JPH0245878A - Interactive cad system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute a menu display with a good operability by storing the longitudinal and lateral sizes of a menu display area and the data of a plotted graphic in a part to overlap the menu display area and storing the data of the plotted graphic to go into the display area displayed anew with a movement before a new display. CONSTITUTION:At the time of moving a hierarchy menu 22, an operator instructs a menu moving function frame allocated to a basic menu 21 by a mouse 8 and instructs the position of a moving destination reference point 25 by the mouse 8. The pieces of information are stored into a main storage device 2, and the information of the longitudinal and lateral sizes of a display area A is also stored into the main storage device. Next, a data processor 1 obtains information to contain the information necessary for the hierarchy menu 22 display from the main storage device 2, and when the menu is moved to the point 25 being the reference of the moving destination, whether the menu can be displayed on a display picture or not is decided. When the display is impossible, by the fact that the displayed menu is superpose-processed or by superpose-processing it further, whether the display area of the menu can be made small or not is decided.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an interactive CAD system, and in particular to a system capable of dynamically displaying a menu for selecting various functions of a data processing device on a display screen of a display device. related to what was done.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in an interactive CAD system for creating figures, the display screen of a display device is divided into an area for displaying a menu and a drawing area for displaying figures, as shown in FIG. Ta. The menu display area includes a menu area 1 in which the functions of the data processing device [t] are fixedly displayed.
and a menu area 2 that divides functions and displays necessary function groups when needed for each function category. The menu in menu area 2 that displays the necessary functions when needed is as follows:
A menu from which a necessary function group can be selected is arranged in a preset menu area 2 so that it can be displayed sequentially based on a set position, and is registered as menu data in a storage device 1. For example, a coordinate input device A menu containing a necessary function group is displayed in the menu area 2 by input from a mouse or tablet, or by instructions from a keyboard, which is a character input device. These menus are selected using, for example, a mouse, the data processing device performs processing based on the selection, and the results are displayed in a drawing area for graphical display on the display screen of the display device.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] The above conventional technology has the following problems.

1) A menu area for displaying a menu must be provided on the display screen of the display device.

Therefore, the drawing area for displaying figures on the display screen is reduced.

2) Various processing functions of the data processing device must be divided and displayed as menus in a preset menu area. Therefore, when there are a large number of processing functions, it is necessary to reduce the size of the function selection frame on the display screen (a frame that defines an area of a predetermined size in which each selected function is displayed). As a result, the operability when selecting one function deteriorates. Conversely, if the function selection frame is enlarged, the menu area must be enlarged, and the drawing area for graphic display decreases accordingly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an interactive CAD system that solves the above-mentioned conventional problems and can display menus with good operability.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention displays, on the display screen of a CRT display device, a menu showing drawn figures processed by a data processing device and functions of the data processing device in response to input from an input device. , movement of menus on a display screen in an interactive CAD system configured to select menus by inputting from an input device.

Means for making it possible to input erasure and redisplay instructions as well as arbitrary menu movement destination reference points from an input device, and storing data of a drawn figure (hereinafter referred to as a first drawn figure) within a menu display area; In response to an instruction to redisplay the menu or move the menu from the device, redisplay the menu in the menu display area before erasing the menu or change the reference point of the menu move destination input from the input device, respectively.
a means for moving the menu to the destination menu display area based on the above, and a means for moving the menu to the destination menu display area according to the above method, and a means for moving the menu to the destination menu display area according to the above-mentioned means for storing data; and means for erasing all menus from a display screen in response to a menu erasing instruction from an input device;
Means for reproducing the first drawn figure on the display screen based on the data of the first drawn figure stored in the movement source menu display area or the menu display area before menu deletion after moving or erasing the menu. It is characterized by having been given a fiiff.

[Function] Stores the vertical and horizontal sizes of the menu display area during menu display on the CRT surface screen and the data of the drawn figure of the part that overlaps with the menu display area during menu display on the display screen, and By storing the data of drawing figures that fall within the display area where a new menu will be displayed when the menu is moved or redisplayed before displaying the new menu, even if a menu display exists within the drawing area. You can move, delete, or redisplay the menu to any position that does not interfere with drawing. In this case, the drawing shape disappears in the destination menu display area or playback menu display area, and the menu is displayed instead. In addition, the menu display disappears in the source menu display area after the menu is moved or in the menu display area after the menu is deleted, and instead, the drawn figures in the area that had disappeared until then are displayed, so in effect the entire CRT display screen is displayed. The entire area can be treated as a drawing area.

