JP4855198B2 - Display control program, display device, display control method, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

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 on a display device.

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

  In general, when the operation guide is displayed on the display and the operator sets detailed items such as page layout, enlargement / reduction ratio, and paper settings, it cannot be set on the default screen of the printer driver. It is often configured to display the operation screen. In order to confirm the contents set on the operation screen of the lower layer, the setting contents cannot be confirmed 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. Since the setting contents cannot be confirmed unless this is done, the inconvenience for the operator when confirming the detailed setting contents cannot be solved.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to make it easy for an operator to check the setting contents at the time of 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,
A default screen in which the setting value of one or more items can be changed by an operation of the operator, and a setting value of one or more items can be changed by an operation of the operator. Display control means for displaying two screens on the display unit;
A setting change accepting means for accepting each instruction to change the setting value of each item from the operator when the default screen or the second screen is displayed on the display unit by the display control means;
When the setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving means changes any setting value of an item that can be changed on the second screen, the display control means changes the setting on the second screen. In order to display the changed setting value display part transparently on the default screen,
The display control means includes a plurality of screens that are displayed by switching the second screen from the default screen, and each second screen has a layer assigned to each of the second screens. The computer is caused to function so as to change the display form of the transparent display portion on the default screen according to the difference .

The invention according to claim 6 is a display unit that displays operation guidance for the operator;
A default screen that enables the setting value of one or more items to be changed by an operation by the operator, and a setting value of one or more items can be changed by an operation by the operator. Display control means for displaying a second screen on the display unit;
A setting change accepting means for accepting each instruction to change the setting value of each item from the operator when the default screen or the second screen is displayed on the display unit by the display control means;
When the setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving means changes any setting value of an item that can be changed on the second screen, the display control means changes the setting on the second screen. Display the changed setting value display part transparently on the default screen ,
The display control means includes a plurality of screens that are displayed by switching the second screen from the default screen, and each second screen has a layer assigned to each of the second screens. depending on the difference, which is the transmissive display display device was Ru different display forms part of the default screen.

The invention according to claim 7 is a display control method for displaying operation guidance for an operator on a display unit of a computer,
A default screen that enables the setting value of one or more items to be changed by an operation by the operator, and a setting value of one or more items can be changed by an operation by the operator. A first step of displaying a second screen on the display unit;
A second step of accepting each instruction to change the setting value of each item from the operator when the default screen or the second screen is displayed on the display unit;
When any setting value of the item that can be changed on the second screen is changed by the received setting change instruction, the display portion of the changed setting value on the second screen is And a third step for transparent display on the default screen ,
In the first step, the second screen is composed of a plurality of screens displayed by switching from the default screen, and each second screen has a layer assigned to each of the screens.
Wherein in the third step, in accordance with the difference of each of the second screen hierarchy, it is shall varied display form of the transmissive display portion in the default screen.

The invention according to claim 8 is a display unit for displaying operation guidance for an operator;
A default screen that enables the setting value of one or more items to be changed by an operation by the operator, and a setting value of one or more items can be changed by an operation by the operator. Display control means for displaying a second screen on the display unit;
A setting change accepting means for accepting each instruction to change the setting value of each item from the operator when the default screen or the second screen is displayed on the display unit by the display control means;
When the setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving means changes any setting value of an item that can be changed on the second screen, the display control means changes the setting on the second screen. Display the changed setting value display part transparently on the default screen ,
The display control means includes a plurality of screens that are displayed by switching the second screen from the default screen, and each second screen has a layer assigned to each of the second screens. depending on the difference, which is the transmission display image forming apparatus Ru with different display form of a portion of the default screen.

According to these configurations, when any setting value of an item that can be changed on the second screen is changed, the display control unit changes the default screen to the changed value on the second screen. Since the display portion of the setting value is transparently displayed, the operator can display the setting value of the item to be changed on the second screen in the state where the default screen is displayed without performing the operation for displaying the second screen. It can be confirmed and operability is improved.
In addition, since the display control means changes the display form of the transparent display portion on the default screen according to the difference in the hierarchy of each second screen, the operator can set the transparently displayed set value in which hierarchy level. It can be easily grasped whether it can be changed on two screens.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the display control program according to any one of the first to third aspects , wherein the setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving means is displayed on the second screen. When any setting value of the item that can be changed is changed from the default value, the display control means causes the display portion of the changed setting value in the second screen to be transparent to the default screen. The computer functions so that it can be displayed.

