JPH04199352A - Information processor suitable for tool operation - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable both the start of a tool by designating the tool and the start of the tool by designating a file by defining operation specification for every object by handling the file of the object to be operated by the tool too as the object, and providing a common interface mechanism to accept an operation request for the object and execute the requested operation. CONSTITUTION:The operation specification containing the icon pattern of the object to be the operated object and a command menu for an icon is provided in an operation specification definition file 12. Then, the common interface mechanism 11 icon-displays that object (tool or file) in conformity to the operation specification (icon pattern contained in it) of the object to be the operated object on a window by making the whole display screen, for instance, of a display device the window, and starts the corresponding tool by judging required tool (process) execution by command menu display for the icon and menu selecting operation. Thus, both the starting operations of the tool starting by file designation and the tool starting by tool designation become possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Purpose of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an information processing device such as a works zone controller which is designed to realize a common interface for tool operations.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, there has been a tool (
In the Works Zone Controller, execution is performed as one or more processes using the configuration shown in FIG. 8 as follows. First, the basic software (Operation L)
8. Tool launch process provided by -Ting System)
Window display requests issued by 1 are received by a window management process 82, also provided by the underlying software. When the window management process 82 receives the window display request, it uses the mouse 83 and keyboard F84.
A window is displayed on the display device 85 having the following.

When the user changes the size of the window on the display device 85,
By operating the icon and nearmant menu using the mouse 83, a command is input to specify the tool name of the desired tool in order to start the tool. The result of this command input (input command) is passed to the tool startup process 81. Tool launch process 8
1 starts a designated tool process 86 from among a plurality of tool processes.

When the tool process 8B is started, subsequent operations are executed by passing the user's operation instruction j1 between the tool process 86 and the window management process 82. The tool process 86 generally performs input/output with a file (tool input/output file) 87 managed by a basic software file system and executes a required tool function.

In this way, the workstation shown in FIG. 8 allows the user to operate tools by operating windows, icons, and near-mant menus. However, the process of specifying a tool name (1) was difficult for users to understand, especially when operating a tool such as an editor.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) As mentioned above, in conventional information processing devices such as workstation computers, tools can be operated by window, eye, and command menu operations, but tools can be operated by specifying tool names. Since the startup b' method was applied, there was a problem that the user was not familiar with it and the operability was poor, especially when operating tools such as editors. This problem becomes more noticeable when new tools or layers are added.

Ta.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to have an operation function based on object orientation, and to uniformly operate the start/stop operations of multiple tools and the handling of files to be operated by the tools. The object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that is capable of performing both starting operations, particularly starting a tool by specifying a file and starting a tool by specifying a tool.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a system for starting/starting multiple tools in an information processing device having multi-window and icon operation functions.
Operations related to the handling of the crowd cuff file that is the target of termination operations and tool operations (''), and the operation specifications, including the icon pattern of the object to be operated and the command menu for the icon indicated by the same pattern, are specified for each object. Select the operation specification of Obnoect to be operated from among the operation specification definition file described in , and the multiple operation specifications described in this operation specification definition file, and display the icon according to the selected operation specification. , accept an operation request for the object using the command menu operation for this icon.
A common interface mechanism for performing requested operations is provided.

(Function) In this invention, various tools are treated as objects, and files that the tools operate on (coffee files) are also treated as objects, and based on object-oriented thinking, each object Each operation specification is defined.

Each operation specification includes an icon pattern of an object to be operated and a command menu for the icon shown in the pattern. In this command menu, the name of the process (tool) to be executed when the menu item is selected is set corresponding to each menu item. These operation specifications are prepared in an operation specification definition file.

The common interface mechanism uses, for example, the entire screen of the display device as its own window, and displays the object (tool or file) as an icon on this lifedo according to the operation specifications (icon pattern included) of the object to be operated, Determine whether to execute a necessary tool (process) by displaying a command menu for an icon and selecting the menu. The common interface mechanism then launches the corresponding tool. In this way, not only can you start a specified tool by specifying an individual tool, but also handle the file to be operated by each tool (creation, deletion, copy, move, etc.) and start the corresponding tool by specifying a file using the operation specification definition file. Based on the operation specifications for each object described in , it becomes possible to perform unified operations via a common interface mechanism. In particular, the types of files handled by tools such as editors (e.g. text editors, screen editors) and compilers for each language are text files (documents or program code files) for editors, and program source files for each language for compilers. It is convenient to be able to start such a tool by specifying a file.

