JPH06110834A - Software application executing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a user to easily understand a working procedure and a working know-how by displaying in time series the contents examples of operation carried out by the user in application and the processing contents of the application. CONSTITUTION:When a function menu is selected by the user in a held mode, an application help control part 22 checks the start command of an operating procedure display program through a help information list storage part 32 in response to the selected function. If the selected help information is not shown on a display device 12, a message is shown on the device 12 to show the absence of the help information. If the selected help information is confirmed, a help information display window is opened on the device 12. Then the part 22 loads the operating procedure display program accordant with the selected function out of those programs stored in an operating procedure display program part 43. Then the loaded program is carried out.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a software application execution apparatus for presenting a series of operation content examples to be performed by a user on an application program during execution of the application program and processing content of the corresponding application.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of software application execution device, a user's request causes
In the case of presenting to the user a series of operation content examples that the user should perform on the application and the processing content of the corresponding application, the user's actions and processing content can be displayed in chronological order simply by displaying sentences or diagrams. It is not done in a format that simulates. Further, when a work is composed of a combination of a plurality of works, there is no one that sequentially presents the series of work.

[0003]

However, in the method of presenting only a sentence or a diagram as described above, since the explanation according to the work procedure of the user who takes a series of operation procedures is not performed, the presented content is However, there is a problem in that it takes time for the user to understand the procedure to be used to achieve the purpose of the work. In addition, since the presented contents are explained in technical terms and application-specific terms, it cannot be understood by those who do not have the background knowledge necessary to use the application or the terms defined for each application. In many cases, it was necessary to research and understand the above terms over time. In addition, when explaining the function using explanatory text or explanatory diagrams, it is explained in the language of a particular country, so it is difficult for foreigners who do not understand the language of that country to understand it, and there is a drawback that makes the device less motivated to use. there were. Further, there has been conventionally software dedicated to demonstration or software dedicated to training that presents the operation content of the application, and the user can use the software to understand the outline of the application and one operation content. These software are designed to be used separately from the original application, and it is not possible to directly call and use what the user wants to know about the series of actions to be performed while the user is working with the application. It was impossible.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a detecting means for detecting a presentation request such as usage of an application program from a user during execution of the application program, and this detecting means. Display control means for displaying a series of operation content examples to be performed by the user on the application in response to the detection output of the application and the corresponding processing content of the application in time series.

[0005]

When the user makes a request for presentation of usage of the application program during execution of the application program, a series of operation content examples to be performed by the user on the application and processing content of the application corresponding to the operation content Displayed in series. For example, in the case of an application in which a series of work is completed by combining a plurality of works, a series of operation procedures are displayed. Further, in the case of an application in which work know-how is known, the work know-how is dynamically displayed.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a software application execution device according to the present invention. This device has a dynamic work presenting function (hereinafter referred to as a help function), and can display work procedures, work know-how, and the like in time series to a user who works using this device. In FIG. 1, 10 is a man-machine interface (hereinafter referred to as MMI) including a user signal input unit 11 and a display device 2.
Reference numeral 0 indicates an application execution support environment unit including an application control unit 21 and application help management unit 22, reference numeral 30 indicates an application storage unit including an application program storage unit 31, a help information list storage unit 32, and each operation procedure display program storage unit 33, 40. Is a user application program file including an application program 41, a help information holding unit 42, and each operation procedure display program unit 43.

Here, when the user inputs a request to change from the execution mode to the help mode, the user signal input unit 11 sends a mode change command to the application control unit 21. Also, the user signal input unit 11
Also sends a function selection instruction command to the application control unit 21 in response to a function selection request from the user. The mode is stored in the application control unit 21, and the mode is changed according to the mode change request from the user signal input unit 11.
Further, the respective control contents in the execution mode and the help mode of the application are stored, and when the user signal input unit 11 gives an instruction to select a function, the application is executed according to each mode. For example, in the execution mode, the application program storage unit 31 is instructed to execute a normal application function. In the help mode, the application help management unit 22 is requested to execute the operation procedure display program.

On the other hand, the application help management unit 22
Then, the display device 12 for displaying the output screen of the application is controlled, and the display device 12 required for displaying the help information is displayed.
It manages the environment such as the windows above. Then, in response to the execution request of the operation procedure display program from the application control unit 21, the operation information display program start command corresponding to the selected function is searched using the help information list, and the program is searched using the command. To execute.

Here, the application program storage unit 31 stores and stores the application program 41 when the application program is started. Further, the help information list storage unit 32 stores a correspondence relationship between each function of the application and a start command of the operation procedure display program necessary for explaining the function. This part is stored by the user when the application program is started. It is loaded from the application program file 40. Further, in each operation procedure information display program storage unit 33, a work information display program activated by a command from the application help management unit 22 is stored in the user application program file 4.
It is loaded and stored from 0.

