JPH07282068A - Data base display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress the shift distance of viewpoint to be small when a user intends to survey whole data to be small by arranging graphic elements by a graphic element arrangement part so that the aspect ratio of an area where the graphic element is arranged, is to be almost constant in a display area. CONSTITUTION:A table data input part 12 reads table data 31 and outputs them to a graphic element allocation part 13. The graphic element allocation part 13 refers to a graphic element corresponding table file 32 for the respective records of table data inputted from the table data input part 12 and decides the graphic elements to be allocated. The graphic element is retrieved from a graphic element data base 33 and it is read. A graphic element arrangement part 14 decides the arrangement position of the graphic elements which are read by the graphic element allocation part 13 for the respective records and outputs it to a display device 2. In such a case, the graphic elements are arranged regardless of the number of the displayed records and a display start position so that the aspect ratio of the area where the graphic elements are arranged, is to be almost constant in the display area.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a database display device for converting a record in table data stored in a database into a combination of graphic elements, a character string, and a numerical string, and arranging the combination two-dimensionally for display. The present invention relates to a device suitable for utilizing two-dimensionality.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In "Table format data retrieval method and apparatus" (Japanese Patent Application No. 5-180888) (hereinafter abbreviated as "prior art"), a record of table data stored in a database is converted into a graphic element and displayed on a display device. indicate. The graphic elements are arranged on the display screen by repeating the following in the record sort order. (A) Arrange graphic elements in a line format (fixed same length). (B) Line break

[0003]

The above-mentioned prior art has the following problems (1) to (4).

(1) In the prior art, the graphic elements are displayed in the display order horizontally (constant width) or vertically (constant height). For this reason, when a large number of graphic elements are displayed, the display area becomes remarkably vertically long or remarkably horizontally long. Therefore, when the user wants to overview the displayed graphic element, the viewpoint moving distance of the user becomes large and the efficiency deteriorates. Further, it is difficult to secure such a remarkably long display area or a remarkably wide display area within the limited space on the display screen.

(2) When the records are arranged in a sorted manner, for example, although the right end of one column and the left end of the next column are continuous, the viewpoint moving distance increases and the efficiency deteriorates.

(3) Even if the records are arranged in the sort order,
The separation of sort values is not considered and it is difficult to confirm the separation of sort values.

(4) When sorting is performed on two columns, the two-dimensional arrangement cannot be effectively used.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following objects (a) to (d).

(A) The display area becomes extremely vertical,
Providing a database display device that prevents it from becoming significantly horizontal.

(B) A database display device in which sorted graphic elements are arranged close to each other.

(C) Providing a database display device in which the division of sort values can be easily visually recognized.

(D) Providing a database display device that can effectively use a two-dimensional arrangement when sorting is performed by two columns.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the database display method according to the present invention comprises the following (a):
~ (D) means are provided.

(A) A means for arranging so that the aspect ratio of the area in which the graphic element is arranged in the display area is substantially constant, regardless of the number of records to be displayed, (b) Corresponding records adjacent in the sort order The means for always arranging the graphic elements adjacent to each other, (c) the means for arranging with line breaks between the sorted record values, (d) the first column is the same for the records sorted by two columns When taking a value, it is arranged sequentially from left to right, and a record is inserted from the record whose value has changed.

[0015]

According to the above (a) and (b), especially when the records are sorted and arranged two-dimensionally, the viewpoint moving distance of the user can be reduced. According to (C),
Since the details can be seen after grasping the arrangement of a large amount of data in a macro, the viewpoint movement distance can be reduced. Further, according to (d), it is possible to effectively use the two-dimensional arrangement when sorting is performed using two columns.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of a database display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This database display device is a computer 1 that stores a table data input unit 12 that retrieves a database and acquires table data, a graphic element allocation unit 13 that allocates graphic elements to records, and a graphic element arrangement unit 14 that arranges graphic elements as a program, A database 31 that stores table data composed of one or more columns and one or more records, a graphic element correspondence table that stores a correspondence table of record classification methods and graphic elements assigned to records belonging to each classification. It comprises a file 32, an external storage device 3 in which a graphic element database 33 in which graphic elements are stored, and a display device 2 showing the processing result by the computer 1.

