JPH058435B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Technical Field of the Invention> The present invention relates to an improvement in a screen display device of a workstation in a document processing device such as a Japanese word processor.

<Technical background of the invention and its problems> Documents, files, etc. handled by a workstation such as a Japanese word processor are generally stored in an external storage device such as a floppy disk, and an operator can display the required files on the display screen. In order to output files to a file, it was first necessary to output a file list by operating a function key such as a file key on the keyboard, and then select the desired file by moving the cursor.

That is, for example, in file processing in a conventional workstation, as shown in FIG. The user would move to the file name and select the desired file. Then, by pressing the delete key on keyboard 1, the selected file is deleted.
By pressing the key, the file shown in Figure 1b
It was output on the display screen 2 as follows.

However, with this conventional file processing method, as an operator, you cannot remember the contents just by looking at the file name, which makes it particularly uneasy when deleting, and it is important to check the contents before deleting. , even if you once call up that file and get the screen state shown in Figure 1b, the first
You cannot perform the delete process unless you return to the screen state shown in Figure 1a, and even if you recall the file and find out that it is different from the intended one, you must return to the screen state shown in Figure 1a again to delete the new file. There is a problem in that the command cannot be called, and furthermore, the command is executed immediately and the screen changes suddenly, so there are various other problems such as a lack of real experience for the operator.

<Object of the Invention> The object of the present invention is to provide a screen display device for a workstation that eliminates the above-mentioned conventional problems, has excellent operability, and can prevent the occurrence of erroneous operations. The workstation screen display method of the present invention includes a means for displaying object concepts such as documents and files handled by the workstation and operation concepts such as file deletion as graphic images, and a graphic image displayed by the means. and a means for executing an operation command corresponding to the designated graphic image by instructing the graphic image, and further, the displaying means is configured to display the document,
The bit image of the file list itself is displayed superimposed on the graphic image illustrating the above concept, and the above displaying means is configured to display the bit image of the document or file list itself by changing its size. The screen is configured such that the user can move between drawing images illustrating the above concepts.

<Embodiments of the Invention> Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to a Japanese word processor will be described as an example. However, before going into a specific explanation of the embodiments of the present invention, the background of the present invention and the background of the present invention will be explained. First, we will explain the multi-window display technology.

Multi-window display technology is a technology that displays multiple types of information simultaneously on the display terminal device of information equipment.
It becomes possible to view two or more types of information simultaneously on the same display. In this case, since two or more types of screens are overlapped at the same time, a necessary portion of the display content of one screen may be hidden by the display of the other screen.

To avoid this, these windows can be moved anywhere on the display screen and deleted at any time according to the user's instructions.

Next, a specific example for realizing the multi-window display function will be described, but various means for realizing the multi-window display function can be considered, and the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the principle of a multi-window display function in a so-called bitmap CRT.

In Fig. 2, 10 is a central processing unit (CPU), 11 is a CRT controller (CRTC),
12 is a window controller (WDC) included in the CRTC 11; 13 is a frame memory for several screens having memory elements corresponding dot by dot to the display on the CRT; Frame memory 17 corresponds to the screen size of the CRT display screen.

Also, the addresses (p ₁ , q ₂ , r ₁ , s ₁ ) and (u ₁ , v ₁ ,
w ₁ , x ₁ ) are frame memories 15 and 1, respectively.
These address information are held in the window controller (WDC) 12.

Also, the addresses (p ₂ , q ₂ , r ₂ , s ₂ ) and (u ₂ , v ₂ ,
w ₂ , x ₂ ) are the above addresses (p ₁ , q ₁ , r ₁ ,
_These are the addresses of the four corners of each window on the CRT screen 17 corresponding to (u ₁ , v ₁ , w ₁ , x ₁ ), and each address information is also stored in the window controller (WDC) 12. Retained.

Furthermore, the above window controller (WDC) 1
2 holds display priority information between each window, and in the example shown in Figure 2, (uvwx),
(pqrs) order, that is, frame memories 16, 15,
The display priority order is maintained so that the images are displayed in the order of 14.

