JPH11126149A - Information processor and method thereof, and memory medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a user interface and to effectively use a display area by moving or expanding and contracting a window so that the side of the window is drawn to a specified position according to an instruction. SOLUTION: When the window 200 is moved or resized so that the distance between the window side and display area side is shorter than a drawing distance, control parameters are updated so that the window side meets the display area side. Namely, when the movement or resizing of the window 200 is so indicated that the left window side 201 is close to the left display area side 301, the control parameters are so updated that the window side 201 meets the display area side 301. When the movement or resizing of the window 200 is indicated so that the right window side 203 is close to the right display area side 303, the control parameters are so updated that the window side 203 meets the display area side 303.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a method thereof, and a memory medium, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus having a function of displaying a window on a display device, a method thereof, and a memory medium for executing the method. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is an information processing apparatus capable of displaying one or a plurality of windows on a display device. In such an information processing apparatus, generally, the display position and size of each window can be freely changed according to an instruction from a user.

[0003]

Conventionally, when a user attempts to change the display position or size of a window by operating a pointing device or the like, the user has been required to perform a troublesome operation. For example, the window may be moved so that its corner (for example, the upper left corner) or side is aligned with the corner or side of the display area. This is the case where it is fitted to the side. That is, conventionally, for example, when a window is moved and an upper left corner thereof is to be adjusted to a corner of a display area, it is inconvenient that a fine adjustment is required using a pointing device or the like. The same applies to the case where the window is resized so that its corners and sides match the corners and sides of the display area.

From another point of view, the display position and size of the window are often adjusted only roughly for the above reasons, and the display area of the display device is often not effectively used. Was.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to improve a user interface and to facilitate effective use of a display area.

[0006]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus having a function of displaying a window on a display device, comprising: input means for inputting an instruction regarding movement or expansion / contraction of a window; Window control means for moving or expanding / contracting the window in accordance with an instruction input by the input means, wherein the window control means controls the window so that an edge of the window approaches a predetermined position of a display area for displaying the window. When an instruction is given to move or extend the window, window pulling means is provided for moving or expanding or contracting the window so as to draw the side of the window to the predetermined position.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined position is, for example, a side constituting an end of the display area.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the information processing apparatus further includes a switching unit for switching whether or not the window drawing unit is to be operated.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display area may be, for example, an area in an application window.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display area may be, for example, an area that does not include an area where another window is displayed.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the window pulling means is instructed to move or expand / contract the window so that the corner of the window approaches the corner of the display area, The window may be moved or stretched so as to draw a corner of the window toward a corner of the display area.

An information processing method according to the present invention is an information processing method for controlling a window to be displayed on a display device, wherein an input step of inputting an instruction relating to movement or expansion / contraction of a window is performed, and the window is moved according to the input instruction. Or a window control step of expanding / contracting, wherein the window control step is performed when an instruction is given to move or expand / contract the window so that a side of the window is close to a predetermined position of a display area for displaying the window. To
A window pulling step of moving or expanding / contracting the window so as to draw the side of the window to the predetermined position.

[0013] A memory medium according to the present invention is a memory medium storing a program code for controlling a window to be displayed on a display device. And a code for a window control step of moving or expanding / contracting the window in accordance with the instruction given, wherein the window control step causes the window to be positioned such that the side of the window approaches a predetermined position of a display area for displaying the window. When an instruction to move or expand / contract is given, the method includes a window drawing step of moving or expanding / contracting the window so as to draw the side of the window to the predetermined position.

[0014]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a CRT (display device) whose display screen displays, for example, a document being edited, graphics, images, and other editing information, icons, messages, menus, and other user interface information. Reference numeral 2 denotes a VRAM on which an image to be displayed on the display screen of the CRT 1 is drawn. The image data generated in the VRAM 2 is transferred to the CRT 1 in accordance with a predetermined rule.
1 is displayed. 3 is a bit move unit (B
MU), for example, between memories (for example, VRAM2
And other memories) and data transfer between the memory and each I / O device (for example, the network interface 11).

Reference numeral 4 denotes a keyboard having various keys for inputting a document or the like. Reference numeral 5 denotes a pointing device, which is used, for example, to indicate an icon, menu, or other object displayed on the display screen of the CRT 1. Reference numeral 6 denotes a CPU, which controls each device connected to the CPU device based on a control program stored in a ROM 7, a hard disk, or a floppy disk. Reference numeral 7 denotes a ROM, which stores various control programs and data.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a RAM, which has a work area for the CPU 6, a data save area for error processing, a control program load area, and the like. A hard disk drive (HDD) 9 controls access to the hard disk. 10 is a floppy disk drive (FD)
D) to control access to the floppy disk.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a network interface, which is connected to another information processing apparatus, a printer,
Communication can be performed via the. Reference numeral 12 denotes a CPU bus, which includes an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus.

