JP2776907B2 - Help information control method and device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a help function,
In particular, the present invention relates to a help information control method and apparatus suitable for realizing a help function in integrated software including a plurality of application programs.

[Prior Art] In an information processing apparatus, it is widely used to provide a help function as a means for giving effective information to a user when the user cannot understand how to operate the information processing apparatus. .

As an example of a help function in a conventional information processing apparatus, there is one as disclosed in JP-A-62-179016. That is, when the user falls into an unknown operation state, for example, by pressing a specific key on the keyboard, the program executed by the information processing apparatus responds to the message output to the display apparatus immediately before that. The help information to be performed, that is, information about the operation is displayed on the display device.

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

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] The above-described conventional technology has the following problems. That is, only the help information corresponding to the message output immediately before can be provided, and when the help function is requested at any time, the help information reflecting the detailed state of the application program cannot be provided.

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

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

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

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to enable a method and an apparatus for controlling the help information in which each application program can store or register its own state at any time, and when a help function is requested, the state of the application program is reflected. Is to provide.

Another object of the present invention is to simplify the mechanism of a help function in each application program in integrated software composed of a plurality of application programs, and minimize the increase in the total capacity of the integrated software program by providing the help function. Another object of the present invention is to provide a help information control method and a help information control method which enable reference to help information belonging to an application program other than the one that was being executed when the help function was activated.

Another object of the present invention is to minimize the processing load of an application program when implementing a help function of displaying a help message corresponding to an application program that always displays the foreground window in a multi-window system. It is another object of the present invention to provide a help information control method and apparatus which can easily change the display content of a help message in response to addition or change of a function of an application program.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a help state table for storing information corresponding to an execution state of an application program is provided. The contents stored in the table are sequentially updated in accordance with the execution state, and in response to a help request from the operator at any time, the contents of the help state table at that time are referred to and the contents are handled. Search and output help information.

Further, the help information control method of the present invention manages the help information of a plurality of application programs centrally by a system program, and each application program notifies the system program of a current execution state during execution of the program, When a help request is received from the operator, the system program suspends execution of the application program and starts the help program,
The help program refers to the execution state notified to the system program, searches for corresponding help data, and outputs help information.

In the help information control method of the present invention, the help information corresponding to a certain execution state of one application program can include help information relating to another application program.

In the help status table according to the present invention, a program identifier of each application program and a message identifier corresponding to the execution status of the application program are stored in association with each other.

Furthermore, in the present invention, a help data search table is used when searching for help data. The help data search table includes a program identifier of each application program and an identifier of a message indicating the execution state of the application program. And the storage location of the help message data for this message identifier are stored in association with each other.

Each help data or each help message data is divided into a display data section and a control data section, and the display data section stores data for displaying help information on a display device, and the control data section includes A display position of the display data on the display device screen, and a program identifier and a message identifier for specifying help data or help message data further required by the display data are stored in association with each other.

The program identifier here may indicate the application program itself that called the display data, but by specifying another application program, it is possible to mutually use the help data between a plurality of application programs. it can.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a help data management table for storing a program identifier of each application program in association with a storage location of help data of each application program, and a message for each help message of the application program. A help message search table for storing an identifier and a storage position of each help message data in the help data in association with each other is prepared, and at the time of searching the help message data, the help message data is stored on the storage device of the help message data using these two tables. Is detected and output to the display device. These two tables have the same function as the help data search table described above.

At the time of incorporating each application program into the information processing apparatus, the storage location of the help data of each application program is registered in the help data management table.

Further, in the present invention, in a multi-window system, a window management block for managing information of each window displayed on the display screen is provided,
Each window management block is connected in a list from the top pointer indicating the window management block of the foremost window in the overlapping order of the windows, and each window management block has a program identifier of an application program using the window, And a field for holding a help message identifier to be displayed for the execution state of the application program corresponding to.

Furthermore, in the present invention, for help information control in a multi-window system, a window management block for managing information of each window displayed on the display screen is provided, and each window management block includes the window. A configuration may be adopted in which a status table pointer that indicates a program identifier and a message identifier on the help status table of the application program used is formed.

