JPH08263536A - Flowchart generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily edit a flowchart of size which can not be edited when the entirety is displayed on the screen of a display unit. CONSTITUTION: This device is equipped with a node relation information storage device 2 which stores relation information between nodes for the generation of the flowchart consisting of the nodes and links connecting the nodes, an arrangement and area information determining means 5 which determines arrangement information on the nodes and links in the flowchart and important node area information including nodes that are high in the importance of arrangement from the relation information among the nodes, an arrangement and area information storage means 6 which stores information from the arrangement and area information determining means 5, a flowchart display means 11 which displays the flowchart and important node area information according to the arrangement information on the nodes and links and the important node area information stored in the arrangement and area information storage means 6, display area storage means 8 and 9 which stores the display area information displayed on a flowchart display unit 4, an editing means 10 which edits the displayed flowchart on the basis of the respective pieces of information, and an input means which indicates the display and editing of the flowchart.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flow diagram creating apparatus for creating a flow diagram comprising a plurality of nodes and links for connecting the nodes, and more particularly to a flow diagram producing a flow diagram comprising a large number of nodes and links. The present invention relates to a technique effectively applied to a drawing creation device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a technique for editing a flow chart and other documents, which is composed of a large number of nodes and links and has a size in which it is difficult to display and edit the entire screen of a display device, , There is a technique for editing by using a combination of partial display of the target and change of the display area.

This is [GNU EMACS MANU
AL, Sixth Edition ”Free Software Foundation
It is described in publications P23 to P25.

According to this technique, when a portion to be edited is displayed and other portions are to be edited, the display area is changed by scrolling or designating the position (line number, page, coordinate, etc.) of the edited portion. The entire document was edited by displaying the area on the screen and editing.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present inventors have found the following problems as a result of examining the above prior art.

In the above-mentioned conventional technique, when editing a flow diagram having a size in which it is difficult to display the whole on the screen of the display device for editing, and the parts to be edited and referred to are dispersed, However, there is a problem in that it is necessary to scroll the screen and switch the screen as many times as necessary, which is troublesome.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of easily performing an editing operation of a flow chart having a size in which it is difficult to display the entire screen of a display device for editing. It is in.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0009]

Of the inventions disclosed in the present application, a representative one will be briefly described below.
It is as follows.

[0010] A node related information storage device for storing related information between nodes relating to the creation of a flow diagram composed of a plurality of nodes and a link for connecting the nodes, and a relational information between the nodes for linking the nodes and links in the flow diagram. A placement / area information determining means for determining placement information and important node area information including a node having a high degree of importance in terms of placement;
A flow diagram and important node area information based on arrangement / area information storage means for storing respective information of area information determination means, and arrangement information of nodes and links and important node area information stored in the arrangement / area information storage means A flow diagram display means for displaying, a display area storage means for storing display area information displayed on the flow diagram display device, and an edit for editing the displayed flow chart based on each of the stored information. Means and an input device for instructing display and editing of the flow chart.

Further, the editing means comprises means for adding the display area information of the display area displayed in the past to the important node area information.

[0012]

According to the above-mentioned means, from the node related information storage device for storing the related information between the nodes related to the creation of the flow diagram composed of the plurality of nodes and the links for connecting the nodes, and the related information between the nodes, Arrangement / area information determining means for determining arrangement information of nodes and links in the flow chart and important node area information including nodes of high importance in arrangement, and arrangement / area for storing respective information of the arrangement / area information determining means. An information storage unit, a flow diagram display unit for displaying a flow diagram and important node region information from the node and link placement information and important node region information stored in the placement / region information storage unit; and the flow diagram display device. Display area storage means for storing the display area information displayed by, and the displayed flow diagram is edited based on each of the stored information. And editing means, the display of the flow diagram, by providing an input device for instructing editing, critical node information in the flow diagram with flow diagrams are displayed,
When editing, you can switch the screen of the flow diagram by simply pointing to the required part of the important node information with the input device, and you do not have to scroll the screen many times to switch as in the past, so the screen of the display device On the other hand, it is possible to easily perform the editing work of the flow diagram having a size in which it is difficult to display and edit the whole.

