JP2001306310A - Method and device for assisting creation of gui part and application developing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for assisting creation of GUI part capable of enhancing reusability such as system modification, customization by every customer, functional extension in program development and achieving stable system development and remarkable reduction of evaluation cost. SOLUTION: The device 10 for assisting creation of GUI part is provided with an editing function to set layout editing, attributes and link destination, etc., of a GUI object. When a GUI picture is edited on an editing screen, necessary information is generated as GUI construction data together with intrinsic IDs of each GUI resource. System application requests plotting by using the ID of the GUI resource. A GUI control component 28 reads the GUI construction data by an initial processing and plots GUI data on a screen according to the request from the system application. The system application is informed of events of a GUI via a GUI construction engine 32 and processings corresponding to respective events are executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a GUI (Graphical
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for supporting development of an application using a user interface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 10-63491 and 10-97415 disclose techniques related to program development support using a GUI. The methods and apparatuses disclosed in these publications require that a source program be ultimately generated based on layout information and object transition information of a GUI object constituting a screen when developing an application program. Features.

[0003]

However, in the conventional program development support apparatus, even if the programs achieve the same function, only the screen configuration is changed when developing system software having a different screen layout. Therefore, it is necessary to recompile the source and relink the objects based on the source program generated by the program development support apparatus to reconstruct the system software.

[0004] Furthermore, as a result of restructuring the system software, it is basically necessary to retest all the evaluation items. There is a problem that huge costs are required.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when developing an application such as system replacement, customization for a plurality of customers, or expansion of functions, it is possible to enhance the reusability of software and to develop a stable system. It is another object of the present invention to provide a GUI part creation support method and apparatus and an application development method that can significantly reduce the cost required for testing.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a method for supporting creation of a GUI unit according to claim 1 is a screen for creating a GUI screen by combining GUI resources according to an instruction given from an input device. A layout editing step, a link specifying step of specifying link information that defines transition between GUI screens, a management information adding step of adding management information unique to each GUI resource constituting the GUI screen, and a GUI screen. Constituting G
UI resource management information, GUI resource attribute information,
The method is characterized by including a GUI construction data generating step of generating GUI construction data having a data structure including GUI resource arrangement information and link information, and a step of storing the GUI construction data.

According to the present invention, as an application configuration for causing a computer to execute a required operation, a GUI construction data providing unit for providing data relating to a GUI screen used by the application, and GUI construction data from the GUI construction data providing unit. A GUI control component for reading, displaying a GUI screen on a display device according to the data, and notifying a system application of an event of a GUI resource;
And designing the application including the system application in which the processing content corresponding to the event notified via the control component is described.
If the data of the UI construction data providing unit is changed, a different G can be used without modifying the system application.
To be able to achieve UI environment applications,
The present invention can be used as a method for designing a GUI unit based on the application development concept described in claim 8.

By applying the GUI section creation support method of the present invention, for example, when a system having the same function and a different screen layout or another system having different screen resources is to be constructed, layout editing and resource editing are performed. To create new GUI construction data. No need to modify the system software at all,
Just replace the newly created GUI construction data,
A system with different screen layouts and screen resources can be constructed. In addition, since the system software is not modified at all, evaluation (test confirmation) items can be greatly reduced.

According to another aspect of the present invention, as described in claim 2, a GUI obtained in the GUI construction data generating step is provided.
Reading the construction data, displaying a GUI screen on a display device in accordance with the data, testing the operation of GUI resources and screen transition, and reading the GUI construction data obtained in the GUI construction data generation step, Therefore, GUI for system application
There is a mode in which an event providing step of notifying an event of a resource and an event processing step of causing a computer to execute a required operation in accordance with the system application in which processing content corresponding to the notified event is described.

[0010] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a GUI section creation support apparatus.
An input unit for inputting an instruction from a user, which corresponds to an apparatus embodying the above-described method invention,
Display means for displaying a processing result corresponding to an instruction content or an input from the input device; screen layout editing means for creating a GUI screen by combining GUI resources according to an instruction given from the input device;
Attribute editing means for editing attributes of a GUI resource;
Link designating means for designating link information defining transition between I-screens, management information adding means for adding management information unique to each of GUI resources constituting the GUI screen, and GUI constituting the GUI screen GUI having a data structure including resource management information, GUI resource attribute information, GUI resource arrangement information, and link information
It is characterized by comprising: GUI construction data generating means for generating construction data; and file storage means for storing the GUI construction data as a file.

