JPS61292729A - Processing method for menu selection - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability for selection of means by displaying the master and slave menus at a time on the same screen and resetting the display when the selection of these menus is cancelled for erasion of the slave menu. CONSTITUTION:When the document updating is designated on a process menu, three slave menus including a floppy 1, etc. are displayed in the menu of the document replacement. If the menu of the floppy 1 is designated, the slave menus like an invitation note 1, a greeting card 1, etc. are displayed. Then a desired one of these displayed menus is designated and the document updating is carried out when the designation of the menu is through. While the display state of the figure P is reset if the menu is cancelled before the end of the menu designation. Thus the slave menus including the note 1, etc. are erased.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a menu selection processing method in various information processing devices.

In general, in various information processing devices such as office computers, personal computers, word processors, image editing processing systems, and workstations, necessary tasks (items) 1, for example, creating a new document, 1 document, are performed through interactive menu selection with the operator. Update 1 Document printing, etc. and the selection items subordinate to these selection items are selected.

In this case, in the conventional menu selection processing method, by selecting "Update document" from 1, for example, create a new document, 2 update a document, and 9 print a document, these selection items are deleted from the screen. Next, the selection items subordinate to "Document Update" are displayed.

Therefore, 1. For example, if you select "Update Document" and want to return to "Create New" while entering a subordinate selection item, you must cancel the "Update Document" menu and call up the first menu again. Therefore, there is an inconvenience that the operability of menu selection is poor.

In particular, when the number of selection items increases due to the diversification of functions of information processing devices, the man-machine interface deteriorates and menu selection operations become even more complicated.

This invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to improve the operability of menu selection.

1-Wind In order to achieve the above object, this invention distinguishes the selected selection item from other selection items when one of the selection items displayed on the same screen is selected. When the selection is canceled, the identification display is restored and the display of the subordinate selection items is erased.

Hereinafter, a detailed explanation will be given based on one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a document editing processing device embodying the present invention.

This document editing processing device includes a keyboard 1 as an input device for inputting various information such as character information and control information, a mouse 2 as a pointing device, and an image scanner 3 for reading original images and the like.

It also includes a CRT display 4 that displays various information as an output device, and a laser printer 5 that prints out various information.

Furthermore, the main body 6 is provided with a floppy disk drive (FDD) and a hard disk drive (HDD) as storage devices.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control section of this document editing processing device.

This control section 10 controls the entire processing device by a microcomputer system consisting of a microprocessor (MPU) 11 consisting of, for example, a 16-bit microprocessor and a main memory 12.

The main memory 12 is a system area (resident area) that stores resident programs such as an operating system loaded from the floppy disk device 7 or hard disk drive 8 at startup.

It consists of a non-resident area that stores non-resident programs, a data area, and a RAM that constitutes a working area.

The control unit 10 also includes a keyboard interface 1, an ace (I/F) for inputting information from the keyboard 1;
13, and a mouse interface 14 that detects the moving direction, moving amount, and moving speed based on the X pulse and Y pulse from the mouse 2 as a pointing device.
A scanner interface 15 and - for inputting read data from the image scanner 3 are provided.

Furthermore, this control unit 10 includes a CRT interface 16 that controls the CRT display 4, a printer interface 17 that controls the printer 5, and a floppy disk device! (FDD) 7 and a floppy disk controller (FDC) 18 that controls the hard disk drive (HDD) 7.
D) A hard disk controller (HDC) that controls
) 19.

The CRT, interface 16, and CRT display 4 constitute a bit map display as a display device, and the microprocessor 4 processor (MPU)
11 is the host for this bit map display.

Furthermore, the control unit 10 also includes a communication control unit (CCU) 20 that controls transmission and reception of information with other communication terminal devices.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a portion of this processing device related to menu selection processing.

Application program 1. IA specifies the menu file 8A stored in the hard disk device 8 and calls the menu driver 11B.

The menu driver 11B opens and reads the specified menu file 8A, and controls the input/output control unit rocs.
A menu screen is displayed on the screen of the CRT display 4 via.

