JP2005251012A - Install program, management method of program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an install program and a management method of a program capable of conducting update operation of the program easily and transferring to a new version system smoothly even when a system is changed with a change of not only an application program but also an operation environment of the program. <P>SOLUTION: The install program installs a first program for acquiring a data file from other computer connected by a network, and a second program for operating by referring to the data file, and then executes an instruction for starting the first program. When the first program is started, the first program requests the data file to the other computer on the network. When the requested data file is obtained, the second program is operated to arrange the data file in a predetermined folder of the operating computer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an installation program for installing an application program and data necessary for the application program to operate in a computer.

  The details of the operation of a computer program may depend significantly on the environment of the computer that runs the computer program. For example, in the simple issuance system described in Patent Document 1, necessary data for issuing securities (hereinafter referred to as “securities data”) input by a user is stored in an unissued folder for storing unissued securities data. If the insurance application form is issued for the first time when creating the application form for this simple issue system, the worker can modify and reissue it. When selecting and instructing the system, the dialog screen processing program automatically selects each appropriate folder on the operation screen, and the securities data file existing in the selected folder is displayed in a pull-down dialog interface for selection, making it easy. It is designed so that insurance application (re) issuance work can be started.

  In such a computer program, for example, when the function of the program is added or changed, the management method of the data file to be handled may need to be changed. For example, in the example of the simple issue system, in consideration of the operability of the work with the added function, when changing to a specification in which a data file of a type other than securities data is managed in another folder, or the securities data file is This is a case where the folder to be held is changed to a specification corresponding to the third folder in addition to the unissued folder and the issued folder.

When the computer program is revised with such a specification change, not only the program is upgraded, but in the above simple issue system example, the configuration of a folder for holding a data file to be referred to when the program operates Need to be changed to match the upgraded specifications. In the case of a system operating as a business backbone, it is necessary to concentrate such changes on the environment in which the application program operates on all users' computers without error. Conventionally, since such a change operation has been performed manually, it takes time and setting errors are likely to occur. If the person in charge of the system, including environmental changes, performs a heavy load on the person in charge of the system, and if the environmental changes are left to individual users, a setting error occurs, often resulting in trouble with business.
JP 2003-208517 A

The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems. Even when a system change involving a change in the operating environment of the application program as well as the application program is performed, the version upgrade operation of the application program is performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an installation program that can be easily performed and smoothly migrate to a new version system, and to provide a program management method using such an installation program.

  A first invention for solving the problem is an installation program, the first aspect of which is to install a first program for obtaining a data file from another computer connected by a network, and to install the first program after the installation is completed. An installation program characterized in that an instruction step for starting the program is executed. Since the installation program having such a function automatically reads data necessary for the operation of the application program from another specific computer, when the data defining the operation of the application program is changed, the specific other computer If you update the data and check the operation, you can easily duplicate the environment.

  A second aspect of the installation program according to the first aspect is the installation program according to the first aspect, wherein when the first program is activated, it sends a data file request to another computer on the network. An installation characterized in that when another computer returns the requested data file without rejecting the data file request, the data file is placed in a predetermined folder of the computer on which the first program operates. It is a program. An installation program with such a function automatically reads data necessary for the operation of the application program from another specific computer into a predetermined folder, so if the data that defines the operation of the application program is changed If you update the data on another computer and check the operation, you can easily duplicate the environment.

  According to a third aspect of the installation program according to the first aspect, in the installation program according to the first aspect, when the first program is started, first, the identification information of the user is input via the interactive interface. If the identification information is accepted, a data file request including the identification information is sent to another computer on the network, and if the other computer returns the requested data file without rejecting the data file request, An installation program that operates to place a data file in a predetermined folder of a computer on which the first program operates. The installation program having such a function not only reads data necessary for the operation of the application program from another specific computer into a predetermined folder, but also determines whether the user is a legitimate user for the other specific computer. Alternatively, it is possible to provide information for managing to whom the data necessary for the operation is distributed. The user identification information uses a registered user name that can be recognized by another specific computer, or a combination of a user name and a password. Alternatively, it may be information for authenticating the computer itself instead of authenticating the user.

