JPH05204583A - Window display method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the window display method by which the whole of display information can be grasped easily on a screen by superposing equally each window and displaying them in a display area, in the case all areas of plural windows to be displayed are not held in the display area. CONSTITUTION:In the lower side part of a screen 11 of a display part 25, a slide frame 12 is provided, and a scroll bar 13 whose length is flexible is provided therein. The slide frame 12 and the scroll bar 13 constitute a display position changing device 17. In both the left and the right ends of this scroll bar 13, overlap width changing buttons 14, 15 are provided, and also, in the upper side part of the slide frame 12, a display area 16 is provided. In the wind display method of this constitution, in the case all areas of plural windows to be displayed are not held in the display area, each window is superposed equally and displayed in the display area. In this case, in accordance with an instruction by an instructing means, overlap width of each window can be changed, and also, each window superposed and displayed can be scrolled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention, when the entire area of a plurality of windows to be displayed does not fit in the display area on the display screen, allows the windows to be evenly overlapped and displayed in the display area. Regarding the window display method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a system which automatically opens a window and displays information, when a window cannot be displayed in a display area of a display device, a new window covers an already displayed window. That happens. Therefore, the user has to manually move the windows one by one and arrange them so that the windows can be seen.

Therefore, in order to avoid such a situation, a method of scrolling the display screen has been used.

[0004]

However, in the method described above, the display screen is cut off by scrolling, and it is difficult for the user to grasp the entire display screen.

An object of the present invention is to provide a window display method capable of easily grasping the entire display information on the screen in view of the above conventional problems.

[0006]

According to the window display method of the present invention, in a window display system in which a plurality of windows are simultaneously displayed on a display screen, when the entire area of the plurality of windows to be displayed is not within the display area. The windows are evenly overlapped and displayed in the display area.

[0007]

In the window display method having the above structure, when the entire area of the plurality of windows to be displayed cannot fit in the display area, the windows are evenly overlapped and displayed in the display area. In this case, the overlapping width of each window can be changed according to the instruction from the instruction means. Further, it is possible to scroll the windows displayed in a superimposed manner according to the instruction from the instruction means.

In this way, all the windows can be seen at once, even if only a little, so that the user can easily grasp the entire display information on the screen. Therefore, the user can efficiently view a large amount of information.

Further, by displaying the windows by slightly shifting them in the vertical direction, the user can understand at a glance that the windows are overlapped and displayed.

Since the overlapping width of the windows can be changed on the screen, the overlapping windows can be widened as necessary. Also, by changing the overlapping width of the windows, it is possible to move multiple windows at once.

The user can easily change the display position of the window by instructing the position and the length of the bar-shaped area displayed on the display screen by the instructing means. It is possible to intuitively understand whether the part is displayed on the screen.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a window display system showing an embodiment of the window display method according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes an instruction input unit, and as the instruction input unit 21, a pointing device such as a mouse or a keyboard is used. Here, regarding the change of the display position, the display device is instructed to be changed by operating the display position changing device on the screen of the display unit 25 with the pointing device. With respect to the instruction to display all windows, the instruction to display all windows is given by, for example, clicking a mouse button that is not used to instruct to change the display position.

Reference numeral 22 indicates the type of change, the moving direction instructed, to the display position setting unit 23 in response to an instruction from the instruction input unit 21,
It is an input determination unit that conveys the amount of change in the length and position of the scroll bar.

The display position setting unit 23 sets the moving direction and moving amount of the window and the moving direction and moving amount of the screen based on the values of the variables supplied from the input judging unit 22. The display position setting unit 23 has an overlap setting unit 23a and a scroll setting unit 23b. The overlap setting unit 23a
The overlapping width C of the windows is calculated to determine the display position of the windows. The scroll setting unit 23b determines the scroll direction and scroll amount of the screen.

Reference numeral 24 is a display control unit for displaying on the display unit 25 based on the information from the display position setting unit 23. Reference numeral 25 is a display unit such as a CRT display.