  According to this configuration, when the item that can be changed on the second screen has been changed from the default value, the display control means displays the changed setting value on the default screen. Makes it possible to reliably grasp an item that has a value different from the default value and its set value from the display.

The invention according to claim 5 is the display control program according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the display control means decorates the transparent display portion on the default screen. It is displayed in the form.

  According to this configuration, since the display control means decorates and displays the transparent display portion on the default screen, the transparent display portion indicates the setting value of the item that should originally be set and changed on the second display screen. It is possible to make it easy for the operator to understand that it is a thing.

The invention according to claim 3 is a display control program for displaying operation guidance for an operator on a display unit of a computer ,
A default screen in which the setting value of one or more items can be changed by an operation of the operator, and a setting value of one or more items can be changed by an operation of the operator. Display control means for displaying two screens on the display unit;
A setting change accepting means for accepting each instruction to change the setting value of each item from the operator when the default screen or the second screen is displayed on the display unit by the display control means;
When the setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving means changes any setting value of an item that can be changed on the second screen, the display control means changes the setting on the second screen. In order to display the changed setting value display part transparently on the default screen,
When the setting value of any of the items that can be changed on the second screen is changed based on a setting change instruction from the operator received by the setting change receiving means, the display control means In order to display the switching guidance part in the default screen that displays the switching guidance to the second screen that can change the setting of the changed item in a display form different from the display before the setting value is changed,
The display control means includes a plurality of screens that are displayed by switching the second screen from the default screen, and the setting of the transparent display portion of the default screen can be changed. So as to display in the same display form as the switching guide portion for displaying the switching guidance to the second screen.
When the setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving means changes any setting value of an item that can be changed on the second screen, the display control means changes the setting on the second screen. A setting change button for accepting a setting change instruction from the operator for the set value together with a display portion of the changed set value is transparently displayed on the default screen, and displayed.
When the display control means performs the transparent display for each item for each second screen on the default screen, the setting change accepting means is configured to change the setting by an operator using a computer input device. When the button is operated and another predetermined operation corresponding to each of the second screens is performed, the setting value that is the item of the corresponding second screen and is transparently displayed is changed. The computer is made to function so as to accept instructions .

According to this configuration, when any setting value of the item that can be changed on the second screen is changed, the display control unit displays the changed setting on the second screen on the default screen. Since the display part of the value is transparently displayed, the operator can confirm the setting value of the item to be changed on the second screen in the state where the default screen is displayed without performing the operation for displaying the second screen. And operability is improved.
Further, when any value of an item that can be changed on the second screen is changed, the display control means displays a switching guidance to the second screen on which the changed item can be set Since the display form is different from the display before the change of the set value, the operator can select the second screen that can change the set value that is transparently displayed among the plurality of second screens. It can be easily grasped.
In addition, for each of the plurality of setting values that are transparently displayed, the operator can determine which of the second screens that can change each setting value from among the plurality of second screens. It can be accurately grasped.
In addition, if the operator does not perform another predetermined operation corresponding to each second screen using the input device of the computer by the operator, the operator can select the corresponding second screen item as described above. Since the transparently displayed set value cannot be changed, the operator can change the setting value while recognizing which second screen item the set value is when changing the transparently displayed set value. It is possible to prevent the setting values of other second screens from being changed by mistake.

The invention according to claim 2 is the display control program according to claim 1 , wherein the setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving means is an item that can be changed on the second screen. When any setting value is changed, the display control means, together with a display portion of the changed setting value on the second screen, a setting change button for receiving a setting change instruction for the setting value from the operator, Transparent to the default screen,
The setting change accepting unit causes the computer to function to accept an instruction to change the setting value based on an operation of a setting change button transparently displayed on the default screen 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 that should originally be changed on the second screen by operating the setting change button displayed on the default screen without performing the operation for displaying the second screen. Is possible.

