JPH04290172A - Drawing element selection system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily select drawing elements consisting of plural figure elements displayed on a display device by displaying a table of patterns corresponding to the respective drawing elements on the display device and indicating desired drawing elements on this table. CONSTITUTION:The figure displayed on the display device consists of, for example, drawing elements 1-5. The drawing elements 1-5 are made different in color or density. In another way, the outward shapes of the drawing elements 1-5 are represented by using different kinds of line. Selection areas 1'-5' are displayed in the selection table for the drawing elements 1-5. The patterns of the selection areas 1'-5' are made to correspond to the patterns of the drawing elements 1-5. For example, when the drawing element 4 is selected, the corresponding selection area 4' is indicated. A data base for drawing elements is retrieved according to the indication and the drawing element 4 is determined. Thus, the drawing elements of a complicate figure can easily be selected.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a graphic element selection method for selecting a specific graphic element from among graphic elements displayed on a graphic display device. 2. Description of the Related Art In systems that display information as figures on a graphic display, it is common to select graphical elements in systems where the figures are manipulated or instructions are given by manipulating them.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art When editing a figure or performing some kind of processing through editing a figure, in order to perform an operation on a displayed figure element, the object of operation is one of the figure elements displayed on a display device. You need to choose from. In the conventional graphical element selection method, when a graphical element is selected using a pointing device, if a line segment or surface that constitutes a graphic exists at the position indicated by the pointer, that line segment or surface is selected as a component. Figures can be selected either by selecting the graphical elements to be selected, or by predetermining the selection order for the graphical elements and changing the selection target in order.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, when using a method of selecting a graphical element that includes a point indicated by a pointer, selecting a line drawing requires precise movement of the pointer in units of one dot. This makes it difficult to manipulate pointers. Further, if a switch or the like is attached to the pointer indicating device and it is necessary to operate it, the pointer may move during operation, making it difficult to provide precise instructions. When a plurality of figures are intricately arranged in a relatively narrow area, it is difficult, and in some cases impossible, to select a figure element by specifying a surface. In the method of sequentially selecting graphical elements, when there are many target graphical elements, it takes time to select them, and it may not be possible to select the graphical elements easily.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a graphical element selection method that can easily and accurately select even complex graphical elements that are difficult to select.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a graphical element selection method in which a desired graphical element is selected from among graphical elements displayed on a display device using a pointer. A table showing selection display bodies corresponding to each graphic element is displayed on the display device, and the selection display bodies of this table are designated and selected.

[0006] Furthermore, the graphical elements are each represented in a different color or density, and the selection display body is represented in the same color or density as the corresponding graphical element.

[0007]Furthermore, the outlines of the graphical elements are represented by different types of lines, and the selection display body is represented by the same lines as the lines representing the outlines of the corresponding graphical elements.

[0008] Further, each of the graphical elements is represented by a different type of pattern, and the selection display body is represented by the same pattern as the corresponding graphical element.

[0009] Furthermore, in a graphic element selection method in which a desired graphic element is selected from among the graphic elements displayed on a display device using a pointer, the portion indicated by the pointer and its surroundings are enlarged and displayed. A pointer is used to point to the displayed part.

[0010] With the above configuration, by pointing the selection display body of the table with the pointer, the graphic element corresponding to this selection display body can be selected, so that the desired graphic element is extremely small and can be accurately pointed with the pointer. Even when it is difficult to select a desired graphic element, it is possible to easily select the desired graphic element.

[0011] As this selection display body, a color or density that is the same as that of the corresponding graphic element, a line that is the same type as the line representing the outline of the corresponding graphic element, or a pattern that is the same as the pattern of the corresponding graphic element is used. By using either one, the selection becomes easy.

[0012] Furthermore, since the part indicated by the pointer and its surroundings are enlarged and displayed, and a desired graphic element in the enlarged part is selected, selection can be made accurately and easily.

[0013]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of a graphic display device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In the figure, 11 is a frame buffer that stores image data, 12 is a RAM, and 13 is an RO.
Store data and programs in M. A display controller 14 displays the image written in the frame buffer 11 on the display 15. 16 is CP
U writes an image to the frame buffer 11 according to a program stored in the ROM 13 and performs overall control. For image writing to the frame buffer 11, dedicated hardware or a CPU may be prepared. Reference numeral 17 denotes an I/O controller, which controls a mouse 18 for specifying coordinates when handling images displayed on the display 15, a keyboard 19 for mainly inputting characters, and other external storage devices and input/output devices 20. . This I/O controller 17 may be divided into multiple controllers.