And this menu driver IIB is the keyboard 1
Alternatively, specify input from mouse 2 to input/output control unit l0C.
8, and menu selection processing is executed in accordance with the input.

The details of the menu selection process in this document editing processing device will now be explained.

First, what is the menu structure of this document editing processing device?

For example, it is as shown in FIG.

In other words, the function menu of this document processing device is as follows:
There are the following functions (selection items): "Update document", "Create new document", "Print document", and "Other".

Then, the selection item (
(hereinafter referred to as "axis selection items") are "floppy 1", "
There are ``floppy disks 2'' and ``hard disks.''

Furthermore, the axis selection items for the selection item "Floppy 1" include "Information 1", "Information 2", "Information 3", "Greeting 1", "Greeting 2", and "Greeting 3".

Furthermore, the axis selection items for the five selection items ``floppy disk 2'' include ``technical document 1'', ``technical document 2'', ``technical document 3'', ``technical document 4'', and ``technical document 5''.

Similarly, the first selection item "Create new" includes rA3J, rA4J, rB4J, rB5J, and r
There are ``vertical'', ``horizontal'', ``vertical'', ``horizontal'', and ``margin''.

Also, in the 5 selection item ``Other'', the axis selection items are ``Gaiji Utility'' and ``Floppy Copy.''

There are "floppy initialization" and "dictionary maintenance".

Note that the axis selection item of the selection item "document printing" is omitted.

In this way, the menu of this document editing processing device is structured in a tree shape.

In the following, one selected item is referred to as an "item", the items "Update document", "New creation", "Print document", and "Other" are referred to as "main items", and the other selected items are referred to as "sub items". ", and subitems of the same rank within the subitems (for example, "floppy 1", "floppy 2")
”, etc.) will be referred to as the “elder item,” and the axis selection item will be referred to as the “child item.”

Next, the format of menu file information consisting of such menu information will be explained.

As shown in Figure 5, the menu file information format is: item number, selector number (number of selected item), main/sub identification information indicating the type of item, sibling item number of the item (sub item only), It consists of display/non-display information indicating whether the item is displayed on the screen (sub items only), display string/display position information of the item, and child item number of the item. There is.

Next, the menu selection process will be specifically explained. Note that the processing by the control unit 10 (menu driver 11B) will be described later.

This document editing processing device displays various information on the CRT display 4 by multi-window display control, and displays a menu window M on the screen, as shown in FIG. 6, for example. In addition, in the same figure.

MC is a mouse cursor.

This menu window M is "Cancel".

It consists of a command line for "Exit" and a menu display area that displays a menu.

The command line instruction can be given using the mouse 2 or the keyboard 1 at any time.

When the "end" command is specified, the input displayed in the menu display area at that time is erased.

Also, when the "Cancel" command is issued,
A predetermined cancel code is given to the system and menu window M is cleared.

In the menu display area, first, as shown in FIG. 7, the main items "Document Update", "New Creation", "Document Print", and "Others", which are the function menus of this processing device, are displayed.

Here, "When document update J is selected, the eighth
"Document Update" is the selected selection as shown in the image
to distinguish it from other selection items by highlighting it (represented with diagonal lines), and to specify in which device the document is stored. Items “Floppy 1”, “Floppy 2”
, "Hard Disk" is displayed.

Here, when "floppy 1" is selected, "floppy l", which is the selected selection item, is displayed in reverse video to distinguish it from other selection items, as shown in FIG. To specify any of the stored documents, select the child items "Information 1", "Information 2", "Information 3", which are subordinate selection items of "Floppy L",
[Greetings 14. ``Greetings 2'' and ``Greetings 3'' are displayed.

Also, when "floppy 2" is selected, the first
As shown in Figure 0, the selected [floppy 2] is displayed in reverse video to distinguish it from other selection items, and in order to specify any of the documents stored in the floppy 2, select [floppy 2].
"Floppy 2" child item "Technical document 1" which is a subordinate selection item.

“Technical Document 2j,” “Technical Document 3,” “Technical Document 4.”