The table data input unit 12 reads the table data 31 and outputs it to the graphic element allocation unit 13. The graphic element allocation unit 13 first refers to the graphic element correspondence table file 32 for each record of the table data input from the table data input unit 12, and determines the graphic element to be allocated. Next, the graphic element is retrieved from the graphic element database 33 and read. The graphic element arrangement unit 14 determines the arrangement position of the graphic element read by the graphic element allocation unit for each record and outputs it to the display device 2.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the screen of the display device 2. Nine records in the table data are converted into graphic elements 21 to 29 and arranged on the screen. The method of arranging the graphic elements 21 to 29 is an example in which the graphic elements are arranged so that the number of rows and the number of columns are substantially equal.

FIG. 3 shows a PAD diagram of the table data display processing of this apparatus. The operation of this device will be described with reference to FIG. First, the table data input unit 12 reads the table data from the database 31 (subroutine 1100). In step 1200, the parameter variables p and q relating to the arrangement position of the graphic element are set.
The initial value of is set to 1. Next, in step 1300, the number of records in the table data is set to N, and record #n (n =
1, 2, ..., N), a subroutine 1400 and a subroutine 1500 described below are executed.

In the subroutine 1400, the graphic element allocation unit 13 refers to the graphic element correspondence table file 32 to determine the graphic element to be allocated to each record in the table data.
The graphic element is read from the graphic element database 33.
In the subroutine 1500, the arrangement position of the graphic element is determined and output to the display device 2. Hereinafter, data used as an example will be described in order to explain the operation of each of the above subroutines.

FIG. 4 shows table data 311 stored in the database 31. Each record of the table data 31 is composed of columns such as "attribute A", "attribute B", and "attribute C". Record numbers # 1 to # 10 are added to the 10 records. Hereinafter, a record having a record number #n (n = 1, ..., 10) is abbreviated as a record #n.

The graphic element correspondence table 321 stored in the external storage device 3 as the graphic element correspondence table file 32 in FIG.
Indicates. The graphic element correspondence table 321 includes columns of “graphic element name” and “condition”. The graphic element in the “graphic element name” column is assigned to the record of the table data 311 that satisfies the conditional expression in the “condition” column. According to the graphic element correspondence table file 321, the value of the attribute A is 4
The graphic element name alpha. im
A graphic element g is assigned. Similarly, for records in which the value of the attribute A is less than 40, the graphic element name beta.
A graphic element img is assigned.

FIG. 6 shows a graphic element 331 (alfa.im).
g) is shown. FIG. 7 shows a graphic element 332 (beta.im).
g) is shown. The graphic element 331 and the graphic element 332 are
It is a digital image stored in the graphic element database 33.

In the present invention, a graphic element having an arbitrary shape is used. To improve the appearance, for example, as shown in FIG.
A rectangular area 331 is used as an occupied display area of the graphic element 331.
1 is secured on the display screen, and the graphic element 331 is uniquely displayed in the area. Similarly, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a rectangular area 3321 is secured on the display screen as an occupied display area of the graphic element 332, and the graphic element 332 is uniquely displayed in the area. Further, in the present embodiment, in order to improve the appearance when arranging the graphic elements, the size of the rectangular area used in the present embodiment is unified to 80 pixels in the vertical direction and 60 pixels in the horizontal direction.

The operation of each subroutine in FIG. 3 will be described using the above data. In the subroutine 1100, the table data 311 is read from the database 31. In this embodiment, the table data is arranged in the order of the record numbers. By using the sorting function of the database 31 to create sorted table data and reading the table data, it is possible to arrange the table data in the sort order.

In the subroutine 1300, the number of records in the table data is set to N, and the record #n (n = 1, n) in the table is set.
2, ..., N), subroutine 1 described below
400 and subroutine 1500 are executed.

The definition of the subroutine 1400 is shown in FIG.
Shown in FIG. In step 1401, the graphic element to be assigned to the record #n is determined from the graphic element correspondence table.
Graphic elements are assigned such that the record #n satisfies the condition of the “condition” column. According to the graphic element correspondence table 321, the record # 1 of the table data 311 has a value of “attribute A” of 64, so the graphic element name alfa. i
A graphic element of mg is assigned.

