JP2006099573A - Screen forming device, screen forming program and storage medium recording the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently perform a work for selectively changing the attributes of parts (objects) or the like constituting a screen of a programmable display or the like. <P>SOLUTION: A plotting editor forming a screen does not accept a change of attribute when an operation for fixing attributes is preliminarily performed for objects OBJ4-OJB6, OBJ10-OBJ12, and OBJ16-OJB18 where the coordinate attributes are not moved. When the whole range A of the objects OBJ1-OBJ18 is designated in this state, and the range A is entirely dragged and dropped, objects OBJ1-OBJ3, OBJ7-OBJ9, and OBJ13-OBJ15 shown with diagonal lines are moved, whereby the coordinate attributes of the objects OBJ1-OBJ3, OBJ7-OBJ9 and OBJ13-OBJ15 are changed. However, the objects OBJ4-OBJ6, OBJ10-OBJ12, and OBJ16-OBJ18 are not moved, and the coordinate attributes thereof are not changed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to creation of a screen displayed on a display device such as a programmable display, and more specifically, a screen creation device, a screen creation program, and a recording in which the screen creation program facilitates changing an attribute of an object included in the screen. It relates to the medium.

  The programmable display has an interface with the host controller (PLC), displays the operating status of the device connected to the host controller, and accepts an operation input for giving a control instruction to the device from the screen. This is an operation-type display with a function. In general, since the programmable display has a graphic display function, it can display an operation panel, a switch, an indicator lamp, and the like, and serves as an operation terminal in the control system.

  The screen displayed on such a programmable display can be created by the user by using screen creation software (drawing software) according to the specifications of the control system. When creating a screen, a user configures a desired screen by using components, drawing functions, and the like provided by drawing software in a personal computer or the like.

  The above parts are images representing switches, numeric keys, meter displays, graph displays, etc., and are prepared in advance in drawing software in a library format so that they can be combined and handled as actual parts. In addition, the above-described component is used in combination with an image representing the component and setting data for expressing the dynamic change of the image at a designated position on the screen. The setting data is stored in the memory of the programmable display as part of the screen data.

  The created screen is transferred to the programmable display device as screen data and stored. When the host controller is in operation, output components such as a meter display on the screen displayed on the display unit of the programmable display dynamically change according to the state of the device connected to the host controller. Further, an input operation on the screen to an input component such as a switch is given to the device as a control instruction.

  In the drawing software, a part provided by the manufacturer of the drawing software is usually used. However, if the prepared part is to be used with a desired specification, the specification must be changed by the user himself / herself. Patent documents 1 and 2 are mentioned as literature which indicated the art which changes the specification of such parts. Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose that a part is handled as an object and the attributes (color, shape, etc.) of the object are rewritten by an editor.

For example, a process for changing the attribute of coordinates using such an editor will be described. As shown in FIG. 10A, among the objects OBJ1 to OBJ18 displayed in the screen editing area 201, the objects OBJ1 to OBJ3, OBJ7 to OBJ9, and OBJ13 to OBJ15 indicated by diagonal lines arranged in every other row are moved. Change the attribute of the coordinates as follows. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10B, for example, first, the range X is specified and the objects OBJ1 to OBJ3 are selected together, and then the range Y is specified and the objects OBJ7 to OBJ9 are selected. Further, the range Z is designated and OBJ13 to OBJ15 are selected. Then, by moving the ranges X, Y, and Z by drag and drop operations, the selected objects OBJ1 to OBJ3, OBJ7 to OBJ9, and OBJ13 to OBJ15 are moved as shown in FIG. As a result, the attributes of the objects OBJ1 to OBJ3, OBJ7 to OBJ9, and OBJ13 to OBJ15 are updated to new coordinates.
JP 2001-266171 A (published September 28, 2001) JP 2003-150212 A (published May 23, 2003)

  However, in the attribute changing method as described above, the ranges X, Y, and Z must be individually selected. This is because the object that changes the attribute and the object that does not change the attribute are mixed, and it becomes troublesome because the object cannot be selected at the same time as described above. Is a hindrance to do. In addition, as the number of objects to be selected increases, the number of selection operations increases, and there is a possibility that an object is selected by mistake.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to efficiently perform an operation of selectively changing attributes of parts and the like (objects).