[Example] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a menu displayed on the display screen of an interactive CAD system to which the present invention is applied, and FIG.
The equipment configuration of the AD system is shown.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the processing procedure of the interactive CAD system 11 to which the present invention is applied. Second
In the figure, numeral 1 denotes a data processing device that processes various functions of the interactive CAD system.

A main storage device 2 stores information such as programs and data for the data processing device to perform various processes. A graphic data storage device 3 stores graphic data processed by the data processing device. A data conversion processing device 4 converts the graphic data in the graphic data storage device 3 into display screen data. A screen display data storage device 5 stores information on the display screen converted by the data conversion processing device 4. 6 is CR
The information on the display screen of the screen display data storage device 5 is displayed on the T display device. A keyboard 7 is an input device for inputting characters. 8 is a mouse, which is an input device for inputting coordinates.

In FIG. 1, 11 is a display screen of a display device, 12 is a drawing area for displaying figures, and 21 is a menu to which fixed functions of the interactive CAD system are assigned, hereinafter referred to as the basic menu. Reference numeral 22 denotes a menu in which various functions of the interactive CAD system A% are divided into hierarchical structures, and hereinafter such a menu will be referred to as a hierarchical menu.

The floor menu includes a selection of various processing functions,
There is a menu that allows you to select the next hierarchical level.

In FIG. 1, 22 indicates a state in which menus up to the fourth level are displayed.

First, based on flowchart 1 in FIG. 3, an example of movement of the hierarchical menu 22 in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4(,) and (b). 22 in FIG. 1 indicates the display state before the hierarchical menu is moved, and 23 indicates the display state after the hierarchical menu is moved. FIG. 4(,) shows the display screen of the display device before the hierarchical menu is moved, and FIG. 4(b) shows the display screen after the hierarchical menu is moved.
A indicates the display area of the hierarchical menu 22 before movement, and B indicates the display area of the hierarchical menu 23 after movement. Now, as shown in Figure 4, the drawn figure is displayed on the display screen, for example,
Suppose that a zinc-shaped figure is displayed.

On the screen shown in FIG. 4(a) before the menu is moved, the screen display data of the figure (figure a indicated by the dotted line) in the area covered by area A where the hierarchical menu 22 is displayed is stored in the main memory 2 in advance. Although it is stored in memory, the figure a
is not displayed on the screen.

When moving the hierarchical menu 22, the operator points to the menu movement function frame assigned to the basic menu 21 with the mouse 8, and then moves the hierarchical menu 22 to the movement destination reference point 2.
Indicate the position of 5 with the mouse 8 ((101) in Figure 3)
. These pieces of information are stored in the main storage device 2, and information on the vertical and horizontal sizes of the display area of the menu 22 is also stored in the main storage device. Next, the data processing device 1 obtains information including the above information necessary for displaying the hierarchical menu 22 from the main storage device 2, and when the menu is moved to the reference point 25 of the movement destination, the menu is displayed on the display screen. It is determined whether or not 1- can be displayed (102). If the menu cannot be displayed, it is determined whether the currently displayed menu has been superimposed, and whether the menu display area can be made smaller by further superimposing the menu (103).

When it is determined in step (103) that the menu overlapping process is possible, the overlapping process is performed in order from the shallowest level of the currently displayed menu that has not yet been overlaid (104). Find the menu display area after processing (+05). Repeat steps (102) to (1(15)) until it is determined that display is possible in step (102).When it is determined that overlay processing is not possible in step (103) ends with error display processing (10
6). At this time, the operator determines that the position of the previously specified menu destination reference point 25 is not good, and again specifies the position of a new menu destination reference point (101).
).

If it is determined that the menu can be displayed in step (102), the figure that has been displayed so far in the area where the menu will be displayed next (in this case, the destination menu display area B) (see Figure 4) b) After storing the screen display data of figure b) indicated by the dotted line in the main memory 107), the menu is displayed at the destination (108).

At this time, the figure in the menu display area B, which is the destination, disappears from the screen. Next, it is determined whether the currently given instruction is to move the menu (109).

In the case of menu movement (in this case, menu movement), the contents of the screen display data of the figure (figure a) in the movement source menu display area A, which has been stored in the main storage device 2 in advance. is displayed in the movement source menu display area A (111). This completes the menu movement, and the display screen at this time becomes as shown in FIG. 4(b).

Next, erasing and redisplaying the menu will be explained.

Menu deletion and menu redisplay functions are assigned to specific keys on the keyboard 7, and these keys are pressed to instruct menu deletion or redisplay.

