JPH0556533B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (a) Industrial Application Field This invention is used in information processing devices such as word processors and personal computers, and when the operating method becomes unclear, The present invention relates to a help screen generation device for a help function that displays on a display screen.

(b) Conventional technology Conventionally, in information processing devices such as word processors and personal computers that are equipped with help functions, explanatory text explaining how to operate the various functions provided in the device is provided in advance. It is known that the device is stored internally, and an explanatory text is displayed in response to an instruction from a keyboard, and the user reads the explanatory text to learn how to operate it.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in such information processing devices, when an instruction is given to display an explanatory text, only an explanatory text that explains in words how to operate various functions is displayed. Therefore, there is a problem that the user cannot fully understand it.

This invention was made in consideration of such circumstances, and displays a plurality of sentence examples created by executing various functions together with the function names as sample sentences. By referring to the sample sentences, you can easily understand the meaning of the function, and by sequentially referring to the sample sentences, you can search for the function name, or directly search the sample sentences corresponding to the function name. The present invention provides a help screen generation device that allows searching.

(d) Means for solving the problem FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the invention according to claim 1 of the present application.

In this figure, 101 is an explanatory text storage unit that stores explanatory text that explains the meaning of a function with a predetermined function name and an operation method for executing the function, 102 is a key input unit, and 103 is a key input unit. A display section 104 displays explanatory text in response to instructions from the input section 102, and a sample text 104 stores in advance a plurality of example sentences created by executing various functions together with function names. Storage means, 105 is key input unit 1
Sample sentence storage means 10 according to instructions from 02
This is reading means for reading sample sentences from 4 and displaying them on the display unit 103.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the invention according to claim 2 of the present application.

In this figure, 201 is an explanatory text storage section that stores in advance an explanatory text that explains the meaning of a function with a predetermined function name and an operation method for executing the function, 202 is a key input section, and 203 is a keypad. This is a display unit that displays the explanatory text according to instructions from the input unit 202, and includes a sentence example created by executing the function in the explanatory text stored in the explanatory text storage unit 201, together with the function name. Sample sentences have been added.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the invention according to claim 3 of the present application.

In this figure, 301 is an explanatory text storage unit that stores in advance an explanatory text that explains the meaning of a function with a predetermined function name and an operation method for executing the function, 302 is a key input unit, and 303 is a keypad. A display section 304 displays explanatory text in response to instructions from the input section 302, and a sample text 304 stores in advance a plurality of example sentences created by executing various functions together with function names. Storage means, 305 is key input section 3
This is a first reading means that sequentially reads sample sentences stored in the sample sentence storage means 304 from the beginning and displays them on the display section 303 in response to a search instruction from 02.

The explanatory text storage unit 301 includes a storage unit that stores explanatory texts for each function name, and further includes a text created by executing the function in each of the explanatory texts along with the function name. Sample sentences have been added. Reference numeral 306 denotes a second reading unit that reads an explanatory text corresponding to the function name from the explanatory text storage unit 301 and displays it on the display unit 303 when a function name is specified from the key input unit 302 .

(e) Effect According to the invention of claim 1 of the present application, sample sentences are stored in advance in the sample sentence storage means 104, and when an instruction is given from the key input section 102, the sample sentences are read out by the reading means 105. The sample sentence is read out from the sample sentence storage means 104 and displayed on the display section 103.

Therefore, by looking at sample sentences with actual examples, you can fully understand the meaning of various functions and learn function explanations and operation methods, so even beginners who do not know the function names can easily operate it. becomes possible.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, a sample sentence is added to the explanatory sentence stored in the explanatory sentence storage unit 201, in which a sentence example created by executing the function is described together with the function name. By looking at the sample sentences, even beginners who have never operated the software can easily learn its functions.

Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, the sample sentences are stored in the sample sentence storage means 304 in advance, and when a search instruction is received from the key input section 302, the first reading means 305 reads the sample sentences. The information is sequentially read out from the beginning and displayed on the display unit 303.

The explanatory text is stored in the explanatory text storage unit 3 for each function name.
01, and a sample sentence is added to each explanatory sentence in which the sentence created by executing the function is written together with the function name. When an instruction is given, the second reading means 306 reads out the explanatory text corresponding to the function name from the explanatory text storage section 301 and displays it on the display section 303 along with the sample text.

Therefore, by looking at sample sentences with examples, you can fully understand the meaning of various functions and learn how to explain them and how to operate them.
Furthermore, there are two methods: searching for the function you want to know one by one from the beginning of the sample text, and directly viewing the sample text containing the operation method and examples of the function by specifying the function name. Since you can see the operating instructions and sample sentences in , by using them properly, even complete beginners who don't know the function names, as well as people with some experience, can easily operate the software.