Although the configuration of the present invention has been described centering on the help information control method, the help information control device or display method and device of the present invention will be apparent from the description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention described in detail below. Will be there.

[Operation] In an information processing apparatus employing the help information control method according to the present invention, information corresponding to the execution state of each application program, for example, a program identifier and a message identifier is registered for a plurality of application programs, and the message identifier is As the application program is executed, it is sequentially updated in accordance with the execution state. Preferably, the help status table is commonly accessed by each application program.

In response to the help request from the operator at any time, the corresponding help message data is searched for and displayed and output according to the contents of the help status table that is sequentially updated. Therefore, it is possible to provide help information reflecting a more detailed state of the application program.

By including, in the searched help data, help data relating to an application program other than the application program whose execution has been interrupted by the help request, it is possible to refer to the help data across different application programs.

Further, by centrally managing the help functions in a plurality of application programs, it is possible to minimize an increase in the total capacity of the integrated software program.

In the multi-window system, when a window is opened, the window management block is newly generated and inserted at the head of the window management block list. At this time, a program identifier of the application program that opened the window is set in the program number field of the generated window management block by an initial setting operation, and a predetermined initial value is set in the help message identifier field. If the application program that opened the window wants to change the help message displayed according to the change in its internal state, the message number that the application program wants to display is set in the help message identifier field of the corresponding window control program. In the multi-window system, the help window for displaying the searched help data is the topmost window.

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

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

Instructions such as editing and printing, activation of a help function, and input operation of a document are performed via a keyboard (hereinafter, KB) 4 and a mouse 5. Reference numeral 6 denotes a display controller (hereinafter referred to as CRTC), which controls a display device (hereinafter referred to as CRT) 7 which displays a screen for performing a document editing operation. The contents of the display section 3a of the VRAM 3 are displayed on the CRT 7.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a printer controller (hereinafter, PRC), which controls a printer (hereinafter, WDP) 9 such as a wire / dot printer that outputs a document or the like. Reference numeral 10 denotes a floppy disk controller (hereinafter, referred to as FDC), which controls a floppy disk drive (hereinafter, referred to as FD) 11 that reads and saves document data from / to a floppy disk. Reference numeral 12 denotes a hard disk controller (hereinafter, HDC), which controls a hard disk device (hereinafter, HD) 13 that reads and saves a program related to document editing, document data, and help data. Reference numeral 14 denotes a bus for performing communication between the peripheral devices 2 to 13 and the CPU 1.

FIG. 4 shows a software configuration of the document editing apparatus of the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numerals 401 to 408 denote application programs (hereinafter, AP) related to document editing. Each of 401-406 is a text, figure, graph,
A layout editing program for editing a table, an image editing program, and integrating each document created by the respective editing programs into one document.
Reference numeral 407 denotes a program for printing a document, and 408 denotes a help program for realizing a help function. More programs
401 to 408 are controlled by an operating system program (hereinafter, OS) 409 as independent tasks. OS409 uses C
Performs control to realize multi-window on the RT screen. Further, each AP and OS are loaded into the apparatus by a program embedding processing program 410 for initial processing.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the help data search table of the document editing apparatus of this embodiment. The help data search table 501 obtains an AP from a program number 502 as a program identifier indicating the type of the AP and a message number 503 as a message identifier uniquely indicating the state of each AP.
Help data storage start position 504 on HD13 where help data storing help information corresponding to the type and status of
Is a table for searching for. In the help data search table 501, the storage location of the help data belonging to the AP is automatically registered each time each AP is incorporated into the document editing apparatus.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a help window displayed on the screen 601 of the CRT 7 by activating the help function in this embodiment. Reference numeral 602 denotes a help window for displaying help information given to the user. Specifically, display data 605 of help data is displayed. Reference numeral 603 denotes a rectangular area defined by the control data of the help data, which will be described in the description of FIG. A mouse cursor 604 is operated by the mouse 5. Reference numeral 606 denotes an end click box for instructing the end of the help function with the mouse 5.

