JPH10105547A - Data input supporting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To construct an input supporting environment common for a lot of application programs(AP) by providing a general-purpose preprocessing program which enables input support to the AP to perform data inputting while grasping characters such as the format and items of data to be handled by that AP. SOLUTION: One part of data to be handled by the AP and attribute information are stored as application attribute data, and data inputted from an input device are worked and defined as the input to the AP by using these application attribute data for the preprocessing program. Besides, the preprocessing program is equipped with plural data input supporting styles including menu selection input, input data replenishment and default value setting and according to the data input supporting style selected by a user, data inputting is supported.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data input support method in an information processing system comprising an application program and a pre-processing program for input support for the application program. The present invention relates to a data input support method in a system that can use the data input.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among conventional data input support functions, an independent one as a preprocessing program is an IME (Input M
ethod Editor), which provide a Japanese input support (Kana-Kanji conversion) function.
Most are built into application programs.

For example, a system using an input support method in a spread sheet described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-278323 provides a function of complementing an input character string, and the function is incorporated in the system. . Therefore, although the function of input character string complementation implemented here is generally available, its implementation method is one that can be generally used as an independent device or program. Has not become.

[0004]

One of the reasons that it is difficult for the above-described data input support function to be used in an independent form is that the data format and items handled by the application program in order to provide input support are difficult. Sometimes you need to know the nature.

For example, when considering the data example of the spreadsheet of FIG. 3, when data entry of the item "Home Department" is attempted to be completed halfway, the data of the item "Home Department" Must have a list of possible candidates for the string That is, "information"
, It is necessary to prepare in advance as a candidate list whether the supplementary information is “Engineering Department” or “Science Department”.

However, since data items handled by many application programs are various, it is extremely troublesome to prepare in advance a candidate list of information to be complemented, and it is not versatile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to realize a general-purpose preprocessing program capable of grasping the format of data handled by the application program and the nature of the item and providing input support to the application program that performs data input. Another object of the present invention is to provide an input support method capable of constructing a common input support environment for application programs.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a part of data handled by an application program and attribute information are stored as application attribute data, and the application attribute data is stored in a preprocessing program. In which the input data from the input device is processed and used as input to an application program.

The preprocessing program includes a plurality of data input support formats including menu selection input, input data complement, and setting of default values, and supports data input according to the data input support format selected by the user. It is characterized by the following.

Further, the pre-processing program and the application program each have an inter-process communication interface that can be used in common, and pre-process the attribute data of the application data necessary for executing the data input support function selected by the user. It is characterized in that it is obtained by utilizing inter-process communication between a program and an application program and history acquisition of data input from an input device, and is stored in an application attribute data storage device.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing system for realizing the data input support method of the present invention.

The information processing system of this embodiment includes a preprocessing program 1, an application program 2, an input / display device 3, an application data attribute storage device 4, and an application data storage device 5.

The pre-processing program 1 comprises an inter-process communication processing section 11 and an input / output data processing section 12, and the application program 2 comprises an inter-process communication interface section 21 and an application processing section 22.

The preprocessing program 1 includes an input / display device 3
Receives input data and various instructions from the application program 2 and generates input data to be passed to the application program 2 by the input / output data processing unit 12 based on the input data and the instructions.
Directly sent to application program 2.

The application program 2 receives the data input from the preprocessing program 1 in the same manner as the conventional one, and then processes the data in the application processing unit 22.

The input support process of the preprocessing program 1 performs input support in accordance with the contents of the application data based on the attribute data stored in the application data attribute storage device 4.

The attribute data stored in the application data attribute storage device 4 is based on the data obtained from the application program 2 through the inter-process communication by the inter-process communication processing section 11 and the history of the input data from the input / display device 3. is there.

On the other hand, the inter-process communication interface section 21 of the application program 2 includes a “program for providing an application data attribute” described according to an inter-process communication interface usable in the application program 2. .