  A fourth aspect of the installation program according to the first aspect is the installation program according to the second aspect or the third aspect, wherein the data file returned from the other computer is below a specific folder of the other computer. All folders and files included in the folder tree are compressed into a single data file with the tree structure preserved, and the first program decompresses the data file and restores the original folder tree. After that, the installation program is characterized in that it operates to place the folder tree under a predetermined folder of the computer on which the first program operates. The installation program having such a function automatically sets all folders and files included in a folder tree below a specific folder necessary for the operation of the application program from another specific computer while maintaining the tree structure. If the folder environment that regulates the operation of the application program is changed, update the folder environment on a specific other computer and check the operation so that the environment can be easily replicated. .

  The installation program according to the first invention may have some other modified modes. That is, the installation program according to the first aspect of the present invention is the installation program according to any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, wherein the data file is stored in addition to the first program for obtaining the data file from another computer. It is also possible to install two types of programs, ie, a second program that operates by reference, and to execute an instruction step for starting the first program after the installation. In this case, the second program is an application program to be upgraded.

A second invention for solving the problem distributes an execution environment in which a specific application program operates on a specific computer or the second application program by distributing the installation program according to the first invention. In addition, there is a computer program management method for copying an execution environment in which a second program operates on a specific computer onto a number of other computers.

  If the operation of a specific application program is confirmed on a specific computer by using the installation program according to the first invention, the operating environment of the program can be easily copied to another computer. .

According to the management method of the second invention, if the operation of a specific application program or the second application program is confirmed on a specific computer, the operating environment of the program can be easily copied to another computer. can do. Even if the operation of updating the operating environment of the application program or updating the operating environment of the application program and the program is entrusted to individual users, no work mistake occurs.

  Hereinafter, a client program (hereinafter referred to as “target program”) for operating a personal computer as a system for simply issuing securities disclosed in Patent Document 1 (hereinafter referred to as “simple issue system”) will be described as the best mode for carrying out the present invention. The case of upgrading the version will be described.

  First, a simple issue system will be briefly described. The simple issuance system is a system for immediately issuing insurance securities or the like using an electronic form through a route different from the usual route, and is characterized by having a function for preventing double issuance of securities.

  Here, the electronic form refers to data representing an unfilled document, such as a policy of insurance policy or insurance application form. In contrast, securities data refers to input data entered and entered by the applicant. There are two types of electronic forms handled by the simple issuing system: application electronic forms and securities electronic forms used when outputting securities.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a folder and file environment on a computer on which the target program operates. Here, it is assumed that the target program operates in an environment in which Windows (registered trademark) is adopted as the OS of the computer. The target program has three types of folders, “Unissued Folder”, “Issued Folder”, and “Form Library”, which are folders under “Business Folder” under the “My Documents” folder of C drive. Handle subfolders and data files. The unissued folder is a folder for storing unissued securities data, and the issued folder is a folder for storing securities data after the securities are issued. The unissued folder and the issued folder are divided into subfolders for each type of securities (in FIG. 3, for each insurance product), and hold securities data. The structure of subfolders must be exactly the same for unissued folders and issued folders. The form library folder is a folder for storing electronic forms such as application forms and securities forms.

  The target programs are 1) application form input and proofreading paper output, 2) application form correction and proofreading paper output, 3) securities issuing, 4) data correction after issuing securities and proofreading paper output. An interactive work screen is displayed on the computer display, and the work is performed in response to the input of the worker. At that time, if the type of each work is instructed by the operator, an interactive screen interface corresponding to the work content is displayed, and the three types of folders “unissued folder”, “issued folder”, and “form library” are displayed. Select a folder appropriate for the work contents, and pull down the subfolders, securities data, or electronic form data contained in the selected folder on the interactive work screen so that the operator can easily start the desired work. To work. Further, depending on the type of work, the securities data is moved between folders. For example, in the securities issue operation, as shown in FIG. 3, a securities data file is selected from the unissued folder, and after the securities are issued, the data file is moved to the issued folder. This operation automatically avoids double issue of securities. When correcting the issued securities data, the operation is performed so that the security data in the issued folder is moved to the unissued folder and the correction work is started.