Further, by providing the editing means with means for adding the display area information of the display area displayed in the past to the important node area information, the edited portion can be displayed together with the flow chart. It is possible to easily confirm and re-edit the part that has been edited.

The present invention will be described below with reference to examples.

In all the drawings for explaining the embodiments, parts having the same function are designated by the same reference numerals, and the repeated description thereof will be omitted.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a flow chart creating apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the flow diagram creating apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a node related information storage device 2 in which a list of names of nodes and their predecessor nodes is stored, and inputs such as a keyboard and a pointing device. The device 3 and the display device 4 such as a display or a printer are connected.

Further, the flow chart creating apparatus 1 of this embodiment is
Flow diagram placement determining unit (placement / region information determining unit) 5, node information storage unit 6, link information storage unit 7, display region candidate information storage unit 8, current display region information storage unit (display region information storage unit) 9, A flow diagram editing unit (editing means) 10 and a flow diagram displaying unit (flow diagram displaying means) 11 are provided.

In the node-related information storage device 2, when the flow chart shown in FIG. 2 is taken as an example,
A set of a node name 301 and a preceding node name 302 of the node as shown in FIG. 3 is stored as a node related information table 300.

In this node related information table 300,
For example, information such as the node name A and the preceding node name or the node name B and the preceding node name A is stored.

In the flow diagram arrangement determining unit 5, the node related information table 30 stored in the node related information storage device 2 is stored.
Based on the relationship between the nodes in 0, determine the placement of nodes on the flow diagram and the placement of links on the flow diagram,
Node information storage unit 6 and link information storage unit 7, respectively
To be stored.

Along with these, a list of coordinates of nodes (display area candidate information table 600, which will be described later) having a high degree of importance in the layout of the flow diagram is generated and stored in the display area candidate information storage unit 8.

In the node information storage unit 6, as shown in FIG. 4, the node number 401, the node name 402, the row 403 and the digit 404 of the coordinates where the nodes are arranged are stored in the node information table 40.
Stored as 0.

In this node information table 400, for example, node number 1, node name A, placement line 0, placement digit 0,
Information such as is stored.

In the link information storage unit 7, as shown in FIG. 5, the node numbers of the link number 501, the link source node 502, and the link destination node 505 and the arranged coordinates (source node row 503, source node digit 504, Destination node row 5
06, destination node digit 507) is the link information table 500.
Is stored as

In this link information table 500, for example, information such as link number 0, source node name A, source node row 0, source node digit 0, destination node name B, destination node row 0, destination node digit 1, etc. Is stored.

The display area candidate information storage unit 8 stores the nodes of high importance in the layout of the flow diagram and the center coordinates of the area for displaying the nodes edited in the past (nodes of high importance in editing). The coordinates (center row 601 and center digit 602) at the center of the area as shown in FIG. 6 and the node name 603 arranged there are stored as the display area candidate information table 600. In this display area candidate information table 600, for example, information such as center line 0, center digit 0, node name A, etc. is stored.

The current display area information storage unit 9 stores the coordinates of the center of the area currently displayed on the display device 4, and the coordinates of the center of the current display area as shown in FIG. The row 701 and the center digit 702) are stored as the current display area candidate information table 700. In the current display area candidate information table 700, information such as the center row 3 and the center digit 8 is stored.

Then, in the flow diagram editing unit 10, the node information table 400 and the link information table 500 stored in the node information storage unit 6 and the link information storage unit 7 are modified or currently in accordance with the editing request from the input device 3. The coordinates stored in the display area information storage unit 9 are changed.

Furthermore, this change may involve changing the display area candidate information table 600 of the display area candidate information storage section 8 in some cases. This is to add a node, which is important for editing with a node edited in the past, to the display area candidate information table 600.

