JP2001282409A - Help information display device and help information display method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a help information display device and method capable of displaying a help message easily and simply for users of all levels. SOLUTION: When a color-related tag is selected in a display of a print setting dialog (S1 to S2), an item and content selected by a user are determined (S3 to S5), and according to each item and content. Set the user level (S6, S
7, S8). Then, when a help reference request is made (S9), the level of the user is determined (S10), and a help message corresponding to the level is displayed (S11, S).
12, S13). At this time, the level of difficulty and detail of each help message are determined according to the level.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of an apparatus and a method for displaying help information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a recent printer, various printing conditions such as color adjustment, paper size, layout, overlay and the like can be set, and various printing functions according to a user's request can be used. Can be.

However, with the diversification of such printing functions, the number of setting items that must be selected by the user has increased, and it has become difficult for the user to grasp all the contents of each function. .

Therefore, conventionally, in order to support the user, a method of preparing a help message and displaying it as appropriate has been adopted. According to this method, the user can quickly know the contents of the predetermined function and the operation method.

[0005]

However, the information that is useful to each user should be different depending on the technical knowledge of the user or the proficiency of each function. Displayed the same help message for all users.

There has also been a method in which a message corresponding to each user's level is written in a help message in consideration of the user's level, and a necessary message is selected by the user's own judgment.

Further, there has been a method in which a plurality of help messages are linked to each other, and the content of the explanation is detailed in accordance with the link destination being successively referred to by the user's selection.

However, in the method of displaying the same help message irrespective of the level of the user, it is necessary to set the content of the explanation to any level, so that a message that can be satisfied by users of all levels is displayed. Was difficult.

In addition, the method of simultaneously writing a message according to the level of the user has a problem that it is difficult to read because the amount of data to be displayed increases.

[0010] Further, in the method of linking a plurality of help messages to each other, the number of operations for reading the description of the linked destination increases as the user level increases, and
There was a problem that it became complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a help information display device and a method capable of solving the above problems and displaying a help message easily and simply for users of all levels. And

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a help information display apparatus for displaying help information in response to a request during execution of application software in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. Setting processing detecting means for detecting whether a predetermined setting is performed for a predetermined setting item from among operating conditions and other setting items in the application software; and performing the setting by the setting processing detecting means. A determination unit configured to determine which of the predetermined technical difficulty levels the predetermined setting item belongs to when the detection is performed,
Display request detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a request for displaying help information; and if the display request detection means detects the presence of the display request, the determination result of the technical difficulty level by the determination means Accordingly, a display means for selecting and displaying help information of a suitable difficulty level from help information for each predetermined technical difficulty level is provided.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the user performs a predetermined setting for a predetermined setting item from among operating conditions and other setting items in the application software, the setting processing detecting means is provided. , And that the setting has been performed.

When the setting processing detecting means detects that the setting has been made, the determining means determines that the predetermined setting item belongs to any of the predetermined technical difficulty levels. Is determined.

When the user requests display of help information, the request is detected by the display request detecting means. Further, when the display request detecting means detects the presence of the display request,
The display means displays the help information as follows.

First, the display means refers to the result of the determination of the technical difficulty level by the determination means. Next, from the help information for each predetermined technical difficulty level,
The help information of the matching difficulty level is selected, and the selected help information is displayed.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the user's own technical proficiency and the like are estimated by judging the technical difficulty level of the operating conditions and other setting items set by the user. Since the help information of the difficulty level corresponding to the user's level is displayed, useful information is conveyed to the user in a simple manner.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the help information display apparatus according to the first aspect is characterized in that the display means has a detailed content as the technical difficulty level is higher. And means for selecting and displaying the help information.

According to the help information display device of the second aspect, the display means selects and displays more detailed help information as the technical difficulty level determined by the determination means is higher. Therefore, the amount and content of information to be displayed at one time are appropriate for all users.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a help information display apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the application software is printer driver software. .

According to the help information display device of the present invention, the application software is printer driver software, and therefore, depending on the technical difficulty of a printer or a print condition setting item selected by a user,
Help information is selected and displayed. Therefore, useful information on setting of useful printers or printing conditions is conveyed to all users in a simple manner.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a help information display apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the setting items are related to color adjustment in a color printer. It is characterized by.