  As described above, the interactive screen operation and the processing result of the target program are greatly related to the structure of the folder tree under the business folder. Thus, for example, if the “C insurance” subfolder is not prepared for C insurance, which is a new insurance product, work on C insurance cannot proceed.

  As described above, the simple issue system and the target program have been described as preparation for the description of the embodiment of the present invention. Next, an installation program according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an operation flow of an installation program according to the present invention. This installation program is a program for distributing the target program to many users. The installation program is a program that installs two programs, the target program and a folder tree acquisition program for acquiring a folder tree under a business folder in which the target program operates from a specific server computer, on a user's computer.

  First, the user copies the installation program to an appropriate location (folder) in the file system of the user's computer and starts it by double-clicking it (S10). When the installation program is started (after being automatically decompressed if it is compressed and distributed), the target program (the application program in FIG. 1) and each executable program of the folder tree acquisition program are specified as specified by the user. Install in the computer (S12). The designation of the user is an instruction given by the operator when using the normal program installer, such as designation of a folder in which the executable program is to be placed, registration in the program selection menu, or whether to place an alias on the desktop.

  Further, the installation program activates a folder tree acquisition program that is one of the two installed programs (S14).

  The activated folder tree acquisition program displays a dialog box for requesting user identification information and a password for confirming the identity of the user on the computer screen, and accepts the user identification information and the password (S16). Next, the folder tree acquisition program transfers the folder tree data request message including the received identification information and password to the server computer set in advance in the folder tree acquisition program (S18). If the server computer confirms that the user is a valid user based on the user identification information and the password, the server computer returns the requested folder tree data to the user's computer.

  The folder tree data is a data file that is compressed as a single archive by compressing the folders under the business folder of the server computer and all the files contained in those folders in a form that preserves the structure of the folder tree. This archive file is distributed to the user's computer. The folder tree acquisition program places the archive file distributed under the “My Documents” folder and decompresses it there (S20). As a result, the folder tree under the “business folder” exactly the same as the server computer is duplicated on the user's computer. Up to this point, the file acquisition program has completed its function. Finally, the installation program uninstalls the folder tree acquisition program that has achieved its purpose (S22).

  Thereafter, when the user activates the target program, the target program operates in exactly the same operating environment as when operating on the server computer (that is, the environment where the folder tree under the business folder is the same). On the server computer side, an archive file to be distributed must be prepared. This can be created by using a generally available compression / decompression program that can compress the folder tree structure.

  Therefore, for example, in addition to upgrading the function of the target program, the above installation is also applied when a new insurance product is added and the subfolder and form data corresponding to the new insurance product need to be set in the folder tree under the business folder. The program can upgrade the version of the target program including a new operating environment without any hassle.

  That is, by using the installation program of the present invention, when a new insurance product is added, a subfolder and form data are created and registered so as to correspond to the new insurance product in the server computer environment, and the operation is confirmed. If this is the case, the operating environment can be easily replicated to a computer other than the server computer.

  In addition, the user identification information and the password are input in step S16, and the information is included in the folder tree data request message transmitted in step S18. In this case, it is possible to return an authentication denial response to the client computer without sending the requested data, so that security considerations can be taken, and how far the update of the application program necessary for the execution of business has progressed There is an advantage that it becomes easy. However, when such consideration is not necessary, step S16 may be omitted, and the user identification information may not be included in the folder tree data request message. In this case, if the server accepts the folder tree data request message, the server returns the requested data unconditionally to the request source.

  In addition, step S16 can be omitted by using information that can identify a client computer that can be set at the application program level, instead of user identification information that is explicitly input by the user. For example, the specification may be such that the “computer name” and “workgroup name” set in the properties of the Windows® system are read by the folder tree acquisition program and included in the folder tree data request message. . The server computer can authenticate the client computer by “computer name” and “workgroup name”.

