JPH04302366A - Retrieving display device of interactive data system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the retrieving display device of an interactive system which grasps easily the data and does not reduce the business efficiency even when a table is larger than a displaying screen. CONSTITUTION:A table generating part 1 generates a table and displays the table through a displaying control part 3 to the screen of a displaying part 4. On the other hand, by operating an input part 6, at least 2 squares in the table are selected, one out of respective squares is designated as a representative square, and then, respective selected squares and the representative square are registered to a table attribute control part 5. By operating the input part 6, the above-mentioned registering content of the table attribute control part 5 can be erased. When the registering content is registered in the table attribute control part 5, the table generating part 1 erases other squares excluding the representative square out of respective selected squares on the screen and displays the effect that other erased squares are hidden in the above-mentioned representative squares.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a search display device for an interactive data system that displays a table on a display screen and displays data in each square of the table for searching.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, interactive data systems have been widely used to perform various tasks in an interactive manner. This interactive data system is configured using personal computers, workstations, etc., and includes a central processing unit that stores data and performs necessary processing, a display device that displays processing results on a display screen, and a display device that displays data necessary for data processing. The computer is equipped with a keyboard and mouse (pointing input device) for inputting commands, etc., a printing device for outputting hard copies of data as needed, and an external storage device for storing data. In such an interactive data system, when a necessary instruction is given using the keyboard or mouse, the response to this instruction is immediately reflected on the display screen, and new instructions can be given one after another in response to the response. , the processing result that the user is seeking can be obtained.

[0003] In such an interactive data system, it is desirable to display various data on the display screen in a manner that is rational and easy for the user to understand. A display format is frequently used in which a table is formed on a display screen and various data are organized and displayed in each square of the table.

However, when the number of rows and columns in a table increases and the table becomes larger than the display screen, it becomes impossible to display all the squares on the display screen at once. For example, if there are too many squares to be arranged in the row direction of the table, these squares will not fit within the width of the display screen and will protrude.

For this reason, each square in the row direction may be displayed in two lines instead of in one line, and an example of this display format is shown in FIG. Here, “employee number”
, it is desirable to display the six items "Name", "Job", "Boss", "Salary", and "Department Name" in one line, but the last item "Department Name" protrudes. , this "department name" item is arranged in the next line. In other words, one line contains "employee number", "name",
Arrange the five items “work”, “boss”, and “salary”,
In the next line, the remaining one item of "department name" is arranged. However, such a display format is not necessarily easy to read, and causes confusion when understanding the data listed in the table.

[0006] Therefore, there is a method in which the table can be moved on the display screen without changing the arrangement of the cells in the table, and all the cells in the table are displayed by this movement. An example of this method is shown in Fig. 12. Shown below. Here, “employee number” and “name”
, “Job”, “Boss”, “Salary”, and “Department Name”.
A table with items arranged in one line is displayed, and four of these items and two lines can be displayed at one time. In other words, as shown in FIG. 12(a), each of the four items "employee number" in the first row 11 and the second row 12
, "Name,""Job," and "Boss" and if you move the table two items in the row direction and one row in the column direction, the table will appear as shown in Figure 12(b). The four items "Job", "Boss", "Salary", and "Department Name" in the second row 12 and the third row 13 are displayed. Such movement on the display screen is called scrolling, and when the operator gives an instruction to move the vertical scroll bar 14 displayed on the display screen, the table moves in the column direction and is displayed again. When an instruction to move the horizontal scroll bar 15 is given, the table moves in the row direction. However, when using such scrolling, for example, if you try to refer to the squares at both ends, you have to move the table frequently, and the process of moving the table on the display screen takes time, so it is not efficient. were prevented from doing their best work.

[0007]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In this way, in conventional interactive data systems, when a table is larger than the display screen, each square that should be arranged in one line is displayed in two rows, or the table is displayed in two rows. However, it is not always easy to use, as it causes confusion when understanding the data, or hinders efficient work execution. I could not say it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention provides a search and display device for an interactive data system that does not cause confusion in understanding data and does not reduce business efficiency even if the table is larger than the display screen. The purpose is to

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In the present invention, at least two squares in a table are selected by operating a selection specifying means, and one representative square is selected from each of the selected squares. When designated as a square, each of the selected squares and the representative square are registered in the registration means, and by operating the deletion means, the registered contents of the registration means can be deleted, and the registered contents of the registration means can be deleted. If the registered content is registered in the means, the table creation means deletes from the table all the squares other than the representative square among the selected squares, and
It is displayed that the other deleted squares are hidden by the representative square.