The provision of the control program to the CPU 6 can be performed from the ROM 7, hard disk, floppy disk, or from another information processing device via the network 13.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of a floppy disk storing a control program. It goes without saying that a floppy disk or other memory medium storing the control program constitutes a legal invention.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 100 denotes an area for storing directory information, which holds information indicating the storage areas of the modules 101 to 109. Reference numeral 101 denotes an application program. In this example, the application program 101 controls editing of an image. 102 is an application program 101
Is the application control data to be referred to when executing. 103 is background data that defines the background of the image to be edited, 104 is object data that defines an object to be overlaid on the background, 105 is message label data that defines a message label, and 106 is photo data (image data). , 107 are photo frame data for defining a frame for inserting the photo data;
8. Template data for defining a template. Reference numeral 109 denotes the application program 10
1 is a window control program for controlling the image displayed on the display screen of the CRT 1, more precisely, the image of the window developed on the VRAM 2.
The window control program 109 can be integrated with the application program 101.

The programs and data stored in the floppy disk can be installed in the information processing apparatus shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the window according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, the window control program 109 moves or resizes the window in accordance with a user's instruction, so that the side constituting the window edge (hereinafter, window side) is the edge of the display area of the CRT 1. Has the function of drawing the window side to the display area side and matching the window side to the display area side when approaching the side (hereinafter referred to as the display area side). Hereinafter, this function is referred to as a window side adjustment function.

Further, the window control program 10
Reference numeral 9 has a function of turning on / off the window side adjustment function.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the movement of the window when the window side adjustment function is turned off. The window 200 is moved to the upper left by the cursor 210 indicating the position pointed by the pointing device 5. It shows the situation. In the example of FIG. 2, since the window side adjustment function is turned off, the window 200 is moved to the upper left as shown by the arrow A, and
Window side 201 and upper window side 2
02 is the display area side 3 on the left side of the display area 300 of the CRT 1
01 and the upper display area side 302, even if the window sides 201 and 202 are closer to the display area sides 301 and 302.
You will not be drawn to.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing how the window moves when the window side adjustment function is turned on, and shows how the cursor 210 moves the window 200 to the upper left. In the example shown in FIG. 3, since the window side adjustment function is turned on, the window 200 is moved to the upper left as shown by the arrow A, and the left window side 201 and the upper window right side 202 of the window 200 are displayed in the display area. Display area side 30 on the left side of 300
When the window 200 approaches the first and upper display area sides 302 to a predetermined distance, the window 200 is moved to the window sides 201 and 202.
Move so as to coincide with the display area sides 301 and 302, respectively.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which the window 200 is moved to the upper left.
0 is moved to the lower left, upper right, and lower right corners, the lower left, upper right, and lower right corners of the window 200 are displayed in the display area 30.
It is preferable to have a function of making the corner of the window 200 coincide with the corner of the display area 300 when approaching the lower left, upper right, and lower right corners of 0 to a predetermined distance.

Here, the window 200 is displayed on the left, right, top,
When moved down, the left of window 200,
The right, top, and bottom window sides are the left, right, top,
When approaching the lower display area side to a predetermined distance, the corresponding window side of the window 200 and the corresponding window side of the display area 300 are made to coincide with each other.
By moving 00, when one of the corners of the window 200 is brought closer to one of the corners of the display area, the two corners can be matched.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing how the window 200 is resized when the window side adjustment function is turned on.
The figure shows a state where 0 is resized in the lower right direction. In the example shown in FIG. 4, since the window side adjustment function is turned on, the user drags the lower right of the window 200 as shown by the arrow B to open the window side 203 on the right side of the window.
When the lower window side 204 approaches the right display area side 303 and the lower display area side 304 of the display area 300 to a predetermined distance, the window 203 becomes the Are resized to match each other.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the window 200 is resized by dragging the window 200 in the lower right direction. However, when the window 200 is resized by pulling it in the upper left, lower left, and upper right directions, the window 200 can be resized. Upper left of 200,
When the lower left corner and the upper right corner approach the upper left corner, the lower left corner, and the upper right corner of the display area 300 to a predetermined distance, it is preferable to have a function of matching the corner of the window 200 with the corner of the display area 300.