FIG. 7 shows the structure of help data in this embodiment. The help data 701 includes a display data section 702 and a control data section 703. The display data section 702 includes text data 704 displayed as help information. The control data unit 703 moves the mouse cursor 604 into the rectangular area 603 in the help window, and presses the mouse button provided on the mouse 5, that is, clicks the mouse button to display another help data. , A coordinate number 605a, 705b of a diagonal point of the rectangular area 603, and a program number 706 and a message number 707 which define target help data. The user refers to the help data 605 displayed in the help window 602, and specifies a character string in the rectangular area 603 defined by the control data unit 703,
A mechanism is realized in which other help data can be referred to between different APs.

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

First, referring to FIG. 1, a process up to the activation of the help program 110 will be described. Operating system program (OS) 10 corresponding to the previous OS409
1 is the program number of the AP 102 when the application program (AP) 102 corresponding to the previous AP 401 to 408 is started.
103 is registered in the help status table 104 (105). Note that the help status table 104 exists in the common area 106 on the MM2 which can always read and write from each AP 102 and OS 101. In addition, each AP 102 registers a message number 107 indicating the AP state (for example, executing a character string copying function) in the help state table 104 at a predetermined time, for example, in the AP 102 that creates a text document. (108). The AP 102 determines its own state and generates and registers a message number at the time of activation of each function and at the time of changing the display screen as necessary. In this way, the AP program number 103 currently being executed and the message number 107 of each AP are always registered in the help state table 104.

When the help key is pressed (109), the OS 101 interrupts the AP 102 being executed and starts the help program 110 (111). When the help program 110 is started, the contents of the help state table 104 are held in a state before the start of the help program.

Next, the processing of the help program 110 will be described with reference to FIG. The started help program 110 opens a help window 602 for displaying the help data shown in FIG. 6 (step 112). Then, the program number 103 and the message number 107 of the AP immediately before the help program is started are stored in the help state table 104.
(Step 113). Next, using the help data search table 501 shown in FIG. 5, the program number 103 and the message number 107 read from the help status table 104 are used as search keys, as shown in FIG.
The storage position of the corresponding help data 701 in the HD 13 is searched (step 114). Then, the help data 701 is read (step 115), and the control data of the help data 701 is read.
703 is stored (step 116), and the display data 702 is displayed in the help window 602 (step 117). While the help data is displayed, the help window
When the inside of 602 is designated by the mouse cursor 604 (step 118), the coordinate value 705 of the control data 703 stored in step 116 is referred to (step 119). Then, the designated position is determined (step 120), and if the inside of the rectangular area 603 specified by the control data 703 is designated, the program number 706 and the message number 707 corresponding to the rectangular area 603 are obtained ( Step 121), the help data corresponding to the program number 706 and the message number 707 is searched again by the help data search table 501 (step 114), and displayed in the help window 602 (step 117).

If the end box 606 is designated by the mouse cursor 604, the help program 110 closes the help window 602 (step 122), and the help program
The end of 110 is notified to the OS 101 (step 123). OS101
Terminated the help program 110 and suspended AP102
Resume execution of.

