JPH01267725A - System for operating window in multiwindow system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve an operability by displaying a window, which a user designates, in the highest order of windows to be displayed in a large number when the designated window is hidden under the windows to be displayed in a large number. CONSTITUTION:Window name lists A, B and C of the windows displayed on the picture of a display are displayed, and when the window C corresponding to the window name C selected from the window name lists is hidden under the windows to be displayed in a large number, a mouse is used, the point position of a cursor is moved to the place of the window name C in a window name display area, a button 27 of the mouse is pushed, and the window C is displayed in the highest order. Thus, the window management and operability of a multiwindow system can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a computer operation and program development environment, and particularly to a computer having a multi-window system, which is suitable for improving the user's window operability. Concerning window operation methods for multi-window systems.

[Conventional technology]

The conventional multi-window system is described in the document "User Interface J (Computcr Today Special Feature = Smalltalk 80.1984/11.N
a4. As described in PP23-pp32), by displaying multiple screens on one display device, it is like having multiple F types partially overlapped on a desk.

It can simulate disk work and was devised to improve computer operability and program development environment, but when many windows are displayed, the burden on the user such as window management and operation becomes heavy. However, there were disadvantages in that window operations were troublesome and it was difficult to see a single screen.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional technology described above, when a large number of windows are displayed, the user has to remember what kind of windows have been displayed, and also has to remember what kind of windows are below the windows visible on the screen. There was a problem in that the user had to turn the pages one by one.

In addition, in the conventional technology, whenever a window is displayed, an erasing operation must be performed, and when a large number of windows are displayed, the erasing operation is performed on each individual window, which is cumbersome and troublesome. Furthermore, once a window is displayed, even when the user no longer uses the window, the user is often unsure whether to delete it or not and leaves it displayed. As a result, a large number of windows are displayed on one display device, making it difficult to see one screen.

The first object of the present invention is that when a large number of windows are displayed, the user can visually know what kind of window is being displayed without having to memorize it, and with a single operation, A window operation that improves window management and operability in multi-window systems by providing a function that moves a target window to the top of many displayed windows so that the entire window can be seen. The goal is to provide a method.

A second object of the present invention is to automatically detect windows that are no longer in use and erase them from the display device.

In addition, by providing a function to redisplay if necessary,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a window operation method that improves the operability in a multi-window system and also simplifies and makes the screen easier to see.

(Means for Solving Eight Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the first feature of the present invention is to display a window name list of windows displayed on the screen of one display device, and to display a window name list from the window name list. , when the window corresponding to the window name selected by the user is hidden under a large number of displayed windows, it is moved and displayed at the top of the large number of displayed windows.

In order to achieve the above object, the second feature of the present invention is to measure the time during which there is no operation or input/output of data to a displayed window, and when this time elapses for a certain period of time, the display position of the window is , register information such as the frame size and display contents in a temporary storage device, erase the window from the display device, and read out the deleted window from the temporary storage device according to the user's instructions and recover and redisplay it. It's about doing.

[Effect]

In the present invention, once the window name is specified to the system,
A window manager that moves the corresponding window to the top of many displayed windows, a function that displays the window name on the screen when a new window is created, and a function that erases the window from the screen. Then, the function deletes the corresponding window name from the screen and reads the cursor point position on one screen.

A window index display/detection unit is provided that has the function of detecting the window name written at that position, and the window name specified by the user using the mouse or manually using the keyboard keys is displayed on the window. By detecting the index and display detection unit and passing it to the window manager, the window manager can move the window corresponding to the passed window name to the top of many displayed windows and display the entire window. .

[Effect]

Furthermore, in the present invention, the system is provided with a timer and a table that records the window name and the display time of the window, and when a new window is displayed, the name of the window and the time indicated by the timer at that time are recorded. , and record it in the table.

When there is an operation or data input/output to the window,
Alternatively, when recovering from the time storage device and redisplaying the window, the display time for that window is updated to the time indicated by the timer at that time.