According to the help information display device of the present invention, since the setting item is a setting item relating to color adjustment in a color printer device, a person having specialized knowledge can
It is relatively easy and accurate to judge a person who is not. Therefore, useful information on color adjustment that is useful to all users is conveyed in a simple manner.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a help information display method for displaying help information in response to a request during execution of application software in order to solve the above-mentioned problem. A step of detecting that a predetermined setting is performed for a predetermined setting item from among operating conditions and other setting items; and, when the setting is detected, the predetermined setting item is determined in advance. Determining which of the technical difficulty levels belonged to, the step of detecting the presence / absence of a request for displaying help information, and the step of detecting the presence of the display request. And selecting and displaying help information of a suitable difficulty level from help information for each predetermined technical difficulty level. And butterflies.

According to the help information display method of the present invention, when the user makes a predetermined setting for a predetermined setting item from among operating conditions and other setting items in the application software, the setting is performed. Is detected.

When it is detected that the setting has been made, it is determined which of the predetermined technical difficulty levels the predetermined setting item belongs to. Then, when the user requests the display of the help information and this request is detected, when the display request detecting means detects the presence of the display request in this way, the display means is as follows. To display help information.

First, the display means refers to the result of determination of the technical difficulty level by the determination means. Next, from the help information for each predetermined technical difficulty level,
The help information of the matching difficulty level is selected, and the selected help information is displayed.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the user's own technical proficiency and the like are estimated by judging the technical difficulty level of the operating conditions and other setting items set by the user. Since the help information of the difficulty level corresponding to the user's level is displayed, useful information is conveyed to the user in a simple manner.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of displaying help information, wherein the step of selecting and displaying the help information is performed in accordance with the technical difficulty level. The higher the level is, the more detailed the help information is selected and displayed.

According to the help information display method of the sixth aspect, as the determined technical difficulty level is higher, more detailed help information is selected and displayed. Therefore, the amount and content of information to be displayed at one time are appropriate for all users.

[0031]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a laser beam printer as an example of a printing device. First, an overview of the entire laser beam printer according to the present embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, a USB (Univer
The present invention is applied to a printing system S in which a host computer and a printer are connected by a (sal Series Bas) interface.

As shown in FIG. 1, a printing system S according to the present embodiment includes a computer 6 as a printer control device.
0 and a printer 10 as a printer device.

Computer 6 as Printer Control Device
0 indicates the CPU 50 and the BIOS (Basic Input Output Sy
stem 51), a RAM 52 used as a system memory, a hard disk 53, and a bus 57.
And USB I / F (Interface) 7 including USB port
0, 71, 72, and a display I / F 73. A keyboard 54 connected to the USB I / F 71; a mouse 55 connected to the USB I / F 72;
Display 56 connected to display I / F 73
And

In the hard disk 53 of the computer 60, in addition to an OS (Operation System), general-purpose software for creating documents for printing, such as word processor software, printer driver software for controlling a printer, and the like are installed. I have. This program is, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk or CD-ROM (Compact Disc R) at the time of product shipment.
OM) or the like, and can be stored in the hard disk 53 in a state that can be started on the computer 60 by the installation process.

The printer 10 as a printer device has a C
PU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, bus 14
And an output interface (output I / F) 15 and US
A BI / F 16 and a printing unit 17 are provided. ROM1
2 stores a control program for controlling the printer 10. The RAM 13 has a computer 60
Print data transmitted from the server is stored. The printer 10 is a printer capable of performing color printing.

Next, the help display process for the printer driver installed in the computer 60 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the help display process in this embodiment. First, when the user opens the print setting dialog to make print settings (FIG. 2: step S1), the general tag of the print setting dialog 100 (see FIG. 3) is displayed on the display 56 of the computer 60. You.

Next, the user enters a color relation (Quality / Colo).
r) When the tag 101 is selected (FIG. 2: Step S)
2) On the display 56 of the computer 60, setting items related to color as shown in FIG. 3 are displayed.