According to the present embodiment, the help status table 104 is provided in the common area 106 that can always be read and written from the AP 102 and the OS 101, and the program number 103 representing the type of the AP is stored in the help status table 104 when each AP 102 is started. A mechanism is provided for registering the message number 107 indicating the execution state of the AP in the help state table 104 as appropriate.
Then, the help program started by pressing the help key displays help data corresponding to the program number 103 and the message number 107 registered in the help state table 104 to realize a help function,
Each AP 102 can appropriately register its status in the help status table 104. When a help function is requested, each AP 102 can provide help information reflecting a more detailed status of the AP 102. Further, it is possible to simplify the mechanism of the help function in each AP 102 and minimize the increase in the total program capacity of the entire document editing apparatus due to the provision of the help function. In addition, help data 70
By adding the control data 703 to 1, the user refers to the help data 605 displayed in the help window 602, and designates the inside of the rectangular area 603 defined by the control data 703, thereby providing another help. Data can be referenced across different APs.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
This embodiment is different from the previous embodiment in that, after the help window is opened, the help data search table 501 is used to search the storage device of the help data in the HD 13 to read out the help data. Use a management table. That is, the help data management table in the present embodiment includes a program number indicating the type of each AP, and an HD of the help data of the AP.
13 is a table that associates the storage position on
It is stored at a predetermined position on HD13. In addition,
The help data in the embodiment is a set of help message data.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration, and the help data management table 801 holds a storage position 803 of the help data corresponding to the program number 802 indicating the type of each AP.
Help data storage location 803 for each of APs 401 to 407 (FIG. 4)
Is registered at an offset position from the top of the help data management table corresponding to the value of the program number 802 indicating the type of each AP.

FIG. 9A shows the configuration of the AP in this embodiment. each
The AP 901 includes a program section 902 and a help data section 903, and the help data section 903 is used as data in each AP 902.
There is one for each AP901. Also, at the AP 901 head 904, the storage position of the help data section 903 in the AP is described as an offset position from the head of the AP 901. Note that the help data section 903 has one help message search table 905.
And one or more help message data 906,
The help message search table 905 contains help data 903
At the beginning of

FIG. 9B shows the structure of the help message search table 905 in this embodiment. This table is a table for searching the storage position 908 of the help message data 906 corresponding to the message number 907 from the message number 907. Help message data storage location 908
This is indicated by an offset position from the top of the help data section 903 in FIG. 9A. Note that the configurations of the help window and the help message data in the present embodiment are the same as those in the previous embodiment, and thus the description is omitted. Please refer to FIG. 6 and FIG.

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

FIG. 10 shows the help data storage location 80 in this embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a process of registering No. 3 in the help data management table 801. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a process of searching for and displaying a help message.

In FIG. 10, AP901 is provided in a form stored in a floppy disk 1006. A program embedding processing program 1001 (corresponding to 410 in FIG. 4) uses FD11 (FIG. 3) to transfer AP901 to a floppy disk. The data is read from 1006 and stored in the program storage area 1007 on the HD 13 (step 1002). The program embedded processing program 1001 is
A help data storage position 904 described at the head of the AP 901 to be incorporated is acquired (step 1003). Since the help data storage position 904 is described by an offset value from the head of the AP 901, the HD 1 of the help data 903 is determined from the offset value 904 and the position on the HD 13 where the AP 901 is actually stored.
The storage position on 3 is calculated (step 1004). Next, this calculated storage location is stored in the help data management table.
801 is registered at a position corresponding to the program number 802 (FIG. 8) of the AP 901 (step 1005).

Next, a process of displaying a help message in FIG. 11 will be described. When the help key is pressed, the OS and the executing AP 1101 are notified that the help key has been pressed. The AP 1101 receives this notification (step 1102), and activates the help program 408 shown in FIG. 4 through input determination processing (step 1103). The started help program opens a help window 602 for displaying help data shown in FIG. 6 (step 110).
Four). In this figure, steps 1104 to 1117 show a help program. The help program in the present embodiment is different from the help program 110 (see FIG. 2) in the previous embodiment only in steps 1105 to 1111.

First, in step 1105, the help data management table 801 is read, and the storage location 8 on the HD 13 of the help data section 903 corresponding to the program number 802 of the AP 1101 is read.
03 is acquired (step 1106). Next, the help message search table 905 existing at the head of the help data section 903 is read (step 1107), and the storage position 908 of the help message data 906 corresponding to the message number 907 defined in advance by the AP 1101 is obtained (step 1107). 110
8). To determine the message number 907, the first
The help status table 104 of the embodiment can be used. Since the storage position 908 of the help message data 906 is described by an offset value from the top of the help data section 903, the offset value 908 and the help data section 903 are described.
The position of the help message data 906 on the HD 13 is calculated from the storage position 803 on the HD 13 (step 110).
9). From step 1110 of reading the next help message data 906, steps 115 to 123 (second
The description is omitted because it is the same as FIG.

