JPH034320A - Data processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently execute a command retrieval by displaying the command menu of a hierarchy one order higher than that with a high probability to be utilized again after the command of a hierarchical structure is executed once. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 11 refers to a main memory 12 and calculates coordinates to indicate a display position on the picture as to all command menus to compose one command menu picture. All command menus are displayed on a display device 21. When a position instructing input from a mouse 19 is executed, the CPU 11 executes the command contained in a menu display routine corresponding to the selected menu. Next, the CPU 11 updates the contents of a table entry number register 16 by the list of the command menu of the hierarchy one order higher than a present one from a menu display hystory stack 15, the contents after updated are used, they are displayed on the display device 21, and the command is executed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention provides a data system that executes hierarchically structured commands by selecting and instructing a command menu displayed on a screen by position indicating means. It relates to a processing device.

(Prior Art) Generally, in order to execute a desired command in a data processing device that handles a hierarchical command system (command menu system), the root menu (
One command menu is selected from the group of command menus forming the top layer of the command system using a pointing device such as a tablet. 1
When one command menu is selected, a group of command menus in the next hierarchy of the same menu is displayed and used for the next command menu selection operation. Thereafter, by repeating command menu display and selection several times in the same manner, a command menu to be used for actual processing is retrieved, and the desired processing is performed by selecting the next command to be executed.

In such a conventional data processing device having a menu selection function, it is difficult to search for a target command unless the contents of the hierarchical structure of the command menu system are known. Furthermore, the hierarchical structure is fixed, and the displayed menu includes commands that are not actually used, so there are many choices, making it difficult to use.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, in the past, the command menu had to be selected several times from the root menu to search for the desired command, which took time to search. There was a problem in that it was difficult to search for the target command unless the contents of the hierarchical structure of the system were understood.

Furthermore, the hierarchical structure of the command system is fixed and cannot be changed to make it easier for the user to use, making it even more difficult to search for a desired command.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a data processing device that can efficiently perform command searches.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a data processing device in which the hierarchical structure of a command system can be easily changed and command retrieval efficiency can be further improved.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a data processing device that executes commands in a hierarchical structure by selecting and instructing a command menu displayed on a screen by a position indicating means. A menu list table that has multiple entries for registering a list of command menus that make up one command menu screen, and an entry in the menu list table that stores a list of command menus in the next hierarchy for each command menu. a storage means having a table entry designation area in which table entry designation information (for example, table entry number) is set; a first-in, last-out menu display history stack for storing command menu display history; a first determining means for determining whether the command menu selection instruction by the position indicating means is valid; and when the first determining means determines that the command menu selection instruction by the position indicating means is not valid; A means for extracting the table entry designation information from the menu display history stack and displaying a command menu one level higher based on the same information, and an instruction for command menu selection by the position indicating means by the first determining means. If it is determined that the table entry designation information is valid, it is determined whether or not valid table entry designation information is set in the table entry designation area in the storage means that corresponds to the command menu selected and designated by the position designation means. and if the second determining means determines that valid table entry designation information is set, the menu list table in which the list of command menus currently displayed on the screen is registered; means for saving table entry specification information specifying an entry in the menu display history stack, while displaying a command menu of the next hierarchy using the set valid table entry specification information; If it is determined by the means that no valid table entry specification information has been set, the command corresponding to the selected command menu is executed, the table entry specification information is retrieved from the menu display history stack, and the same information is retrieved from the menu display history stack. The present invention is characterized in that it includes means for displaying a command menu of the next higher hierarchy using the above command.

(Operation) According to the above configuration, if the command menu being displayed on the screen is effectively selected and instructed by the position indicating means, and the selected command menu is not the lowest command menu, the command menu is displayed on the screen. Table entry designation information indicating where the command menu list is registered is saved in a first-in, last-out menu display history stack, and the command menu at the next level (one level below) is displayed. In addition, when a valid menu selection is made and the corresponding command is executed while the lowest level command menu is displayed, the most recently saved table entry information from the menu display history stack, that is, the information about the last screen display. Table entry designation information indicating where the list of command menus has been registered is retrieved, and based on this information, a command menu one level higher than the currently displayed command menu is displayed. That is, the display state is returned to the command menu one level higher.

