JP3210486B2 - Display method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for displaying a support message (help message) for displaying, for example, how to use a program to a user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the improvement of computer performance,
The user interface of application programs running on computers has also improved dramatically. X is a powerful tool for improving the user interface.
There is a window system. For the X window,
X-Window Ver.11 Programming (Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun (198
9)) is described in detail. The X Window System is a GUI (graphical
Developed at the University of Massachusetts in the United States as a basic means for user interface, the current version 11 is established as an industry standard.

On the other hand, recently, several X toolkits have appeared in order to easily construct a GUI using an X window system. X toolkit is an X window system that uses switches, buttons, etc.
UI components can be easily created.
Tif and Open Look are famous. Application program developers can relatively easily develop user-friendly software by using the X Window System and X Toolkit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a system configuration for operating a program using the X window system. As shown, the system comprises a central processing unit 4
1, graphic display 42, keyboard 43,
A mouse 45, and a printer 45 as needed.
Is added. The user can use the keyboard 43 or the mouse 4
The user operates the program by instructing a button or the like in the window displayed on the graphic display 42 using 4.

On the other hand, in order to further improve the user interface, a general application program is provided with a support message display function (help function) for displaying how to use the program in the program as necessary. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a conventional support message display method. In the figure, C is a window for inputting an instruction from a mouse or a keyboard (instruction window).
Where 1 is a letter describing the command button or input field,
Reference numeral 2 denotes a command button and an input field created using an X tool kit or the like. D is a window (message window) for displaying a support message. In general, there is one message window in one program, and messages for explaining functions such as various buttons and input fields are displayed while scrolling line by line. All messages are displayed in characters.

In the example of FIG. 5, when a user needs a support message, a help button in a window C is designated by a mouse. Then, in the message window D,
A sentence describing a function of a button or the like in the window C as shown in the figure is output.

[0007]

However, the support message display function (help function) in the above-mentioned conventional example has the following problems.
There were the following problems. 1) For the layout of the buttons in the instruction window,
Since the explanation in the message window is line by line, it took time to find the explanation of the corresponding button. Therefore, it is difficult to associate the support message with the button in the instruction window, and the support message is difficult to read.

[0008] 2) Since all the support messages are written in characters, the description of figures and the like tends to be redundant. Also, it was troublesome to read and it was hard to understand. 3) Since the color of the support message is described in a single color, the description of the color and the like tends to be redundant. In addition, the sentence was difficult to sharpen and was difficult to read. 4) Since the support message is scrolled and displayed in the message window, it was difficult to read back if the line was long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has an input field, a name of the input field , and the input field.
And prepared in advance and support messages that describe the name input column, Huy the name of the input field and the input fields
When viewing in the window, according to an instruction, by displaying the help message in the same window, and an object thereof is to provide a display method for easily assistance message very readable can be provided to the user.

[0010]

To achieve the above object, according to the Invention The display method of the present invention includes an input field, the name of the input field and describes the input field and the name of the input field <br Create display information having a support message and, among the display information, display the input field and the name of the input field in a window on a screen, based on an instruction to display the support message, The support message is displayed in a window together with the input field and the name of the input field.

[0011]

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a method of displaying a support message in a first embodiment. As shown, the instruction window A in FIG. 1A is obtained by removing the help button from FIG. Further, FIG.
This is the same instruction window A as when a support message is displayed. In (b), reference numeral 3 denotes a support message, reference numeral 4 denotes a shape of a figure to be drawn, and reference numeral 5 denotes characters of red, green, and blue in colors meaning the characters.

The support message 3 may be described using the function of the X window system, and its layout may be changed to make it easier to understand as necessary. In the first embodiment, the support message 3 is displayed as shown in FIG. 1B by increasing the size of the instruction window A in FIG. That is, during normal use, FIG.
As shown in (a), the size of the window A that displays only buttons and the like is set, and if a support message is required, the user moves the lower part of the lower frame 10 of the same window (a) while clicking the mouse with the mouse. To enlarge the window. By this operation, the support message hidden at the time of the normal instruction window size appears on the screen as shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the above-described display processing. First, in step S11, FIG.
And (b), a button, a switch, an input field, a description thereof, and a support message are created, and in a succeeding step S12, the button, the switch, the input field, and the like are displayed as shown in FIG. Displays the description of. Next, in step S13, it is determined whether the size of the window displayed in step S12 has changed, and if so, the process proceeds to step S14, where the support message created in step S11 is exposed and displayed. If it has not changed, another process is executed, the process returns to step S13, and the above process is repeated.

Incidentally, in the support message, a graphic as shown by reference numeral 4 or a color as shown by reference numeral 5 can be used as needed. Further, the layout of the support message can be devised so that the user can easily understand it. Since the function of the X window system is used, the layout of the support message can be freely arranged. In addition, points, lines, basic two-dimensional figures, and colors can easily be used in supporting messages.

