JPH1049280A - Menu display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a menu display device with which the comprehension of operation procedure is facilitated by displaying the list of operation procedure of operation units for operating a system in the form of a menu. SOLUTION: A CPU 2 executes menu display processing based on an operation procedure file stored in an operation procedure memory 4b inside a RAM 4 and retrieves operation procedure information in various kinds of operation procedure files stored inside the operation procedure memory 4b based on the date counted in the system. According to color information set in a color display designation file stored in a color display designation memory 4d corresponding to an operation level so as to successively execute processing from leading processing set into this retrieved operation procedure file, menu items based on respective processing names are colored and the list of these respective colored menu items are displayed on a color display part 5 in the order of operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a menu display device, and more particularly, to a menu display device for displaying the operation procedure of a system on a menu for each operation unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for example, various application programs such as spreadsheets and databases are used in office computers and general-purpose computers mainly for office work. When operating a business processing system using these various application programs,
As a means for informing the user of the operation procedure of the business processing system, there are a method of informing the user of a document such as a manual (operation manual) and a menu item of the operation unit (daily processing, closing date processing) as shown in FIG. , Monthly processing, etc.) are set and displayed as a top menu, and when each menu item is designated, the corresponding processing content is displayed in a submenu (daily processing menu, closing date processing menu, monthly processing menu). There is a method of displaying a list of processing items for each.

[0003]

However, such a conventional business processing system has the following problems in a method of informing the user of the operation procedure.

[0004] First, in the case of notifying the operation procedure using the above-mentioned manual or the like, when the user executes the process toward the computer, the user must perform the process while looking at the manual. Since the eyes are shifted to both sides, a problem such as a mistake in the processing procedure occurs, and smooth processing cannot be performed.

When a menu is displayed in the operation unit shown in FIG. 8 to notify the operation procedure, the user understands the contents to be processed because the menu items of the processing contents are grouped in the operation unit. However, the procedure for executing the processing content cannot be understood, and a problem that the processing procedure is mistaken occurs, so that smooth processing cannot be performed.

In both of the conventional methods of notifying each operation procedure, it is impossible to know the degree of importance of the processing to be executed in the processing contents to be grouped in the operation unit.

An object of the present invention is to provide a menu display device which displays a list of operation procedures of operation units for operating a system in a menu format to facilitate understanding of the operation procedures.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
What is claimed is: 1. A menu display device for displaying a menu indicating an operation procedure of an operation unit for operating a system, the operation procedure storing an operation procedure for each operation unit and storing a processing content corresponding to each operation procedure. A storage unit, an operation unit designating unit for designating an operation unit, and when a desired operation unit is designated by the operation unit designating unit, an operation procedure corresponding to the designated operation unit is read from the operation procedure storage unit. Means for reading out the processing content corresponding to the operation procedure, setting a menu item based on each processing of the processing content, and displaying the menu item in the order of the operation procedure. Features.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a menu display device for displaying a menu showing an operation procedure of an operation unit for operating a system, wherein the operation procedure is performed for each operation unit. Operation procedure storage means for storing the processing contents corresponding to each of the operation procedures is provided, and when a desired operation unit is designated by the operation unit designating means for designating the operation unit, the designated operation unit is designated. The operation procedure corresponding to the operation procedure is read from the operation procedure storage unit, the processing content corresponding to the operation procedure is read, and a menu item is set based on each processing of the processing content. They are displayed in the order of operation procedure.

Therefore, unlike the related art, the user does not check a document such as a manual, and simply checks the displayed menu items in order to determine what to execute next to operate the system. It can be understood. Further, since the user can execute the operation procedure without keeping his / her eyes off the display screen, it is possible to prevent a situation where the operation procedure is mistaken.

[0011] In this case, as in the second aspect of the invention, in the menu display device according to the first aspect, an operation level is set for each processing of the processing content, and the color information is associated with each operation level. When displaying the menu items, the color information associated with the operation level set for each process is read out, and each menu item of each process is displayed in color according to the color information. You may.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, an operation level is set for each of the processing contents, color information is defined in association with each operation level, and the menu items are displayed. At this time, the color information associated with the operation level set for each process is read, and each menu item of each process is displayed in color according to the color information.

