to the first symbol by the user is received by the symbol input means. . Furthermore, an attribute value setting screen display means is provided,
The symbol display means displays a second symbol indicating the attribute of the display element in association with the display element,
The symbol input means receives an input to the second symbol by the user,
2. The attribute value setting screen display means displays an attribute value setting screen for setting the value of the attribute represented by the second symbol received by the symbol input means. Screen creation device. The screen creation apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the attribute defines an appearance of the display element. The screen creation apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the attribute defines a function set in the display element. The screen creation device according to claim 2 , wherein the symbol display means displays the second symbol representing the attribute whose value is settable. The screen creation apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the second symbol is an icon image representing the attribute.   A screen creation program for operating the screen creation device according to claim 1, wherein the computer functions as each of the means. A computer-readable recording medium storing the screen creation program according to claim 7 .

Images