JPH05257592A - Data input control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability by arranging function matrices to form a large matrix as a whole corresponding to the ten key array on a keyboard and making a selection by means of a ten key. CONSTITUTION:In selecting functions, 3X3 matrices having expansion feature are displayed in the window on the screen. With the arrangement of 3X3 function matrices in a larger matrix shape, the larger matrix and the smaller one in the larger matrix can be selected by means of the ten key.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of selecting a function from a data input device in a data processing device, and more particularly to a function selection when a plurality of functions are assigned to specific keys on the data input device. Regarding the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the functions of Japanese word processors have become more sophisticated, and it has become impossible to realize all the functions only with the number of keys of a keyboard which is an input device.
For this reason, although 2 to 5 functions have been assigned to one key on the keyboard, the number of keys is still insufficient, and 5 or more functions are added to a specific key to display a matrix showing multiple functions. Then, the method of selecting and executing from the contents is taken. In the conventional method, a 3 × 3 matrix is displayed by pressing the extended function key, and the desired function is selected from among the functions by the key at the position corresponding to the “numeric keypad” matrix, but the number of functions is 3 ×. Three
For those not displayed in the matrix, the next matrix is displayed by pressing the next page key or the like and selected from them. Therefore, if the function becomes a multiple of 9 or more, such as 9 or more and 18 or more, the next matrix must be opened by the next page key each time.

In another method, all the supported functions are displayed in the window by designating the extended function key,
There is also a method of instructing a necessary function by inputting a function number.

[0004]

In the conventional example described above, when nine or more functions are assigned to the extended function keys and the target function is not present at the beginning of the 3 × 3 matrix, the matrix of You have to open the next page and choose from them. For this reason, the number of procedures for selecting the desired function increases. As the number of functions in the extended function increases, the selection work procedure increases and the operation hierarchy becomes deeper.

In another method, all the functions supported by the extended function keys are displayed in one window.
There is a problem in that a target function needs to be searched from among a plurality of displayed functions and selected by the number attached to each function.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above problem is caused by displaying a plurality of 3 × 3 matrixes of extended functions on a screen when selecting a function and arranging a 3 × 3 function matrix array in a large matrix. Then, it is solved by adding a function that allows selection of a large matrix and a small matrix therein from the "numeric keypad".

[0007]

By adding the above function, it is possible to provide a method for easily selecting a necessary function without impairing the operability when many functions must be assigned to one function key.

[0008]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the appearance of a Japanese word processor using an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 106 denotes a keyboard input device (K / B) for inputting characters and symbols, 1
Reference numeral 13 is a display device (CRT) for displaying characters input from the K / B 106, and 108 is a floppy disk device (FDD) for storing a program for operating a Japanese word processor, a created document, etc.
Reference numeral 1 is a main body that controls these K / B 106, CRT 113, and FDD 108 to create / edit / print documents.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control circuit in the main body 201.

Reference numeral 101 is a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the entire system, 102 is an initial of each LSI, and a program for operating as a word processor is read from the FDD 108. Program memory 103 (program memory is a program for operating as a word processor; An initial program loader (IPL) 10 in which a program to be transferred is stored in a memory for storing created documents and the like, 10
Reference numeral 5 is a key input controller for transmitting / receiving data between the K / B 106 and the CPU 101, 107 is a floppy disk controller (FDC) for generating control signals for reading / writing data with the FDD 108, 109
The character string data read from the K / B 106 to the CPU1
01 is a dictionary memory in which a dictionary to be referred to in order to convert a kana-kanji mixed sentence is stored, and 110 is a display 11
3 is a character generator that stores characters for displaying on the printer 3 and for printing on a printer. To display characters and figures on the display 113, 111 reads data from the image memory 112 and transfers the data to the display 113. A display controller 11 for generating a control signal and controlling access to the image memory 112 of the CPU 101.
An image memory 2 stores data to be displayed on the display 113.