In addition, for each operation specification, store and store another object (for example, the target object or file) included in the target object.
If you have information about a binder j, etc.) and prepare an operation specification that targets this other object,
Command menu display and menu selection operations can be performed continuously for several objects that are hierarchically connected to one object.

(Example) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Note that the same parts as in FIG. 8 are given the same reference numerals and detailed explanations are omitted.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration for realizing a tool execution function of a workstation.

In the same figure, 11 is the corresponding tool (
A common interface that provides a unified operation interface for starting (for example, various editors), starting by specifying individual tools, and handling files that are the target of each tool's operations (files managed by the workstation's file system). Process 12 is an interface operation specification definition file that describes an interface operation specification for defining the interface operation function of the common interface process II. 13-1~1
3-0 are various tool processes such as editors (text editors, screen editors) and compilers (compilers for each language) that operate tools, and 14-1 to 14-n are tool processes 13-1 to 13-n. An input/output file (Tool Ota Cafe File) 15 is a target of tool operation (input/output operation), and 15 is a common interface process 11, and a multi-window is displayed on the display device 85 in response to a request from the tool processes 13-1 to 13-n. This is a window management process that performs display, etc., and also exchanges user operation instructions with the processes 11.13-1 to 13-n.

Here, the common interface process 11 shown in FIG.
The tool startup and window operations handled by the software will be explained with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the common interface process 11 is
The entire display screen of the display device 85 shown in FIG. Based on the menu selection operation based on the menu selection operation, it is determined whether the necessary tool should be executed and the corresponding tool is started.

Specifically, in order to start a tool that does not require file specification, the tool is turned into an icon and a tool icon 2j is introduced as shown in FIG. "execution"
The tool can be requested to start using the operating instructions.

In addition, an icon called a toolbox 23 containing a plurality of such tools is introduced, and a menu 24 for it is introduced.
Toolbox 2 is opened using the "Open" operation (oven operation) above.
Icons (tool icons) 25 of individual tools stored in 3 are displayed to enable starting of the required tools.

Furthermore, to start tools such as editors that require user 8 cuff file designation, the file is turned into an icon, a file icon 26 is introduced, and a tool specific to that file is automatically started by operating the "1 Open" command on the menu 27. It is possible to do so. In addition, file handling operations such as deletion, copying, and movement of the -7 file can be performed by selecting the file icon 26 from the menu.
ing. This file icon mechanism converts the [cabinet] that stores files into icons, and J', r included in [key file, /t].
There are three types: one that is an iconized version of "Inida", and one that is an iconic version of Sheet 1 included in "Binder". 7 In this way, the common interface process 11 shown in FIG. The purpose is to provide a user interface that displays the icon 1 and allows you to perform menu operations for each icon 1 and request operations for objects.

Next, we defined the specifications for the interface operation by the common interface process 11 mentioned above, and created
Based on the interface operation specification definition file 12 and the contents of the file 12 -)
This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

Masu, I: Evening? x, -s operation specification definition file 12
An interface technique described by -4 (is,
When the operation menu for the operation target obun J1/3j-individual object J1/1 is defined, j(ni, menu, 1
- The processing process that corresponds to (depending on the operation menu 1 and -, it is a matter of whether the common interface 7 plate sub ``processing is internal to Nocess 11 or external process (tool startup specification) is a problem) is defined. In addition, as a menu, as shown in Fig. 3, the icon menu 31, the menu 31, and the icon 32 are opened to create a window (this operation is common to the (in case of internal processing) (, menu in window 3:3 after.

-(Window:,, -> Two types of 34 are defined.Furthermore, -7 is stored (-ζ is included in "Key Yabi Unsolable L-J, [Cabinet/1"]) I171 [-Binder], "Sheet 1 and 4" contained in "Hyinida", and "Toolbox J" that stores the multiple tools mentioned above, the objects that are made up of them have other objects J, Objects, etc. (For example, "cabinet" includes "binder" and "notebook").Inclusion relationships between objects are also defined.Interface operation specification definition applied in this embodiment has a grammar in which the first definition is iJ function (t-descriptive power formula)!,
(External noisle) Described in 12.

FIG. 4 shows a small description structure of such an ink flow operation specification definition, and 41 is a definition field in which an object class name and a suffix name are described.