Therefore, the degree of importance of the processing can be displayed in color on the menu display screen, and the processing procedure and the importance of the processing can be clearly notified to the user.

Further, as in the invention described in claim 3,
2. The menu display device according to claim 1, wherein a date on which the operation unit is operated is set, an operation unit to be operated is determined based on a current date measured by a clock unit, and the determined operation unit is determined by the operation unit. The menu item corresponding to the designated operation unit may be automatically designated by the unit designation means and displayed in the order of the operation procedure.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a date for operating the operation unit is set,
The operating unit to be operated is determined based on the current date measured by the clocking unit, the determined operating unit is automatically specified by the operating unit specifying unit, and the menu corresponding to the specified operating unit is specified. Items are displayed in order of the operation procedure.

Therefore, what processing should be executed today can be indicated on the menu display by the date, so that the user can be informed of the processing to be executed by the date, thereby preventing leakage of the processing. Can be.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 7 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a computer system to which a menu display device of the present invention is applied.

First, the configuration will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a computer system 1 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, a computer system 1 includes a CPU 2,
It comprises an input unit 3, a RAM 4, a color display unit 5, a color printing unit 6, and a storage device 7, and each unit is connected by a bus 9.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2
A window system program as a GUI stored in the storage device 7, an application program designated from various application programs corresponding to the window system, and various instructions or data input from the input unit 3 in the RAM 4. Various processes are executed according to the application program stored in the RAM 4 in accordance with the input instruction and the input data, and the processing results are stored in the work memory 4a in the RAM 4 and the color display unit 5 is stored.
To be displayed. Then, the processing result stored in the work memory 4a is stored in a storage destination in the storage device 7 which is instructed to be input from the input unit 3.

The CPU 2 executes a menu display process, which will be described later, based on the operation procedure file stored in the operation procedure memory 4b in the RAM 4, and stores it in the operation procedure memory 4b based on the date counted in the system. Searches the operation procedure information in the various operation procedure files that have been set, and operates the operation procedure file only when the operation procedure display category set in the retrieved operation procedure file is set to "display" The colors set in the color display specification file stored in the color display specification memory 4d according to the operation level so that it is understood that the processing should be executed in order from the top processing set in the procedure. According to the information, the menu items based on each processing name are colored, and the colored menu items are displayed in a color display section in the operation order. To List to.

The input unit 3 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like, and a mouse as a pointing device. The input unit 3 outputs to the CPU 2 a pressing signal of a key pressed by the keyboard. And outputs an operation signal from the mouse to the CPU 2.

The RAM (Random Access Memory) 4
Work memory 4a for storing designated application programs, input instructions, input data, processing results, etc.
And an operation procedure memory 4 for storing various operation procedure files
b, a closing date memory 4c for storing various closing date files,
And a color display designation memory 4d for storing a color display designation file.

As the various operation procedure files stored in the operation procedure memory 4b, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, daily processing, closing date processing, and monthly processing are set as operation units. The processing names (first processing name, second processing name,..., N-th processing name) indicating the processing contents and the operation level are stored in the operating procedure (first processing, second processing,..., N-th processing). , N: maximum number of processes for each operation unit), and an operation procedure display category (1: displayed, 2: not displayed) is set at the end of the table to determine whether the operation procedure is displayed or not displayed. In addition to these operation procedure files, it is actually necessary to set operation procedure files corresponding to other operation units according to the operation of the operating system.

As the closing date file stored in the closing date memory 4c, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, in-house closing date, claim closing date 1, claim closing date 2, and claim closing date 3 are set as closing date units. Then, an operation unit corresponding to the closing date is set for each closing date unit. Note that this closing date file can be set by the number of closing dates of the user.

