JP4854632B2 - Input/output screen generation system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an input/output screen generating system for automatically setting and rearranging items displayed on an input/output screen used in a business management system in response to a user request.

In order to carry out business operations, companies and other organizations use business management systems to manage operations in various fields, such as product management, sales management, and payroll management. In business management systems, when performing operations such as adding, correcting, or changing data, the above operations are performed by launching a specific screen (called an "input/output screen"). Figure 7 shows an example of a conventional input/output screen.

In the conventional input/output screen shown in Figure 7, the window size and the layout of each item are fixed. They can be switched between basic items that are necessary for all users and extended items that each user wants to expand on their own by using tabs.

Figure 8 shows another example of a conventional input/output screen. In this case, basic items and extended items can be switched using tabs, just like in Figure 8 above, but in the case of Figure 8, in addition to the basic items "name" and "address", the items "category" and "special notes" are also provided. In this way, it is possible to input multiple items on a single screen.

Furthermore, the following Patent Document 1 describes a system for icon scaling aimed at improving the visibility of icons in a window.

JP 2002-55807 A

Of the conventional input/output screens mentioned above, in the case of Figure 7, multiple items can be entered using tabs, and basic items required by all users and extended items required by each user individually are displayed organized by tab, which is beneficial. However, for example, when changing the basic item "Address" and the extended item "Special Notes 2", the user must switch tabs before entering data. However, for the user, switching tabs is cumbersome, and each extended item is located in the blank space among the basic items, so it is more convenient in terms of operability and visibility to have the entire screen displayed.

In the case of Figure 8, the problem in Figure 7 may be somewhat solved, but the number of items displayed on one screen has increased. And not all users necessarily need the items displayed in the basic items tab. For this reason, there is a demand from users to not display items that are not necessary, but this is difficult to accommodate.

In this way, it would be desirable to display the appropriate input/output screen for each difference in the master type and number of items, but as mentioned above, this has not been possible in the past. This is because various display programs are required to prepare screens with different item layouts depending on the master type and number of items, which not only makes programming very complicated, but also means that if customization is performed later, it may be necessary to make similar modifications to each of these display programs.

This also increases the time required for customization and the number of areas that need to be modified, increasing the risk of unexpected bugs occurring.

Ultimately, after weighing the issues of ease of use and program creation/customization, a common display program for all users, such as those shown in Figures 7 and 8, is usually used.

Therefore, there is a strong demand for a solution that simultaneously improves the operability and visibility of the input/output screen and eliminates the complexity of creating and customizing display programs.

Note that by using the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, it is certainly possible to achieve icon scaling, but this is merely a rearrangement of items that do not have an input/output area, such as icons, and is in a completely different technical field from the automatic generation system for input/output screens that have input/output areas, as in the present invention.

In consideration of the above problems, the inventor invented an input/output screen generation system that automatically sets and arranges input/output screen items for the input/output screen of a business management system in response to user requests.

The invention of claim 1 is an input/output screen generating system which automatically generates an input/output screen used in a business management system, the input/output screen generating system having a state management table which stores panels to be displayed on the input/output screen and items included in the panels, an input/output area definition table which stores attribute information including at least information on the input attribute and number of digits of each of the items, a module definition table which stores information on controls for each of the input attributes, and a screen component control means which executes a layout process of the panels and items on the input/output screen, the screen component control means displays the items for which a display instruction has been set in advance or for which a new display instruction has been given, and executes a rearrangement process of the screen components including the panels and items so that they fit within the changed size of the input/output screen in response to a change in the size of the input/output screen and a change in the number of the items , and when a display request for the input/output screen is received, information on the panels and their items to be displayed on the input/output screen is obtained from the state management table, and the previous an input/output screen generating system which obtains attribute information for each item from the input/output area definition table based on information about each acquired item, determines control of the input/output area using the module definition table based on input attributes in the acquired attribute information, determines a panel size using the number of digits in the acquired attribute information and the size of the item name of the item, and automatically generates an input/output screen by arranging each panel in a window of the input/output screen by comparing the determined size of each panel with a window size of the input/output screen, and when the window size of the generated input/output screen is changed, determines the changed window size and the size of each panel, and when the changed window size is too large to arrange the panels as they are, further compares the changed window size, the size of the panel, and the size of the item, and processes the transformation of the panel itself so that it fits within the changed window size and the rearrangement of each item within the panel .