In the above configuration, the CRT controller (CRTC) 11 stores window address information of the frame memories 15 and 16 held by the window controller (WDC) 12,
Based on each window address information and display priority information on the CRT screen 17, each frame memory 14, 15, and 16 in the frame memory 13 is appropriately selected, the stored contents are read out, and the contents are displayed on the CRT screen 17. will be displayed as shown in Figure 2.

In addition, by appropriately rewriting each of the above information held by the window controller (WDC) 12 according to commands from the CRT 10, the display on the CRT screen 17 can be easily changed as shown in FIGS. 3a to 3c. becomes possible.

That is, by rewriting the window address on the frame memory 13, display scrolling within the window becomes possible. For example, by increasing the window address (u ₁ , v ₁ , w ₁ , x ₁ ) by one line (by increasing each y-coordinate of the window address by -1 line), the display scroll in the window as shown in Figure 3a can be scrolled. It is done.

Furthermore, by rewriting the window address on the CRT screen 17, the window can be moved. For example, the window address (u ₂ , v ₂ , w ₂ ,
x ₂ ) by one line (each y of the window address
(by decreasing the coordinates by one line), the window on the CRT screen 17 is moved as shown in FIG. 3b.

Furthermore, the priority order of the window is changed, for example, the priority order of the window address is changed to (p, q, r,
s) By changing the order of (u, v, w, x), the display can be changed as shown in FIG. 3c.

By using multi-window display technology in this way, the frame memory 1
There is no need to rewrite the dot patterns within 4 to 16, and the window controller (WDC) 12
It is only necessary to rewrite a few parameters such as the window address held within.

Therefore, the display changes as shown in FIGS. 3a to 3c can be made in a short time within one frame time (usually about 1/30 second), and therefore do not give the user any sense of strangeness.

Note that even with a normal display device that does not have a multi-window display function, the contents of the frame memory 14 can be rewritten each time, so that the images shown in FIGS.
It is possible to change the display shown in . Note that in this case, it takes more time to switch the display than when using multi-window display technology.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention using the above-described display technology will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a Japanese word processor.

In FIG. 4, 50 is a central processing unit (CPU), 51 is a CRT controller (CRTC),
52 is this CRT controller (CRTC) 51
A window controller (WDC) 53 is provided within the CRT, and 53 is a frame memory with a storage capacity equivalent to several screens corresponding to each dot displayed on the CRT.
4, 55 and 56 are frame memories for one screen each forming the frame memory 53; 57;
is the CRT display screen. Further, 58 is a keyboard, 60 is a character generator, 61 is a character code buffer memory corresponding to the frame memory 53, and this character code buffer memory 61 is a character code buffer memory corresponding to the frame memories 54 and 55. It has memory partitions 62 and 63. Further, 64 is a screen position indicating device such as a mouse or a light pen, and 65 is a file memory such as a floppy disk.

Further, the character code buffer memory 62 stores document data input from the keyboard 58 or retrieved from the floppy disk 65, etc., and the character pattern corresponding to the character code stored in this buffer memory 62 is stored in the character generator. 60 and written into the frame memory 54. Further, file list data read from, for example, a floppy disk 65 is written in the character code buffer memory 63, and a character pattern corresponding to the character code stored in this buffer memory 63 is read out from the character generator 60. frame memory 55
is configured to be written to.

Further, the frame memory 56 stores a dot pattern for displaying a so-called system screen 70 as shown in FIG.
2. A graphical image representing the concept of an object such as a document or file such as the manuscript 73, and a graphical image representing the concept of operation such as delete 73 are displayed.
This screen itself is configured to operate as a function keyboard.

Next, the operation of the apparatus configured as described above will be explained with reference to the operation flow diagram shown in FIG.

First, let's start with the steps of the operation flow shown in Figure 6.
In n1, the display priority of the window is set so that the frame memory 56 has priority over the frame memories 55 and 54, and in this state, the storage contents of the frame memory 56 are displayed on the display screen 57 as shown in FIG. displayed as a screen. As mentioned above, the graphics on this system screen are simple, such as graphic images showing object concepts such as documents and files, and graphic images showing operation concepts. When the absolute position above is known, which figure (file, memory, manuscript,
The CPU 50 is the one that instructed
easily grasped by the side.