The system always monitors for a window in which the difference between the current timer time and the table display time is greater than or equal to a certain time T (which can be set arbitrarily), and if it exists, information about that window is provided. (Window display device, frame size, display contents, etc.) are registered in the time storage device and the window is deleted from the display device, so it is possible to detect windows that are no longer in use.

Can be erased.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 2 is an example of a system configuration for realizing one embodiment.

In FIG. 2, 11 is an input/output device consisting of a display, keyboard, and mouse, 12 is a computer processing device, and 13 is an input/output device consisting of a display, keyboard, and mouse.
is a storage device that stores content information to be displayed on the window. The computer processing device 12 includes a window manager 14 containing a program that is the core of this embodiment, and a window index display/detection section 15.

Next, the operation flow of the window manager 14 and window index display/detection section 15 will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, the window manager 14 receives user input (step 1 in FIG. 1).

If the user's input is a request to create and display a new window, the window manager 14 creates a window according to the user's instructions and displays it on the screen (Step 2 in Figure 1).
,3). These processes are omitted because they are similar to those of known window systems. At this time, the user can either provide the window name of the created window, or if not, the window manager will automatically provide the window name (
Windows] in the order in which the windows were created.

Window 2. (You can use any method to automatically give a name, such as naming it Window 3...), then pass the window name to the window index display/detection section. The window index display/detection unit displays the passed window name in the window name display area 16 as shown in FIG. 3 (step 4 in FIG. 1).

The window name display area is 1, left, right, top and bottom on the display device screen.
The corner can be set to any area, and even if you try to display a new window on this area, this area will not be hidden under the window and the window name will always be displayed.

Now, if the user's request is to delete a window, the window is deleted from the screen and the window name is deleted from the window name display (steps 5 and 6 in FIG. 1).
7).

Also, as shown in the third drawing 24, if many windows are displayed and window C is hidden at the bottom and cannot be seen on the screen + fi, the user can use the mouse to change the cursor point position to the window name. By moving to the window name C in the display area (FIG. 3, 25) and pressing the mouse button (FIG. 3, 27), window C is displayed at the top, as shown in FIG. 3, 25. In this process, when a mouse button is pressed, the window index display/detection unit calculates the cursor point position and passes the window name at that position to the window manager. The window manager performs processing to display the entire window corresponding to the passed window name at the top level (steps 8 and 9 in FIG. 1).

If the user's input request is a termination request, the process is terminated; otherwise, the user's input is accepted again and the same process is repeated (step 10 in FIG. 1).

According to this embodiment, even if a large number of windows are displayed, it is possible to know what kind of window is displayed by looking at the window name, and it is also possible to view hidden windows with a single operation. It has the effect of

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

FIG. 5 shows a system configuration for realizing this embodiment.

In FIG. 5, 45 is an input/output device consisting of a display, keyboard, and mouse, 46 is a computer processing unit, and 49
is a storage device, and 50 is a temporary storage device. The computer processing unit 46 includes a window manager 47 containing a program that is the core of the system of this embodiment, and a timer 48 that keeps track of time. Next, the operation of the window manager and the system of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 4. The window manager has an internal table as shown in FIG. This table stores the name of the window currently displayed on the display device and the time when the window was displayed.

First, the window manager calculates the difference between the display time in the table of FIG. 6 and the time currently indicated by the timer 48, and checks whether there is a window whose display time is longer than T (step 31 in FIG. 4).

Here, T can be set arbitrarily. If the corresponding window exists, the display position of that window.

The frame size 1 display contents are registered in the temporary storage device [46], and the window is deleted from the display device (step 32 in FIG. 4).

When there is no window to be erased, the input/output device 45 is checked to see if there is any user input.

If there is, the user's input is accepted (steps 33 and 34 in FIG. 4).