The difference between the object class name described in this field 411 and the specific oven block is as follows. In other words, if we take a "cabinet" as an example, objects that are specifically displayed such as "cabinet-A j" or "1 + Yabinet h-BJ" are objects, and the common operation specifications for these concrete objects I. The one with the object class name [cabinet J]. Therefore, it is assumed that the concrete object that is reduced by 1 in the window of the display device g5 in FIG. Whether it belongs to the ecto-class is judged by the above definition of ``4-Yabinenoto'';' If CA B J is written '-
C, file, 5 stems-1-8, 7xxx, C
ABJ Name Definition Day) 2. A specific "Cabinet XXX" and 15 will be displayed in the window. In addition, the inclusion relationship between objects is "file system".
The second hierarchical structure and correspondence or relationship definitions in these databases shall be referred to.

So, the description structure of the tough course operation specification definition is:
:note, ], object name and suffix name)>
1 + In addition to the field 41, the display icon pattern of the class shown in this field 41 (
One of the files in which the display image of icon=5 is stored, the file name is described as tnifield 42,
Are the names of other object classes included in this object class or the field 43 described? J. The descriptive structure of the interface operation specification definition also includes a menu for the icon of an object belonging to the object class indicated by the field 41.More specifically, it is shown in FIG. , lNoher menu 31 menu display item definition field 4
Has 4. The descriptive structure of the ini-taface operation specification definition further includes the window menu shown in FIG. It has definition fields 45 for 34 menu display items. This field 4.4.4
The menu display item defined in 5 consists of a pair of "menu item name" and [execution command].-1. This "execute command" defines the name of the process to be executed when the corresponding menu item is selected by operating the mouse 83 shown in FIG. 1 in the menu display state. Such an interface operation specification definition is prepared for each object.

Next, regarding the internal process of starting the tool of the common interface process 1) according to the interface operation specification definition as described above, refer to the flowchart in Figure 5, the file system directory in Figure 6, the screen example in Figure 7, etc. as appropriate. and explain.

Upon initial startup, the common interface process 11 reads the description content of the interface operation specification definition for each object as shown in FIG. 4 from the operation specification definition file 12, and expands it into an internal table (not shown). Figure 5 Step S ], ). The common interface process 11 processes input from the mouse 83 or keyboard 84 by user operations [1. Starts the process (tool).

First of all, the common interface process 11 sends a message to the user ((tIJ1゛)
Check the file name suffix and isox in the file system directory F directory/' shown in Figure 0.
FIG. 5 Step S2). This allows for example Lofin [
, User C shall be the user C. 4.1: Among the gear vignettes stored in the tool output cabinets 14-1 to 14-mouth, the cabinet name CAB unique to user C. Desired.

Next, the common interface 31-process 1.1 expands it into an internal table and checks the contents of the interface operation specification definition for each object.
CAB), and search for the object class corresponding to the object (cabinet with the fix name CAB) in the field 42 of the interface operation specification definition (see Figure 4) -C The display stored in the defined file Icon butter: Displays the icon of the object on the display device 85 via the window management process 15 using (eye image) (fifth
Figure step S3). As a result, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
As usual in a), →j Fix name or file icon corresponding to CAB Gearby, Soto (Gearvignet γ
ico:,)71 is displayed.

For use 8 (C), when file icon (cabinet icon) 71 is displayed, if you want to perform processing on that cabinet, operate the mouse 83 to move the mouse cursor to the display area of icon 71. let me,
Press the mouse button (e.g. right button). The result of the operation of the mouse 83 by the user, that is, the event signal caused by the button operation of the mouse 83, etc., is taken in by the intranet management process 15 and passed to the common interface 7j:- process 11 (step S4 in FIG. 5). ). The common interface process 11 determines whether the eye has been clicked or clicked based on the above event signal.
If an icon is clicked (see step S5 in FIG. 7), a message (defined in the field 44 of the interface operation specification definition of the target object) shown in FIG. Icon menu like (menu at icon level) 7
Display 2 (ln 5 Figure S6).

When the icon menu 72 shown in FIG. 7(b) is displayed, the user moves the mouse 83 while holding down the mouse button (right button) to align the mouse cursor with a desired menu item on the menu 72. , and then release the mouse button to select and specify a menu item. By this selection designation operation, the common interface process 11 starts an execution command corresponding to the designated menu item (step S7 in FIG. 5). If this execution command specifies the activation of an external process (tool), the tool specified by the command among the tool processes 13-1 to 13-n is activated. In addition, if an execution command for internal processing is selected, such as the "open" command, the object class name (here, binder) indicated in field 43 of the interface operation specification definition for the cabinet with the suffix name CAB will be changed. It will be done. The object (binder) with the investigated object class name is found, and the directory/file name suffix (here, the suffix Name or CA
Binder suffix included in gear vignette of B)
(Fig. 5 stay, 7 block S2). As a result, this embodiment is possible! , you will be asked for the refix name BIN of No Inter.