  A screen creation apparatus according to the present invention solves the above problems in a screen creation apparatus comprising screen creation means for creating a screen including a plurality of graphic elements and attribute setting means for setting attributes of the graphic elements. For this purpose, the attribute setting means fixes the attribute of the graphic element so that it cannot be changed for each graphic element.

  In the above configuration, the specified attribute of the graphic element is fixed by the attribute setting unit so as not to be changed. As a result, even if the attributes of a plurality of graphic elements are collectively changed to the common attribute, the attributes are not changed for the object having the fixed attribute. Therefore, it is possible to easily change the attribute selectively.

  In the screen creation device, it is preferable that the attribute setting unit fixes coordinates as attributes. For example, when a desired graphic element whose coordinate attribute is to be changed is scattered on a screen including many graphic elements, the coordinates (attributes) of other graphic elements are fixed and all graphic elements are included. Specify a range and change the coordinates so that the range moves. As a result, the graphic element with the fixed coordinate attribute does not move, the other graphic elements move, and the coordinate attribute is changed. Therefore, only the coordinate attribute of the desired graphic element can be easily changed.

  In the screen creation device, it is preferable that the screen creation means displays the graphic elements that are displayed one above the other. As a result, even if the graphic element whose attribute you want to change is hidden behind the graphic element displayed above, the graphic element is displayed on the top by the screen creation means, so the attribute of the hidden graphic element can be easily fixed. Or can be changed.

  The screen creation program of the present invention is a screen creation program for operating any of the screen creation devices described above, and is a program that causes a computer to function as the screen creation means and attribute setting means. The screen creation program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Thereby, the said screen creation apparatus is realizable by making a computer read and run a program.

  As described above, the screen creation apparatus according to the present invention fixes the graphic element attribute so that it cannot be changed for each graphic element. Therefore, even if the graphic element attribute is changed collectively, the fixed attribute is changed. Therefore, the selective attribute change can be efficiently performed for each graphic element. Therefore, there is an effect that the attribute can be changed efficiently and reliably for the desired graphic element.

  The embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control system 1 according to this embodiment includes a host computer 2, a programmable display 3, a PLC 4, a common network 5, a dedicated network 6, and a device 7.

  The host computer 2 and the programmable display 3 are connected to each other via a common network 5. On the other hand, the programmable display 3 and the PLC 4 are connected via a dedicated network 6. The common network 5 is a network such as a local area network (LAN) made of Ethernet (registered trademark) or the like capable of performing communication using a common communication protocol (common communication protocol). The dedicated network 6 is a network composed of a serial cable or the like that can perform communication using a communication protocol (dedicated communication protocol) unique to the PLC 4. The dedicated communication protocol is often different for each PLC4 model, such as for each manufacturing company or for each product even if it is the same company, because the PLC4 has been developed from a sequencer.

  The control system 1 according to the present embodiment connects the programmable display 3 and the host computer 2 respectively connected to each PLC 4 through a common network 5 and uses a dedicated communication protocol as a common communication protocol used in the common network 5. Adopts a common protocol defined independently. Furthermore, as will be described later, the programmable display 3 also has a function of converting a protocol, for example, by performing protocol conversion such as instruction code conversion, argument conversion, or control code conversion during transmission, The communication between the host computer 2 and the PLC 4 connected to the own device is relayed.

  In such a configuration, the programmable display device 3 operates as an HMI, and therefore has more computing power than the PLC 4, and therefore handles most of the communication. For example, it is possible to communicate directly from the host computer 2 to the programmable display 3 without going through the PLC 4 like downloading screen data. Therefore, the burden on the PLC 4 can be reduced, and the calculation capability required for the entire control system 1 can be reduced. Note that the programmable display 3 has a sufficient computing capacity while waiting for an operator's operation, so that protocol conversion can be performed without improving the computing capacity for protocol conversion.