Next, the generation of a file list will be described.

When a file graphic 71 on the display screen 57 is designated by an instruction from the mouse 64 or the like, the CPU 50 recognizes this file graphic designation (step 6 in FIG. 6).
n2) The file list is read from the file memory 65 and the character code is stored in the character code buffer 63, and the character pattern is read from the character generator 60 and written into the frame memory 55 (steps n3 to n5).

Next, the CPU 50 sets the window controller (WDC) 52 so that the window display priority order is frame memory 55 > frame memory 56 > frame memory 54 (n6), and then sets the window address (u ₁ , v ₁ ,
Fix u ₁ of w ₁ , x ₁ ) and specify v ₁ , w ₁ , x ₁ to be extremely small to set the window controller (WDC).
52 (n7), and the window address (u ₂ , v ₂ , w ₂ , x ₂ ) on the display screen 57 u ₂
is set in the file figure 71, v ₂ , w ₂ , and x ₂ are set to sizes commensurate with the window address (u ₁ , v ₁ , w ₁ , x ₁ ), and written to the window controller (WDC) 52. Enter (n8). In this state, a small window A ₀ (FIG. 7) is generated within the file graphic 71.

Next, CPU50 takes 1 frame time (about 1/30 seconds)
Or window controller (WDC) 5 according to steps n9 to n12 every few frames.
The parameters in 2 are rewritten from time to time.

That is, first, in step n10, the values of _{v 1} - _{u 1 and} w ₁ - _{u 1 are} slightly increased (for example _, +
α ₁ , α ₁ are constant values) and this new (u ₁ , v ₁ , w ₁ ,
x ₁ ) value to the window controller (WDC) 5
Write in 2. Next, in step n11, the x coordinate value of u ₂ is changed to −α ₂ (α ₂ constant) so that the window address u ₂ is slightly lower left, and the value of the y coordinate of u ₂ is −α ₃ (α ₃ constant). and rewrite the value of u ₂ . Next, move to step n12 and obtain v ₂ −u ₂ =v ₁ −u ₁ , w ₂ −u ₂ =
_{The window} address (u ₂ ,
v ₂ , w ₂ , x ₂ ) and write them to the window controller (WDC) 52. In these steps, the value of window address _w2 is displayed on screen 5.
This process is repeated until reaching the lower left address position of 7 (n9).

As a result, in the eyes of the operator, as shown in FIG. 7, the small window A ₀ generated from within the file figure 71 gradually becomes larger like A ₁ and A ₂ until it arrives at the lower left corner and appears in A ₃ . It becomes a figure,
It appears as if the file list is displayed, and the operator can feel the actual operation of calling the file list.

Next, when the operator points to the desired file on the file list _A3 displayed on the display screen 57 using the mouse 64, and then points to FIG. 73 of the manuscript,
The CPU 50 recognizes this instruction, reads the desired file from the file memory 65, and stores the character code of the read file in the character code buffer memory 62 in the same manner as steps n2 to n8 of the operation flow shown in FIG. At the same time, the character pattern is also written into the frame memory 54.

In this case, in the step corresponding to step n7, the window address P ₁ is fixed, and q ₁ ,
Specify r ₁ and s ₁ to be extremely small and write them to the window controller (WDC) 52. Also step n8
In the step corresponding to , the window address p ₂ is set to the display position of the specified file name in the file list, and q ₂ , r ₂ , s ₂ are the window addresses (p ₁ , q ₁ , r ₁ , s ₁ ). Set the size to match.

After this, the steps of the operation flow shown in Fig.
From the file name in the file list window by sequentially rewriting the window address (p ₁ , q ₁ , r ₁ , s ₁ ) and (p ₂ , q ₂ , r ₂ , s ₂ ) using the same procedure as n9 to n12. A new window for displaying the document will be created and will gradually grow in size until it reaches the bottom right corner.

