JPH02292618A - Input method for discret amount - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To visually input a discrete amount and to input an accurate value by inputting a numeric through the use of a pointing device on a graphic display and using a magnified scale on the display surface. CONSTITUTION:A schedule table editing program 4 or a computer application program similar to it are stored in a computer mainbody 1. A mouse 3 being the pointing device designates one point on the graphic display 2. At that time, the program stored in the mainbody 1 displays the magnified scale at the periphery of the value corresponding to the point. Thus, the target value can accurately be designated and it can accurately be inputted to the computer even if pointing is executed slightly inaccurately at the time of inputting the discrete amount.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention provides a computer application system using a graphic display and a pointing device, in which a number of values arranged at regular intervals by a pointing device,
In other words, it relates to an input method for inputting discrete quantities into a computer.

[Conventional technology]

When developing software, a large number of numerical values are often input into a computer, and in particular, numerical values arranged at regular intervals, that is, discrete quantities, are often input efficiently into the computer.

Discrete quantities are quantities that mathematically correspond to integers rather than real numbers, and are arranged at regular intervals. Examples include date, number of people, quantity, amount, etc.

In conventional computer systems, there are two methods for inputting non-continuous, discrete numerical values, such as a discrete quantity such as a date.

(b) One method is to input numbers using a keyboard (for example, Hitachi Creative Workstation 2050 Instruction Manual, OFI S/GRF
- EV). According to the above manual, in order to draw a graph, it is first necessary to input data into the table, and for this purpose, move the block cursor to the desired position, enter characters from the keyboard, and execute Writes the character entered at the block cursor position by pressing the key. Next, determine the relationship between the table data and the graph (for example, a bar graph) (the horizontal axis is the row type of the data table, and the vertical axis is the data table value), and in the case of a stacked bar graph, the group ( For example, months (January, February, December) are stacked upward in order to create a bar.

(Talking) The other method is to use a pointing device to specify one point on the scale displayed on the graphic display, and to input the value corresponding to that point (Hitachi Creative Workstation 2050 Instruction Manual) (Refer to the book OFIS/SKETCH-EV). In the above instructions, first, use a pointing device to select, for example, a marker icon from sketch icons such as markers, lines, boundaries, auxiliary lines, etc., move the pointer to a specified position on the screen, and then Specify the position to place a point by pressing the left button. A line graph can be created by sequentially adding points at specified positions. This marker can be used to display the vertices of a line graph or a target on a map.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, the above method (a) has two problems: the user cannot visually see the input value, and the number of operations the user has to make to input numbers increases.

In addition, in the method (2) above, the number of operations required by the user to input numbers is not as large as in (2) above, but when inputting values in a vast range, the scale scale is small, so it is not accurate. There was a problem that a value could not be entered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve these conventional problems and provide a method for inputting a discrete quantity visually and accurately and with a minimum number of operations.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the method of inputting a discrete quantity according to the present invention provides a discrete quantity scale on the vertical and horizontal axes on a graphic display, and positions corresponding to the scale on the vertical and horizontal axes. In a computer system that displays marks using a pointing device, first, specify and input the coordinates of the corresponding position on the basic vertical and horizontal axes, obtain the input coordinates, and then The surrounding magnified scale including multiple scales before and after the scale position specified at the position is displayed on the above graph ink display, waits for the next input, and determines which of the above magnified scales the next input value will be. The feature is that it determines whether it corresponds to the scale and displays a mark at the corresponding position.

[For production]

In the present invention, a chart with scales of discrete quantities is displayed on a graphic display, and when a point on the chart is specified using a pointing device, an enlarged scale around the value corresponding to that point is displayed graphically. Displayed on the display, a point near the corresponding value on the enlarged scale is specified using a pointing device, and a discrete quantity is input.

This enables visual input because the input is performed using a pointing device on a graphic display displaying a diagram with scales. Furthermore, since an enlarged scale is used, even if the pointing position is slightly inaccurate, the desired value can be specified correctly, and as a result, accurate input is possible.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a computer system to which the method for inputting discrete quantities according to the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a computer main body, 2 is a graphic display connected to the computer main body 1, 3 is a pointing device, that is, a mouse, connected to the computer main body 1 together with the graphic display 2, and 4 is inside the computer main body 1. This is a schedule editing program stored in the memory of.

? In the invention, an itinerary editing program 4 or a similar computer application program is stored in the computer main body 1, and when a point on the graphic display is specified with the mouse, the value corresponding to that point is determined by the program. Display a magnified scale around the area. With this, when inputting a discrete quantity, even if the pointing is slightly inaccurate, it is possible to accurately specify the target value and input it accurately into the computer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing charts handled by the itinerary editing program shown in FIG.