According to the present embodiment, each time the AP 901 (FIG. 9A) is incorporated into a document editing device or the like, the position of the help data 903 of the AP 901 on the HD 13 is stored in the help data management table 801.
(FIG. 8), control data 703 (FIG. 7) is added to help message data 906 to be displayed as help information, and determined by control data section 703 in displayed help message 605 (FIG. 6). By specifying the inside of the rectangular area 603, other help message data can be referred to between different APs. That is, in the present embodiment, in the integrated software including a plurality of APs,
Each time each AP is incorporated into an information processing device such as a document editing device, the storage position of the help message of the AP is registered in a help data management table provided in a memory area common to each AP, so that other help messages can be stored. Can be realized across different APs.

In the present embodiment, the help data management table is provided in the memory area common to the AP. However, as in the previous embodiment, when the help program is independent as one AP 408, the help data management table is provided. Need not be in a common memory area for each AP.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The feature of the present embodiment is an embodiment that realizes a help function of always displaying a help screen for the foreground window in a multi-window system. That is, in this embodiment, a program number and a message number of an AP using the window are set in a window management block having a list structure for managing state information of each window displayed on the display screen. It is something to keep. Note that the help function in the present embodiment is the same as the help data search table 50 in the first embodiment.
This will be described using FIG. 1, but the help data management table 801 and the help message search table 9 in the second embodiment
It goes without saying that a method using 05 may be used.

Now, an operation method of the multi-window system according to the present embodiment will be described using a multi-window display example on a screen 1201 shown in FIG. In this embodiment, each AP
A window control method for displaying a window as shown in FIG. Reference numerals 1202 and 1206 denote window display examples. Here, an editing operation can be performed only on the window 1202 displayed on the foreground.
The editing operation and the window operation can be performed by moving the mouse cursor 1203, which is moved by moving the mouse 5, on the pointing target, and pressing the mouse 5 button. In the window, the contents of the edit data and the pointing target 1204 of the mouse are displayed. When the user points an area called an end box 1205 with the mouse 5, the AP 1 which is currently opening the window deletes the window and executes the editing process. finish. In addition, when the window 1206 behind the screen is pointed by the mouse 5, the window 1202 instructed is displayed on the foreground, and the AP using the window can be edited.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a window management block that holds information such as the attributes and status of each window in order to realize the above-described multi-window control. The window management block 1300 of each window includes a link pointer 1302 from the frontmost pointer 1301 in the overlapping order of the windows.
The program number 1303 indicates the program that uses each window, the window type information 1304 indicates the type of window, the window size that holds the display position and display size of the displayed window within the screen It has fields such as position information 1305 and help message number 1306 of the help to be displayed. The values of the frontmost pointer 1301 and the link pointer 1302 are set to “0” when there is no window management block 1300 described below.

In the present embodiment, each window management block 1300
The storage area of the program number 1303 and the message number 1306 in the help state table 10 in the first embodiment
4 and therefore there will be a help status table 104 for each window.

Next, a method for realizing the help function of the present embodiment having the system configuration described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG.

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

First, referring to FIG. 14, a description will be given of processing up to activation of the help program 1403. The OS 1401 starts the AP 1402 in response to a user operation (step 1410)
Then, the AP 1402 requests the OS 1401 to open the window (1430). On the other hand, OS1401 changes the window to CRT
The window is displayed on the top of the screen (step 1411), and a window management block 1300 is created.
Is set to the link pointer 1302 of the created window management block 1300, and the value of the foreground pointer 1301 is
The created window management block is changed to indicate the created window management block, and the created window management block is inserted at the top of the list (step 1412).

At this time, the program number of the AP 1402 that has requested to open the window is set in the program number field 1307 of the window management block 1300 (step 14).
13) In the help message number 1306, the number “0” is set as a default (step 1414).