As the color display designation file stored in the color display designation memory 4d, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation levels (0, 1, 2) set for the process names in the operation procedure file are used. , 2 + n,!), A display color (white, green, blue, yellow, red) is set. The contents of each operation level are as follows: 0: executed, 1: executed if necessary, 2: always executed (immediately executable), 2 + n: always executed (after executing other processes by the number of n, Processing becomes executable)! : Always execute (processing that causes data inconsistency if not executed, can be executed immediately). According to the color display specification file of FIG. 4, in the menu display processing described later, when the operation level is 0 (processing has been completed), the menu of the processing is displayed in white, and the operation level 1 (execute if necessary)
In the case of, the menu of the process is displayed in green, and in the case of the operation level 2 (always executed, immediately executable), the menu of the process is displayed in blue, and the operation level 2 + n (always executed, where n
When this process can be executed after another process is executed), the menu of the process is displayed in yellow, and the operation level!
(Process that causes data inconsistency if not executed)
The menu for that process is displayed in red.

The color display unit 5 is a CRT (Cathode Ray).
Tube), a liquid crystal display device, and the like, and display data input from the CPU 2 in a designated color.

The color printing section 6 prints out print data (menu data and the like) input from the CPU 2 in a designated color.

The storage device 7 has a storage medium 8 in which programs, data and the like are stored in advance, and this storage medium 8 is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. This storage medium is fixedly provided in the storage device 7 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 8 includes a window system program as the GUI, various application programs corresponding to the window system, and a menu. It stores a display program, a print processing program, data processed by each processing program, and the like.

The program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 8 may be configured to be received and stored from another device connected via a communication line or the like. The storage medium 8 is stored in another connected device.
May be provided, and a program and data stored in the storage medium 8 may be used via a communication line.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

The menu display processing executed by the computer system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

A program for realizing each function described in this flowchart is stored in the storage medium 8 in the form of a program code readable by the CPU 2.

When the menu display process is started, the CPU 2 first checks the system date counted in the computer system 1 (step S1), and sets this system date in the closing date file shown in FIG. It is checked whether or not the requested billing date falls (step S2). That is, the closing dates (10, 10) of the billing closing dates 1 to 3 set as the closing date unit in the closing date file.
20, 30) is checked. If the system date is the closing date (1
(0, 20, 30), the operation unit corresponding to the closing date (closing date processing) is obtained from the closing date file, and the operating procedure file corresponding to the obtained operating unit is obtained from the operating procedure memory 4b. Search (step S3).

In step S2, if the system date does not correspond to the closing dates (10, 20, 30) of the billing closing dates 1 to 3, the system date is set to the company closing date set in the closing date file. It is checked whether it is applicable (step S4). That is, it is checked whether or not the date corresponds to the closing date (31) of the company closing date set as the closing date unit in the closing date file. When the system date corresponds to the closing date (31) of the company closing date, the operation unit (monthly processing) corresponding to the closing date is obtained from the closing date file, and the operation procedure file corresponding to the obtained operating unit is obtained. Is retrieved from the operation procedure memory 4b (step S5).

If the system date does not correspond to the company closing date in step S4, the operation procedure memory 4b
To retrieve an operation procedure file corresponding to the daily processing (step S6).

When the process of searching for the operation procedure file on the closing day in step S3, the process of searching for the monthly operation procedure file in step S5, and the process of searching for the daily operation procedure file in step S6 are completed, The setting contents of the operation procedure display section shown in FIG. 2 set in each searched operation procedure file are checked (step S7). When the operation procedure display category is set to “1: display”, the process names to be executed in order from the top process of the operation procedure are known according to the processing content set in the retrieved operation procedure file. As described above, each menu item based on each processing name is colorized according to the color information set corresponding to the operation level in the color display specification file stored in the color display specification memory 4d. The menu items are displayed in a list on the color display unit 5 in the order of operation (step S8).