  The PLC 4 captures output data output from the input device 7 via the input unit according to a control program (ladder program) created by the user, and gives the control data to the output device 7. As the input device 7, devices such as sensors (temperature sensors, optical sensors, etc.) and switches (push button switches, limit switches, pressure switches, etc.) are used. As the output device 7, an actuator, a relay, a solenoid valve, a display, or the like is used. These devices 7 are arranged in required portions of various target systems such as a production line. Further, the device 7 may be a specific area in the memory unit 32 described later for storing data manually input from an input device such as a touch panel 33 described later.

  The memory (device memory) in the PLC 4 stores data (word data and bit data) such as the state of the device 7 and the setting value of the device 7 in an area designated by the device address. In the memory, a word device is set as an area for storing word data such as numerical values as input / output data, and is designated by a word address (device address). The bit device is set as an area for storing bit data such as an on / off state, and is set by a bit address (device address). With such a setting, it is possible to control the devices 7 simply by accessing an arbitrary word device or bit device in the PLC 4, or to individually retrieve information relating to the state thereof.

  In the following description, the device address is appropriately referred to as an address.

  The programmable display 3 includes an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU, and realizes an operation function and a display function specific to the programmable display by executing a program (screen data) for input operation and display created by the user. It is a computer. The programmable display 3 suitably used as the HMI of the control system 1 is based on screen data determined by combining processing instructions (tags) to be described later, the operation when displaying the state of the device 7 on the screen, The operation for controlling the state of the device 7 in accordance with the operation on the screen is specified. This programmable display 3 acquires the state of each device 7 that displays the state on the display screen via the PLC 4 connected to the self-device through communication with the PLC 4 via the dedicated network 6. 34 has a function of displaying the status of each device 7. The programmable display 3 has a function of instructing the device 7 to control the state of the device in response to an operation on the touch panel 33 described later.

  The acquisition / change of the state of the device 7 may be instructed each time, or a cache is prepared in the programmable display 3, and the cache is accessed at the time of acquisition / change, and at predetermined time intervals or at predetermined intervals. Communication may be performed for each event to synchronize with the actual device address.

  The programmable display 3 includes an HMI processing unit 31, a memory unit 32, a touch panel 33, a display 34, and interface units (I / F in the figure) 35 and 36 in order to realize the above functions. Hereinafter, each main part of the programmable display 3 will be described in detail.

  The touch panel 33 is an input device provided for performing input on the display screen of the display 34. The display 34 is preferably a flat display such as a liquid crystal display or an EL display in order to make the programmable display device 3 thin.

  The interface unit 35 is a communication control unit for the programmable display 3 to communicate with the host computer 2 and the like on the common network 5, and is connected to the common network 5. Data is transmitted to and from the host computer 2 through communication via the common network 5. On the other hand, the interface unit 36 is a communication control unit for the programmable display 3 to communicate with the PLC 4, and is connected to the dedicated network 6. Data is transmitted to and from the PLC 4 by communication via the dedicated network 6.

  In the communication system configured as described above, output data from the PLC 4 is transmitted to the programmable display 3 and further connected to the host computer 2 or the common network 5 via the programmable display 3 ( (Not shown). Further, not only the data set in the programmable display 3 is directly transmitted to the PLC 4, but also the setting data transmitted from the host computer 2 or other devices is connected to the PLC 4 as the communication destination. Is transferred to the PLC 4 via.

  The HMI processing unit 31 performs various data processing in order to perform user screen display control and protocol conversion processing, which will be described later.

  The protocol conversion process is a process of converting from one communication protocol to the other communication protocol with reference to later-described protocol conversion data stored in the FEPROM 32b when the communication protocols in the networks 5 and 6 are different from each other. The protocol conversion process is realized by executing a protocol conversion program stored in the memory unit 32 by an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU. The display control process (display control function) will be described in detail later.

  The memory unit 32 includes memories such as a DRAM 32a, a FEPROM (Flash Erasable and Programmable ROM) 32b, and an SRAM 32c.

