JPH0850539A - Screen layout designing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a screen layout designing device by which a screen can be designed as the image at the time of executing an application program when the screen layout is designed. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with a definition information generating means for generating a binary file and a synthetic display means for selecting and displaying plural item groups, and the position relation of item groups 605 and 606 to be displayed at the time of executing the application program can be confirmed when the screen layout is designed. Also, the device is provided with a coupling means for registering the plural displayed item groups as one new item group and the plural item groups 605 and 606 can be defined as one item group 611, as that the screen layout utilizing the existent item groups can easily be designed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a screen layout designing apparatus for designing a screen output by an application program, which utilizes a computer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the design of a display screen is performed by writing a layout on a format sheet corresponding to a display device and actually programming the display position and display contents in detail according to the layout by a programmer. There has been a method of reading format paper with a reading device and automatically obtaining information on screen design. The latter method is, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-212.
721 is mentioned.

[0003]

In the conventional method as described above, the screen design and the generation of the application program that uses the designed screen are separate operations.
There was a problem that the whole work required a considerable amount of time. Further, there is a problem that whether or not the designed screen is displayed as designed can be confirmed only when the application program is executed.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and when designing a screen layout,
An object of the present invention is to obtain a screen layout design device capable of designing a screen as it is when an application program is executed.

[0005]

A screen layout designing apparatus according to the present invention displays a device for inputting an item group for constructing a screen layout and an item group input by an input device as a screen layout. A display device,
According to the screen layout displayed on the display device, a definition information generating means for generating definition information of the item group of the screen layout, and an item group which is a screen layout individually defined by the definition information generating means as one screen It is provided with a combination display means for combining and displaying.

The screen layout designing apparatus further includes
The above-mentioned definition information generating means is provided with a combining means for combining the screen layouts individually defined and defining a new one screen layout.

The screen layout design apparatus further includes
A screen confirmation means capable of inputting sample data for confirmation is provided for an item on the screen layout.

The screen layout designing apparatus further includes
It is provided with a dummy item definition means that is effective only when designing the screen layout and that can define items that are not reflected when the actual application program is executed.

The screen layout designing apparatus further includes
A plurality of items of the same type are provided with a continuous definition means capable of designing a layout even if they are displayed continuously without a break.

[0010]

A screen layout designing apparatus according to the present invention comprises an input device for inputting an item group for configuring a screen layout, a display device for displaying the input item group as a screen layout, and Definition information generating means for generating a binary file that is the definition information of the screen layout and defining the item group, and composite display for combining and displaying the individually defined item group of the screen layout as one screen By providing the means, a plurality of item groups designed separately can be displayed on the same screen.

Further, the screen layout designing apparatus according to the present invention combines the screen layouts defined individually,
By providing the combining means that can be defined as a new one screen layout, it is possible to combine a plurality of item groups into one new item group.

Further, the screen layout designing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a screen confirmation means capable of inputting sample data for confirmation of input / output for items on the screen layout, so that the sample can be sampled at the time of designing the screen. You can enter the data and save the data.

Further, the screen layout designing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with the dummy item definition means capable of defining the items which are not reflected when the actual application program is executed, so that the display of the item whose output position is variable at the time of execution can be confirmed. Also, it is possible to describe annotation phrases when designing the screen layout.

Further, the screen layout designing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with the continuous defining means capable of designing the layout even if a plurality of items of the same type are continuously displayed without breaks. Items can be displayed even if there is no space between the displayed items on the screen layout.

[0015]

【Example】

Example 1. One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 1, 901 is a display device such as a display for displaying a design screen, 902 is a computer system, and 9 is a computer system.
Reference numeral 03 is an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse for inputting items required for layout design on a design screen displayed on the display device 901. This apparatus is configured in the computer system 902 by the following means. Reference numeral 911 is definition information generating means for generating a binary file. This binary file is, for example, in Figure 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, information about items such as display position, type and length of contents to be displayed, and attributes is stored. Reference numeral 912 is a composite display means for selecting and displaying a plurality of item groups. Reference numeral 913 is a combining unit for registering the displayed plurality of item groups as a new one item group. Reference numeral 914 is a screen confirmation means for confirming input / display of the designed screen layout. Reference numeral 915 is a dummy item definition means for displaying an error message and an annotation phrase on the screen. Reference numeral 916 is a continuous definition means for continuously displaying a plurality of items without blanks.

