JPH033024A - Key entry system with help function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability by automatically displaying guide information relating to commands when there is no entry with a set prescribed time at the time of inputting a command or when the succeeding key entry is not executed before the lapse of a prescribed time after the execution of the 1st key entry. CONSTITUTION:A system program and help data for commands to be used by the system program are stored in a floppy disk 22 and the help data are loaded to a RAM 14 together with the system program through a disk controller 20. In addition, an area for storing a help ON/OFF flag F, an area for storing the set value M of help start time for starting the display of guide information for the commands, etc., are stored in the RAM 4. When key entry is not executed within the prescribed time in the command input state, the guide information relating to commands to be inputted is displayed on a display device. Consequently, operator's key entry can be helped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an automatic programming system that operates a device by inputting various commands from a keyboard, such as a device that is processed by an automatic programming system. Regarding key input method.

2. Description of the Related Art Among automatic programming devices and other devices that operate the device by performing information processing and the like on a computer, it is known that the device is operated by inputting various commands from a keyboard.

For such devices, the command names of various commands are included in the manual that explains how to operate the device.

Generally, functions, parameters, etc. are explained, and the operator is taught how to operate the machine.

Furthermore, in order to improve operability, the device is equipped with a help function, and when the command name or function is unknown, the help function can be used to display the necessary guidance information on the display device. However, methods have also been developed to assist operators in operation.

For example, in an automatic programming device, if the command name that can be entered is unknown, "request-" is displayed in the input field on the display screen of the display device, and then rHE
If you key in LPJ and press the rNLJ key as an input key, you can display a list of command names that can be entered, or
°HF 1. It is known to display detailed information on the input command name by inputting PJ, then inputting the command name, and pressing the rNLJ key. 1. Problems to be Solved by the Invention In devices that do not have the above-mentioned help function, it is necessary for the operator to memorize the names of various commands and the types and order of parameter groups associated with them, or to refer to the manual each time. This results in poor operability.

In addition, even with the above-mentioned device having the help function, if you are in the middle of key input of a command and want to use the help function because you do not know the command string, interrupt the current key input, input the help command again, The only option available is to display guidance information. Furthermore, since guidance information is not displayed unless the operator actively inputs a help command, it has the disadvantage that it is difficult for beginners to operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a key input method with a help function in which the device automatically displays command guide information without inputting a help command to assist the operator in inputting commands.

Means for solving the problem In a device that inputs various commands from a keyboard,
According to the present invention, if there is no key input for a predetermined period of time in a command input state, guidance information regarding inputtable commands is displayed on the display device.

Furthermore, the system assists the operator in key input by displaying detailed guidance information regarding commands that can be input, depending on the input state at that time.

If the operation command input state is entered and no key is input within a predetermined time, guidance information corresponding to the commands that can be entered in this state is automatically displayed, so the operator can use this displayed guidance information. You can input commands as a reference. Additionally, if the next keystroke is not made within a predetermined time while inputting a command, guidance information regarding the command that has the character string of the currently input command name will be displayed, allowing the operator to input the command name while inputting the command. Even if you forget the character string to form, you can enter it based on the displayed guidance information. Furthermore, even if it is necessary to key-in a command name and then key-in a parameter name, etc., the parameters (a type of command) that can be input are displayed after a predetermined period of time has passed after key-in the command name. Assists the operator with key input.

Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of an automatic programming device implementing an embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a processor (hereinafter referred to as CP 1.J), and the processor 10 has a ROM 12, R
AM14. Disk controller 20°keyboard 16
．． Graphic display (hereinafter referred to as CRT) 1
8 are connected. Note that 22 is a floppy disk.

The ROM 12 stores various control programs executed by CPLJlo. Also, disk controller 2
0 stores the system program stored in the floppy disk 22 and help data corresponding to commands used in the system program related to the present invention in the RAM 1.
4 or stored in the RAM 14 are stored on the floppy disk 22. RAM1
4 stores data input from the disk controller 20 and data input from the keyboard 16. The configurations of these automatic programming devices are conventionally known, and the details will be omitted.