Next, the overall operation will be described with reference to FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the window display system of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

When there is an input from the instruction input section 21 (step S31), the display position setting section 23 displays all windows (step S33) and changes the overlapping width (step S34) based on the output from the input determination section 22. , Scroll (step S35), and one window selection (step S36), the corresponding flow operation is performed to cause the display unit 25 to perform the corresponding display via the display control unit 24.

(1) If there is an instruction to display all windows from the instruction input unit 21 (steps S31 to S3)
3) will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram on a screen of a display unit showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of full window display showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a slide frame 12 is provided (displayed) on the lower side of the screen 11 of the display unit 25,
Inside the slide frame 12, a scroll bar 13 whose length is freely expandable (variable) is provided (displayed). The slide frame 12 and the scroll bar 13 have a display position changing device 1
Make up 7. Overlapping width change buttons 14 and 15 are provided (displayed) on the left and right ends of the scroll bar 13. Further, a display area 16 is provided on the upper side of the screen 11 slide frame 12. This display area 16
The x and y coordinates of the upper left end of the are set to (0, 0), and the x and y coordinates of the upper right end are set to (Lmax, 0). Here, the x-axis is the horizontal direction and the y-axis is the vertical direction. W1 to Wn are windows to be displayed, and L1 to Ln are each window W
The width of 1 to Wn, C (≧ 0) is the overlapping width of the windows.

When there is an instruction to display all windows from the instruction input unit 21 (step S11), the overlap setting unit 23a of the display position setting unit 23 causes the n windows W to be displayed.
Sum (L1 ... L) of each width L1 to Ln of 1 to Wn
It is checked whether or not n) is larger than the width Lmax of the display area 16 (step S12). Overlap setting unit 23a
When Sum (L1 ... Ln) ≦ Lmax, the overlapping width of windows is set to C = 0 (step S13), and the process proceeds to step S15. Also, the overlap setting unit 23a
When Sum (L1 ... Ln)> Lmax, the overlapping width C of the windows is calculated by the following equation (1) to obtain (step S14). In this way, the overlapping width C is determined. C = {Sum (L1 ... Ln) -Lmax} / (n-1) (1)

Next, the upper left corner of the window W1 has coordinates (0,
0), the coordinates of the upper left corners of the windows W2 to Wn are calculated so that the overlapping width of the windows becomes the overlapping width C previously determined (determined) (step S15). In this case, the windows W2 to Wn are slightly shifted in the vertical direction (the y coordinates of the upper left corners of the windows W2 to Wn are slightly shifted).

The display position setting unit 23 displays windows W1 to Wn on the display unit 25 via the display control unit 24 as shown in FIG.
Is displayed. That is, the upper left corner of the window W1 is aligned with the upper left corner (0,0) of the display area 16, and the windows W2 to W
n is displayed on the basis of the upper left corner coordinates previously obtained. Therefore, the windows W2 to Wn are sequentially overlapped by the overlapping width C and displayed (step S1).
6).

(2) Next, when there is an instruction to change the overlap width from the instruction input unit 21 (steps S31, S32, S).
34) will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart for changing the overlapping width of windows according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram on the screen of the display unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.
6, the same reference numerals are used for the same or corresponding parts as in FIG.

As described above, the display position changing device 17 is displayed on the screen 11 of the display unit 25 together with the window as shown in FIG. 6A (when n = 7 in FIG. 1). It In the display position changing device 17, the ratio of the length of the slide frame 12 to the length of the scroll bar 13 is the sum of the widths (total width) when all windows are arranged with an arbitrary overlapping width C and the actual screen 11 It corresponds to the ratio of all the displayed window widths (corresponding to the width Lmax of the display area 16 here).

Before explaining the operation flowchart of FIG. 5, the operation for changing the overlapping width of windows will be described. In order to change the overlapping width of the windows, one of the left and right overlapping width changing buttons 14 and 15 is selected with the pointing device, and the overlapping width changing button 14 or 15 is moved to the inside (or outside). By this operation, the scroll bar 13 expands (or contracts) by the amount of movement of the overlapping width changing button 14 or 15. The overlapping width C of the windows is changed according to the ratio of the length of the slide frame 12 to the length of the scroll bar 13 at this time (FIG. 6).
(A) → FIG. 6 (b), FIG. 6 (c)). For example, if the overlapping width change button 14 or 15 is moved to the outside, the overlapping width C of the window increases, and conversely, the overlapping width change button 1
If 4 or 15 is moved inward, the overlapping width C of the window is reduced.

