JPH0344732A - Window control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the memory capacity by storing the display data on the part of a lower window which is not displayed on a upper window into an overlap data storage means. CONSTITUTION:A single sheet of a secondary page 5b of a picture memory is used as an overlap data storage means. The page 5b stores the display data on an area (a) where a window B is not displayed on a window A on a main page 5a in the same coordinate area as the page 5a. When a window C is displayed on the window B, the information on an area where the window C is displayed on the page 5a is stored in the same coordinate area as the page 5b. While the page 5b stores the display data on an area (b) of the window B where the window C is not displayed. Then the window C is drawn on the page 5a. Thus it is not required to store all data stored in the windows for each window. As a result, the overlapping display of windows can be attained with small memory capacity.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (a) Industrial Application Field The invention also relates to a window control method when displaying a plurality of windows on a display device, and particularly relates to control when windows are displayed overlapping each other. Regarding the method.

(b) 1-baked rice technology In the work stage 3, which has a relatively i6 speed data processing speed and a large storage area, in order to improve the man-machine interface, display devices such as CRTs are used. Window display 1 Normally, window display allows overlapping window display in which windows overlap each other (Computer Science Magazine R
l) itJ Kyoyuki Publishing @ March 1987 Vow,
Article 19, No. 3 “Special Feature – Window System”
(See pages 1 to 48).

In order to enable overlapping window display, systems such as workstations store display data output within each window in a real memory space (main storage area). By doing this,
Free overlap between windows, window movement,
It enables complex operations such as changing the vertical relationship between windows.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, when displaying overlapping windows, there is a need for window management, especially for storing data displayed in windows that are hidden (underneath) by the overlap between windows. Since the main storage area is used to store the windows, it limits the scale of other application programs executed on the window system, making it difficult to execute large-scale application programs. Furthermore, the number of windows that can be displayed simultaneously is non-fixedly limited.

Historically, personal computers with lower processing power and smaller storage capacity than workstations have used 6Ii memory to achieve overlapping window display, instead of storing the display data in the window in the L storage area. Some are stored in external storage devices such as disks. However, even in this case, it takes a long time to access the display data in the window from and to the external storage device, which may hinder the execution of the application program on the window system.

ζ2) Means for solving the problem Book 8 @ Akira is a window control method when displaying windows on a display device in an overlapping manner, in which display data is used to store display data displayed on the display device. storage means, and an overlap data storage means of the same size corresponding to the display data storage means, and when displaying a window with a double saw, the lower side of the display data storage means that is not displayed overlaps with the upper window. When storing the display data of the window portion in the pattern data storage means and erasing the upper window, the display data of the lower window portion overlapped by the upper window on the display data storage means ＼ It stores the display data stored in the pattern data storage means.

(e) Since the display data of the lower window portion that is no longer displayed when the active windows overlap is stored in the overlap data storage means, it is no longer necessary to store all the data in the window for each window. Then, overlapping window display is realized while minimizing restrictions on the scale of other application programs executed on the window system.

(F) Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a personal computer (or workstation) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(1) is a control circuit that controls the entire device with a CPU as a component, and (2) is a control circuit that is composed of ROM and RAM 70
This is a main memory circuit that stores various data such as grams.

(33 is a keyboard as an input means, (4) is a CRT
or a display device such as a liquid crystal display, (5) is the display bag f
A picture frame memory (V
RAM), and the storage area of the image memory (5) is:
It is divided into storage areas (hereinafter referred to as pages) that correspond to the display screen of the display device (4) on a one-to-one basis, and is composed of a plurality of pages. Among the pages of this image memory (5), the content of the page, that is, the display data is displayed on the display device (1
) and displayed on the screen of the display device (4>) is hereinafter referred to as the main page (display data storage means) (5a), and no content other than the main page (5a) is displayed on the display device. Page to secondary page (5b) (5c) (5d)
・It is called =.

This sub page is normally used, for example, to switch display screens when performing multitasking.

(6) is an external storage device such as a magnetic disk device.

Now, regarding the case where the - sub-pages (5b) of the image memory (5) are used as a data storage means, and windows are displayed in an overlapping manner (overlapping window display) with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. explain.

In FIG. 2 and FIG. 1, which will be described later, the content of the main page is the display screen displayed on the display device (4).

Now, on the main page (5a), window B is drawn on top of window A, as shown in Figure 2, and on the sub page (5b), window B is drawn on the main page (5a). Area a that overlaps window A and is not displayed
display data is stored in the same coordinate area as the main page (5a).

When displaying window C overlapping window B, first, information on the area in which window C is displayed on the main page (5a) is stored in the same coordinate area on the sub page (5b). Through this process, the display data of the area of window B that is not displayed because window C overlaps is stored on the sub page (5b).

After that, window C is drawn on the main page (5a) (the contents of window C are stored). In this way, the main page (
In 5a), window C is drawn overlapping window B and displayed on the display device (4).

Next, the case of erasing window T'7C overlapping window B will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

In this case, information on the coordinate area (including the area) of the sub page (5b) that is the same as the coordinate area of the window C to be erased on the main page (5a) is read out, and
In the scolding area of window C, write \. Furthermore, the sub page (5
b) Delete the information in the coordinate area above.

As a result, display data is stored in the main page (5a) with window B overlapping window A, and only display data for area a that is not displayed due to window B overlapping is stored in the secondary page (5b). The state will be as follows.