By using this invention, it becomes possible to automatically set and arrange each item on the input/output screen of a business management system in response to a user's request. This improves the operability and viewability of the input/output screen for the user. In addition, for the system creator, it is no longer necessary to create complex display programs, eliminating the complexity of creating and customizing programs.

The input/output screen generating system of the present invention automatically sets and rearranges the items on the input/output screen of the business management system in response to a user request, thereby simultaneously improving the operability and viewability of the input/output screen and eliminating the complexity involved in creating and customizing a display program.

An example of the system configuration of the input/output screen generation system 1 of the present invention is shown in Figure 1.

The input/output screen generation system 1 is composed of a server module provided in an application server 2, various data provided in a database server 3, and a client terminal 4.

The input/output screen generation system 1 of the present invention is preferably provided as part of a business management system. A business management system is a system that is composed of business software required for the execution of business by a company or the like and hardware (such as a computer terminal or server) that executes this software, and examples of such systems include accounting management systems, sales and purchasing management systems, human resources and salary management systems, customer management systems (CRM systems), and sales support systems (SFA (Sales Force Automation) systems). Furthermore, each of these systems may work together in real time as a module to centrally manage data.

The input/output screen generating system 1 is realized on a server or computer terminal that controls the processing of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a schematic conceptual diagram of the hardware of the server or computer terminal. These servers and computer terminals have at least a calculation device 20 such as a CPU that executes the calculation processing of the program, and a storage device 21 such as a RAM or a hard disk that stores information. Each function (each means) realized on the server or computer terminal is executed by loading the means (programs, modules, etc.) that executes the process into the calculation device 20. When each function uses information stored in the storage device 21 in its processing, it reads the corresponding information from the storage device 21 and uses the read information appropriately for the processing in the calculation device 20. The server or computer terminal may have a communication device 24 that transmits and receives the processing results of the calculation device 20 and the information stored in the storage device 21 via a network such as the Internet or LAN, an input device 23 such as a keyboard, mouse, or numeric keypad, and a display device 22 such as a display.

The functions (means) of the present invention are only logically distinct, and may be physically or practically in the same area. Each function may also be processed by one or more programs, modules, devices, etc.

The database server 3 has at least a status management table 8, an input/output area definition table 9, a user information management table 10, and a module definition table 11.

The status management table 8 is a table that manages information on whether the input/output area of an item on the input/output screen is displayed or hidden, and information on which panel each item is included in. Figure 9 shows a conceptual diagram of the status management table 8. Note that the status management table 8 is provided for each master and for multiple users. Note that "displayed" here means that the item is displayed on the input/output screen, and "hidden" means that the item is not displayed on the input/output screen.

The input/output area definition table 9 is a table that defines attribute information such as the input attributes of the input/output area of an item on the input/output screen (e.g. full-width characters, half-width katakana, date, etc.) and the number of digits (number of characters) displayed. Figure 10 shows a conceptual diagram of the input/output area definition table 9. Figure 10 shows an example of the input/output area definition table 9 when defining an item in a product master. There are two types of input/output area definition table 9: an initial table that is set in advance, and an extended table that manages the information of the input/output area newly set by the user. When the screen component control means described later refers to the input/output area definition table 9, it refers to both the initial table and the extended table. It is also possible to manage the tables in a single table rather than dividing them into an initial table and an extended table.

The user information management table 10 is a table that defines restriction information regarding input and output for each user. Figure 11 shows a conceptual diagram of the user information management table 10.

The module definition table 11 is a table that defines information for determining the software modules for displaying the input/output area. Figure 12 shows a conceptual diagram of the module definition table 11. Note that while control names are shown diagrammatically in Figure 12, what is actually defined is information indicating the area in which these controls (software modules) are stored. Figure 13 shows the display state of the input/output area when each control in Figure 12 is executed.

Here, a control (composite control) that can display the item name and input/output area is shown, but multiple controls with a single function, such as a control for displaying only the item name and a control for displaying the input/output area, can be prepared and combined at run time to display the item. For example, for the item name "Product Name", the system references input/output area definition table 9 and obtains "Attributes = Full-width Characters" and "Number of Digits = 20". A full-width character output control is called to display the item name, and a full-width character input control is called to display the input/output area. The full-width character output control reserves a display area for three characters from "Product Name" to display the product name, and an input/output area that can input 20 digits is displayed next to it. In this way, complex input/output areas can be displayed by determining multiple controls with a single function from the item name, executing them, and combining and displaying them.

