JPH02166518A - Method and device for back-up of table structure programming - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To grasp the order of functions to be applied and the working conditions of various data areas by displaying fixedly the data names on one of two axes of a table with a row of functions to be applied displayed on the other axis respectively and at the same time showing the flow of data along the function row in the form of a graph. CONSTITUTION:The information showing a designated function is displayed at a designated position on a function axis 3. Then, an input source symbol is displayed at a position on a programming sheet picture which is decided by a position on the axis 3 and a position on a data axis 2 corresponding to an input source data name. At the same time, an output destination signal is displayed at a position which is decided by the same position on the axis 3 and a position on the axis 2 corresponding to an output destination data name. Then, an input/output connection symbol connecting both input source symbol and output destination signal is displayed. As a result, the rows of functions forming a program are arrayed on the axis 3 in their executing order and the data input and output sources of each function are shown in a graph along the row of functions. Thus it is possible to grasp both the order of functions to be applied and the working conditions of data areas.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to computer support for program creation work, and in particular to support for work to create a complex program by combining a plurality of existing programs.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in order to create a program, it is necessary to determine both the flow of processing and the flow of data. Normally, the flow of processing and the flow of data are represented in separate charts, and the source code is generated while referring to the two charts. Furthermore, when processing certain types of data, such as image data, the algorithm for obtaining a particular result is not necessarily uniquely determined, and it is often necessary to apply different algorithms depending on the characteristics of the image to be processed. . For this reason, programming is forced through trial and error, in which a user tries out a certain process and if the result is unsatisfactory, changes to another process.

As an improvement, a system that interactively supports programming to assemble a complex function by linking several relatively simple functions is available in rIEEE.
Computer Society Workshop on Visual Languages.

June 25-27, 1986/Dallas J (IEEEEC
computer 5ociety Workshop
on Visual Languages.

June 25-27.1986/DALLAS”)
, pages 34-41. In this system, a group of function icons representing various functions (that is, program modules for the functions) are prepared, and when the user selects a function icon and places it at a desired position on the display screen, the corresponding function program is displayed. When triggered, a miniature version of the resulting data is displayed next to the function icon. The user observes the resulting data icons and selects the next function icon to apply. This graphical programming language is called II-VISUAL. This HI-VISUAL program expression is in a data flow format in which function icons and data icons are alternately connected.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The conventional method is very inefficient. Said HI-VIS
Although UAL is a highly commendable progress, it does not mean that there is no room for further improvement. In other words, in data flow format notation, the execution order of functions is often unclear, and although the data exchange relationships between functions are clear, the usage status of various data areas in memory at any given point in time is unclear. It is not possible to quickly grasp the situation, which often causes inconvenience.

An object of the present invention is to provide a programming support system that allows a user to visually and easily grasp both the order of applied functions and the usage status of various data areas.

[Means to solve the problem]

The method of the present invention includes the steps of displaying, on a display device, an image of a programming sheet that has a table structure having a data axis and a function axis, and in which different positions on the data axis correspond to a plurality of data names. , displaying information identifying one of the specified predetermined functions at a specified position on the function axis; and a data axis corresponding to the specified input source data name and output destination data name, respectively. a step of displaying an input source symbol and an output destination symbol at the word position on the programming sheet image determined by the above word position and the specified position on the function axis, and displaying these input source symbol and output destination symbol; and displaying input/output connection symbols to be connected.

Further, the steps of executing the specified functions and displaying the resulting data, converting the series of specified functions into a source program, and specifying the series of specified functions as elements of the program. At least one step of registering as a unitary function can be added.

Further, the device of the present invention has a sheet storage area in the storage device for storing information regarding the data axis and function axis of the programming sheet image, and also holds information representing various functions that can be specified as program elements. and generates information in the sheet storage area that associates one of these specified functions and its parameters with the specified position on the function axis, and also creates information in the sheet storage area that associates one of these specified functions and its parameters with the specified position on the function axis. A means for displaying information identifying a function, and a word position corresponding to the input source data name and output destination data name in the specified parameter and the specified position on the function axis by referring to the information in the sheet area. means for displaying the input source symbol and the output destination symbol at word positions on the programming sheet image determined by the positions determined by the input source symbol and the output destination symbol, and for displaying an input/output connection symbol connecting the input source symbol and the output destination symbol.