Next, the common interface process 11 extracts the checked suffix name (BI
N), and use the icon menu stored in the file defined in the interface operation specification definition field 42 of the object (binder whose fix name is BIN) to select the object class. The icon is displayed on the display device 85 via the window management process 15 (step S3 in FIG. 5). As a result, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7(C), the binder bl of the suffix name or BIN,
File icon corresponding to b2] (binder icon) 73-1, 73-2 is displayed.

Here, for example, in order to target binder b2,
The user operates the mouse 83 to select the file icon 73-
When 2 is clicked, an icon menu 74 as shown in FIG. 7(d) is displayed near it (step S6 in FIG. 5). In this state, when the user performs a mouse operation to select and specify a menu item for the menu 74 in the same manner as for the menu 72 described above, an execution command corresponding to the specified menu item is activated. (Step S7 in FIG. 5). If the "Open" command is selected here, the suffix name is B.
The object class name (
Here, the sheet) can be examined. Then, for the object (sheet) with the object class name examined, the sixth
The suffix of the directory/file name under the file system directory shown in the figure (here, the suffix name or the suffix of the sheet included in the BIN binder) is checked (Step S2 in Figure 5), and the sheet suffix name SHT is determined. .

Next, the common interface process 11 extracts the search suffix name (SH
T), and using the iconic pattern stored in the file defined in the interface operation specification definition field 42 of the object (suffix name or SHT sheet),
The icon of the object is displayed (step S3 in FIG. 5). As a result, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7(e), the sheet c1 with the suffix name SIT. ．． c.
2. File icon (sheet icon) 75-1.75-2.75-3 corresponding to e3 is displayed.

For example, in order to target sheet C2, the user operates the mouse 83 to select the file icon 75-2.
When you click , an iPhone menu 7G as shown in FIG. 7 (()) is displayed near it (step 86 in FIG. When this is done, the execution frame 1, ・ or ・ corresponding to the specified first menu item is activated (
FIG. 5 step S7). When an area other than the file icons 75-1 to 75-3 is clicked, a window menu 77 or a small table will be displayed in the vicinity of the file icons 75-1 to 75-3. tl, this window menu 77 is used to select menu item 0.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, in addition to various tools, files operated by these tools are treated as objects, and operation specifications are defined for each object, and each In the operation specifications (operation specification description), the icon pattern of the object to be operated and the command menu for the icon shown in the same batare are set, and in this command menu, corresponding to each menu item, that menu item is selected. While setting the name of the process (tool) that should be executed when the By providing a common interface mechanism that accepts operation requests and performs the requested operations, it is possible to uniformly perform start-up/end operations of multiple tools and handling of files targeted for operation by the tools. This improves operability, especially since tools can be started by specifying a file in the same way as starting a tool by specifying a tool.

Also, when adding new tools or introducing new operation objects, by adding or changing the operation specification description and adding the corresponding processing of the common interface mechanism,
This is easy to deal with and allows users to easily provide their own tool usage environment.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration for realizing the tool execution function of a workstation according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a diagram for explaining the tool startup and menu operations handled by the common interface process 11 in Figure 1, and Figure 13 is a diagram for explaining the two types of menu operations. , FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the description format of the interface operation specifications stored in the interface operation specification definition file 12 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. , 4th
Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the internal processing procedure for tool startup according to the interface use operation specifications, Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of a file system directory, and Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the internal processing procedure for tool startup using the common interface process 1) above. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a conventional example. 1, 1. -Common interface process (common interface mechanism), 12・Infgoose operation specification definition-7
Isle, 13-1 to 13-n...Tool process, 14
-1 to 14-n.-Tool input/output files, 15.Wiredo management process. Applicant's attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4: Na. 58, Figure 6 Figure 7 (Part 1) Figure 7 (Part 2) (f) Figure 7 (Part 3)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] In an information processing device having multi-window and icon operation functions, an operation specification regarding starting/terminating operations of a plurality of tools and handling of input/output files that are the targets of the tool operations, the operation specifications being the operation targets. The operation specifications, including the icon pattern of the object and the command menu for the icon indicated by the same pattern, are included in the operation specification definition file written for each object, and in the operation specifications for each object described in this operation specification definition file. A common interface mechanism that selects the operation specification of the object to be operated from, displays an icon according to the selected operation specification, accepts an operation request for the object by operating the command menu for this icon, and performs the requested operation. An information processing device suitable for tool operation, comprising: .