  The DRAM 32a is mainly used for work during arithmetic processing such as display control, and is also used for temporary storage of data exchanged with the PLC 4. In particular, the DRAM 32a has a state memory area for transferring the state (device address contents) of the device 7 stored in the input / output memory of the PLC 4 to / from the input / output memory.

  The SRAM 32 c is used for logging data obtained from the PLC 4 and storing setting value data (recipe data) to be given to the PLC 4.

  The FEPROM 32b is a rewritable read-only flash memory, and serves as a hard disk drive in a general personal computer. A flash memory does not have a movable part and is resistant to impacts, and thus operates stably even in a poor ambient environment.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the FEPROM 32b has areas for storing a display control system program, protocol conversion data, a communication protocol, and screen data.

  The display control system program is a program for realizing a basic function for performing image display control. Functions realized by the display control system program in the HMI processing unit 31 will be described in detail later.

  The protocol conversion data may be in any format as long as the communication protocol can be mutually converted between the dedicated network 6 and the common network 5, but in the present embodiment, data indicating the format of data transmitted on the dedicated network 6 A transfer format and a command conversion table indicating the correspondence between command codes transmitted in both networks 5 and 6 are stored.

  The communication protocol (dedicated communication protocol) is a protocol used in communication processing with the PLC 4, and is uniquely determined according to the model (manufacturer) of the PLC 4. This communication protocol includes a command code that instructs reading of data to the PLC 4. By combining this command code with an address associated with the control function of the PLC 4, data about a desired control function can be transmitted to the PLC 4.

  The screen data is data of a screen displayed on the programmable display 3, and includes a base screen to be displayed on the display 34, data of parts, a processing instruction word W described later assigned to each part, and the like. The screen data is created by a drawing editor 23 described later and downloaded to the FEPROM 32b. This screen data is stored in the FEPROM 32b as a screen file in a file format. This screen file is composed of a graphic data part and an address data part. The graphic data portion includes graphic data such as a circle and a rectangle, part data, a character string, a processing instruction word W, and the like. The address data portion includes comments corresponding to the addresses and addresses set in the drawing editor 23 for data associated with addresses such as component data and processing instruction word W in the graphic data portion.

  The comment includes an event name such as an operation state of the device, a code corresponding to the device 7 such as SW corresponding to the switch and a lamp, and an operation instruction. Comments can also be handled as variables. The comment defined as described above is associated with a desired input / output terminal number (device address described later) corresponding to the device 7 in advance.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the processing instruction word (tag) W included in the screen data is created for each event to be executed on the base screen. The processing instruction word W basically includes the file number F of the base screen on which the display control operation is to be executed, the event name T for specifying the operation content to be executed on the base screen, and the execution event for each execution event. A set of reference information I including one or a plurality of data to be referred to is provided.

  In the programmable display device 4 according to the present embodiment, as the above-described tag, a display tag indicating a correspondence between an area (display range) on the base screen and a device address of a device corresponding to display in the area, and on the screen An input tag indicating the correspondence between an area (input range) and an address corresponding to a touch input to the area is defined. Furthermore, in this embodiment, each tag can be associated with at least one of a plurality of unit screens.

  The display tag can display a predetermined graphic at a corresponding position on the base screen in conjunction with the operation of the touch panel 33. That is, the display tag includes the file number of the base screen 27 as the file number F, includes the event name that specifies the display of the display target such as a graphic as the event name, and specifies the display coordinate range of the display target and the display target to be called. It contains the file number and the address for referencing the display target when displaying.

  Also, the input tag enables the bit device set at a predetermined address position in the state memory area provided in the DRAM 32a to be reversed in conjunction with, for example, a touch operation on the touch panel 33. That is, the input tag includes the file number of the unit screen as the file number F, the event name specifying the operation of the touch panel 33 as the event name T, and the input coordinates that validate the input operation from the touch panel 33 as the reference information I The range and the address to which data should be rewritten in conjunction with the touch operation on the touch panel 33 are included.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the screen file is composed of one or a plurality of unit screen files UF1, UF2,... UFn (hereinafter simply referred to as “UF” when commonly described for all unit screens), and each unit screen. It is constituted by a project file PF composed of related graphic files FF1, FF2,... FFm to be called from the UF and displayed. In the project file PF, for example, each unit screen file UF is hierarchically called such that the unit screen file UF2 is called from the unit screen file UF1 serving as the main screen, and the unit screen file UF3 is further called from the unit screen file UF2. Associated. In addition, the unit screen file UF is configured as one unit screen file UF by collecting data in each element configured on the base screen into one.