0010

According to the present invention, only a representative square among the selected squares is left on the table, and the other squares are deleted from the table. Further, in the square of the representative left on the table, it is displayed that the square of the representative hides the other squares.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of a search display device according to the present invention. In the figure, a table creation unit 1 creates and stores a table in which a plurality of squares are arranged in a matrix direction, and also requests data to be entered in each square from a database 2. , each data obtained thereby is stored corresponding to each square. The display control unit 3 receives the table and each data corresponding to each square from the table creation unit 1,
Display section 4 displays a table in which data is entered in each square.
display on the display screen. The table attribute management unit 5 inputs the attributes (described later) for each column of the table from the input unit 6 to the input interpretation unit 7.
When specified via , this attribute is stored, and in response to a request from the table creation section 1, the attribute is notified to the table creation section 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an interactive data system to which the apparatus of this embodiment is applied, and this system is generally realized as a workstation or a personal computer. In the same figure, the central processing unit 21 corresponds to the input interpretation section 7 shown in FIG.
The display device 22 corresponds to the table creation section 1 and table attribute management section 5 shown in the figure, the display device 22 corresponds to the display control section 3 and the display section 4 shown in FIG. The external storage device 25 corresponds to the input unit 6 shown, and the database 2 shown in FIG.

In such a configuration, when creating a table, when an instruction is given to create a table by operating the keyboard 23, the central processing unit 21 issues a message as shown in FIG.
Three buttons 42, 43, and 44 called "Search", "Conceal", and "Unconceal" are displayed on the display screen 41. Then, by operating the mouse 24, a cursor 45 is moved, and this cursor 45 selects " When the button 42 called "Search" is selected and instructed, the central processing unit 21 starts the table creation section 1 (shown in FIG. 1).Subsequently,
By operating the keyboard 23, for example, seven items "employee number", "employee name", "age", "salary", "
When "supervisor", "department", and "location" are specified, each item is passed to the table creation unit 1 within the central processing unit 21, and the table creation unit 1 reads data regarding each item from the database 2. A table as shown in FIG. 4 is created, and this table is displayed on the display screen of the display section 4 via the display control section 3.

Although the table is created and displayed in this way, the columns from the beginning to the fifth column of the seven items in this table are displayed on the display screen 4 as shown in FIG.
1, and the sixth and seventh columns of each item protrude from the display screen 41. At this time, if you want to compare and display on the display screen 41 the column for the item "Employee name" and the column for the item "Department" in the table, each of the three items existing between these columns, "Age" and "Salary" ”, does not require a “boss” column. Therefore, it is sufficient to erase the columns of the three items "age", "salary", and "boss" on the display screen, and the process for this purpose will be described according to the flowchart of FIG.

First, assuming that the column of the item "employee name" is regarded as a column of items representing the three columns of "age", "salary", and "supervisor", the display screen can be changed by operating the mouse 24. 41, and move the cursor 45 on each of the four items including the item "Employee name" with this cursor 45.
In response, the central processing unit 21 selects each of the four items "employee name", "age", "salary", and "supervisor" as shown in FIG. ","salary"
, the fact that "boss" has been selected is reflected on the display screen 41.

Subsequently, by operating the mouse 24, a cursor 45 is moved, and when a button 43 called "conceal" is designated and selected by the cursor 45, the central processing unit 21 performs the first operation as shown in FIG. 4 selected by
Each item “employee name”, “age”, “salary”, “supervisor”
A window 50 in which buttons 46, 47, 48, and 49 corresponding to the buttons 46, 47, 49, and 49 are arranged is displayed on the display screen 41. At this time, the table attribute management section 5 shown in FIG. 1 is activated. That is, when the button 43 called "conceal" is selected, an attribute change request is issued from the input unit 6 to the table attribute management unit 5 via the input interpretation unit 7, and in response, the table attribute management unit 5 starts.

When the table attribute management unit 5 is activated, it first determines whether at least two items corresponding to a column are selected (step 101). Here, the first 4
Each item “employee name”, “age”, “salary”, “supervisor”
is selected (step 101, Yes),
The table attribute management unit 5 waits for a representative item to be selected from among the items (step 102).
). Note that if at least two items corresponding to the column are not selected (step 101, No), the process here ends.