According to the first, sixth , seventh, and eighth aspects of the invention, the second screen is changed without causing the operator to perform an operation of switching from the default screen to the second screen. Since the setting values of possible items can be easily confirmed on the default screen, the operability is improved.
In addition, the operator can easily grasp which level of the second screen the setting value transparently displayed on the default screen can be changed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the items that can be changed on the second screen, which are different from the default values, and the set values are displayed for the operator. Can be surely grasped.

According to the invention described in claim 5 , it is easy for the operator to understand that the transparent display portion on the default screen originally indicates the setting value of the item whose setting should be changed on the second display screen. be able to.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, setting values of items that can be changed on the second screen can be easily set on the default screen without causing the operator to perform an operation of switching from the default screen to the second screen. Therefore, the operability is improved.
Further, the operator can easily grasp the second screen on which the transparently displayed set value can be changed among the plurality of second screens.
In addition, for each of a plurality of setting values that are transparently displayed on the default screen, the operator indicates which of the second screens can change each of the setting values. It can be accurately grasped from within.
In addition, when changing the setting value that is transparently displayed on the default screen, the operator can perform the changing operation while recognizing which item of the second screen the setting value is. It is possible to prevent the setting values of other second screens from being changed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the operator does not perform the operation of displaying the second screen by the operation of the setting change button, and the second screen is originally displayed with the default screen displayed. The setting value of the item to be changed can be changed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a display control program, a display device, a display control method, and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described 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 is supposed to be printed. 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 reading 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 reader 130. The RAM 120 is used as a work area for the CPU 100 and temporarily stores various data. The recording medium reader 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 loading the recording medium into the recording medium reader 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 functions as a display control unit 101 (display control unit) and a setting change reception unit (setting change reception unit) 102 by executing the display control program under the control of the operating system. 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. A display 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 D (FIG. 5) and a detailed item setting screen (FIG. 6), which will be described later.

  For example, the display control unit 101 first displays a print operation guidance screen in order to display an operation guidance for the operator, and thereafter, in accordance with an operation by the operator, a further detail item setting screen or the like is displayed. The screen is switched to this and displayed. That is, in accordance with an operation by the operator, the display control unit 101 switches and displays another guidance screen (detail item setting screen or the like) that is a lower layer of the printing operation guidance screen from the printing operation guidance screen, and performs a printing operation. One or more detailed items that cannot be set on the guidance screen can be set.

  Further, the display control unit 101 can change the setting value of the default screen displayed first and one or more items as the detailed item setting screen described above, and can be changed from the default screen. The screen is displayed on the display unit 150. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 described later, the display control unit 101 indicates that the detailed item setting screen H displayed as the default screen can be switched to the second screen by so-called tab display. The display control unit 101 switches the display to the second screen when the tab display portions J1, J2,... On the detailed item setting screen H are designated by the operator using a mouse pointer or the like that functions as the operation unit 140. On the second screen, it is possible to set different types of items from the detailed item setting screen H. On the other hand, a display screen that is a lower hierarchy of the detailed item setting screen H (for example, a display screen that is displayed when the “applied function” button shown in FIG. The items set on the screen H are displayed as screens for making more detailed settings.

  The setting change receiving unit 102 changes the setting value of each item when the display control unit 101 displays the print operation guidance screen or the detailed item setting screen (default screen or second screen) or the like on the display unit 150. An instruction to be received is received from the operator for each item. This instruction is input from the operator via the operation unit 140.

  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 an embodiment of the present invention includes, for example, a display unit 150 and a CPU 100 (necessary functions of the display control unit 101, the setting change reception unit 102, and the instruction reception unit 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 14 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. When the operator operates the mouse (operation unit 140), the “file” field A in the screen display example shown in FIG. 3 is clicked (pressed), and an instruction to display a function list tree indicating various functions that can be executed is given to the operator. 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), a printing operation guidance screen D as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display unit 150 (S4).

  When the printing operation guidance screen D is displayed on the display unit 150, the OK button F on the printing operation guidance screen D is clicked by a mouse operation by the operator, and the instruction receiving unit 105 receives a printing instruction (S5). In step S15, the control unit 106 performs print processing of the print target data according to the setting values of the items set at this time (S15).