In step 1402, step 1401
In step 3, the graphic element database 33 is searched for the graphic element associated with the record #n. If the search is successful, the process proceeds to step 1403. If the search fails, the process proceeds to step 1404. In this embodiment, the graphic element alfa.
img331 is stored in the graphic element database, and alpha. The search of img331 is successful, and the process proceeds to step 1403. In step 1403, the alpha. Read img. In FIG. 6, the graphic element alfa. img is shown.

In step 1404, step 1402
If the search for a graphic element fails in step 1, a predetermined default graphic element is assigned. Step 14
Even when the allocation of the graphic element name fails at 01, a predetermined default graphic element is allocated. To explain the subroutine 1500, the coordinate system of the display area and the method of arranging the graphic elements in this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 10 shows the coordinate system in the display area of this embodiment. The origin is in the upper left corner of the coordinate area 2001, the X axis is in the right direction, and the Y axis is in the down direction. The arrangement position (Xn, Yn) of the graphic element corresponding to the record #n is the coordinates of the upper left corner of the rectangular area surrounding the graphic element shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In addition, the width of the rectangular area is w (pixel), and the height is h (pixel).

FIG. 11 shows a method for arranging graphic elements in this embodiment. The numbers in the center of the graphic elements 2101 to 2109 indicate the order of arrangement. As for the graphic element, first, the first graphic element is arranged at an appropriate position in the upper left corner of the display area 2001. Next, the second to fourth graphic elements are arranged along the arrow 2111. Then, along the arrow 2112, 5
~ Arrange the ninth graphic element. Thereafter, graphic elements are similarly arranged. The graphic element arranged by the parameter variables p and q described above is arranged at the q-th position on the p-th arrow. For example, the graphic element arranged by the parameters of p = 3 and q = 4 is arranged at the position of the graphic element 2108.

The definition of the subroutine 1500 is shown in FIG.
Shown in FIG. In step 1501, p> q is determined. When p> q, the graphic element is arranged along the X axis in step 1502, and when p ≦ q, the graphic element is arranged along the Y axis in step 1503.

At step 1504, the count of q is incremented by one. In step 1505, it is determined whether 2p ≦ q. Two
When p = q, no more graphic elements can be placed on the same arrow, so they are placed at the beginning of the next arrow. Therefore, in step 1506, the count of p is incremented by 1 and q is reset to 1.

Modified examples of the graphic element arranging method shown in FIG. 11 are shown in FIGS. FIG. 12 shows a first modification of the graphic element arrangement method shown in FIG. In FIG.
The graphic element is first displayed in the display area 2001 in the display area 2001.
The first graphic element is placed at an appropriate position in the center of the left side of. Next, the second to sixth graphic elements are arranged along the arrow 2201. Next, the 7th to 15th graphic elements are arranged along the arrow 2202. Thereafter, graphic elements are similarly arranged.

FIG. 13 shows a second modification of the graphic element arranging method shown in FIG. In FIG. 13, the first graphic element is arranged in the display area 2001 at an appropriate position in the center of the display area 2001. Next, the second to ninth graphic elements are arranged along the arrow 2301.
Next, the 10th to 25th graphic elements are arranged along the arrow 2302. Thereafter, graphic elements are similarly arranged.

FIG. 14 shows a third modification of the graphic element arranging method shown in FIG. In FIG. 14, in the display area 2001, the first graphic element is arranged at an appropriate position in the upper left corner of the display area 2001. Next, the second to third graphic elements are arranged along the arrow 2401.
Next, the fourth to sixth graphic elements are arranged along the arrow 2402. Next, the 7th to 10th graphic elements are arranged along the arrow 2403. Thereafter, graphic elements are similarly arranged.

FIG. 15 shows a fourth modification of the graphic element arranging method shown in FIG. In FIG. 15, in the display area 2001, the first graphic element is arranged at an appropriate position in the center of the upper side of the display area 2001. next,
The second to fourth graphic elements are arranged along the arrow 2501. Next, the fifth to ninth graphic elements are arranged along the arrow 2502. Thereafter, graphic elements are similarly arranged.

FIG. 16 shows a fifth modification of the graphic element arranging method shown in FIG. In FIG. 16, the graphic element is first arranged in the display area 2001 at an appropriate position in the center of the display area 2001. Next, the second to fifth graphic elements are arranged along the arrow 2601.
Next, the 6th to 13th graphic elements are arranged along the arrow 2602. Thereafter, graphic elements are similarly arranged.

