JP2008040949A - Display control program, display device, display control method and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability by enabling an operator to easily confirm set contents during operating. <P>SOLUTION: This display control program for displaying an operation guide for an operator in a display part 150 of a personal computer 1 is provided with a display control part 10 for displaying a printing operation guide screen showing the operator that values of a plurality of items are changeable in the display part 150, and a set change receiving part 102 for receiving from the operator respective instructions to change the values of each of the items when the display control part 101 displays the printing operation guide screen in the display part 150, wherein the display control part 101 makes the computer function so as to display one of the respective items or more and their set values in a display frame different from a display frame of the printing operation guide screen in the display part 150 when displaying the printing operation guide screen in the display part 150. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display control program, a display device, a display control method, and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for displaying operation guidance for an operator.

Conventionally, there is a technique for displaying operation guidance for an operator on a display such as a computer or an image forming apparatus. As an example to which this technique is applied, there is a file data print output method disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. This file data print output method uses the first printer icon 201 displayed on the task bar of the monitor screen when the file data being edited by the application software is output to the image forming apparatus on the personal computer. When the second printer icon 202 composed of the parts 202A to 202H indicating each optional function of the apparatus is pulled down, and the operator clicks any part of the pull-down display with a pointer, the personal computer An instruction to execute a function corresponding to the instructed portion is output to the image forming apparatus together with the file data being edited.
JP 2003-316536 A

  Generally, when the operation guide is displayed on the display and the operator wants to set detailed items such as page layout, enlargement / reduction ratio, and paper setting, it cannot be set on the first display screen of the printer driver. In many cases, an operation screen of a lower layer is displayed and set. In order to confirm the contents set on the operation screen of the lower layer, the operator often cannot confirm the setting contents unless the lower layer is displayed. The file data print output method disclosed in Patent Document 1 can easily and reliably select the function of the image forming apparatus, but in order to check the contents set on the lower layer operation screen, the lower layer is displayed. Otherwise, the setting contents cannot be confirmed, so the same operation as described above must be performed, and inconvenience for the operator when confirming the detailed setting contents cannot be eliminated. As described above, it is difficult for the operator to easily confirm the setting contents at the time of operation.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to make it easy for an operator to check the setting contents during operation and to improve operability.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a display control program for displaying operation guidance for an operator on a display unit of a computer,
Display control means for displaying on the display unit an operation guidance screen indicating that the value of a plurality of items can be changed for the operator;
Setting change receiving means for receiving from the operator each instruction to change the value of each item when the operation guidance screen is displayed on the display unit by the display control means;
When the display control unit displays the operation guidance screen on the display unit, the display control unit displays one or more items and setting values thereof on the display unit in a display frame separate from the operation guidance screen. It is what makes a computer function.

The invention according to claim 9 is a display unit for displaying operation guidance for an operator;
Display control means for displaying on the display unit an operation guidance screen indicating that the value of a plurality of items can be changed for the operator;
Setting change receiving means for receiving from the operator each instruction to change the value of each item when the operation guidance screen is displayed on the display unit by the display control means;
The display control unit is a display device that displays one or more items and set values thereof on the display unit in a display frame separate from the operation guide screen when the operation guide screen is displayed on the display unit. is there.

The invention according to claim 10 is a display control method for displaying operation guidance for an operator on a display unit of a computer,
Displaying an operation guidance screen on the display unit indicating that the value of a plurality of items can be changed for the operator;
A step of displaying the plurality of items and their set values on the display unit in a display frame separate from the operation guidance screen when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided image forming means for performing a series of image forming operations on recording paper;
A display unit for displaying operation guidance regarding the image forming operation;
Display control means for displaying on the display unit an operation guidance screen indicating that the value of a plurality of items can be changed for the operator;
Setting change receiving means for receiving from the operator each instruction to change the value of each item when the operation guidance screen is displayed on the display unit by the display control means;
When the display control unit displays the operation guide screen on the display unit, the image forming apparatus displays one or more items and their set values on the display unit in a display frame separate from the operation guide screen. It is.

  According to these configurations, the operation guidance screen indicating that the value of a plurality of items can be changed for the operator, and the item set as a separate display frame and its set value are displayed on the display unit. Since they are displayed at the same time, the operator can easily confirm the set values of the items to be displayed by visually recognizing the separate display frame, and the operability is improved.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the display control program according to claim 1, wherein the items to be displayed on the display unit by the display control means as the separate display frame are set on the operation guidance screen. The value of the value cannot be confirmed, and the computer functions so that the setting value can be changed only on the lower display screen that is displayed at a lower level than the operation guide screen. It is something to be made.