The chart (hereinafter referred to as a schedule) handled by this schedule editing program 4 has items (tasks A, B, C, D) on the vertical axis and dates ('89/1, '89/4, '89/4, etc.) on the horizontal axis. '89/
7, '89/10) is displayed. 11 is the vertical axis (y axis)
and here one or more items 12■, 12■, 1
23,1 2. are listed. 13 is a horizontal axis (X-axis) on which a date scale is marked. 14 is the main plane of the schedule (referred to as the main plane), and one or more event marks 15,, 15■,...15M are displayed here?
It will be done. Here, the event mark indicates the date of occurrence of an event. Event marks 15-15M represent events on the schedule.

Each event has data called belonging items (items 12 - 12N on the y-axis 11 corresponding to the y-coordinates of the corresponding event marks 151 - 15M) and date of occurrence (the x-coordinates of the corresponding event marks 15 - 15M). The corresponding date on the X-axis 13). Reference numeral 16 denotes an area (referred to as a cancellation area) for specifying cancellation of an input operation when performing an input operation.

FIG. 1 is a screen display diagram of a schedule showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an enlarged scale displayed when inputting an event.

The data shown in FIG. 3 is displayed as is on the screen.

The present invention provides a method of determining a basic position by inputting a first value, displaying an enlarged scale, and then inputting a second value on the enlarged scale. Is the operator's ultimate goal a second value, and is the first value entered as an approximation of the second value? It is something. From the operator's perspective,
Input operations are performed using the mouse with the intention of specifying the final input value (second value), and the user waits for the enlarged scale to be displayed before inputting the correct value again. Note that if there is a large error during the first input (first input), the first input will be performed again by performing a cancellation operation. Explain the operating procedure from the beginning.

First, the user uses the mouse 3 to specify a predetermined position 32 on the itinerary displayed on the graphic display 2 by a pick operation, thereby inputting the item to which the event belongs and the date of occurrence into the itinerary editing program 4. do. The schedule editing program 4 edits the event marks 15■ to 15. of the input events. is displayed on the graphic display 2.

In Fig. 2, 21 is the basic date of the enlarged scale (hereinafter referred to as the basic date), and 22■ to 22K are several days before and after the basic date 21 (in the example of Fig. 2,
The date is 3 days before and after.

The basic date 21 and the dates 221 to 22K before and after it are surrounded by a frame of a size (5 mm square or more on the graphic display 2) that allows the inside to be easily designated with the mouse 3. 23 is a basic position (hereinafter referred to as a basic point) when displaying the enlarged scale.

In FIG. 1, the base point is set directly above the base date. As shown in FIG. 1, when specifying a predetermined position on the itinerary using the mouse 3, an enlarged scale is displayed at the specified position, so input is made at that position. By using a magnifying scale, discrete quantities can be entered accurately by positioning on the display.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of event input processing.

Here, a method for inputting the event affiliation item and the date of occurrence will be explained in the case where July 4th for work D is inputted into the schedule of FIG. 1.

First, the coordinates of the position input by the user using the mouse 3 (near the position corresponding to the desired belonging item and date of occurrence, in this example, the position corresponding to July 2nd of work D) are acquired ( Step 101).

Let these coordinates be (X, y). Next, the position (X, y
workman)? Determine whether it is within the main plane 14 (step 102
). If it is not within the main plane 14, it is determined whether it is within the cancellation area 16 (step l21). If it is within the cancellation area 16, the input is canceled and there is no child, and the input process ends.

If it is outside the cancellation area 16, the user is notified that the input is incorrect and is asked to re-enter (step 122).
), return to the first step 101. In step 102, if the position (X■, y1) is within the principal plane 14, y
Items 12■ to 12N corresponding to y■ on axis 11 are set as belonging items (step 103). Next, in order to notify the user that the belonging item (in this example, work D) has been set, the display color of the belonging item is changed (step 10).
4). Next, the date (in this example, July 2nd) corresponding to XD on the X axis 13 is determined (this date is designated as d). Step 105). Next, an enlarged scale with d■ as the basic date 21 is placed on the graphic display 2.
iiHXL, yD) is displayed at the position where the basic point 23 is (step 106). Next, the next input from mouse 3 is waited for (step 107).

