JPH11212694A - Information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform customization without correcting a program code by reading a form definition file and dynamically changing contents to be shown on a an image processing screen, based on read-out contents. SOLUTION: This system is provided with a form definition file reading means 7 to read content that is described by a form definition file and a text decoding means 9 to decode it. A form control run time generating means 13 to reflect on a processing screen based on the content generate a custom screen being a processing screen which corresponds to user's needs and the custom screen is shown as a processing screen on a CRT 1. Thus, even if customization frequently takes place, it is possible to customize a processing screen without reconstructing an execution file that is a program code of the information processing system because a processing screen can be customized only by describing on the form definition file.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing system that supports efficient operation of various operations such as a building management system, a sales management system, an inventory management system, and a financial accounting system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Building management systems, sales management systems,
There are many processing screens in an information processing system that supports the efficient operation of various tasks such as inventory management systems and financial accounting systems, and the user inputs and outputs various data while displaying the processing screens sequentially on display means. The work is carried out by performing. That is, after inputting the number of sold products on the processing screen on which the product and its unit price are displayed, when the processing screen is switched, the sales product in which the price and the like are entered in a receipt format is displayed. Is output by a printer or the like, a receipt can be created. In addition, the number of sold products is reflected on the inventory management processing screen, and the user can easily recognize how much stock is on the inventory management processing screen.

The layout of the processing screen and data to be displayed are set in advance when the information processing system is developed. However, since this type of information processing system has a different operation mode depending on the user, each user has unique needs. Therefore, it is necessary to extract user needs in advance when developing an information processing system, construct an information processing system that satisfies each user's request, and deliver the information to the user.

[0004]

However, in the design stage of an information processing system, it is extremely difficult to extract all the wishes of individual users, so the information processing system was actually delivered to the user. Thereafter, a procedure of sequentially making corrections according to the needs of the user will be taken. This correction work (hereinafter, referred to as customization work) requires knowledge such as analyzing and correcting the program code, and is extremely time-consuming. That is, the conventional information processing system has a problem that much time and cost are required for this correction work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to change processing screens requiring a lot of time and effort by users and changing display data thereof. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system capable of easily performing a customizing operation without modifying a program code.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An information processing system comprising: a data input unit; a display unit; and an arithmetic unit configured to perform a process based on data input / deleted using the data input unit on a processing screen displayed on the display unit. Form definition reading means for reading a form definition file in which data items displayed on the screen and attributes representing the characteristics of the data items are described, and processing for dynamically changing the contents displayed on the processing screen based on the read contents A screen changing means is added.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information processing system according to the first aspect, an attribute required for displaying a data item on a processing screen is displayed on a display means in a table format. A feature is added that a form definition file description tool for converting an attribute input into a form definition file is added.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating customization in a functional aspect of the information processing system. 3A and 3B relate to a processing screen displayed by the information processing system, in which FIG. 3A is a processing screen showing a list of equipment equipment ledgers, FIG. 3B is a processing screen showing details of the equipment equipment ledgers, and FIG. Is a list of supplier ledgers displayed on the processing screen. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure from reading of a form definition file to setting of a custom work execution file. FIG. 5 relates to a description method of a form definition file, (a) shows a basic format of description of the form definition file, and (b)
Shows a description example of the actual form definition file. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting a form definition file in the form definition file description tool. FIG. 7 shows one processing screen displayed when the form definition file description tool is executed. FIG. 8 shows another processing screen displayed when the form definition file description tool is executed. FIG. 9 shows another processing screen displayed when the form definition file description tool is executed.

[0009] The information processing system according to the present embodiment comprises:
Display means 1 such as a CRT, and data input means 3 such as a keyboard and a mouse used for inputting data and the like
A form definition file description tool 5, a form definition file reading means 7 for reading the described form definition file, a text decoding means 9 for decoding the read form definition file, and a form control runtime generating means 13. Have.

An information processing system according to the present embodiment will be described using a building management system as an example. The building management system requires an extremely large number of tasks and functions such as energy management, tenant management, and maintenance management. Therefore, the storage means stores a large number of processing screens corresponding to each management task. These processing screens and corresponding data are sequentially displayed on a display unit such as a display, and the user performs data input, screen transition, and other processing while following instructions on the displayed processing screens, thereby performing a series of tasks. doing.

The data to be displayed on the display means, information on procedures to be performed by the customer at that time, transition information on the order in which the processing screen is to be displayed on the display means, etc. Is set with However, since it is difficult to extract all customer requirements at the system design stage, generally after the system is constructed, a programmer changes and modifies the information processing system program according to each customer's requirements, The system itself needs to be rebuilt.