As for the display position of the window when the overlapping width C in FIG. 6A is changed in this way, the window W1 at the left end of the display area 16 of the screen 11 is fixed and only the change of the overlapping width C is made. When other windows are shifted to the right (hereinafter, referred to as fixed left) (FIG. 6 (b))
Then, when the window W7 at the right end of the display area 16 of the screen 11 is fixed and the other windows are shifted to the left by the change in the overlapping width C (hereinafter, referred to as the case of right fixing) (FIG. 6).
Either (c)) can be selected. Regarding this selection method, when the right overlapping width change button 15 is selected with the pointing device, the window moves to the right by the amount of change in the overlapping width C (FIG. 6B). When the left overlapping width changing button 14 is selected with the pointing device, the window moves to the left by the amount of the changing overlapping width C (FIG. 6C).

Next, the operation of changing the overlapping width of windows will be described. The user operates the display position changing device 17 with a pointing device such as a mouse as the instruction input unit 21 to give an instruction to change the overlapping width as described above (step S51). Then, the display position setting unit 23 is supplied with information (type of change, instructed moving direction, change amount of length and position of the scroll bar 13) based on the instruction from the instruction input unit 21 from the input determination unit 22. It Overlap Setting Section 23a of Display Position Setting Section 23
Is the total window width S (C ′) obtained by subtracting the overlapping amount when displayed (arranged) regardless of the display area 16 by overlapping with the overlapping width C ′ of the window, S (C ′): Lmax =
(Length of slide frame 12): (Length of scroll bar 13), that is, S (C ') / Lmax = (length of slide frame 12) / (length of scroll bar 13) (step S52) .. Next, the overlap setting unit 23a calculates the overlap width C ′ of the windows from the following expression (2) (step S53). C '= {Sum (L1 ... Ln) -S (C')} / (n-1) ... (2)

Note that S (C ') = Sum (L1 ... L
n)-(n-1) C '. Therefore, S (0) = Su
m (L1 ... Ln).

Next, the overlap setting section 23a includes the instruction input section 2
Based on whether or not the overlap changing button 15 or 14 of the display position changing device 17 has been selected with the pointing device as 1, it is determined whether it is left-fixed or right-fixed (step S54).

In the case where the overlap setting section 23a is fixed to the left, the left end coordinates on the screen of the window W1 currently displayed at the left end of the display area 16 of the screen 11 in FIG. The window layout is calculated with the overlapping width C ′, and the window is displayed on the display area 16 of the screen 11 of the display unit 25 via the display control unit 24 as shown in FIG. 6B (steps S55 and S57).

Further, in the case where the overlap setting section 23a is fixed to the right, the right end coordinate on the screen of the window W7 currently displayed at the right end of the display area 16 of the screen 11 in FIG. 6A is used as a reference (fixed). As a result, the window layout is calculated with the overlapping width C ′, and the screen 11 of the display unit 25 is displayed via the display control unit 24.
A window is displayed in the display area 16 of as shown in FIG. 6C (steps S56 and S57).

(3) Next, when there is a scroll instruction from the instruction input unit 21 (steps S31, S32, S3).
5) will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a scroll operation flowchart showing another embodiment of the present invention.

A scrolling instruction is given by a pointing device as the instruction inputting section 21 (step S7).
1). Here, the scroll instruction by the pointing device is performed as follows. That is, in the slide frame 12, the overlap width change button 1 of the scroll bar 13
By pointing to a position other than 4 and 15 with the pointing device, the entire scroll bar 13 is moved in parallel so that one of the overlap width changing buttons 14 and 15 comes to that position. For example, if the pointing device is used to point to position 61 in the state of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6C, the entire scroll bar 13 is arranged so that the button 15 of the scroll bar 13 comes to the position 61.
The state of FIG. 6B is translated to the state of FIG.