[Effect]

According to the method of the present invention, a user inputs a desired position on the function axis of a programming sheet image (usually "first vacant position W"), a desired one of predetermined functions, and an input source data name. and the output destination data name, information representing the specified function (character string representing the function name, icon, etc.) is displayed at the specified position on the function axis, and then,
The input source symbol is displayed at the position on the programming sheet image determined by the position on the function axis and the position on the data axis corresponding to the input source data name (for example, the intersection of the corresponding row and column), and , the output destination symbol is displayed at a position determined by the same position on the function axis and the position on the data axis corresponding to the output destination data name, and an input/output concatenation symbol that connects these input source symbols and output destination symbols. is displayed. As a result, the sequence of functions that make up the program is arranged on the function axis in their execution order, and the data input and data output sources for each function are represented in graphical form along the sequence of functions, and therefore applied. Both the order of functions and the usage of data names are self-explanatory.

Run the function and display the resulting data.

The suitability of function selection can be checked during programming, thus facilitating trial-and-error programming. The series of functions specified in this way is converted into a source program in a conversion step. Furthermore, by registering this series of functions as unitary functions that can be specified, this complex function can be used in subsequent programming.
It can be used as many times as you like with a simple procedure.

Further, according to the apparatus of the present invention, the user can select a desired position on the function axis of the programming sheet image, a desired one of predetermined functions, and a function including the input source data name and the output source data name. When a parameter is specified, this function and function parameter are associated with the specified position on the function axis, and according to this association, the function identification information, input source symbol, output destination symbol, and input/output concatenation symbol as described above are displayed. It is done.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows an example of a tabular programming sheet displayed on a display screen according to the present invention and an example of an image processing program written thereon. The tabular structure programming sheet 1 is in the form of a table having a data axis 2 and a function axis 3. Along the data axis 2, the names or numbers (hereinafter referred to as data names) of various data areas used in the program #1 to 4m (in the illustrated example, m is 4'') are displayed in advance. Functions The names of function programs selected by the user (hereinafter referred to as function names) are sequentially displayed along axis 3.In other words, this hidden structure programming sheet 1
Each column corresponds to one data name given in advance, and each row corresponds to one function name selected by the user. Function names that can be used and programs corresponding to them are prepared in advance in the system. The functions used in this example, the operations performed by them, and the parameters necessary for them are as follows.

■ 5IZE This function classifies white or black areas in an image depending on whether their size is within a specified range. The parameters of this function are:

(#IN, #OUT1, #0UT2.S
m1n, Smax, Mode, WX, WY) However, #IN: Input data name #0UT1: First output data name (for an area with a size within the specified range) #0UT2: Second output data name (for the area with a size within the specified range) Mode: 41117 specifies a black area; ``2'' specifies a white area S min: Specifies the minimum value of the reference size (area expressed in number of pixels) Smax : Specifying the maximum value of the standard size (same as above)
WX: Horizontal dimension of the original image to be processed WY: Vertical dimension of the original image to be processed ■ EXPAN This function expands each area with a pixel value of ``1''. Specifically, it is a mask of the specified size. scans the image, and at each scan position, sets the value of the pixel located at the center of the mask to the logical sum of the values of all pixels in the mask.The parameters of this function are linear.

(#IN, #OUT, MASK-X, MASK-Y, W
(X, WY) However, MASK-X: Horizontal size of mask MASK-Y: Vertical size of mask 5HRINK This function shrinks the area by using logical product instead of logical sum in EXPAN. The parameters of this function are the same as EXPAN and are as follows.

(#IN, #OUT, MASK-X, MASK-Y, W
X, WY) ■ NOT This function performs black and white inversion of the image. The parameters of this function are:

(#IN, #OUT, WX, WY) ■ AND This function extracts a common pixel pattern between two images by creating a logical product of pixel values for each corresponding pixel between the two images. do. The parameters of this function are
It is as follows.

(#IN1.#IN2.BOUT, WX, WY) When creating the program shown in FIG.