This program is, for example, OLE compatible (Obj
ect Linking and Embedding)
A method of describing and registering as a macro of the inter-process communication processing by the LE interface is conceivable.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a basic procedure of inter-process communication between the inter-process communication processing section 11 of the pre-processing program 1 and the inter-process communication interface section 21 of the application program 2.

In this inter-processor communication, a "communication connection request" is issued from the preprocessing program 1 (S20).
1) If "connection confirmation" is returned from the inter-process communication interface unit 21 (S202), the preprocessing program 1 inquires of the application program 2 about "data format" and "data content" (S203, S20).
5), answer to the inquiry (data format answer,
If a data content answer is returned (S204,
(S206), a "communication end request" is issued to end the inter-processor communication (S207), and the "end confirmation" notification from the application program 2 is returned, thereby terminating the inter-processor communication (S208). .

When a change of the editing object occurs, the "data format inquiry" and the "data content inquiry" are repeated a plurality of times as necessary.

First, in the present embodiment, a program for creating spreadsheet-type data is assumed as the application program 2, and list data in a sheet format shown in FIG. 3 is created as data created by the application program. Shall be.

First, the application data attribute storage device 4 stores attribute data indicating properties related to application data obtained as a history of inter-process communication and data input from the input / display device 3. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the attribute data 400.
For example, for each item of the item name 401 including the name, the department of origin, the graduation year, and the telephone number, the support contents 40 such as whether to supplement the input data, whether to use the default value, etc.
2 and pointer information 403 to the candidate data list 404
Is stored. The candidate data list for the home department is, for example, data such as the information engineering department, the mechanical engineering department, the electrical engineering department, and the information science department as illustrated.

On the other hand, the application data storage device 5
3 stores data as data to be created / edited by the application program 2 as shown in the tabular sheet portion of FIG. For example, information such as name = Koichi Yamada, home department = information engineering department, graduation year = 1990, telephone number = 03-7313-0254, and the like are stored.

In the input support method of the present embodiment, a plurality of types of input support functions can be used. When executing the input support, first, an operation of selecting the support content is performed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a support content selection screen 501 for selecting the support content. The support content is selected for each data item as shown in FIG.

For example, as shown in the "telephone number" column,
(1) No support, (2) Input data complement, (3) Menu selection, (4) Default value (immediately before), (5) Default value (prescribed) One of five types of support contents is input and displayed Cursor 5 of mouse (not shown) attached to device 3
Select by 02.

Here, when “menu selection” is selected from the five types of support contents, a menu selection input screen 601 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display screen of the input / display device 3. Therefore, the corresponding data from the list displayed on the menu selection input screen 601 is displayed with the mouse cursor 502.
Choose by.

The menu selection input screen 601
Can be used in combination with a function that can be directly input to the input field 602 when it is necessary to input data that does not exist in the list.

The "input data complement" is shown in FIG.
Input field 7 as shown in the complementary input screen 701 of FIG.
With respect to the character string "information" partially input in 02, (1) if there is only one character string candidate, the character string candidate is directly displayed in the input field 702 as shown in FIG. 7B. Or (2) If there is more than one, as shown in FIG.
After displaying the candidates one by one or displaying the candidates collectively as shown in FIG. 7C, if the supplementary character string displayed in the input field 702 is a desired character string, the "OK" button 7
03, or after selecting one of a plurality of complementary character string candidates by a character string candidate number (1, 2, etc.),
This is determined by a “confirm” button 703.

A "complement" button 704 is used to perform a selection operation when a complement process is performed on a character string partially entered in the input field 702.

Further, a "cancel" button 705 is pressed
This button is used to cancel the selection operation of the button 703 and the “complement” button 704.

Next, the default value (immediately before) of the default value (immediately before) and the default value (prescribed) is to set the value or data previously input in the item in the input field. The default value (specification) is to set a specific value or data expected to be input in the input field.