(F) Embodiments The present invention will be described in detail below based on embodiments shown in the drawings. Note that this invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a word processor.

In the figure, 1 is a keyboard equipped with a help key 2, alpha/kana (letter)/numeric keys (0 to 9), function keys and up/down shift keys that are operated when executing various functions;
is a display section such as a dot matrix type liquid crystal display,
4 is a ROM for storing programs; 5 is a kana-kanji conversion section for converting kana input from the keyboard 1 into kanji; and 6 is a kana-kanji dictionary section having a kana-kanji dictionary.

7 is RAM for storing created documents, and 8 is for controlling the entire device and input/output operations.
It is the CPU.

Reference numeral 10 is a ROM having four storage areas in which various messages and sample sentences are stored.The error reason message area 11 contains the error reason message, and the status explanation message area 1
2 stores status explanation messages, the help explanation/term explanation message area 13 stores help explanation/term explanation messages, the sample sentence area 14 stores sample sentences, and the function explanation message area 15 stores function explanation messages. has been done.

The error reason message is a message displayed on the display unit 3 by the CPU 8 when a key that cannot be accepted in the processing mode currently being processed by the CPU 5 is operated on the keyboard 1.

In addition, a status explanation message is displayed when the function key on the keyboard 1 is operated and the function mode is entered, and when a certain function is attempted to be executed, the help key 2 is operated and the user operates the function key. This is a message displayed on the display unit 3 by the CPU 8 when an explanation is requested.

The sample text is a message that is displayed on the display unit 3 by the CPU 8 when the help key 2 is operated after the help key 2 in the normal input mode. A plurality of sentence examples created by operations, that is, by executing various functions, are described together with the function names.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a sample sentence. As shown in the figure, for example, if "double angle"
If it is actually written in double-width characters and "double-width" is displayed near it, and if it is "centering", it is actually shown in double-width characters and "centering" is displayed near it, and even if it is "underlined". Ba,
Examples of various functions being executed, such as actually drawing an underline and displaying ``underline'' near it, are described along with the function name. In addition, each function name is numbered with a circled number, and as described later, by entering those numbers from keyboard 1, a message is created that allows you to directly call up the explanation of each function. ing.

The function explanation message is displayed on the display unit 3 by the CPU 8 when the help key 2 is operated in the normal input mode and the function key defined on the keyboard 1 is subsequently operated. is a message,
These messages are categorized by function key, and include the meaning of each function key, which is given a predetermined function name, and the operation method to execute that function. The message is an explanatory text that explains the meaning of the function and the operating method for executing the function.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a function explanation message. As shown in the figure, the first line explains the meaning of the function, and the second to fourth lines explain the operation method. It is written as a sentence, and furthermore, from the fifth line onwards, if there is a function called "indent", the above-mentioned function is shown, such as indicating the actual indented state and displaying "indent" near it. In addition to explanations of the meaning and operation methods, sample sentences are added that include examples of sentences created by executing the functions, along with the function names.

The operation in such a configuration will be explained below based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

In FIG. 7, first, initialization processing is performed (step 401), and when key input processing is performed (step 402), the CPU 8 determines whether the current mode is the input mode (step 403).

If it is not the input mode, that is, the function mode, it is determined whether the unacceptable key has been operated (step 404), and if the unacceptable key has been operated, error handling is performed. The error reason message is read out from the error reason message area 11 of the ROM 10 and displayed on the display section 3 (step 405), and if the unacceptable key has not been operated, then it is determined whether the help key 2 has been operated (step 405). 406).

At this time, if help key 2 is not operated,
Perform normal function processing (step
407), if the help key 2 has been operated, a help process is performed to read out a status explanation message from the status explanation message area 12 and display it on the display section 3 (step 408). and then keyboard 1
It is determined whether or not the instructed function is to be executed (step 409). If the function is to be executed, the function processing is performed in step 407, and if not, the process returns to step 402.

Furthermore, if the input mode is normal in step 403, it is determined whether or not an unacceptable key has been operated (step 409), and if an unacceptable key has been operated, error processing is performed in step 405.
If the unacceptable key has not been operated, then it is determined whether the help key 2 has been operated (step 410).

If the help key 2 is not operated, normal input editing processing is performed (step 411), and if the help key 2 is operated, the process waits for the next key input (step 412).