In addition, if the command menu selection instruction by the position instruction means is not valid (for example, if the location is specified outside the command menu display area), it is assumed that no menu selection has been made, and the most recent one from the menu display history stack is The table entry information saved in is retrieved, and based on this information, a command menu one level higher than the currently displayed command menu is displayed.

In this way, according to the above configuration, once a command in the hierarchical structure is executed, the next higher level command menu that is likely to be used again is displayed instead of the root menu. Therefore, menu selection efficiency (command search efficiency) is improved. Also, since there is no need to use this command menu, if a valid menu selection instruction is not given, the command menu one level higher than the currently displayed command menu will be displayed, so each time The desired menu is reached through many menu selections (compared to the conventional method, menu selection is easier). Furthermore, according to the above configuration, all that is required is to change the list of command menus registered in each entry in the menu list table and to change the table entry designation information set in each table entry designation area of the storage means. This makes it possible to change the hierarchical command (command menu) system to zero.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of a data processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 11 is a CPU that forms the center of the device and is in charge of controlling and managing the entire device, and 12 is a CPU.
This is the main memory for storing programs, data, etc. necessary for PU control processing, etc.

A menu list table 13 having a plurality of entries for registering a list of command menus constituting one command menu screen is placed in the main memory 12. Here, each entry in the menu list table 13 is composed of 16 bits from bit 0 to bit 15, as shown in FIG. Bits 0 to 15 of the entries in the menu list table 13 correspond to pages with page numbers 0 to 15 of the menu display program section 14, which will be described below.

Page numbers 0 to 1 of this menu display program section 14
Page 5 is assigned to settings such as display routines of command menus #0 to #15.

That is, in this embodiment, a maximum of 15 types of command menus can be handled. For example, when the table entry number of the menu list table 13 shown in FIG. 2 is O, bits 0, 2.8, Since 9°13 is set to "1", page numbers 0.2, 8, 9.
Command menu assigned to each page of 13 #
0. #2. #8. #9. One command menu screen is configured by #13.

As mentioned above, the main memory 12 contains page numbers 0 to 1.
A menu display program section 14 having 5 pages is placed. As shown in FIG. 3, pages with page numbers i (i-0 to 15) of the menu display program section 14 are located at the display position (coordinates indicating the display range) when the command menu #i is displayed on the screen. ) for setting the coordinate storage area 31, an entry number (next table entry number) indicating the entry in the menu list table 13 in which the list of command menus at the next level (one level below) is registered.
a table entry number storage area 32 for setting
and a program area 33 for setting the display routine of command menu #i. Note that if there is no command menu at the next level (that is, if the corresponding command menu is at the lowest level), the table entry number storage area 32 stores predetermined data indicating that (for example, all "1° data"). The main memory 12 further includes a first-in, last-out system for storing the display history of command menus using table entry numbers indicating where to register the list of displayed menus, as shown in FIG. A menu display history stack 15 and a table entry number register 16 for holding a table entry number (current table entry number) indicating the registration destination of a list of menus currently displayed on the screen are provided.

17 is a keyboard, 1g is an interface for the keyboard 17 (hereinafter referred to as keyboard IF), 19 is a position indicating means (pointing device) such as a mouse, 2
0 is an interface of the mouse 19 (hereinafter referred to as mouse IF). 21 is a display device, 22 is an interface of the display device 2F (hereinafter referred to as display IF), 23 is an external storage device, such as a floppy disk device, and 24 is a floppy disk device 23.
interface (hereinafter referred to as floppy disk IF).

Next, the operation of one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIG. 5.

First, in the initial state, CPULI sets a table entry number indicating the registration destination of a predetermined root menu list in the table entry number register 16 located in the main memory 12 (step SL).
), proceed to step S2.