In the flow chart display unit 11, according to the coordinates stored in the node information table 400 and the link information table 500 stored in the node information storage unit 6 and the link information storage unit 7, and the current display area information storage unit 9, respectively. , A flow diagram in which a plurality of nodes are linked by links is displayed on the display device 4.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are flow chart display devices 4 created based on the relationships between the nodes shown in FIG.
FIG. At this time, the entire flow chart is not displayed on the display device 4.

Therefore, when it is desired to see a portion that is not displayed, the display area is changed as necessary.

The method of changing the display area is such that the information of the display area candidates stored in the display area candidate information storage section 8 is displayed on the display device 4 together with the flow chart, and the node name or its coordinates shown there is input by the input device. The display area is changed by designating with 3.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B show two display screens (flow diagram display screen 80 and display region candidate list screen 81) which differ in the method of displaying the contents of the display region candidate information storage unit 8. This is an example. FIG. 8A shows a display area candidate list screen 81 displaying a list of coordinates and nodes of display areas, and FIG. 8B shows a display area candidate list screen 81 showing layouts of display area candidates in a flow chart. It is what was displayed in.

Then, referring to the display of the candidates on the display area candidate list screen 81 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the node name or coordinates indicating the area to be displayed is input by the input device 3. Enter from.

As described above, in the flow chart creating apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when the flow chart is generated or when the display area is changed, the display area candidate information storage unit 8 stores the nodes of high importance in the layout of the flow chart. The information of the previously edited node (node with high importance in editing) is stored, and the flow diagram display unit 1
1, a flow chart and a list of display area candidates are simultaneously displayed on the display device 4, and based on this display, a display area candidate is selected from the input device 3 connected to the flow chart editing unit 10, and the selected area is displayed. indicate.

Next, the processing of the flow diagram arrangement determining unit 5 of the above-described embodiment will be described.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart arrangement determining section 5 of this embodiment.
5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for determining the arrangement of nodes and links on the flow diagram in FIG. 10 and generating a list of coordinates of nodes of high importance.

The flow diagram arrangement determining unit 5 of the present embodiment first initializes the link counter and starts the node arrangement processing (step 901).

Here, if there is no unprocessed node-related information in the node-related information table 300 of the node-related information storage device 2 (YES in step 902), the arrangement determining process of the flowchart is ended.

If there is unprocessed node-related information (NO in step 902), one data set indicating the relationship is extracted from the head of the node-related information (step 903).

Here, if the node indicated by this related node name 301 (hereinafter referred to as the relevant node) has already been arranged (NO in step 904), the preceding node 302 is further checked, and if there is an unallocated node. (YES in step 905), a procedure for arranging them is called (processing contents of the arrangement procedure will be described later).

The position to be arranged at that time is the digit immediately before the position of the node, and is arranged in order from the closest blank line below the same line (step 906).

Then, a link registration process (step 90)
Proceed to 7).

On the other hand, if there is no unallocated node in the preceding node 302 (NO in step 905), the process proceeds directly to the link registration process (step 907).

If the node is not placed (YES in step 904), the preceding node 302 is further checked, and if it is placed (YE in step 908).
S), call the procedure for placing the node.

The position to be arranged at that time is the column immediately after the position of the arranged preceding node 302, and is arranged in the closest blank line below the same line (step 909).

Then, the process proceeds to the placement process of the preceding node 302 (step 905).

On the other hand, if the preceding node 302 has not been arranged (NO at step 908), the state of the preceding node 302 is further checked, and if there is any not arranged (YES at step 910), the node concerned. And a procedure for arranging the preceding node 302 is called.

The position to be arranged at that time is the preceding node 30.
2 is the first digit, in order from the row with the smallest row number among the rows in which no node has been arranged yet, the node is the second digit, and the node with the smallest row number in the preceding node 302 arranged here. It is placed in the same row as the object (step 911).

Link registration processing (step 90)
Proceed to 7). On the other hand, if there is no unallocated node in the preceding node 302 (NO in step 910), the procedure for arranging the node is called.

The position to be arranged at that time is the first digit, and it is arranged in the line having the smallest line number among the lines in which the node is not arranged yet (step 912).