  According to this configuration, the items whose setting values can be changed only on the lower display screen displayed on the lower hierarchy than the operation guidance screen are displayed in the separate display frame. Thus, the operator can confirm the set values of the items set on the lower display screen in the separate display frame without performing an operation to display the lower display screen on the display unit. Greatly improved.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the display control program according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display control means uses the items and the individual display frames as the individual display frames. The computer is caused to function so that the set value is displayed on the display unit.

  According to this configuration, since the operation guidance screen and the respective display frames separated for each item and its set value are simultaneously displayed on the display unit, the operator can display each item and its set value. Furthermore, it becomes easier to confirm and the operability is further improved.

  Further, the invention according to claim 4 is the display control program according to claim 3, wherein the display control means is a setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving means, and When the value is changed, the computer is caused to function so that the item and the set value after the change are displayed on the display unit in the separate display frame.

  According to this configuration, the item whose setting value has been changed by the operator and the value after the change are displayed on the display unit in a display frame separate from the operation guidance screen. An item that has a value different from the value and its set value can be reliably grasped by the separate display frame.

  Further, the invention according to claim 5 is the display control program according to claim 3, wherein the display control means, when the value of any one of the items is changed from a default value, The computer is made to function so that the changed set value is displayed on the display unit in the separate display frame.

  According to this configuration, since the item changed from the default value and the value after the change are displayed on the display unit in a display frame separate from the operation guide screen, the operator has a value different from the default value. The item and its set value can be reliably grasped by the separate display frame.

The invention according to claim 6 is the display control program according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein any one of the items and the set values thereof and the set value thereof are stored. , Further comprising another display instruction receiving means for receiving an instruction to display on the display unit in the separate display frame from an operator,
The display control means is a computer configured to cause the display unit to display an item for which an instruction to be displayed in the separate display frame is received by the separate display instruction receiving means and its set value in the separate display frame. Is to function.

  According to this configuration, the item for which the instruction from the operator has been received by the separate display instruction receiving unit and the setting value thereof are displayed on the display unit as a separate display frame from the operation guidance screen. The person can surely grasp the desired item and its set value from the separate display frame.

The invention according to claim 7 is the display control program according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a stop instruction for receiving a stop instruction for stopping the display of the separate display frame from an operator. A reception means,
The display control means causes the computer to function so as to cancel the display of the separate display frame for which the stop instruction has been received by the stop instruction receiving means.

  According to this configuration, since the setting value for which the cancel instruction is received from the operator by the cancel instruction receiving means is not displayed as the separate display frame, the operator is displayed in the separate display frame. The desired set value can be hidden.

The invention according to claim 8 is the display control program according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the display control means includes the display frame in the separate display frame. Display the setting change button to accept the change of the displayed setting value,
The setting change accepting unit causes the computer to function to accept an instruction to change the setting value displayed in the display frame based on an operation of the setting change button by an operator using an input device of the computer. It is.

  According to this configuration, the operator can change the setting value of the item displayed in the display frame by operating the setting change button displayed in the separate display frame. This makes it easy to change the setting values of the items that are being processed.

  According to the invention described in claim 1, claim 9, claim 10 and claim 11, the operator visually recognizes the separate display frame displayed simultaneously with the operation guidance screen on the display unit, It becomes easy to confirm a specific item and its set value, and operability is improved.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the operator does not bother to perform an operation for causing the display unit to display a lower display screen lower than the operation guide screen, the set value set on the lower display screen. Since the set value can be confirmed in the separate display frame, the operability is remarkably improved.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, since the operator can confirm each item and its set value in separate display frames, it becomes easier to confirm each item and its set value, and the operability is further improved. improves.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the operator can more surely grasp the item changed to the set value different from the previous one by the display frame displayed separately for each item. .

  According to the invention described in claim 5, the operator can more reliably grasp the item changed to the set value different from the default value by the display frame displayed separately for each item. it can.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the operator can display desired setting values according to his / her preference, it is easier for the operator to grasp each item and its setting values, and operability is improved. Is further improved.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the operator can hide the desired set value displayed in the separate display frame, so that the separate display frame can be freely used as necessary. Can be displayed or hidden.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, the operator can change the set value displayed in the display frame by operating only the display portion of the display frame, and the operability is further improved.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) in which a display control program according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed.