First, the function 5IZE is selected by the user and written in the first row of the function name column. The parameters of this function are then set by the user using a screen area not shown. In this example, #IN=#1. #0UT1=
#3. #0UT2=#2. Sm1n=O, Smax=2
00. Mode=2 is newly set by the user,
other parameters.

The offset value is set in advance by the system. Note that parameters for which offset values are used are omitted in this figure. Therefore, the system displays input source symbol 4 and output destination symbol 5 on this line in the column positions of the data names specified by the parameters as input data and output data, respectively, and also displays multiple input data Or, if output data exists, the identification number ■ of each input data or output data is placed near each symbol.

■Display etc. Subsequently, the system displays an input/output connection symbol 6 that connects the input source symbol displayed as 1 to the output destination symbol. The functions written on the display screen in this way result in calling the following functions.

5IZE (#1.#3.#2.0, 200.2.W
(X, WY) However, WX and WY take offset values.

Thereafter, the program shown in FIG. 1 is created in the same manner. This program is written in normal text format as follows.

(SIZE (#1. #3. #2.0, 200, 2
．． WX, WY) EXPAN (#2. #3.5.5
．． WX, WY) SHRINK (#3. #2.5
．． 5. WX, WY) NOT (#2. #3. W
X, WY) AND (#1.03. #2. WX,
, WY) ) In such a text format, it is difficult to understand the changes in the data names used, but in the sheet format shown in Figure 1, the changes in both the applied functions and the data names used are easy to understand. It can be easily seen that this is obvious.

FIG. 2 shows the same program as above in the old VISU
This is an example written in AL format. data icon 100
and function icons 110 are arranged alternately with arrow symbols in between, thereby representing a program6. Therefore, it is difficult to grasp the order in which functions are applied and the flow of data. For example, in the representation of FIG. 1 according to the present invention, the data name #
4 is not used because the column for data name #4 is blank, but in the representation in Figure 2, this cannot be known until after inspecting all the data icons. Although it does not appear in this example, when multiple functions are applied to the same data, the representation in FIG. 2 does not specify the order in which those functions are applied.

The above-mentioned program is for extracting symbols of a predetermined size range from an image, and in FIG. 2, the shaded area represents an area consisting of pixels having the value Pa1''.

FIG. 3 shows the hardware configuration of an embodiment of the underlying structure programming support device according to the present invention.

The central processing unit 10 is connected to a mouse 11, a keyboard 12, an image processing device 13, and a memory 20, and the image processing device 13 is in turn connected to a display device 14. The central processing unit 1o may be a general-purpose processor, and controls the entire system and performs various data processing operations to be described later. The mouse 11 is used as a pointing means for selecting functions and commands via the display screen, and the keyboard 12 is used for system startup and other controls, and for inputting function parameters and other alphanumeric information. . In addition to the programming sheet described above, the display device 14 displays information necessary for programming such as various menus, function parameters, guidance messages, etc., and also displays the information processed by the program being created according to requests. Display data. The image processing device 13 converts the computer data representing these images from the central processing unit into image data and sends it to the display device 14 .

The memory 20 may be a so-called main memory, an external memory, or a combination thereof, and the sheet memory 21
, a function menu memory 22, a control information memory 23, a data memory 24, a function library memory 25,
Contains respective areas for source code memory 26. As shown in FIG. 19, the sheet memory 21 stores information corresponding to the program written on the back structure programming sheet, that is, each data name and its display position,
The sequence of selected function names and the parameters of each function are stored. The function menu memory 22 holds information on all functions that can be used in a program and their parameters. The control information memory 23 holds a group of control programs for executing various commands. The data memory 24 stores data necessary for testing the program being created and data as a result of this testing. The function library memory 25 holds executable programs of various basic functions. The source code memory 26 is an area for storing source code obtained by converting a program created on a programming sheet.

The central processing unit 10 accesses these memory areas 21 to 26 in response to signals from the mouse 11 and the keyboard 12, executes corresponding control programs in the control information memory 23, and performs various processes described below. carry out.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display device 14 according to the present invention. FIG. 4(a) shows a screen for programming, which includes the command menu area 14.
1, a function menu area 142, and a programming sheet area 143.