  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 S5, YES in S6), the display control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display a detailed item setting screen H as shown in FIG. 6 as a default screen (S7). In the detailed item setting screen H, it is possible to set items (paper feeding method, paper type, etc.) whose settings cannot be changed 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. Further, the display is switched to another detailed item setting screen (second screen, for example, see FIG. 7). In the present embodiment, a plurality of different detailed item setting screens (second screens) are prepared, and the display control unit 101 selects a second screen designated by the operator's mouse operation from among the plurality of second screens. Switching from the default screen is displayed.

  At the time when the detailed item setting screen H is displayed, the display control unit 101 is an item that cannot be set on the displayed detailed item setting screen H and can be set on any of the second screens (page layout ( Whether 2 in 1 etc.), background printing, etc.) have been changed from the default value (initial setting value), for example, by the operation so far (S8).

  When the display control unit 101 determines that there is an item that has been changed from the default value on any of the second screens (YES in S8), a display portion that indicates the setting value of the item whose default value has been changed, Transparent display is performed on the default screen (S9). For example, on the second layout screen M shown in FIG. 7, the operator operates the mouse for setting item N for the number of sheets per sheet item, and changes the number of pages per sheet from the default value “1” to “2”. In this case, the display control unit 101 displays the character part and the operation button part in the item setting field N for the number of sheets per sheet as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, it is transparently displayed on the default screen H). That is, the display control unit 101 displays the character part and the operation button part in the setting field N of the item of the number of one sheet page of the layout second screen M that is originally hidden when the default screen H is displayed as the top surface. It is displayed as a transparent display portion N ′ on the default screen H, and for the operator, the character portion and the operation button portion in the setting field N of the item of the number of one sheet page of the layout second screen M are transmitted through the default screen H. Display to be visible.

  Further, the display control unit 101 displays a tab display portion that displays a detailed item setting screen that allows setting values to be changed for items whose default values have been changed, which is different from the display before the setting values are changed. The form is displayed (S10). For example, the display control unit 101 displays the display form different from the tab display portion corresponding to the other second screen. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the setting value is changed from the default value in the setting field N of the item of the number of sheets per sheet on the layout second screen M, the display control unit 101 displays the one sheet on the default screen. The tab display portion corresponding to the layout second screen M, which is the second screen that can be changed in the setting field N of the page number item, is displayed in a different color from the tab display portions corresponding to the other second screens. .

  The transparent display portion N ′ in the default screen H (display portion indicating the setting value of the item whose default value has been changed) and the second screen in which the setting value of the item indicated in the transparent display portion N ′ can be changed Another display form for the corresponding tab display portion will be described. For example, the display control unit 101 may display the transparent display portion N ′ on the default screen in a decorated display form as shown in the following drawings. As shown in FIG. 9, the display control unit 101 may use the transmissive display portion N ′ on the default screen H as a broken line (other line types such as a solid line and a double line. These are hereinafter referred to as a broken line or the like. ), And the operator knows that the transparent display portion N ′ indicates the set value of the item that should be changed on the second display screen. It may be easier. In this case, the display control unit 101 changes the tab display portion corresponding to the second screen on the default screen H that can change the setting value of the item indicated by the transparent display, to the tab display portion corresponding to the other second screen. When displaying in a different color from the above, the broken line or the like may be displayed in the same color as the display color of the tab display portion corresponding to the transparent display. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, the display control unit 101 may display the internal region of the transparent display portion N ′ surrounded by a broken line or the like and the corresponding tab display portion in the same display color.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the display control unit 101 may cause the transparent display portion on the default screen H to blink. Further, instead of the blinking display, the display control unit 101 may make the display more prominent than the other items displayed on the default screen H by setting the transparent display portion to be lit.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the display control unit 101 sets the transparent display portion N ′ on the default screen H to the setting value of the item changed from the default value as well as the character portion and the operation button portion. The displayed display portion may be extracted as it is and displayed on the default screen H. In this case, since the ground color in the transparent display portion N ′ and the ground color of the default screen H are often designed to be the same color, the display control unit 101 and the transparent display portion N ′ are the same as the default. A region P having a color different from the color of the ground is displayed at the boundary with the screen H.