<Modification of First Embodiment> FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of displaying a support message in a modification of the first embodiment. In the figure, each reference numeral is common to FIG. FIG. 3A shows the command window B, and FIG. 3B shows the command window B displaying the support message 3. In the figure,
Reference numeral 6 is a part of the support message, and is a leader line indicating the correspondence between the command button or the like and the support message.

In FIG. 3A, when the user needs a support message, the user designates the help button in FIG. 3A with the mouse. Then, the size of the instruction window B is changed to a size including all the support messages shown in (b), and a support message appears. At this time, the message corresponding to each button or the like displays a leader line 6 indicating the correspondence.

In this modification, the correspondence between the command button and the support message is more easily understood than in the first embodiment. Further, since the size of the window automatically changes according to the amount of the support message, the message is not overlooked due to the support message being outside the window frame. Thus, according to the first embodiment,
The following effects are obtained, and the problems caused by the conventional method can be overcome.

(1) Since the layout of the support message can be devised in accordance with the command button, the correspondence between the command button and the support message is clear at a glance, and the message becomes very readable. In addition, since the support message is displayed in the same window as the instruction window, the correspondence between the instruction button and the message can be easily understood. This is more effective when there are a plurality of instruction windows than in the conventional method. And it becomes easier to understand by attaching the leader line.

(2) Since the figures and colors can be freely used in the support message, the description can be simplified, and the description itself can be easily understood, and a clear and easy-to-read description can be created. Becomes (3) Displaying the support message in the instruction window (not scrolling) makes it easy to read back.

Further, the following remarkable effects are obtained.
A system for displaying a very useful support message can be constructed. That is, according to the present invention, when there are a plurality of instruction windows, it is possible to perform an operation (execute an instruction button or the like) while displaying the support message. Therefore, it becomes possible for a beginner who uses the program to perform an operation while reading the support message while outputting the support message. In particular, when the correspondence between a command button or the like and a message is clarified as shown in FIG.
The operation can be easily performed while reading the support message, and the operation can be performed while learning how to use.

In the above-described embodiment, the window system is described as being limited to the X window. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and similar effects can be obtained by applying the present invention to other window systems. <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In recent years, with the improvement of computer performance,
It has become possible to model a dimensional shape and display it in color on a graphic display which is a two-dimensional plane. The system configuration for displaying is as follows:
This is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 4 described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Here, when displaying the three-dimensional model, it is necessary to display the three-dimensional coordinate axes similarly to the model in order to indicate the coordinate system of the model and the direction from which the model is viewed, that is, the position of the viewpoint. There are many cases. Regarding the display of the three-dimensional coordinate axes, conventionally, coordinate axes as shown in FIG. 10 have been often displayed. FIG. 10 is a display example of a commonly used three-dimensional coordinate axis. Appearance when the same point is set as a starting point in a three-dimensional space, and three arrows of the same length are oriented in the x, y, and z-axis directions from the starting point, and viewed from the same viewpoint as the model. Is projected onto a two-dimensional graphic display. Then, each character of x, y, z is displayed near the arrowhead of each projected arrow. FIG. 10 shows an image created in this manner. In the figure, reference numeral 10 indicates three projected arrows.

The viewer of the figure can recognize the coordinate system and viewpoint direction of the model by using the coordinate axes. still,
Here, the viewpoint information is input from the keyboard 43 in FIG. 4, and the calculation for projection is performed by the CPU of the central processing unit 41. However, in the conventional coordinate axis display method shown in FIG. 10, when the displayed coordinate axis is turned in the direction of the right axis from the x axis to the y axis, the z axis is oriented in the direction in which the right axis advances. It is necessary to recognize the directions of the x, y, and z axes in consideration of what is called a right-handed coordinate axis. That is, in the example of FIG. 10, it is determined whether the y-axis is closer to or away from the paper than the x-axis by considering the right-handed system from the directions of the x-axis and the z-axis. I had to.

For this reason, a person who looks at the displayed figure has to make the above-described judgment every time, which often causes confusion. The second embodiment has been made in view of such a problem, and a display method capable of displaying a three-dimensional coordinate axis used for displaying a model of a three-dimensional shape at a glance to a person who views the figure. The purpose is to provide.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show the third embodiment.
It is a figure explaining the display method of a dimensional coordinate axis, and the code in a figure is common. Reference numeral 10 is common to FIG. A method for displaying three-dimensional coordinate axes will be described with reference to FIG. As in the conventional example, first, in the three-dimensional space, three arrows 10 of the same length starting from the same point 0 and pointing in the directions of the x, y, and z axes are assumed. Then, x, y, as shown for each point on the z-axis, x _1, y _1, z ₁ and then, three arrows 10 respectively face A faces of the triangle surrounded by the points (0
x ₁ -y ₁ ), plane B (0-y ₁ -z ₁ ), plane C (0-z
₁ −x ₁ ) and surface D (x ₁ −y ₁ −z ₁ ).

