JPH0628143A - Window display controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To instantaneously select a target window by indicating the identification name of a desired window in a displayed menu and making the indicated window temporarily visible. CONSTITUTION:When a cursor is placed in a specific area on a display and the button of a mouse is clicked. a menu display part 6 displays the identification name and layer upper/lower and display state of a window displays in a window information storage part 5 in each item of the menu according to the display order. A window temporary display part 8 temporarily displays the contents of the window corresponding to the menu item at the position of the cursor in the menu on the screen of a display in response to the position of the cursor. A window operation part 9 displays the window corresponding to the menu item where the cursor position is present over other all windows once the button of the mouse is released from being depressed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a window display control device, and more particularly to a window display control device in a multi-window system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a multi-window system, it is natural that one window is hidden under another window. In order to make the hidden window visible, the method of displaying the identification name of each window in the menu and selecting the desired one from the menus and displaying it at the top has been used (for example, JP-A-63-20524 and JP-A-2-17
See Japanese Patent No. 1917, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-263086, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-278093. ). That is, in the conventional method, for example, when the cursor is placed in a predetermined area on the screen and the mouse button is pressed, a menu of the identification name (the title of the program, etc.) of the window opened at that time is displayed. Then, for example, while holding down the mouse button, the cursor is moved to the desired window identifier, and when the mouse button is released, the window pointed to by the cursor at that time is displayed at the top.

[0003]

By the way, computers have come to be applied to all fields of work, and the number of application programs and development programs that each person uses on a daily basis is increasing more and more. One of the problems that arises when the number of programs to handle increases is the distinction between programs. Since the program identifiers, that is, file titles and window titles, are uniquely assigned by each company in accordance with their own rules, it often happens that they are similar or identical. To do. A method of adding many modifiers so that they can be easily distinguished can be considered. However, many systems have a limitation on the length of the title, which cannot be attached after being modified so that it is easy to distinguish. Even if there is no such limitation, it is not the rakugo's "life limitless", but the long identification name is originally complicated to handle, and spelling mistakes are likely to occur even with a single key input, which is not practical. .

In the above conventional technique, this indistinguishable identification name is displayed as a menu, and when the selection operation such as releasing the button is performed, the window is immediately displayed at the top. It was For this reason, if similar identifiers are lined up, select the one you think is this and display the window concerned, if it is different, display the menu again and select the next one you think this is repeated trial and error There was a need. Also, under the same conditions, I often select a different window than the one I want, so I often notice an error when the window is displayed, and I often start the menu display and select again. Occurred. An object of the present invention is to provide a user-friendly window display control device capable of promptly selecting a target window without such troublesomeness.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention of claim 1, in a window display control device for displaying a plurality of windows on a display screen, a menu for displaying an identification name of each window as a menu. Display means, instruction means for instructing an identification name of a desired window from the menu displayed by the menu display means, and display control means for temporarily making the window instructed by the instructing means visible. According to the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 1, there is provided a display control means for displaying the window designated by the designating means at the top. According to the third aspect of the invention, in the window display control device for displaying a plurality of windows on the display screen, a menu display means for displaying the identification name of each window together with information indicating the display state of the window as a menu is provided. According to the invention of claim 4, in a window display control device for displaying a plurality of windows having a logical hierarchical structure on a display screen, the identification name of each window is displayed as a menu based on the hierarchical structure. It is provided with a menu display means for indenting and displaying.

[0006]

According to the invention of claim 1, the identification name of each window is displayed as a menu by the menu display means. When the cursor is operated with a mouse or a key and an identification name on the displayed menu is designated, the window of the identification name designated by the cursor at that time is temporarily made visible by the display control means. In the invention of claim 2, the window designated by the designating means is displayed at the top by the display control means. According to the invention of claim 3, the menu display means displays the identification name of each window as a menu together with the information indicating the display state of the window. According to the invention of claim 4, when the menu display means displays the identification name of each window as a menu, they are displayed indented based on the hierarchical structure.

[0007]

The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an input unit, which includes a mouse and a keyboard (not shown). 2 is an output device and a display D
SP (see FIG. 2 etc.) is provided. Reference numeral 3 is a window management device (window manager) that realizes a multi-window system, and each window WA on the display DSP.
~ Manage WD. When it is not necessary to individually distinguish the windows WA to WD, the symbols WA to WD are omitted. A window display control device 4 includes a window information storage unit 5, a menu display unit 6, a menu selection unit 7, a window temporary display control unit 8, and a window operation unit 9. The menu display section 6 corresponds to the menu display means in claims 1, 3 and 4. The window temporary display control unit 8 corresponds to the display control means in claim 1. The display control means according to the present invention is obtained by adding the window operation unit 9 to the window temporary display control unit 8.