The modification (customization) of the system according to the requirements of each customer requires a lot of time and cost because the specifications required by each customer are different.
Therefore, in order to alleviate this effort a little, customization of the functional aspect has been made into parts of the functions of the entire system (hereafter, modularization of functions is described as modules, and procedures of parts are described as modules). That is being done.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the customization in the functional aspect of the information processing system. Modules A, B, and C are modules in which the same procedures from the viewpoint of business and function are modularized as one unit. For example, module A is a ledger module, module B is an energy management module, and module C is a billing module.
The ledger module has a processing screen for managing data such as a tenant ledger, a facility equipment ledger, and a meter (electric meter, gas meter, water meter, etc.) ledger as basic data for building management. The energy management module has a processing screen for collecting meter values managed by a meter ledger. The bill issuing module has a processing screen for calculating a fee from the meter value collected by the energy management module and issuing a bill to each tenant. Various data input and browsed on each processing screen are accumulated in the database.

A series of procedures from meter reading to issuance of a bill will be described. First, the display means of the information processing system includes a module B (energy management module)
A processing screen B1 for acquiring meter reading data is displayed. In this processing screen, the user inputs meter reading data,
Correction, browsing, etc. will be performed. Next, the charge basic management screen C1 in the module C (invoice issuing module) is displayed to perform the charge calculation setting, and when the setting of various data is completed, the bill creation screen C2 of the module C,
A screen transition is performed such as a bill print screen C3, and a bill is finally issued.

Next, the operation on the processing screen is shown in FIG.
It will be described based on. First, start the equipment ledger,
A list of equipment shown in FIG. 3A (hereinafter, referred to as a list display screen) is displayed as a processing screen. Furthermore, when you want to know detailed information of a specific device, perform a search by selecting the "Search" button provided on the list display screen,
The result can be displayed as the details of the equipment shown in FIG. 3B (hereinafter, referred to as a detailed display screen). In the processing screen of FIG. 3B, detailed data on the device with the device number “12345” is displayed.

In each display screen, data addition /
Correction / deletion and its determination, cancellation, search, switching of list / details, and the like are performed by selecting buttons provided at the top of the processing screen. For example, it is possible to arbitrarily switch between the list display screen and the detail display screen as needed by selecting the “list / detail” button. That is, if a "list / detail" button is selected while a device displayed on the list display screen is selected, detailed information of the device is displayed on the detail display screen. When the “list / details” button is selected on the detail display screen, the screen transitions to the list display screen.

On the list display screen, in order to give priority to the visibility of the list display, only the minimum necessary data of the information of each equipment is displayed. Here, a device name (equipment name), a building classification (building name), a maintenance destination (maintenance company name), and the like are displayed and registered.

The equipment name is displayed in a frame (hereinafter referred to as a cell) in which the names of the equipment are individually provided. In the cell, a user or the like inputs data via a keyboard. Hereinafter, this display format is referred to as “text box of list cell”.

The building division is displayed in a cell provided at the right end with a pull-down button (a button having a black inverted triangle shape). Here, when the pull-down button is pressed (the pointer on the processing screen is moved to the pull-down button with the mouse and the mouse button is clicked), the registered building names are displayed in a menu. Then, the pointer is moved to the position of the building name to be selected, and clicking the mouse button further selects the building name. Hereinafter, this display format is described as “combo box of list cell”.

In the maintenance destination, the cell has a button shape, and when this button is pressed, a list of trader ledgers (FIG. 3)
(See (c)) is displayed, and the trader name is selected from this. Hereinafter, this display format will be referred to as a “command button of a table cell”.

On the detailed display screen, more data is displayed than the data of each device displayed on the list display screen, and the device number, equipment classification for classifying equipment, management classification, and the like are also displayed.

The user inputs a device number, a device name, and a maker name through a keyboard. Hereinafter, this display format is described as a “text box”. Building classification,
A pull-down button is provided in the data display section of the equipment category and the management category, and data is input using the pull-down button. In addition, the maintenance destination and the purchase destination have a button next to the data display in the text box, and when this button is pressed, a list of vendor ledgers is displayed, and the vendor name is selected and registered using this list. .

The data items and their display formats have been described above. The data on the list display screen and the data on the detail display screen both refer to the same database data, and the data display on the list display screen and the detail display screen are performed. Although there is a difference in the format, it goes without saying that data input / corrected on one of the processing screens is reflected on the other processing screen.

Next, a method of constructing the above-described processing screen will be described. Construction of processing screen is big "form design"
And "code description".

The form design is a design relating to the layout of the processing screen and the like. As a design procedure, prepare a window screen that is the base of the processing screen, and use buttons (command buttons, pull-down buttons, etc.) in this window screen.
And a data display frame (table, text box, combo box, etc.) are arbitrarily arranged using a mouse or a keyboard. Hereinafter, these buttons and data display frames are referred to as controls. Further, an attribute (hereinafter referred to as a property) that indicates what kind of property the arranged control has is set. The processing screen is designed by these operations.

The code description describes what kind of processing is to be performed on the data input / deleted on the processing screen described above. That is, for example, when the “add” button is selected, a processing screen for additional registration is displayed.

By performing the form design and the code description as described above, a processing screen is constructed, and the constructed processing screen is operated as one function of the information processing system.

Next, a process for customizing a processing screen and its display data will be described. In the past, this customization work required the most time and effort because, despite the fact that the work was required frequently, the procedure of modifying the corresponding part of the program code even if only one data item was changed, was required. It was what we needed.

In the information processing system according to the present embodiment, the data display format and data items are set as independent text files (hereinafter referred to as form definition files). Then, this form definition file is read every time the information processing system is activated, and the contents described in the form definition file are reflected on the information processing system when the processing screen is displayed on the display means.

Various controls to be arranged on the processing screen and their properties are described in the form definition file.
In addition, a database or data item to be registered or displayed is specified by the form definition file.

In the present embodiment, only the items for which customization is considered to be frequently performed can be described in the form definition file, and the others are described in the basic execution file. That is,
The base execution file describes the base to which the form definition file is applied. For example, “search”, “add”, “delete”, “fix”, “cancel”, “list / detail switch” And the like, and information on the operation of the command button and the like. Since customization work related to these operations is generally not required much, if such customization work is required, it will be dealt with by analyzing and modifying the program code as before.

The information processing system according to the present embodiment includes a form definition file reading means 7 for reading the contents described in the form definition file, a text decoding means 9 for decoding the same, and a processing screen based on the contents. Form / control runtime generation means 1 to be reflected
3, a custom screen 15 which is a processing screen corresponding to the needs of the user is generated, and the custom screen is displayed on the CRT 1 as the processing screen.

This makes it possible to customize the processing screen simply by describing it in the form definition file.
It is possible to customize a processing screen without reconstructing an execution file which is a program code of the information processing system. That is, the processing screen is not determined when the information processing system is constructed, but can be dynamically changed to the time when the system is started, so that the customizing operation can be easily performed.

The reading of the form definition file and the setting of the custom work execution file are performed when the system is started. That is, when the system is started, the contents of the system initialization file are read. The system initialization file describes the contents of the database name used in the information processing system, the designation of the execution file, and the like.
In this system initialization file, a form definition file name and a directory path indicating a location where the file exists are registered. Based on this information, the form definition file is searched and the contents are read. Thereafter, a custom execution file is generated, and a processing screen reflecting the request of the user is finally generated and moved by the form / control runtime generating means 13 (see FIG. 4).

The form definition file is described, for example, as shown in FIG. FIG. 5A shows a method of describing a form definition file, and FIG.
Shows a description example of the actual form definition file. The form definition file includes a directory path of the database file (refer to the first line in FIG. 5A), a master title serving as a screen title (refer to the second line in FIG. 5A), and the like.
Designation of a base table (data table in the database) that determines the database serving as the basis of data display (see the third line in FIG. 5A), and various controls (text boxes in the list / detail display screen) , Combo box, etc.) settings and property definitions (Fig. 5 (a)
4th line) is described.

In order to facilitate setting and description of the form definition file, a form definition file description tool 5
Is provided. The setting procedure in the form definition file description tool 5 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the form definition file description tool 5 is started, and the name of the form definition file and the directory where the file exists are specified. After selecting and specifying a processing screen and a base table for each function, the control of the list / detail display screen is specified and the properties thereof are set. The same settings are made for the new registration processing screen and search screen. The form definition file is set by the processing screen displayed by the form definition file description tool 5 and its transition.

FIG. 7 is a processing screen displayed when the form definition file description tool 5 is executed. The processing screen is newly created, an existing file is selected, and a recently specified file is specified and selected as necessary. I can do it.
When the setting is completed in FIG. 7, next, FIG. 8 is displayed. FIG. 8 shows a screen for designating a form definition master, in which a master title as a title of a processing screen and a database file are designated, and a main base table for displaying data in the designated database file is designated.

When the setting is completed in FIG.
Is displayed. FIG. 9 shows a screen for setting controls of the form definition and setting properties thereof. Here, all data items displayed on the processing screen are set. When a character string to be input does not fit in the displayed frame, a scroll bar is displayed in a horizontal or vertical direction at one of the left and right ends of the frame. With this scroll bar, a character string outside the margin can be displayed and corrected.

On the first line of the processing screen shown in FIG. 9, a "control title" which is the title of the data item is input. Then, in the following lines, the specification of controls for these data items and the property settings are performed in this table. Since the same database is referred to in the list display screen and the detail display screen, both processing screens are set on the same form definition screen in the present embodiment.