  The PC 1 is connected to the printer 20 by a LAN (Local Area Network) cable, a parallel cable such as a Centronics interface, or a serial cable such as RS-232C, and print data output from the PC 1 is printed on recording paper by the printer 20. It has come to be. The communication I / F 160 functions as a LAN interface, a parallel I / F unit, or a serial I / F unit. In addition to the printer, the printer 20 includes various devices having a printer function, such as a multifunction machine having a facsimile function, a printer function, and a copy function, and a facsimile machine.

  In addition to the communication I / F 160, the PC 1 includes a CPU 100, a ROM (read only memory) 110, a RAM (random access memory) 120, a recording medium drive device 130, an operation unit (input device) 140, a display unit 150, and a storage device 200. It has.

  The ROM 110 stores a basic input / output system (BIOS) that is a basic program for controlling peripheral devices such as the storage device 200 and the recording medium driving device 130. The RAM 120 is used as a work area for the CPU 100 and temporarily stores various data. The recording medium driving device 130 reads various data recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, and a DVD (digital versatile disk) under the control of the CPU 100.

  The operation unit 140 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, receives a user operation command, and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the operation command to the CPU 100. The display unit 150 includes a liquid crystal panel, a CRT (cathode ray tube), or the like, and displays various images under the control of the CPU 100.

  The storage device 200 is composed of, for example, a magnetic disk, and stores an operating system, which is a basic program for overall control of a personal computer, a display control program according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the like. This display control program causes the CPU 100 to execute a process for causing the display unit 150 to display operation guidance for the operator based on an instruction input from the operator to the setting change receiving unit 102 or the like. When the display control program is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a flexible disk, the display control program is stored in the storage device 200 by installing the recording medium in the recording medium driving device 130 and installing it. If the display control program is stored in a WEB server on the Internet, the display control program may be downloaded from the WEB server so that the program is stored in the storage device 200.

  The CPU 100 executes the display control program under the control of the operating system, so that the display control unit 101 (display control unit), the setting change receiving unit (setting change receiving unit) 102, another window display instruction receiving unit (separately It functions as a display instruction receiving unit 103 and a cancellation instruction receiving unit 104 (stop instruction receiving unit). The CPU 100 further functions as an instruction receiving unit 105, a control unit 106, and an output unit 107.

  The display control unit 101 controls the display operation of the display unit 150. The display control unit 101 provides the operator with a plurality of items (page layout, paper feed cassette designation, enlargement / reduction printing, print range, etc., hereinafter simply referred to as items) necessary for print settings. An operation guidance screen indicating that the setting value can be changed is displayed on the display unit 150 in a format such as a printing operation guidance screen (FIG. 5) described later.

  For example, the display control unit 101 first displays the printing operation guidance screen as the first screen (for example, by window display) in order to display the operation guidance for the operator, and thereafter the operation by the operator. Along with this, another screen such as a detailed item setting screen is displayed as a second screen (for example, by window display). That is, the print operation guide screen is set as the first screen, and the detailed operation cannot be set on the first screen by sequentially switching to the lower-level guide screens (lower display screens) according to the operation by the operator. The screen display of the display unit 150 is switched and controlled so that setting items can be set.

  When the display control unit 101 displays the print operation guidance screen on the display unit 150, the display control unit 101 displays predetermined items and their setting values in a display frame (for example, a window display) separate from the print operation guidance screen. Displayed on the unit 150.

  The setting change receiving unit 102 gives an instruction to change the setting value of each item for each item when the display operation unit 101 displays the print operation guidance screen and the lower layer screen on the display unit 150. Accept from the operator. This instruction is input from the operator via the operation unit 140.

  The separate window display instruction receiving unit 103 receives an instruction from the operator to display each item and its set value on the display unit 150 in the separate display frame. This instruction is input from the operator via the operation unit 140. When the separate window display instruction receiving unit 103 receives an instruction to display in the separate display frame, the display control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display the received item in the separate display frame.

  The stop instruction receiving unit 104 receives a stop instruction for stopping the item display in the separate display frame from the operator for each displayed item. The display control unit 101 cancels the display on the display unit 150 using the separate display frame for the item for which the cancellation instruction is received by the cancellation instruction receiving unit 104.