  The display control function of the HMI processing unit 31 is configured to display screen data, set various data on the user screen, transmit the set data to the PLC 4, and display the data received from the PLC 4 on the user screen. This display control system program is realized by causing an arithmetic processing means such as a CPU included in the programmable display 3 to execute the display control system program. This display control function extracts the display tag related to the unit screen currently being displayed from the screen data, and reads the contents of the device address related to each display tag at a predetermined cycle for the display tag. The part of the expression format specified by the tag is displayed in the specified area on the screen in a form corresponding to the read value. On the other hand, when the display control function receives an input operation on the touch panel 33, the display control function searches the screen data for an input tag corresponding to the currently displayed unit screen and matches the input operation, and indicates the device address indicated by the input tag. (Data stored in the memory area specified by the device address) is rewritten according to the input result. Thereby, the programmable display 3 displays the state of the device 7 indicated by the screen data at a display position (parts, etc.) indicated by the screen data in an expression format indicated by the screen data, or allows an input operation by a part in the screen data. Can be controlled accordingly.

  Next, the host computer 2 will be described. The host computer 2 has a CPU, a memory (RAM, ROM, etc.), an external storage device (hard disk drive, MO drive, etc.), a display device and an input device (keyboard, mouse, etc.) like a general-purpose personal computer. ing. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the host computer 2 includes a control unit 21, an interface unit (I / F in the figure) 22, a drawing editor 23, and a data storage unit 24.

  The interface unit 22 is a communication control unit for performing communication with the programmable display 3 and is connected to the common network 5.

  The control unit 21 is a part that performs arithmetic processing including a CPU and a memory, and executes a drawing editor 23 that is an application program on the operating system. The host computer 2 functions as a screen creation device by causing the control unit 21 to execute the drawing editor 23. The drawing editor 23 is recorded on a recording medium configured to be separable from the host computer 2 and can be installed in the host computer 2 from this storage medium.

  The recording medium is a computer-readable recording medium, such as a tape system such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape, a magnetic disk system such as a flexible disk or a hard disk, an optical disk system such as a CD-ROM, MO, MD, or DVD, A card system such as an IC card (including a memory card) or an optical card is suitable. In addition, the program medium may be a medium that carries a fixed program including a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash ROM, or the like.

  Further, since the control system 1 has a system configuration that can be connected to a communication network including the Internet, the control system 1 may be a medium that dynamically carries the program so as to download the program from the communication network. However, when the program is downloaded from the communication network in this way, the download program may be stored in the host computer 2 in advance or may be installed from another recording medium.

  The drawing editor 23 includes a screen creation unit 23a and an attribute setting unit 23b.

  The screen creation unit 23a as a screen creation means can create a user screen that is a user's own screen, such as a switch, a lamp, a numeric keypad, various displays (for example, a numerical display, a meter display, and a graph display). Parts, various tag setting functions, drawing functions, text input functions, and the like. As components, not only components having a single function but also components having a plurality of functions such as a composite switch, a counter, and a timer are prepared. Parts as graphic elements are registered in a library format so that the user can easily select them, and input tags, display tags, and the like corresponding to the functions of the parts are assigned in advance. The drawing function is used to draw line and curved line figures (graphic elements), to draw basic figures (graphic elements) such as circles, quadrilaterals, and triangles, and to fill them with specified colors and patterns in the figure. It is a function. In addition, the screen creation unit 23a collects the data of each element configured on the base screen into one unit screen file PF, and combines the plurality of unit screen files UF into one unit. The project file PF is configured.

