JP2001142599A - System with menu display user interface - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a system that can flexibly display a menu according to a language. A word processing program is recorded on a server computer. Further, the server 2
Menu sets 6, 8,... For displaying a menu in each language are recorded. Client computers 12, 14, 16 connected to the Internet 10
... accesses the server 2 and downloads (or loads) the word processing program 4. In addition, only a menu set of a required language is loaded (or downloaded) and incorporated into the word processing program 4 for use. Therefore, even if a large number of clients are located in regions using different languages, by accessing the server 2, a word processing program for displaying a menu in a desired language can be executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a user interface for displaying menus, and more particularly to other languages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the display language of a menu for inputting commands of an application such as word processing software or spreadsheet software has been fixed depending on the application. For example, the menu display language for word processing software for the United States was fixed at English, and the menu display language for word processing software for Japan was fixed at Japanese. For this reason, a number of products must be prepared according to the destination of the word processing software, and the burden on the application provider is large.

Further, as a language to be processed by word processing software, some products can handle languages of two or more languages with one product. Necessary commands and unnecessary commands vary depending on the characteristics of the language to be processed. For example, the ruby function is a command that is required only when the processing target language is Japanese. However, even if the processing target language changes, the commands in the menu are fixed, and in relation to the processing target language,
Unnecessary commands had to be entered. Therefore, there is a problem that the menu is complicated.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a system capable of displaying a menu flexibly according to a language.

[0005]

According to the system of the present invention, a menu set is prepared for each menu display language used for menu display, and the selected menu display is performed. A menu display is performed by incorporating a menu set corresponding to a language. Therefore, the menu display language can be flexibly switched and used.

The menu display system according to a third aspect is characterized in that a processing target language to be processed can be selected. Therefore, a desired processing target language can be selected and used.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, each menu set provided for each menu display language has a command set for each processing target language. Therefore, menu display in the same language can be performed for different processing target languages.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a menu display system, wherein each command set for each language to be processed includes a command corresponding to the characteristic of the corresponding language to be processed. Therefore, an appropriate command can be displayed according to the language to be processed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the menu display system is automatically switched to a command set corresponding to a processing target language set at the cursor position in accordance with the movement of the cursor. Therefore, an appropriate menu can be displayed according to the once set processing target language.

The menu display system according to claim 8 is characterized in that a menu display language can be set for each window. Therefore, it is possible to select an appropriate menu display language for each window.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the menu display system, a plurality of languages have a parent-child relationship in the menu display language, and a menu in the parent language is used for an undefined menu in the child language. I have. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the overall capacity of the menu set.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the menu display system, the menu set is recorded on a host computer connected via a communication line to a client computer on which the application program is executed, and each menu set recorded on the host computer is recorded. A menu set corresponding to a selected menu language is selected from the menu sets for each menu language, and is incorporated into the application program by the client computer.

Therefore, the user can obtain a menu set of a required language from the host computer and use it. The supply side can supply one application for each language by preparing a menu set of each language in the host computer.

In the menu display system of the present invention, the menu set is recorded on a host computer connected via a communication line to a client computer on which the application program is executed, and the application program is stored in the host computer. From the recorded menu set for each menu language,
A menu set corresponding to the selected menu language is selected and used.

Therefore, the user can obtain a menu set of a required language from the host computer and use it. The supply side can supply one application for each language by preparing a menu set of each language in the host computer.

A menu display system according to a twelfth aspect is characterized in that the menu set recorded in the host computer is configured to be added or changed. Therefore, even if the menu set is added or changed, the menu set in the client computer can be reflected only by adding and changing the menu set recorded in the host computer.

A menu display system according to a thirteenth aspect is characterized in that the menu set is recorded on a computer on which the application program is executed, and a menu set corresponding to the selected menu language is selected and used. . Therefore, the user can select and use a menu set of a required language.

In the present invention, “take in” means
Not only when downloading to a hard disk etc.,
This concept includes a case where the data is temporarily loaded into a volatile memory or the like.

"Menu language" refers to a language used as a display character string in a menu.