An outline of the flow of processing for creating a screen layout will be described with reference to FIG. First, specify the item type and length on the design screen and lay out the items (20
1) After setting all items, these items are collectively defined as one item group. At this time, information such as the type, length, and layout position of each item is held in the storage area (202). Next, in a case where a plurality of item groups such as “display item group 1 and then display item group 2” are combined in a certain application program (203), the combination display means 912 has already designed. By selecting the corresponding two item groups from the individual item groups, the two selected item groups can be combined and displayed on one screen (204). Further, at this time, the two item groups synthesized and displayed can be combined by the combining means 913 into one new item group (205). In this case, by combining the respective pieces of information of the item groups that are combined and displayed, it can be defined as a new item group (206). Further, the screen layout in which the information of the item group is already designed and already stored in the binary file is the screen confirmation means 91.
4, it is possible to input sample data for checking the operation (207). In this case, by inputting sample data in the variable item to be input, the screen can be operated as if the application program is operating, and the operation of the screen can be confirmed (208). ). At the end of processing, information such as type, length, layout position of each item designed as above,
The definition information generating means 911 is used for each item group shown in FIG.
It is stored in a binary file as shown in (209).
In this way, the screen design can be designed, edited, and confirmed with the execution screen image throughout the design process.

Next, a detailed example of the composite display means 912 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 (A), (B) and (C). FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of processing of the composite display means 912. 4A, 4B, and 4C are diagrams showing screen layouts showing the operation of the composite display unit 912. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which a plurality of item groups are combined and displayed on the currently displayed design screen. First, the screen 401 of FIG. 4 (A), which is the currently displayed design screen, is defined as a base screen that is a base of the composite screen (301).
The base screen 401 has an item group including items 402 and 403. Here, 402 represents a numeral type 5-digit item in which only numbers can be input, and 403 represents an alphanumeric type 3 digit item in which letters and numbers can be input. Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, a second design screen 404 different from the base screen 401 and to be combined with the base screen 401 is selected, and the combination within the second design screen 404 should be performed. Set the range 407 of the item group (30
2). On the second design screen 404, 405 is a kanji type that allows only 2-byte kanji to be input, and is a 3-digit item.
A numeral type 406 represents an item having two decimal digits out of four digits. Items 405, 4 in the setting range 407 of the item group
After acquiring (303) the layout information of 06, the group of items is displayed on the base screen 401 in accordance with this layout information to form a composite display screen 408. At this time, the two item groups on the composite display screen 408 are only displayed on the same screen, and the item group consisting of 402 and 403,
The item group consisting of 405 and 406 is a separate item group. For example, in this way, in an application program, a plurality of item groups
In the case of displaying on one screen, by combining and displaying by the combining means 912 before actually operating the application program, the positional relationship of the display of the two item groups can be confirmed.

Next, an example of the coupling means 913 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6A and 6B. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the combining unit 913, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing screens before and after combining. Here, the design screen compositely displayed by the composite display means 912 is used (FIG. 6A). In the processing of combining the item groups, it is first determined whether the ranges of the item groups to be combined do not overlap each other (501). This is a group of multiple items 1
This is because it is defined as one item group, so that the items in the same item group are prevented from overlapping each other. In the example of FIG. 6A, the item group 605 and the item group 606 do not overlap each other, and as a result of the determination, the process proceeds to the next process. Next, the layout on the design screen is confirmed, and the item groups are combined and defined as a new item group (502). Further, the layout information of the combined item group 606 is used as a base item group 605.
Is laid out in the storage area of the layout information of and is defined as the information of the new item group 611 (503). As a result, the combined displayed item groups 605 and 606 are displayed in FIG.
As shown in (B), they are combined as one new item group 611. In this way, the combining unit 913 can reuse the existing item group to combine the item groups to create a new item group.