When the AP 1402 issues a help message change request to the OS 1401 according to the internal state (step 1431), the OS 14
01 indicates the window management block 1300 having the same program number 1303 as the requested AP number,
The number is determined by checking the list from 01 (step 1415), and the number specified by the AP 1402 is set in the helm message number 1306 (step 1416).

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

When the AP displaying the window requests the OS 1401 to delete the window (step 1432), the OS 1401 executes the CR
Clear the window from the T7 screen (Step 1419)
At the same time, the corresponding window management block is deleted from the list (step 1420).

When the help key is pressed, the OS 1401 interrupts the running AP 1402 and starts the help program 1402 (step 14).
21), this help program displays the help message for the foreground window.

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

The activated help program 1403 first requests the OS 1401 to acquire the information of the help message in the foreground window when the help program 1403 is activated (step 1502). OS1401 responds to this by using the foreground pointer 13
The program number 1303 and the message number 1306 are read from the window management block 1300 indicated by 01 and notified to the help program 1403.

Next, after opening a window for displaying a help message (step 1503), the OS 1401 refers to the help data search table 501 (see FIG. 5) based on the obtained program number 1303 and help message number 1306. And the corresponding help message data storage location 504 on HD13
(Step 1504), HD help message data
Read from 13 to MM2 (step 1505). Based on the last read data, a help message is displayed in the window (step 1506), and waits for an input from the user. Here, when the end box of the window is indicated by the mouse 5, the help program 1403 requests the OS 1401 to close and close the window (step 1507), and the OS 1401 deletes the window and terminates the help program 1403. Then, the operation of the AP 1402 is restarted.

Note that, in addition to the above-described embodiment, in the present invention, a modified example of a mechanism for determining a help message to be displayed is shown in FIG.

First, each window 1202 displayed on the CRT screen
For (FIG. 12), a help status table 1603 for storing a program number 1604 and a message number 1605 is provided. Then, a current pointer 1602 that points to a field corresponding to the window 1202 displayed on the foreground is provided. Also, the foreground pointer 1301 and the link pointer 1302
Each window management block 1600 connected in order by the, is provided with a state table pointer 1601 pointing to a field of the help state table 1603 corresponding to each window 1202. In each program number 1604 of the help status table 1603, the program number of the AP 401 to 408 that displayed the window 1202 when the window 1202 was displayed is set. This setting is in the window management block
This is performed via a state table pointer 1601 of 1600.

Each of the APs 401 to 408 sets a message number corresponding to the execution state in a field in a message number 1605 indicated by the current pointer 1602. Then, when the help mechanism is requested, the help program acquires the program number 1604 and the message number 1605 from the fields of the help status table 1603 pointed to by the current pointer 1602, retrieves and displays the corresponding message data 906. In this modification, the help status table 16
03 is provided in a storage area on MM2 provided commonly to a plurality of APs 401 to 408.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been made using the program number and the message number as the program identifier and the message identifier stored in the help status table. However, the program identifier is the fixed disk on which the AP 401 to 408 itself is stored. The above address or its AP40
Each AP, such as the address of a table that manages 1 to 408
Is only required to be identified. Similarly, the message identifier may be any one that can uniquely identify each message, such as the address on the fixed disk where the message is stored.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, in integrated software composed of a plurality of application programs, each application program is provided with a help status table for registering its execution status, and is activated by hitting a help key. By realizing the help function by displaying the help data corresponding to those states, each application program can register its own state at any time. When this is done, it becomes possible to provide help information reflecting a more detailed state of the application program.

Further, it is possible to simplify the mechanism of the help function in each application program and minimize the increase in the total program capacity of the integrated software as a whole by providing the help function.