Link registration processing (step 90)
Proceed to 7).

In the link registration process (step 907), the link information table 500 of the link information storage unit 7 is set with the preceding node 302 as the link source node 502 and the corresponding node as the link destination node 505 for each preceding node 302 and the corresponding node set. Register with.

At this time, the value of the link counter is used as the link number 501. Then, after each registration, 1 is added to the value of the link counter. After that, the process proceeds to the next placement determination process (step 902).

FIG. 10 shows the above-described flow diagram arrangement determining unit 5
5 is a flowchart of a node placement procedure called during the process of FIG.

In the node placement procedure of the flow diagram placement determination unit 5 of the present embodiment, first, it is checked whether or not there is a node whose placement is instructed, and if there is no node (NO in step 1001), the placement process ends.

If there is still a node whose placement has been instructed (YES in step 1001), the designated placement position of the node is examined, and if there is a node where no node is placed at that time (YES in step 1002). The center line and center digit are registered in the display area candidate information table 600 of the display area candidate information storage unit 8 as the coordinates of the arrangement position and the node name as the node name of the node instructed to be arranged (step 100).
3).

Then, the process proceeds to node registration processing (step 1004). On the other hand, if the line has already been arranged with a node (NO in step 1002), the process directly proceeds to node registration processing (step 1004).

In the node registration processing (step 1004), the arrangement line and the arrangement digit are registered in the node information storage unit 6 as the node information table 300 including the coordinates of the arrangement position and the node name of the node instructed to be arranged. To do.

At this time, the value of the node counter is used as the node number 401. Then, after registration, 1 is added to the value of the node counter. Then, the process proceeds to the next node placement process (step 1001).

In the process of registering display area candidate information (step 1003) in the node placement procedure shown here, the node to be placed first in a new row is set as the node of high importance.

Various methods are conceivable for setting the importance, and the display area candidate information is registered using the importance which is set from another viewpoint and is more suitable for the object depending on the nature of the flow chart. You may

Next, the processing of the flow chart editing unit 5 of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the flow diagram editing process in the flow diagram editing unit 5.

The flow diagram editing unit 5 of this embodiment sets the coordinates of the current display area information table 700 of the current display area information storage unit 9 to the initial position (step 1101), and the edit processing input from the input device 3 is performed. The request is accepted (step 1102).

If the edit processing request is a flow diagram correction request (YES in step 1103), the node information storage unit 6, the link information storage unit 7, and the display area candidate information storage unit for the nodes and links indicated by the correction request. Information in each information table stored in No. 8 (node name portion) is corrected (step 1104). Then, the process returns to the edit process request acceptance process (step 1102).

If the edit processing request is not a flow diagram correction request (NO in step 1103), but is a display area change request by designating a display area candidate (step 110).
If YES in step 5, the coordinates indicated by the center line and center digit of the designated display area candidate are stored in the current display area information table 700 of the current display area information storage unit 9 (step 110).
6). Then, the process of accepting the editing process request (step 11
Return to 02).

Furthermore, the edit processing request is not a display area change request by designating a display area candidate (step 110).
If NO in step 5, the display area change request is made by another method such as scrolling or coordinate designation (YES in step 1107).
S), the coordinates stored in the current display area information table 700 of the current display area information storage unit 9 are compared with the respective coordinates of the display area candidate information table 600 of the display area candidate information storage unit 8, and the coordinates are still the same. If it is not included in the display area candidate information table 600 (N in step 1108)
O), coordinates are added to the display area candidate information table 600 (step 1109), and the process proceeds to the update processing of the current display area (step 1110).

Update processing of the current display area (step 111
In 0), the coordinates indicating the designated change destination area are set to the current display area information table 700 of the current display area information storage unit 9.
To be stored. afterwards. The process returns to the edit process request acceptance process (step 1102).

If the edit processing request is not a display area change request by a method other than the designation of display area candidates (NO in step 1107) but is an edit processing end request (YES in step 1111), the edit processing ends. To do. On the other hand, if it is not a request to end the editing process (step 1111).
NO), acceptance processing of edit processing request (step 110)
Return to 2).