Display “Technical Document 5”.

Furthermore, after "floppy l" is selected and specified.

When the selection is changed to "floppy disk 2", the identification display of "floppy disk l" in FIG. S is restored.

All the selection items subordinate to this 1 floppy 1 are deleted, and the display state shown in FIG. 10 is created.

Similarly, when "New Creation" is selected among the selection items in FIG. 7, rk4 among the selection items subordinate to "New Creation" is selected.
When "J, r horizontal writing" is selected, the display is displayed as shown in FIG. 11.

Furthermore, when "Others" is selected from among the selection items shown in FIG. 7, the display is displayed as shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a specific format of a menu file for such a display. In addition,
The arrows connecting each figure are for showing the correspondence relationship between each format.

Figure (A) shows the main item "Document update".

These formats are ``Create New'', ``Print Document'', and ``Other''.

This main item is item number r1.”

The selection numbers are "Document update" and "New creation".

"Document printing", "Others", "1-4", main/
The sub-identification is "1" which indicates main, the child item number of "Document update" with select number rlJ is "2", the child item number of "Create new" with select number "2" is "3J", select number "3" The child item number of "Document Print" is rO
J, the child item number of "Others" of the selection number "4" is "9".

The same figure (b) shows the child item “floppy 1” of “document update”.
, "floppy 2", and "hard disk" formats.

This child item has item number "2" and selection numbers "floppy l" and "floppy 2."

"Hard disk" is "1-3" in order, main/sub identification is "0" which indicates sub item, older item number is "
0", the child item number of "Floppy L" with select number "1" is "7", "Floppy 2" with select number "1"
The child item number of ``Hard Disk'' with selection number ``3'' is rOJ.

In the same figure (c) is child item rA3 of "new creation".

The formats are rA4J, rB4J, and rB5J.

This child item has the item number "3" and the selection numbers are "1-4" in the order of rA3J to "B5".

The main/sub identification indicates a sub-item [0].

The elder item number is "4", and all child item numbers are "4".
0".

In the same figure (d), there is a child item of "new creation".

It is in "horizontal" format.

This child item has the item number "4" and the selection numbers are "vertical" and "horizontal" in the order of rl and 2J.

The main/sub identification is “0” indicating a sub item.

The elder item number is "5", and all child item numbers are "5".
0".

The same figure (E) shows the child items of "Create new".
It is in the horizontal format.

This child item has the item number "5" and the selection numbers "r vertical" and "r horizontal" in the order of "l.

2", main/sub identification is "0" indicating sub item,
The elder item number is "6", and all child item numbers are "6".
0".

The figure (f) shows the format of the child item "margin" of "new creation".

This child item has item number "6", selection number "r", and main/sub identification indicates sub-item "
0", and the older brother's item number is "O".

The child item number is "0".

The same figure (G) is the child item “Information letter 1” of “Floppy 1”.
~ This is the format of "Greetings 3".

This child item has the item number "7", the selection number is "1-6" in the order of "Invitation 1" to "Greetings 3", the main/sub identification is "0" indicating the sub-item, and the older item number is "0", and all child item numbers are "0".

The same figure (H) is a child item of "Floppy 2" r technical document 1
” to “Technical Document 5” format.

This child item has item number "8", selection numbers "1 to 5" in order of "technical document 1" to "technical document 5",
Main/N/Sub identification is "O" indicating sub item, older item number is "0", child item number is all "0"
It is.

This figure shows the format of child items of r and other J.

This child item has the item number "9", the selection number is "1-4" in the order of "Gaiji Utility" to "Dictionary Maintenance", the main/sub identification is "0" indicating the sub-item, and the older item number is "0'', and all child item numbers are ``0''.

Therefore, for example, "r document update in the main item"
is selected, check the child item number of selector number 1 in the same figure (A) and find that it is "2", so the same figure (A) is selected.
(b) will display information about child items.

Next, the above-described menu selection process executed by the control unit 10 (menu driver 11B) will be described with reference to FIG. 14.

First, when there is mouse input, the pointer is set to the beginning of the menu file.