In connection with the present invention, the floppy disk 24 stores a system program and help data for commands used in the system program.
It is loaded into the RAM 14 via the disk controller 20 along with the system program.

Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the above-mentioned help data, in which the total number of commands is memorized, and each command ○ to n has a fixed length and its command name is memorized, and for each command name, the number of commands is A pointer indicating an address where detailed information is stored is stored. The address indicated by each pointer stores information such as the function of the command, the parameter name necessary for the command, and the explanation of the parameter.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the RAM 14 is provided with an area for storing key input control data, help 0N1 which is set to "1" when the help function is selected.
An area for storing the 0FF flag F, an area for storing the set value M of the help start time for starting display of guidance information for the command, an input buffer 7B for storing the character string of the command input by key, and the input buffer glue. Is BS
, an input buffer pointer BP for storing the start address of the input buffer B, and an input data pointer DP for specifying a location for storing data input from the keys in the input buffer 7B.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

Figure 1 (a) is a flowchart of the key input process that CPLllo executes when the automatic programming V4 unit is powered on and command input becomes possible;
) is a flowchart of an interrupt process performed by the CPU 10 each time the timer bottom measures the time M set as the help start time during the key input process.

First, when executing the help function, the operator selects the help 0N10FF flag F from the keyboard 16 as "
1" and set the help start time M. Then, when command input becomes possible, cpuio clears the memory contents of input buffer 7B in RAM 14, sets input data pointer DP to input buffer pointer BP, and specifies the start address of input buffer 7B ( Step 81). Next, CPLJIO determines that flag F is “1J”.
Step S2), "
1", it is held until a character is input from the keyboard 16 (step S4), and if there is a character input and it is not the return key INLJ as an input command (step S5), the input variable is held. After incrementing the input data pointer DP by "1" (step S7) to store the input character at the location indicated by the input data pointer DP of 77B (step S6), since the flag F is not set to "1" ( Step 88), returns to step S4, and repeats the process of step 84 to step 88. Then, a certain command string is input and the return key 1-N is pressed.
When LJ is pressed, step S5), step 81
0, and since flag F is not set to "1", the 4/2 input process ends as is. And cpui
o executes the process of the input command, and when the command input becomes possible, the process from step 81 onwards is executed again.

On the other hand, the operator selects the help function and flag F is set to 1.
1", the process proceeds from step S2 to step S3, where the timer °[ is set to 1mM@- when the help start time is set, and the timer T is activated. Then, each time a character is input from the keyboard, step 8
4 to step S8 are performed, and since the flag F is set to "1", steps S8 to S8 are performed.
9, the timer T is again set to the setting help start time M and activated, and the process returns to step S4. That is, when flag F is set to "1", first, timer T is activated by 1ff1Mk:tJ at the start of the setting help, and
Every time a character is input from the keyboard 16, the input character is stored in the address of the input buffer 2B indicated by the input data pointer DP, the input data pointer DP is incremented by "1", and the timer T is set again to the help start time M. The operation of setting and activating is performed sequentially, and the input character string is stored in the input cover 77B. Then, when the operator inputs a certain command character string and presses the return key rNLJ key, the CPU 10 detects it (step S5).
Proceeding to step S10, since the flag F is set to "1", guidance information, which will be described later, displayed on the screen of the CRT 18 is cleared and the operation of the timer T is stopped (step S11.812). Ends key input processing and starts processing the input command.

On the other hand, the key input process is started and the timer T is started in step S3. [When the set help start time M has elapsed and the timer T has timed up, or after one or more characters have been input and the timer T has been reset and started in step S9, the set help start time M is When the timer T times out, an interrupt is generated and the process shown in FIG. 1(b) is started.

First, the cursor position in the input field on the screen of the CRT 18 is saved, and the cursor is moved to the display position at the top of the screen to enable display (steps 821, 522).
. Then, it is determined whether the values of the input data pointer DP and the input buffer pointer BP match (step 52).
3). This means that if the values of the input data pointer DP and the input buffer pointer BP match, it means that no command character string has been input, so if they match, the process moves to step 829 and is used as guidance information. A list of commands that can be entered is displayed on the screen of the CRT 18, the cursor position is restored to the original position of the input field, and the interrupt processing is terminated.

