JPH08320751A - Help information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Problem] By integrally managing the help function in a plurality of application programs, an increase in the total capacity of the integrated software programs is minimized. An application program 102 registers a message number 107 in an operating system 101 according to an execution state. The help program 110 is activated when the help is instructed, and displays help according to the message number registered in the operating system 101.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a help function, and more particularly to a help information control method suitable for realizing the help function in integrated software composed of a plurality of application programs, and its apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In information processing apparatuses, it is widely used to provide a help function as means for giving effective information to a user when the user does not know how to operate the information processing apparatus. .

As an example of a help function in a conventional information processing apparatus, there is one shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-179016. That is, when the user falls into a state in which the operation is unclear, for example, by pressing a specific key on the keyboard, the program running on the information processing device responds to the message output to the display device immediately before that. Help information to be displayed, that is, information about operation is displayed on the display device.

Further, in the help function of the integrated software composed of a plurality of application programs, there is a mechanism for realizing the help function independently for each application program.

[0005]

The above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, only the help information corresponding to the message output immediately before can be provided, and when the help function is requested at any time, the help information reflecting the more detailed state of the application program cannot be provided.

Further, in the integrated software including a plurality of application programs, each application program has a similar mechanism for realizing a help function, so that the mechanism of each application program becomes complicated and the help function is also provided. The mechanism for realizing is duplicated among the application programs, and the total program capacity of the integrated software is increased.

Further, since the integrated software has an independent help function mechanism for each application program, it is impossible to refer to the help information belonging to the application program other than the one currently being executed. is there.

As described above, in the conventional method, the mechanism of the help function of each application program is complicated, the total capacity of the program of the integrated software as a whole is increased, and the help information can be referred to across different application programs. There was a problem that it was difficult.

An object of the present invention is to provide a help information display device for displaying help information reflecting the state of an application program when a help function is requested.

Another object of the present invention is to increase the total capacity of the integrated software program by simplifying the mechanism of the help function in each application program in the integrated software consisting of a plurality of application programs and providing the help function. It is another object of the present invention to provide a help information display device capable of referring to help information belonging to an application program other than the one being executed when the help function is activated.

Still another object of the present invention is to process an application program when a help function for displaying a help message corresponding to the application program that always displays the frontmost window is realized in a multi-window system. Minimize the burden,
For adding or changing application program functions,
It is to realize a help information display device that can easily change the display content of a help message.

[0012]

[Means for Solving the Problems] To achieve the above object,
The present invention includes, for example, a CPU, a memory unit, an input unit,
A help information display device for displaying help information on the display means of an information processing device having a display means, each of which is executed by the CPU and is interrupted in response to a help request from the input means. And an operating system program executed by the CPU for controlling the information processing apparatus and managing help message data corresponding to the execution state of each application program, and a set of a program identifier and a message identifier for each application program A first area in the memory means for storing a plurality of sets, and executed by the CPU after being activated in response to the help request and referring to the stored one set of the program identifier and the message identifier. Corresponding help message Searching Jideta providing help information display device characterized by comprising a Help program supplied to the display means.

[0013]

In the help information display device according to the present invention,
An operating system program manages help message data corresponding to the execution state of each application program, and the help program is activated in response to a help request and stores a set of the stored program identifier and message identifier. The help message data corresponding to the set is searched to be referred to, supplied to the display means, and displayed.

Therefore, by centrally managing the help functions in a plurality of application programs,
The increase in the total capacity of the integrated software program can be minimized.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is a preferred embodiment for a document editing device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the document editing apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a central processing unit (hereinafter, CPU),
It executes programs related to document editing and controls peripheral devices. Reference numeral 2 denotes a main memory (hereinafter referred to as MM), which stores a processing program related to document editing and data related thereto. The programs to be executed by the CPU 1 include a resident program that is always stored in the MM 2 and a hard disk device (hereinafter, HD) 13 that is normally stored.
There is a non-resident program that is rolled into the MM2 or rolled out from the MM2 to the HD13 as needed. 3 is a random access memory for video (hereinafter,
VRAM), which includes a display unit 3a whose content is displayed on the display device 7 and a non-display unit 3b used for temporarily saving the data displayed on the display device 7.