Then, it is determined whether it is displayed as a main item or a sub item (child item), and if it is not either, it is checked whether it is the last table or not, and if it is not the last table, the nine-pointer is incremented (+1
) and repeat the discrimination process in the same way.

As a result of this determination process, if the item is displayed as a main item or a sub item, it is determined whether the input and the address of the selector match.

If they do not match, the process moves to determining whether or not it is the last table.

If the input and the address of the selector match, it is determined whether the selector is ON (selected).

At this time, if the selector is ON, that is, if it is currently selected, the selector is cleared and it is determined whether it is a main item or a sub item, and if it is a main item, the sub item and its older item are displayed on the screen. After clearing (erase) from above and setting r-hide in r-display/hide-J, or if it is a sub-item, the process ends.

In addition, if the selector is not ON, that is, if it is not currently selected, the selector is turned ON (selected state).
to determine whether it is a main item or a sub item, and if it is a main item, display the sub item and its older brother item on the screen, set ``Show/Hide'' to ``Show'', and then display the sub item again. If so, the process ends.

In this way, this document editing processing device has the following menu selection functions: ■ When one of the selection items displayed on the screen is specified using the pointing device, A function to distinguish a selection item from other selection items by displaying it in reverse video, ■ A function to display subordinate selection items of the selected selection item on the same screen and accept the selection input, and ■ A function to display the selected selection item on the same screen. When a selection is canceled, the display of the selected item is restored and
It also has the function of erasing the selection items subordinate to that selection item from the screen.

This allows you to select and instruct selection items in a master-slave relationship on the same screen, eliminating the need to cancel each selection even if you change one selection, improving the man-machine interface and improving the operability of menu selection. improves.

