JPH01310431A - Data processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display the contents of two folders or above without overlapping by providing a means to set a window concerning the a slave storing means except a window prepared concerning the storing means which becomes a master. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 41, when the prescribed button of a mouse 48 is pushed down, discriminates the position of the cursor, and when this instructs a designating area 73-1 of a window 73, operates the position of a window 73 displayed presently and a window 76 displayed next. When the arrangement of the window is determined, the new window 76 is opened and in case of need the position of the already opened window is adjusted. The contents designated to the newly provided window 76 are displayed as data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a data processing device for displaying and processing data having a tree structure.

``Prior Art'' Generally, a workstation can simultaneously open a plurality of windows each representing a document or the like on the display. With this multi-window type display, it is also possible to refer to these windows at the same time and perform operations such as moving the data displayed in these windows to separate windows.

By the way, there is a hierarchical document management method using folders as a method for managing documents on a workstation. Here, a folder is a type of file and is used as a means for storing documents. FIG. 12 shows an example of a document management method. In this example, two documents 12-1.12-2 and two folders 11-2.11-3 are stored in the folder 1-1. In folder 11-2, there are two more documents 12-3.12.
-4 and one folder 11-4 are accommodated. There are four more documents 12 in the folder 11-4.
-5 to 12-8 are accommodated. Further, the folder 11-3 described above contains two documents 12-9 and 12-10.

As can be understood from this example, folders have a tree structure, and this can be used to perform logical document management. In this specification, regarding a form in which folders exist within folders, the former folder will be referred to as a "parent folder", and the latter folder, that is, a folder contained in the parent folder will be referred to as a "child folder".

"Problem to be Solved by the Invention" Now, assume that the contents (list) of the parent folder 11-1 regarding a certain document are displayed in the window. Previously, child folder 1 shown in this list
For example, one folder 11-2 among 1-2.11-3
When you select , the contents of the selected child folder 11-2 (
The window for expanding the IJ list was displayed overlapping the window displaying the contents of the parent folder 11-1. In other words, the display format has changed such that the window displaying the contents of the parent folder 11-1 has been rewritten to display the contents of the child folder 11-2. As a result, until you close the window for the child folder 11-2 overlying the top, you will not be able to access the displayed contents of the parent folder 11-1 hidden below. There was a problem.

Figures 13 and 14 are only meant to explain this situation. Of these, FIG. 13 shows a window regarding the parent folder. There is a window 2 in the display 21 for displaying the contents of the folder 11-1.
2 is set.

This window 22 is composed of an area 23 for displaying the title of the display content, and an area 24 for displaying the display content (list). In the area 24, the parent folder 11-
The following list is displayed as the contents stored in 1.

(i) Child folder (11-1) in parent folder 11-1
) Child folder in parent folder 11-1 (iii
) Document 12-1 (iv) in parent folder 11-1
Document 12-2 in parent folder 11-1 In FIG. 13, child folder 11-2 is selected.

When the child folder 11-2 is selected in this way,
As shown in FIG. 14, the window 25 is displayed overlapping the window shown in FIG. 13 at the same position. The title of the child folder 11-2 and its parent folder 11-1 are displayed in the area 26 that displays the title of the displayed content at this time.

Further, in the area 27 representing the display contents (list), a list of the folder 11-4 and documents 12-3, 12-4 contained in the child folder 11-2 is displayed.

In this way, in the display state of FIG. 14, the display contents shown in FIG. 13 are completely hidden.

Above, we have explained the two relationships between parent folders and child folders, but child folders that should be stored in the same parent folder, and documents within them, that is, data in a tree structure that has the same root, There was a problem that they could not be referenced at the same time for the same reason. Furthermore, for the same reason, there is a problem that documents and text data cannot be exchanged between child folders and parent folders, or between child folders under the same parent, or between documents within them. there were.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a data processing device that can refer to or use the contents of two or more folders.

"Means for Solving the Problem" In the present invention, as shown in principle in FIG. When there is an extra-window window setting means 32 for setting another window outside the ink window, and a child storage means as a subordinate storage means to the parent storage means displayed by the parent content display means 31. The data processing apparatus is provided with a display control means 34 for displaying this content in a window set by the outside window setting means 32.

That is, according to the present invention, the window for the child storage means is set outside the window prepared for the parent storage means, and for example, the window for the child folder and the window for the parent folder are the same. Display on the display. Then, the contents of the storage means such as these folders in a parent-child relationship etc. can be mutually referenced and used. The window setting for a child folder may be performed when a display instruction is given by a separate display instruction means.

"Example" The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to Examples.

FIG. 2 shows an outline of the circuit configuration of a data processing device according to an example of the present invention.

This data processing device is equipped with a CPU (central processing unit) 41, and is connected to the following units through a bus 42 such as a data pulse.

(1) Memory management unit (MMU) 43: Main memory 44 consisting of random access memory
It performs control such as reading data from and transferring it to the bus 42, and conversely storing data in the main memory 44.

(ii) DMA (direct memory access) 45: CPU4
Control is performed to directly transfer data between the peripheral device and the main memory 44 without going through the main memory 44.