Here, the window 200 is set to the left, right, top,
When you pull down and resize, each window 2
When the left, right, upper, and lower window sides of 00 approach the left, right, upper, and lower display area sides of the display area to a predetermined distance, the corresponding window sides of the window 200 and the corresponding display area 300 correspond. To match the window edge,
By resizing the window 200, when any corner of the window 200 is brought closer to any corner of the display area, both corners can be matched.

When the window side adjustment function is turned off and resizing of the window 200 is instructed, the window 200 is resized as specified.

By the way, the display area 300 is not necessarily C
RT1 does not mean the entire area in which an image can be displayed. For example, RT1 may be an area in which display of window 200 is permitted.
00 and other windows are displayed together,
To display both windows without overlapping,
The area may not include the other window.

Next, a control procedure by the window control program 109 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a control procedure by the window control program 109. In this embodiment, the window control program 109 is loaded into a predetermined area in the RAM 8 via the FDD 10 and provided to the CPU 6.

The process (window control process) shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed by operating the keyboard 4 or the pointing device 5 by the user.
It is activated when a movement or resizing of 0 is instructed.

First, in step S501, it is checked whether the window side adjustment function is turned on. In this example, when the control key (CTRL key) of the keyboard 4 is not pressed, the window side adjustment function is turned on, and when the key is pressed, the window side adjustment function is turned off. However, the on / off switching of the window side adjustment function may be performed by another method.

When the window side adjustment function is off,
In step S508, the control parameters defining the display position and size of the window 200 are updated so that the window 200 is moved or resized as instructed by the user via the keyboard 4 or the pointing device 5. The control parameters are stored in a predetermined area in the RAM 8, for example.

On the other hand, if the window side adjustment function is ON, the process proceeds to step S502, where steps S502 to S502 are performed.
At 507, a process for automatically adjusting the position of the window side is executed. First, in step S502, the left or right window side 201 or 2 of the window 200
03 and a distance between the display area side 301 and 303 are set in advance (hereinafter, this distance is referred to as a pull-in distance).
It is determined whether or not an instruction to move or resize the window 200 has been given so as to make the window shorter. This determination can be made based on, for example, the position (coordinates) of the cursor 210 indicating the destination of the window 200 or the size of the window 200, the size of the window 200, and the position (coordinates) of the side of the display area.

It is preferable that the user can arbitrarily set the drawing distance, for example. It is also effective to automatically switch the drawing distance according to the resolution of the CRT 1, the type of application, the number of displayed windows, the size of each displayed window, and the like.

When the movement or resizing of the window 200 is instructed so that the distance between the window side and the display area side is shorter than the drawing distance (step S502).
Is "Yes") in step S504.
The control parameters are updated so that the window side coincides with the display area side. More specifically, the left window side 2
When the movement or resizing of the window 200 is instructed such that 01 is close to the left display area side 301,
The control parameters are updated so that the window side 201 matches the display area side 301, and the right window side 203 is updated.
Window 2 so that is close to the right display area side 303.
When the movement or resizing of 00 is instructed, the control parameters are updated so that the window side 203 and the display area side 303 match.

On the other hand, when the movement or resizing of the window 200 is instructed in a range where the distance between the window side and the display area side is longer than the drawing distance (step S50).
2 is “No”) in step S503
The control parameters are updated so as to move or resize the window 200 as instructed by the user via the keyboard 4 or the pointing device 5.

Following the processing in step S503 or S504, in step S505, the window side 202 or 204 above or below the window 200 and the display area side 3
It is determined whether or not an instruction has been given to move or resize window 200 so that the distance to 02 or 304 is shorter than the drawing distance.

When the movement or resizing of the window 200 is instructed so that the distance between the window side and the display area side is shorter than the drawing distance (step S505)
Is "Yes") in step S507.
The control parameters are updated so that the window side coincides with the display area side. More specifically, upper window side 2
When the movement or the resizing of the window 200 is instructed so that 02 is close to the upper display area side 302,
The control parameters are updated so that the window side 202 matches the display area side 302, and the lower window side 204
Window 2 so that is close to the lower display area side 304.
If the movement or resizing of 00 is instructed, the control parameters are updated so that the window side 204 and the display area side 304 match.

On the other hand, when movement or resizing of the window 200 is instructed in a range where the distance between the window side and the display area side is longer than the drawing distance (step S50).
5 is “No”) in step S506.
The control parameters are updated so as to move or resize the window 200 as instructed by the user via the keyboard 4 or the pointing device 5.

Step S508, S506 or S507
Next, in step S509, based on the updated control parameters, the display position of the window 200 and / or
Alternatively, the display position and / or size of the window 200 on the display screen of the CRT 1 is changed by drawing the image whose size has been changed on the VRAM 2. Thus, the window 200 can be moved or resized.