When the power is turned on, the CPU 101 initializes each controller according to the program of the IPL 102, and then
A program for operating as a word processor is transferred from the FDD 108 to the program memory 103 via the FDC 107. The CPU 101 will perform processing such as editing and printing of a document by this program.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the appearance of the K / B 106. As shown in the figure, the K / B 106 has to realize various functions with the number of keys of about 100, and the absolute number of keys is becoming insufficient due to the high performance of word processors in recent years. Increasing the number of K / B keys has a limit because it increases the size of K / B. Therefore, a method of assigning a plurality of functions to one key is adopted.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show display screens of the word processor, and show display examples when the extended function key 302 in the K / B 106 of FIG. 7 is selected. When the extended function key 302 is selected, 3 × as shown in FIG.
The function matrix of 3 is displayed on the lower right of the display screen. If the number of functions supported by the extended function key 302 is 9 or less, the required function is selected from the matrix shown in FIG.
The selection may be made using the “numeric keypad” 301 in 106.
When nine or more functions are assigned to the extended function key 302, when the extended function key 302 is selected, the first matrix is first displayed as shown in FIG. If the desired function is not in the first matrix, K / B 106
The second page key above is used to display the second matrix as shown in FIG. FIG. 4B shows the extended function key 302.
Since the function assigned to is in the third matrix, press the next page key to display the third matrix and
6 is an example of a screen display when the function of is selected by the “numeric keypad” 301. Thus, in this method, the extended function key 3
When a large number of functions are assigned to 02, and the desired function is in the back of the hierarchical matrix, many key touches are required to achieve the desired function, and where is the desired function. Because I can't see them all at once,
There is also a problem in operability.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a system in which a window is displayed in the edit screen by selecting the extended function key 302, and each function is numbered and displayed in the window. The function selection in this method is performed by inputting the number for each function. Also, as the number of functions increases, the amount of information displayed in the window increases, making it difficult to see the desired function. There's a problem.

1 and 2 show an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows the extended function key 302 of the K / B 106.
It is a display example of the extended function window displayed on the editing screen when is selected. The inside of the extended function window is divided into a 3 × 3 large matrix, and a small 3 × 3 matrix in which each function is allocated is displayed in the matrix. The function selection method is to display the window by selecting the extended function key 302 of the K / B 106, and then select the target matrix out of the large 3 × 3 matrix by the “numeric keypad”.
Press the key at the position corresponding to the matrix of 301. Then, the extended function window on the display screen highlights (hatched) only the selected matrix as shown in FIG. 2 (1) to inform the operator that the selected matrix has been selected. Subsequently, the desired function is selected and executed from the small matrix in the selected large matrix by the “numeric keypad” 301.
At this time, the display screen when selecting the function in the matrix is shown in Fig. 2.
As shown in (2), the selected function is highlighted (black and white inversion) and displayed.

As a display method when selecting a function in the matrix, a large matrix is shaded and a small matrix is black and white inversion. However, other emphasis methods may be used.
Further, an emphasis method such as gradation display when a liquid crystal is used as a display device and a change of display color in the case of a color CRT can be considered.

Regarding the matrix arrangement, if the number of extended functions is small, as shown in FIG. 9, a matrix of 1 × 3 and 3 × 1 is used, and the keys in the horizontal 1 row or vertical 1 row of the “numeric keypad” 301 are commonly used. A method of allocating is also possible.

By adopting this method, the desired function can be easily selected from the plurality of functions assigned to one key by only two key touches by the "numeric keypad".

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, a desired function can be easily selected from a plurality of functions assigned to one key on the keyboard, and all supported functions can be viewed at once. Therefore, the more skilled the operator is in the operation, the more the efficiency in selecting a desired function can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an edit processing screen when an extended function according to an embodiment of the present invention is selected.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an edit processing screen in the same manner.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an editing processing screen when an extended function which is a conventional example is selected.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an edit processing screen in the same manner.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control circuit inside a main body of a Japanese word processor which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an external appearance of a Japanese word processor.

FIG. 7 is a key layout diagram of a keyboard which is a character input device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an edit processing screen when an extended function, which is a conventional example, is selected.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... CPU, 103 ... Program memory, 106 ...
Keyboard, 113 ... Display, 301 ... Numeric keypad, 302 ... Extended function key.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G06F 15/20 502 A 6798-5L

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A data input device for inputting characters, alphanumeric characters, symbols, etc., a storage device for storing the input data, and data displayed by the data input device and information necessary for editing the data. A data processing device comprising a display device, wherein a plurality of functions are assigned to a specific key on the data input device, and a plurality of the plurality of functions are grouped into a matrix unit of 3 × 3 by selecting the specific key. Displayed in a large matrix on the display device and by associating the arrangement of the “numeric keys” on the data input device with each matrix on the display device, it is necessary for input from the “numeric key”. A data input control method characterized in that a function can be easily selected.