It is also conceivable to provide functions other than the input support contents listed above or functions combining them. In such a case, it is necessary to add a function to the preprocessing program 1 and a support item to the support selection screen. Needless to say,

As shown in FIG. 8A, a method of displaying a screen when actually performing input support for a spreadsheet is a complementary input including an input field 803 in the vicinity of a cell 801 to be input or in a margin. A method for displaying the window 802 and a cell 8 for inputting as shown in FIG.
01 can be used as an input field as it is, and a complementary input window 802 including an input field 803 is displayed near or outside the margin.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of the input support processing in the preprocessing program 1.

The pre-processing program 1 first establishes a connection for inter-process communication from the inter-process communication processing section 11 to the inter-process communication interface section 22 of the application program 2 (step 901). Subsequently, an inquiry about the format of the application data is made by the inter-process communication, and the inquiry is obtained (step 9).
02). For example, the name of the spreadsheet and the item name of each column as shown in FIG. 8 are obtained.

In this case, if the attribute of the application data of the application data to be edited is already generated (Y in step 903).
ES), the attribute data of the application data is read from the application data attribute storage device 4 (step 904).

On the other hand, if the attribute of the application data has not been generated (NO in step 903), a support content selection screen 501 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed and selection of support content is accepted (step 905). An inquiry about the contents of the application data necessary for the support contents is performed by inter-communication, and the inquiry is obtained (step 906). For example, the data of a certain data column (for example, the column of the department of origin) in the spreadsheet of FIG.

Thereafter, the preprocessing program 1 shifts to actual input support processing.

First, input and operation instructions are received (step 907). If the operation or instruction is an instruction to end the processing of the application program 2 (YES in step 908), the instruction is transmitted to the application program 2. Then, the data of the attribute of the data input so far is stored in the application data attribute storage device 4 (step 909), and the processing of the preprocessing program 1 ends.

On the other hand, if it is not an instruction to end the processing of the application program 2 (NO in step 908), but an instruction to change the data to be processed (here, a spreadsheet) (YES in step 910), Sends a change instruction to the application program 2,
The data of the attribute currently used is stored in the application data attribute storage device 4 (step 911), the process returns to the inquiry process regarding the new application data format (step 902), and the attribute of the application data to be newly processed is changed. Secure.

Further, if it is not an instruction to change the data to be processed (NO in step 910) but an instruction to operate another application program 2 (YES in step 912), the data is transmitted to the application program 2. It transmits (step 913), and returns to the input receiving process (step 907).

Then, if it is not the instruction of the operation of the application program 2 (NO in step 912), and the input of the data of one item is completed (step 9)
14), sends that data to application program 2 and updates the attribute of the application data (adds new input data to candidate data list 404)
Then, the process returns to the input accepting process (step 907).

Finally, if the input of the data of one item has not been completed (NO in step 914), it is determined that the input is an instruction of an operation relating to input of characters in the middle of input of an item and input support processing in the preprocessing program 2. The pre-processing program 2 accepts input characters or performs an instructed operation (for example, selection of a menu item or complementation of an input character string) (step 916), and returns to the next input reception processing (step 907).

In this embodiment, a method has been described in which new data that has been input is used while being added to the candidate data list 404 obtained by inter-process communication, as needed. If
A method is also conceivable in which the candidate data list 404 is given in advance and is used in a fixed manner. In this case, it is not necessary to obtain the contents of the application data by the inter-process communication.

Acquisition of information such as the nature and contents of application data by inter-process communication between the pre-processing program 1 and the application program 2 and selection and use of a plurality of general-purpose functions using this information The present embodiment is characterized in that a possible input support environment is provided.

Here, in order to explain the general availability of the preprocessing program 1, a case where the preprocessing program 1 of the above embodiment is applied to another application program will be described.