The user uses the mouse to select any one of the multiple commands displayed in the command menu area 141 and the multiple function names displayed in the function menu area 142, including the parameter area 144. can do. The programming sheet area 143 is as already described with reference to FIG. When a certain function name is selected, the offset value of the parameter is displayed in the parameter area 144, and the user can then change the value of any parameter to a desired value via the keyboard.

Here, an overview of programming performed using such a system will be described. The user first selects the mouse 12
From the command menu area 141, select the command "
Select Input ``'' to set the input mode, then, also using the mouse 12, select the desired function name from the function menu area 142, and then select the function name column in the programming sheet area 143. Specify the desired line (usually the top blank line).In response, the system displays the selected function name at the specified position, and sets the offset values of the parameters of this function. Parameter area 144
to be displayed. The user uses the keyboard 12 to rewrite the parameter values that need to be changed, and then uses the mouse 12 to select the command ``parameter setting''. In response, the system displays the input source symbol 4, output destination symbol 5, and input/output connection symbol 6 described with reference to FIG. 1 at corresponding positions. This completes the programming of one function, and the same process is repeated thereafter.

If necessary, the user uses the mouse to specify a desired interval of the function name column on the function axis, and.

Select the command “Run”. Accordingly, the system executes the specified part of the program using the trial data, and then, when the user selects the command “Display data”, the system displays each data name at the end of said execution. The corresponding data is displayed, so that the user can see the result of the execution of the program and know whether the selection of the function is appropriate or not. FIG. 4(b) shows an example of a data display screen, in which one image area 145 is allocated to each data name. The data display screen may be displayed instead of the programming screen.

It may be displayed in a window provided over a portion of the programming screen, or both screens may be juxtaposed if the screen of display 14 is sufficiently wide.

When programming on the programming sheet is completed and the user selects the command ``Generate source code'', the system generates a source program according to the contents of the programming sheet area 143, and the programming is completed. If necessary, the program created in this way can be saved as a single function by selecting the command ``Register'' in function menu area 1.
42.

FIG. 5 shows a portion of the functional configuration of the system shown in FIG. 3 that is directly related to the present invention. The input processing unit 31 is an interface that receives signals from the mouse 11 and keyboard 12. The display processing unit 32 belongs to the image processing device 13 and converts data from the central processing unit 10 into data in a format that the display device 14 can handle. In response to the signal from the mouse 11, the function axis processing unit 33 reads information on the specified function from the function menu memory 22, and
It is written into the sheet memory 21, and the function name is displayed at a designated position in the programming sheet area on the display device 14, and the offset values of various parameters of the function are displayed in the parameter area. Further, the function axis processing unit 33, according to the signal from the keyboard 12,
Change parameter values. The data axis processing unit 34 sets the data name on the data axis, and also associates the input source signal, output destination symbol, and input/output connection symbol based on the input and output data names in the determined parameter values. Display in position. In addition to these, there is a fourth
It includes a processing unit that controls the form of the programming screen shown in Figure (,).

When the command "execute" is given by the mouse, the execution processing unit 35 sequentially executes the function programs in the function library memory 25 according to the function sequence stored in the sheet memory 21, and displays a message to that effect during execution. When finished, a message to that effect will be displayed. Input data and output data are read from memory areas allocated to each data name in data memory 24 and stored according to the program. The data display unit 36 displays the contents of the data memory 24 when the command ``display data'' is given by the mouse.The function registration unit 37 responds to the command ``register'' by
A composite function consisting of a function string stored in the sheet memory 21 is stored as a new unitary function in the function menu memory 22 and displayed in the function menu area on the display device 14. In response to the command "generate source code", the source code generation unit 38 converts the contents of the sheet memory 21 into an actual source program, stores it in the source code memory 26, and displays it on the display device 1.
4 Display on top. Note that the control information memory 23 that supplies programs for realizing various functions is omitted to avoid complicating the diagram.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of data in the sheet memory 21.

The sheet memory 21 stores data axis information 211 for controlling the display of the data axis of the programming sheet 143 shown in FIG. 4(a), function axis information 212 for controlling the display of the function axis, and functions. Information 213 of the function identified by the function name written in each row on the axis and parameter information 214 of this function are stored.

The data axis information 211 includes, for each column, a column number, a window display position (WP), a data name, and a data address. The window display position is a set of coordinates indicating the boundary of the window in which each data name on the data axis is displayed.