A keyboard (hereinafter referred to as a KB) is used for editing and printing, instructions for starting the help function, and document input operations.
4, via mouse 5. Reference numeral 6 denotes a display controller (hereinafter, CRTC), which is a display device (hereinafter, C) for displaying a screen for document editing work.
RT) 7 is controlled. The contents of the display portion 3a of the VRAM 3 are displayed on the CRT 7. A printer controller (hereinafter, PRC) 8 is a wire for outputting documents and the like.
Printer device such as dot printer (hereinafter WDP) 9
Is controlled. A floppy disk controller (hereinafter, FDC) 10 controls a floppy disk drive device (hereinafter, FD) 11 that reads and saves document data for a floppy disk. 12 is a hard disk controller (hereinafter, HD
C), which is a program related to document editing, document data,
Also, it controls a hard disk device (hereinafter, HD) 13 that reads and saves help data. Reference numeral 14 is a bus for communicating between these peripheral devices 2 to 13 and the CPU 1.

FIG. 4 shows the software configuration of the document editing apparatus of this embodiment. In the figure, 401 to 4
Reference numeral 08 denotes an application program (hereinafter, AP) related to document editing. Reference numerals 401 to 406 are text, graphic, graph, table, and image editing programs, and a layout editing program for editing each document created by the respective editing programs into one document. Reference numeral 407 is a program for printing a document, and 408 is a help program for realizing a help function. The above programs 401 to 408 are controlled by an operating system program (hereinafter, OS) 409 as independent tasks. OS40
Reference numeral 9 performs basic task control and input / output control to control for realizing a multi-window on the screen of the CRT. Also, each AP and OS is loaded into the apparatus by a program built-in processing program 410 for initial processing.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the help data search table of the document editing apparatus of this embodiment. The help data search table 501 stores help information corresponding to the AP type and state from a program number 502 as a program identifier indicating the AP type and a message number 503 as a message identifier uniquely indicating the state of each AP. 9 is a table for searching a help data storage start position 504 on the HD 13 in which the created help data exists. In the help data search table 501, each A
Each time P is installed in the document editing apparatus, the storage position of help data belonging to AP is automatically registered.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of the help window displayed on the screen 601 of the CRT 7 when the help function is activated in this embodiment. Reference numeral 602 denotes a help window that displays help information given to the user,
Specifically, the display data 605 of help data is displayed. Reference numeral 603 is a rectangular area defined by the control data of the help data, which will be referred to in the description of FIG. A mouse cursor 604 is operated by the mouse 5. An end click box 606 is used to instruct the end of the help function with the mouse 5.

FIG. 7 shows the structure of help data in this embodiment. The help data 701 includes a display data section 702 and a control data section 703. The display data portion 702 is text data 7 displayed as help information.
It consists of 04. The control data unit 703 moves the mouse cursor 604 into the rectangular area 603 in the help window and presses the mouse button provided on the mouse 5, that is, clicks to display another help data. , The coordinate value 70 of the diagonal point of the rectangular area 603
5a, 705b and a program number 706 and a message number 707 that define the target help data. The user refers to the help data 605 displayed in the help window 602 and designates a character string in the rectangular area 603 defined by the control data unit 703, thereby referring to other help data across different APs. A possible mechanism is realized.

Next, the case where the help function is realized in the document editing apparatus having the system configuration according to the present embodiment described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the mechanism of the help function in this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a processing flow diagram of the help program.

First, referring to FIG. 1, the process up to the activation of the help program 110 will be described. The operating system program (OS) 101 corresponding to the above OS 409 registers the program number 103 of the AP 102 in the help status table 104 when the application program (AP) 102 corresponding to the above AP 401 to 408 is activated. 105). The help status table 104 includes the AP 102 and the OS 101.
It exists in the common area 106 on the MM2 that can always be read and written from. Also, each AP 102 registers a message number 107 indicating the AP status (for example, the character string copying function is being executed) in the help status table 104 at a predetermined time, for example, in the AP 102 that creates a text document. (108). The AP 102 determines its own state and generates a message number at the time of activating each function as well as when changing the display screen as necessary.
register. In this way, the AP program number 103 currently being executed and the message number 107 of each AP
Is always registered in the help status table 104.