When there is an input from the mouse 3, the position input from the mouse 3 (the position within the enlarged scale 31 that corresponds to the target date of occurrence; in this example, the position that corresponds to July 4th within the enlarged scale 31) obtain the coordinates of (step 108). Let this coordinate be (X21 3'2).

Next, it is determined whether the position [if (X 2 1 y 2 ) is within the enlarged scale 31 (step 109). If it is not within the enlarged scale 31, it is determined whether it is within the cancellation area 16 (step 131). If it is within the cancellation area 16, it is assumed that the first input from the mouse 3 has been canceled, and the process returns to step 101. If it is outside the cancellation area 16, the user is notified that the input is incorrect and is prompted to re-enter (step 132), before returning to step 108. Step 10
9, if it is within the enlarged scale 31, the date corresponding to x2 on the enlarged scale 31 is determined from x2, x1, and d1 (step 110). Note that this date is assumed to be d2. Here, d
2 is July 4th. Next, d2 is set as the date of occurrence (step 111). Next, change the display color of belonging item 33 back to the original color. (Step 112). Next, the enlarged scale 31 is erased (step 113). Finally, event marks 15■ to 15M of events having the affiliation item set in step 103 and the occurrence date set in step 111 are displayed on the graphic display (step 114).
. To cancel the second input from the mouse 3 in step 108, use a separately provided event deletion function after the input is completed.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schedule after step 107 has been completed. 31 in FIG. 1 is step 106
32 is the position (X, y) obtained in step 101, and the enlarged scale 31 is
This is the basic point. 33 is the belonging item whose display color was changed in step 104. In the figure, changes in display colors are indicated by hatching.

In addition, in the above explanation, when canceling the second input,
Although the event deletion function is used, another method is to have the user enter a judgment as to whether or not the event entered after step 111 is correct, and if it is judged to be incorrect, input it again. It is also possible to add a process in which the process is repeated and the process returns to step 108.

Also, after step 111, the date d on the enlarged scale 31 is
You may also use a method that allows the user to confirm by changing the display color of d.

In addition, in the above explanation, the display position of the enlarged scale is
Although the first input position is assumed to be the position of the first input, it may be any position on the graphic display 2.

In addition, in the above explanation, the first input of the mouse 3 is input within the principal plane 14, but the position on the y-axis 11 and the
A method may be used in which the position on the axis 13 is specified twice.

In addition, in the above explanation, the enlarged scale for several days before and after the first input position of the mouse 3 is displayed, but it is also possible to have two dates specified and display the enlarged scale for the dates between them. The same effect as the present invention can also be obtained in this case.

Further, in the above description, a case has been described in which the mouse 3 is used, but a pointing device such as a stylus pen or a light pen may be used instead.

Furthermore, in the above explanation, the schedule editing program 4 was used as an example; It may also be a computer program that edits the .

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a two-dimensional enlarged scale showing another embodiment of the present invention.

When inputting data into a chart that has scales of arbitrary discrete quantities on both axes (X-axis and yItll), use a computer program that allows you to specify accurately using two-dimensional magnified scales, as shown in Figure 5. Use. That is, on the y-axis, there are 11
9 to 13 scales, including the two before and after the center, and the X
The axis is provided with 4 to 8 scales, including 2 scales before and after 6, and it is possible to enter accurate values by inputting into any column of the scales.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, numerical values are input using a pointing device on a graph ink display, and an enlarged scale is used on the display surface, so that a user can visually input a discrete quantity. You can enter
And it is possible to input accurate values.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a view of a schedule display screen showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of an enlarged scale used in the present invention, FIG. 3 is a view showing a display screen used in the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a computer system using the method for inputting discrete quantities of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram of a two-dimensional enlarged scale showing another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of event input processing in the present invention. 1: Computer main body, 2: Graphic display,
3: Pointing device, 4: Schedule editing program, 11: Vertical axis (y-axis), 13: Horizontal axis (X-axis), 151
~15M: Event mark, 14: Main plane, 16: Cancellation area. Figure Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a computer system in which scales of discrete quantities are attached to the vertical and horizontal axes on a graphic display, and marks are displayed using a pointing device at positions corresponding to the scales on the vertical and horizontal axes, first, the basics are explained. Specify and input the coordinates of the corresponding position on the vertical and horizontal axes, obtain the input coordinates, and calculate the surrounding area including multiple scales before and after the specified scale position at the corresponding vertical and horizontal axis positions. display the magnified scale of on the graphic display,
A discrete quantity input method characterized by waiting for the next input, determining which scale within the enlarged scale the next input value corresponds to, and displaying a mark at the corresponding position.