Subsequently, the cursor 45 is moved by operating the input unit 6 (mouse 24), and the cursor 45
When the button 46 corresponding to the representative item "employee name" is selected from among the buttons in the window 50 shown in FIG. 8, it is confirmed that the item "employee name" has been selected as the representative item. The table attribute management unit 5 is notified from the input unit 6 via the input interpretation unit 7. When the table attribute management unit 5 is notified of the item "employee name" as a representative item (step 102, Yes), it changes each of the previous four items "employee name", "age", "salary", and "supervisor". Select each item except the representative item "Employee name" and set the column of each selected item as hidden (Step 103)
. Furthermore, the table attribute management unit 5 sets the columns of the hidden items "age", "salary", and "supervisor" as hidden columns that are hidden by the column of the representative item "employee name" (step 1
04).

[0020] In each of the steps 103 and 104,
The table attribute management section 5 creates attribute data having contents as shown in FIG. In this attribute data, for each of the seven items to be displayed, whether to display or hide the column of the item is registered (step 1
03) If the item is a representative item, a concealment column to be concealed has been set, so the item corresponding to the concealment column is registered (step 104). Here, the columns for each of the three items "Age", "Salary", and "Supervisor" are registered to be hidden, and each of the three columns is hidden by the column for the representative item "Employee name". This means that columns for the items "age", "salary", and "supervisor" are registered.

When the attribute data is thus registered in the table attribute management section 5, the table creation section 1 issues an attribute request to the table attribute management section 5. In response to this, the table attribute management unit 5 selects each of the three hidden items "age", "salary",
The table creation unit 1 is notified of the "supervisor" column and the representative item "employee name" column. The table creation unit 1 selects each of the three items "age", "salary", and "boss" from the table shown in Figure 4.
Create a new table by deleting the column ``Employee name'' and setting the column ``employee name'' as the representative column, and display this new table in the display control unit 3.
(Step 10)
5). As a result, as shown in Figure 9, each of the three items ``age'' between the columns ``employee name'' and ``affiliation''
, "Salary", and "Supervisor" columns are deleted, and a new table is created in which the asterisk 51 indicating that it is a representative item is displayed in the square of the item "Employee name", that is, the representative item "Employee name". Each of the four items, including the columns “Employee number”, “Employee name”, and “Affiliation”
, a new table will be displayed with a column for “Location”. Thereby, each column of the item "employee name" and the item "affiliation" can be easily compared on the display screen.

[0022] Next, the columns of the three items "age", "salary", and "boss" that were erased on the display screen are displayed again.
The process for returning the table on the display screen to its original state as shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the cursor 45 is moved by operating the mouse 24, and the representative item "employee name", which can be identified by the star mark 51 on the display screen 41 shown in FIG. 9, is designated and selected. put. Subsequently, when the user moves the cursor 45 by operating the mouse 24 and selects a button 44 called "Unconceal", the central processing unit 21 activates the table attribute management section 5. That is, when the button 44 called "unconcealment" is selected, an attribute change request is issued from the input unit 6 to the table attribute management unit 5 via the input interpretation unit 7, and in response, the table attribute management unit 5 starts.

When activated, the table attribute management section 5 determines whether an item corresponding to a column is selected (step 201), and further selects the selected item based on the attribute data shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not is a representative item (step 202). Here, the item "employee name" is selected (step 201, Yes). Furthermore, based on the attribute data shown in FIG.
Since three items are registered corresponding to "employee name", the item "employee name" is the representative item (step 202).
, Yes), so the process moves to the next step 203. Note that if the item corresponding to the column is not selected (step 201, No) or the selected item is not a representative item (step 202, No), the process here ends.

In step 203, the table attribute management unit 5 converts each of the three items "age", "salary", and "supervisor" registered corresponding to the representative item "employee name" into the eighth item.
A search is made from the attribute data shown in the figure, and the registered hidden status is changed to displayed corresponding to each of the three searched items "age,""salary," and "boss." As a result, each of the three items in the table "Age", "Salary", "
This means that the deletion of the "Supervisor" column on the display screen has been cancelled.

[0026] Subsequently, the table attribute management unit 5 converts the three items "age", "salary", and "boss" registered corresponding to the representative item "employee name" into the attribute data shown in FIG. (step 204). As a result, the item "employee name" is no longer a representative item.