  The instruction receiving unit 105 receives various instructions relating to printing and the like input by the operator through the operation of the operation unit 140. The control unit 106 performs overall operation control of the PC 1 and performs various types of control necessary for the printing process based on instructions input by the operator from the operation unit 140. Further, the output unit 107 causes the printer 20 to output data after the data conversion processing necessary for printing by a printer printing data conversion unit (not shown) is performed via the communication I / F 160.

  The display device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes, for example, the display unit 150 and the CPU 100 (display control unit 101, setting change reception unit 102, separate window display instruction reception unit 103, cancel instruction reception unit 104, instruction reception unit. Necessary functions out of 105).

  Next, a first embodiment of display control at the time of printing by the PC 1 in which the display control program according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of display control during printing by the PC 1. 3 to 8 are diagrams showing examples of screen display of the display unit 150. FIG.

  An example in which the display unit 150 displays a word processor application will be described. By the operation of the mouse (operation unit 140) by the operator, the “file” column A in the screen display example shown in FIG. 3 is clicked (pressed), and the operator displays a function list tree indicating various functions that can be executed. When the instruction is received by the instruction receiving unit 105 (YES in S1), the display control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to pull down the function list tree B as shown in FIG. 4 (S2).

  While the function list tree B is displayed on the display unit 150, the print button C of the function list tree B is clicked by the mouse operation by the operator, and a display instruction for the print operation guidance screen is received by the instruction receiving unit 105. If so (YES in S3), the display control unit 101 displays the items that can be set by the operator (page layout, paper feed cassette designation, enlargement / reduction printing, printing range, etc.) by the previous printing operation. For example, it is determined whether or not the default value (initial setting value) has been changed (S4). The items to be determined are (1) an item whose setting can be changed on a printing operation guidance screen D (FIG. 5) described later, and a lower hierarchy screen (lower display) from the printing operation guidance screen D. (1) or both items that can be changed on the lower level screen, or (2) only items that can be changed on the lower level screen. Any of (2) may be used.

  When the display control unit 101 determines that there is an item that has been changed from the default value (YES in S4), the item for which the default value has been changed is separated from the print operation guidance screen D together with the changed value. Are displayed on the display unit 150 (S5), and the printing operation guidance screen D is also displayed on the display unit 150 (S6). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the display control unit 101 displays, on the display unit 150, each item whose default value has been changed, together with the print operation guide screen D that is the first operation guide screen at the time of the print operation. Windows E1 and E2 are displayed. Since the windows E1 and E2 displayed together with the printing operation guide screen D are displayed even with items and setting values whose settings can be changed only on the lower hierarchy screen than the printing operation guidance screen D, as described above. The operator can check the items and setting values that are not displayed on the printing operation guide screen D that is displayed first in the windows E1 and E2.

  FIG. 5 shows an example in which the display control unit 101 displays the windows E1 and E2 at positions away from the printing operation guide screen D. However, as shown in FIG. The window E1 or E2 may be displayed so as to overlap the printing operation guidance screen D. In this case, a part of the printing operation guidance screen D is not displayed due to the overlap of the windows, but the display control unit 101 displays an area (for example, a numerical value or key) that can be hidden on the printing operation guidance screen D. Controls to display the above window over the area that does not display or the value that has not been changed from the default value), causing inconvenience to the operator in terms of visibility and operability You can avoid it.

  If the display control unit 101 determines that there is no item that has been changed from the default value (NO in S4), the process of S5 is skipped and, for example, as shown in FIG. Is displayed on the display unit 150 (S6).

  Note that either the separate window display process of S4 and S5 and the print operation guidance screen display process of S6 may be performed first. In S4, when the display control unit 101 is changed from the default value, each item and its setting value are displayed in a window separate from the printing operation guide screen D. Instead, in S4, the display control unit 101 picks up items whose setting values have been changed at the time of the previous print processing, and displays each picked-up item and its setting value in a separate window. May be.

  When the print operation guidance screen D is displayed on the display unit 150, the OK button F on the print operation guidance screen D is clicked by a mouse operation by the operator, and the instruction reception unit 105 receives a print instruction (S7). In step S13, the control unit 106 performs print processing of the print target data according to the set values of the respective items set at this time (S13).