  The parts and basic figures have coordinates, shape, color (internal coating color), size, and the like as attributes. Therefore, the unit screen file UF includes attribute data that is data of the attribute. The parts and basic figures in the unit screen file UF are treated as objects.

  The user arranges the selected component on the base screen by an operation such as drag and drop from the displayed component list, or changes the size of the component. In addition, the user can arbitrarily draw a line drawing mainly including a straight line or a curve or the inside of a basic figure with a predetermined color or pattern, using a drawing function, almost like a conventional drawing software. Drawing figures can be created on the base screen. Furthermore, the user can individually set the processing instruction word W of the required function to an arbitrary figure drawn on the base screen from the processing instruction word group prepared by the programmable display 3 using the tag setting function. Thus, a new part different from the above parts prepared in advance in the drawing editor 23 can be created.

  Further, the screen creation unit 23a sets (corresponds) the above-described addresses and comments (variables) set by the user for the word device or bit device specified by each address to the component. Specifically, the screen creation unit 23a provides an address setting dialog box as a user interface, and sets the address input through the dialog box as a component. Thereby, the component is associated with the address. The screen creation unit 23a also cancels the address setting.

  The screen creation unit 23a provides the screen creation window 101 shown in FIG. 5 as a user interface for screen creation. The drawing window 101 includes a screen editing area 102. In the screen editing area 102, an object OBJ such as a part is arranged.

  The attribute setting unit 23b as an attribute setting unit provides a user interface such as a dialog box in order to set the attribute of the object OBJ to the attribute specified by the user, and allows the user to set the attribute of each object OBJ. Accept. Further, regarding the coordinate attribute, the attribute setting unit 23b accepts the coordinate of the movement destination as the attribute change even when the object OBJ is moved by the drag and drop operation on the screen editing area 102.

  As for the data structure of attributes in the project file PF, for example, a project header is first arranged, and subsequently, attributes such as coordinates, colors, and shapes are described for the object OBJ of each screen. The attribute change by the attribute setting unit 23b is reflected in the project file PF. The attribute setting unit 23b turns on the attribute fixing flag (“1”) when fixing the attribute, and turns off the attribute fixing flag (“0”) when changing the attribute. The attribute is fixed and unlocked (variable) for all attributes.

  The attribute setting unit 23b has an attribute fixing function. Specifically, the attribute setting unit 23b displays a selectable cursor 104 on the object OBJ as shown in FIG. 6A by an operation (selection operation) of double-clicking on the object OBJ. The pin icon 102 is displayed in a laid state near the object OBJ by an operation of moving the cursor 104 and clicking the cursor 104. In this state, the attribute of the object OBJ can be changed (non-fixed). Also, the attribute setting unit 23b displays the pin icon 103 in a standing state as shown in FIG. 6B by clicking on the pin icon 103. In this state, the attribute of the object OBJ is fixed ( (Cannot be changed). The attribute setting unit 23b does not display the selectable cursor 104 because the object OBJ cannot be selected in a state where the attribute is fixed.

  Note that the attribute fixing / non-fixing setting function of the attribute setting unit 23b is not limited to the method using the pin icon 103, and a dialog box for setting the attribute may be used.

  The attribute setting unit 23b continues to display the pin icon 103 for a predetermined time after double-clicking the component. This is to secure the time required to move the mouse cursor from the object OBJ to the pin icon 103.

  The attribute setting unit 23b sets fixed and non-fixed attributes as a whole for grouped parts. The grouping part is a composite part in which functions of a single part such as a lamp switch are combined.

  The data storage unit 24 is a storage device that stores the project file PF created by the drawing editor 23. The data storage unit 24 includes a storage element such as a memory or a large capacity storage device such as a hard disk device. The project file PF stored in the data storage unit 24 is transferred to the programmable display 3 and stored in the FEPROM 32b for downloading to the execution environment.

  Here, the operation of changing the attribute of the object in the control system 1 configured as described above will be described.

  First, attributes are fixed for the objects OBJ4 to OBJ6, OBJ10 to OBJ12, and OBJ16 to OBJ18 shown in FIG. 7A by using the attribute fixing function by the attribute setting unit 23b. In this state, when the entire range A of the objects OBJ1 to OBJ18 is specified (for example, specified by a shift key and a click operation) and drag-and-drop operation is performed for each range A, the attributes are fixed as shown in FIG. The objects OBJ1 to OBJ3, OBJ7 to OBJ9, and OBJ13 to OBJ15 indicated by the hatched lines move. Thereby, the attribute of the coordinates of the objects OBJ1 to OBJ3, OBJ7 to OBJ9, and OBJ13 to OBJ15 is changed. However, the objects OBJ4 to OBJ6, OBJ10 to OBJ12, and OBJ16 to OBJ18 do not move, and their coordinate attributes are not changed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when another object OBJ31 such as a numeric keypad is displayed over the objects OBJ21 to OBJ29, some desired coordinates of the lower objects OBJ21 to OBJ29 are displayed. It is also possible to change the attributes. Specifically, since the object OBJ31 is displayed on the upper side, the attributes of the lower objects OBJ21 to OBJ29 cannot be fixed as it is. Therefore, the objects OBJ21 to OBJ29 are displayed above the object OBJ31 by switching the display surface, for example, by pressing and clicking the Ctrl (control) key. This is realized by the screen creation unit 23a.

  In this state, as described above, some desired coordinates are fixed from the objects OBJ21 to OBJ29, a range is specified so as to include all of the objects OBJ21 to OBJ29, and the objects OBJ21 to OBJ29 are included for each range. Is moved by drag and drop operation. Thereby, the attribute of coordinates other than the object in which the coordinates are fixed among the objects OBJ21 to OBJ29 is selectively changed. Then, the objects OBJ21 to OBJ29 are displayed below the object OBJ31 by switching the display surface by pressing and pressing the Ctrl key. Thereby, the attributes of the objects OBJ21 to OBJ29 hidden under the object OBJ31 can be selectively changed.

  As described above, in the present control system 1, the attribute setting unit 23 b provided in the drawing editor 23 fixes the attributes of objects that are not changed, and changes the attributes of all the objects at once. As a result, it is possible to selectively change the attributes of objects other than the object with fixed attributes in a batch. As described above, this is effective when changing the coordinates of some of a large number of objects, especially when the objects whose coordinates are changed are interspersed between the objects whose coordinates are not changed. .

  Further, when the movement amount is made equal for each object whose coordinates are to be moved, the conventional method shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C uses the drag and drop operation performed by the user for each of the ranges X, Y, and Z. It is difficult to equalize precisely. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as described above, by specifying a range including all objects (range A in FIG. 7) and performing a drag and drop operation, the amount of movement of each object to be moved can be easily set. Can be equal.

  For objects that no longer require attribute fixing, the attribute can be changed by canceling the setting for fixing the attribute.

  Therefore, only the attributes of the desired object can be easily changed. As a result, screen editing can be performed accurately and efficiently.

  By the way, the operations for fixing and releasing the attribute need to be performed for each object OBJ as described above (see FIGS. 6A and 6B). For this reason, in order to fix and unfix the attribute of each object OBJ on a screen including a large number of objects OBJ1 to OBJ18 as shown in FIG. 7A, the above operation must be repeated for each object OBJ. Operation becomes complicated. Therefore, the attribute setting unit 23b displays a data list window 111 as shown in FIG. The data list window 111 is displayed, for example, by being selected from a pull-down menu displayed by a click operation of “display” on the menu bar in the drawing window 101.

  The data list window 111 includes a pin state display area 112 and a data display area 113. The pin state display area 112 is an area for displaying a pin icon 114 indicating whether or not the attribute for each object OBJ is fixed. The sleeping state of the pin icon 114 indicates a state in which the attribute is not fixed (variable), and the standing state of the pin icon 114 indicates a state in which the attribute is fixed. Switches. The data display area 113 is an area for displaying the name of the object OBJ (square, switch, lamp, etc.) and the attribute of the object OBJ. In the example of FIG. 9, the coordinates of each object OBJ are shown as attributes, but when there are other attributes, they are displayed in the data display area 113 in the same manner. Also, one pin icon 114 is assigned and displayed for each attribute.