Then, when the help key 2 is operated again (step 413), the help process is performed to read out a sample sentence as shown in FIG. 5 from the sample sentence area 13 and display it on the display section 3. (Step 414), the process returns to Step 402, and if the function key is operated instead of Help key 2 (Step 415), help processing is performed and the message shown in FIG. 6 is sent from the function explanation message area 14. Read out the function explanation message and display it on the display section 3 (step
416), return to step 402.

FIG. 8 is a detailed flowchart of displaying the sample text in step 414.

In the sample sentence display, first, as described above, sample sentences are displayed as guidance screens for various functional operations (step 501), and the system waits for key input (step 502).

At this time, when the up and down shift keys on the keyboard 1 are operated, the CPU 8 sequentially moves the guidance display screen to the next screen according to the up and down shift keys, that is, while displaying the sample sentences sequentially from the beginning, the CPU 8 It stops at the screen or goes to the previous screen (step 504), and enters a key wait state at step 502.

Also, if the up and down shift keys on keyboard 1 are not operated, but the number keys (keys from 0 to 9) on keyboard 1 are operated according to the numbers attached to each function name shown in Figure 5. (step)
505), the CPU 8 displays an explanation of the function (term) corresponding to the number or an explanation of the function on the display section 3 (step 506). In other words, this is similar to the help process shown in step 416 of FIG. 7, in which a description of the function is directly displayed by specifying the function name, and therefore,
From the funktion explanation message aria 14,
The function explanation message shown in FIG. 6 is read out and displayed.

In this way, sample sentences with actual examples are displayed, so by referring to the sample sentences, you can fully understand the meaning of the function and learn how to operate it. There are two ways to search for operation explanations: one is to search for functions sequentially from the beginning of the sample text, and the other is to directly view the sample text that describes how to operate the function and examples. By using these properly, beginners who do not know the function names can start from the beginning, and those with some experience can use it quickly. becomes possible.

(g) Effects of the invention According to the present invention, a sample sentence in which multiple sentence examples created by executing various functions are displayed together with the function name, so please refer to the sample sentence. By doing so, you can fully understand the meaning of the function and give instructions for the function, and you can also search for the function name by sequentially referring to the sample sentences, and also find the explanatory text corresponding to the function name. There are two ways to view operating instructions and sample sentences, such as searching directly from the function name. It becomes possible to easily perform operations according to the user's needs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of the invention according to claim 1 of the present application, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the invention also related to claim 2, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the invention also related to claim 3. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a word processor, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a sample sentence, and FIG. 6 is an example of a function explanation message. FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the operation of the embodiment. 1...Keyboard, 2...Help key, 3...
Display section, 7...RAM, 8...CPU, 10...
ROM, 11...Error reason message area,
12...Status explanation message area, 13...Sample text area, 14...Function explanation message aria.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An explanatory text explaining the meaning of a function given a predetermined function name and an operation method for executing the function is stored in advance in an explanatory text storage unit, and the explanatory text is stored in advance in an explanatory text storage unit, and the explanatory text that explains the meaning of a function given a predetermined function name and the operation method for executing the function is stored in advance in an explanatory text storage unit, and the In an information processing device with a help function configured to display the explanatory text on the display section, a plurality of example sentences created by executing various functions are recorded in advance as sample sentences, along with function names. A help screen generation device comprising: a sample sentence storage means; and a reading means for reading out the sample sentence from the sample sentence storage means and displaying it on a display section in response to an instruction from a key input section. 2 An explanatory text explaining the meaning of a function with a predetermined function name and an operation method for executing the function is stored in advance in the explanatory text storage section, and the explanatory text is displayed on the display section by an instruction from the key input section. In an information processing device with a help function configured to display a help function, a sample sentence is added to the explanatory text stored in the explanatory text storage unit, which describes a sentence example created by executing the function together with the function name. A help screen generation device characterized by: 3 An explanatory text explaining the meaning of a function with a predetermined function name and an operation method for executing the function is stored in advance in the explanatory text storage section, and the explanatory text is displayed on the display section by an instruction from the key input section. an information processing device with a help function configured to display a message on the screen; The first reading means sequentially reads the sample sentences stored in the sample sentence storage means from the beginning and displays them on the display section in response to a search instruction from the key input section, and the explanatory sentence storage section reads the explanatory sentences. It consists of a memory section that stores each function name, and a sample sentence is added to each explanatory sentence that describes the sentence example created by executing that function along with the function name, and the function name is input from the key input means. 1. A help screen generation device comprising: second reading means for reading an explanatory text corresponding to a function name from an explanatory text storage unit and displaying the explanatory text on a display unit.