When deleting a menu, when the operator presses a specific key to which a menu function is assigned, the currently displayed basic menu and hierarchical menu are deleted (110), and the main memory is deleted when the menu is displayed. The contents of the screen display data of the figure in the menu display area stored in the device 2 are displayed on the screen (Hl).

When redisplaying a menu, when the operator presses a specific key to which the redisplay function is assigned, the data processing device 1 stores data necessary for displaying the menu from the main memory 2 before erasing the menu. information, captures the screen display data of the figure in the area where the menu will be displayed, and stores this in the main storage device 2 (107)
. Next, the menu is displayed based on the menu display data held in the main storage device 2 before erasing the menu (1
08). In this case, in step (109), it is determined that the currently given instruction is to redisplay the menu and not to move the menu, so this is the end.

As mentioned above, menu movement and
By performing erasing or redisplay processing, the entire area of the display screen can be used as a drawing area.

The above explanation has been about the means for using the entire area of the display screen as a drawing area, but in this embodiment, as shown in the hierarchical menu 23 after movement in FIG. 1, the hierarchical menu display reference position 25 When overlapping hierarchical menus in relation to the hierarchical menu display area, only the function selection section is overlaid, and the heading section is visible for all levels.For example, when working on the fourth-level menu, When returning to the second level and working on another menu, the function selection area of the second level menu is displayed in one operation by the operator pointing to the heading area of the second level. It is possible to configure the menu so that the menu can be used with ease.

Further, when the hierarchical menu is divided into various processing functions and arranged into a hierarchical structure, the menu size and the number of functions in each hierarchy can be freely set. For this reason, as shown in the hierarchical menu 23 after movement in FIG. When the menus of the third hierarchy are superimposed, functions can be selected for the portions that protrude. As a result, when various functions are divided and arranged in menus, frequently used functions can be arranged so that they protrude from the stacked menus when menus are stacked, allowing function selection without changing the menu display. It can be configured so that it can be operated easily, and the operability can be improved.

The menu display can not only be moved, erased, and redisplayed, but also created by providing a function to enlarge or reduce the menu display by giving a magnification to the data conversion processing device 4 shown in FIG. It is also possible to configure the size of the menu display to be enlarged or reduced regardless of the area.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the menu can be moved to any position on the display screen, deleted, and redisplayed, so the entire display screen can be used as a wide drawing area. can be used.

Furthermore, the hierarchical menu is divided into a heading section and a function selection section, and by specifying the heading section, work can be branched from the desired hierarchy with a single operation, improving operability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display example of a menu before and after movement on the display screen in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a device configuration diagram of an embodiment of a CAD system to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. The figure shows menu movement, deletion, and
Flowchart 1-1 illustrating an example of the redisplay processing procedure. FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are diagrams illustrating display screens before and after menu movement in the embodiment of the present invention, respectively, and FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display screen of a conventional CAD system. 1...Data processing device 2...Main storage device 3...
・Graphic data storage device 4...Data conversion processing device 5...Screen display data storage device 6...Display device 7...Keyboard 8...
・Mouse 11...Display screen 12...Drawing area 21...Basic menu 22.23...
- Hierarchical menu 24...Menu movement source reference point 25...Menu movement destination reference point A, I3...Menu display area D...Display figures a, b...Figures in the menu display area Figure 3 coma) lrl- Figure 4 (Ct)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A menu indicating drawn figures processed by a data processing device and functions of the data processing device in response to input from an input device is displayed on a display screen of a CRT display device; In an interactive CAD system configured to select a menu, instructions for moving, erasing, and redisplaying the menu on the display screen, as well as a reference point for any menu movement destination, can be input from the input device, and the menu is displayed. means for storing data of a drawn figure within the area (this is referred to as a first drawn figure), and in response to an instruction to redisplay the menu or move the menu from the input device, respectively.
Means for redisplaying the menu in the menu display area before erasing the menu or moving the menu to the destination menu display area based on the menu destination reference point input from the input device, and redisplaying the above menu. or a means for storing the data of the drawn figures that fall within the re-display menu display area or the destination menu display area before the execution of the movement, and all menus from the display screen in response to an instruction to erase the menu from the input device. means for erasing the display of the first drawn figure based on the data of the first drawn figure stored in the movement source menu display area or the menu display area before the menu is erased after moving or erasing the menu; An interactive CAD system characterized by comprising means for reproducing on a display screen. 2. Menu display should be in the form of a hierarchical menu with a heading section and a function selection section for each hierarchical division, and if the destination menu display area does not fit within the display screen of the CRT display device, the heading sections should be shifted from each other. 2. The interactive CAD system according to claim 1, further comprising means for compressing the size of the destination menu display area on the display screen by overlapping the function selection sections.