When the attribute data is updated in the table attribute management unit 5 in this way, an attribute request is notified from the table creation unit 1 to the table attribute management unit 5, and in response, the table attribute management unit 5 Based on the attribute data shown in Figure 8, there is no row of items that are hidden;
and notifies the table creation unit 1 that there is no representative item. Table creation part 1 has the item "employee name" shown in Figure 9.
Insert the columns of the three items "age,""salary," and "supervisor" that were between the columns of the item "department" and add the asterisk 51 to the item "employee name" to indicate that it is a representative item. An original table, that is, the table shown in FIG. 4, is created by erasing the first square, and this original table is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 4 via the display control unit 3 (step 205). The resulting display is, of course, as shown in FIG. 3, in which the columns of each item from the beginning to the fifth of the seven columns of each item in this table are displayed on the display screen 41, The sixth and seventh column of items will protrude from the display screen 41.

As described above, in this embodiment, at least two items are selected from among the items in the table, and when a representative item is selected from among these items, other items other than the representative item among the items are selected. Since the columns are deleted from the display screen, unnecessary columns of items can be deleted from the table. Therefore, it is easy to compare columns near both ends of a table that is too large to be displayed on the display screen, for example. Furthermore, since a star mark is displayed on the representative item, it is possible to detect that a column of other items is hidden in the column of the representative item. Furthermore, since concealment can be removed with a simple operation, there is no problem in restoring the original table.

[0029] In the above embodiment, the process of hiding the columns of other items in one representative item column is exemplified, but when the columns of other items are hidden in two or more representative items, The process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 may be repeated one by one. In addition, here, a star mark is displayed in the square of an item to make it clear that the item is a representative item, but instead of a star mark, a hidden column hidden in the column of the representative item is identified. An identification number may be displayed in the square of the representative item, and in this way, hidden columns can be recognized. Furthermore, although the image is hidden in units of columns in the vertical direction, it is also possible to hide in units of rows in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, column-by-column concealment and row-by-row concealment may be performed simultaneously. Furthermore, it is possible to apply the present invention not only to a table in which cells are arranged in the matrix direction, but also to a table in which a plurality of cells are appropriately scattered, and in this case, it is possible to hide each cell. I will do it.

[0030]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the search display device according to the present invention, each square in a table can be selectively deleted on the display screen, and the deleted square can be redisplayed. Even if the table is larger than the display screen, it is now possible to organize and display the cells in the table appropriately, which prevents confusion in understanding the data and reduces work efficiency. Become.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of a search display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an interactive data system to which the device of this embodiment is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display form on a display screen in this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a table larger than the display screen in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process for erasing table columns on a display screen in this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display form on a display screen in this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display form on a display screen in this embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the contents of attribute data regarding a table in this embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display form on a display screen in this embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process for redisplaying erased table columns on the display screen in this embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional display form when a table is displayed on a display screen.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of a conventional display form when displaying a table on a display screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Table creation part, 2... Database, 3... Display control part, 4... Display part, 5... Table attribute management part, 6... Input part, 7... Input interpretation part, 21... Central processing unit, 21-1... Main Storage device, 22...Display device, 23...Keyboard, 24...
Mouse, 25...external storage device.

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1. A search display device for an interactive data system that displays a table having a plurality of squares, displays respective data in each square of the table, and searches for data. Select a square and
selection designation means for specifying one square from among the selected squares as a representative square; and registration means for registering each of the selected squares and the representative square;
a deletion means for deleting the registered contents of the registration means, and deleting all the squares other than the representative square among the selected squares from the table based on the registered contents of the registration means; A search display device for an interactive data system, further comprising table creation means for displaying that other squares that have been erased are hidden in the representative squares. [Claim 2] Each selected square corresponds to one of the rows and columns of the square in the table, and if each selected square corresponds to the respective row, , delete rows corresponding to other squares except the representative square from the table, and indicate that the rows corresponding to the other deleted squares are hidden by the rows corresponding to the representative squares. , and if each of the selected cells corresponds to a respective column, delete from the table the columns corresponding to the other cells except the representative one, and delete the other deleted cells. 2. The search display device for an interactive data system according to claim 1, further comprising a display indicating that a column corresponding to a square is hidden by a column corresponding to a square of the representative.