When the help key is pressed (109), the OS
101 interrupts the running AP 102 and activates the help program 110 (111). When the help program 110 is started, the help status table 104
The contents of are saved in the state before the help program was started.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the help program 1
The processing of 10 will be described. Launched help program 1
10 opens a help window 602 for displaying the help data shown in FIG. 6 (step 11).
2). Then, the program number 103 and the message number 1 of the AP immediately before the help program is activated
07 is read from the help status table 104 (step 113). Next, using the help data search table 501 shown in FIG. 5, the program number 103 and the message number 10 read from the help status table 104.
Using 7 as a search key, the storage position of the corresponding help data 701 in the HD 13 as shown in FIG. 7 is searched (step 114). And help data 701
Is read (step 115), the control data 703 of the help data 701 is stored (step 116), and the display data 702 is displayed in the help window 602 (step 117). While the help data is being displayed, the mouse cursor 6 appears in the help window 602.
04 (step 118), the coordinate value 705 of the control data 703 stored in step 116
(Step 119). Then, the designated position is determined (step 120), and if the inside of the rectangular area 603 defined by the control data 703 is designated, the program number 706 and the message number 707 corresponding to the rectangular area 603 are acquired ( Step 121),
Help data corresponding to the program number 706 and the message number 707 is searched again by the help data search table 501 (step 114) and displayed in the help window 602 (step 117).

If the end box 606 is designated by the mouse cursor 604, the help program 11
0 closes the help window 602 (step 1
22) and notifies the OS 101 of the end of the help program 110 (step 123). The OS 101 ends the help program 110 and resumes the suspended execution of the AP 102.

According to this embodiment, the AP 102 and the OS 1
The help status table 104 is provided in the common area 106 that can be read and written from 01 to 01.
Program number 1 indicating the type of the AP when 102 is started
03 is registered in the help status table 104, and a message number 107 indicating the AP execution status is registered in the help status table 104 in a timely manner. And the help program started by typing the help key is
By displaying the help data corresponding to the program number 103 and the message number 107 registered in the help status table 104 and realizing the help function, each AP 102 appropriately determines the status.
When the help function is requested, it becomes possible to provide help information that reflects a more detailed state of the AP 102. Also, each A
It is possible to simplify the mechanism of the help function in P102 and to suppress the increase in the total program capacity of the entire document editing apparatus by providing the help function. further,
By adding the control data 703 to the help data 701, the user refers to the help data 605 displayed in the help window 602, and indicates the inside of the rectangular area 603 defined by the control data 703. Data can be referenced across different APs.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, after the help window is opened, the storage position of the help data in the HD 13 is searched after the help window is opened and the help data is read out, instead of the help data search table 501. Use a management table. That is, the help data management table in this embodiment includes the program number indicating the type of each AP and the A
It is a table that associates the help data of P with the storage position on the HD 13, and is stored at a predetermined position on the HD 13. The help data in the embodiment is a set of help message data.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration. The help data management table 801 holds the storage position 803 of the help data corresponding to the program number 802 representing the type of each AP. APs 401 to 407 (Fig. 4)
The help data storage position 803 is registered at an offset position from the beginning of the help data management table corresponding to the value of the program number 802 indicating the type of each AP.

FIG. 9A shows the structure of the AP in this embodiment. Each AP 901 includes a program section 902 and a help data section 903, and a help data section 903.
Is present in each AP 901 as data in each AP 902. Further, the storage position of the help data portion 903 in the AP 901 head 904 is described as an offset position from the head of the AP 901. The help data section 903 includes one help message search table 905 and one or more help message data 90.
6 and the help message search table 905 is
It is at the beginning of the help data 903.

FIG. 9B shows the structure of the help message search table 905 in this embodiment. This table shows message numbers 907 to 90
7 is a table for searching a storage position 908 of help message data 906 corresponding to No. 7. The help message data storage position 908 is indicated by an offset position from the beginning of the help data portion 903 in FIG. 9A. Note that the configurations of the help window and the help message data in this embodiment are the same as those in the previous embodiment, so the description thereof will be omitted. Please refer to FIG. 6 and FIG.

Now, the help function processing in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the process of registering the help data storage position 803 in the help data management table 801 in this embodiment, and FIG. 11 is the process of searching for and displaying the help message. It is a figure for explaining.