Next, the case where only window B is deleted and windows A and C are left will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

In this case, since a part of window B overlaps with window A and another part with window C, firstly, a subpage is created that uses all the display data on the main page (5a) as a data storage means for saving. (5c) is transferred and stored as is.

Then, information on the coordinate area (including areas a and b) of the sub page (5b) which is the same as the coordinate area of window B to be erased in the main page (5a) is read out, and
) into the coordinate area of window B. Furthermore, since the windows no longer overlap with each other by erasing window B, information on the coordinate area on the subpage (:)b) corresponding to the read coordinate area of window B is erased.

Next, information on the coordinate area (i.e. display data of window C) in the sub page (5c) that is the same as the coordinate area of window C that was above the deleted window B in the main page (5a) is read out, and Write to the coordinate area of window C in 5a).

Therefore, only window B, which overlaps window A and has window C as its hook, is deleted from the main page (5a).
Therefore, the display on the display device (4) is displayed in windows A, B, and C.
The display changes to the display of windows A and C.

In the present invention, especially when applied to devices such as personal computers that do not have a high processing power, it is possible to overlap three or more windows at the same location at the same time, and to , of the two overlapping windows,
If the upper window is erased first, the number of sub pages (or data storage means) required to store data that is not displayed due to overlapping windows can be reduced to -.

Furthermore, even if the lower window is to be erased first, as in the examples shown in Figures 6 and 7, this can be done using only another sub-page (saved data storage means).

In this embodiment, the sub page of the image memory is used as the overlap data storage means and the evacuation data storage means.
If the image memory cannot hold multiple pages, use the first
As shown in the figure, a part of the storage area of the main storage device (2) has a storage area (equal to the subpage (5b) (and subpage (3C) if necessary) of the above-mentioned image memory (5). 2b) may be provided and the storage area (2b) may be allocated as overlapping data storage means or evacuation data storage means.

(G) Effects of the Invention The present invention is clear from the above description. Display data in one piece = I! Since the data is stored in pages (overlapping data storage means), a large storage capacity is not required to realize overlapping window display.

Furthermore, if another sub-page (evacuation data storage means) is prepared, it is possible to first erase an intermediate window that overlaps the upper and lower windows.

Therefore, a window system can be realized with a small amount of memory, and a large memory space in the main storage device can be used by application programs other than the window system. , the execution of large-scale application programs becomes easier.

Furthermore, since there is no need to use an external storage device such as a magnetic disk to achieve overlapping window display, application programs can be executed smoothly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram F of an information processing device a according to the present invention to an embodiment.
Figure III, Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of overlapping window display, Figure 3 is a flowchart of overlapping window display, Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram of erasing the upper window, and Figure 5 is Figure 4. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for erasing the intermediate window width, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart for FIG. (1)...Control circuit, (2)...Main memory circuit, (2
b)...Storage area (overlapping data storage means) (3)...
...Keyboard, (4)...Display device, (,5)...
・Image memory, (5a)...Main page (display data storage means), (5b)...Sub page (overlapping page storage means), (5C)...Sub page, evacuation data storage means), ( 6)...External storage device.

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) In a window control method when windows are displayed in an overlapping manner on a display device, the method comprises: display data storage means for storing display data to be displayed on the display device; and overlapping data of the same size corresponding to the display data storage means. storage means, when displaying windows in an overlapping manner, storing display data of a portion of the lower window which is not displayed overlapping with the upper window on the display data storage means, in the overlapping data storage means; A window control method characterized in that, when erasing a window, display data stored in the overlapping data storage means is stored in a lower window portion on the display data storage means where an upper window overlaps. . (2) The window control method according to claim 1, wherein the display data storage means and the overlap data storage means are provided in a storage area divided from an image memory that supplies display data to a display device. (3) The display data storage means is provided in a storage area of an image memory that supplies display data to a display device, and the overlap data storage means is provided in a storage area of a part of a main storage device different from the image memory. The window control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: (4) In a window control method when displaying a plurality of windows on a display device, a display data storage means for storing display data to be displayed on the display device, and overlapping data of the same size corresponding to the display data storage means are provided. storage means, and a save data storage means of the same size as the display data storage means, wherein a part of the middle window overlaps a part of the lower window on the display data storage means. When a part of the upper window is overlapped on top of another part of the middle window, the display data of the part of the middle window that is not displayed when the upper window is overlapped, and the display data of the part of the middle window that is overlapped is Part of the display data of the lower window that is not displayed is stored in the overlapping data storage means, and when erasing the intermediate window, all the display data stored in the display data storage means is stored in the evacuation data storage means. and store the display data corresponding to the middle window position on the overlap data storage means in the middle window position on the display data storage means, and further store the display data corresponding to the middle window position on the overlapping data storage means, and A window control method characterized in that display data corresponding to a window position is stored in an upper window position on the display data storage means, thereby erasing an intermediate window from the display data storage means. (5) The display data storage means, the overlapping data storage means, and the evacuation data storage means are provided in a storage area obtained by dividing an image memory that supplies display data to a display device. Window control method described. (6) The display data storage means is provided in a storage area of an image memory that supplies display data to a display device, and the overlap data storage means and the save data storage means are provided in a main storage device different from the image memory. 5. The window control method according to claim 4, wherein the window control method is provided in a storage area of the section.