The "language to be processed" refers to a language represented by data to be processed by an application program. For example, in the case of word processing software, the language of the created document is the processing target language.

The term "language" refers to not only languages in a narrow sense in a general sense such as Japanese and English, but also dialects such as Osaka dialect and standard languages in a narrow sense. . Also, like Japanese for adults and Japanese for children,
Different languages (Kanji and Hiragana) are also in different languages.

"Recording medium on which the program is recorded"
A recording medium such as a ROM, a ROM, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a memory card, a hard disk, or the like on which a program is recorded. Further, not only a recording medium such as a hard disk which is connected to the CPU and in which the recorded program is directly executed, but also a recording medium such as a CD-ROM in which a program to be executed after being once installed on the hard disk or the like is recorded. It is a concept including further,
The programs referred to here include not only programs that can be directly executed, but also source-format programs, compressed programs, encrypted programs, and the like. Further, the functions realized by the program may be realized by the program alone, or may be realized in cooperation with another program (for example, an operating system).

[0023]

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A word processor program (hereinafter, word processing program) 4 is recorded on a server computer 2 which is a host computer connected to the Internet 10. This word processing program 4 is described in Java. By using Java, word processing programs can be run independently of the operating system on the client side. Of course, it may be described in another programming language. Further, in the server 2, menu sets 6, 8,... For displaying a menu in each language are recorded.

The client computers 12, 14, 16,... Connected to the Internet 10
To download (or load) the word processing program 4. In addition, only a menu set of a required language is loaded (or downloaded) and incorporated into the word processing program 4 for use.

Therefore, even if a large number of clients are located in regions using different languages, by accessing the server 2, a word processing program for displaying a menu in a desired language can be executed.

FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the server 2. The server 2 includes a display 20, a mouse / keyboard 22, a communication unit 24, a CPU 26, a memory 28, and a hard disk 30. The communication unit 24 is a circuit unit for connecting to the Internet 10. The hard disk 30 stores word processing programs, menu sets, and the like.

FIG. 3 shows a hardware configuration of the client computer 12. The client 12 includes a display 50, a mouse / keyboard 52, a communication unit 54, a floppy disk drive 56, a CPU 58, and a memory 6.
0, a hard disk 62, and a printer 64.
The communication unit 54 is a circuit unit for connecting to the Internet 10. The hard disk 62 records a program for downloading a program or data from the server 2 to the hard disk 62 or loading the program or data into the memory 60.

FIG. 4 shows the word processing program 4 recorded on the hard disk 30 of the server 2. In this embodiment, the word processing program 4 separately records a word processing program main body 40 and function programs (plug-in programs) 42 to 48 to be incorporated in the main body. This allows the client to select, download, and use only the plug-ins with the necessary functions.

The print plug-in 42 is a program for performing printing. Escape menu plug-in 43
Is a program for enabling a so-called escape menu (a menu displayed by pressing an escape key). The help plug-in 44 is a program for displaying help regarding the operation of the word processing program. The Ichitaro file text extraction plug-in 45 is a program that enables a file of Ichitaro (trademark) format, which is word processing software of JustSystems Corporation, to be read as text. MS-WOR
D-File Text Extraction Plug-in 46 is MS-WORD (trademark), a word processing software from Microsoft Corporation.
A program that allows you to read a file in text format as text. The Zip file support plug-in 48 is a program that enables reading and writing of a Zip-compressed file.

Returning to FIG. 2, the menu set in each display language recorded on the hard disk 30 is composed of a menu display set and a command set. FIG. 5 shows a part of a menu display set for displaying a menu in English (that is, the menu display language is English).
This menu display set has EN as an identifier (ID).
Is attached. The first level, the second level, and the third level indicate the depth of the menu at the time of display. The display character string is a character string displayed at the time of menu display. The command number indicates a command to be executed when the menu is selected by using a code. FIG. 7 shows a command set recorded on the hard disk 30. The command is described in association with the command number.