For example, instead of the program for creating spreadsheet type data of the above embodiment, FIG.
It is assumed that an entry system for inputting product order data from the order data input screen 1010 as described above is the application program 2. In this case, the application program 2 supports the same interprocess communication protocol as the application program 2 in the above-described embodiment, and a program (macro or the like) for responding to an inquiry about application data based on the protocol can be registered. It is assumed that

In this entry system, the order data 11 stored in the application data storage 5
01, as shown in the example of FIG. 11, includes items such as a product code, a product name, a quantity, an order date, a delivery date, and remarks. The attribute data 1 created from the order data 1101 based on the inter-process communication and the user's settings and stored in the application data attribute storage device 4.
201 is like the example of FIG.

In the example of FIG. 12, a plurality of data such as A103 and A105 are registered in the product code candidate data list 1202 as product code candidate data, and as a product name candidate data, such as a modem card, a LAN card, etc. A plurality of data are registered in the product name candidate data list 1203.

If the attribute data 1201 of such application data can be obtained, the input support function of the preprocessing program 1 can be used as in the case of the spreadsheet creation program.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, attribute information such as the nature and contents of application data obtained by inter-process communication between the preprocessing program 1 and the application program 2 is acquired, and the application data attribute storage is performed. Since the input data is stored in the device 4 and input support for the input data is performed using the attribute information stored in the application data attribute storage device 4, a large number of applications that handle a wide variety of data items are provided. A general-purpose preprocessing program can be realized for a program, and a common input support environment can be constructed for many application programs.

Further, since a support format using the attribute information stored in the application data attribute storage device 4 can be selected from a plurality of formats, the data format is excellent in versatility and suitable for each user. Can provide input assistance.

Further, by acquiring the history of the input data and using it in combination, the inter-process communication amount is reduced, and the data input can be supported more efficiently.

An object of the present invention is to realize a general-purpose preprocessing program capable of grasping the format of data handled by the application program and the nature of the item and providing input support to the application program that performs data input. A common input support environment can be constructed for the application programs.

[0059]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in a data input support method in which an input from an input device is processed by a preprocessing program and is input to an application program, the attribute of the application data is Menu selection input, input data completion,
By realizing multiple data input support functions including setting of default values and selecting and using them, it is possible to provide input support functions that grasp the format of data to be handled and the characteristics of items in multiple system environments. Can be provided in common.

Further, by using the information of the application data obtained by the inter-process communication, a more flexible input support function can be provided. Further, by using the history of the input data in combination, the number of processes between the processes can be reduced. Input support can be realized by communication.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing system for realizing a data input support method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a basic procedure of inter-process communication between a pre-processing program and an application program.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a spreadsheet (program screen) to be subjected to data input support.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of attribute data of application data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a support content selection screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen by menu selection of a preprocessing program.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen by input data complement of a preprocessing program.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display method of a screen when performing input support.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of input support processing in a preprocessing program.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen of an entry system for inputting product order data.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of order data in the entry system of FIG. 10;

12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an attribute of application data in the entry system in FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pre-processing program, 2 ... Application program, 3 ... Input / display device, 4 ... Application data attribute storage device, 5 ... Application data storage device,
11: Inter-process communication processing unit, 12: Input / output data processing unit, 21: Inter-process communication interface unit, 22: Application processing unit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] In a data input support method for processing input data from an input device by a preprocessing program and inputting the processed data to an application program, a part of data handled by the application program and attribute information are stored as application attribute data. A data input support method characterized in that the application attribute data is used in a preprocessing program to process input data from an input device and input the input data to an application program. 2. The pre-processing program includes a plurality of data input support formats including menu selection input, input data complement, and setting of default values, and supports data input according to a data input support format selected by a user. 2. The data input support method according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The pre-processing program and the application program each have an inter-process communication interface that can be used in common, and store attribute data of application data required for execution of a data input support function selected by a user. 3. The data input support method according to claim 2, wherein the data is acquired by using inter-process communication between the processing program and the application program and history acquisition of data input from the input device, and stored in the application attribute data storage device. .