The data address is the start address of the area in the data memory 24 allocated to each data name. Function axis information 2
12 indicates the line number and window display position (
WP) and a pointer. This window display position is a set of coordinates indicating the boundary of the window in which each function name on the function axis is displayed. The pointer is set when a function name is written on each line, and indicates the start address of the information 213 of the function identified by the written function name. Until this is set, the pointer will not point to anything11
Wait for OII value.

The function information 213 consists of a function name, a function attribute, a left pointer, and a right pointer. The function attribute has the value II O11 when the function is an elementary function, and the value II O11 when it is a composite function constructed by combining elementary functions.
I have I+. The left and right pointers are used when the function is a compound function to expand it into a sequence of more basic functions in binary form. In this way, the composite function is finally expanded into a sequence of basic functions, and the right pointer of the function information of each basic function indicates the start address of the parameter information 214 of that function. The parameter information 214 consists of a parameter name, a parameter attribute, an offset value, an update value, and a pointer.

The parameter attribute indicates the category of the parameter. That is, u I n identifies parameters related to input data, 110 JP identifies parameters related to output data, and 11 CI7 identifies other parameters. The offset value is a parameter value preset by the system, and the update value is a parameter value changed by the user. A pointer connects parameter records of a function.

Which data name was selected by the mouse can be known by comparing the coordinates of the position pointed by the mouse with the WP in the data axis information 211, and which row on the function axis was specified. is the coordinate of the position pointed by the mouse and wp in the function axis information 212
You can find out by comparing. In addition, each display position of the input source symbol and the output destination symbol has a parameter attribute value of “engineering” in the corresponding parameter information 241.
and the data name indicated by the updated value or offset value (updated value has priority) of the row that is 0" and the corresponding data axis information 211
X coordinate in wp of and wp of corresponding function axis information 212
It is determined from the Y coordinate inside. In the case of a composite function, the input source and output destination of the entire composite function are determined from the input sources and output destinations of all the basic functions that constitute it. Parameter attribute 11 I'' specifies the display of the input source symbol, and parameter attribute ego'' specifies the display of the output destination symbol.

Identification numbers (■, ■, etc. in FIG. 1) for identifying each of the plurality of input sources or output destinations are obtained from the parameter names.

FIG. 7 shows the structure of data in the function menu memory 22. The function menu memory 22 stores function menu display information 221 for controlling the display of the function menu 142 shown in FIG. 4(a), and information 2 for each function in the menu.
22 and its parameter information 223 are stored. The function menu display information 221 is one function menu 14 displayed.
2 includes the function name, function attribute, window display position (wp), and a pointer to a subsequent function, and the start address thereof is indicated by the menu start pointer TOPM. The structure of each block of function information 222 and parameter information 223 is the same as that of function information 213 and parameter information 214 shown in FIG. 6, respectively.

The start address of the function information is indicated by the function start pointer TOPF. The first block pointed to by TOPF and the blocks connected from there by each left pointer (
The blocks lined up in the leftmost column in the figure) correspond to the inter-word names included in the function menu, and the right pointer of these blocks and the data following them are the same binary launchers as explained with reference to Figure 6. Has a structure.

The function name selected by the mouse 11 from the function menu is determined based on the mouse position and the WP in the function menu display information 221.
The function information corresponding to this function name can be obtained by starting from TOPF and following the left pointer of the function information 222 to find a block containing the same function name. The function information 222 discovered in this way and the tree structure data following its right pointer, including the parameter information 223, are transferred to the sheet memory 21 as function information 213 and parameter information 214, thereby allowing the internal processing of function selection to be performed. Complete.

Figure 8 shows the data memory 24 and function library memory 2.
As shown in FIG. 8(a), which shows an example of the contents of 5.
Storage areas #1 to #m corresponding to each data name displayed on the data axis are secured in the data memory 24. As shown in FIG. 8(b), the function library memory 2
5, executable programs for all basic functions are stored in advance, and these programs can be called and executed by corresponding function names.