In addition, for controls that can input and output a range, it is possible to display only a certain point in time. For example, a control that displays an input area from "XXXX/XX/XX" to "YYYY/YY/YY" can have the user input the start date as "2007/10/01", and when they change the "from" part to "only", the "only" part and the end date "YYYY/YY/YY" are hidden and "2007/10/01" is displayed. By doing this, the system does not need to retain specialized controls any longer than necessary.

The database server 3 may further include a master table. The master table stores data used in the business management system and is managed, for example, as a product master table or a customer master table.

The server module of the application server 2 has a screen component control means 5, a launch control means 6, and an alignment means 7.

The screen component control means 5 places at least one screen component on the input/output screen, and changes the shape of the screen component or rearranges it depending on the window size of the input/output screen, the number of input/output areas to be displayed, etc.

The screen component control means 5 is distributed as a software module from the application server 2 to each client terminal 4, where it is incorporated and operates on the client terminal 4 side. If there is a change to the screen component control means 5, the application server 2 distributes it again to each client terminal 4. Even if changes occur due to customization, updates, etc., there is no need to install it individually on each client terminal 4, making it easier to manage the client terminals 4. It is also possible for the client terminal 4 to simply send and receive input data and screen display data to and from the screen component control means 5 of the application server 2 using a web browser or the like, without distributing it from the application server 2 to the client terminal 4. In this case, it becomes a so-called web system.

A screen component displays one or more input/output areas. For example, an input/output area on an input/output screen (e.g., an input/output area such as a product name or index) and its heading (e.g., a basic item) are associated as one screen component by the state management table 8. A screen component is a group of related input/output areas, and is used as a unit for arranging input/output areas.

The start control means 6 restricts the input and output of each user based on the user information management table 10. In other words, it executes a restriction process that prevents the user from inputting and outputting items that cannot be used. For example, in the case of the user information management table 10 shown in FIG. 11, the user with ID "002" has the authority of the "business manager" and is responsible for "sales". And the authority of the "business manager" does not allow the "all other business items" to be changed. Therefore, for all other business items other than sales, the input and output area of the corresponding item name (all other business items other than sales) in the status management table 8 is hidden and cannot be changed. This process is executed in parallel with the process of the screen component control means 5.

The alignment means 7 vertically aligns the input/output areas of the screen components displayed on the input/output screen. As with the screen component control means 5, the alignment means 7 is preferably distributed as a software module from the application server 2 to each client terminal 4 and is incorporated into the client terminal 4 for operation.

Next, an example of the processing process of the input/output screen generation system 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of Figs. 3 to 6 and the conceptual diagram of the system configuration of Fig. 1. In the following embodiment, the business management system is a product management system, and the input/output area definition table 9 is a product master item definition table.

First, we will explain the case where the initial input/output screen is displayed on client terminal 4.

When the user performs a specified operation on the client terminal 4, the operation input is accepted by the client terminal 4 and the product management system is started. When the user then inputs an ID, password, etc., these are passed from the client terminal 4 to the application server 2, and the application server 2 authenticates the ID and password. As a result, if authentication is successful, the client terminal 4 is made ready to operate the product management system (S100). If authentication is not successful due to an inconsistency in the ID or password, for example, an error is displayed on the client terminal 4 (S100).

After the product management system becomes operable on the client terminal 4, when the user performs an operation to display a specific input/output screen, the screen component control means 5 determines the panel size of the input/output screen for that user (S200), and then executes a process to arrange each panel on that screen (S300).

First, we'll explain the process for determining the panel size.

Based on the input ID, the screen component control means 5 (at this time, the screen component control means 5 has already been distributed from the application server 2 to the client terminal 4 and is functioning on the client terminal 4) references the user information management table 10. For example, if the input ID accepted is "002", an inquiry is made to the database server 3 based on the ID "002" to obtain the authority, duties, and unchangeable items of the user from the user information management table 10.

In the case of the user information management table 10 shown in FIG. 11, the ID is "002", so the authority is "business manager", the business responsibility is "sales", and the items that cannot be changed are "all other business items". In other words, this means that user "002" has the authority as a business manager, but does not have the authority to change any business items other than sales.