When activated, the window information storage unit 5 accesses the window management device 3 to identify the windows of all the windows managed by the device 3, the hierarchical relationship among the windows, the positions of the windows, the display order, and the display status. The data of is acquired and stored. The actual identification names are "English word processor Ver.1" and "Table creation Part1".
In the embodiments, they are simply expressed by the alphabet of one letter A to D. The menu display unit 6 responds to the cursor CS being placed in a predetermined area SA of the display DSP and a mouse button being clicked, so that the window identification name stored in the window information storage unit 5, the upper and lower layers, and The display state is displayed in each item CL1 to CL4 of the menu M according to the display order. The cursor CS and the mouse correspond to the indicating means in the claims. The menu selection unit 7 responds to the change in the position of the cursor CS on the menu M, and highlights the menu item where the cursor CS is located at that time. The window temporary display unit 8 responds to the position of the cursor CS on the menu M and temporarily displays the contents of the window corresponding to the menu item at that position on the screen of the display DSP. When the pressed mouse button is released, the window operation unit 9 displays the window corresponding to the menu item where the cursor CS is located on all the other windows.

The window contents are not shown.
The temporary display of the contents of the window by the temporary window display unit 8 and the uppermost display of the window by the window operation unit 9 can be realized by using a known window system. For example, in the temporary display, when the cursor CS is moved from outside the menu M to any item (CL1 to CL4) or moved to a new item (CL1 to CL4), the window temporary display unit 8 is displayed. The identification name of the window corresponding to the new cursor position is read from the window information storage unit 5, and the window management unit 3 is notified to display this window at the top, and the window management unit 3 displays the window accordingly. This can be realized by changing the order, instructing the program to repaint, and restructuring the contents of the window displayed at the top, thereby configuring the processing procedure. The topmost display of the window by the window operation unit 9 can also be realized by performing the same process when the button of the mouse that has been pressed is released.

A more detailed description will be given with reference to a specific display example. FIG. 2 shows an initial state in which the four windows WA to WD are opened. Here, for example, the window WD is iconized (ICD in FIG. 3), and the window WC is displayed at the top (FIG. 4). Window WB, icon I
The CD is completely invisible and only part of the window WA is visible. When the cursor CS is placed in the specific area SA on the display DSP to display the menu M and the mouse button is pressed, in response to this, FIG.
The menu M is displayed as shown in FIG. The order of the items CL1 to CL4 of the menu M and the state of the indentation are matched with the order of display of windows and the top and bottom of the hierarchy. The display order is WC, WA, WB, WD, and the hierarchy is window WB. It is shown to be one layer below WA. It should be noted that since the identification name is displayed in a simplified form with one character, the state of indentation is somewhat unclear, but since the identification name has a certain number of characters, the indentation can be clearly recognized in the actual display. To the right of the window identification names C, A, B, and D of the items CL1 to CL4, the display state of the window is represented by pictograms. In this example, what represents the entire window is represented by “◯”, that which is partially displayed is represented by “Δ”, and that which is not displayed at all is represented by “x”. The display state is calculated from the window allocation data held by the window management device 3. On the left side of the window identification names C, A, B, and D, pictorial characters are used to indicate whether or not they are iconified. In this example,
"-" Is added to the identification name D of the iconized window WD.

When the cursor is moved on each item CL1 to CL4 of the menu M when the mouse button is pressed, the item CL at which the cursor CS is located at that time in response to the movement.
The windows having the identification names shown in the windows WA to WD of 1 to CL4 are temporarily displayed one after another. Figure 6 shows the cursor C
The state when S is placed at the position of the item CL3 is shown. The display order of window B of this item CL3 is originally 3
Is th. However, here, regardless of this order, the window B is temporarily displayed at the top of the screen while the cursor CS is placed on this item CL3. Further, this temporary display is executed for all windows managed by the window management device 3 regardless of whether the windows are iconified or not. For example, cursor C
It is assumed that S is moved to the next item CL4. Window D
The display order of is originally 4th and is iconized. However, even for such a window, the window D is temporarily displayed at the top of the screen while the cursor CS is placed on the item CL4 (FIG. 7). In this case, in order to make it easier to recognize that the icon is made, the icon ID is also displayed at the same time, and the respective corners are connected by broken lines to clarify the relationship between them (FIG. 7).
To display an iconified window,
For example, a configuration such as "requesting the window management device 3 to open the window" may be added before the configuration example for the temporary display described above.