That is, in the steps corresponding to steps n9 to n12, the window based on the window address (p ₁ , q ₁ , r ₁ , s ₁ ) is changed gradually to become larger, and the window address (p ₂ , q ₂ ,
r ₂ , s ₂ ) as the window address (p ₁ , q ₁ , r ₁ , s ₁ )
The window address (p ₂ , q ₂ , r ₂ , s ₂ ) is rewritten so that the value of the window address s ₂ finally arrives at the lower right address position of the display screen 57. It will be done.

Also, deletion can be processed in the same way.

In this case, the window address corresponding to the frame memory in which the data to be deleted is stored is changed so that the window becomes smaller sequentially, and the corresponding window address for displaying the data to be deleted on the display screen 57 is changed. This is executed by changing the window address in accordance with the change in the window address of the frame memory, and further rewriting the window on the display screen 57 so that it moves in the direction of the delete graphic 74.

By pointing to the system screen file shown in FIG. 71 on the display screen 57 with the mouse (light pen) 64, etc., a file list _A3 appears at the lower left, and then select the desired file with the mouse 64, etc. 73 of the manuscript using the mouse 64.
etc., the document B ₁ will appear in the lower right corner. Then, by pointing to the delete button 74 with the mouse 64 or the like, the file can be deleted. In this way, the entire system screen serves as a function keyboard, and since the file list and document contents are displayed simultaneously as windows, continuous file operations are possible. In addition, it is possible to immediately execute the delete process after confirming the contents of the file.

Furthermore, even if the recalled file is different from the desired one, since the file list is displayed on the same screen, the user can immediately move on to recalling the next file.

Furthermore, since the file list and document are each displayed in multiple windows, their display positions can be moved freely.

For example, as described above, a small multi-window with a file list is generated from the file diagram, and the display can be changed so that it gradually increases in size until it reaches the bottom left corner. Also, when calling a file, a new document display window is generated from the file name in the file list and gradually grows until it reaches the bottom right corner, and when deleting the data, the display of the data to be deleted does not look like the image shown in the delete box (for example, the trash can). (Figure).

As described above, by taking advantage of the characteristics of multi-window display and generating moving images by moving windows, it is possible to make the movement of information easier to understand.
You can get a feel for operations such as calling and deleting.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, according to the present invention, when displaying the object concept of documents and files handled on a workstation and the operation concept such as file deletion using graphical data, the list of the documents and files itself is displayed. A bit image is displayed superimposed on a graphical image representing the concept as a display window, and the display size of the superimposed display window is changed so that the graphical images are moved little by little. By controlling the display by changing and rewriting the addresses at the four corners of the displayed display window in increments of a fixed value, and by instructing the displayed graphic image to operate, the operation command corresponding to the instructed graphic image is executed. By moving the information to generate a moving image, it is possible to easily understand the movement of information and to have a real feeling of operations such as calling and deleting.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a display example of file processing in a conventional Japanese word processor, Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram of a multi-window display which is the background of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a display of a multi-window display. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of switching; FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention applied to a Japanese word processor; FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of the system screen display according to the present invention; FIG. 6 is an operation flow diagram for explaining the operation of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a workstation screen display according to the present invention. 50...Central processing unit (CPU), 51...CRT
controller, 52... window controller, 54, 55... frame memory, 56... frame memory (for system screen display), 57...
CRT display screen, 58...Keyboard, 62,
63... Character code buffer memory, 64... Screen position indicating device, 71... Graphic image showing an object concept (file), 72... Graphic image showing an object concept (memo), 73...
A graphical image showing the object concept (manuscript),
74...Graphic image showing the operation concept (delete).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. When displaying the object concept of documents and files handled on a workstation and the concept of operation such as file deletion using graphic data, the bit image of the list of documents and files itself is used as a graphic representing the concept. a display means for displaying an image superimposed on the image as a display window; a display control circuit for rewriting an address by changing it by a constant value; and an operating means for instructing a graphic image displayed by the display means to execute an operation command corresponding to the instructed graphic image. A workstation screen display device characterized by: