JP4335109B2 - Screen creation device, screen creation program, and recording medium recording the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a screen creation device, a screen creation program, and a recording medium on which the screen creation program makes it easy to display another screen superimposed on a screen displayed on a display device such as a programmable display.

  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.

For example, a specific button or a display unit is provided on an upper part of an operation screen of a remote monitoring device as described in Patent Document 1. In addition, a screen of a programmable display may be provided with a menu display unit and buttons for switching screens at the upper and lower portions, and these are often the display contents common to a plurality of screens. For this reason, in the creation of each screen, a common part must be repeatedly created in the same manner. Therefore, conventionally, with respect to a screen including a common portion, a portion common to each screen is separately created as a header or a footer, so that the trouble of creating the common portion can be saved. To create headers and footers on such screens, use the normal screen creation function, separate from this screen, a header library screen with components etc. on the upper side of the screen, components on the lower side of the screen, etc. Created a library screen for the footer with the
JP 2001-338375 A (published December 7, 2001)

  However, in the method as described above, it is necessary to call the library screen by designating the screen number of this screen, and the user needs to manage the screen for that purpose. Since the library screen is created separately from the main screen, the library screen cannot be correctly displayed on the main screen unless the coordinates of the library screen are correctly aligned with the main screen. Furthermore, since this screen and the library screen are separate screens, the library screen cannot be edited on this screen.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to create a separate screen common to a plurality of screens such as a header portion and a footer portion on the screen and to manage such a separate screen. To be easy.

  A screen creation device according to the present invention is a screen creation device for creating a screen including a plurality of display elements. And a partial screen creating means for associating the created partial screen with the screen so that the created partial screen is called from the screen and displayed at a specified position on the screen.

  In the above configuration, on the screen created by the screen creation means, the partial screen specified by the association by the partial screen creation means is displayed superimposed on the designated position. Therefore, the user does not need to align the partial screen on the screen and does not need to manage the partial screen.

  In the screen creation device, it is preferable that the partial screen creation means displays a partial screen creation area for creating the partial screen in a state where the screen is displayed. Thereby, a partial screen can be appropriately created according to the screen.

  In the screen creation device, it is preferable that the partial screen creation means switches the created partial screens so that they can be selected. The created partial screen is saved regardless of each screen, and is called from the designated screen by the association of the partial screen creation means. Therefore, the partial screen can be easily associated with the screen by appropriately selecting a desired partial screen and setting it to the screen.

  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 the partial screen creation 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 device according to the present invention creates a partial screen displayed by being superimposed on the screen created by the screen creation means, and creates the partial screen created by the partial screen creation means. Since the partial screen is called from the screen and associated with the screen so as to be displayed at a specified position on the screen, the user is freed from the trouble of aligning the partial screen on the screen and managing the partial screen. The Therefore, it is possible to easily and efficiently create a main screen that displays the header screen and the footer screen in an overlapping manner.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 20 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 in this way is associated in advance with a desired input / output terminal number (the aforementioned device address) corresponding to the device 7.

  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 includes one or a plurality of unit screen files UF1, UF2,... UFn (hereinafter simply referred to as “UF” when commonly described in all unit screen files), and each unit. It is constituted by a project file PF comprising related call files for calling from the screen UF for display. As call files, graphic files FF1, FF2,... FFm, header screen files (header screen files HDF1, HDF2,..., HDFi (in the common description, simply “HDF”)), and later Footer screen files (footer screen files FTF1, FTF2,..., FTFj (simply referred to as “FTF” in common)).

  In the project file PF, for example, the unit screen file UF2 is called from the unit screen file UF1 serving as the main screen (main screen), and the unit screen file UF3 is further called from the unit screen file UF2. Are related hierarchically. Further, the unit screen file UF is configured as one unit screen file UF by collecting data in each element (parts and screen calling parts described later) formed on the base screen into one. Further, in the project file PF, the unit screen file UF, the header screen file HDF, and / or the footer screen file FTF are so called that the header screen file HDF and the footer screen file FTF are called from the unit screen file UF via the screen calling component. Associated.

  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 recording 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 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.

  The drawing editor 23 includes a main screen creation unit 23a, a header screen creation unit 23b, a footer screen creation unit 23c, and a screen management unit 23d.

  The main screen creation unit 23a can create components such as switches, lamps, numeric keys, and various displays (for example, a numerical display, a meter display, and a graph display) so that a user screen that is unique to the user can be created. Tag setting function, drawing function, text input function, etc. 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 display 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 (display elements), to draw basic figures (display elements) such as circles, rectangles, 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 main screen creation unit 23a as a screen creation means provides a drawing window 101 shown in FIG. 5 as a user interface for screen creation. The drawing window 101 includes a main screen editing area 102, an editing area 103, editing mode switching buttons 104 and 105, and a screen management area 106.

  The main screen editing area 102 is provided in the editing area 103 and is provided for creating a main screen. The editing area 103 is an area for creating a screen on which parts such as switches and lamps are arranged and drawn as described above.

  The screen management area 106 displays, as icons, a list of header screens and footer screens already created for the main screen currently displayed in the main screen editing area 102. The main screen creation unit 23a refers to the management information of the header screen and footer screen included in the project file PF managed by the screen management unit 23d described later, and displays the icon in the screen management area 106.

  In the editing area 103 described above, two editing mode switching buttons 104 are arranged near the upper corner of the main screen editing area 102 at the upper part thereof, and two buttons are arranged near the lower corner of the main screen editing area 102 at the lower part thereof. The edit mode switching button 105 is arranged. The edit mode switching button 104 is a button for moving between a normal edit mode for editing the main screen (screen) using the edit area 102 and a header edit mode for editing the header. The edit mode switching button 105 is a button for moving between the normal edit mode and the footer edit mode for editing the footer.

  When the edit mode switching button 104 is operated, the main screen creation unit 23a displays a header screen edit area 111 as shown in FIG. Further, when the edit mode switching button 105 is operated, the main screen creation unit 23a displays a footer screen edit area 121 as shown in FIG.

  Transition from the normal editing mode to the header editing mode or the footer editing mode is also possible by displaying a pull-down menu 107a from the menu bar 107 and selecting each editing mode from the pull-down menu 107a, as shown in FIG. . When the header editing mode is entered, the main screen creation unit 23a becomes inactive and the header screen creation unit 23b becomes active. When shifting to the footer editing mode, the main screen creation unit 23a becomes inactive and the footer screen creation unit 23c becomes active. The header screen creation unit 23b and the footer screen creation unit 23c display the main screen editing area 102 in a tone-down manner in the header editing mode and the footer editing mode. At this time, since the main screen creation unit 23a is inactive, screen editing in the main screen editing area 102 is not accepted.

  The header screen creation unit 23b as a partial screen creation unit displays a header screen return button 112, a header screen feed button 113, and two header screen deletion buttons 114 in the header editing mode. The footer screen creation unit 23c as a partial screen creation unit displays a footer screen return button 122, a footer screen feed button 123, and two footer screen deletion buttons 124 in the footer editing mode. The header screen creation unit 23b displays a resize anchor 111a for changing the size of the header screen edit area 111 around the header screen edit area 111, and the footer screen creation unit 23c changes the size of the footer screen edit area 121. A resize anchor 121a for displaying is displayed around the footer screen editing area 121.

  The header screen return button 112 is arranged on the upper left side of the header screen editing area 111, and the header screen sending button 113 is arranged on the upper right side of the header screen editing area 111. The header screen delete button 114 is arranged below the header screen return button 112 and the header screen feed button 113. The footer screen return button 122 is disposed at the lower left portion of the footer screen editing area 121, and the footer screen advance button 123 is disposed at the lower right portion of the footer screen editing area 121. The footer screen deletion button 124 is arranged above the footer screen return button 122 and the footer screen feed button 123.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the edit mode switching button 104 is operated, the header screen creation unit 23b switches the edit mode to the normal edit mode. On the other hand, when the edit mode switching button 105 is operated, the footer screen creation unit 23c switches the edit mode to the normal edit mode. In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, the header screen creation unit 23b and the footer screen creation unit 23c also perform an operation for canceling the mode selected in the pull-down menu 107a (an operation for unchecking the check box). The edit mode is switched to the normal edit mode. When the edit mode is switched to the normal edit mode, the header screen creation unit 23b and the footer screen creation unit 23c set (associate) the header screen and footer screen displayed at that time to the main screen.

  FIG. 9 shows a state in which the header screen editing area 111 and the footer screen editing area 121 are displayed in one editing area 103 for convenience, but both editing areas 111 and 121 are actually shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. The same applies to the following FIGS. 12 to 17A.

  In the header screen editing area 111 and the footer screen editing area 121, the header screen creating section 23b and the footer screen creating section 23c receive the arrangement and drawing of switches and components in the header screen editing area 111 and the header screen (partial screen). And create footer screen (partial screen). In addition, the header screen creation unit 23b and the footer screen creation unit 23c set a screen calling component on the main screen when setting the header screen and the footer screen on the main screen when switching to the normal editing mode.

  The screen calling component is provided to call the header screen created in the header screen editing area 111 and the footer screen created in the footer screen editing area 121 from the main screen (base screen). Does not have a display entity. As described above, the header screen or footer screen that is displayed when the edit mode is switched from the header edit mode or the footer edit mode to the normal edit mode is set (associated) with the main screen. The screen calling component includes a screen number of the header screen, a screen number of the footer screen, and calling range information in order to call the header screen and the footer screen. The calling range information is coordinate information indicating the range of the header screen and the footer screen, and is, for example, the coordinates of two diagonal points on the main screen of the header screen and the footer screen.

  When displaying the main screen, the HMI processing unit 31 of the programmable display 3 calls the header screen or footer screen set on the main screen via the screen calling component (from the unit screen file UF described above, the header Screen file HDF and footer screen file FTF) and a predetermined position on the main screen (position based on the call range information).

  The header screen created in the header editing mode and the footer screen created in the footer editing mode are saved in common to each main screen, and are set as described above from any main screen. Accordingly, the header screen and the footer screen are not displayed on the main screen unless they are set on the main screen. Further, when the project file PF is transferred from the drawing editor 23 to the programmable display 3, the main screen and the screen calling component are transferred separately, and the header screen and the footer screen are screens that are not related to the main screen. Transferred.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the header screen return button 112 is operated, the header screen creating unit 23b displays the header screen displayed in the header screen editing area 111 as the header screen immediately before the current header screen. On the other hand, when the header screen feed button 113 is operated, the header screen displayed in the header screen editing area 111 is displayed as the header screen immediately after the current header screen. Also, as shown in FIG. 12, when the footer screen return button 122 is operated, the footer screen creation unit 23c sets the footer screen displayed in the footer screen editing area 121 to the footer screen immediately before the current footer screen. When the footer screen feed button 123 is operated, the footer screen displayed in the footer screen editing area 121 is displayed as the footer screen immediately after the current footer screen.

  By operating the header screen return button 112 and the header screen advance button 113, one can be selected from a plurality of already created header screens as shown in FIG. On the other hand, by operating the footer screen return button 122 and the footer screen feed button 123, one can be selected from a plurality of already created footer screens as shown in FIG. In the editing of the main screen in which a header or footer has already been created, when a transition is made to the header editing mode or footer editing mode, the header screen or footer screen selected in the previous header editing mode or footer editing mode is displayed.

  The next header screen sent by the header screen feed button 113 is a newly created header screen, and the head header screen returned by the header return button 112 is also a newly created header screen. Next to the last footer screen sent by the footer screen feed button 123 is a newly created footer screen, and before the first footer screen returned by the footer return button 122 is also a newly created footer screen. The creation of a new header screen and footer screen will be described next.

  When the header screen creation unit 23b shifts to the header editing mode in editing the main screen in which no header is set, as shown in FIG. 14, the header screen creating unit 23b displays “header” on the new header screen provided in the header screen editing area 111. Is not set. Please place a picture or part. " This message is displayed only in the header screen editing area 111 in the header editing mode, and is not saved as screen data. On the other hand, when the footer screen creation unit 23c shifts to the footer editing mode in the editing of the main screen in which no footer is set, the footer screen creation unit 23c displays a new footer screen provided in the footer screen editing area 121 as shown in FIG. The message “Footer is not set. Please place a picture or part.” Is displayed. This message is displayed only in the footer screen editing area 121 in the footer editing mode, and is not stored as part of the screen data.

  When the header screen return button 112 or the header screen feed button 113 is operated in a state where the above message that the header is not set is displayed, the header screen creation unit 23b displays the already created header screens in order. To go. Therefore, when the header editing mode is canceled while the desired header screen is displayed, the header screen creation unit 23b sets the header screen displayed at that time to the corresponding main screen.

  On the other hand, when the footer screen return button 122 or the footer screen feed button 123 is operated in a state where the above message that the footer is not set is displayed, the footer screen creation unit 23c sequentially creates the footer screens already created. Display. Therefore, when the footer editing mode is canceled while the desired footer screen is displayed, the footer screen creation unit 23c sets the footer screen displayed at that time to the corresponding main screen.

  It is also possible to change the setting so that the header and footer are not used on the main screen. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, the header screen creation unit 23b operates the header screen return button 112 or the header screen feed button 113 to display a newly created header screen (the above message), When no parts are arranged and the header edit mode is canceled (when the normal edit mode is entered) as described above (FIG. 9 or 10), the header screen is not used. In this setting, the above-described component calling component is set so that the header screen is not called from the main screen.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15, the footer screen creation unit 23c operates the footer screen return button 122 or the footer screen feed button 123 to display the newly created footer screen (the above message), and the parts and the like are displayed. When nothing is arranged and the footer editing mode is canceled (when the normal editing mode is entered) as described above (FIG. 9 or 10), the created footer screen is set not to be used. In this setting, the above-described component calling component is set so that the header screen is not called from the main screen.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the header screen creation unit 23b has a comment display function for displaying an input comment on the header screen. Similarly, the footer screen creation unit 23c also has a comment display function for displaying the input comment on the footer screen. The comment is input in a property window (not shown) displayed by the header screen creation unit 23b and the footer screen creation unit 23c. The header screen creation unit 23b and the footer screen creation unit 23c display the comment on the lower right side of the header screen and the footer screen (positions where “comment on the header screen” and “comment on the footer screen” are described). In addition, the header screen creation unit 23b and the footer screen creation unit 23c reduce the size of the header screen editing area 111 and the footer screen editing area 121 as will be described later. If it does not fit in the comment, do not display a comment. Since the comment is displayed for the purpose of assisting the user's editing operation, the comment is not stored as a part of the screen data, as in the case of the above message.

  The header screen creation unit 23b and the footer screen creation unit 23c have a function of deleting the created header and footer. Specifically, when the header screen deletion button 114 is operated as shown in FIG. 17A, the header screen creation unit 23b displays a deletion dialog box 131 as shown in FIG. Is input ("OK button" operation), the header screen displayed in the header screen editing area 111 at that time is deleted. On the other hand, when the footer screen deletion button 124 is operated as shown in FIG. 17A, the footer screen creation unit 23c similarly displays a deletion dialog box 131, and when a deletion instruction is input, The footer screen displayed in the footer screen editing area 121 is deleted.

  The header screen creation unit 23b and the footer screen creation unit 23c have a function of changing the sizes of the header screen editing area 111 (header screen) and the footer screen editing area 121 (footer screen). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 18A, the header screen creation unit 23b adjusts the lower end position of the header screen editing area 111 by an operation of dragging the horizontal portion on the lower side of the resize anchor 111a in the vertical direction. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 18B, the positions of the left and right edges of the header screen editing area 111 are adjusted by dragging the left and right vertical portions of the resize anchor 111a in the left and right directions. On the other hand, the footer screen creation unit 23c similarly adjusts the upper end position of the footer screen editing area 121 by an operation of dragging the left and right upper portion of the resize anchor 121a (see FIG. 8) in the vertical direction, although not shown. Then, the position of the left and right ends of the footer screen editing area 121 is adjusted by dragging the left and right vertical portions of the resize anchor 121a in the left and right direction.

  If the size adjustment function of the resize anchors 111a and 121a is used, the header screen editing area 111 is expanded to the lower end, and the right end of the footer screen editing area 121 is moved to the left side or the left end of the footer screen editing area 121 is moved to the right side. Thus, a partial screen can be provided on the left or right side of the main screen editing area 102. Such a partial screen becomes a header screen or a footer screen when the main screen is used vertically.

  The header screen creation unit 23 b accepts the arrangement of the component 108 in the area outside the header screen editing area 111, and also accepts the arrangement for a part 108 whose part is outside the header screen editing area 111. These components 108 are handled as components arranged on the main screen. Although not shown, the footer screen creation unit 23c has the same function.

  The screen management unit 23d manages the screen calling relationship in the project file PF (FIG. 4) on the memory (RAM or the like) of the control unit 21. When the drawing editor 23 is activated, the screen management unit 23d develops the screen calling relationship on the memory when the project file PF stored in the data storage unit 24 is read into the memory of the control unit 23d. The screen management unit 23d also manages the calling relationship between the header screen and the footer screen from the main screen specified by the aforementioned screen calling component as the calling relationship of the screen. Therefore, when the calling relationship is changed by the header screen creation unit 23b and the footer screen creation unit 23c, it is reflected in the calling relationship managed by the screen management unit 23c.

  Here, an operation of creating (editing) the header screen and the footer screen in the control system 1 configured as described above will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 20A, the main screen is displayed in the main screen editing area 102 in the normal editing mode with the drawing window 101 opened. When the edit mode switching button 104 is operated (pressed) in this state, as shown in FIG. 20B, the header edit mode is entered, and the header screen edit area 111 is displayed above the main screen edit area 102. . At this time, the main screen creation unit 23a becomes inactive, and the main screen editing area 102 is displayed in a tone-down manner (a broken line indicates tone-down display).

  Further, in the header editing mode, as shown in FIG. 20 (c), by operating the header screen return button 112 or the header screen feed button 113, a plurality of already created header screens are switched one by one. Are displayed in the header screen editing area 111. Thereby, a desired header screen can be selected from a plurality of header screens and set as the main screen.

  When the creation of the header screen in the header edit mode is completed and the edit mode switching button 104 is operated, the mode is switched to the normal edit mode as shown in FIG. At this time, the header screen displayed in the header screen editing area 111 is set to the main screen so as to be called from the main screen. In this state, since the header screen creation unit 23b is inactive, the header screen editing area 111 is displayed in a tone-down manner.

  The creation of the footer screen is the same. In the footer editing mode switched by operating (pressing) the edit mode switching button 105, the footer screen is displayed in the footer screen editing area 121 displayed at the bottom of the main screen editing area 102. create. Then, by operating the edit mode switching button 105, the footer screen displayed in the footer screen edit area 121 at that time is set to the main screen so as to be called from the main screen.

  In the normal editing mode, the created header screen and footer screen are arranged at the top and bottom of the main screen and displayed in a tone-down manner as shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the host computer 2, the header screen creation area 23 b and the footer screen creation section 23 c of the drawing editor 23 include a header screen editing area in a predetermined area of the main screen editing area 102 that creates the main screen in the editing area 103. 111 and the footer screen editing area 121 are displayed, and the header screen and footer screen can be created in a state where the main screen is displayed. Thereby, a header screen and a footer screen can be appropriately created according to the main screen.

  In addition, the header screen creation unit 23b and the footer screen creation unit 23c should call the call position (display position) to the main screen by setting a screen call component on the main screen for the created header screen and footer screen. Set the header screen and footer screen to the main screen. As a result, the header screen and footer screen specified by the screen calling component are displayed on the main screen so as to overlap each other at the specified position (area). Therefore, the user does not need to align the header screen and footer screen on the main screen, and does not need to manage the header screen and footer screen.

  Further, the created header screen and footer screen are stored regardless of each main screen, and are associated with the main screen by the screen calling component set in the main screen. Therefore, the header screen and footer screen can be easily associated with the main screen by appropriately selecting a desired header screen and footer screen in the header editing mode and footer editing mode and setting them as the main screen.

  Therefore, it is possible to easily and efficiently create a main screen that displays a header screen and a footer screen in an overlapping manner.

  In the present embodiment, the creation of the header screen and footer screen has been described. However, the partial screen is not limited to the header screen and footer screen, and is a screen created in the central portion of the main screen. Also good.

  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 modified 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 efficiently creates screens by creating a screen associated with another screen (such as a header screen or a footer screen) superimposed on a screen displayed on a programmable display or the like. Since it can be performed, it can utilize suitably for development of the control system containing a programmable display etc.

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 state by which the edit mode switch button for changing to the header edit mode from the normal edit mode is operated in the drawing window which the drawing editor of the said control system prepares. It is a figure which shows the state by which the pull-down menu was operated in order to transfer from normal edit mode to header edit mode in the said drawing window. It is a figure which shows the said drawing window in header edit mode. It is a figure which shows the said drawing window in footer edit mode. It is a figure which shows the said drawing window in footer edit mode. It is a figure which shows the state by which the pull-down menu was operated in order to transfer from header edit mode to normal edit mode in the said drawing window. It is a figure which shows the state in which the header screen and the footer screen were displayed in the said drawing window. It is a figure which shows the state by which the edit mode switch button for changing to the normal edit mode from header edit mode and footer edit mode is operated in the said drawing window. It is a figure which shows the state by which the header screen advance button and the footer screen advance button are operated in the said drawing window. It is a figure which shows the state which can produce a header screen and a footer screen newly in the said drawing window. It is a figure which shows the operation which does not set a header screen and a footer screen as a main screen in the said drawing window in the state of a screen. It is a figure which shows the state which displays a comment in a header screen edit area and a footer screen edit area in the said drawing window. (A) is a figure which shows the state by which the header screen deletion button and the footer screen deletion button are operated in the said drawing window, (b) is displayed when the header screen deletion button and the footer screen deletion button are operated. FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the state which is adjusting the vertical size of the header screen edit area in the said drawing window, and shows the state which is adjusting the horizontal size of the header screen edit area in the said drawing window. FIG. It is a figure which shows the state by which components are arrange | positioned at each place in the said drawing window. (A) thru | or (d) is a figure which shows the procedure of header screen preparation in the said drawing window in the state of a screen.

Explanation of symbols

2 Host computer (screen creation device)
23 drawing editor 23a main screen creation part (screen creation means)
23b Header screen creation part (partial screen creation means)
23c Footer screen creation part (partial screen creation means)
101 Drawing window 108 Parts (display elements)
111 Header Screen Edit Area 112 Header Screen Return Button 113 Header Screen Send Button 121 Footer Screen Edit Area 122 Footer Screen Return Button 123 Footer Screen Send Button

Claims (5)

In a screen creation device for creating a screen including a plurality of display elements,
Screen creation means for creating the screen;
Creating a partial screen to be displayed overlaid on the screen, and comprising a partial screen creating means for associating the created partial screen with the screen so that the created partial screen is called from the screen and displayed at a specified position on the screen ;
The partial screen creation means displays a plurality of created partial screens so that they can be selected .   2. The screen creation device according to claim 1, wherein the partial screen creation means displays a partial screen creation area for creating the partial screen in a state where the screen is displayed. The screen creation device according to claim 1 , wherein the list of the partial screens is displayed as an icon around the screen.   A screen creation program for operating the screen creation device according to claim 1, wherein the computer functions as the screen creation means and the partial screen creation means.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the screen creation program of Claim 4.

Images