In step S510, the window 200
It is determined whether the instruction of moving or resizing is continued (for example, whether the window 200 is being dragged). If the instruction is continued, the process returns to step S501 to repeat the above processing and continue. If not, a series of processing ends.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Operations such as window movement and resizing are facilitated, the user interface is improved, and the display area can be effectively utilized.

In the above embodiment, when the window side adjustment function is on, control is performed so that the window 200 does not protrude from the display area 300. For example, when the movement or resizing of the window 200 is instructed so that the window 200 protrudes from the display area 300 by a predetermined distance or more, the window side adjustment function is turned off in the same manner as when the window side adjustment function is off. Is also good.

It should be noted that, as described above, a memory medium storing a control program such as a window control program constitutes a legal invention. As the memory medium, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

When the computer directly executes the program code read from the memory medium, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the computer operates on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. Even when an operating system (OS) or the like executes part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, the above-described memory medium does not independently constitute the invention. Needless to say.

Further, after the program code read from the memory medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
Needless to say, even when the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing, the above-described memory media independently constitute the invention.

The following is an application example of the above embodiment.

[Application Example 1] This application example relates to a case where the application program 101 has a multi-document interface. In this case, a plurality of document windows can be opened in the application window.

In this application example, the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed by setting an area where the document window can be displayed in the application window as the display area 300 and the document window as the window 200.

According to this application example, it is possible to effectively utilize the display area in the application window.

[Application Example 2] This application example relates to a case where a plurality of application windows are displayed on the display screen of the CRT 1. In this application example, an application window to be moved or resized is set as a window 200, and an area of the display area (display screen) of the CRT 1 excluding at least an area where other application windows are displayed is set as a display area 300. The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed.

According to this application example, the application windows can be easily arranged and the display area can be effectively used.

[0058]

According to the present invention, the user interface is improved and the effective use of the display area is facilitated.

[0059]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating how a window moves when a window side adjustment function is turned off.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating how a window moves when a window side adjustment function is turned on.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating how a window is resized when a window side adjustment function is turned on.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control procedure by a window control program 109.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of a floppy disk storing a control program.

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus having a function of displaying a window on a display device, comprising: input means for inputting an instruction relating to movement or expansion / contraction of a window; and moving or expanding / contracting the window in accordance with the instruction input by the input means. Window control means for causing the window control means to move or expand / contract the window such that the side of the window approaches a predetermined position of a display area for displaying the window, An information processing apparatus comprising: a window pulling unit that moves or expands / contracts the window so as to draw a side of the window to the predetermined position. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined position is a side forming an end of the display area. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit configured to switch whether or not the window pulling unit functions. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display area is an area in an application window. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display area does not include an area in which another window is displayed. 6. The window pulling means, when instructed to move or expand / contract the window so that the corner of the window approaches the corner of the display area, changes the corner of the window to the corner of the display area. 2. The window is moved or expanded and contracted so as to be drawn toward the window.
The information processing device according to claim 5. 7. An information processing method for controlling a window to be displayed on a display device, comprising: an input step of inputting an instruction relating to movement or expansion / contraction of a window; and a window control step of moving or expanding / contracting the window in accordance with the input instruction. Wherein the window control step includes the step of, when instructed to move or expand / contract the window so that the side of the window approaches a predetermined position in a display area for displaying the window, A window drawing step of moving or expanding / contracting the window so as to bring the window to the predetermined position. 8. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined position is a side forming an edge of the display area. 9. The information processing method according to claim 7, further comprising a switching step of switching whether or not to execute the window drawing step. 10. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the display area is an area in an application window. 11. The information method according to claim 7, wherein the display area does not include an area in which another window is displayed. 12. In the window pulling step, when an instruction is given to move or expand / contract the window so that the corner of the window approaches the corner of the display area, the corner of the window is changed to the corner of the display area. The information processing method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the window is moved or expanded / contracted so as to be drawn to the window. 13. A memory medium storing a program code for controlling a window to be displayed on a display device, comprising: a code of an input step of inputting an instruction relating to movement or expansion / contraction of a window; And a code for a window control step of moving or expanding / contracting, wherein the window control step moves or expands / contracts the window such that a side of the window approaches a predetermined position of a display area for displaying the window. A memory medium comprising a window drawing step of moving or expanding / contracting the window so as to draw a side of the window to the predetermined position when instructed. 14. The memory medium according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined position is a side forming an end of the display area.