  With these display controls, the operator changes the default value on the second screen while displaying the default screen H without performing an operation to display the second screen (for example, the layout second screen M). The set value of the selected item can be grasped. Further, the operator can easily grasp the second screen on which the setting value of the item transparently displayed on the default screen H can be changed by visually recognizing the tab display portion displayed in the default screen H in a discolored manner. it can. The display control unit 101 displays a tab display portion corresponding to the second screen on which the setting of the item whose default value has been changed can be changed, such as a thick frame, a shaded display, and an enlarged display. Depending on the display format, a tab display before setting change or a display form different from other tab display portions may be used.

  When a plurality of items are changed from the default values, the display control unit 101 transparently displays the setting values of each item on the default screen H, and sets the setting values of the items that are transparently displayed. The tab display portion for displaying the second screen on which the setting can be changed is displayed in the different display form.

  A display form in the case where the display control unit 101 transparently displays the setting values of a plurality of items on the default screen H will be described. When the setting values of a plurality of items are transparently displayed on the default screen H, the display control unit 101 may transparently display the setting values of the plurality of items in the same display form, but each of the plurality of second screens is displayed. Each of the second screens may have a level assigned to each of the second screens, and the display form of the transparent display portion on the default screen H may be made different depending on the level of each of the second screens. For example, when the display control unit 101 displays seven screens as the second screen, that is, the layout second screen, the image second screen, the paper discharge second screen,... The version information second screen, the layout second screen is the second screen. Among the two screens, the first layer displayed as the top screen, the second image layer displayed as the second screen after the layout second screen, and the second paper sheet output screen as the second screen after the second image screen Third layer displayed as a screen,... Version information The second screen is a seventh layer displayed as the lowest screen in the second screen, and a different layer is assigned to each second screen. When the setting value of each second screen item is transparently displayed on the default screen, the display control unit 101 changes the density from the highest screen to the lowest screen according to the difference in the hierarchy of the second screens. Display thin. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the display control unit 101 displays the setting value of the item on the second layout screen, so that the transparent display portion N ′ is the highest hierarchical screen, so that it is displayed with a high density and the second watermark is displayed. Since the transparent display portion Q ′ for displaying the setting values of the items on the screen is a hierarchical screen lower than the second layout screen, it is displayed at a lighter density than the transparent display portion N ′. Due to the display control by the display control unit 101, for the operator, the setting value of the item of the screen having a higher hierarchical order is displayed more clearly and transparently, and the setting value of the item of the screen having a lower hierarchical order is more transparent. It gives an impression that the display is low and unclear, and the lower the hierarchical order, the lower the transparency.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, the display control unit 101 displays the inside of the broken line surrounding each transparent display portion in order to indicate on which second screen each item of the plurality of transparent display portions can be set and changed. You may make it display at least the broken line part and the tab display part which each shows a 2nd screen by the same color.

  With these display controls, the operator can easily grasp on which second screen the setting values can be changed based on the transparency of each item that is transparently displayed.

  If the display control unit 101 determines that there is no item that has been changed from the default value (NO in S8), it skips the processes of S9 and S10.

  Note that either of the processes of S7 and S8 may be performed first. In S8, the display control unit 101 transparently displays the setting value of the item changed from the default value on the default screen H, and displays a second screen on which the setting value can be changed. The display form of the part is displayed in a display form different from that of the other tabs. Instead, in S8, the display control unit 101 changes the set value at the time of the previous print processing execution. A tab that displays whether or not the setting value of the item whose setting value has been changed is transparently displayed on the default screen H, and a second screen on which the setting value of the setting value that is transparently displayed can be changed is displayed. You may make it display the display form of a display part by the display form different from another tab.

  Returning to the description of FIG. When the default screen H is displayed, for example, when an operator changes the setting of a paper feed method by operating the mouse pointer, the setting of any item is changed, and the setting change instruction is received by the setting change receiving unit 102 (YES in S11), the control unit 106 changes the setting-changed item to a value according to an instruction from the operator and stores it (S12). The item change setting on the default 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 S13, NO in S16, S7).