In the GUI section creation support device of the present invention,
Further, as described in claim 4, the GUI construction data obtained by the GUI construction data generating means is read, and a GUI screen is displayed on the display means according to the data.
It is preferable to add a test function for testing the operation of the resource and the screen transition.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a GUI section creation support apparatus which reads GUI construction data obtained by the GUI construction data generating means and transmits the GUI construction data to the display means in accordance with the data. A GUI control unit for displaying a GUI screen and notifying a system application of an event of a GUI resource;
Event processing means for causing a computer to execute a required operation according to the system application in which processing content corresponding to an event notified from the UI control means is described is added.

Further, the GUI part creation supporting method according to the present invention can be realized by a computer, and a GUI having a GUI part creation support function according to the present invention as described in claim 6 and claim 7. The application (software) for creating a copy can be provided to a third party on a CD-ROM, a magnetic disk, or another information recording medium, or can be distributed using a telecommunication line such as the Internet.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a GUI section creation support method and apparatus and an application development method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a GUI unit creation support device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The GUI unit creation support apparatus 10 includes a display 12, a computer main body 14, and an input device 16, and software (for example, an application whose name is GUI) for implementing the GUI unit creation support method of the present invention is provided on the computer main body 14.
Suppose it is a Builder. ) Is installed.

As the display 12, a CRT, a color liquid crystal display, a plasma display and other display devices are applied. The display 12 displays a GUI editing work screen, a test screen after editing, and the like. As the input device 16, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, a trackball, or the like is applied.

The inside of the computer main body 14 will be described in terms of blocks according to functions.
The editing processing unit 20 that edits the layout and attributes of the GUI resource in response to an instruction from the
m), such as a storage unit 22 of a form (also referred to as a base resource object), a storage unit 24 of a GUI component (which means a GUI resource object other than a form), and a GUI construction according to the processing result of the editing processing unit 20. GU that generates data and saves it as a file
I construction data generation unit 26, GUI control component 2
8 and a system application processing unit 30.

In accordance with an instruction from the input device 16, the editing processing section 20 selects a form, selects a GUI component to be arranged on the form, and coordinates of the arrangement, the GUI, and the like.
In addition to setting attributes such as an I resource identifier, a control style, and an initial state, a screen transition of a GUI resource is set as link information. Through such editing work, the user (GUI designer) creates a desired GUI screen.

Forms and GUI parts can be added and edited using the input device 16, and the data of the added or changed forms and GUI parts is stored in the corresponding storage unit 2.
2 or 24. Further, the editing processing unit 20 has a test function for checking the appearance and operation of the GUI screen in the currently active form.

The GUI construction data generation unit 26, based on the GUI screen obtained by the edit processing unit 20, stores the ID (management number) of the GUI resource that composes the screen and the data associated therewith into one unit. Generate GUI construction data for the structure. That is, data necessary to compose the GUI screen obtained by the edit processing unit 20 (this is referred to as “GUI project data”).
Is a file as a GUI construction data file together with data of a required GUI resource (actually, a path to a storage destination of the resource, referred to as “GUI component”) used in the screen in the GUI construction data generation unit 26. Is stored in Also, the GUI of the respective screens at the screen transition destinations (link destinations) is determined by the same procedure as above.
A construction data file is created.

The GUI control component 28 includes a GUI
It comprises a construction processing engine 32 and a GUI manager 34. The GUI control component 28
The GUI construction data generated by the UI construction data generation unit 26 is read in an initial process, and necessary GUI data is drawn on the display 12 according to a request from a system application. At this time, the system application issues a rendering request using the ID of the GUI resource to be rendered. The GUI manager 34 activates the GUI construction processing engine 32 based on a drawing request from the system application to execute required drawing.

When the user performs a GUI operation from the screen drawn on the display 12 using the input device 16, a GUI event corresponding to the operation (for example, clicking a button or checking a check box) is generated by a GUI construction processing engine. The system application is notified via the GUI manager 32 and the GUI manager 34.

The application processing unit 30 executes a process corresponding to the event of the ID of each GUI resource received from the GUI manager 34. That is, the system application side executes the GUI control component 2
8 is linked to a software library that reads GUI construction data, notifies a GUI resource event, and describes the contents of processing corresponding to each event.

