JP2001306207A - Recording medium recording a program that supports drag-and-drop processing - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To inform an operator of an area where drop processing can be performed and an expansion operation using a function expansion key at the time of drag and drop processing. SOLUTION: When dragging of a mail 41 displayed in a display area 42 of a mail program is started, a CPU is started.
Displays a function help message 43 in a display area 42 and a function help message 45 in another display area 44. In addition, the CPU 23 controls the desktop (display area 5).
A similar message is sent to the program managing 6), and the function help message 57 is displayed. Thus, the operator can know the display-drop-processable area where the drop processing can be performed and the expansion operation using the function expansion key only by starting the drag processing of a certain object.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a drag-and-drop processing support apparatus, and more particularly to notification of an area where a drop processing can be performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Drag and drop processing is possible with an application program operating on WINDOWS 98 (trademark). In such a drag-and-drop process, if the user drags and drops while pressing the control key or the shift key, which is a function expansion key, it is possible to select copying or moving the object.

For example, the mail software “shurik” shown in FIG.
en ”(trademark), the mail 100 is stored in another folder 110
, The mail 100 may be dragged and dropped into the folder 110. Email 1
To copy 00 to another folder 110, the user may drag the mail 100 and drop the mail 100 onto the folder 110 while pressing a control key (not shown) on the keyboard. In the case of copying, a function display mark 130 is displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 2 so that the operator can recognize the switching.

However, the above-mentioned application program has the following problems. Since the meaning of the function display mark shown in FIG. 2 is difficult for a beginner to understand, it is difficult to understand the operation he is trying to do. In addition, the function display mark is displayed only after the cursor is moved to an area where such drag and drop processing can be performed. Therefore, only a user who knows that drag and drop processing can be performed in this area can perform such a function. Can not be used.

[0005] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and provides a drag-and-drop process capable of notifying an operator of a candidate area of a drag-and-drop process destination of an object displayed on a screen and a function that can be processed in that case. It is an object to provide a support device or a method thereof.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention 1) In a recording medium recording a program according to the present invention, a program for causing a computer to execute a process of dragging and dropping an object between a plurality of display areas. Wherein the program, when the drag processing of the object is started, determines a display area in which the drop processing is possible among the plurality of display areas and displays a display in which the drop processing is not possible. It is displayed separately from the area. Therefore, when a certain object is started to be dragged, the display area in which the drop processing can be performed can be notified to the operator. Thus, even the display area where the operator did not know that the drop processing can be performed can be notified.

[0007] 2) In a recording medium on which the program according to the present invention is recorded, the program displays, for each of the display areas where the drop processing can be performed, each operation when the drop processing is performed while operating a key. Thus, the display area in which the drop processing can be performed and the display area in which the drop processing cannot be performed are displayed separately. Therefore, the display of each operation can be used together with the display indicating the display area where the drop processing can be performed.

[0008] 3) In the recording medium on which the program according to the present invention is recorded, the program previously stores a correspondence table between the drop display area and the function help message, and stores the correspondence table in the program for managing the plurality of display areas. In response to this, a drag start message is sent, and the display area
Determine whether the object is droppable, if droppable, based on the correspondence table,
The transmitted function help message is displayed in the display area. Therefore, for the display area stored in the correspondence table, a function help message can be displayed by a program for managing the plurality of display areas.

4) In a recording medium on which a program according to the present invention is recorded, a program for causing a computer to execute a process of displaying a function help message when an object is dragged and dropped between a plurality of display areas is recorded. In the recording medium, the program, upon receiving the drag start message, replies a drop permission message including a display area managed by itself, and when a function help message including the display area and display content is given, The display content is displayed as a function help message in the display area specified by the function help message.

Therefore, when a certain object starts dragging, it is possible to notify the operator of the display area where the drop processing can be performed and the operation at the time of the drop processing.

[0011] 5) In the recording medium on which the program according to the present invention is recorded, the program displays a translucent layer over the entire display area specified by the function help message. Therefore, the operator can clearly grasp the range in which the drop processing can be performed.

6) In a recording medium on which the program according to the present invention is recorded, the program changes the display format between when the cursor is not positioned and when the cursor is positioned in the display area where the function help message is displayed. I do. This makes it easier for the operator to understand the operation by the drop processing.