Further, this menu display set includes not only a menu in which the language to be processed is English but also a menu in which another language is to be processed. FIG. 6 shows a portion of the menu display set corresponding to the case where the processing target language is Japanese. A command set is also provided for each menu in FIG. 6 (not shown) as in FIG. In this embodiment, a command and a display character string corresponding to the characteristics are prepared for each language to be processed. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, ruby commands are not prepared for an English language to be processed, but as shown in FIG.
The command of i) is prepared.

The following commands are specific to such a language. Whether the document length is counted by the number of characters (for example, Japanese) or the number of words (for example, English). Whether the first character of the paragraph is treated as large (such as English) or not (such as Japanese). When searching, you can choose whether to distinguish between uppercase and lowercase letters (such as English) or whether to distinguish between umlauts (such as German). How to display dates, amounts, eras, etc., different for each language. Whether you can select whether or not to display six days (Japanese, etc.) or not (English, etc.). Whether there is a command specific to vertical writing (Japanese, Chinese, etc.) or not (English, etc.). Whether there is a command for selecting the left-to-right language notation of foreign words that is unique to Arabic (such as Arabic) or not (such as English).

In the hard disk 30, a menu set is recorded for each language used for the new display, in addition to the English menu display language as described above. For example, FIGS. 5A and 6A show menu display sets when the menu display language is Japanese. As in the case where the menu display language is English, a menu corresponding to the processing target language is prepared.

When the client 12 uses word processing software, the client 12 first accesses the server 2.
Next, the word processor main program 40 and necessary plug-in programs are downloaded to the hard disk 62.

Subsequently, a menu display language is selected. When the user does not select a menu display language, the menu display language and the processing target language set as defaults in the word processing main program 40 are used. The menu display process at this time is shown in FIG. The client 12 stores the menu set corresponding to the set menu display language on the hard disk 3 of the server.
From 0, the data is loaded into the memory 60 (step S1). For example, if the menu display language is English, a menu display set including all of those shown in FIG. 5 (for the processing target language for English), FIG. 6 (for the processing target language for Japanese), and other processing languages, and all Command set for the current processing language is loaded. If the processing target language is English,
From these, a menu display set for which the processing target language in FIG. 5 is English is selected and used for menu display (step S2).

FIG. 9 shows that the menu display language is English,
5 shows a menu display on the display 50 when the processing target language is English. The display corresponding to the data structure of FIG. 5 is made.

In this embodiment, the language to be processed can be selected in document units, paragraph units or character units. The target language is the property of the document (Fi
le), paragraph properties (Format
Command), property for each character (Fo
This can be done by changing the setting of the command provided in rmat). For example, if Japanese (Japanese) is selected as the processing target language in the state of FIG. 9,
The menu display program obtains a menu whose processing target language is Japanese (see FIG. 6) from the menu set loaded in the memory 60, and displays the menu.
FIG. 10 shows a display screen at this time. As is clear from the figure, a command peculiar to the case where the processing target language is Japanese, rubi (ruby), is displayed and can be used.

In this embodiment, the designation of the language to be processed has a vertical relationship. From the top, (default setting) (document setting) (paragraph setting) (character setting). The lower setting has priority. For example, if the processing target language is "Japanese" and the paragraph setting is "English" by default, the processing target language is "English". Further, when “German” is set for a character in the paragraph, the processing target language is “German” for the character.

The language to be processed is recorded in the document data to be processed. Therefore, when a processing target language is set for each paragraph, the processing target language is recorded for each paragraph. The document data (processing output file) is stored in the hard disk 62 or the FD.
The data is recorded and stored on a recording medium such as a floppy disk via D56.

In this embodiment, when a processing target language is set for each paragraph or character, the processing target language is automatically determined based on the position of the cursor, and a menu corresponding to the processing target language is displayed. Like that. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the cursor is moved to the paragraph α in which Japanese is set as the processing target language, FIG.
0 is displayed and the cursor is moved to the paragraph β in which English is set as the processing target language.
Is displayed. Therefore, it is not necessary to reset the processing target language when editing the already input area, and the operation is simplified.