  Further, in the flow of FIG. 1, “Folder tree data request message is forwarded to a server computer set in the folder tree acquisition program in advance (S18)”, but the server computer that is the destination of the folder tree data request message The information for specifying may be received from the user through a dialog box on the dialog screen.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a modification of the installation program described in FIG. The difference from the installation program described in FIG. 1 is that in step S32, only the file acquisition program is installed without installing the target program itself. Steps S34, S36, S38, S40, and S42 perform the same processing as S14, S16, S18, S20, and S22 of FIG. The installation program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 has no change in the application program, but there is a change in the operating environment, and it is necessary to make a quick change of the operating environment to the entire user in the department accurately and without trouble. It is effective for.

  In the two examples described above, the folder tree data request message sent in steps S18 and S38 has been described as a single request message including user identification information. However, depending on the program to be implemented or the communication protocol employed, It may be divided into a message for receiving user authentication and a request message for requesting data.

  In the above description of the embodiment, the case where the target program, that is, the application program to be updated is the client program of the simple issue system according to Patent Document 1, has been described. It is described in this way for easy understanding of what the specified operating environment is, and the characteristics of the installation program of the present invention can be applied to other general application programs having similar characteristics. It will be easily understood that there is.

The installation program according to the present invention has been described above. Further, the system management effect of using the installation program according to the present invention was also mentioned. Accordingly, a rational computer program management method using the installation program according to the present invention is also disclosed.

It is the figure which showed the operation | movement flow of the installation program which concerns on this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the modification of the installation program which concerns on this invention. It is a folder tree explaining the operating environment of a securities issuing system. .

Claims (10)

  An installation program characterized by installing a first program for acquiring a data file from another computer connected via a network, and executing an instruction step for starting the first program after installation.   When the first program is started, it sends a data file request to another computer on the network, and when the other computer returns the requested data file without rejecting the data file request, the data file 2. The installation program according to claim 1, wherein the installation program operates in a predetermined folder of a computer on which the first program operates.   When the first program is started, it first waits for input of the user's identification information. When the identification information is received, the first program sends a data file request including the identification information to another computer on the network. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the computer returns the requested data file without rejecting the data file request, the data file is operated to be placed in a predetermined folder of the computer on which the first program operates. The installation program described.   A data file returned from another computer is a compressed file of all folders and files contained in a folder tree under a specific folder on another computer, with the tree structure preserved. The first program decompresses the data file to obtain the original folder tree, and then operates to place the folder tree under a predetermined folder of the computer on which the first program operates. The installation program according to claim 2 or claim 3.   Install two programs, a first program that acquires data files from other computers connected by a network, and a second program that operates by referring to the data files, and then starts the first program after installation An installation program characterized by causing an instruction step to be executed.   When the first program is started, it sends a data file request to another computer on the network, and when the other computer returns the requested data file without rejecting the data file request, the data file The installation program according to claim 5, wherein the installation program is arranged to be placed in a predetermined folder of a computer on which the second program operates.   When the first program is started, it first waits for input of the user's identification information via the interactive interface, and when the identification information is received, sends a data file request including the identification information to another computer on the network. When another computer sends back the requested data file without rejecting the data file request, the data file is placed in a predetermined folder of the computer on which the second program operates. The installation program according to claim 5.   A data file returned from another computer is a compressed file of all folders and files contained in a folder tree under a specific folder on another computer, with the tree structure preserved. The first program decompresses the data file to obtain the original folder tree, and then operates to place the folder tree below a predetermined folder of the computer on which the second program operates. The installation program according to claim 6 or 7.   5. A computer program management method for copying an execution environment in which a specific application program operates on a specific computer to another computer by distributing the installation program according to claim 2. By distributing the installation program according to any one of claims 6 to 8, the second application program is distributed, and an execution environment in which the second program operates on a specific computer is set on another computer. To manage computer programs to be replicated.
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