Next, the user clicks one of the buttons provided for each of the color-related setting items shown in FIG. 3 to select specific setting items. Therefore, in the help display processing program according to the present embodiment, in order to determine the technical difficulty of the setting item, it is determined which setting item the user has selected.

As shown in FIG. 3, the setting items of the color relation are as follows.
Color matching 102 and image quality setting (Qua
lity) 106, black and white / color setting (Color / Mono) 10
7, and toner save (Toner Save) 108. Among them, color matching (Color Matching) 102
Is generally considered to be an item set only by professional users such as designers.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, color tone correction (Color Mat
ching) 102 is an item of high technical difficulty, and items other than color matching (Color Matching) 102 are treated as items of low technical difficulty.

Then, color matching (Color Matching) 1
If an item other than 02 is selected (FIG. 2: step S <b>3; NO), the user is a user who has selected an item with low technical difficulty, so the user level is set to beginner (FIG. 2: step S <b> 3). S8).

On the other hand, color matching (Color Matching) 1
02 is selected (FIG. 2: Step S
3; YES), since the user has selected an item having a high degree of technical difficulty, it is generally considered that the level of the user is advanced. However, color correction (Colo
r Matching) 102 includes an Auto button 103 for selecting an automatic adjustment mode and a Custom button for fine adjustment as shown in FIG.
A button 104 and a pantone (PANTONE) button 105 for using a pantone color.
Buttons for settings of different types of technical difficulty are displayed.

Therefore, color matching (Color Matching) 1
Even if item 02 is selected, auto (Aut)
o) When the button 103 is selected (FIG. 2: step S <b>4; Auto), since the user does not substantially perform color tone correction, the user's level is set to beginner (FIG. 2:
Step S8). When the custom button 104 is selected (FIG. 2: step S <b>4; Custom), the color tone correction is set in detail, and the user level is considered to be advanced. However, custom button 1
Even when 04 is clicked, it is conceivable that substantially detailed color tone correction is not substantially performed.

For example, in the present embodiment, when the custom button 104 is clicked, a custom setting menu 110 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the contents of the custom setting include a mode setting 111 for color tone correction and an effect (Ef).
fect) 112, resolution (HRC) 113, and halftone pattern setting (Half Tone Pattern) 11
4 types. Of these, the detailed color tone correction is performed while checking the display on the monitor unit 115 only when the content of the effect (Effect) 112 is adjusted.

Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the custom button 104 is selected (FIG. 2: Step S
4; Custom), when the contents of the effect 112 are not changed (FIG. 2: Step S5; N)
o), the user's level is set to beginner (FIG. 2: step S8). When the content of the effect (Effect) 112 is changed (FIG. 2: Step S5; Ye
s), the user level is set to advanced (FIG. 2: step S7).

In step S4, a pantone (PANTON
E) If the button 105 is selected (FIG. 2: step S4; PANTONE), the user level is set to a special expert (FIG. 2: step S6).

As described above, the level of the user is set according to the items or contents to be set by the user.
Then, when the user requests the reference of the help message while setting each item (FIG. 2: Step S
9), and determine the level of the user previously set (FIG. 2:
Step S10), a help message having a content according to the level of the user is displayed.

For example, when the user level is set to beginner (FIG. 2: step S10; beginner), a help message for the beginner as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed (step S13).

If the user level is set to advanced (FIG. 2: step S10; advanced),
A help message for advanced users as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed (step S12). Further, when the user level is set to expert (FIG. 2: step S10;
(Expert), a more detailed help message for the expert is displayed (step S11).

As can be seen by comparing the help message for beginners shown in FIG. 5 with the help message for advanced users shown in FIG. 6, the help message for beginners has a general explanation. In the help message for advanced users, the general description is omitted, and each adjustment item is described in detail using technical terms.

If the help messages having different contents as described above are to be displayed together in a single help message as in the past, it is necessary to list the contents for beginners and advanced users for each item. Increases, making it very difficult to see. However, according to the present embodiment, since only one of the display of FIG. 5 and the display of FIG. 6 is performed, it is very easy to see. In addition, since the contents are suitable for the level of each user, useful information is given to each user.