Note that the apparatus for carrying out this invention is explained in the above embodiments.
Of course, the present invention is not limited to document editing processing apparatuses such as the above, and can be implemented in all apparatuses in which various functions are selected and set through interactive menu selection with an operator.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the operability of menu selection is improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a document editing processing device embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control section. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a portion related to the menu selection process. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of the menu configuration in this document editing processing device, FIG. 5 is a format diagram of the menu file information, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the menu display on the screen. FIG. 7 to FIG. 12 are explanatory diagrams each showing an example of a menu display when a menu is selected. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a specific format of menu file information when displaying the menu, and FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in that case. 1...Keyboard 2...Mouse 4...CR
T-display 10...Control unit Figure 3 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 11 Figure 12 Procedural amendment (voluntary) September 6, 1985 Mr. Michibu Uga, Commissioner of the Patent Office 1. Indication of the case Japanese Patent Application No. 60-132898 2. Invention name menu selection processing method 3. Person making the amendment Relationship with the case Patent applicant No. 3166 (674) Nakamagome 1-chome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ri Co., Ltd. Co-4, Agent 1-20-5 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 6. Contents of the amendment (1) "In addition,..." in lines 4-5 of page 8 of the specification
Omitted. ' shall be amended as follows. ``The sub-selection item for the first selection item ``Document printing'' is 5.
For example, "Print target", "Print document name". There are "print range", "paper insertion method", etc., but illustrations are omitted. ” (2) “Input will be deleted” on page 10, line 4 of the same book is amended as follows. "Input is given to the application and the menu window is cleared." (3) "r system" in line 6 on the same page of the same book is corrected to "application". (4) r rA4J, J on page 12, line 4 of the same book. Correct as FrA4J, r vertical J, and Jl. (5) The phrase "such...processing will be terminated" on page 12, line 9 of the same book to page 18, line 7 is corrected as follows. "An example of a specific format of a menu file when displaying in this way is shown in Figure 13.The arrows connecting each episode are used to show the correspondence between each format. is the main item "Document Update J." The format is "New Creation", "Document Print", "Other". The item number of this main item is "l". The selector number is "Document Update", "New Creation" .[Document Print J, rOthers] in order of ``l~4'', Main/
The sub identification is "1" indicating the main, and the older item number is "
0'', the child item number of ``Document Update'' with selector number ``1'' is ``2'', and the child item number of ``New Creation'' with selector number ``2'' is [3j. The child item number of "document printing" with selector number "3" is [0], and the child item number of "other" with selector number r4J is [9]. The same figure (b) shows the child item “floppy l” of “document update”.
, "Floppy 2", and "Hard disk" format child items have item numbers "2" and selector numbers "Floppy 1" and "Floppy 2". "Hard disk" is "1-3" in order, main/sub identification is "0" which indicates sub item, older item number is "
0", the child item number of "floppy 1" with selector number "1" is "7", "floppy 2" with selector number "1"
The child item number of "hard disk" with selector number "3" is "0". In the same figure (c) is child item rA3J of "new creation". The formats are rA4J, rB4J, and rB5J. For this child item, the item number is "3" and the selector numbers are "1-4" in the order of rA3j to "B5". The main/sub identification is “0” indicating a sub item. The elder item number is [4], and all child item numbers are [
0". In the same figure (d) is the child item "Rate" of "New creation". It is in "horizontal" format. This child item has an item number of "4" and a selector number of "rL, 2" in the order of "It's horizontal". The main/sub identification is "Oj" which indicates the sub item. The older item number is "5", and all child item numbers are r
This is O.J. The same figure (E) shows the child items “Vertical calligraphy” and “Create new”.
It is in the horizontal format. For this child item, the item number is [5j, the selector number is ``r vertical'', [horizontal'' is ``l. 2'', and the main/sub identification is ``0'' indicating a sub item.
The elder item number is "6", and all child item numbers are "6".
0". The figure (f) shows the format of the child item "margin" of "new creation". This child item has an item number of "6", a selector number of "none", a main/sub identification of "0" indicating a sub-item, and an older item number of "0". The child item number is "0". The same figure (G) is a child item of “Floppy 1” [Information 11
~ This is the format of "Greetings 3". For this child item, the item number is "7", the selector numbers are "Invitation 1" to "Greetings 3" in order [1 to 6],
The main/sub identification indicates a subitem [OJ, the older item number is "OJ", and the child item numbers are all "0". The same figure (H) shows the child item “Technical document 1” of “Floppy 2”.
” to “Technical Document 5” format. This child item has an item number of "8" and a selector number of "technical document l" to "technical document 5" in the order of "l to 5".
, the main/sub identification is "0" indicating the sub item, the older item number is [0], and the child item numbers are all "0"
It is. The figure shows the format of the child item of "Other". The item number of this child item is "9", the selector number is [1 to 4] in the order of [external character utility j ~ "Dictionary maintenance"], the main/sub identification is "0" indicating the sub item, and the older item number is "0", all child item numbers are [)J. Therefore, 1. For example, [Document update] in the main item
When is selected, check the child item number of selector number l in the same figure (A), and it is [2], so the same figure (A) is selected.