The GUI control component 28 and the application processing unit 30 are necessary when the system is actually operated using the system application, and are used as means for creating only the GUI unit (only the GUI construction data file). GUI section creation support device 10
In the case where is configured, the GUI control component 28 and the application processing unit 30 can be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a GUI construction data generation screen (edit screen) in the apparatus 10. As shown in the figure, the GUI construction data generation screen 40 has five windows: a menu / form window 42, a property window 44, a resource window 46, a resource view window 48, and a form / link creation window 50. I have.

The menu / form window 42 has two menus, a form tag 42A and a link tag 42B, and the processing is separated by selecting a tag.

When the form tag 42A is selected, the menu / form window 42 displays a list of forms corresponding to the background screen on which the GUI parts are to be pasted (for example, folders indicating storage locations of form resources are displayed in a tree structure). Is done). At this time, the form / link creation window 50 functions as a form creation window.

When the link tag 42B is selected, it becomes possible to define a link between each resource object arranged on the form and another form. At this time, a list of forms is displayed in the menu / form window 42, and the form / link creation window 50 functions as a link creation window.

The property window 44 is a window for setting the attributes of each GUI resource, and is used for setting and displaying the properties of the arranged resources.

The resource window 46 is a window for displaying a list of GUI resources, and displays resource storage locations in a tree structure. The resource view window 48 is a window for displaying a resource image.

The form / link creation window 50 is used as a work window for constructing a GUI when the form tag 42A is selected, while the link tag 42B is used.
Is used as a work window for designating a link.

The menu bar 52 at the top of the screen displays
When the form tag 42A is selected, the items of "file", "edit", "display", "insert", "window", and "help" are displayed. When the link tag 42B is selected, "form" is used instead of the "insert". Is displayed.
Each item of the menu bar 52 has a pull-down menu so that a predetermined operation command can be selected.

Below the menu bar 52, a toolbar 54 is provided.
Is displayed. From the left, “Create new project”, “Open existing project”, “Save project”, “Cut”, “Copy”,
"Paste", "Undo", "Redo", "Print"
9 icons are registered.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a GUI construction data file. When the file creation processing of the GUI construction data starts (step S30)
0) First, a GUI base form as a background of the GUI screen is created (step S310). The GUI designer operates the input device 16 to select a form or create a new form.

Next, GUI parts are arranged on the base form, and a layout of GUI resources is designed (step S312). According to the layout design, the editing processing section 20 of the present apparatus 10 performs a layout process. GUI resources such as a base form and GUI parts are each assigned a unique ID number. Even if the same resource image is used for different screens (forms), different ID values are assigned.
By specifying the value, it is possible to specify which screen or which GUI component is arranged on which screen. The management information specific to the GUI resource is I
Not only the D number but also a symbol string may be used.

After or in parallel with the layout design, the attributes of the GUI resources are set (step S31).
4). For example, the type of the object is a static button, a push button, a check button, a type of control such as an area control or an animation control is set, and the arrangement coordinates are set. , Color settings such as the size of the object, the normal color, the selected color, and the invalid color. As the arrangement coordinates, the position at which the GUI component is dragged on the form is automatically input, but can be changed by inputting a numerical value from the input device 16.

Further, link information of a GUI form indicating a screen transition destination from the GUI resource is set (step S316). This link information setting is performed by the link tag 42
B is selected and work is performed in the link creation window 50.

At the stage where the design for one form has been completed, a GUI corresponding to the GUI screen obtained by the design is obtained.
A process for saving the I construction data file is performed (step S318). After saving the GUI construction data file,
The creation of the GUI construction data file is completed (step S320).

Of course, the file once stored can be read out, further edited (corrected), and the corrected content can be overwritten and stored, or the corrected content can be newly stored as another file.

The operations described in steps S300 to S320 are repeated to obtain the G
Design the UI.

Although not shown in FIG. 3, the GUI
After saving the construction data file or in step S31
At the stage of setting the link information in step 6, a test of the appearance and operation of the currently active form can be executed. When the user clicks the item "test" from the pull-down menu of the item "form" displayed on the menu bar 52 when the form tag 42B is selected, the screen shifts to the test screen. A GUI screen to be reproduced by the system application is displayed on the test screen, and the layout and link destination of the GUI resources can be actually confirmed.

