JPH03103914A - Data input system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To input even numerical information by a picture display device and a pointing device and to improve the convenience for use by displaying a measure covering an input range as a guide on a picture and designating numerical values on this measure by the operation of the pointing device. CONSTITUTION:At the time of input of item information, items as input candidates are displayed as the guide on the screen of a picture display device 1 and are designated with a cursor moved by the operation of a pointing device 3; and at the time of input of numerical information, the measure covering the input range is displayed as the guide on the screen of the picture display device 1 and numerical values on this measure are designated with a narrow-line cursor moved by the operation of the pointing device 3. Numerical values on the measure are designated with the narrow-line cursor moved by the operation of the pointing device in this manner to eliminate a need to display many numerical values with figures on the screen, and therefore, not only item information but also numerical information can be inputted by the pointing device 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a data input method suitable for various data processing tasks using a computer.

(Prior art) In data processing operations using computers, C.
There are various methods of inputting desired information in a so-called interactive format by operating a pointing device (mouse, trackball, light pane, tablet, etc.) while looking at the screen of an image display such as RT.

According to such an input method, even an operator who is inexperienced with keyboard operations can input desired information relatively easily and quickly, improving work efficiency in this type of data processing work. I can do it.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in such conventional data input methods, it is difficult to input item information such as indicating the type of input data or specifying one of two or three numerical values. On the other hand, when inputting numerical information such as arbitrary date aDI fixed value and time, the number of items to be displayed is enormous, and it is virtually impossible to input accurate numerical information depending on the operation of the pointing device. Therefore, there was a problem in that numerical information had to be obtained through separate keyboard operations.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a data input method that allows not only item information but also numerical information to be input using a pointing device. There is a particular thing.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for inputting item information and numerical information using an image display and a pointing device. When inputting numeric information, input candidate items are displayed on the screen of the image display and specified by a cursor that is moved by operating the pointing device. The system is characterized in that a scale covering the input range is displayed on the screen of the display device as a guide, and the numerical value on the scale is designated by a thin line cursor that is moved by operating a pointing device.

(Function) According to this configuration, when inputting numerical information, a scale that covers the input range is displayed on the screen of the image display, and the corresponding value on the scale can be moved by operating the pointing device. Since the specification is made using a moving thin line cursor, it is no longer necessary to display numerous numerical values on the screen using numbers.
Even numerical information can be input using a pointing device.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the hardware configuration of a computer system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

In the figure, a display section 1 functions as a man-machine ink face, and uses, for example, a CRT.

Although the keyboard 2 is not particularly required in this embodiment, it is used for auxiliary input of various other data.

As mentioned above, the pointing device 3 is a mouse, trackball, light pen, tablet, etc.
It is used for various data input in this embodiment method.

The human output control section 4 is in charge of input/output control of the display section 1, pointing input device 3, etc. described above.

The window management unit 5 performs human output management for a plurality of display windows such as a display for data processing, an input support display, and an input support display.

The input processing section 6 displays input assistance information and an input assistance window based on the information stored in the input item attribute information storage section 8, and processes input data.

The data processing unit 7 is for taking in each user's application and realizing the corresponding processing function.

Next, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the configuration of the control program of the method of this embodiment, and hereinafter, the operation of the method of this embodiment will be systematically explained with reference to this flowchart and the screen explanatory diagram of FIG. 3. .

This flowchart represents one of the processes that is repeated for each piece of input information when several pieces of information are sequentially input.

When the program is started, the presence or absence of auxiliary display is determined for the information to be input based on its attribute information (step 201).

Here, if there is an auxiliary display (step 201
YES), auxiliary display of the specified display type is performed (
Step 202).

Here, the input auxiliary display may be, for example, a numeric keypad display window as shown in FIG. 3, or a normal menu display (not shown).

Next, the operator uses the pointing input device 3 (for example, a mouse) to perform a predetermined selection or instruction operation.

Then, on the device side, an answer back to the input operation is displayed (step 20) until the mouse button is clicked and the input is confirmed (step 204).
3).

Here, the answer-back display etc. is to mark the currently selected item in the case of a menu display, or to digitally display the numbers specified by the mouse in sequence in the case of a numeric keypad display.