Next, an example of the screen confirmation means 914 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the flow of processing of the screen confirmation unit 914, and FIG. 8 is a screen layout diagram showing the operation of the screen confirmation unit 914. In this embodiment, the design screen designed as described above is used (FIG. 8A). The screen confirmation means 914 is capable of inputting sample data into the inputtable items on the screen. First, an item 801 for inputting sample data is designated by a pointing device such as a mouse (701). Here, a 5-digit item 801 is designated by a numeral type. The designated item indicates a designated state by changing the display form from that before designation, such as inversion or change of character color, like item 805 in FIG. 8B. Next, information such as the type and length of the designated item is obtained from the binary file that stores the layout (702). Then, for example, “12345” is input as sample data to the designated item 805, and is input in FIG.
9 (703), a check is made as to whether the item type is a numeric type or a length within 5 digits is compared with the information obtained from the binary file (70).
4) Then, the data passed therethrough is displayed overwritten on the designated item 805 (705). By the overwriting display, the item 805 for which the input is designated becomes a state in which the sample data is displayed as shown in FIG. Similarly, FIG. 8D is similar to FIG.
The data “ABC” is stored in the item 810 (alphanumeric type, 3 digits) of item (C), the data “Ai” is stored in item 811 (kanji type, 3 digits), and the item 812 (numeric type, 4 digits with 2 decimal digits). In this example, the data "67.8" is input as sample data in () and displayed. In this way, the screen confirmation means 914 can input the sample data at the time of screen design, so that the image of the screen at the time of execution can be directly confirmed at the screen design.

Further, in this embodiment, the screen confirmation means 914
In, it is possible to store the information of the sample data in a file. As a result, once input sample data can be recalled from a file as needed and displayed again on the screen.

Next, an example of the dummy item definition means 915 will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 (A) and 9 (B). FIG. 9A is a display example of a design screen of an item whose output position is variable when the application program is executed. Items 901, 90
Items 2 and 903 are each an alphanumeric type and have the same 4-digit content. For example, a message such as "Error" is output separately at different positions according to a certain condition judgment in the application program. Shall be done. In this way, the dummy item definition means 915 displays all or a part of the items on the design screen, if the items have the same type, length, and content but only the output position is different. Then, the dummy item can be easily simulated as a dummy item. To the effect that these items are dummy items, their attributes are given when the screen items in FIG. 2 are input (201).

Further, since the dummy item is not reflected in the application program, it can be used as an annotation phrase on the design screen, and if it is output from the printing device, the maintenance of the document becomes easy. FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a screen when a dummy item is used as an annotation phrase. In the example of FIG. 9B, the items 904 and 905 are items that are output when the application program is executed, but the character of the item 906 "screen number 1" is defined as a dummy item by the dummy item definition means 915, It is not output when the application program is executed.

Next, an example of the continuous definition means 916 is shown in FIG.
A description will be given using (A), (B), (C), and (D). For example, when designing items of the same type to be displayed consecutively on the design screen, in the present embodiment, items are displayed even if a space of 1 byte or more is not required between the items. It is possible to design For example, as shown in FIG. 10 (A), it is assumed that there is a 5-digit item of numeral type. Next to this, when a 4-digit item of the same numeric type is designed to be continuously displayed as shown in FIG. 10 (B), the second consecutive item is highlighted as shown in FIG. 10 (C). To do. As a result, even if there is no space of 1 byte or more between the item displayed first and the item that follows it, each item can be distinguished. In addition, when two or more items of the same type are consecutive, FIG.
As in (D), the items are distinguished from each other by reversing the display of every other item. In the present embodiment,
The continuous definition means 916 enables a design in which items of the same type can be continuously displayed on the screen. In addition, in the present embodiment, when two or more items of the same type are consecutive, an example in which every other item is displayed in reverse video is shown, but this may be such that the display color is changed.

A specific example of screen design will be described below. Numeric type (9) items Use the character '9' when designing numeric type items. For example, it becomes impossible to distinguish between the case where an item having a length of 6 bytes is designed and the case where two items having a length of 3 bytes are consecutively designed. 999999 (6 bytes) 999999 (3 bytes x 2) Therefore, this is dealt with by using a reverse character of "9" (hereinafter, the reverse character of "9" is expressed as "8"). Specifically, if you press '9' 6 times and press the Enter key, an item of 6 bytes, hit '9' 3 times and enter.
Press the er key and hit '9' three times in succession to enter
Pressing the er key automatically sets the second item to '888'
Converted to (inverted character of '9') and displayed. Further, this process is performed as long as successive items of the same type continue. 99988889998888899988 (3 bytes x
6) As a reverse character, "N" is prepared for the Chinese character type item "K", and "Y" is prepared for the alphanumeric character type item "X", so that it is possible to deal with a break between consecutive identical type items.