Further, in this embodiment, the menu display language can be changed by changing the menu set. FIG. 12 shows the menu set change processing. The menu display language is changed by a command for selecting a menu language (Font and language in FIG. 5). The menu language is identified by an ID. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, EN for English, and as shown in FIGS. 5a and 6a,
If it is Japanese, it is JAJP.

If the menu set of the selected menu display language already exists in the memory 60, the menu set is used (step S13). If the menu is not in the memory 60, the server 20 is accessed and the menu set in the menu display language is loaded into the memory 60 (step S12). The menu set thus loaded is used (step S13).

For example, when Japanese is selected as the menu display language, the menu display set shown in FIGS. 5A and 6A is used. If the language to be processed is Japanese, the menu is displayed as shown in FIG.

As described above, according to this embodiment, word processing in a desired language can be performed in a desired menu display language by accessing the server 2 from any region in the world. Also, the program supplier need not ship as a different product for each language, but can supply it as one unified product.

The command display set recorded in the server 2 is provided for a menu display language. At this time, by providing a parent-child relationship (up-down relationship) in the menu display language, the capacity of the command display set can be reduced. For example, the following shows the definition of a menu display set when British English is used as the menu display language. This menu display set is provided with an ID “en_GB” obtained by combining “GB” unique to British English with an English ID “en” as a parent language. As a result, this menu display set
This indicates that the menu display set "en" is the parent.

The menu display processing program processes the menu display set corresponding to the child so as to use the information of the parent menu display set unless a display character string is defined. Therefore, in the case of FIG. 14, the menu display is such that the display character string of “Center” is “Ce”
ntre "and the rest of the display will be the same as in English.

Similarly, the case where Japanese for elementary school children is used as the display language can be defined as shown in FIG. Also in this case, the character string defined in FIG. 15 is the character string, and the undefined “help”, “file”, and the like use the definition of the menu set ja_JP whose display language is Japanese.

In the above description, the case where the menu display set has a parent-child relationship has been described. However, the command set can also have the parent-child relationship in the same manner. For example, in the command set e for general English, commands are described corresponding to all command numbers that may be selected (see FIG. 16). The command set e_GB for British English, which is a child, describes only a part different from the command set of the parent (or a command not in the parent). Here, as shown in FIG. 17, it is defined that a command (a command for British English) that is different only for spell checking is executed. In this way, the capacity can be reduced by giving the command set a parent-child relationship.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18, a plurality of windows 10 having different menu display languages are displayed.
0 and 102 can be opened at the same time to perform processing. Document windows 112 and 114 in a window whose menu display language is Japanese commonly use the Japanese menu display.

In the above embodiment, the word processor main program and the plug-in program are downloaded to the client hard disk 62 for use. However, the word processor main program and the plug-in program may be loaded to the memory 60 for use. If you do not download to hard disk 62,
Since the program does not remain on the client side, it is effective when charging for the use time of the program.

In the above embodiment, the menu set is loaded into the memory 60, but the hard disk 62
May be downloaded and used.

Further, the client may directly use the program or menu set recorded on the server 2 without downloading or loading. In this case, the addition or modification of the menu set in the server 2 is immediately reflected on the client side.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the menu set and the program are recorded in the server 2 and obtained from the client side and used are described.
However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where a menu set and a program are recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, sold, and installed in a client for use. In this case, select the menu display language during installation,
Only the menu set of the selected menu display language may be installed, or the menu set of all menu display languages may be installed, and the menu display language may be selected at the time of use.

In the above embodiment, a word processing program has been described as an example of an application program. This is for the purpose of showing an example, and similarly, the present invention can be applied to all software having a menu such as spreadsheet software, database processing software, CAD software, accounting processing software, and image processing software. . In this case, those having a concept of a processing target language, such as database processing software, can be applied similarly to word processing software. Also,
For image processing software or the like that does not have the concept of the language to be processed, only the part for switching the menu display language can be applied.

In the above embodiment, the Internet is used, but the present invention can also be used in a system in which a server and a client are connected by a LAN or the like.