Specifically, for example, when a menu is displayed for the operation procedure file of the closing date shown in FIG. 6, the first processing “input sales slip” set as the operating procedure of the closing date → Second processing "input payment slip"
→ The third processing “Pre-billing processing” → The fourth processing “Invoice printing” → The fifth processing “Color advance display” as shown in FIG. A list of the processing names is displayed as a menu item in the section 5. At this time, each menu item corresponds to the numerical value of the operation level set for each processing name in the operation procedure file of FIG.
According to the display colors for each operation level set in the color display specification file of FIG.
The "input payment slip" and the fourth "print invoice" are displayed in "green" because the operation level is "1", and the third "pre-processing" is "2" because the operation level is "2". Blue ”
And the fifth “carriage on the closing date” is the operation level “3”.
(2 + n) ", it is displayed in" yellow ".

In the menu display shown in FIG. 7, each of the processes includes a "process to be executed as needed" and a "process to be executed necessarily". (1: Execute, 2: Do not execute) is displayed as an execution selection item displayed on the right side of the menu item in the middle, and in the case of "always executed processing", (1: Execute) Just to show. The setting of this execution selection option is set based on the operation level set for each process in the operation procedure file.

Then, in the menu displayed in step S7, it is confirmed whether or not the processing end key shown in FIG. 7 has been operated (step S9). If the processing end key has been operated, this processing is ended. . When the processing end key is not operated, on the menu display screen shown in FIG.
For the execution options set for each menu item, (1:
It is determined whether (execute) is selected or (2: do not execute) is selected (step S1).
0). When (1: execute) is selected, the designated process is executed (step S11), and the operation level of the process is updated (step S12). Also, (2:
If “do not execute” is selected, the operation level of the process is updated (step S12) in response to the user choosing not to execute (step S12), and the process returns to step S1.

That is, the operation level of the processing is updated regardless of whether the user selects one of the following: the execution option set for each menu item displayed on the menu display screen; Is done. In the example of the operation procedure file of the closing date processing shown in FIG.
Normally, there are five processes, each of which is a procedure starting from the first process (first process). The contents of the operation level set for each process are related to the operation procedure.

The update of the operation level in the operation procedure file of FIG. 6 will be specifically described. The operation level of “input of sales slip” and “input of deposit slip” is 1 (executed if necessary). In the menu display of FIG. 7, the execution options of each menu item, 1: execute,
Regardless of whether the user selects “2: Do not execute” (even if “2: Do not execute” is selected, meaning that the user has performed the selecting operation), the operation level updating process after the selecting operation by the user is performed. Then, the operation level 1 is set to 0 (executed).

In the closing date operation procedure file shown in FIG. 6, the operation level of the "pre-billing process" is 2 (always executed), and "1: executed" is selected by the user and the After executing the processing, the operation level 2 is similarly set to 0
(Executed).

In the operation level update process, when the operation level of the own process is 2, the operation level of the process whose operation level after the own process is 3 or more is updated.

That is, in the closing date operation procedure file shown in FIG. 6, the fifth process “carry-out date” is a process that cannot be executed unless the third process “pre-billing process” is executed. , "Carry-over date" operation level is 3
(2 + 1). The process of 2 + 1 + 1 indicates the “pre-billing process”, and when the “pre-billing process” is executed, the update process of the “−1” aggregation is performed for the operation level 3 of “forwarding on the closing date”. By this update processing, the operation level of “carry-off date” becomes 2, and the operation can be immediately executed.

Accordingly, in the color display of the menu items displayed on the menu display screen based on the operation level, the color display of the menu items of the operation level 1 (execute if necessary) and the operation level 2 (immediate execution) is “green”. And "blue"
When the processing of these display colors is sequentially performed, the menu item whose operation level cannot be executed and the display color is “yellow” and the display color is “yellow” is updated to 2 and the display color is changed to “blue”. The menu is displayed so that the user can naturally understand the items and processing procedures that can be processed.

Also, in the closing date operation procedure file of FIG. 6, an operation procedure of “cancel carryover” is added after the fifth process. If the "cancel" process is not executed, a data inconsistency may occur. Therefore, the process name and the operation level are updated and added to the operation procedure file. Operational level of this "rollover cancellation"! Is set to "processing that causes data inconsistency if not executed, can be executed immediately", and the degree of importance of the processing is the highest. So this operational level! Is set to "red" which is the most prominent color in the color display designation file of FIG.