[0013] 7) In the recording medium on which the program according to the present invention is recorded, the program may have the overlapped display area when another display area is superimposed on a display area for displaying the function help message. The function help message is displayed outside the display area. Thus, even when the display areas partially overlap, the operator can be reliably notified of the function help message.

8) In the drag-and-drop processing device according to the present invention, 1) drag-and-drop processing means for dragging and dropping an object from the first display area to the second display area based on the operation of the operator. 2) data processing means for performing predetermined data processing on the dropped object based on a key operation that has been performed when the object is dropped in the display area of the drag destination; 3) when the drag is started It is determined whether or not drop processing is possible for all display areas displayed on the screen, and the droppable display areas are processed by changing the key operation when dropping in each display area. And a help message display means for displaying a help message indicating data processing. As described above, when the drag is started, the help message display unit determines whether or not drop processing is possible for all display areas displayed on the screen. A help message indicating data processing to be processed by changing a key operation when dropping in each display area is displayed on the display means. Therefore, when a certain object is started to be dragged, the display area in which the drop processing can be performed can be notified to the operator. Thus, even the display area where the operator did not know that the drop processing can be performed can be notified. In addition, each operation can be notified to the operator.

9) In the drag-and-drop processing apparatus according to the present invention, an object is dragged and dropped from the display area of the drag source to the display area of the drop destination on the screen of the computer based on the operation of the operator. Then, a drag-and-drop method for performing predetermined data processing on the dropped object based on a key operation performed when the object is dropped in the display area of the drag destination, wherein the drag is started Then, it is determined whether or not drop processing is possible for the display area displayed on the screen. For the droppable display area, data processing that is processed by changing a key operation when dropping is performed. Display the help message shown. Therefore, when a certain object is started to be dragged, the display area in which the drop processing can be performed can be notified to the operator. Thus, even the display area where the operator did not know that the drop processing can be performed can be notified. In addition, each operation can be notified to the operator.

The "object" includes all objects that can be dragged and dropped, and includes not only files and folders but also some character strings of files.

In the embodiment, the "drag and drop processing means" corresponds to the processing of the CPU by the drag and drop processing program included in the operating system program. "Data processing means" corresponds to CPU processing such as file copy or file movement after drop processing has been performed. Also,
"Help message display means" corresponds to the processing performed by the CPU based on the programs shown in FIGS.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Description of Functional Block Diagram One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drag and drop processing device 1 shown in FIG. 3 includes a drag and drop processing unit 3, a data processing unit 5, and a help message display unit 7.

The drag-and-drop processing means 3 displays an object from the drag source display area to the drop destination from the first display area displayed on the display means 9 to the second display area based on the operation of the operator. Drag and drop to the area. The data processing unit 5 performs predetermined data processing on the dropped object based on a key operation performed when the object is dropped in the display area of the drag destination. When the dragging is started, the help message display means 7 determines whether or not drop processing is possible for all display areas displayed on the screen. Display a help message indicating the data processing to be processed by changing the key operation when dropping.

As described above, when dragging is started, it is determined whether or not drop processing is possible for all display areas displayed on the screen. By displaying the help message indicating the data processing to be processed by changing the key operation at the time of dropping, it is possible to notify the operator of the display area where data can be dropped and the data processing there.

2. Hardware Configuration The hardware configuration of the drag-and-drop processing device 1 shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an example of a hardware configuration in which the drag-and-drop processing device 1 is realized using a CPU.

The drag-and-drop processing device 1 has a C
PU23, memory 27, hard disk 26, CRT3
0, CDD (CDROM drive) 25, keyboard 2
8, a mouse 31 and a bus line 29. C
The PU 23 controls each unit via the bus line 29 according to a program stored in the hard disk 26.

These programs are read from the CD ROM 25a in which the programs are stored via the CDD 25 and installed on the hard disk 26. In addition to the CDROM, a program such as a flexible disk (FD) or an IC card may be installed on a hard disk from a computer-readable recording medium in which a program is substantially integrated. Furthermore, you may make it download using a communication line.

In this embodiment, the program is stored on a CD.
By installing the program from the ROM to the hard disk 26, the program stored in the CD ROM is indirectly executed by the computer. But,
Without being limited to this, the program stored in the CDROM may be directly executed from the CDD 25. Note that, as a program executable by a computer, not only a program that can be directly executed by simply installing it as it is, but also a program that needs to be temporarily converted into another form (for example, decompresses a data-compressed program) Etc.), and also includes those which can be executed in combination with other module parts.