In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the present invention is implemented using a CPU. However, a part or all of the functions may be constituted by hardware logic.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a server 2.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a client 12;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an application program recorded on a server 2.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a structure of a menu display set when a menu display language is English.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing the structure of a menu display set when the menu display language is Japanese.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of a menu display set when the menu display language is English.

FIG. 6A is a diagram showing the structure of a menu display set when the menu display language is Japanese.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of a command.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a menu display program in a flowchart.

FIG. 9 is an example of menu display when the menu display language is English and the processing target language is English.

FIG. 10 is an example of menu display when the menu display language is English and the processing target language is Japanese.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen display when a processing target language is set for each paragraph.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a menu display program in a flowchart.

FIG. 13 is a menu display example when the menu display language is Japanese and the processing target language is Japanese.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a structure of a menu display set.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a structure of a menu display set.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the structure of a command set.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a structure of a command set.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a case where the present invention is applied to a multi-window.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... Server 4 ... Word processing program 6 ... English menu set (menu display language is English) 8 ... Japanese menu set (menu display language is Japanese) 10 ... Internet 12 ... Client

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] November 18, 1999 (1999.11.
18)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All figures

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

FIG. 2

FIG. 14

FIG.

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

FIG. 5

FIG. 5a

FIG. 6

FIG. 7

FIG.

FIG. 6a

FIG. 8

FIG. 9

FIG. 10

FIG. 11

FIG.

FIG. 13

FIG. 16

FIG.

Claims (15)

[Claims] In a system having a menu display user interface for selecting and inputting a command of an application program, a menu set is prepared for each menu display language used for menu display. A system for displaying a menu by incorporating a menu set corresponding to a language. 2. A recording medium storing a display processing program for causing a computer to execute a menu display processing for selecting and inputting a command of an application program, wherein a menu display language used for menu display prepared in advance is provided. A recording medium that stores a program for causing a computer to execute a process of displaying a menu by incorporating a menu set corresponding to a selected menu display language from menu sets prepared for each of the menus. 3. The menu display system according to claim 1, wherein the application is configured to select a processing target language to be processed. 4. The menu display system or recording medium according to claim 3, wherein the processing target language can be selected for each character, paragraph, or document. 5. The menu display system or recording medium according to claim 1, wherein each menu set provided for each menu display language has a command set for each processing target language. What is characterized by. 6. The menu display system or recording medium according to claim 5, wherein each command set for each processing target language includes a command corresponding to a characteristic of a corresponding processing target language. 7. A menu display system or a recording medium according to claim 4, wherein a command set corresponding to a processing target language set at the cursor position is automatically added with a movement of the cursor. Characterized by being switchable. 8. The menu display system or recording medium according to claim 1, wherein a menu display language can be set for each window. 9. The menu display system or recording medium according to claim 1, wherein a parent-child relationship is provided between a plurality of languages in the menu display language, and a menu not defined in the child language is set in the parent language. A feature of using a menu. 10. The menu display system or recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the menu set is recorded on a host computer connected via a communication line to a client computer on which an application program is executed. And selecting a menu set corresponding to the selected menu language from the menu sets for each menu language recorded in the host computer, incorporating the menu set in the client computer, and incorporating the menu set in the application program. . 11. The menu display system or recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the menu set is recorded on a host computer connected via a communication line to a client computer on which an application program is executed. The application program selects and uses a menu set corresponding to a selected menu language from menu sets for each menu language recorded in the host computer. 12. The menu display system or recording medium according to claim 1, wherein a menu set recorded in said host computer is configured to be addable or changeable. 13. The menu display system or recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said menu set is recorded on a computer on which an application program is executed, and said menu set corresponds to a selected menu language. Is selected and used. 14. A recording medium for recording a menu set for performing a menu display process for selecting and inputting a command of an application program, comprising: a menu language identifier for identifying a plurality of menu languages used for menu display; And a menu medium provided for each of the menu language identifiers and recording a menu set for each language. 15. A menu display method for selecting and inputting a command of an application program, wherein a menu set is prepared for each menu language used for menu display, and a menu corresponding to the selected menu language is prepared. A menu display method, wherein a menu is displayed by incorporating a set.