Next, the operation will be explained using a flow diagram. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing the operation of this embodiment. First, when a figure selection instruction is received (step 31), the position of the pointer specified at that time is read (step 32).
), searches the graphic element database from the read coordinates (step 33). Next, a list of graphical elements that can be selected is created (step 34), the number of graphical elements to be selected is determined (step 35), and if the number of graphical elements is 0, an error is determined (step 36), and the graphical elements If the number is 1, the graphic element is determined (step 37), and if the number of graphic elements is 2 or more, the graphic element determination process according to the flowchart shown below is called (step 38), and the desired graphic element is selected from the target graphic element group. Confirm the element.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method for selecting a plurality of graphical elements using a table. First, the graphical elements to be selected are sorted using the priority order (step 41).
). Here, the priority order includes the following depending on the characteristics of the figure. ■ Sort items from the closest distance to the pointing device or from the farthest distance from the pointing device. ■By sorting by overlapping shapes, sort from the top shape or from the bottom shape. ■By sorting shapes by area, sort from the largest area to the smallest area. ■Sort by the size of the area of figures included in the area within a predetermined radius from the point indicated by the pointing device. - Sorting figures included in an area within a predetermined radius from a point indicated by a pointing device, based on the ratio of the part of the figure included in that area to the total area of the figure.

Next, a table is created from the list of graphical elements (step 42), and the created table is displayed (step 42).
Step 43). FIG. 1 is a diagram showing selection using this table, in which patterns are used to make selections. When a selection is instructed near graphic element 4 to select graphic element 4, graphic elements 1 to 3 and graphic element 5 are nearby graphic element 4, and therefore all graphic elements become selection targets. Graphical elements to be selected are displayed in each pattern, and a selection table is provided on the right side of the figure. The selection table displays selection areas 1' to 5' corresponding to the respective patterns of graphic elements 1 to 5. A graphical element is selected by selecting an area (4' in this case) corresponding to a desired graphical element from selection areas 1' to 5' of this table. Next, it is determined whether it has been selected from the table (step 44), and the graphic element paired with the selected one is determined (step 45).

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for facilitating pointing by enlarging the selection target area. First, the graphic image around the pointer is enlarged (step 51), and the enlarged graphic image is displayed (step 52). Next, it is enlarged to make it easier to select, so select the desired graphic element by pointing.
(Step 53), determine the figure element corresponding to the figure selected in this enlarged image (Step 5
4).

[0018]

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, the present invention provides a table corresponding to displayed graphical elements, selects a desired graphical element from the table, and expands the selection area to select a desired graphical element. Since the graphical elements are selected, the selection operation is easy and reliable selection can be made.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of selection using a table in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a graphic display device that implements the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a procedure for selecting graphic elements.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a selection procedure using a table.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a procedure for enlarging and selecting a selection target area.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Frame buffer 12 RAM 13 ROM 14 Display controller 15 Display 16 CPU 17 I/O controller 18 Mouse 19 Keyboard

Claims (5)

[Claims] Claim 1: In a graphical element selection method in which a desired graphical element is selected from among graphical elements displayed on a display device using a pointer, a table representing selection display bodies corresponding to each displayed graphical element is provided. A graphic element selection method characterized in that the graphic element selection method is displayed on the display device, and the selection display body of the table is designated and selected. 2. The graphical element selection method according to claim 1, wherein each of the graphical elements is represented in a different color or density, and the selection display body is represented in the same color or density as the corresponding graphical element. 3. The figure according to claim 1, wherein the outline of the graphic element is represented by different types of lines, and the selection display body is represented by the same line as the line representing the outline of the corresponding graphic element. Selection method. 4. The graphical element selection method according to claim 1, wherein each of the graphical elements is represented by a different type of pattern, and the selection display body is represented by the same pattern as the corresponding graphical element. 5. In a graphical element selection method in which a desired graphical element is selected from among graphical elements displayed on a display device using a pointer, a portion indicated by the pointer and its surroundings are displayed in an enlarged manner, and the enlarged display is performed. A graphical element selection method characterized in that a desired graphical element is selected by pointing to the selected part with a pointer.