Next, the operation of the system shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 is as follows.
This will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step 401, the data axis of the programming sheet 143 is set. To be more specific, the data axis processing section 3
Step 4 determines various data names necessary for programming, their window display positions (wp), and corresponding memory addresses, and creates data axis information 211 shown in FIG. Next, initialization 402 is performed. Specifically, the data axis processing unit 34 erases the old display of the input source symbol, output destination symbol, and input/output connection symbol, displays the data axis information set in step 401, and displays the data axis information set in step 401. changes the pointer in the function axis information 212 to 1/
OII, thereby placing the programming sheet display in its initial state. The image data to be processed for trial use is as follows.

The information is stored in advance in a predetermined area in the data memory 24.

Then the user uses the mouse to command “input”
, and then select the first row of the function axis of the programming sheet 143 and the function name to be entered there. In response to this, in step 4.3, the function axis processing unit 3
3 compares the position pointed by the mouse with the window display position if (WP) in the function menu display information 221, extracts the selected function name, and inserts it into the first row of the function axis of the programming sheet 143. and then
The function information 222 and its parameter information 223 corresponding to the selected function name are read out from the function menu memory 22, and the function information 213 is stored in the sheet memory 21.
and parameter information 214, and the pointer in the first line of the function axis information 212 is set to indicate the start address of the written function information 213.

Subsequently, in step 404, the function axis processing unit 33 extracts offset values of various parameters from the parameter information 214 currently written in the sheet memory, and displays them in the parameter area 144. When the user specifies one of the parameters with the mouse and inputs its updated value via the keyboard, the function axis processing unit 33 replaces the value of the corresponding parameter on the display screen with this updated value, and This updated value is written in the corresponding row of the parameter information 214 in the sheet memory 21. To complete the parameter settings,
The system is notified by the command "parameter setting". When a composite function is selected, the parameter setting process described above is repeated for each of the basic functions that make up the composite function.

When the parameter setting is completed, in step 405, the data axis processing unit 34 displays the input source symbol, the output destination symbol, and the input/output connection symbol on the programming sheet 143 as follows.

In the case of a basic function, the parameter attribute in the parameter information 214 is checked, and the data name indicated by the updated value or offset value (updated value has priority) of the parameter waiting for the attribute value ``I'''' is specified. This data name is data axis information 21
1, and the X coordinate is extracted from the window display position of this data name.

Next, the Y coordinate is extracted from the window display position (WP) of the row being processed in the function axis information 212, and the input source symbol (
4) in FIG. 1 is displayed. Input source symbols are displayed in this way for all parameters with parameter attribute 11 "I". If multiple input source symbols are displayed,
An identification number (■, ■, etc.) is added according to the parameter name.

Next, the output destination symbol (Fig. 1 5) is the attribute tL O11
is displayed in the same way for each parameter with .

Then, the coordinates of the leftmost and rightmost of these input source symbols and output destination symbols are determined, and the input/output concatenation symbol (FIG. 1, 6) extending over that interval is displayed.

In the case of a composite function, special processing is required to determine the input source and output destination of the entire composite function from the parameter information of the basic functions that make up the function. For this purpose, the order of usage is examined for each data name. If a data name is first specified as an input source, this data name is the input source for the entire composite function. On the other hand, if a certain data name is designated as an output destination even once, this data name is the output destination of the entire composite function. Once a certain data name is specified as a ridge edge, subsequent specification of the same data name as an input source does not mean that it is used as an input source for the entire composite function, and can therefore be ignored. Based on this criterion, the function axis processing unit 33 can determine the data names of the input source and output destination of the composite function. However, an identification number for distinguishing each of the plurality of input sources or output destinations is not added. In order to alleviate this inconvenience, in response to a user's request, a specified compound function is expanded into a sequence of basic functions on a programming sheet in the same format, and the result is displayed in a blank space on the screen or in a window. Functions may be added. Alternatively, at the time of Wfa of the new arithmetic number described later, let the user decide the parameter names that identify each of the input source and output destination of the entire composite function, register these names as the parameters of the entire composite function, and follow the instructions. The system may be configured to display input source symbols and destination symbols.

