JPH01276194A - Multiwindow display system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily recognize a main-subordinate relation by connecting item information displayed in a main window and subordinate windows on a display screen by lines and identifying the main-subordinate relation. CONSTITUTION:Windows 2-5 are displayed one over another hierachically on the display screen 1. In the main window 2, 'factory A' - 'factory D' are displayed as information within a rectangular frame. The window 3 is a window showing detailed information on the 'factory A' among pieces of information displayed in the window 2. The window 3 is displayed without overlapping with the information displayed in the window 2 so as to show the main-subordinate relation between the information in the window 2 and the window 3; and the coordinates of the right upper end of the rectangular frame encircling the 'factory A' and the coordinates of the left upper end of the subordinate window 3 are connected by a line 10a, and the coordinates of the right lower end of the rectangular frame encircling the 'factory A' and the coordinates of the left lower end of the subordinate window 3 are connected by a straight line 10b. Consequently, it is found at a glance that the subordinate window 3 shows the detailed information on the 'factory A'.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to a multi-window display method for displaying data having a parent-child relationship (dependent relationship), and particularly relates to a multi-window display method that displays data having a parent-child relationship (dependent relationship). The present invention relates to a multi-window display method suitable for identifying relationships between.

[Conventional technology]

The conventional multi-window display method was developed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 1986-13.
As described in Japanese Patent No. 2988, the parent-child relationship can be maintained by providing a child window so that it is included in the parent window, and processing it with a constraint so that the child window cannot be moved beyond the frame of the parent window. I'm trying to make it understandable.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The above-mentioned conventional technology has a problem in that it is not clear which information among the various information displayed in the parent window corresponds to the display in the child window, and it is difficult to recognize the parent-child relationship. In other words, it simply displays parent-child relationships between windows, but does not clearly display parent-child relationships between information.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-window display method that clearly displays the relationship between information displayed in a parent window and a child window displaying information corresponding to that information, making it easy to recognize the parent-child relationship. There is a particular thing.

[Means to solve the problem]

The above object is achieved by connecting a child window and information in a parent window corresponding to information displayed in the child window with a line on the display screen. Also, if you want to select other information displayed in the parent window and display it in the child window, first delete the child window displayed from the screen by saving it to the storage device, etc.
Displays information related to the newly selected information in a child window.

[Effect]

Since windows that have a parent-child relationship are connected with lines on the screen, parent-child relationships, especially parent-child relationships between information, can be clearly identified just by looking at the screen. Also, when you select another piece of information in the parent window and display it in a child window, the previous child window is deleted, so the screen display does not become cluttered and parent-child relationships can be easily identified. The screen is easy to see and work becomes easier.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen to which a multi-window display method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. 1st
In the example shown in the figure, windows 2 to 5 are displayed in a hierarchical manner superimposed on a display screen (physical screen) 1 of a display device such as a CRT. The first parent window 2 has "Factory A", "
Factory Bj.

"Factory C" and "Factory D" are each displayed as information within a rectangular frame. Window 3 is a child window that shows detailed information about "Factory A" among the information shown in Window 2. In this embodiment, in order to clearly show the parent-child relationship between window 2 and window 3, especially the parent-child relationship between the information shown in window 2 and child window 3, window 3 is not overlapped with the information shown in window 2. Connect the coordinates of the upper right end of the rectangular frame surrounding "Factory A" and the coordinates of the upper left end of child window 3 with a straight line 10a, and connect the coordinates of the lower right end of the rectangular frame surrounding "Factory A" and the child window. The coordinates of the lower left end of 3 are connected by a straight line 10b. Thereby, the child window 3 can be identified by the - eye as detailed information of the information "Factory A" displayed on the parent window 2. By similar delineation, child window 4 is parent window 3.
It can be clearly seen that the detailed information of the information rA-1-2 line shown in the child window 5 is the detailed information of the information rA-1 process shown in the parent window 4.

Note that it is not necessary to actually draw NlAl0a and 10b as bright lines on the screen; for example, a shadow is formed between the lines 10a and 10b so that they can be seen geometrically as lines 10a and 10b. Needless to say, it is okay.