Thereafter, when the input is confirmed by clicking the mouse (step 204, YES), the human data is edited according to the specified format (step 205).

After that, it is determined whether there is a procedure specification at the time of input (step 206), and if there is a procedure specification (step 206 YES).
), calls and executes the specified procedure (step 207
).

On the other hand, if the input auxiliary display is not specified (step 201, NO), the user uses the mouse to cyclically select the selection item or turn on/off the input item (step 208). ).

Next, a description example of input item attribute information is shown.

(ITEM “Start Time” 20 50) (BE
FORE TEN-KEY TIME )(RETUI
? N TIME 1111:MM)(REDISP
120 50 TIME HH:MM) (ACT
ION timeproe ) (AFTER DONE
) This example description has the following meaning.

In other words, when the display position is (20.50) for the input item IEI called start time and the input item becomes the input target,
By specifying BEFORE, a numeric keypad display window as shown in FIG. 3 appears.

At the right end of this window, there is a scale 3 indicating the time.
6 is provided, and a scale 37 indicating "minutes" is provided at the other end.

When the mouse is moved within this window, the "hour" indicated by the horizontal line 30b of the crosshair cursors 30a and 30b will be displayed.
The time data given as "minute" data indicated by the vertical line 30a is displayed in the data display frame 32 in this window.
The digital display will be updated until the mouse button is released.

When the mouse button is released and the data is confirmed, the confirmed data is displayed in the HH:MM display format (120
．． 50). After that, ACT I O
The procedure 'timeproC' indicated by N is called and executed.

AFTER means to erase the numeric keypad display window after input processing. are doing.

As described above, in the method of this embodiment, when the numeric keypad display window appears on the screen, the date (month) scale 34, the date (day) scale 35, and the time (hour) scale 36 are displayed on the four sides surrounding it. , time (minute) scales 37 are displayed, and when these are selected with the cross dials 30a, 30b, the selected day, month, hour, and minute are displayed within the data input data display frame 32. This makes it possible to easily input any month, day, hour, and minute by simply moving the cursor using the mouse, without having to switch from the mouse to the keyboard as in the conventional system.

Separately, if you specify the numeric keypad input section 3t with the mouse while moving the normal cursor, the scales 34 to 3
It is also possible to input any numerical information without using 7.

Furthermore, mode positions consisting of A, B, C, and D are displayed on the outer circumference of the dial figure 33 displayed in the numeric keypad display window, and if you move the cursor to this and perform a click operation, various It is also possible to quickly switch modes.

In addition, in the figure, 38. Numeral 39 indicates special key menu buttons, and by moving the cursor to these and clicking them, various special menus can be displayed on the screen.

In this way, according to the method of this embodiment, the scale 3 is displayed on the display screen.
Display numbers 4 to 37 and move this to the cross Yakasol 30a,
30b to make a selection, it is possible to input not only item information but also numerical values + 1'I N using a pointing device, without having to use a separate numeric keypad like in the conventional method. This type of input operation can be performed efficiently.

In the above embodiments, the display form of the auxiliary information may be image information such as character strings or icons, or the input support window may be a combination of a numeric keypad and a menu, or It may also be an arrangement of alphanumeric characters or symbols.

Also, by combining attributes, it is possible to have multiple processing methods depending on the type of mouse button.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, not only item information but also numerical information can be input using a combination of an image display and a pointing device, which makes it possible to input not only item information but also numerical information. It is not necessary to use a pointing device and a numeric keypad together, and the usability of this type of device can be significantly improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the hardware configuration of a computer system to which the method of this embodiment is applied, FIG. It is an explanatory view showing an example of a display screen by an example method. Display section 3... Pointing input device 30a, 30b... Crosshair cursor 34... Date (month) scale 35... Date (day) scale 36... Time (hour) ) Scale 37... Time (minute) scale

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a method of inputting item information and numerical information using an image display and a pointing device, when inputting item information, a guide is displayed on the screen of the image display to indicate items that are input candidates. This is specified by a cursor that is moved by operating a pointing device, while when inputting numerical information, a scale that covers the input range is displayed on the screen of the image display, and the corresponding value on this scale is displayed as a guide. A data input method characterized by specifying data using a thin line cursor that is moved by operating a pointing device.