In FIG. 10, the AP 901 is provided in the form stored in the floppy disk 1006, and the program embedding processing program 1001 (corresponding to 410 in FIG. 4) uses the FD 11 (FIG. 3) to access the AP 901. Is read from the floppy disk 1006 and stored in the program storage area 1007 on the HD 13 (step 1
002). The program embedding processing program 1001 is
The help data storage position 904 described at the head of the incorporated AP 901 is acquired (step 1003). Since the help data storage position 904 is described by an offset value from the head of the AP 901, the storage position of the help data 903 on the HD 13 from the offset value 904 and the position on the HD 13 where the AP 901 is actually stored. Is calculated (step 1004). This calculated storage position is then stored in the help data management table 801.
Is registered in the position corresponding to the program number 802 (FIG. 8) of the AP 901 (step 1005).

Next, the processing for displaying the help message in FIG. 11 will be described. When the help key is pressed, the OS and the running AP 1101 are notified that the help key has been pressed. The AP 1101 receives this notification (step 1102) and performs an input determination process (step 1
103) and then the help program 40 shown in FIG.
Start 8. The started help program opens the help window 602 for displaying help data shown in FIG. 6 (step 1104). In addition,
In this figure, steps 1104 to 1117 show the help program. The help program in this embodiment is the same as the help program 110 (see FIG. 2) in the previous embodiment and steps 1105-1111.
The only difference is.

First, in step 1105, the help data management table 801 is read and the AP 1101 is read.
Help data section 9 corresponding to program number 802 of
The storage location 803 on the HD 13 of 03 is acquired (step 1106). Next, this help data section 90
Help message search table 90 existing at the head of 3
5 is read (step 1107), and the storage position 908 of the help message data 906 corresponding to the message number 907 defined in advance by the AP 1101 is acquired (step 1108). In determining the message number 907, the help status table 1 of the first embodiment described above is used.
04 can be used. Help message data 9
Since the storage position 908 of 06 is described by the offset value from the head of the help data portion 903, the help message data 906 is stored from the offset value 908 and the storage position 803 of the help data portion 903 on the HD 13. Calculate the position on the HD 13 (step 11)
09). From the step 1110 of reading the next help message data 906, the steps from the step 1110 onward are the steps 11 of the previous embodiment.
5 to 123 (FIG. 2), the description thereof will be omitted.

According to this embodiment, the AP 901 (9A
(Figure) is incorporated into a document editing device or the like, the AP901
The position on the HD 13 in which the help data 903 of is stored in the HD 13 is registered in the help data management table 801 (FIG. 8), and the control data 703 (FIG. 7) is added to the help message data 906 displayed as help information. In the displayed help message 605 (FIG. 6), by pointing inside the rectangular area 603 defined by the control data unit 703, other help message data can be referred to between different APs. That is, in the present embodiment, in the integrated software including a plurality of APs, every time each AP is installed in an information processing device such as a document editing device, the storage position of the help message of the AP is changed to each A
By registering in the help data management table provided in the memory area common to Ps, it is possible to realize a mechanism that allows other help messages to be referred to between different APs.

Although the help data management table is provided in the memory area common to the APs in this embodiment, the help program is provided in one AP 40 as in the previous embodiment.
In the case where 8 is independent, the help data management table does not have to exist in the memory area common to each AP.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The feature of this embodiment is that the help function for always displaying the help screen for the frontmost window is realized in the multi-window system. That is, in this embodiment, the program number and message number of the AP using the window are set in the window management block having a list structure for managing the status information of each window displayed on the display screen. It is something to keep. The help function in the present embodiment will be described using the help data search table 501 in the first embodiment, but it will be described using the help data management table 801 and the help message search table 905 in the second embodiment. It goes without saying that it is acceptable.

Now, the screen 1 shown in FIG. 12 for this embodiment.
An operation method of the multi-window system according to the present embodiment will be described by using a multi-window display example on 201. In the present embodiment, a window control method will be considered in which a window as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed in a one-to-one correspondence with each AP.
Reference numerals 1202 and 1206 are window display examples. Here, the editing operation can be performed only on the window 1202 displayed on the foreground. The editing operation and the window operation can be performed by moving the mouse cursor 1203 that is moved by moving the mouse 5 onto the instruction target and pressing the button of the mouse 5. In the window, the contents of the edited data and the mouse instruction target 1204 are displayed. When the user points to the area called the end box 1205 with the mouse 5, the AP1 that is currently opening the window deletes the window and edits it. finish.
Further, when the window 5 in the background 1206 is designated by the mouse 5, the designated window 1202 is displayed in the foreground, and the editing operation of the AP using the window can be performed.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a window management block for holding information such as attributes and states of each window in order to realize the multi-window control as described above. Window management block 1300 for each window
Are linked from the foreground pointer 1301 by a link pointer 1302 in the order in which the windows are overlapped, a program number 1303 indicating the program using each window, window type information 1304 indicating the type of window, the window being displayed. Has fields such as window size / position information 1305 for holding the display position and display size on the screen, help message number 1306 for help to be displayed, and the like. Frontmost pointer 13
The values of 01 and the link pointer 1302 are set to “0” when there is no window management block 1300 shown below.