  Further, in a state where the printing operation guidance screen D is displayed on the display unit 150, the property button G is clicked by the operator without clicking the OK button F, and a display instruction for the detailed item setting screen is displayed. (NO in S7, YES in S8), the display control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display a detailed item setting screen H as shown in FIG. 8 (S9). On the detailed item setting screen H, it is possible to set items (paper feeding method, paper type, etc.) that cannot be changed in the setting on the printing operation guide screen D displayed first. When the operator clicks each tab (layout tab J1, image tab J2,...) Displayed at the top of the detailed item setting screen H with the mouse, the display control unit 101 can change the setting of another item. Switch the display to a further detailed item setting screen.

  When the detailed item setting screen H is displayed, the operator changes the setting of any item by operating the mouse, for example, by changing the setting of the paper feeding method, and the setting change receiving unit 102 receives the setting change instruction. If so (YES in S10), the control unit 106 changes the setting-changed item to a value in accordance with an instruction from the operator (S11). The item change setting on the detailed item setting screen H is possible for each of the plurality of items until the operator clicks the OK button K by the mouse operation (NO in S12).

  When the detail item setting screen H is displayed, if the operator clicks the OK button K by mouse operation (YES in S12), the process returns to S4, and the display control unit 101 displays the print operation guidance screen on the display unit 150 again. D or / and windows E1 and E2 are displayed (S4 to S6).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a change button L is displayed in the separate windows E1 and E2, and when the operator presses the change button L with a mouse operation, an instruction to display the detailed item setting screen H is displayed. Is received by the display control unit 101 (YES in S8), the display control unit 101 displays the detailed item setting screen H on the display unit 150 (S9). Accordingly, the operator can switch the screen display of the display unit 150 to the detailed item setting screen H by pressing the change button L of the separate window, and set items that cannot be changed on the printing operation guidance screen. It becomes. When the change button L is pressed, the display control unit 101 displays the detailed item setting screen H in which the setting value of the item indicated by the window in which the change button L is displayed can be changed.

  Thus, according to the display control, each item whose default value has been changed is displayed on the windows E1 and E2 that are separate from the printing operation guide screen D when the printing operation guidance screen D that is displayed first is displayed. Since it is displayed, the operator can easily grasp the item whose default value has been changed and the value after the change.

  Next, a second embodiment of display control during printing by the PC 1 in which the display control program according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of display control during printing by the PC 1. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a detailed item setting screen. Note that the same processes as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In the first embodiment, the display control unit 101 determines an item whose default value has been changed, and displays the item whose default value has been changed on the windows E1 and E2 different from the printing operation guide screen D. In this second embodiment, the display control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display the item designated by the operator as a window separate from the printing operation guidance screen D.

  When the instruction to display the printing operation guide screen D is received by the instruction receiving unit 105 (YES in S3), the display control unit 101 is set by the operator to display in a window separate from the printing operation guide screen D. It is determined whether or not there is an item that has been set (S21). Here, when the display control unit 101 determines that there is an item set to be displayed in a separate window (YES in S21), for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the display in the separate window is performed. Are displayed in a window separate from the printing operation guidance screen D (S22).

  The setting of instructions to be displayed in the separate window will be described. When the display control unit 101 displays the detailed item setting screen H on the display unit 150 (S9), for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the cut keys M1 to M5 are displayed near the display column of each item. When any one of the cut keys M1 to M5 is clicked by the mouse operation by the operator, an instruction to display the item associated with the clicked cut key in a separate window is displayed on the setting change receiving unit 102. To be accepted. When the instruction is accepted by the setting change accepting unit 102 (YES in S23), the instructed item is displayed in the separate window (S24).

  In this embodiment, when a display instruction in a separate window is received by the setting change receiving unit 102, the instructed item is immediately displayed in a window separate from the detailed item setting screen H. When the next printing operation guidance screen D is displayed without performing the window display of S24, the display control unit 101 determines whether there is an item set to be displayed in the separate window. The item instructed to be displayed in the separate window may be displayed in a window separate from the printing operation guidance screen D (S21, S22, S6).

  According to this display control, the operator can display a desired item in a window separate from the printing operation guide screen D regardless of whether or not the default value has been changed. It becomes easy to grasp the setting contents of the item.

  Further, it is possible to adopt another form of the method for instructing display in a separate window by the operator shown in S23. For example, the operator moves the mouse pointer or the like as the operation unit 140 of the PC 1 onto the display portion of the setting value to be displayed in a separate window and designates the display portion, and this display portion is outside the print operation guide screen D. When a so-called drag operation is performed to the area, the separate window display instruction receiving unit 103 receives the setting value for displaying the separate window specified by the dog operation and the display position of the separate window, and the display control unit 101 sets the setting value to the display position. It may be displayed in a separate window.