Scroll setting section 2 of display position setting section 23
3b calculates the scrolling direction and the scrolling amount of the screen 11 based on the output information (the moving direction and the moving amount of the scroll bar 13) from the input determining unit 22, and then calculates Display area 16 of screen 11
Scroll display as instructed (step S7)
2, S73). For example, when the pointing device is instructed to the position 61 in the state of FIG. 6 (b) as described above, the screen 11 is scrolled to the left, and therefore the window is scrolled to the left, and the screen shown in FIG. ) Is displayed. The state of FIG. 6C is the same as the display corresponding to step S56 of FIG.

(4) Next, when there is an instruction to select one window from the instruction input unit 21 (steps S31, S).
32, S36) will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart for selecting one window according to another embodiment of the present invention.

When the instruction input unit 21 gives an instruction to select one window, the display position setting unit 23 causes the display control unit 24 to perform pop-up display of the designated window in the display area of the screen of the control unit 25 ( Step S
82).

As can be seen from the above description, by allocating the overlapping width C of the windows W1 to Wn as shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to make all the windows visible at a time, even if only a little. Can easily grasp the entire display information on the screen 11. Therefore,
The user can efficiently see a large amount of information. Further, by displaying the windows W2 to Wn with a slight vertical shift, the user can understand at a glance that the windows W1 to Wn are displayed in an overlapping manner.

Further, the window W1 as shown in FIG.
Since the overlapping width C of ~ W7 can be changed on the screen, the overlapping windows W1 to W7 can be displayed as shown in FIG.
You can open it like (c). In addition, FIG.
By changing the overlapping width C of the windows W1 to W7 in (a), a plurality of windows W1 to W7 can be displayed at a time.
It can be moved collectively as in (b) and (c).

The visual display position changing device 17 in which the scroll bar 13 and the overlapping width changing device (overlap width changing buttons 14 and 15) are integrated makes it possible for the user to easily change the display position and to display all windows. You can intuitively understand which window part is displayed on the screen.

The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various applications and modifications are conceivable without departing from the gist of the present invention. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to a multi-layered menu display, a previewer for viewing multiple pages at once, and the like.

[0042]

As described above, according to the window display method of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Since all windows can be seen at once in the display area on the screen, even if only a little, the user can easily grasp the entire display information on the screen. Therefore, the user can efficiently view a large amount of information.

(2) By displaying the windows with a slight vertical shift, the user can understand at a glance that the windows are displayed in an overlapping manner.

(3) Since the overlapping width of the windows can be changed on the screen, the overlapping windows can be expanded as needed.

(4) By changing the overlapping width of windows, it is possible to move a plurality of windows at once.

(5) The user can easily change the display position of the window by instructing the position and the length of the bar-shaped area displayed on the display screen by the instructing means, and all the windows can be displayed. With, you can intuitively understand which window part is displayed on the screen.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram on a screen of a display unit showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a window display system showing an embodiment of a window display method according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the window display system of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of displaying all windows according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of changing the overlapping width of windows according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram on a screen of a display unit showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of a scroll showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of selecting one window according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 screen 13 scroll bar 14, 15 overlap width change button 16 display area 17 display position change device 21 instruction input unit 23 display position setting unit 23a overlap setting unit 23b scroll setting unit 25 display unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In a window display system for displaying a plurality of windows on a display screen at the same time, if the entire areas of the plurality of windows to be displayed cannot fit in the display area, the windows are evenly overlapped with each other. A window display method characterized by being displayed inside. 2. The overlapping width of each window can be changed according to an instruction from the instruction means.
The window display method described. 3. The window display method according to claim 2, wherein the windows displayed in a superimposed manner can be scrolled in response to an instruction from the instruction means. 4. By instructing the position and length of a bar-shaped area displayed on the display screen by the instructing means, the corresponding processing is prompted in the display area, and the instruction content and the processing content are visually displayed. The window display method according to claim 2, wherein the window is displayed.