Conventionally, there has been a method of displaying a more detailed help message by following a link destination, but this method complicates the operation. But,
According to the present embodiment, the necessary and sufficient information can be obtained only by displaying the help message once, so that the operation is extremely simplified.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the level of the user is determined according to the items or contents set by the user, and the help message corresponding to the level of the user is displayed. Help messages can be displayed easily and concisely to level users.

In the above description, the color tone correction items have been described, but other items can be processed in the same manner. Further, in the above description, the level of the user is determined every time the operation of the user is performed. However, the level of the user may be statistically determined according to the operation history of the user. Further, once the level is set to the advanced level, the user level may not be changed even if an item determined to be a beginner is subsequently operated.

Further, in the above description, an example of the help display relating to the setting items of the printer has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is used for, for example, setting of a scanner device, graphic or image processing. The present invention can be applied to a help display for setting items of any device or program such as an application program, a word processor, and an operation system.

As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0058]

According to the help information display device according to the first aspect or the help information display method according to the fifth aspect, the technical difficulty level of the item or content set by the user is determined, and the technical difficulty level is determined. Help information is displayed every time, so useful information can be conveyed to all kinds of users in a simple manner.

According to the help information display device of the second aspect or the help information display method of the sixth aspect, the display means is more detailed as the technical difficulty level determined by the determination means is higher. Is selected and displayed, so that the amount and content of the information to be displayed at a time can be made appropriate for each user.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the application software is printer driver software, the application software is selected according to the technical difficulty of the printer or the print condition setting items selected by the user.
Help information is selected and displayed. Accordingly, useful information on setting of useful printers or printing conditions can be conveyed to all users in a simple manner.

According to the help information display device of the fourth aspect, since the setting item is a setting item relating to color adjustment in the color printer device, it is possible for a person having specialized knowledge to
It is relatively easy and accurate to judge a person who is not. Therefore, useful information about the useful color adjustment can be simply conveyed to all users.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a help display process in the printer system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a print setting dialog displayed in the printer system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a setting screen when a custom setting of a color tone correction item is selected from the dialog shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a help message displayed when the user level is determined to be a beginner.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a help message displayed when the user level is determined to be advanced.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Printer 56 Display 60 Computer 100 Print setting dialog 110 Custom mode setting dialog

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 10, 2000 (2004.1.
0)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Figure 2

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 2

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Figure 3

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 3

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 4

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 4

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A help information display apparatus for displaying help information in response to a request during execution of application software, wherein a predetermined setting item is selected from operating conditions and other setting items in the application software. Setting processing detecting means for detecting whether or not the setting has been performed; and when the setting processing detecting means detects that the setting has been performed, the predetermined setting item is set to a predetermined technical level. A determination unit that determines which of the difficulty levels belongs to; a display request detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a display request for help information; and a case where the display request detection unit detects the presence of the display request. From the help information for each predetermined technical difficulty level according to the result of the determination of the technical difficulty level by the determination means, Help information display device characterized by comprising display means for displaying selected help information for that difficulty level, the. 2. The help information display device according to claim 1, wherein the display means selects and displays detailed help information as the technical difficulty level increases. 3. The application software,
3. The help information display device according to claim 1, wherein the help information display device is printer driver software. 4. The help information display device according to claim 3, wherein the setting item is a setting item relating to color adjustment in a color printer. 5. A help information display method for displaying help information in response to a request during execution of application software, wherein a predetermined setting item is selected from operating condition and other setting items in the application software. Detecting that the setting has been performed; and when the setting is detected, the predetermined setting item is:
A step of determining which of the predetermined technical difficulty levels belongs; a step of detecting the presence or absence of a display request for help information; and a step of determining the level if the display request is detected. Selecting and displaying help information of a suitable difficulty level from help information for each of the predetermined technical difficulty levels, according to the result of the above, and displaying the help information. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of selecting and displaying the help information is a step of selecting and displaying detailed help information as the technical difficulty level is higher. How to display help information.