Further, by adding control data to the help data, when the user refers to the help data, by giving an instruction determined by the control data, a mechanism that allows other help data to be referred to between different application programs is provided. Can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a help function mechanism in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a help program in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an application of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus such as a document editing apparatus, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is help data according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a search table, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a help window displayed on a display device by activating a help function in the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a configuration of help data in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a help data management table in the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams in the second embodiment of the present invention, respectively. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of an application program and a help data search table,
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a process of registering a help data storage position in a help data management table in the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is for searching and displaying a help message in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the multi-window display in the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the third window of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of a window management block having a list structure in the embodiment shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a help program starting process in a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the processing of the help program in the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining another mechanism for determining a help message in the third embodiment. 101 ... operating program, 102 ... application program, 104 ... help status table, 110
…… Help program, 501… Help data search table, 801… Help data management table, 905… Help message search table, 1603… Help status table

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Koeda 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Microelectronics Device Development Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. 292 Hitachi Electronics, Ltd.Microelectronics Device Development Laboratory (72) Inventor Keiichi Nakane 292 Yoshidacho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd.Microelectronics Device Development Laboratory (72) Inventor Masaki Fujiwara Ibaraki 1-1-1, Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City Hitachi, Ltd. Taga Factory (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Masuda 1-1-1, Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. Taga Factory (56) References JP Sho 61-234426 (JP, A) 269223 (JP, A) (58 ) investigated the field (Int.Cl. ^6, DB name) G06F 3 / 02,3 / 14