Therefore, as described above, the flow diagram creating apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes the flow diagram as well as important node information in the flow diagram (nodes of high importance in layout of the flow diagram and nodes edited in the past). ) Is displayed, and the screen of the flow diagram can be switched by simply pointing to the required part of the important node information at the time of editing, and there is no need to scroll and switch the screen many times as in the past. Thus, it becomes possible to easily perform the editing operation of the flow chart having a size in which it is difficult to display the entire screen of the display device for editing.

Further, by displaying the important node information together with the flow chart, it is possible to easily grasp the whole image of the large flow chart which cannot be displayed on one screen.

Further, the flow diagram editing unit 10 adds the information of the display region displayed in the past to the display region candidate information table 600 and displays it together with the flow diagram to confirm or re-edit the edited portion. Editing can be facilitated.

In the flow diagram creating apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the display area candidate list screen displays the nodes that have a high degree of importance in the layout of the flow diagram and the nodes that have been edited in the past (nodes that have a high degree of importance in editing). Although it is displayed in 81, at this time, by changing the storage format of the display area candidate information table 600 so that the node having a high degree of importance in the layout of the flow diagram and the node edited in the past can be distinguished, You may change and display each display format and display color.

Further, at the time of editing, only the portion edited in the past may be displayed on the display area candidate list screen 81.

The inventions made by the present inventors are as follows.
Although the present invention has been specifically described based on the above-mentioned embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0079]

The effects obtained by the typical ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows.

The important node information in the flow diagram is displayed together with the flow diagram, and at the time of editing, the screen of the flow diagram can be switched by simply instructing a necessary portion of the important node information with the input device. Since it is no longer necessary to scroll the screen and switch the screens, it is possible to easily edit the flow diagram having a size that makes it difficult to display the entire screen of the display device for editing. .

Further, by displaying the important node information together with the flow chart, it is possible to easily grasp the whole image of the flow chart which cannot be displayed on one screen.

Further, by providing the editing means with means for adding the information of the display area displayed in the past to the important node area information, the edited location can be displayed together with the flow chart. Confirmation and re-editing can be facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a flow chart creating apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a flow chart used in this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a node-related information table 300 of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a node information table 400 of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a link information table 500 of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display area candidate information table 600 of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a current display area candidate information table 70 of the present embodiment.
It is the figure which showed 0.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of a flow chart in the flow chart creating apparatus 1 of the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of determining the arrangement of nodes and links on the flow diagram and generating a list of coordinates of nodes of high importance in the flow diagram arrangement determining unit 5 of the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a node placement procedure called during the processing of the flow diagram placement determination unit 5 of the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a flow diagram editing process in the flow diagram editing unit 5 of this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Flow diagram creation device, 2 ... Node related information storage device,
3 ... Input device, 4 ... Display device, 5 ... Flow diagram arrangement determination unit, 6 ... Node information storage unit, 7 ... Link information storage unit, 8
... Display area candidate information storage unit, 9 ... Current display area information storage unit, 10 ... Flow diagram editing unit, 11 ... Flow diagram display unit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A node related information storage device for storing related information between nodes relating to creation of a flow diagram comprising a plurality of nodes and links for connecting the nodes, and a node in the flow diagram based on the related information between the nodes. Placement / area information determining means for determining placement information of links and important node area information including nodes of high importance in placement; placement / area information storage means for storing information of each of the placement / area information determining means; Flow chart display means for displaying a flow diagram and important node area information from the node and link arrangement information and important node area information stored in the arrangement / area information storage means, and displayed on the flow diagram display device. Display area storage means for storing display area information, and editing means for editing the displayed flow diagram based on the respective stored information, An apparatus for creating a flow chart, comprising: an input device for instructing display and editing of the flow chart. 2. The flow chart creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the editing means includes means for adding display area information of a display area displayed in the past to the important node area information. Flow diagram creation device.