Next, when the user uses the mouse to specify the function just entered and selects the command "execute", in step 406, the execution processing unit 35 executes the program corresponding to the selected function name. library memory 2
5, the trial image data to be processed is read from the area in the data memory 24 corresponding to the data name specified by the parameter, and this program is executed. The resulting data is stored in the area of the data memory 24 corresponding to the data name specified by the parameter. The address corresponding to the specified data name is obtained from the data axis information 211.

When a message indicating the end of execution is displayed and the user selects the command "Display data," in step 407, the data display unit 36 displays the contents of each data area in the data memory 24 as shown in FIG. 4(b). Display as an example.

In step 408, if the command 1'end'' indicating the end of programming is not given.

Steps 403 to 407 are repeated. Step 40
6 and 407 are omitted unless requested by the user using the corresponding command. However, when a function needs to be executed after several omissions, execution must begin with the function written next to the last previously executed function.

In such a case, the user specifies the position of the first function name to be executed and selects the command "execute". In response to this, the execution processing unit 3S
Referring to the function axis information 212 in 1, the sequence of functions pointed to by the pointers in successive rows starting from the row corresponding to the specified position is executed sequentially until the pointer value reaches the row of 0''. In this way, the user (programmer) examines the processing results of the program being created as necessary, and thereby determines whether the selection of the function is appropriate.If the result is unsatisfactory, the user (programmer) can replace, insert, or change the function. Can be deleted.

To replace a function, the function information corresponding to the newly specified function name and the parameter information linked to it are transferred from the function menu memory 22 to the sheet memory 21, and the row of the function axis information 212 corresponding to the specified row is transferred. The pointer of
This is accomplished by modifying it to point to the newly transferred function information. To insert a function, move the pointers of the specified line and subsequent lines of the function axis information 212 to the line immediately below, and then set the pointer of the empty line to point to the function information transferred from the function menu memory 22. To,
This is achieved by setting. Deletion of a function is realized by moving the pointers of the lines subsequent to the specified line of the function axis information 212 to the line immediately above each line. After these changes, the display of the programming sheet 143 is updated according to the new contents of the sheet memory 21, and the program portion represented by the changed line and subsequent lines is re-executed to update the data memory 24 and the program. It is necessary to maintain this level of compliance.

When the end of programming is detected in step 408 and the command 1'end'' is input, in step 409 the function registration unit 37 registers the sheet memory 2.
1, a group of function information 213 and their parameter information 214 are combined into a single function information 2 as shown in FIG.
22 is assembled into a binary tree structure, and the user is requested to name this composite function. The function name given by the user is written into the function name field of the underlying function information, and its function attribute field contains the value i indicating a composite function.
t I 11 is written. This binary launch structure information is transferred to the function menu memory 22, and its root function information is connected to the end of the chain of function information extending from the TOPF via the left pointer. Next, the function registration unit 37 combines the function name and function attribute with the coordinates WP of the next empty window in the function menu area 142,
Generate the corresponding function menu display information 221, and
It is connected to the end of the function menu display information chain extending from OPM, and the display of the function menu is updated accordingly. However, the user is free to decide whether or not to perform this registration.

Finally, when "Command Path Source Code Generation" is selected, the information 212 to 214 in the sheet memory 21 is converted into a source program in step 410. To be more specific, the source code generation section 38 first performs the following steps: Starting from the function information 213 pointed to by the pointer in the first line of the function axis information 212, the so-called tre
Perform e walk or depth first search, combine each basic function arrived at and its parameters,
Generate a series of function calls. Similar processing is sequentially performed on subsequent rows of the function axis information 212, and the sequence of function calling programs thus generated forms the source program code. This source program code is displayed on the display device 14 and stored in the source code memory 26, from which it can be output later as needed.

As a modification, each function name in the function menu and on the function axis of the programming sheet may be represented by a figure (so-called icon) that can identify each function instead of a single character string. Further, the directions of the data axis and the function axis may be exchanged, so that the data axis is provided in the vertical direction and the function axis is provided in the horizontal direction.

Furthermore, 1. Omitting the transfer of the selected function information and its parameter information from the function menu memory to the sheet memory,
The pointer in the function axis information may directly point to the start address of the corresponding function information in the function menu memory.

Functional blocks 31 to 38 shown in FIG.

It may be implemented by a program running on a single processor, or a dedicated processor may be provided for each functional block or group of functional blocks.