In the second to fourth lines of the processing screen shown in FIG. 9, data items to be displayed on the list display screen are set. Here, "list display order", which is the display order on the list display screen, the cell format in the list display screen (text box for keyboard input, combo box for selection input, or selection input from other ledger list) Command button format), “list table cell type”, and “list table presence / absence” for specifying whether to display the list on the list display screen.

The fifth to seventh lines of the processing screen shown in FIG. 9 are for setting data items to be displayed on the detailed display screen. In the "control type", similarly to the cell type of the list display screen described above, a text box for keyboard input or a command box for selective input is specified. However, when the cell type on the list display screen is a command button, the detail display screen is divided into a text box and a command button format, and the data display section is a text box. The display / non-display of the control on the detailed display screen is set in “control display presence / absence”. In the "control generation method", when a new data item is added, it is set to "automatic generation" only when it needs to be created on the screen.

In the eighth and subsequent lines of the processing screen shown in FIG. 9, contents relating to a database and display data are set. In the "Display database field", the base table "Ma
Specify the data display field in "chineMaster".
For example, in the device name, "Machi
The data in the "neName" field is displayed. In addition, in the "display database field" of the maintenance destination No. 4,
In order to display data from a data table different from that of “MachineMaster”, the content of displaying a field of the company name “CompanyName” from “CompanyMaster” which is a base table of the company ledger is described.

In the ninth and tenth lines of the processing screen shown in FIG. 9, "update data type" which is a data type (numerical type / character type, etc.) and "update data input restriction" relating to input restriction are set. You. Also, 1 of the processing screen shown in FIG.
In the first and twelfth lines, the contents related to the selection list display of the combo box are set. That is, in the building classification (No. 3), the classification type “Div” of the classification master “DivName”
The contents of "DivName" with "Kind" set to "Building Class" are selected from the combo box, and "MachienMaste
r "in the" BuilDiv "field.

It should be noted that there is a difference in the description method between selection input by a combo box (building classification) and input from another ledger master list (maintenance destination). That is, in the former, data is copied from the section master, and the base table “MachineM
In the "BuilDiv" field of "aster", the latter specifies data linkage (link), and the data is in the company ledger "CompanyMaster". In other words, if the name of the company is changed in the company ledger, the name of the maintenance destination in the facility equipment ledger is automatically changed.

According to the above procedure, a form definition file is created using the form definition file description tool 5, and a customized execution file is dynamically generated according to the contents.

[0046]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, data input means, display means, and input / output using the data input means on the processing screen shown on the display means.
A form for reading a form definition file in which data items displayed on a processing screen and attributes representing the properties of the data items are described in an information processing system having an arithmetic unit that performs processing based on data that has been deleted or the like. A definition reading means and a processing screen changing means for dynamically changing the contents displayed on the processing screen based on the read contents have been added, so the customization of data items displayed on the processing screen can be done simply by modifying the form definition file. It is possible to easily perform customization work without modifying the program code for the change of the processing screen and its display data that require many kinds of user's requests and requires much time and effort. There is an effect that an information processing system can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the first aspect.
In the information processing system described above, attributes required when displaying data items on a processing screen are displayed on a display means in a table format, and when the attributes are input to the displayed table, a form definition file description is converted to a form definition file Since a tool is added, an effect is obtained that a form definition file can be easily created without errors.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating customization in a functional aspect of an information processing system.

3A is a processing screen showing a list of equipment equipment ledgers, FIG. 3B is a processing screen showing details of the equipment equipment ledgers, and FIG. ) Is a list of supplier ledgers displayed on the processing screen.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure from reading of a form definition file to setting of a custom work execution file.

FIG. 5 relates to a description method of a form definition file.
(A) shows a basic format of description of a form definition file, and (b) shows an example of description of an actual form definition file.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for setting a form definition file in a form definition file description tool.

FIG. 7 is a processing screen displayed when a form definition file description tool is executed.

FIG. 8 is another processing screen displayed when the form definition file description tool is executed.

FIG. 9 is another processing screen displayed when the form definition file description tool is executed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display means 3 Data input means 5 Form definition file description tool 7 Form definition file reading means 9 Text decoding means 13 Form control runtime generation means 15 Processing screen change means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Information comprising data input means, display means, and arithmetic means for performing processing based on data input or deleted using the data input means on a processing screen shown on the display means. In a processing system, a form definition reading means for reading a form definition file in which a data item displayed on a processing screen and an attribute indicating the property of the data item are described, and a content displayed on the processing screen based on the read content are operated. An information processing system characterized by adding a processing screen changing means for changing the processing screen. 2. A form definition file description tool which displays attributes required for displaying data items on a processing screen in a table format on a display means, and converts the attributes into a form definition file when the attributes are input to the displayed table. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the information processing system is added.