  When the default screen H is displayed, if the operator clicks the OK button K by mouse operation (YES in S16), the process returns to S4, and the display control unit 101 displays the printing operation guidance screen D on the display unit 150 again. Display.

  When each tab (layout tab J1, image tab J2,...) Displayed at the top of the default screen H is clicked by the mouse operation by the operator (YES in S13), the display control unit 101 is designated. The display is switched to another detailed item setting screen (second screen) (S14). Thereafter, the process returns to S8. And the display control part 101 performs the process of S8 thru | or S13, even after switching a display to the said another detailed item setting screen. That is, even after the display control unit 101 switches the display to another detailed item setting screen, the setting value changed from the default value in the different detailed item setting screen before switching is changed to the detailed item setting screen after switching. Transparent display.

  Next, processing when changing the setting values of the items that are transparently displayed on the default screen will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a process when setting values of items that are transparently displayed on the default screen are changed. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example of the display unit 150.

  In the display control shown in FIG. 2, when the operator wants to change the setting value of the item that is transparently displayed on the default screen H, the operator performs another second corresponding to the setting value item by operating the mouse. Clicking on the tab display portion for displaying the screen, an operation for switching the display to the second screen is performed, and an operation for changing the setting value of the item to be changed is performed on the switched second screen. On the other hand, as shown below, when the operator operates the transparent display portion on the default screen H with the mouse, the setting value during the transparent display can be changed while the default screen is displayed. You may do it.

  When the setting value of the item changed from the default value is displayed as the transparent display portion N ′ on the default screen H (S21), the display control unit 101 is transparent as an operation button, for example, as shown in FIG. When the displayed pull-down button R is clicked by a mouse operation by the operator and a change candidate value display instruction is received by the setting change receiving unit 102 (YES in S22), the change candidate value of the setting value is displayed in a pull-down display, for example. A plurality of images are displayed on the default screen by S (S23). Here, when the operator operates the mouse to click a portion for displaying a value to be newly set from among the plurality of change candidate values, and the setting change receiving unit 102 receives an instruction of the changed value from the operator. (YES in S24), the control unit 106 changes the setting value of the item to the designated value (S25).

  As a result, the operator is transparently displayed on the default screen H without performing an operation of switching the display to the second screen in which the setting value of the transparently displayed item can be changed by operating the pull-down button R. The setting value of the item can be changed while the default screen is displayed, and the operability is further improved.

  The display control unit 101 controls whether or not to perform the transparent display, depending on whether the default value has been changed or the setting value has been changed at the previous print processing. Therefore, the transparent display may be hidden when the setting value of the item is returned to the default value or when the setting value is not changed at the time of the previous printing process. .

  Furthermore, another embodiment of the setting value changing process when the setting values of a plurality of items are transparently displayed on the default screen will be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of setting value change processing when setting values of a plurality of items are transparently displayed on the default screen, and FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a screen display example of the display unit 150. . Note that the same processes as those shown in FIG. 15 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  When the display control unit 101 performs a plurality of transparent displays on the default screen H, the setting change accepting unit 102 is an operation of the pull-down button R by a mouse operation by the operator, and corresponds to each second screen. When a different predetermined operation is performed, an instruction to change the setting value which is an item on the second screen corresponding to the performed operation and is transparently displayed may be received. Good. For example, referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the operator performs a mouse operation by positioning the mouse pointer on a desired transparent display portion whose setting value is to be changed, and the mouse operation is performed by the setting change receiving unit 102. Is recognized (YES in S31), the setting change accepting unit 102 can change the setting value of the item of the transparent display portion designated by the mouse pointer by the mouse operation performed by the operator. Predetermined operations corresponding to two screens (for example, if each second screen is assigned a different level, the second screen at the highest level is clicked, and the second screen at the next level is It is determined whether or not the second screen of the next layer such as 2 clicks is 3 clicks). When the mouse operation matches the predetermined operation (YES in S32), the setting change receiving unit 102 pulls down the pull-down button R of the transparent display portion designated by the mouse pointer by the mouse operation of the operator. Is permitted to accept the operation (S33).