Then, the screen component control means 5 refers to the status management table 8 of the user (ID "002") and acquires information about the display items to be displayed on the panel of the input/output screen (S210). For example, when the status management table 8 of the user with ID "002" is as shown in FIG. 9, the items "Product name", "Index", and "Unit" are acquired for the panel name "Basic item". Note that in this case, the screen component control means 5 acquires the item names that are set to "Display" as keys, and does not acquire the item names that are set to "Hide". Note that here, a panel is a unit that groups together items to be displayed on the input/output screen. Therefore, items on the same panel are placed adjacent to each other. Furthermore, a group name is a unit that further groups together items within the same panel. Therefore, items with the same group name are placed adjacent to each other.

In this way, when the item names to be displayed on the input/output screen of the user (ID "002") are obtained from the status management table 8, the screen component control means 5 refers to the input/output area definition table 9 (product master item definition table) based on the item names, and obtains attribute information indicating what input/output area attributes each of those items has.

When the input/output area definition table 9 is as shown in FIG. 10, for the item name "Product name", the input attribute "Full-width characters", the number of digits "20", and the reference master "None" are acquired as attribute information. For the item name "Index", the input attribute "Half-width katakana", the number of digits "30", and the reference master "None" are acquired as attribute information. For the item name "Unit", the input attribute "Full-width characters", the number of digits "2", and the reference master "None" are acquired as attribute information.

Furthermore, based on the input attributes obtained from the input/output area definition table 9, the screen component control means 5 determines the type of control for displaying each item by referring to the module definition table 11 to determine what control each input attribute is realized by (S220).

For example, the input attribute "Full-width characters" gets the control type "InputTextWithItemName".

After determining the control type of the input attribute of each item in this manner, the screen component control means 5 determines the display area of each item based on the number of digits defined in the input/output area definition table 9 (S220). For example, in the case of the item name "Product name", the number of digits is "20", so an input area of 20 digits is generated.

In this way, the screen component control means 5 uses the determined control type and number of digits information to determine the size of the input/output area for each item, and determines the item size by adding the size of the item name to this (S230).

The panel size is determined based on the size of each item determined in the above manner (S240). At this time, the panel size is a size that allows all of the items to be displayed. For example, the number of dots in the vertical direction of the panel is calculated as Σ(vertical width of each item + predetermined value) + item width + predetermined value. Here, the predetermined value is the width of the gap between each item. The number of dots in the horizontal direction of the panel is set to the maximum value among the widths of each item.

Figure 14 shows a schematic of how the basic item panel is displayed.

The processing of S200 is performed as described above for each panel obtained by the screen component control means 5 from the status management table 8.

Once the screen component control means 5 has determined the panel size, it then executes panel placement processing (S300).

First, the screen component control means 5 obtains the initial window size of the input/output screen from the OS of the client terminal 4 (S310). Panels are then placed in this window in sequence (S320).

For example, if the panel names stored in the status management table 8 are "Heading 1", "Heading 2", "Heading 3", "Heading 4", and "Heading 5", the panels are arranged in that order. For example, they are arranged in the following order: top left, bottom left, top middle, bottom middle, top right, and bottom right. This arrangement position can be set arbitrarily. It is preferable to provide a predetermined interval between each panel.

When placing the panels, the window size of the input/output screen and the size of each panel are taken into consideration, but since this embodiment is placed in the initial state, the size of each panel placed on the input/output screen will not exceed the window size. Therefore, the process at S330 is "NO" and panel placement ends. The process when the result is "YES" will be described later.

Figure 15 shows an example of when each panel is placed in the window of the input/output screen. In Figure 15, the outer frame indicates the window of the input/output screen, and the dashed lines indicate the panels (although in reality the dashed lines indicating the panels do not have to be displayed). The "heading" displays the "panel name" from the status management table 8, the "item name" displays the "item name" from the status management table 8, and each control is placed to the right of the item name.

When arranging multiple panels vertically, the alignment means 7 may obtain the frame size of all item names contained in each panel and arrange the items to fit the largest size among them. For example, in the case of Figure 16(a), a panel with the heading "Basic Items" and a panel with the heading "Unit Price" are arranged vertically, so the alignment means 7 counts the number of characters of each item included in these. Then, the size of each item is changed to the number of characters required to display the maximum number of characters for each item, and each item is arranged. Figure 16(b) shows the alignment process performed by the alignment means 7 in this way.

Note that by changing the size of each item name, the position of the control in the input/output area located to the right of it will also shift. This will also shift the panel size, so when processing is performed by the alignment means 7, the process of changing the panel size, i.e., the process in S240, will be executed again.

In order to simplify reprocessing, the panel size determination process in S240 may be performed after the process of aligning the item names in the alignment means 7 (i.e., after the size of the item names is determined).