In this step S2, the CPU II registers 1
Menu list table 1 specified by the table entry number set to 6 (current table entry number)
3, and detect all bits whose logical value is "1". The CPU II then updates all the command menus assigned to the pages of the menu display program unit 14 corresponding to each bit of logic "1", that is, all the command menus constituting one command menu screen. Calculate the coordinates of the display position on the screen. Next, the CPU II writes the calculated coordinates indicating the display position of each command menu into the coordinate storage area 31 of the corresponding page of the menu display program section 14 (step S3). Then, CPULI displays one command menu screen according to the contents of the page in the menu display program section 14 (coordinate +f!, area 31, and program area 33) indicated by the entry in the menu list table 13 specified by the current table entry number. Display all command menus that make up the IF22
Step S4 to display on the display device 21 via
), waits for coordinate input from the mouse 19 (step S5)
.

Now, when the user is in the command menu display state,
If there is a menu to be selected, for example, the coordinates of an arbitrary position within the display area of that menu, and if there is no menu to be selected, for example, the coordinates of an arbitrary position outside the menu display area, with the mouse 19 Operate and input instructions. This position instruction input can be made by operating the mouse 19 to move the mouse cursor to a desired position and pressing (clicking) a predetermined mouse button. Note that instead of the mouse 19, it is also possible to use a position indicating means such as a tablet input device, a cursor' key on the keyboard 17, or the like.

When a position instruction is input from the mouse 19, the CPU II is notified of this from the mouse 1F2O.

As a result, the CPU II reads the coordinates input from the mouse 19 via the mouse 1F2O, and determines whether or not the menu has been selected based on the coordinates and the display position of the currently displayed menu (if selected, at any time). (step S6). If a menu is selected (a valid menu selection is made), the CPU II selects the table entry number storage area 32 of the page in the menu display program section 14 in which the display routine of the selected menu is stored. Refer to
It is determined whether or not a menu in the next hierarchy (one level below) exists (if so, the table entry number indicating the registration destination of the list of command menus in the next hierarchy) is determined (step S7).

If there is a menu in the next hierarchy of the selected menu, that is, if the selected menu is for calling the menu in the next hierarchy, cputt is the table entry number determined above (selected The contents of the table entry number register 1B are updated according to the contents of the table entry number storage area 32 of the page in the menu display program unit 14 corresponding to the menu (step S9). Next, the CPU II returns to step S2 and uses the updated contents of the table entry number register 1B to calculate the display position of each new command menu (command menu one level below). Thereafter, operations similar to those described above are performed to display a new command menu screen, and when a position instruction is input from the mouse 19 (steps 83 to S5), the menu is selected in step S6 described above. It is determined whether or not.

If a menu has been selected, it is determined whether or not there is a menu in the next hierarchy as described above (step S7).

If the menu next to the selected menu does not exist, that is, if the selected menu is a menu for executing commands such as drawing processing (lowest menu), the CPU II will first (Step S10)
. Next, the CPU II selects the most recently saved table entry number from the first-in, first-out menu display history stack 15, that is, the list of command menus one level above the current level (here, the list of command menus one level above the bottom level). Takes out the table entry number (table entry number 4 if the state of the menu display history stack 15 is as shown in FIG. 4) indicating the registration destination of the list of menu items (menu list) and updates the contents of the table entry number register 1B with the same number. (Step 5ll). Next, the CPU 1l performs step S
Returning to step 2, using the updated contents of the table entry number register 1B, the display position is calculated for each of the menus one level above the current level (menus one level above the bottom level). Thereafter, operations similar to those described above are performed to display a new command menu screen (menu screen one level higher), and when a position instruction is input from the mouse 19 (steps 83 to S5), In step SG described above, it is determined whether a menu has been selected.

If no menu is selected, the CPU II assumes that the current command menu screen does not include the menu desired by the user, and selects the current command menu from the menu display history stack 15 in the same way as in step Sll. The table entry number indicating the registration destination of the list of the menu one level higher is taken out, and the contents of the table entry number register te are updated with the same number (
Step 512). Next, the CPU II returns to step S2, and uses the updated contents of the table entry number register 16 to create a menu one level higher than the current one.
Execute the operations described above.