If the operation procedure display category is set to "2: do not display" in step S7, the menu display indicating the operation procedure shown in FIG. (A menu of units, etc.) is displayed (step S13). Then, in the normal menu display, it is confirmed whether or not there is an instruction to execute a menu item or an instruction to end processing of the menu display (step S1)
4). If there is an execution instruction, the designated process is executed (step S11), the operation level of the process is updated (step S12), and the process returns to step S1. When the end of the process is instructed, the process ends.

As described above, in the computer system 1 according to the present embodiment, in the menu display processing, the menu display indicating the operation procedure of the operation unit is displayed by the correspondence between the system date and the closing date set for each operation unit. Automatically display from the user, users can immediately know what to do next without checking manuals and other documents as in the past. Since the menu display indicates whether or not the processing should be executed, leakage of the processing can be prevented. In addition, since the user can execute the operation procedure without leaving his gaze from the display screen,
It is possible to prevent a situation in which an operation procedure is mistaken.

In the menu display process, the operation level is set for each process indicating the operation procedure of the operation unit, and the importance of the process is displayed in color on the menu display screen. The degree can be clearly notified to the user.

Further, self-processing (in-house processing, etc.) in operation units
And other processing (claim closing date processing, etc.) in the closing date file, and manage (update) the operation level of this process and other processes
Is performed in the menu display processing, so that the user can be clearly notified of the operation procedure of the operation unit.

[0053]

According to the menu display device of the first aspect of the present invention, the user can simply view the displayed menu items in order without confirming the manual or other documents as in the prior art. Understand what to do next to operate. Further, since the user can execute the operation procedure without keeping his / her eyes off the display screen, it is possible to prevent a situation where the operation procedure is mistaken.

According to the menu display device of the second aspect of the present invention, the degree of importance of the processing can be displayed in color on the menu display screen, and the processing procedure and the importance of the processing can be clearly notified to the user. it can.

According to the menu display device of the present invention, since what process should be executed today can be indicated on the menu display by the date, the process to be executed by the date can be indicated to the user. It can be notified, and leakage of the processing can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a computer system to which a menu display device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of an operation procedure file stored in an operation procedure memory of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a closing date file stored in a closing date memory of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a color display designation file stored in a color display designation memory of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a menu display process executed by the CPU of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a specific example of an operation procedure file processed in the menu display processing of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a menu display displayed by the operation procedure file of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a case where a processing content of an operation unit is displayed in a menu in a conventional business processing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Computer system 2 CPU 3 Input part 4 RAM 4a Work memory 4b Operation procedure memory 4c Closing date memory 4d Color display designation memory 5 Color display part 6 Color printing part 7 Storage device 8 Storage medium 9 Bus

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A menu display device for displaying a menu indicating an operation procedure of an operation unit for operating a system, wherein the operation procedure is stored for each operation unit, and processing contents corresponding to the operation procedure are stored. Operating unit storing means for storing the operating unit; operating unit specifying means for specifying the operating unit; and when the desired operating unit is specified by the operating unit specifying means, the operating procedure corresponding to the specified operating unit is executed. Means for reading from the procedure storage means, reading the processing content corresponding to the operation procedure, setting a menu item based on each processing of the processing content, and displaying the menu items arranged in the order of the operation procedure; A menu display device comprising: 2. An operation level set for each process, wherein an operation level is set for each process of the process content, color information is defined in association with each operation level, and the menu item is displayed when the menu item is displayed. Reading the color information associated with
2. The menu display device according to claim 1, wherein each menu item of each process is displayed in color according to the color information. 3. A date for operating the operation unit is set, an operation unit to be operated is determined on the basis of a current date measured by a timer, and the determined operation unit is automatically determined by the operation unit designator. 2. The menu display device according to claim 1, wherein the menu items corresponding to the specified operation unit are displayed in the order of the operation procedure.