Example 2. As an example of the present invention, a specific screen design operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 (A), (B), and (C) are diagrams showing the procedure of the operation of executing the composite display unit 912. In the following description, the text means a group of items. First, when the combining process is started, the “combination dialog box” of FIG. 12A is displayed. This is an operation screen for selecting a text to be combined (combined text) with respect to a base text to be combined. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the base text is “heading text 1” 121. Then, the text to be combined is selected from the box of “other text” 122. For example, the selection can be made by moving the mouse cursor, and the "detailed text" 123, which is the text specified by clicking the mouse, is highlighted (Fig. 12).
(B)). Next, by clicking the "Add" 124 portion, the specified text "Detail text" 12
3 has been selected as the text to be composed,
As shown in FIG. 12C, the box moves to the “combined text” 125 box. After that, by clicking "Set" 126, the combined design screen is displayed.

An example of the design screen which is synthesized and displayed by the above operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 (A), 13 (B) and 13 (C). For example, in the case of the combination in which the screen of FIG. 13A is used as the base screen and the screen of FIG. 13B is combined by the above operation, the composite screen as shown in FIG. 13C is displayed as a result. Will be. At this time, the display contents of the screen selected for combining and the base screen are displayed in different colors, respectively, so that it is understood that the design screen is a combined screen.

When the composite screen is displayed by the composite display means 912 and then the composite screen is combined by the combining means 913, the combining process is selected in the operation. 14
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an operation screen for performing a combining process by the combining unit 913. As shown in FIG. 14, "OK" 141 on the screen is clicked to select the merge process and perform the text merge (the word "merge" is used in FIG. 14). As a result, the information on the plurality of texts that are displayed in a composite manner is combined. Then, when the combination of the display screens is completed, the display colors of the base text and the synthesized text are the same.

[0028]

Since the screen layout designing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with the definition information generating means and the composite display means, it is possible to display a plurality of item groups on the same screen. The positional relationship between the displayed item groups can be confirmed at the time of designing the screen layout, thereby improving the productivity of the application program.

Further, since the screen layout designing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with the combining means, a plurality of item groups can be defined as one item group, so that it is easy to design the screen layout using the existing item groups. It can be done.

Further, since the screen layout designing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with the screen checking means, it is possible to input and save the sample data, so that it is possible to check the display of the input items when designing the screen layout, and the application It improves program productivity.

Further, since the screen layout designing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with the dummy item defining means, it is possible to confirm the display of the variable items and describe the annotation phrase. Therefore, the contents of the screen can be grasped at the time of designing. It makes it easier.

Further, since the screen layout designing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with the continuous defining means, it is possible to continuously display the items without any blanks, which facilitates the screen design and improves the productivity of the application program. It is what makes me.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a flow of processing for creating a screen layout in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of processing of a composite display unit in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a screen layout diagram showing the operation of the composite display unit in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a coupling means in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing screens before and after joining by the joining means in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of processing of a screen confirmation means in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a screen layout showing the operation of the screen confirmation means in the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a dummy item defining means in the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a continuous defining means in the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the contents of a binary file in the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a procedure of an operation of executing a composite display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a design screen displayed in a composite manner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an operation screen for performing a joining process by the joining means according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

901 display device, 902 computer system, 9
03 input device, 911 definition information generating means, 912
Composite display means, 913 combining means, 914 screen confirming means, 915 dummy item defining means, 916 continuous defining means.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A screen layout design device having the following elements: (a) an input device for inputting items constituting a screen layout, and (b) a display device for displaying the items input by the input device and displaying the screen layout. , (C) definition information generating means for generating definition information of the screen layout based on the screen layout displayed on the display device, (d) combining the screen layouts individually defined by the definition information generating means, Composite display means for displaying. 2. The screen layout designing apparatus further comprises a combining means for combining the screen layouts individually defined by the definition information generating means to obtain a new screen layout. 1. The screen layout design device described in 1. 3. The screen layout design apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising screen confirmation means for inputting sample data for the screen layout item. 4. The screen layout design apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising dummy item definition means for defining an item that is not reflected when the screen layout is used. 5. The screen layout design apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a continuous definition means for continuously laying out a plurality of items of the same type.