  Next, a third embodiment of display control at the time of printing by the PC 1 in which the display control program according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a third embodiment of display control during printing by the PC 1. Note that the same processes as those in the first and second embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the first embodiment, the display control unit 101 displays the item whose default value has been changed on the display unit 150 in a window different from the printing operation guide screen D. In the second embodiment, the item is instructed by the operator. The display control unit 101 displays the items on the display unit 150 in a window different from the printing operation guide screen D. In the third embodiment, both of these controls are performed.

  That is, when a display instruction for the printing operation guidance screen D is received by the instruction receiving unit 105 (YES in S3), the display control unit 101 displays the window in a window separate from the printing operation guidance screen D according to an instruction from the operator. It is set to display in a separate window by both determining whether there is a set item (S21) and determining whether there is an item whose default value has been changed (S4). Both the item and the item whose default value has been changed are displayed on the display unit 150 in a window different from the printing operation guidance screen D (S21, S22, S4, S5).

  According to this display control, both the item whose default value has been changed and the item for which the operator has set the display by a separate window are displayed on the display unit 150. It becomes easy to grasp the setting value of the item.

  Next, processing when changing the item setting value in a window separate from the printing operation guidance screen will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing when changing the item setting value in a separate window, and FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a screen display example of the display unit 150.

  In the separate windows shown in the above embodiments, when the change button L (FIG. 5) such as the window E1 is clicked by the mouse operation by the operator, the display control unit 101 displays the detailed item setting screen H on the display unit 150. In the detailed item setting screen H, the setting value of the item displayed in the window E1 or the like can be changed. However, as shown below, the setting of the item being displayed in the separate window E1 or the like is set. The value may be changeable.

  When the display control unit 101 displays predetermined items and their set values on the display unit 150 in the separate window (S31), for example, as shown in FIG. 13, pull-down buttons are respectively displayed on the windows E1 and E2. N is displayed, and when the pull-down button N is clicked by a mouse operation by the operator and a change candidate value display instruction is accepted (YES in S32), a plurality of set value change candidate values are displayed by, for example, pull-down display P. It is displayed (S33). Here, when an operator operates the mouse to click a portion for displaying a new value to be set from among the plurality of change candidate values, and an instruction for the change value is accepted by the operator (YES in S34). The control unit 106 changes the setting value of the item to the designated value (S35).

  As a result, the operator can change the setting value of the item displayed in the window by operating the pull-down button N. For example, the operation on the printing operation guide screen D or the operation on the lower layer can be performed. Since it is not necessary to perform an operation on the detailed item setting screen H which is a screen, the operability is further improved.

  When the operator clicks the cancel button Q displayed by the display control unit 101 in the windows E1 and E2 with a mouse operation, an instruction to hide the window of the clicked stop button Q is displayed. (YES in S36). When the non-display instruction is received by the setting change receiving unit 102, the display control unit 101 hides the window of the clicked stop button Q (S37). Thereby, the operator can switch the display and non-display of the window as desired.

  The display control unit 101 controls whether to display the window according to whether the default value has been changed or the setting value has been changed at the time of the previous print processing. In the case of the first and third embodiments, the setting value of the item is returned to the default value without performing the processing of S36 and S37, or the setting value is not changed when the previous print processing is executed. The window may be hidden when the state is changed.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, when the display control unit 101 displays the print operation guidance screen on the display unit 150, the setting values of the items are displayed on the display unit 150 as separate display frames (for example, windows). Although displayed, a plurality of items and their setting values may be displayed together in one window.

  Further, the display including the display unit 150 and the CPU 100 (necessary functions of the display control unit 101, the setting change receiving unit 102, the separate window display instruction receiving unit 103, the stop instruction receiving unit 104, and the instruction receiving unit 105). It is also possible to apply the apparatus to an image forming apparatus provided with an image forming mechanism that performs a series of image formation by an electrophotographic system, an ink jet system, or the like. In this case, an operation panel such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) provided in the image forming apparatus functions as the display unit 150, and a central control unit provided in the image forming apparatus to control the overall operation of the image forming apparatus. May function as the CPU 100.

  In the above embodiment, the personal computer 1 is described as functioning according to the display control program according to one embodiment of the present invention. However, the computer shown in the claims is not limited to a personal computer, and various electric Includes computer functions installed in equipment. For example, a computer function provided in various OA devices, home appliances, etc. (a microcomputer or an IC or the like is sufficient if it has a function capable of executing a program) is included in the computer described in the claims.