  When the user clicks on the pin icon 114, the attribute setting unit 23b fixes the attribute of the object OBJ and displays the pin icon 114 in an upright state, or unfixes the attribute of the object OBJ and releases the pin icon 114. Is displayed in a sleeping state. As a result, even when a large number of objects OBJ are included in the screen, the attribute of each object OBJ can be set to be fixed / non-fixed using the data list window 111, and the setting operation can be simplified.

  In addition, when attributes are fixed for a large number of objects OBJ, and all the fixations are to be released, an operation for releasing the fixation of the objects OBJ one by one is necessary even if the data list window 111 is used, and the operation is complicated. Become. Therefore, for example, when the “collective release” operation item is selected in the pull-down menu or the like, the attribute setting unit 23b performs fixed setting for the object OBJ whose attribute is fixedly set on the screen displayed in the drawing window 101. Cancel all at once. Thereby, it is possible to simplify the operation of releasing the fixed setting of the attribute.

  In the present embodiment, the description has been given by taking as an example the case where the coordinates are fixed as the attribute and only the non-fixed coordinates are changed. However, the fixed attribute may be the color or shape of the object. In this case, as described above, the attribute of a desired object is fixed, a range including all objects is specified, and the object is changed in common for the range. For this reason, the attribute setting unit 23b provides a user interface such as a dialog box for changing objects in a lump for all objects. Of course, when such attributes are changed at once, the fixed attributes are not changed as described above.

  In the above-described example, all attributes set for an object are fixed. However, fixed and non-fixed may be set individually by specifying attributes.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately changed within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The screen creation device of the present invention can efficiently create a screen by selectively changing the attributes of desired objects such as parts included in the screen displayed on a programmable display or the like in a batch. It can be suitably used for developing a control system including a programmable display.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the program structure stored in FEPROM of the programmable display in the said control system. It is explanatory drawing which shows the basic format of the instruction | indication processing word contained in the screen data of the user screen displayed with the said programmable display. It is a figure which shows the structure of the screen file stored in the said FEPROM. It is a figure which shows the drawing window which the drawing editor of the said control system prepares. (A) is a figure which shows the pin icon displayed on the object in the variable state of an attribute, and its vicinity, (b) is a figure which shows the pin icon displayed on the object in the attribute fixed state, and its vicinity. is there. (A) is a figure which shows the drawing window which shows the state which designated the range containing the object which changes the attribute of a coordinate, (b) is a figure which shows the drawing window which shows the state which changed the attribute of a coordinate. It is a figure showing the state where the big object which covers these is displayed on a plurality of objects. It is a figure which shows the data list window which displays a list of the attribute of the object contained in the screen currently displayed on the said drawing window, and the fixed / non-fixed state of the attribute. (A) thru | or (c) is a figure which shows the procedure which changes the attribute of the conventional coordinate of the operation which moves the object which did not move the object which fixed the attribute of the coordinate, but is not fixed in the state of a screen.

Explanation of symbols

2 Host computer (screen creation device)
23 drawing editor 23a screen creation part (screen creation means)
23b Attribute setting unit (attribute setting means)
103 Pin icon 105 Button switch (graphic element)
106 non-display confirmation window 114 pin icon OJB object (graphic element)
OJB1 to OJB18 objects (graphic elements)

Claims (5)

In a screen creation device comprising screen creation means for creating a screen including a plurality of graphic elements, and attribute setting means for setting attributes of the graphic elements,
The attribute setting means fixes the attribute of the graphic element so that it cannot be changed for each graphic element.   The screen creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute setting unit fixes coordinates as attributes.   The screen creation device according to claim 1, wherein the screen creation unit displays the graphic elements that are displayed so as to overlap each other vertically.   A screen creation program for operating the screen creation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the screen creation program causes a computer to function as the attribute setting means.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the screen creation program of Claim 4.

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