(iii) Communication board 46: Consists of an interface circuit, keyboard 47 for data input
is connected to. A mouse 48 as a pointing device is connected to the keyboard 47.

(iv) 2 RAM 5 1 : Equipped with a buffer memory and connected to a 5-inch floppy disk 53 via a hard disk controller 52. 5
The inch floppy disk 53 stores a control program for this data processing device, and this program is stored in the main memory 44 to control each part of the device. Necessary data is also stored on the 5-inch floppy disk 53.

(Vn CRT controller 54: This is a controller that controls the display of the bitmap CRT 54.

FIG. 3 shows the external appearance of this data processing device. This data processing device 61 has a bitmap CRT 54 as a data output device, a keyboard 47 and a mouse 48 as human-powered data devices, and a computer main body 62.
The configuration is connected to the The computer main body 62 is composed of the above-mentioned CPtJ 41, memory management unit 43, and the like.

The data processing device configured as described above uses bitmap C.
Data can be displayed on the RT54 in a multi-window format. The operation of opening a folder in this data processing device will be explained together with the accompanying change in the display state of the bitmap CRT 54.

FIG. 4 shows the initial screen when opening a folder. Icons (pictograms) representing documents, folders, etc. to be processed are displayed on the display 21. The operator operates the mouse 48 to move the cursor 71 over the target icon. In this case, place the cursor 7 on the folder icon.
1 is moved and a predetermined button of the mouse 48 is clicked. Thereby, the CPL 141 performs work to open this folder. It is assumed that the structure of the folder to be opened in this embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows the contents of the opened folder and the process of specifying the next lower folder within this folder.

That is, the parent folder 11- is displayed on the display 21.
A window 73 for displaying the contents of 1 is opened.

This window 73 is composed of an area 74 for displaying the title of the display content, and an area 75 for displaying the display content (list). In the area 75, the parent folder 11-
The same content as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed as the content contained in 1. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the child folder 11-2 has been selected by the specification operation using the cursor 71, and the background color of the area has been changed.

FIG. 6 shows the display result when the child folder 11-2 is selected. On the display 21, a window 73 for the parent folder 11-1 and a window 76 for the child folder 11-2 are opened independently. The operator can thereafter perform various operations on these windows 73, 76.

FIG. 7 shows the display result when the contents of the folder are further expanded. In this example, after two windows 73 and 76 are set on the display 21, the following operations are performed to create two more windows 77 and 78.
is being generated.

(1) The folder 11-3 in the window 73 is specified with a cursor not shown in this figure, and its contents are displayed in a new window 77.

(11) After this, folder 11-4 in window 76
The location is similarly specified with the cursor, and its contents are displayed in another window 78.

When a number of windows are set on one display 21 as described above, they are displayed with appropriate shifts. That is, the window 76 shown in FIG.
moves upward as other windows are created, securing space for the other windows.

By the way, if two or more windows are set, a situation may arise where some data is hidden. However, because the individual windows are independent, the operator can move them around like individual cards in a deck of cards to view the data he or she needs.

In addition, these windows can be expanded or contracted in size, so you can sometimes display unnecessary windows in a smaller size, or move them to a corner of the display 21 after displaying them smaller to achieve the same purpose. can be achieved.

FIG. 8 shows the main contents of the folder opening operation described above, and is used to control the displays shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. That is, C
The PLI 41 monitors whether a predetermined button on the mouse 48 is pressed (4 seconds). If the button is pressed (Y), it is determined whether the current position of the cursor is in a designated area within the window (an area where a folder or document is written) (step ■).

If the specified area 73-1 of the window 73 is designated (Y), the positions of the currently displayed window 73 and the next displayed window 76 are calculated.

In this embodiment, the display positions of these windows are set in advance according to the number of windows displayed on the display 21, and the second window 76 is located below the first window 73. simply placed in the space. Once the window placement has been determined in this way, a new window (in this case the second window 76) is opened, and the position of the already opened window is adjusted if necessary ( Step ■). Then, the specified contents are displayed as data in the newly provided window 76 (step 2).

For example, when folder 11-2 in designated area 73-1 is designated with the cursor (see Figure 5), the contents (list) contained in this folder 11-2 are displayed in window 76. It turns out.

On the other hand, if the above-mentioned button is clicked while the cursor is pointing to an area other than the specified area in the window (step ■).

On the other hand, once the data has been displayed on the window 76 in step (2), the operator can return to step (2) and continue opening the window. For example, if you repeat the specified task described above twice, the seventh
As shown in the figure, four windows 73, 76-78 can be displayed on the display 21.

"Modified Example" In the embodiment described above, when a specified area of a window is specified, another window is opened unconditionally. However, in some cases, specified data may be displayed overlapping the current window, and only when necessary, a new window may be opened to display each piece of data separately.

Next, the operation of the data processing device that enables such a display mode will be explained.

FIG. 9 shows the display state of the display after the operations shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in the previous embodiment. That is, even in this modification, the operator places the cursor 71 on the desired icon as shown in FIG.
Click a predetermined button on the mouse 48. As a result,
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a window 73 regarding the contents (list) contained in the folder 11-1 is opened.