(b) will display information about child items. Next, the above-described menu selection process executed by the control unit 10 (menu driver 11B) will be described with reference to FIG. 14. First, when there is mouse input, the pointer is set to the beginning of the menu file. Then, it is determined whether it is displayed as a main item or a sub item (child item), and if it is not either, it is checked whether it is the last table or not, and if it is not the last table, the pointer is incremented (+1
) and repeat the discrimination process in the same way. As a result of this determination process, if it is displayed as a main item or sub item, it is determined whether the input and the address of the selector match, and if they do not match, the process of determining whether it is the last table or not is performed. Transition. Then, if the input and the address of the selector match, the 1 selection process is executed. Next, this selection process will be explained with reference to FIG. 15. In this selection process, first the flag is cleared. Note that this flag is used in the selector clearing process described later.
Flag ON means clearing a selector when another selector is turned on, and flag OFF means clearing the ON state of the selector directly with the mouse. These are for distinguishing between each. Thereafter, it is determined whether the selector is ON (selected). At this time, if the selector is ON, that is, if it is currently selected, the process moves to the following selector process. That is, first, the selector is cleared, and it is determined whether the selector has a subitem. At this time, if the selector does not have a subitem, the process moves to a process of determining whether or not a flag is ON, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the selector has a sub-item, move the pointer to the sub-item and clear (erase) the item from the screen. Set "rDisplay/Hide" to "Hide". In order to manage this pointer, an empty table with EOT placed at the beginning is prepared in advance as shown in FIG. In addition, a pointer PTR (in the initial state, the position of EOT) to each entry in this table is prepared. After that, it is determined whether the item has a selector that is ON and has a subitem. Then, if there is a selector that is ON and has subitems, increment the pointer PTR mentioned above (+1) L
After performing pointer tab processing to save the pointer to the current menu file at the location pointed to by that PTR, the process returns to the process of moving the pointer to the subitem. On the other hand, if there is no selector that is ON and has a subitem, it is determined whether or not the subitem has an older brother item. At this time, if there is an older brother item, move the pointer to the older brother item, clear the item and "hide" it.
Return to the process of setting . On the other hand, if there is no older item, the pointer PT
After executing pointer pop processing, which puts the content pointed to by R into the pointer to the menu file (returns an error in the case of EOT), it is determined whether the pop is OK or not. At this time, if it is OK to pop, it returns to the process of determining whether there is a sibling item, and if it is not OK to pop, the flag is turned on.
Determine whether or not. At this time, if the flag is not ON, the process returns directly. Also, if the flag is ON, after returning the pointer to "0", turn on the selector, determine whether there is a subitem in the selector, and if there is a subitem,
After displaying the sub-item and its older brother item on the screen and setting "display/hide" to "display", if there are no sub-items, the process returns as is. On the other hand, as a result of the above-described process of determining whether the selector is ON after clearing the flag, if the selector is not ON, that is, if it is not currently selected, an item with the same item number as the selector and which is ON. Determine whether or not there is. If there is an item number that is ON with the same item number as the selector, save the pointer and set the pointer to the selector that has the same item number and is ON. After turning on the flag, the process moves to the selector clearing process described above. On the other hand, if there is no item with the same item number that is ON, turn on the selector as described above, determine whether or not there is a subitem in the selector, and if there is a subitem, the subitem After displaying the item and its older brother item on the screen and setting "Display/Hide" to "Display", if there are no sub-items, return as is. Next, the selector clearing process will be specifically explained with reference to FIG. 17. This menu structure includes selector rB'', rC'' as sub-items with the same item number of selector rAJ.
, rD". Selector "B" with that same item number. Selectors rEJ, rF', rG' having the same item numbers as the older brother items of rC', r[)', and selector [H' having the same item number. There are rIJ and rJJ. In addition, as a sub-item of selector rBJ, selector r
KJ, and selectors rLJ, rMl, rN that have the same item number as subitems of selector rN
” is there. Selector "L" with that same item number. Selectors rOJ, rP', rQ' having the same item number as the older brother items of rMJ and rNJ, and selector 'R' having the same item number. There are [S] and [T]. Selectors "U" and "v" have the same item number as sub-items of the selector "P". There is "rW". In such a menu configuration, when clearing selector "A", each selector is cleared in the order of ■ to ■ shown in the figure. Although this embodiment describes an example in which only one selector is selected, it is also possible to select two or more selectors at the same time. (6) The same book, page 20, lines 11-12 [Figure 14...
・is,'' is corrected as follows. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of the menu selection process executed by the control unit, FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing details of the selection process in FIG. 14, and FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the same. Figure 17 is also an explanatory diagram for the specific explanation.'' (7) Figure 13 and Figure 14 of the drawings are amended as shown in the corrected drawing attached to this document. (8) Add “Figure 15 J, F Figure 16” and “Figure 17 J” attached to this document to the drawings. 7. Attached documents

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When one of the selection items displayed on the same screen is selected, the selected selection item is displayed to be distinguished from the other selection items, and the selected selection item is subordinate to the selected selection item. A menu selection processing method characterized by displaying a selection item, and returning the identification display to its original state and erasing the display of a subsequent selection item when the selection is cancelled.