Claims (28)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method of controlling help information displayed on a display screen of an information processing apparatus, comprising: a help state table for storing information corresponding to an execution state of an application program; The stored contents of the help state table are updated according to the execution state, and in response to a help request from an operator at any time, the contents of the help state table at that time are referred to, and the contents are updated. Help information control method to search and output the corresponding help data. 2. The help information control method according to claim 1, wherein said help status table is stored in a memory area commonly accessed by said application program. 3. The help status table according to claim 1, wherein the help status table stores at least a message identifier among a program identifier for identifying the application program and a message identifier corresponding to an execution status of the application program. Help information control method. 4. A means for storing help message data corresponding to both or one of a program identifier of each application program and a message identifier according to an execution state of each application program when searching for the help data. 2. The help information control method according to claim 1, wherein a help data search table in which the identification data specified in the table is associated is referred to. 5. A help data management table in which, when retrieving the help data, a program identifier of each application program is associated with identification data specified in the help data storage means of the application program. 2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: referring to both or one of a help message search table in which the identification data specified in the storage means of the corresponding help message data is associated with the message identifier corresponding to the execution state of the application program. Help information control method described. 6. The help data management table according to claim 5, wherein when the application program is incorporated into the information processing apparatus, identification data specified in the help data storage means of the application program is registered in the help data management table. Help information control method described. 7. The help status table corresponding to the application program assigned to the frontmost or operation target window at the time of help request, wherein the application programs are assigned to each of the multi-windows that can be displayed on the display screen. 2. The help information control method according to claim 1, further comprising: 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the help data includes, in addition to display data displayed on the display screen, control data including a plurality of sets of a program identifier and a message identifier of the application program. Help information control method described. 9. The help information control according to claim 1, wherein the help data includes control data including a plurality of program identifiers of the application program, in addition to the display data displayed on the display screen. Method. 10. After the help data is displayed on the display screen, it is determined according to the control data whether or not the input by the operator is another help request. 10. The help information control method according to claim 8, wherein another help data corresponding to the other help request is searched according to the following. 11. A help information control method in an information processing apparatus, wherein help information of a plurality of application programs is centrally managed by a system program, and each application program changes a current execution state during execution of the program. When the system program notifies the system program and there is a help request from the operator, the system program interrupts the execution of the application program and starts the help program, and the help program is notified to the system program. Refer to the execution status,
A help information control method for retrieving and outputting help information corresponding to the execution state. 12. A multi-window that can be superimposed and displayed on a display screen of an information processing apparatus capable of executing a plurality of application programs, draws video data in a foreground window, and executes the application programs. And updates the stored content in accordance with the execution of the application program. In response to a help request from an operator, refers to the stored execution state and searches for a corresponding help message. A help information display method, wherein the help message data is drawn as video data in a front window and displayed on the display means. 13. The help information display method according to claim 12, wherein a program identifier for identifying the application program and a message identifier for identifying the help message are used as the execution state. 14. The help status table according to claim 13, wherein said program identifier and said message identifier are stored in a help status table provided in a common area of a memory means commonly accessed by said application programs. Help information display method. 15. The help information display method according to claim 12, wherein a message identifier for identifying said help message is used as said execution state. 16. The help information display method according to claim 15, wherein said message identifier is stored in a help status table provided in a common area of a memory means commonly accessed by said application programs. . 17. A help information control device in an information processing device provided with a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU), a memory means, an input means, and a display means, wherein the help information control apparatus is provided in the memory means and executed by the CPU. A help state table storing at least one execution state of a plurality of application programs, a means for updating the contents of the help state table according to the execution state of the application program, and a help request input from the input means. Means for referring to the contents of the help state table, means for searching for help message data corresponding to the contents of the help state table, and means for supplying the help message data to the display means Help information control device characterized by the above-mentioned. 18. The contents of the help status table corresponding to the application program assigned to the foreground or window to be operated at the time of help request when the application programs are assigned to each of the multi-windows that can be displayed on the display means. 18. The help information control device according to claim 17, further comprising means for referring to the help information. 19. The help status table includes, as an execution status of each of the application programs, a program identifier for identifying the application program;
18. The help information control device according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the message identifiers for identifying the help message is stored. 20. The help status table is provided in a common area of the memory means accessed from each of the application programs.
Help information control device described in 17, 18, or 19. 21. A help data search table is provided in said memory means as means for searching for said help message data, and said help data search table is used for each of said application programs for both or one of a program identifier and a message identifier. 20. The help information control device according to claim 19, wherein identification information specified in the memory means of the corresponding help message data is associated. 22. A means for retrieving the help message data, a help data management table for associating a program identifier of each application program with a help data storage position in the memory means, and a message identifier corresponding to the message identifier. 21. The help information control device according to claim 19, further comprising a help message search table for associating a storage position of help message data to be stored with the help message search table. 23. The information processing apparatus further comprising means for registering identification data specified in the help data storage means of the application program in the help data management table when incorporating the application program into the information processing apparatus. 23. The help information control device according to claim 22, wherein: 24. A control device for controlling a help function of an information processing device having a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU), a memory means, an input means, and a display means. A plurality of application programs that are interrupted in response to a help request from input means, and are executed by the CPU to control the information processing device and manage help message data corresponding to an execution state of each of the application programs; An operating system program receiving the execution status report from each application program; a help status table stored in the memory means and storing a program identifier and a message identifier as an execution status corresponding to each application program; request And a help program which is executed by the CPU, is executed by the CPU, refers to the stored execution state of the interrupted application program, searches for help message data corresponding to the execution state, and supplies the help message data to the display means. A control device for controlling a help function. 25. A help data search table provided in said memory means for associating said program identifier and said message identifier with identification data specified in said memory means for help message data of each of said application programs, 25. The control device according to claim 24, wherein the help program searches the help message data according to the help data search table. 26. A control device for controlling a help function of an information processing device provided with a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU), a memory means, an input means, and a display means. A plurality of application programs that are interrupted in response to a help request from input means, and are executed by the CPU to control the information processing device and manage help message data corresponding to an execution state of each of the application programs; An operating system program receiving the execution status report from each application program; a help status table stored in the memory means and storing a message identifier as an execution status corresponding to each application program; and being activated by the help request Being the above CPU And a help program for searching for help message data corresponding to the execution state with reference to the stored execution state of the interrupted application program and supplying the data to the display means. Control device that controls functions. 27. A help data search table provided in said memory means for associating said message identifier with identification data specified in said memory means for help message data of each of said application programs, said help data search table being provided. 27. The control device according to claim 26, wherein the help program searches the help message data according to a table. 28. A help data area for storing the help message data is provided in the memory means, and the help message data is provided in the area as the help message data in addition to the display data displayed on the display means. 28. The control device according to claim 24, wherein the control device stores control data including a display position and at least a message number of a corresponding program number and a message number.