In this state, as shown in FIG.
When is selected with the cursor 71, the contents of the folder 11-2 are displayed in the window 73 as shown in FIG. 9, and a menu window 81 is expanded to partially overlap the window 73.

The menu window 81 shown in FIG. 9 displays three items: "Close,""CloseAll," and "Peel." If the operator wants to “peel” two windows that are currently displayed overlapping each other to display independent data, use the cursor 71 to “peel” the two windows.
Point to the area marked with and click a predetermined button on the mouse 48. As a result, the background portion of the area is inverted as shown in the figure, and a dedicated window for the child folder 11-2 currently displayed in an overlapping manner is generated.

FIG. 10 shows the window "peeled off". Parent folder 1 is on display 21
A window 73 for the child folder 11-1 is displayed, and a window 73-1 for the child folder 11-2 is displayed below this. The two windows 73 and 73-1 displayed in this manner are windows that can be operated independently. Therefore, the operator can overlay data such as child folders on these windows 73 and 73-1, or, if necessary, "peel off" these windows to display data in separate windows. It is possible to make it happen.

FIG. 11 shows the main work contents in this modification. In other words, the CPLI 41 monitors whether an icon displaying a folder is pointed with the cursor (step ■), and when this type of icon is selected (Y: see Figure 4), the window of the corresponding folder is opened. Open (step ■). Then display the contents (list) of that folder in this window (step ■)
.

After this, when the operator further specifies a folder (child folder) in this window with the cursor, the contents of that folder (child folder) are displayed superimposed on the currently opened window ( Step ■). At the same time, the menu window 81 is opened and a menu is displayed here (step ■). When the operator selects "Peel" from the menu (Step ■; Y), a window for the new folder (child folder) is opened (Step ■), and the contents of the new folder are displayed in this opened window. The original contents (the contents of the parent folder) will then be displayed in the original window (step ■).

Note that when "Peel" is not selected in Step ■ and "Close" is selected instead (Step ■; Y),
The menu window is closed.

Furthermore, when "Close all" is selected (Step 0; Y), the window for the initially selected folder (parent folder) and all windows derived from it are closed (Step 2).

In the embodiments and modifications described above, folders have been explained as an example of storage means, but it is also possible to manage documents and files using a drawer, and the present invention can also be applied in this case. can. That is,
The present invention can be applied to all storage means having a hierarchical structure.

Furthermore, although the embodiments and modified examples have been described with respect to a display used in a workstation, it is of course not limited to this as long as it is capable of displaying data in a multi-window format. Furthermore, although the windows are not overlapped in the modified example, it goes without saying that they may be displayed in an overlapping manner as shown in the embodiment.

"Effects of the Invention" As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to set an independent window for each piece of data having a single hierarchical structure. There is a large degree of freedom regarding the movement range and size, and the advantage is that it is easy to refer to the data displayed in each window.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention, Figures 2 to 8
The figures are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, of which FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main part of the circuit configuration of the data processing device, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the data processing device,
Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the initial screen of the display when opening a folder, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the display showing the contents of the opened folder and the task of specifying the next lower folder within this folder. 6 is a plan view of the main part of the display showing a state in which the window is peeled off and separated into two windows, and FIG. 7 is a plan view of the main part of the display showing a state in which multiple windows are derived from one folder. Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of work to create another window outside of one window, Figures 9 to 11 show modified examples of the present invention, of which Figure 9 shows the parent folder. A top view of the display when the menu window is displayed with the contents of the child folder superimposed on the contents, and Figure 10 is the display with the window shown in Figure 9 "peeled off". Plan of
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing display control in this modification,
FIG. 12 is a tree structure explanatory diagram showing an example of a folder tree structure, FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a display state set for a parent folder in a conventional data processing device, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the display showing a state in which a child folder is specified in the example shown in FIG. 11...Folder, 12...Document, 2
1...Display, 41...CPU
. 44... Main memory, 48... Mouse, 53... Floppy disk, 55...
...Bitmap CRT. 73...Window, 73-1...Window set outside the window, 81...Menu window. Applicant: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Representative
Person Patent Attorney Umeo Yamauchi Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 2 Cross 4 Figure 6 Figure 7 21 Figure 8 Figure 11 Figure 12

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Parent content display means for displaying the contents stored in the parent storage means within a predetermined window; and extra-window window setting means for setting another window outside the window; When a parent storage means displayed by the parent content display means has a child storage means as a subordinate storage means, a display control means for displaying this content in a window set by the outside window setting means. A data processing device comprising: 2. A parent content display means for displaying the content stored in the parent storage means within a predetermined window; an outside window setting means for setting another window outside the window; and by the parent content display means. When the displayed parent storage means has a child storage means as its subordinate storage means, a separate display instruction means instructs to display this in a separate window, and a separate display instruction means instructs the child storage means to display the child storage means in a separate window. A data processing apparatus characterized by comprising: display control means for setting another window using the window setting means outside the window and causing the contents of the child storage means to be displayed in the other window when an instruction is given to display the storage means.