The initial input/output screen generated in the above manner is shown in Figure 17.

Next, we will explain the case where the user displays items other than the items initially set from the initial state. In this case, the user defines the items to be expanded by performing a specified operation.

Specifically, the items to be expanded are input from a screen such as that shown in Figure 18, and the screen component control means 5 registers them in the expanded item definition table of the input/output area definition table 9. Figure 18 shows a case where items such as "Manufacturer", "Year of launch", and "Product description" have been additionally registered. At this time, information such as the input attribute, number of digits, and reference master are also registered as attribute information for each item.

For example, when a user wants to add and register an item name "Manufacturer", they input "Numeric" as the input attribute, "4" as the number of digits, and "Manufacturer Master" as the reference master. When adding and registering an item name "Product description", they input "Full-width characters" as the input attribute, "64" as the number of digits, and "None" as the reference master. The screen component control means 5 registers the information for each item entered here as an extended item for that user in the extended item definition table of the input/output area definition table 9. This is shown diagrammatically in Figure 19.

The screen component control means 5 also inputs the panel name, item name, and display/non-display as extended items into the status management table 8 of the user. When the input is accepted, the screen component control means 5 adds the entry to the status management table 8 of the user. This is shown diagrammatically in Figure 20. Figure 20 shows the case where the entry is made into the status management table 8 of the user with ID "002".

By registering the items to be expanded in the status management table 8 and the input/output area definition table 9 as described above, when the user opens the input/output screen, the expanded items are displayed in addition to the basic items. In addition, the items that have been expanded are managed for each user in the status management table 8, so it is possible to display different items for each user. Furthermore, the screen component control means 5 generates the input/output screen by referencing the input/output area definition table 9, module definition table 11, etc., so that the items on the input/output screen are automatically set and rearranged in response to the user's request.

For example, Figure 21 shows an example of an input/output screen when a user sets their own extension items on the initial input/output screen shown in Figure 17.

Next, we will explain the case where the user selects the items to be displayed on the input/output screen, and the items that the user selects to display are displayed on the input/output screen.

When the user performs a specified operation, a screen is displayed that allows the user to select whether to show or hide each item. An example of this screen is shown in FIG. 22. Each item shown in FIG. 22 can be displayed by the screen component control means 5 obtaining the panel name, item name, and show/hide information from the status management table 8 based on the user's ID.

This screen has a check box for each item on each panel, allowing the user to select whether or not to display that item. To display the item, check the check box; to not display the item, leave the check box unchecked. Based on whether the item is checked or not, the screen component control means 5 changes and registers the display/non-display information in the status management table 8. Also, "Input" in the screen of FIG. 22 is a check box that indicates whether data is to be entered for the item. Therefore, if the "Input" column is unchecked, input cannot be made for the item. It is also possible to have the item displayed but not allow input if "Input" is unchecked. Although not shown in FIG. 9, this information on whether or not input is allowed may also be registered for each item in the status management table 8.

For example, if a user with ID "002" makes a selection on the screen in FIG. 22, the status management table 8 is changed from the state in FIG. 20 to the state in FIG. 23 and registered.

The input/output screen displayed by the screen component control means 5 based on the status management table 8 in Figure 23 is shown in Figure 24.

Next, we will explain the process for rearranging panels (and their items) on the input/output screen when the user changes the window size of the input/output screen.

When the screen component control means 5 detects that the window size of the input/output screen has been changed, it acquires information on the changed window size from the OS (S310). Then, as described above, it executes the layout process for each panel (S320). That is, the panels are laid out in the following order: top left, bottom left, top middle, bottom middle, top right, and bottom right.

When placing the panels, the window size and the size of each panel when placed are determined, but if there are any panels that do not fit into the changed window size, processing is performed based on the selection process for the element display method (S400).

That is, the user selects in advance whether to use a scroll display or to display each panel and item in a reduced size (S410), and the layout process for all panels is carried out based on that selection.

If you have selected to display in a reduced size, the window size required for each panel when it is normally placed is calculated based on the size of each panel. The window size required when placed normally is then compared with the actual changed window size, and the factor by which it should be reduced is calculated. The size of each panel is then reduced based on this factor, and the reduced panels are placed on the input/output screen of the actual changed window size.

An example of the input/output screen in this case is shown in Figure 25.

If scrolling display is selected, the panels are arranged, for example, in a horizontal line, and a scroll bar is displayed (S430).

An example of the input/output screen in this case is shown in Figure 26.