As a result, the operator can input the desired command while looking at the command list displayed on the screen of the CRT 18.

On the other hand, when the input data pointer DP and the input buffer pointer BP do not match in step S3, that is, when at least one or more characters have been input, the input character string stored in the input buffer B is Search commands stored in the RAM 14 for commands with matching character strings (step S24). If there are multiple corresponding commands (step 525), a list of corresponding commands is displayed on the screen of the CRT 18 as guidance information ( step 530). Also, if there is one applicable command (
Step 826), detailed information of the corresponding command, ie, the function of the corresponding command, parameter name, parameter explanation, etc., is displayed on the screen of the CRT 18 as guidance information (Step 527). Furthermore, if there is no corresponding command, that is, if the operator has entered the character string incorrectly, guidance information indicating that there is no corresponding command is displayed on the screen of the CRT 18. Then, this guidance information is displayed on the screen of the CRT 18. After displaying this guidance information on the screen of the CRT 18, the cursor position is restored in step 828>
, ends the interrupt processing and returns to the processing shown in FIG. 1(a).

For example, the commands are FDL, l5T (display file information), RENAME (change file name), RE
MOVE (7p il (7):+bee), 5CRATC
Assuming that there is H (delete file), the command becomes ready for key input, the screen of the CRT 18 becomes ready for key input as shown in FIG. 5(a), and the input field 1' request = If the setting help start time M elapses without any characters being input from the keyboard 16 after ", a list of inputtable commands is displayed on the CRT 18 screen as guidance information, as shown in FIG. 5(b). (
Step S23, 530).

Also, after the setting help start time M has elapsed after key-inputting l-RE J, commands l' RENAMEJ, which match the input character string rREJ from the beginning, are executed.
rREMOVEJ is displayed as shown in FIG. 5(C) (steps 823, 824, 825, 830).

Further, for example, if the setting help start time M has elapsed after keying in rRENOJ, there is no command with such a character string, so "N/A" is displayed as shown in FIG. 5(d) (step 531). ).

Also, if the setting help start time M has elapsed while rRENAMEJ is entered, there is only one command, so the command l-RENAMEJ is displayed on the screen of the CRT 18 as shown in Figure 5 (l). Detailed information, i.e.
Parameter name related to the command (old-file
name, new-filename), parameter explanation, etc. are displayed on the screen of the CRT 18 (step 527).

In this way, even if a command can be entered, if the operator does not enter a command, enters only part of the command string, or enters an incorrect string, Furthermore, if the setting help start time M elapses without inputting the parameter name to be input next to a certain command, a list of commands, detailed information of the command, etc. will be automatically displayed depending on the input status at that time. Since the information is displayed on the screen of the CRT 18, the operator only has to input keys based on this guidance information, and even a beginner can easily operate the system.

Effects of the Invention In the present invention, when inputting a command from the keyboard, if there is no key input within a set predetermined time, or if there is no next key input before the predetermined time elapses after a key input. Since guidance information regarding commands is automatically displayed, operability when inputting commands can be improved. Particularly for beginners, all they have to do is enter the keys according to this guide information, which makes the operation console of the VE particularly convenient.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1(a) is a flowchart of key input processing of an automatic programming device in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1(b) is a flowchart of timer interrupt processing in the same embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the timer interrupt processing in the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of help data in the same embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of key input control data in the same embodiment. FIGS. 5(a) to (e) FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a CRT screen display state in the same embodiment. 10... Processor (CPU), 22... Floppy disk, F... Help 0N10FF flag, M.
...Help start time, BS...Input buffer size,
BP...Input buffer pointer, DP...Input data pointer, B...Input buffer. Third cause

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a device that inputs various commands from a keyboard, a key with a help function is characterized in that if there is no key input for a predetermined period of time in the command input state, guidance information regarding inputtable commands is displayed on the display device. Input method. (2) A key input method with a help function according to claim 1, wherein if there is no key input for a predetermined period of time in the command input state, guidance information regarding inputtable commands is displayed on the display device according to the input state at that time.