In the present embodiment, the storage area for the program number 1303 and the message number 1306 in each window management block 1300 corresponds to the help status table 104 in the first embodiment, and therefore the help status for each window. The table 104 will exist.

Next, a description will be given of a method of realizing the help function of this embodiment having the system configuration described above.
This is performed using FIG. 15 and FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the process of OS help control in this embodiment, and FIG. 15 is a process flow of a help program for actually displaying a help message using a window.

First, referring to FIG. 14, the process up to the activation of the help program 1403 will be described.
The OS 1401 changes to the AP 1402 according to the operation from the user.
Upon starting (step 1410), the AP 1402 requests the OS 1401 to open a window (14
30). On the other hand, the OS 1401 changes the window to C
The value is displayed on the foreground of the RT screen (step 1411), the window management block 1300 is created, the value of the foreground pointer 1301 is set in the link pointer 1302 of the created window management block 1300, and then the value of the foreground pointer 1301 is set. Is changed to indicate the created window management block, and the created window management block is inserted at the head of the list (step 141).
2).

At this time, the window management block 1
In the program number field 1307 of 300, the program number of the AP 1402 requested to open the window is set (step 1413), and the help message number 1306 is set to "0" as a default (step 1414).

The AP 1402 outputs O according to its internal state.
When a help message change request is issued to S1401 (step 1431), the OS 1401 obtains the window management block 1300 having the same program number 1303 value as the requested AP number by looking up the list from the foreground pointer 1301. (Step 14
15), AP14 in the help message number 1306
The number specified by 02 is set (step 1416).

When the window behind is pointed by the mouse 5, the OS 1401 displays the window in the foreground (step 1417) and, at the same time, reconnects the window management block to the head of the list (step 1418). ).

The AP displaying the window requests the OS 1401 to erase the window (step 1
432), the OS 1401 deletes the window from the screen of the CRT 7 (step 1419) and deletes the corresponding window management block from the list (step 1420).

When the help key is pressed, the OS 1401 suspends the running AP 1402, and the help program 1
Start 403 (step 1421) and the help program displays the help message for the frontmost window.

Next, the processing flow 1501 of the help program 1403 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The started help program 1403 is
First, when the help program 1403 is activated by the OS 1401, it requests acquisition of information on the help message of the frontmost window (step 1502). OS140
1 is the program number 130 from the window management block 1300 indicated by the foreground pointer 1301.
3 and the message number 1306 are read out and the help program 1403 is notified.

Next, the OS 1401 opens a window displaying a help message (step 1503),
The help data search table 50 is based on the obtained program number 1303 and help message number 1306.
1 (see FIG. 5), the storage location 504 of the corresponding help message data on the HD 13 is obtained (step 1504), and the help message data is transferred from the HD 13 to M.
Read to M2 (step 1505). A help message is displayed in the window based on the last read data (step 1506) and the input from the user is awaited. Here, when the end box of the window is pointed by the mouse 5, the help program 1403 requests the OS 1401 to close the window and end (step 150).
7). The OS 1401 erases the window, terminates the help program 1403, and then restarts the operation of the AP 1402.

In addition to the above-mentioned embodiment, FIG. 16 shows a modification of the mechanism for determining the help message to be displayed in the present invention.

First, for each window 1202 (FIG. 12) displayed on the CRT screen, a help status table 1603 for storing a program number 1604 and a message number 1605 is provided. Then, a current pointer 1602 that points to a field corresponding to the window 1202 displayed on the foreground is provided. Further, each window management block 16 connected in order by the foreground pointer 1301 and the link pointer 1302.
00 is provided with a status table pointer 1601 pointing to a field of the help status table 1603 corresponding to each window 1202. Help status table 160
Each program number 1604 of 3 is the window 1202
A that displayed the window 1202 when was displayed
The program numbers of P401 to 408 are set. Note that this setting is performed via the status table pointer 1601 of the window management block 1600.

Further, each of the APs 401 to 408 assigns the message number corresponding to the execution state to the current pointer 160.
2 is set in the field within the message number 1605 indicated by 2. Then, when the help function is requested, the help program acquires the program number 1604 and the message number 1605 from the field of the help status table 1603 pointed to by the current pointer 1602, retrieves and displays the corresponding message data 906. In this modification, the help status table 1603
Are provided in the storage area on the MM2 that is provided in common for the plurality of APs 401 to 408.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the program number and the message number are used as the program identifier and the message identifier stored in the help status table, but the program identifier is the AP 40.
It is sufficient that each AP can be uniquely identified, such as an address on a fixed disk in which 1 to 408 themselves are stored, or an address of a table or the like that manages the APs 401 to 408. Similarly, the message identifier is the address on the fixed disk where the message is stored, such as
Any message that can uniquely identify each message will do.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the integrated software consisting of a plurality of application programs, each application program itself is provided with a help status table for registering its execution status, and the help key is pressed to start the help program. The realized help program realizes the help function by displaying the help data corresponding to those states, so that each application program can register its own state at any time, and the help function requests When this is done, it becomes possible to provide help information that reflects a more detailed state of the application program.

Further, the mechanism of the help function in each application program can be simplified, and the increase of the total program capacity of the integrated software as a whole by providing the help function can be minimized.

Further, by adding the control data to the help data, when the user refers to the help data, the user can give an instruction defined by the control data to refer to other help data between different application programs. It is possible to realize a mechanism that can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a mechanism of a help function according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a help program in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus such as a document editing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a software configuration in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a help data search table in the first example of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a help window displayed on a display device when a help function of the present invention is activated.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a structure of help data according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a help data management table in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of an application program and a help data search table in the second example of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a process of registering a help data storage position in a help data management table according to the second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a process of searching for and displaying a help message according to the second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining multi-window display in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the structure of a window management block having a list structure according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining start processing of a help program in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing processing of a help program according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining another mechanism for determining a help message in the third embodiment.

[Brief description of reference numerals]

101 ... Operating program, 102 ... Application program, 104 ... Help status table,
110 ... Help program, 501 ... Help data search table, 801 ... Help data management table, 905
... Help message search table, 1603 ... Help status table.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Koreeda 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Inside the Hitachi, Ltd. Microelectronics Equipment Development Laboratory (72) Inventor Naomichi Nonaka Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 292 Yoshida-cho, Hitachi, Ltd. Microelectronics equipment development laboratory (72) Inventor Keiichi Nakane 292, Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Hitachi, Ltd. Microelectronics equipment development laboratory (72) Inventor Masaki Fujiwara 1-1-1 Higashi-Taga-cho, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki Company Hitachi Co., Ltd. Taga factory (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Masuda 1-1-1 Higashi-Taga-cho, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki Hitachi Co., Ltd. Taga factory Within

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A help information display device for displaying help information on the display means of an information processing apparatus comprising a CPU, a memory means, an input means, and a display means, each of which is executed by the CPU and is operated by the input means. A plurality of application programs interrupted in response to the help request, an operating system program that is executed by the CPU, controls the information processing apparatus, and manages help message data corresponding to the execution state of each application program, A first area in the memory means for storing a plurality of sets of program identifiers and message identifiers for each of the application programs; and a stored program identifier that is activated in response to the help request and executed by the CPU. And message awareness A help information display device, comprising: a help program for searching help message data corresponding to a set of another child and supplying the help message data to the display means. 2. Each of the application programs is assigned to each of the multi-windows that can be displayed on the display means, and one set of the program identifier and the message identifier corresponding to the application program assigned to the frontmost window at the time of requesting help is provided. The help information display device according to claim 1, wherein the help information display device is referred to. 3. The set of program identifiers and message identifiers referred to above corresponds to help message data of an application program different from the application program interrupted in response to the help request. The help information display device according to item 1. 4. A second area in the memory means for storing the program identifier, the message identifier, and a storage position of the help message data in the memory means is provided for each of the application programs, and the second area is provided. The help information display device according to claim 1, wherein the help program retrieves the help message data according to an area.