FIG. 2 shows a tree structure showing the parent-child relationship between information in the display example shown in FIG. When information is selected, the information to be displayed in the child window is obtained by following the data in the tree structure shown in FIG. In addition, in Figure 2, "Factory AJ, rA-
Tree structure data other than 1-2 lines J, rA-1, and process are omitted.

Figure 3 shows window 2 and window 3 shown in Figure 1.
FIG. In this example, a child window 3 corresponding to the information "Factory AJ" of Window 2 is displayed as a child window of Window 2. At this time, if the worker wants to know detailed information about "Factory B", the mouse cursor etc. When "Factory B" is selected as indicated by the reference numeral 20, the information in window 3 (and windows 4 and 5, if they are displayed) is saved to a storage device (not shown), and as shown in FIG. The newly selected information “
A child window 6 corresponding to "Factory B" is displayed on the screen 1. In this way, when you newly select another piece of information on the parent window, the previously displayed child window is erased and only the child window corresponding to the most recently selected information is displayed. This eliminates complication and leaves the required space on the screen, making it possible to work more smoothly.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the window processing procedure described above.

First, initial settings are performed in the first window process (40) to display the parent window, information displayed in the parent window is selected in the first selection process (41), and the selected information is checked. Make a decision and branch out. If it is determined that the process has ended, all the displayed windows are erased and the information of each window is saved in the storage device.

In the next second window process (42), the first selection process (
Information that has a parent-child relationship with the information selected in step 41) is displayed in a child window, and in a second selection process (43), the selection of information in the currently displayed in-window display information is determined and branching is performed.

In the third window process (44), the second selection process (43
) displays information in a parent-child relationship with the information selected in the child window, makes a selection from the currently displayed window in the third selection process (45), and makes judgments and decisions based on that information.
Make a branch. In the fourth window process (46), information that has a parent-child relationship with the information selected in the third selection process (45) is displayed in a child window, and in the fourth selection process (47), information from the currently displayed window is displayed. Make a choice and make decisions and branches based on that information.

Second. Third. If information in the window displayed in the first window process (40) is selected in the fourth selection process (43, 45, 47), the first window close (c
branch to the process (48), all windows displayed below the first window process (40) are erased, the information of each window is saved, and the process branches to the first selection process (41).
) and process.

Third. If information in the window displayed in the second window process (43) is selected in the fourth selection process (45, 47), the process branches to the second window close process (49), and the second Window processing (42) All windows displayed below are erased, information on each window is saved, and the process returns to second selection processing (43).
Perform processing.

In the fourth selection process (47), the third window process (44)
If information is selected in the window displayed,
Third window close (close) processing (5
The process branches to 0), and all windows displayed below the third window process (44) are erased, the information of each window is saved, and the process returns to the third selection process (45).

Through the above processing procedure, a child window corresponding to the latest selected information is displayed in place of the previously displayed child window.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the relationship between the item information displayed in the parent window and the child window can be easily and clearly identified by lines on the screen, so window operations are simplified and the burden on the operator is reduced.

Also, when you select new information from the display item information of the parent window and move on to another task while the child window is open, the previous child window is deleted and the child window corresponding to the newly selected information is opened. Because unnecessary information is not displayed on the screen, work can be done more smoothly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a screen in which multiple windows are displayed hierarchically by applying a multi-window display method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a display of each window displayed in FIG. 1. A data tree structure diagram, FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams when changing the selection of display information of a parent window, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of window processing. 1...Display screen, 2-6...Window, 10a,
10b... Line, 20... Mouse cursor. Agent Patent Attorney Tadashi Akimoto Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a multi-window display device comprising a display capable of displaying a plurality of windows in a superimposed manner and data storing parent-child relationships between information displayed across the windows, A multi-window display method characterized by connecting displayed information and a child window displaying information subordinate to the information with a line on the display screen to visually identify parent-child relationships. 2. In the multi-window display method according to claim 1, between two windows in a parent-child relationship, information corresponding to certain information displayed in the parent-child window is displayed in the child window and displayed in the parent window. This multi-window display method is characterized in that when another piece of information is selected, a child window corresponding to the newly selected information is displayed in place of the previously displayed child window.