The hard disk 26 has an operating system (OS) program storage unit 26o, a mail program storage unit 26m, a database program storage unit 26d, and a schedule management program storage unit 26s.
Having. In the present embodiment, Microsoft Corporation's W
Windows 98 (trademark) as a mail program
JustSystem's shuriken (trademark), as a database program, Justsystem's Goro (trademark), as a schedule management program,
Sasuke (trademark) of Just System Co., Ltd. was used.

The drag and drop processing at the time of executing each program is executed by calling a drag and drop processing program (not shown) included in the operating system program.

3. Flowchart Next, a specific example of the help message display at the time of the drag-and-drop processing in each application program stored in the hard disk 26 will be described first.

When the mouse cursor 51 is positioned on the mail 41 displayed on the display area 42 as shown in FIG. 6 and the drag process is started, as shown in FIG. , A function help message 43 is displayed as a solid line, and another display area 44 is displayed.
, A function help message 45 is displayed as a broken line. In this state, drag the mail 41 to display area 4
When the mouse cursor 51 is moved to the folder 47 of No. 4, the function help message 43 in the display area 42 is displayed by a broken line, and the function help message 45 is displayed in the display area 44 by a solid line.

As described above, when the drag processing of a certain object is started, the display area in which the drop processing can be performed is determined, and the function help message indicating the contents of the function data processing when the drop processing is performed in each display area is displayed. Is done. The function help message in the display area where the cursor is currently located is displayed as a solid line.

Hereinafter, the display processing of the function help message will be described with reference to FIGS. In this example, only the mail program stored in the mail program storage unit 26m has the drag start program shown in FIG. 9 and the drop help display program shown in FIG. It is assumed that is running.

The CPU 23 determines whether or not the drag processing is started based on the drag start program shown in FIG. 9 (step S1 in FIG. 9). When the drag processing is started, the CPU 23 transmits a drag start message. (Step S3). The CPU 23 responds to the drag start message based on the programs currently running.
If a reply is possible, a predetermined reply message is transmitted. Currently running programs are an operating system program, a mail program, a database program, and a schedule management program, and only the mail program has the drop help display program shown in FIG. CPU23
Determines whether a drag start message has been received based on the drop help display program shown in FIG. 10 (step S21 in FIG. 10), and upon receiving the drag start message, transmits a drop permission message (step S25). ). The drop permission message includes the display area name controlled (managed) by the mail program. In the case shown in FIG. 6, the display area 42 is a display area name “Shuriken mail list”, and the display area 44 is a display area name “Shuriken mail folder”.
Is sent.

On the other hand, the CPU 23 executes a process based on other programs (an operating system program, a database program, and a schedule management program), and these programs execute the drop help display program shown in FIG. Since it does not have, even if you receive the drag start message,
It cannot respond to such messages. Therefore, the drag start message is consequently ignored.

The CPU 23 determines whether or not a drop permission message has been received based on the drag start program shown in FIG. 9 (step S5 in FIG. 9), and upon receiving the drop permission message, the area specified by the drop permission message. It is determined whether or not dropping is possible (step S7). This determination is made based on the reference table shown in FIG. The operation corresponding to the operation of the function expansion key is stored in the reference table for each drop location. For example, the designated area "Shuriken Mail Folder"
Then, if you drop while pressing the control key, you can see that the operation "copy" is executed. CPU23
Determines that dropping is possible when the area specified by the drop permission message exists in the specified area in the reference table, and determines that dropping is not possible when the area does not exist.

If the CPU 23 determines that dropping is possible, the CPU 23 transmits the operation and operation of the function expansion key for each designated area based on the drag start program of FIG. 9 (step S9). For example, in the state shown in FIG. 6, since the display area 42 has the display area name "shuriken mail list", the display data of the operation of the function extension key and the corresponding operation in the shuriken mail list shown in FIG. Sent. Since the display area 44 has the display area name “shuriken mail folder”, the display data of the operation of the function expansion key and the corresponding operation in the shuriken mail folder shown in FIG. 5 is transmitted.