At this time, if the user's input is a request to erase the window on the display device 45 (step 35 in FIG. 4)
, performs the process of step 32 in FIG. 4. This is the process when the user wants to directly delete the window. In this embodiment, even when the user directly deletes the window, information about the window is registered in the temporary storage device. It can then be redisplayed as described later (step 40.41 in Figure 4). On the other hand, if the user directly deletes the window, the deleted window cannot be recovered forever, unless a processing method is considered in which information about the window is not registered in the temporary storage device.

If the user's input is a request to display a new window on the display device 45, the window is displayed. At that time, if the user wants to keep the window displayed without performing any operations on the window for more than time T in step 31 in Figure 4, he/she will send that request to the system (window manager). The system (window manager) simply displays the window if there is a request for it, but if there is no request, the system (window manager) simply displays the window.
In the table shown in the figure, record the name of the newly displayed window and the time of the timer 48 at that time as the display time (Steps 36 to 39 in Figure 4). The stored contents are displayed by determining the display position and frame size, but these processes are the same as those of known window systems and will therefore be omitted.

If the user's input is a request to restore the display of the erased window, the window is redisplayed based on the information recorded in the -time storage device. At that time, if there is a newly displayed window after erasing it, it will be redisplayed on top of it. Also.

When the redisplayed window exists in the table shown in FIG. 6, the contents of the table shown in FIG. 3 are updated using the timer time at the time of redisplay as the display time (step 40.41 in FIG. 4).

If the user's input is an operation on a specific window that is already displayed (moving the window, expanding the frame) or inputting/outputting data, the relevant process is performed, and the timer time at that time is set as the window display time. The contents of the table in the figure are updated (steps 42 and 43 in Figure 4).

The above process is repeated until a system termination request is issued (step 44 in FIG. 4).

According to this embodiment, for the window displayed once, -
Since the window can be deleted without having to perform a deletion operation each time, the amount of operation required for the window can be reduced.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, when a large number of windows are displayed, the user does not have to remember what kind of window was displayed, but can know by looking at the window name displayed in the window name display area. In addition, hidden windows can be displayed and viewed at the top level with a single operation, improving window management and operability in computer systems with multi-window systems and reducing the burden on users. This has the effect of providing a highly workable program development environment.

Further, according to the present invention, the window can be automatically deleted without having to perform deletion operations on the window once displayed, so the amount of operation for the window can be reduced, and if unnecessary, the window can be automatically deleted. Because it erases
This has the effect of simplifying the screen and making it easier to see, making it easier to operate a computer system with a multi-window system, and providing a highly workable program development environment.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 and 4 are process flow diagrams of an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 5 are overall configuration diagrams of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. A diagram showing an example of screen operation, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the format of the table in FIG. 5. 11... Input/output device consisting of a display, keyboard, and mouse, 12... Computer processing unit, 13... Memory for storing content information to be displayed on the window) Figure 2 Figure 2 3121 Fζ 4 Low P512] No. 2 mouth

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a multi-window system that can display multiple screens on a computer display device, an area for displaying a window name or window index is provided on the screen of the display device, and a new window can be created. A function of displaying the window name or the window index in the area when the window is created and displayed; a step of deleting the window name or the window index from the area when the window is deleted; When the user specifies the name or window index, if the window corresponding to the window is hidden under many displayed windows, it will be displayed at the top of the many displayed windows and the entire window will be displayed. A window operation method in a multi-window system characterized by providing a step for enabling viewing. 2. In a multi-window system that can display multiple screens on a computer display device, measure the time when there is no operation or data input/output to the displayed windows, and when the time elapses for a certain period of time, an automatic deletion function that registers information about a window in a temporary storage device and deletes the window from the display device;
The step of reading the erased window from the temporary storage device and recovering it and redisplaying it on the display device according to the user's instructions, and the step of redisplaying the deleted window on the display device by specifying the window that the user does not want to have an automatic deletion function. A method for operating a window in a multi-window system, comprising a step of permanently displaying a window unless the user directly closes the window.