As described above, according to this embodiment, after a command in a hierarchical structure is executed, the next higher level command menu that is likely to be used again is displayed instead of the root menu. Ru. Further, if a menu is not selected because there is no menu to be used on the command menu screen, a command menu one level higher than the currently displayed command menu is displayed each time. Such menu display eliminates the need for the user to trace the desired command menu from the root menu each time, and allows the user to easily make menu selections.

Further, in this embodiment, the list of menus forming the command menu screen can be changed simply by rewriting the state of the logical value of each bit of each table entry in the menu display program section 14. Along with this menu list change, the table entry number storage area 32 in the menu display program section 14 corresponding to each menu is
By changing the contents of (i.e., the table entry number indicating the registration destination of the list of command menus defined as the next level of the corresponding menu), the hierarchical command (command menu) system can be configured as desired by the user. Can be changed freely.

In the above embodiment, an independent page is allocated to each menu, and the coordinate storage area 31, table entry number storage area 32, and program area 33 are placed on this page, but the invention is not limited to this. do not have. For example, the menu display program section (14)
It consists of a coordinate storage area (31) allocated to each menu, a table entry number storage area (32), and a pointer area that indicates the position of the program area (33).The program area (33) is indicated by the contents of the pointer area. It is also possible to place it at a location independent from the menu display program section (14) that is displayed.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, once a command in a hierarchical structure is executed, the command is not displayed in the root menu, but in the next higher level that is likely to be used again. Since the command menu is displayed, menu selection efficiency (command search efficiency) is improved. Also, since there is no need to use this command menu, if a valid menu selection instruction is not given, the command menu one level higher than the currently displayed command menu will be displayed, so each time The desired menu is reached through many menu selections (compared to the conventional method, menu selection is easier).

Further, according to the present invention, the list of command menus registered in each entry in the menu list table is changed, and the table entry designation area in the storage means (menu display program section in the embodiment) allocated for each menu is changed. You can freely change the command (command menu) structure of the hierarchical structure by simply changing the table entry specification information set in (indicating the registration destination of the command menu list at the next level). can be done more easily.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a data processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the structure of a command menu list registered in an entry in the menu list table shown in FIG. 1. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the menu display program section shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of table entry number storage in the menu display history stack shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an explanation of the operation. This is a flowchart for DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... CPU, 12... Main memory, 13... Menu list team, 14... Menu display program section, 15... Menu display history stack, 16...
...Table entry number register, 17...Keyboard, 19...Mouse (position indicating means), 21...
Display device, 31... Coordinate storage area, 32...
-Table entry number storage area, 33...program area.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a data processing device that executes commands in a hierarchical structure by selectively instructing a command menu displayed on a screen by a position indicating means, a list of command menus constituting one command menu screen is provided. A menu list table that has multiple entries for registration, and a table for setting table entry specification information that specifies entries in the menu list table, in which a list of command menus in the next hierarchy is registered for each command menu. a storage means having an entry designation area; a first-in-last-out menu display history stack for storing command menu display history; and determining whether or not the command menu selection instruction by the position instruction means is valid. a first determining means; if the first determining means determines that the command menu selection instruction by the position specifying means is not valid, the table entry designation information is retrieved from the menu display history stack; means for displaying a command menu at the next higher level based on the position indication; and if the first determination means determines that the command menu selection instruction by the position indication means is valid; a second determining means for determining whether or not valid table entry designation information is set in a table entry designation area in the storage means corresponding to a command menu selected and instructed by the second determining means; If it is determined that the above table entry specification information is valid,
The table entry specification information that specifies the entry of the above menu list table in which the list of command menus currently displayed on the screen is registered is saved to the above menu display history stack, while the valid table entry specification information set above is saved. means for displaying the command menu of the next hierarchy based on the above command menu; and when it is determined by the second determining means that the valid table entry specification information has not been set, the command menu for which selection has been instructed is performed. Execute the command corresponding to , extract the table entry specification information from the menu display history stack, and create
A data processing device comprising: means for displaying a command menu at the next higher level;