Even in the above modification, the aspect ratio of the area in which the graphic element is arranged is kept substantially constant regardless of the number of data, so that the moving distance of the viewpoint can be kept small. These modifications include the size of the display area, the shape and size of the graphic element used, the number of records, the statistical properties of the data,
It is possible to provide a database display device with better visibility by properly using the database display device according to the preference of the user.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following, description will be given using the table data 312 shown in FIG. This table data is obtained by sorting the table data 311 shown in FIG. 4 by the value of the attribute A in descending order. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the nth graphic element is
It refers to the graphic element corresponding to the nth record in the sorted table data, and is independent of the record number in the table.

FIG. 18 shows a graphic element arranging method of the second embodiment. In FIG. 18, first, the first graphic element is arranged at an appropriate position in the upper left corner of the display area 2001. Next, graphic elements (1st to 7th) are arranged along the arrow 2701 to the right end of the display area. Next, a line feed is performed, and the eighth and subsequent graphic elements are arranged along the arrow 2701 (first to seventh).
The opposite direction to the second). After that, similarly, at the time of line feed, the last graphic element of the line before the line feed and the head graphic element of the line after the line feed are arranged adjacent to each other.

By arranging the graphic elements as described above,
Graphic elements corresponding to consecutive records in the sort order are always displayed adjacent to each other. Therefore, when the user examines the data in the sort order or the reverse sort, the moving distance of the viewpoint is short and the efficiency is high.

FIG. 19 shows a modification of the graphic element arrangement method shown in FIG. The graphic element arrangement method shown in FIG.
This is a modification of the graphic element arranging method shown in FIG. 11 so that continuous graphic elements are always adjacent to each other.

Next, a third embodiment of the invention will be described. In the following, description will be given using the table data 312 shown in FIG. FIG. 20 shows a graphic element arrangement method according to the third embodiment. In the graphic element arrangement method shown in FIG. 20, table data 3
The value of attribute A of 12 is incremented by 50 (..., 100, 50, 0,
...)

According to the table data 312, since the values of the attribute A are 50 or more in the 1st to 4th records, the graphic elements are arranged by the usual arrangement method found in the prior art. Since the value of the attribute A of the fifth record is 40, a line feed is performed. Since the value of the attribute A of the fifth record to the tenth record is 0 or more and less than 50, the graphic elements are arranged by the normal arrangement method found in the related art.

By thus performing line breaks at predetermined delimiters, the delimiters of sorted records can be easily visually recognized. As a delimiter, in addition to the method of using the fixed value described above, it is also possible to use increase / decrease of digits, change of sign, or the like.

FIG. 21 shows a modification of the graphic element arrangement method shown in FIG. The graphic element placement method shown in FIG.
This is an application of the graphic element arrangement method shown in FIG.
First, until the sorted column values reach the break,
Graphic elements are arranged by the graphic element arrangement method shown in.

Here, when the sorted column value reaches the delimiter, the arrangement for the area where the graphic element has been arranged is suspended. Next, another area is newly prepared, and the column values sorted for the area reach the boundary as shown in FIG.
The graphic elements are arranged by the graphic element arrangement method shown in FIG. The above process is repeated to arrange graphic elements.

According to the arrangement example shown in FIG. 20, first, graphic elements are arranged in the block 2901 in the sort order from the first record in the sorted table data. Assuming that the seventh record has reached the division of the sorted values, the arrangement of graphic elements in the block 2901 is interrupted, and the eighth record is arranged in a new block 2902.

Assuming that the 20th record has reached the division of the sorted values, the arrangement of graphic elements in the block 2902 is interrupted, and the 21st record is arranged in a new block 2903.

By changing the blocks in which the graphic elements are arranged at the predetermined divisions in this way, the divisions of the sorted records can be easily visually recognized.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described. In the following, description will be given using the table data 313 shown in FIG. This table data is obtained by sorting the table data 311 shown in FIG. 4 in ascending order by the value of the attribute C, and then by sorting the records having the same value of the attribute C in the descending order by the value of the attribute B.

FIG. 23 shows a graphic element arranging method of the fourth embodiment. According to this arrangement method, when table data sorted by two columns has the same value in one of the sorted columns, they are sequentially arranged from left to right in the sort order of the other column. Place a line break from the record in which the former column value has changed. That is, the graphic elements are arranged according to the sort order of the records shown in the table data 313, but a line feed is performed when the value of the attribute C of the table data 313 changes.