In the embodiment described above, an image processing device 13 is provided for display processing 32. Furthermore, for example, one dedicated processor may be provided for the combination of the execution processing section 35 and the data display section 36.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, data names are permanently displayed on one axis of the table, and as interactive programming progresses, a column of functions to be applied is displayed on the other axis.
The flow of data is displayed in a graph format along this function sequence. Therefore, it is possible to easily understand both the flow of applied functions and the flow of input/output data. Trial execution of a program in the process of being created, conversion of a completed program into source code, and registration of the program as a new unitary function can be performed as necessary. As a result, programming by combining existing functions becomes significantly easier.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a programming sheet image according to the present invention and a program displayed on it, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the same program as FIG. 1 displayed by a known method, and FIG. A diagram showing the hardware configuration of an embodiment of the programming support device according to the present invention in a block diagram format, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 shows the functional configuration of the device shown in FIG. Figure 6 shows an example of the contents of the sheet memory, Figure 7 shows an example of the contents of the function menu memory, Figure 8 shows the contents of the data memory and function library memory. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the programming support method according to the present invention in a flowchart format. 1... Table structure programming sheet, 2... Data axis, 3... Function axis, 4... Input source symbol, 5... Output destination symbol, 6... Input/output connection symbol, 10. ...Central processing unit, 11...Mouse, 12...Keyboard, 1
4... Display device, 21... Sheet memory that stores information regarding the programming sheet, 22... Function menu memory that holds information on the number of words that can be specified, 24
. . . Data memory used for program trials, 25 . . Function library memory that holds programs for various basic functions, 33 . . . Function glaze processing section that performs processing related to selected functions, 34 . . Setting the data axis and
Data axis processing unit that displays input source symbols, output destination symbols, and input/output connection symbols; 35... Execution processing unit that executes the program; 36... Data that controls display of data as a result of program execution; Display section, 37...Function registration section, 38, which registers the created composite function in the function menu.
. . . Source code generation unit that converts the created program into a source program, 401. 402 . . . Display of programming sheet image, 403 . . . Display of selected function name on function axis, 404 .・Setting parameters including input source data name and output destination data name, 405...
・Display of input source symbol, output destination symbol, and input/output connection symbol,
406... Execute program, 407... Display result data, 409... UFI of new function, 410...
Conversion to source program.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a data processing system comprising an input/output device including a display device, a storage device, and a processing device connected to the input/output device and the storage device, a table having a data axis and a function axis is provided. displaying a programming sheet image having a structure on the display device, in which different positions on the data axis correspond to a plurality of data names, respectively; displaying information identifying one of the functions at a position on the function axis specified via the input/output device; and input source data name and output destination data specified via the input/output device. Input source symbols representing input sources and output destination symbols representing output destinations are placed at various positions on the programming sheet image determined by the positions on the data axis and the specified positions on the function axis, respectively, corresponding to the names. A programming support method comprising the steps of: displaying each of the input source symbols and the output destination symbol; and displaying an input/output connection symbol connecting the input source symbol and the output destination symbol. 2. The programming support method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of executing the designated function and displaying data resulting from the execution on the display device. 3. The programming support method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising the step of converting the series of specified functions into a corresponding source program. 4. The programming support method according to claim 1, 2, or 3, further comprising the step of storing the series of designated functions in the storage device as unitary functions that can be designated as program elements. 5, comprising an input/output device including a display device, a storage device, and a processing device connected to the input/output device and the storage device;
A device in which a tabular programming sheet image having a data axis and a function axis displayed on the display device is used for programming, wherein the storage device stores information regarding the data axis and information regarding the function axis. and a function menu storage area that holds information representing various functions that can be specified as program elements, and the processing device includes a sheet storage area for storing the functions specified through the input/output device. Information associating one of the various functions and its parameters with a position on the function axis specified via the input/output device is generated in the sheet storage area, and information is generated in the sheet storage area at the specified position on the function axis. means for displaying information identifying a specified function; An input source symbol representing an input source and an output destination symbol representing an output destination are displayed at various positions on the programming sheet image determined by the various positions and the specified position on the function axis, and the input source symbol and means for displaying an input/output connection symbol connecting output destination symbols.