On the other hand, in step S7, the CPU 23
If it is determined that dropping is not possible, drop operation information indicating that dropping is not possible is transmitted to the display area (step S13).

After transmitting the drop permission message in step S25 based on the drop help display program shown in FIG. 10, the CPU 23 determines whether or not dropping is disabled or operation help display data at the time of drop is given. (FIG. 10, step S27, step S2
9). When drop non-permission is given, the CPU 23 ends the processing of the drop help display program.

On the other hand, when the operation help display data at the time of drop is given in step S29, the CPU 23 generates a function help message based on the display data and generates the function help message in the empty space of each display area. Display a message. As a result, a function help message 43 is displayed in the display area 42 and a function help message 45 is displayed in the display area 44 as shown in FIG.

The function help message generates a translucent layer over its own display area (window) based on the description of the operation at the time of drop contained in the returned drop permission message and displays it in a superimposed manner. What should I do? This allows the operator to be clearly notified of the droppable area where the operation notified by the function help message is executed.

Switching between solid line display and broken line display in accordance with the position of the cursor is performed based on a display switching program shown in FIG. Briefly, CP
U23 acquires the position data of the cursor (step S23).
41). It is determined whether or not the acquired cursor position is within the display area displaying the function help message (step S43). If the acquired cursor position is within the display area displaying the function help message, the function help message is displayed as a solid line (step S4).
5)). On the other hand, if the acquired cursor position is outside the display area where the function help message is displayed, the function help message is displayed as a broken line (step S47).

The CPU 23 resets the timer in the drag start program shown in FIG. 9 after the transmission process in step S9 or S13 (step S1).
1). Then, step S5 and subsequent steps are repeated. Thereby, when a drop permission message is given based on a plurality of programs, the processing of step S7 and subsequent steps can be executed. If no drop permission message is received, it is determined whether or not the timer has exceeded a predetermined time (step S15), and if so, the process is terminated.

As described above, when the drag process is started, a function help message is displayed in each display area where the drop process can be performed. When the cursor position is located within the display area, the function help message is displayed so as to be distinguished from other display areas.

4. Other Embodiments In the above embodiment, the case where the function help message is displayed in one mail program has been described, but a plurality of application programs (OS
(Including programs). For example, a reference table as shown in FIG. 12 is stored, and in step S3 in FIG. 9, a drop permission message is sent to the transmitted drag start message from a process based on another currently activated application program. If given, a function help message may be displayed in a similar manner based on the reference table of FIG.

In this case, the drop help display program shown in FIG. 10 may be called from each application program. Further, the drag start program shown in FIG. 9 can also be called from each application program, so that when each application program starts dragging, a function help message is displayed in a display area displayed on the screen. can do. For example, FIG. 13 shows a display example of a function help message in a schedule program. In this case, the function help message is displayed in the display area 60, but the function help message is not displayed in the display area 62. This is the display area 6 managed by the schedule program.
Although the drop permission message is transmitted for the display areas 0 and 62, the display area 6 is displayed in the reference table shown in FIG.
This is because the display area name “Sasuke date field” of 0 exists but the display area name “Sasuke ToDo field” of the display area 62 does not exist.

In the state where the desktop is displayed on the screen of the CRT 30 and the mail program “Shuriken” is displayed in the window above it, the mail 4 is displayed.
FIG. 14 shows a function help message displayed in each display area when the dragging of No. 1 is started. In FIG. 14, in addition to the function help messages 43 and 45, a function help message 57 is displayed on the display area 56 (desktop).

Note that where to display the function help message in each display area, the program for managing the display area is determined so that the program is displayed at a position that does not overlap with other windows and can be confirmed by the operator. Just do it. If a certain display area is obscured by another display area, and there is no area for displaying the function help message, before displaying the function help message, `` hold the mouse while dragging over this area. The application will move to the foreground when it comes ".

In the present embodiment, the display mode is changed between a solid line and a broken line according to the position of the cursor. However, these may be of any type as long as they can be distinguished. The color or the outer shape of the message may be changed.

Further, in the above embodiment, the operator is notified of the droppable area by displaying a function help message in the droppable area. The droppable area may be notified by highlight display or the like.

After the function help message is displayed, the processing when the operator executes the drop processing is the same as the conventional one. In other words, the drop processing program of the OS program is called, and operations such as copying and moving are executed in accordance with the operation of the function expansion key (including the case where there is no key operation).