According to FIG. 23, according to the table data 313, the 1st to 5th records have the value of the attribute C of 1. Therefore, the graphic elements are arranged by the normal arrangement method found in the prior art. Since the value of the attribute C of the sixth record is 2, a line feed is performed. Attribute C of the 6th to 10th records
Since the value of is 1, the graphic elements are arranged by the usual arrangement method found in the prior art.

With respect to table data sorted by two columns, a line feed is performed according to a change in the value of a predetermined column, so that the sorting order of one column value can be set for the two columns used for sorting. You can check from the line break position. At the same time, the sort order of the other column value can be obtained from the arrangement order of graphic elements in the same row.

[0056]

According to the present invention, the following (1) to (4)
The effect of is obtained.

(1) Regardless of the number of records to be displayed and the display start position, the graphic element is arranged so that the aspect ratio of the area where the graphic element is arranged is substantially constant in the display area. Therefore, even if a large number of graphic elements are displayed, the display area does not become significantly long or horizontally long. Therefore, when the user wants to overview the entire data, it is possible to suppress the moving distance of the viewpoint and realize efficient display. Further, it is easy to secure the display area even in the limited space on the screen of the display device.

(2) Graphic elements corresponding to records whose sort orders are adjacent are always arranged adjacent to each other. Therefore, when examining the data in the sort order, the user's viewpoint moving distance is small, and efficient display can be realized.

(3) With respect to the sorted table data, line breaks are made at predetermined delimiters so that demarcations of sorted records can be easily visually recognized.

(4) Regarding table data sorted by two columns, a line feed is performed in accordance with a change in the value of a predetermined column, so that one of the column values of one of the two columns used for sorting You can check the sort order from the line feed position. Also, the sort order of the other column value can be obtained from the arrangement order of the graphic elements in the same line. Even when sorting is performed using two columns in this manner, the sorting order of the two columns can be visually recognized by effectively utilizing the two-dimensional arrangement.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a database display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of a display screen of the database display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an overall processing PAD diagram of the database display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of table data stored in a database shown in FIG.

5 is an example of a graphic element correspondence table described in a graphic element correspondence table file in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an example of a graphic element allocated to a record of table data in the graphic element allocation unit in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an example of a graphic element allocated to a record of table data in the graphic element allocation unit in FIG.

8 is a processing PAD diagram of the graphic element allocation unit in FIG. 1. FIG.

9 is a processing PAD diagram of a graphic element placement unit in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a coordinate system in a display area on the display device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of graphic elements.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of graphic elements.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of graphic elements.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of graphic elements.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of graphic elements.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of graphic elements.

FIG. 17 is an example of sorting table data stored in a database.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of graphic elements.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of graphic elements.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of graphic elements.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of graphic elements.

FIG. 22 is an example of sorting table data stored in a database.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of graphic elements.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-3: component devices, 12-14: functional blocks, 31-
33: functional blocks, 21-29: graphic elements, 1100
~ 1500: processing block, 311: tabular data, 32
1: Graphic element correspondence table, 331: Graphic element.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A database display device for searching and displaying a database storing records in table data composed of at least one or more records composed of at least one or more columns. From the graphic element correspondence table file and the graphic element database, a graphic element assigning section for converting a record into a graphic element, a graphic element arranging section for arranging the graphic element on a two-dimensional plane, and a display section for displaying the graphic element. The database display device is characterized in that the graphic element arranging unit arranges the graphic elements in the display area so that the aspect ratio of the area where the graphic elements are arranged is substantially constant regardless of the number of records to be displayed. 2. The database display device according to claim 1, wherein, with respect to records sorted by a certain column, the graphic element arranging portion is arranged so as to be continuous with respect to a record value. 3. The database display device according to claim 1, wherein, for records sorted by a certain column, the graphic element arranging unit arranges the records at line breaks at line breaks. 4. The database display device according to claim 1, wherein, for records sorted by two columns, when the graphic element arranging section has the same value in the first column, the graphic element arranging portion is arranged sequentially from left to right. However, the database display device is characterized by arranging with a line break from the record whose value has changed.