Next, the operation of the present apparatus configured as described above will be described based on the display example of the display device shown in FIG.
It should be noted that this embodiment shows an operation example of the "centering" function in word processing work. Here, as a step, when the user inputs a mode change request signal by operating the help key or the like during the word processing, the mode is changed to the help mode and the cursor shape is shown in FIG. For example, the shape changes to "?". And as a step, the function you want to receive explanation,
For example, the user selects the "centering" function [Fig. 2
(B)], and a window for explaining the operation procedure is opened as a step, and the explanation of the user work contents when the function designated by the user is used is displayed as a moving image like the following steps from step to step [Fig. Two
(C)].

First, as a step, text input is automatically performed [FIG. 2 (d)]. Next, as a step, the entered text is automatically selected while displaying the user's work content with the mouse on the screen [Fig.
(E)] Further, as a step, in order to select the item of centering from the text menu, the item is automatically selected while displaying the operation contents of the mouse on the screen [FIG. 2 (f)]. As a result, centering is performed as a step [FIG. 2 (g)]. Therefore,
The user can see the operation content of the user when using the centering function and the result on the screen of the display device 12, and understand the series of operation content when using the centering function and the processing content of the application. You can Then, select the end button to close the help function and close the window. Here, if the user wants to receive the explanation of the operation procedure again and selects the re-execute button, the operation between steps 1 and 2 is repeatedly executed.

Next, FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the apparatus of the above embodiment. The operation of each unit of the above apparatus will be described according to this flowchart. When the user performs a selection operation of the function menu in the waiting state of the execution state of step 100, the user signal input unit 11 outputs a selection signal of the function menu to the application control unit 21 (step 101). In this case, the application control unit 21 executes the application function because it is in the execution mode (step 102). When the execution of this program ends, step 100
Return to and enter the waiting state.

When the user performs a mode change operation in the waiting state of step 100, the user signal input section 11 makes a mode change request to the application control section 21 (step 110). In response to this change request, the application control unit 21 inquires of the application help management unit 22 about the presence or absence of help information (step 111). If there is no help information, the application help management unit 22 indicates that there is no help information on the display device 12. Is displayed (step 121). Then, if there is help information, the mode is changed to the help mode (step 112).

When the function menu is selected by the user in step 113 in the help mode as described above, the application help management section 22 stores the start command of the operating procedure display program corresponding to the selected function in the help information list. The part 32 is checked (step 114).
If there is no help information selected (step 1
15) The message without the help information is displayed on the display device 12 (step 122), and if there is the selected help information, the help information display window is opened on the display device 12 (step 116).

Next, the application help management unit 2
2 loads the operating procedure display program corresponding to the function selected from the programs stored in each operating procedure display program section 43 into the program storage section 33 (step 117), and loads the loaded operating procedure display program. Execute (step 118). Then, when the execution of this display program is completed, the selection of the re-execution button or the end button is judged (step 119), and if the re-execution button is operated, the same operation procedure display program is executed, and the end button is operated. If so, the help information display window is closed (step 120) and the process shifts to the standby state of step 100.

As described above, since the present embodiment displays the usage examples of each function of the application in chronological order in association with the series of operation contents of the user in the form of the usage method of the application program, the user performs the operation flow. You can experience. Also, each function of the application can be understood in association with the work screen used by the user. In addition, it is possible to know in what situation each function should be used. Further, since the explanation of the function necessary when using the application is received, the user can learn each function of the application in the order of the frequency of use for each user, and the learning time to be performed before using the application can be shortened.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, a series of operation contents to be performed by the user on the application when the user requests the presentation of usage of the application program during execution of the application program. Since the example and the processing contents of the application for it are displayed in chronological order, the user who uses this device can easily understand the work procedure and work know-how according to the function of the application, and therefore, it is possible to pre-learn. The time required can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a software application execution device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display status of the device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 man-machine interface (MMI) 11 user signal input unit 12 display device 20 application execution support environment unit 21 application control unit 22 application help management unit 30 application storage unit 31 application program storage unit 32 help information list storage unit 33 each operation procedure display Program storage unit 40 User application program file 41 Application program 42 Help information storage unit 43 Operation procedure display program unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A software application execution device for presenting to a user the usage etc. of the application program during execution of the application program, wherein the user's presentation of the usage etc. of the application program while the application program is being executed. The user is provided with a detection unit that detects a request, an operation example configured by a combination of one or more operations of the user on the application according to the detection output of the detection unit, and the corresponding processing content of the application. A software application execution device, comprising: a display control unit that displays in time series in the same manner as an operation that occurs during work.