When scrolling, if the window size is reduced to a size where none of the panels can be placed as is, the panel containing the selected item may be changed and displayed so that it is included in the window. In other words, the items on each panel may be further rearranged so that they can be displayed within the window. This is shown diagrammatically in Figures 27 and 28.

The above rearrangement process compares the new window size with the size of each panel or item, and then positions each panel or item so that it fits within the new window size.

When performing rearrangement processing, items may be displayed across two lines. For example, in the input/output screen of Figure 29, the item name "New unit price implementation date" of the panel name "Unit price" spans two lines. If changing the window size results in the item "New unit price implementation date" being cut off, it is not advisable to display these separately.

Therefore, these will be displayed as one item. This is shown diagrammatically in Figure 30.

By executing the above-mentioned processing in response to input from the user, it is possible to generate an input/output screen for use in the business management software in response to a request from the user.

According to the present invention, the items of the input/output screen of the business management system are automatically set and rearranged in response to a user's request, which makes it possible to simultaneously improve the operability and viewability of the input/output screen and eliminate the complexity of creating and customizing the display program.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an overall system configuration of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of an entire processing process. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for determining a panel size. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a panel arrangement process. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display method selection process. 1 is an example of a conventional input/output screen. 13 is another example of a conventional input/output screen. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a state management table. FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram of an input/output area definition table. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a user information management table. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a module definition table. 1 is an example of a control name and an input/output area displayed by the control. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a panel of basic items is displayed. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which panels are arranged in a window on an input/output screen. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a process of sorting item names. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an input/output screen in an initial state. 13 is an example of a screen for inputting, for example, adding an item. 11 is a diagram illustrating an extension item definition table of the input/output area definition table. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state management table in which extension items are registered. 13 is an example of an input/output screen when set extension items are displayed. 13 is an example of a screen for selecting whether to display or hide each item. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state management table in which display/non-display is registered for each item. 24 is an example of an input/output screen generated based on the state management table of FIG. 23. 13 is an example of an input/output screen when each panel is reduced. 13 is an example of an input/output screen when performing scroll display. 13 is an example of an input/output screen when items are also rearranged. 13 is an example of an input/output screen when items are also rearranged. 13 is an example of an input/output screen. This is an example of an input/output screen in which the placement location of the panel name "Unit Price" has been moved collectively as a result of changing the window size of the input/output screen in FIG. 29.

Explanation of symbols

1: Input/output screen generating system 2: Application server 3: Database server 4: Client terminal 5: Screen component control means 6: Start control means 7: Alignment means 8: Status management table 9: Input/output area definition table 10: User information management table 11: Module definition table 20: Computing device 21: Storage device 22: Display device 23: Input device 24: Communication device

Claims (2)

An input/output screen generation system that automatically generates an input/output screen used in a business management system,
The input/output screen generating system includes:
a state management table for storing a panel to be displayed on the input/output screen and items included in the panel;
an input/output area definition table for storing attribute information including at least information on the input attribute and number of digits of each of the items;
a module definition table that stores information about a control for each of the input attributes;
a screen component control means for executing a process of arranging panels and items on the input/output screen,
The screen component control means includes:
Displaying the items for which a display instruction has been set in advance or for which a display instruction has been newly given,
A process of rearranging screen components including the panel and the items is executed so that the screen components fit into the changed size of the input/output screen in response to a change in size of the input/output screen and a change in the number of the items,
When a display request for the input/output screen is received, the panel to be displayed on the input/output screen and information on its items are obtained from the state management table;
obtaining the attribute information for each item from the input/output area definition table based on the obtained information for each item;
determining control of an input/output area using the module definition table based on an input attribute in the acquired attribute information;
determining a panel size using the number of digits in the acquired attribute information and the size of the item name of the item;
automatically generating an input/output screen by comparing the determined size of each panel with a window size of the input/output screen and arranging each panel in a window of the input/output screen, and when the window size of the generated input/output screen is changed, judging the changed window size and the size of each panel, and when the changed window size is such that the panels cannot be arranged as is, further performing a process of comparing the changed window size with the size of the panel and the size of the item, transforming the panel itself so that it fits within the changed window size, and re-arranging each item within the panel.
1. An input/output screen generating system comprising: The status management table further stores a group name.
The image component control means includes:
When arranging each panel in a window of the input/output screen, items with the same group name are arranged adjacent to each other within the same panel based on the group name.
2. The input/output screen generating system according to claim 1.

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