FIG. 4 is a table showing the contents of the GUI project data. As shown in the figure, the GUI project data includes management ID, style, resource status, arrangement information, path of assigned resource, and information on link form. The management ID includes “Form ID” corresponding to the management information (ID) of the base form.
And "Object ID" corresponding to the management information (ID) of the object resource. In the style, type information indicating whether the resource is a static button, a push button, a check button, an area control, or an animation control is described. The resource status is information indicating the status of the resource, and is Enabled, Disabled, Se.
The lected distinction is described.

The arrangement information includes information on horizontal coordinates, vertical coordinates, display width and height of resources. In the path of the allocated resource, a designated path of a storage location of a necessary resource, such as a path of a resource in a normal state, a path of a resource in a selected state, and a path of an invalid resource, is described. In the link form, link information for specifying the screen transition destination form from the GUI resource, that is, “Form ID” of the link destination is described.

Next, the operation of the GUI section creation support apparatus configured as described above will be described. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an outline of the operation of the present apparatus 10. In FIG. 5, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Using the present apparatus 10, a base form is selected (or created) on the GUI construction data generation screen 40.
Then, a GUI component to be combined with the form is arranged on the form. At this time, the attributes of each GUI resource are also edited. Further, a link destination form to be linked when operating a GUI resource is set.

By such an editing operation, the GUI project data 60 is generated. The GUI project data 60 is used for the G actually used on the GUI screen.
The file is stored as a GUI construction data file 64 together with the UI resource data (corresponding to the GUI content indicated by reference numeral 62). Similarly, a GUI construction data file is created for the linked form, and a file group for achieving the GUI environment necessary for the system application is created.

The GUI construction data file created in this way is used as a file that is appropriately referred to by the system application. The system application is G
Utilize the GUI construction data file via the UI control component 28. The utilization form is as described in FIG.

Thus, G of the system application
A UI is formed, and a GUI screen 6 is displayed on a display unit of a computer or a dedicated device on which the system application is mounted.
6 is displayed.

For example, the GUI screen indicated by reference numeral 66 in FIG. 5 is an initial screen applied to a self-operation type photo print service providing apparatus installed in a store or the like, and includes a partition line 68 and a non-patterned colored area 69. On a background (form) 70 having a "recommended calendar of the week" 72,
"This week's new arrival calendar" 74, "This week's calendar best 5" 76, "This week's recommended sticker" 78, "This week's new arrival seal" 80, "This week's seal best 5" 82,
"Digital camera print" 84, "Calendar" 86, "Seal" 88, "Photo copy" 90, "F-DI" 9
2. GUI parts corresponding to the respective processing menus of "help" 94 and "quit" 96 are arranged. In addition, FD
I is a digital imaging print service, in which a recording medium taken by a digital camera is inserted into the photographic print service providing apparatus, and a high quality print similar to a normal photographic print can be obtained simply by reading the recording medium. .

An event associated with a GUI operation from the GUI screen 66 is notified to a system application as an upper layer program via a GUI control component 28.
The system application executes a process corresponding to the event of each GUI resource ID.

Therefore, the system application can be implemented without any GUI resources. That is, even if the GUI construction data is changed, exactly the same processing is executed if the GUI resource ID is the same.

As a result, the same processing is executed for the same GUI resource ID even if the size, layout, or screen transition is changed as well as the design of the GUI resource, and the GUI construction is performed by one application. By exchanging data, it is possible to provide a completely different system.

According to the present embodiment, since it is not necessary to reconstruct the application, the cost for the development man-hour and evaluation, and the system replacement work can be greatly reduced. Basically, a sufficient evaluation can be performed by testing the layout and screen transition of GUI resources using a test function attached to the GUI unit creation support device 10.

To extend the function of the application once created, it is sufficient to add only the event processing for the added GUI object and to evaluate only the function extension.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, a GUI construction data file for providing data relating to a GUI screen used in an application can be edited independently of a system application, and layout editing and link designation of a GUI object can be performed. When necessary design such as is performed, the necessary information is generated as GUI construction data together with the specific management information of each GUI resource. Therefore, the system application side manages the specific management information of the GUI resource and the specific information of the GUI resource. It is only necessary to describe the processing content for the event. Therefore, according to the present invention, the reusability of software is improved, for example, in the case of replacing the system, customizing a plurality of customers, or expanding the functions, and it is possible to develop and provide a stable system. Further, the present invention can greatly reduce the number of development steps and test (evaluation) steps as compared with the conventional method in which the source program is rewritten in accordance with the change of the GUI environment, so that the effect of cost reduction is great.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a GUI unit creation support device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a GUI editing screen in the apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a GUI construction data file;