In this embodiment, a function help message can be displayed as to what kind of processing can be performed when drop processing is performed while operating the function expansion key. Therefore, even if a special process is assigned to a special function expansion key, this can be displayed at the time of the drag-and-drop process, so that the operator can know this.
Thus, even if a complicated function expansion key is prepared for each application program, it is possible to introduce a unique function at a timing when the operator just operates.

Although a function help message is displayed for a plurality of operations, a single function help message may be displayed.

A part of the processing of the program may be executed by an operating system (OS) program.

In the present embodiment, the functions shown in FIG. 1 are realized by using the CPU 23 and software. However, some or all of them may be realized by hardware such as a logic circuit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of a display screen of a conventional mail software.

FIG. 2 is an example of a display screen in a state of being dragged to a mail folder.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the drag-and-drop processing device 1 according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a drag-and-drop processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration in which the above is realized using a CPU.

FIG. 5 shows a data structure of a reference table.

FIG. 6 shows a display screen before dragging is started.

FIG. 7 shows a display screen at the start of dragging.

FIG. 8 shows a display screen in a state where a mouse cursor is moved to a mail folder.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a drag start program.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a drag help display program.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a function help message display switching program.

FIG. 12 shows a data structure of a reference table when a function help message is displayed between other programs.

FIG. 13 shows a display example when a function help message is displayed between different programs.

FIG. 14 shows a display example when a function help message is displayed in the display area of the desktop.

[Explanation of symbols]

 23: CPU 27: Memory

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a process of dragging and dropping an object between a plurality of display areas, wherein the program starts when the drag process of the object is started. And a display area in which a drop process can be performed among the plurality of display areas, and the display area is displayed in a manner distinguishable from the display area in which a drop process cannot be performed. 2. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 1 is recorded, wherein the program displays, for each display area where the drop processing is possible, an operation when the drop processing is performed while operating a key. A display area where drop processing is possible and a display area where drop processing is not possible are displayed separately. 3. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 2 is recorded, wherein the program stores a correspondence table between a drop display area and a function help message in advance, and the program manages the plurality of display areas. Then, a drag start message is transmitted, and it is determined whether or not the object can be dropped in the display area to which the drop permission message has been replied. If the object can be dropped, the display is performed based on the correspondence table. Displaying the function help message sent to the area. 4. A recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a process of displaying a function help message when an object is dragged and dropped between a plurality of display areas, wherein the program starts dragging. Upon receiving the message, it responds with a drop permission message including the display area managed by itself, and if a function help message including the display area and display contents is given, the display is specified in the display area specified by this function help message. A recording medium recording a program characterized by displaying contents as a function help message. 5. The recording medium on which the program according to claim 4 is recorded, wherein the program displays a translucent layer over the entire display area specified by the function help message. 6. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 4 is recorded, wherein the program changes a display format when a cursor is not positioned in a display area where the function help message is displayed and when the cursor is positioned in a display area. That is characterized by. 7. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 4 is recorded, wherein the program has another display area superimposed on a display area for displaying the function help message. Wherein the function help message is displayed outside the overlapping display area. 8. A drag-and-drop processing device for dragging and dropping an object from a first display area displayed on a display means to a second display area, wherein the first and second objects are operated based on an operation by an operator. Drag-and-drop processing means for dragging and dropping an object from the display area to the second display area; and a predetermined operation performed on the dropped object based on a key operation performed when the object is dropped in the drag destination display area. Data processing means for performing data processing of, when the drag is started, it is determined whether or not drop processing is possible for all display areas displayed on the screen,
The display area which can be dropped includes help message display means for displaying a help message indicating data processing to be processed by changing a key operation when dropping in each display area on the display means. Characteristic drag and drop processing device. 9. When an object is dragged and dropped from a display area of a drag source to a display area of a drop destination on a screen of a computer based on an operation of an operator, the object is dropped in the display area of the drag destination. A drag-and-drop method for performing predetermined data processing on the dropped object based on a key operation that has been performed when the dragging is started, and a display area displayed on a screen when the dragging is started. And determining whether a drop process is possible, and displaying a help message indicating a data process to be processed by changing a key operation at the time of dropping, for a display region where the drop process is possible. Drag and drop processing method.