  As a result, the setting value that is transparently displayed on the default screen cannot be changed unless the operator performs another predetermined operation corresponding to each of the second screens. When the set value is changed, the change operation is performed while recognizing which second screen item the set value is, and by mistakenly changing the set value of the other second screen Can be prevented.

  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, the display device including the display unit 150 and the CPU 100 (necessary functions of the display control unit 101, the setting change receiving unit 102, and the instruction receiving unit 105) is replaced with an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. It is also possible to apply to an image forming apparatus provided with an image forming mechanism such as the above. 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 the above embodiment, the display control program, the display device, and the display control method according to an embodiment of the present invention are selectively displayed on the display unit 150 when the default screen H and the second screen are set for printing in a word processor application. Although the example applied when switching display is described, the application of the display control program according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the personal computer 1, a plurality of applications are started simultaneously. The present invention can also be applied to the case where the screen of each application is selectively displayed on the display unit 150. For example, when a calculation application and a word processor application are activated simultaneously in the personal computer 1, the display control program according to an embodiment of the present invention is displayed on the screen of the application for which the display control unit 101 performs the calculation. When recognizing that the calculation result is displayed on the display unit 150, the display control unit 101 treats the screen of the application that performs the calculation as the second screen, and sets the numerical value indicating the calculation result to the second value. Treat as a setting value changed on the screen. Further, when the instruction receiving unit 105 receives an instruction from the operator to display the word processor application screen higher than the screen of the application performing the calculation, the display control unit 101 displays the word processor application screen on the display unit 150. On the screen of the word processor application, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, a numerical value indicating the calculation result on the screen of the application performing the calculation is displayed as a transparent display portion U. In FIG. 19, the other part of the screen of the application that performs the calculation is indicated by a broken line. However, the broken line part is preferably not displayed or displayed at a lighter density than the transparent display part U. As a result, the operator can grasp the calculation result in the application that performs the calculation without displaying the screen of the application that performs the calculation after the screen of the word processor application is displayed on the display unit 150. It is possible to easily perform operations such as inputting the calculation result with a word processor application, for example. In this case, the display control program may be incorporated in each application described above, or may be installed in the personal computer 1 (storage device 200) separately from each application. Good.

  In addition, the configuration and control of the display control program, the display device, and the display control method according to one embodiment of the present invention have been described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 19. However, these are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The display control program, the display device, and the display control method are not intended to be limited 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 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 the process at the time of setting change of the setting value of the item transparently displayed on a default screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of a display part. It is a flowchart which shows other embodiment about the change process of a setting value in case the setting value of several items is transparently displayed on the default screen. 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.

Explanation of symbols

1 Personal computer 20 Printer 100 CPU
101 Display Control Unit 102 Setting Change Accepting Unit 105 Instruction Accepting Unit 106 Control Unit 107 Output Unit 140 Operation Unit 150 Display Unit 200 Storage Device J1 Layout Tab J2 Image Tab J5 Watermark Tab

Claims (8)