FIG. 4 is a table showing the contents of GUI project data.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an operation outline of the apparatus of the present example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 GUI unit creation support device, 12 Display (display device, display means), 14 Computer body, 16
Input device (input means), 20 ... editing processing section (screen layout editing means, attribute editing means, link designating means), 26
... GUI construction data generation unit (management information adding unit, GUI
Construction data generation means, file storage means), 28 ... GU
I control component (GUI control means), 30... System application processing section (event processing means), 3
2: GUI construction processing engine, 34: GUI manager, 64: GUI construction data file

Claims (12)

[Claims] An editing step of creating a GUI screen by combining GUI resources according to an instruction given from an input device, and editing at least one of a layout of the GUI resources and an attribute of the GUI resources. A link designating step for designating link information that defines a transition; a management information adding step for adding management information unique to each of the GUI resources constituting the GUI screen; and management information of the GUI resource constituting the GUI screen ,
A GUI construction data generating step of generating GUI construction data having a data structure including GUI resource attribute information, GUI resource arrangement information, and link information; and a step of storing the GUI construction data. GUI part creation support method. 2. The G obtained in the GUI construction data generation step.
Reading the UI construction data, displaying a GUI screen on a display device according to the data, and testing the operation and screen transition of GUI resources; and reading the GUI construction data obtained in the GUI construction data generation step, An event providing step of notifying an event of a GUI resource to a system application according to the following; and an event processing step of causing a computer to execute a required operation according to the system application in which processing content corresponding to the notified event is described. 2. The method for supporting creation of a GUI unit according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. An input unit for inputting an instruction from a user, a display unit capable of displaying the content of the instruction from the input unit and a processing result according to the input, and a GUI according to the instruction given from the input unit. A screen layout editing unit that creates a GUI screen by combining resources; an attribute editing unit that edits attributes of GUI resources; a link designating unit that specifies link information that defines transition between GUI screens; and a GUI screen. Management information adding means for adding management information unique to each of the GUI resources being managed, management information of the GUI resources constituting the GUI screen,
GUI construction data generating means for generating GUI construction data having a data structure including GUI resource attribute information, GUI resource arrangement information, and link information, and file storage means for storing the GUI construction data as a file. A GUI unit creation support device, characterized in that: 4. The G obtained by said GUI construction data generating means.
4. The GUI part creation support according to claim 3, further comprising a test function for reading UI construction data, displaying a GUI screen on the display means according to the data, and testing an operation of a GUI resource and a screen transition. apparatus. 5. The G obtained by said GUI construction data generating means.
A GUI control unit for reading UI construction data, displaying a GUI screen on the display unit according to the data, and notifying an event of a GUI resource to a system application, and responding to an event notified from the GUI control unit. An event processing means for causing a computer to execute a required operation according to the system application in which processing content is described, and G is added.
UI section creation support device. 6. An information recording medium storing a program for realizing a GUI section creation support method according to claim 1 or 2 by a computer. 7. A program for realizing the GUI part creation supporting method according to claim 1 or 2 by a computer, converting the program into a signal form transmittable by a telecommunication line, and providing the program using the telecommunication line. Providing an application. 8. A GUI that provides data relating to a GUI screen used by the application as a configuration of an application that causes a computer to execute a required operation.
A construction data providing unit, a GUI control component for reading GUI construction data from the GUI construction data providing unit, displaying a GUI screen on a display device according to the data, and notifying an event of a GUI resource to a system application; When an application consisting of the system application in which the processing content corresponding to the event notified via the GUI control component is described is designed and the data of the GUI construction data providing unit is changed, the modification of the system application is performed. An application development method characterized in that an application in a different GUI environment can be achieved without performing it. 9. The application development method according to claim 8, wherein the method is used as a method for creating data of the GUI construction data providing unit.
GUI part creation support method. 10. An application development method according to claim 8, wherein the data of the GUI construction data providing unit is generated by the GUI unit creation support method according to claim 1. 11. An information recording medium, wherein an application program obtained by the application development method according to claim 10 is recorded in a signal form readable by a computer. 12. An application program obtained by the application development method according to claim 10 is converted into a signal form that can be transmitted by a telecommunication line, and the application program is provided using the telecommunication line. How to provide applications to