The three arrows 10 and the four surfaces A, B, C, and D assumed here are classified into the following three, and each is given a different color or pattern. (1) Three arrows 10 (2) Surfaces A, B, and C (3) Surface D And a three-dimensional coordinate axis composed of three arrows 10 and four surfaces A, B, C, and D from the same viewpoint as the model. The seen appearance is projected on a two-dimensional graphic display as described above. Then, the characters x, y, z are displayed near the projected arrows. FIG. 6 shows the one created in this way.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the display processing described above. First, in step S21, when the user sets the viewpoint, the process proceeds to step S22,
The three-dimensional model is displayed according to the viewpoint information. Then, the three-dimensional coordinate axes are displayed as described above. Note that the execution order of the above-described steps S22 and S23 may be reversed. In step S23, when the three-dimensional coordinate axes in the three-dimensional space are projected and displayed on the two-dimensional surface, hidden surface processing is performed, and the color or pattern is also projected as it is.

When the arrows and surfaces are colored, it is assumed that the above-mentioned three colors of the arrows and surfaces are different from the background color on the graphic display on which the actual projection is performed. Arrow,
By setting the colors of the surfaces as described above and performing the hidden surface processing display, it is possible to recognize at a glance from which direction the coordinate axes are viewed from the diagram projected on the graphic display.

Further, if a pattern is provided instead of the surface color, it is possible to cope with a case where the image is output to a black and white graphic display or a printer. Note that the boundary portions (triangle outlines) of the four triangular faces may be displayed in the same color as the arrows. By doing so, the boundaries of the surface are clearly understood, and the appearance is sharp and beautiful.

Further, regarding the display of the present three-dimensional coordinate axes, shading may be performed in addition to the above-described hidden surface processing and color display. By performing the shading process, the direction indicated by each coordinate axis can be more easily understood. And points x ₁ ,
The position of y ₁ and z ₁ is preferably set to a position of “0.2 to 0.9” from the point 0 when the length of each coordinate axis is “1” for the following reason. That is, when each point is close to the point 0, the area of the four triangles becomes small, and it is difficult to see how they overlap, and it is difficult to determine the depth direction. On the other hand, when it comes close to the arrowhead, the characters x, y, z attached near the arrowhead are 3
It is difficult to see because it is hidden by a square surface.

As described above, a three-dimensional coordinate axis which can be recognized at a glance by a viewer can be provided on the graphic screen. This will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 6 shows the three-dimensional coordinate axes displayed as in FIG.
This is displayed by the method described above. It is easy to see that the y-axis is in front of the x-axis with respect to the paper. FIG. 9 is an example of a case where the y-axis is oriented in the depth direction of the x-axis. In FIG. 9, the coordinate axes are left-handed, which is different from those displayed in FIGS. 6 and 10. However, it is easy to accurately recognize the direction indicated by the three-dimensional coordinate axes from these figures. Understand.

Displaying the coordinate axes requires hidden surface processing for displaying four hidden surfaces and color display technology, as compared with the conventional display using only arrows. However, this can easily be done in a short processing time with the current computer power and performance. It should be noted that the present invention is applicable to a system including a plurality of devices.
The present invention may be applied to an apparatus including one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the above is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Input fields, names of input fields, names of the input fields and input fields
When the support message that describes the name is created in advance, and the input field and the name of the input field are displayed in the window, the support message is displayed in the same window by an instruction. An easy-to-read support message can be provided to the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an instruction window at the time of normal use and at the time of displaying a support message in a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a display process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an instruction window at the time of normal use and at the time of displaying a support message in a modified example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system using a window system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a conventional support message display method.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing display of three-dimensional coordinate axes in a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method for creating a three-dimensional coordinate axis in a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a display process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing display of three-dimensional coordinate axes in a modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing display of three-dimensional coordinate axes in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Button switch Description of input fields, etc. 2 Buttons, switches,
Input field 3 Support message 4 Graphic 5 Characters displayed in different colors 6 Leader lines 41 Central processing unit 42 Graphic display 43 Keyboard 44 Mouse 45 Printer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/14

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. Display information including an input field, a name of the input field, and a support message describing the input field and the name of the input field is created. Displaying the name of the input field in a window on the screen, and displaying the support message together with the input field and the name of the input field in the window based on an instruction to display the support message. Display method to be used. 2. The display method according to claim 1, wherein the instruction to display the support message is a change in the size of the window. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein changing the size of the window enlarges a lower frame of the window.
Display method described in. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input field and the name of the input field are set as one set, a plurality of sets are displayed vertically, and the support message is displayed on the right side of each set. Display method of description. 5. A lead line for associating the support message with the set is displayed.
Display method described in. 6. The display method according to claim 1, wherein a graphic is included in the support message. 7. The display method according to claim 1, wherein the support message includes characters displayed in different colors.