  In addition, the configuration and control of the display control program, the display device, and the display method according to one embodiment of the present invention have been described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13. However, these are merely examples, and the present invention is related to the present invention. The present invention is not intended to limit the display control program, the display device, and the display method to the configuration and control described above.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the personal computer with which the display control program which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention was installed. It is a flowchart which shows 1st Embodiment of the display control at the time of printing by PC. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of a display part. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of a display part. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of a display part. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of a display part. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of a display part. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of a display part. It is a flowchart which shows 2nd Embodiment of the display control at the time of printing by PC. It is a figure which shows the example of a detailed item setting screen. It is a flowchart which shows 3rd Embodiment of the display control at the time of printing by PC. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of changing an item setting value in a separate window. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of a display part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer 101 Display control part 102 Setting change reception part 103 Another window display instruction reception part 104 Cancellation instruction reception part 105 Instruction reception part 140 Operation part 150 Display part

Claims (11)

A display control program for displaying operation guidance for an operator on a display unit of a computer,
Display control means for displaying on the display unit an operation guidance screen indicating that the value of a plurality of items can be changed for the operator;
Setting change receiving means for receiving from the operator each instruction to change the value of each item when the operation guidance screen is displayed on the display unit by the display control means;
When the display control unit displays the operation guidance screen on the display unit, the display control unit displays one or more items and setting values thereof on the display unit in a display frame separate from the operation guidance screen. A display control program that makes a computer function.   Items displayed on the display unit as the separate display frame by the display control unit cannot be confirmed in the setting guidance content on the operation guidance screen, and are displayed at a lower level than the operation guidance screen. The display control program according to claim 1, wherein the computer is caused to function so that the setting value can be changed only on the lower display screen.   The display according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit causes the computer to function so that the display unit displays each item and its set value as the separate display frame for each item. Control program.   When the value of any of the items is changed in the setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving unit, the display control unit displays the item and the changed setting value in the separate display frame. The display control program according to claim 3, which causes a computer to function so as to be displayed on the display unit.   When the value of any of the items is changed from a default value, the display control unit is configured to display the computer and the set value after the change on the display unit in the separate display frame. The display control program according to claim 3, which is caused to function. Of the items and their setting values, further comprising another display instruction receiving means for receiving from the operator an instruction to display any item and its setting value on the display unit in the separate display frame,
The display control means is a computer configured to cause the display unit to display an item for which an instruction to be displayed in the separate display frame is received by the separate display instruction receiving means and its set value in the separate display frame. The display control program according to any one of claims 3 to 5, which causes the function to function. A stop instruction receiving means for receiving from the operator a stop instruction to stop the display of the separate display frame;
The display according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit causes the computer to function so as to cancel the display of the separate display frame in which the stop instruction is received by the stop instruction receiving unit. Control program. The display control means displays a setting change button for accepting a change of a setting value displayed in the display frame in the separate display frame,
The setting change accepting unit causes the computer to function to accept an instruction to change the setting value displayed in the display frame based on an operation of the setting change button by an operator using an input device of the computer. The display control program according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A display unit for displaying operation guidance for the operator;
Display control means for displaying on the display unit an operation guidance screen indicating that the value of a plurality of items can be changed for the operator;
Setting change receiving means for receiving from the operator each instruction to change the value of each item when the operation guidance screen is displayed on the display unit by the display control means;
When the display control unit displays the operation guidance screen on the display unit, the display control unit displays one or more items and their set values on the display unit in a display frame separate from the operation guidance screen. A display control method for displaying operation guidance for an operator on a display unit of a computer,
Displaying an operation guidance screen on the display unit indicating that the value of a plurality of items can be changed for the operator;
And a step of displaying the plurality of items and their set values on the display unit in a display frame separate from the operation guidance screen when a predetermined condition is satisfied. Image forming means for performing a series of image forming operations on recording paper;
A display unit for displaying operation guidance regarding the image forming operation;
Display control means for displaying on the display unit an operation guidance screen indicating that the value of a plurality of items can be changed for the operator;
Setting change receiving means for receiving from the operator each instruction to change the value of each item when the operation guidance screen is displayed on the display unit by the display control means;
When the display control unit displays the operation guide screen on the display unit, the image forming apparatus displays one or more items and their set values on the display unit in a display frame separate from the operation guide screen. .

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