A display control program for displaying operation guidance for an operator on a display unit of a computer,
A default screen in which the setting value of one or more items can be changed by an operation of the operator, and a setting value of one or more items can be changed by an operation of the operator. Display control means for displaying two screens on the display unit;
A setting change accepting means for accepting each instruction to change the setting value of each item from the operator when the default screen or the second screen is displayed on the display unit by the display control means;
When the setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving means changes any setting value of an item that can be changed on the second screen, the display control means changes the setting on the second screen. In order to display the changed setting value display part transparently on the default screen,
The display control means includes a plurality of screens that are displayed by switching the second screen from the default screen, and each second screen has a layer assigned to each of the second screens. A display control program for causing a computer to function so as to change the display form of the transparent display portion on the default screen according to the difference. When the setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving means changes any setting value of an item that can be changed on the second screen, the display control means changes the second screen. A setting change button for accepting a setting change instruction from the operator for the set value is displayed on the default screen in a transparent manner together with the display portion of the set value that is displayed.
The setting change accepting unit causes the computer to function to accept an instruction to change the setting value based on an operation of a setting change button transparently displayed on the default screen by an operator using an input device of the computer. Item 6. The display control program according to Item 1. A display control program for displaying operation guidance for an operator on a display unit of a computer,
A default screen in which the setting value of one or more items can be changed by an operation of the operator, and a setting value of one or more items can be changed by an operation of the operator. Display control means for displaying two screens on the display unit;
A setting change accepting means for accepting each instruction to change the setting value of each item from the operator when the default screen or the second screen is displayed on the display unit by the display control means;
When the setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving means changes any setting value of an item that can be changed on the second screen, the display control means changes the setting on the second screen. In order to display the changed setting value display part transparently on the default screen,
When the setting value of any of the items that can be changed on the second screen is changed based on a setting change instruction from the operator received by the setting change receiving means, the display control means In order to display the switching guidance part in the default screen that displays the switching guidance to the second screen that can change the setting of the changed item in a display form different from the display before the setting value is changed,
The display control means includes a plurality of screens that are displayed by switching the second screen from the default screen, and the setting of the transparent display portion of the default screen can be changed. So as to display in the same display form as the switching guide portion for displaying the switching guidance to the second screen.
When the setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving means changes any setting value of an item that can be changed on the second screen, the display control means changes the setting on the second screen. A setting change button for accepting a setting change instruction from the operator for the set value together with a display portion of the changed set value is transparently displayed on the default screen, and displayed.
When the display control means performs the transparent display for each item for each second screen on the default screen, the setting change accepting means is configured to change the setting by an operator using a computer input device. When the button is operated and another predetermined operation corresponding to each of the second screens is performed, the setting value that is the item of the corresponding second screen and is transparently displayed is changed. A display control program that causes a computer to function to accept instructions.   When the setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving means changes the setting value of any of the items that can be changed on the second screen from the default value, the display control means The display control program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which causes the computer to function so that a display portion of the changed set value in the two screens is transmitted through the default screen.   The display control program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the display control unit displays the transparent display portion on the default screen in a decorated display form. A display unit for displaying operation guidance for the operator;
A default screen that enables the setting value of one or more items to be changed by an operation by the operator, and a setting value of one or more items can be changed by an operation by the operator. Display control means for displaying a second screen on the display unit;
A setting change accepting means for accepting each instruction to change the setting value of each item from the operator when the default screen or the second screen is displayed on the display unit by the display control means;
When the setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving means changes any setting value of an item that can be changed on the second screen, the display control means changes the setting on the second screen. Display the changed setting value display part transparently on the default screen,
The display control means includes a plurality of screens that are displayed by switching the second screen from the default screen, and each second screen has a layer assigned to each of the second screens. A display device that changes the display form of the transparent display portion on the default screen according to the difference. A display control method for displaying operation guidance for an operator on a display unit of a computer,
A default screen that enables the setting value of one or more items to be changed by an operation by the operator, and a setting value of one or more items can be changed by an operation by the operator. A first step of displaying a second screen on the display unit;
A second step of accepting each instruction to change the setting value of each item from the operator when the default screen or the second screen is displayed on the display unit;
When any setting value of the item that can be changed on the second screen is changed by the received setting change instruction, the display portion of the changed setting value on the second screen is And a third step for transparent display on the default screen,
In the first step, the second screen is composed of a plurality of screens displayed by switching from the default screen, and each second screen has a layer assigned to each of the screens.
In the third step, a display control method for changing a display form of the transparent display portion on the default screen according to a difference in a hierarchy of the second screens. A display unit for displaying operation guidance for the operator;
A default screen that enables the setting value of one or more items to be changed by an operation by the operator, and a setting value of one or more items can be changed by an operation by the operator. Display control means for displaying a second screen on the display unit;
A setting change accepting means for accepting each instruction to change the setting value of each item from the operator when the default screen or the second screen is displayed on the display unit by the display control means;
When the setting change instruction received by the setting change receiving means changes any setting value of an item that can be changed on the second screen, the display control means changes the setting on the second screen. Display the changed setting value display part transparently on the default screen,
The display control means includes a plurality of screens that are displayed by switching the second screen from the default screen, and each second screen has a layer assigned to each of the second screens. An image forming apparatus that changes a display form of the transparent display portion on the default screen in accordance with the difference.

Images