Thus, the cursor CS is displayed on the menu M.
, And confirm the display contents of each window temporarily displayed according to the position of the cursor CS at that time, and if it is confirmed that it is the one you want, then press the mouse button that was pressed until then Release. As a result, if window B is selected, it is displayed at the top as shown in FIG. When the window D is selected, the operation of opening the iconified window D is performed, and it is displayed at the top as shown in FIG.

The following description will be supplemented. The content of the menu displayed temporarily is arbitrary, and depending on the case, only the frame of the window may be displayed. Various operating procedures for displaying the menu M or selecting desired windows WA to WD can be considered. Even if the mouse, its button, and the cursor CS are used as in the embodiment, for example, the menu M is displayed in the specific area SA.
The windows WA to WD are temporarily displayed in response to the click of a button on the menu M, in response to the cursor CS being moved on the menu M without the mouse key being pressed. Various configurations are conceivable such that the windows WA to WD are selected in response to the depression of a mouse key. It is also possible to perform these operations with a keyboard. In this case, for example, the menu M is displayed in response to the pressing of a predetermined key or a plurality of predetermined keys of the keyboard, the cursor is highlighted in the items CL1 to CL4, and the arrow keys are pressed. A configuration is conceivable in which the window is moved up and down, and the window displayed at the top is selected by pressing the selection execution (return) key on the keyboard. Further, a configuration in which the operation of the mouse or its button and each operation of the keyboard are combined or used together is also conceivable.

When the window system supports color display, the display state of the window is configured to be expressed by the background color of each area of each item CL1 to CL4 of the menu M and the difference in the character color thereof. May be. If the window system is provided with a means for changing the look and feel for each user, if the pictograms and display colors indicating the display state of the menu M can be changed according to the user's preference, the visibility will be further improved. An excellent system can be realized. Similarly, when the window system is compatible with color display, the window itself can be temporarily displayed in a specific color to provide a system with excellent visibility.

[0015]

As described above, in the invention of claim 1, when the identification name on the displayed menu is designated by the mouse or the key, the window designated at that time is designated by the display control means. It will be temporarily visible. Therefore, even if the window identification name is the same or similar, from the contents of the temporarily displayed window,
You can easily recognize the difference. You can immediately check the display position of each window. Further, when it is desired to display the distinguished window at the top, it may be executed by a conventional method, but if it is configured as the invention according to claim 2 of the present application, more efficient operation can be performed. That is, in the invention of claim 2, the window instructed by the instructing means is displayed on the top by the display control means. In many cases, the window is searched because the window is displayed at the top and the desired operation is performed. According to the second aspect of the invention, since the selected window is displayed at the top of the screen after the temporary display, the operation of the window can be immediately executed. In the invention of claim 3, the identification name of each window is displayed as a menu together with the information indicating the display state of the window. Therefore, the display state of the window can be easily confirmed, and the window or the like in the icon state, which is difficult to perceive in the past, can be immediately recognized by the temporary display, and the desired operation such as opening the window can be performed. According to the invention of claim 4, when displayed as a menu, the identification name of each window is displayed indented based on the hierarchical structure. Therefore, the location of the lower window of the hierarchy can be visually grasped, and the access to the target window and the hierarchical management of the window can be executed more accurately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a window display.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the window WD of the display example of FIG. 2 is iconized.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a window WC of the display example of FIG. 2 is displayed at the top.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a menu is displayed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a window WB is temporarily displayed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which a window WD and its icon are temporarily displayed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a window WB after temporary display is displayed at the top.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which a window WD after temporary display is opened and displayed at the top.

[Explanation of symbols]

 AD identification name CS (+ mouse) instruction means WA-WD window 6 menu display means 8 display control means 8 and 9 display control means according to claim 2.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In a window display control device for displaying a plurality of windows on a display screen, a menu display means for displaying the identification name of each window as a menu and a desired menu from the menu displayed by the menu display means. A window display control device comprising: an instruction means for instructing an identification name of a window; and a display control means for temporarily making the window instructed by the instruction means visible. 2. The window display control device according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for displaying the window instructed by said instruction means at the top. 3. A window display control device for displaying a plurality of windows on a display screen, comprising a menu display means for displaying the identification name of each window together with information indicating the display state of the window as a menu. Characteristic window display control device. 4. In a window display control device for displaying a plurality of windows having a logical hierarchical structure on a display screen, when displaying an identification name of each window as a menu, an indentation is made based on the hierarchical structure. A window display control device comprising a menu display means for displaying the same.